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< Prev Post Guinness World Record Attempt Scheduled for 2012 Las Vegas Star Trek Convention
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Strangers of the Cosmos: Tribbles, Part 2
By Tom Caldwell May 27, 2012 // 10:37 am
Last week, we discussed the reproductive nature of tribbles and what it implies about their evolution: they likely live in a state of stagnant evolution due to their simplistic biology and reproductive behaviors. Moreover, elucidating their mode of reproduction allows us to emerge on startling new revelations regarding their natural habitats. It may be that tribbles are native to a world so hostile that their extreme reproductive behavior is necessary to avoid extinction among incredible hazards, yet it can, at the same time, threaten its survival. Today, we’ll discuss population dynamics with regards to the tribbles’ mode of reproduction and finally conclude why predation is crucial to achieve an appropriate ecological balance in nature.
The Malthusian Nightmare: How the Tribbles could Destroy an Entire Ecosystem
The only way for nature to favor such an adaptation (that is: to be born pregnant while reproducing asexually) is if the tribbles on their home planet (revealed to be Iota Geminorum IV in the Deep Space Nine episode “Trials and Tribble-ations”) were constantly hunted and that it was their only means of survival. Since any stable (stagnant) population is one in which an individual is able to create a new offspring to replace itself before dying (no net gain or loss in population size), tribbles’ natural reproductive rate of 10 every twelve hours would have to be sufficient to replenish their numbers if 10 individuals were killed every twelve hours per original parent (of course, there’s a lot that should go into making that determination, like life expectancy, which sadly was never revealed on Star Trek). This yields a stagnant population over time, one that neither grows nor falls.
When talking of population dynamics, I must refer to the work of Thomas Malthus, a late 18th century British rationalist who is currently famed for his formulation of the Malthusian Growth Model, which predicts population size given growth rates and environmental pressures. The growth model is an equation adapted from his theories, which states the following:
Given an initial population, Po, a growth rate, r, and a population capacity, M, the final population, P, can be predicted after a given number of generations. The variable, M, is the most important factor to consider; it takes into account the finite amount of resources and the prevalence of any survival threats in the environment that could sustain a population. In other words: M is the maximum number of organisms that could live in a given environment before dying out. Should the population ever exceed or approach this limit too quickly, the species will die out due to uncontrolled resource consumption.
Spock holds a Tribble in the classic TOS episode "The Trouble With Tribbles"
We can plug the known values into their proper variables: where r is equal to 10 for the average number of offspring per tribble and Po is equal to the initial population at the current generation (for simplicity, let’s assume that it’s 1). Accounting for the variable M is where we encounter some serious issues: it was never revealed on Star Trek how high the tribble population has to be before it dies of starvation. Therefore, the assignment of the M variable becomes arbitrary. It gets even worse, unfortunately. In my attempt to ascertain a sufficient population capacity given a growth rate of 10, it appears as though tribbles were destined to breed themselves to extinction! This is a hypothetical scenario termed the “Malthusian Nightmare” in which a population has grown so far beyond its means that it now stands poised to die out. How could a species evolve an adaptation that would eventually cause its extinction and still survive?! The situation gets dire still.
No realistic population capacity could be found that would avert this inevitable extinction. Even at an M value of a googol (10^100, or 1 followed by 100 zeros), the growth model predicts that the tribbles would breed so quickly and so uncontrollably that they eventually consume all natural resources in its environment and die out completely in just 52 days! There probably isn’t enough resources in an entire solar system, let alone a single planet, to support a tribble population for longer than 52 days. This is NOT a stable evolutionary trend to say the least. The answer to this problem isn’t that the tribbles’ home planet houses an infinite supply of resources (which is impossible), but that the effective growth rate is not 10; rather, it is a much lower number.
Kirk surrounded by Tribbles
The only way to lower the effective growth rate of a population to a more agreeable, steady value, in any natural habitat, is either with extremely short life-spans (on the order of seconds, rather than days or weeks) or extreme predation. The former isn’t very likely as tribbles do not appear to have short life-spans on the shows, while the latter presents itself as the only logical solution. It means, thusly, that most (at least 70%) of the offspring produced in one generation have to be hunted and killed before they have enough time to reproduce uncontrollably. It is absolutely crucial to eradicate most of the population every 12 hours, otherwise the tribbles would overbreed and consume so many natural resources that it would devastate, not just the tribble population, but the entire ecosystem!
This paints a very grim reality for life as a tribble: they’re born pregnant, they give birth to 10 individuals every twelve hours, they have to consume enough resources to make up for their high metabolism, and most of them die due to predation just in that amount of time. Given the reproductive characteristics of tribbles, one can predict with an appreciable level of certainty that tribbles inhabit an ecological niche among a predominant population of malicious predators that may have to compete aggressively for sustenance and whose survival may also be threatened by limited resources. The emergence of tribbles likely provided these hardened natural hunters with an “easy” means of acquiring food. The niche in this sense is one of a mutually beneficial “arrangement”: the predators can have all the food they want from a species that reproduces rapidly and possess no apparent fight/flight mechanism, and further that the survival of the tribbles in a given environment depends on the eradication of a large majority of their offspring. In a way, the predators are doing the tribbles a favor by hunting them so belligerently. One can certainly appreciate the complexity and beauty of nature’s precious yet fragile ecological cycles.
A Word of Advice to the Klingon Empire
It was revealed on Deep Space Nine by Worf that the Klingons exterminated the entire tribble species and forced it to extinction. Though the use of brute force is not uncanny in Klingon culture as a means to resolve problems, it was perhaps overkill to deal with their Public Enemy Number 1 in such a brutal manner. Considering the delicate balance between tribbles and their ecosystem, it would have just been easier and less of a headache to kill off their major predators. It would allow tribbles the unrestrained means to reproduce, consume every available resource, and eventually die out all on their own. You don’t even need to harm a single tribble in the process (I know that’s hard for you to do, but please try to refrain). To any Klingons out there, just as a word of advice, if you want to get a problem fixed: trust in science and reason. There’s always a better way…whether you do it peacefully or not is your choice.
Read Strangers of the Cosmos: Tribbles, Part 1.
All photos courtesy CBS Studios Inc.
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Belgium reacts to the new Ronde van Vlaanderen finish
by Ben Atkins at 4:01 AM EST comments
Categories: Pro Cycling, Spring Classics, Tour of Flanders
The Flanders public appears to be dead set against the course change, but those involved have a more balanced view
This week Flanders Classics, the organiser of the Ronde van Vlaanderen – the Tour of Flanders – announced that the race’s finish would move from Meerbeke, a suburb of Ninove, to Oudenaarde in the centre of the Flemish Ardennes. Not only would the finish line be moving away from the iconic rising finishing straight of the Halsesteenweg though, but the race would be also missing out one of its most famous climbs, the Muur van Geraardsbergen.
Unlike fellow cycling monuments Milano-Sanremo, Paris-Roubaix and Liège Bastogne-Liège, the Ronde van Vlaanderen and the Giro di Lombardia are not bound by specific start and finish points. Both races have changed a great deal in their long histories, but the Ronde’s problem seems to be that it has kept to the same finish for the past 39 years; more than two-fifths of its 94 editions.
While Lombardia has happily switched its finishing point between Milano, Monza, Bergamo and Como over the years – and will finish in Lecco for the first time in 2011 – ‘Vlaanderens Mooiste’ has been so entrenched in Meerbeke that it’s hard for many to imagine anything else.
As well as switching from Meerbeke to Oudenaarde, and skipping the Muur, the 2012 course will feature three laps of a shrinking finishing circuit as it makes its way to the finish. While it will feature seventeen climbs though, only thirteen different hills will be used, with the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg climbed three times each. This has been greeted positively by those who acknowledge that fans will be able to see the race more than once without having to move, but not everybody is in favour.
The mere presence of a circuit in the race, albeit a shrinking one, has caused some critics to compare it to a ‘kermesse’ [criterium – ed], whole others worry that it may give organisers the opportunity to charge for access to certain parts of the course. Others say that, unlike Amstel Gold that has to re-use climbs because of a shortage in the area, Flanders is peppered with short, sharp bergs and it makes no sense to use some more than once at the expense of others.
Some say that forcing the peloton up the fearsome Paterberg three times will be too much, particularly in the wet. Others, including this author, also worry that sending the men’s peloton around the finishing zone three times might make it difficult to accommodate the women’s race, which has run in parallel since 2004.
Belgium says ‘no’, the riders say ‘maybe’
"We think that we have made the right choice and ask the audience for this one chance,” race organiser Wim Van Herreweghe told Het Laatste Nieuws. “Experience it first before you judge."
According to Het Laatste Nieuws though, an online poll of more than 25,000 Belgians saw only nine percent of them in favour of the new course. A number of riders, past and present, have been also been expressing their opinions.
Two-time winner Stijn Devolder (Vacansoleil-DCM) is one rider that is firmly in the ‘no’ camp, even though he feels that the new course will suit him better.
“Climbing the Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg three times in the finale is probably in my favour,” Devolder told Het Laatste Nieuws, “but I believe that the organisers made a wrong choice by simply replacing the old finish. The Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg can not be erased from the Ronde."
"Besides, the finish must remain in Meerbeke,” he added. “I could win ten times in Oudenaarde, but it would never be the same feeling as finishing the job in Meerbeke."
The legendary Eddy Merckx is another two-time winner, but is a little more neutral on the subject of the new course than Devolder. Having been an advisor to the race organiser on the question of the route change, the Cannibal unsurprisingly sees the merits of the old and new finishes.
"One is the one, the other is the other,” he told Het Nieuwsblad. “We knew the value of the old course, and we are now waiting to see what the new one gives us. Meerbeke yielded exciting finals, as we know.
"It will certainly not be any less difficult,” Merckx continued. “It's a very tough course, which goes really deep into the finish. I rode it round again, I think the combination of the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg is harder than the Muur and the Bosberg.
“I give it to Fabian Cancellara,” he said. The Swiss says we need to wait and see whether the breakaway has as much advantage after the Paterberg as the gently sloping course from the Bosberg to Meerbeke, but I think this is dependent on the wind and the weather of the day.
“Ah, there's a cliché that says that the riders make the race. That is actually true."
Merckx is one of the few men that won the race in Meerbeke, in 1975, and in Gentbrugge, in 1968, which previously hosted the finish. While he sees the value of nostalgia, he also recognises the need for the new generation to create its own history.
"Next year we'll know more,” he explained. “For example, I'd also like Milan-Sanremo [a race he won an incredible seven times – ed] to finish on the Via Roma again, if only for the grandeur of the fountain in the background, but that is now already past. We identified the Ronde with Meerbeke, but the next generation will identify this Classic with Oudenaarde,”
Commentators see the big picture but regret the lose of one of the Ronde’s fixtures
Sporza commentary team Jose De Cauwer and Michel Wuyts have the job of summarising the race and, perhaps unsurprisingly, share Merckx’s balanced view of the course change.
“The duo of the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg is definitely tougher than the combination of the Muur van Geraardsbergen and Bosberg,” De Cauwer told Het Laatste Nieuws. “On the Paterberg, where the gradients are about 16 percent, I have seen many riders 'die'.
“So anyway, the finale will be spicier than before.”
Like Merckx, De Cauwer reminds everyone that the race changed its starting point in 1998, to similar protest at the time.
“Well, the move of Meerbeke to Oudenaarde...” he said “We must sometimes agree to forget about living with the past. The Ronde used to start in Sint-Niklaas; people also screamed bloody murder at the time when it moved to Brugge, but is that still the case? The new finish will definitely be an adjustment for everyone.”
Wuyts too, sees the need to move forward, but is one that questions the circuit finish of the new course.
"I can follow the reasoning that the Ronde is more oriented towards the future, that Oudenaarde is a finer sight than Ninove, and the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg will be a nice change,” Wuyts conceded. “But do you need to change a winning concept?
"That they will climb the Kwaremont and Paterberg three times, I think that’s once too often,” he continued. “Now it has three circuits, even though each of the loops gets smaller."
Wuyts is also one of those that regret the removal of the Muur van Geraardsbergen, a climb that has featured in the race 45 times in its history.
"The Muur is, of course, the biggest loss,” he said. “I think it's a blunder that they have removed it. The Muur was a monument to the monument; over the years it has become a place of pilgrimage.
"It seems that the Ronde has been decapitated,” he added, “but those are the first emotions. There is still some time to pass. It seems to me that the we should evaluate the new course after the first edition."
Three-time winner Johan Museeuw is another that regrets the Muur’s removal, as he told Het Nieuwsblad.
"Of course it is unfortunate that the Muur van Geraardsbergen is no longer in the course,” he said. “It has repeatedly made the difference, it’s logical that this climb has my love and support.
"It will be a rider with a big engine and a big name that wins the Ronde van Vlaanderen of 2012,” he added.
It’s perhaps another three-time winner in Eric Leman, who also won in both Gentbrugge and Meerbeke – being the first to raise his arms on the Halsesteenweg in 1973 – to sum the new course up.
“The Ronde is and remains a monument on any course,” he told Het Nieuwsblad.
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Devolder’s place in Tour de France uncertain, Vacansoleil not satisfied with performances
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Two War Memorial brass Plaques
IN REVERENCE OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
ARTHUR AKERS GEORGE MURRELL
FRANK ADKINS WILLIAM PENFOLD
WILLIAM CHAMBERLAIN FELIX REGAN
HARRY CLARIDGE FRANK REYNOLDS
JOHN DORSETT CHARLES SHEFFIELD
OLIVER GRIFFIN FRANK SHEFFIELD
FRED HAWTIN WILLIAM SIMMS
ALFRED HAWTIN FRED SIMONS
DENNIS HIGLEY ARTHUR SMITH
WILFRED HUCKIN LEWIS TAYLOR
FRANK HUNT BERTIE TUSTIN
JOHN JONES ARTHUR WEARING
GEORGE KNIGHT ALFRED WIGGINS
SIDNEY BENNETT
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE GREAT WAR
And for the Second World War
KENNETH BENFIELD
GEORGE CANNING
EDWARD DONAVAN
FREDERICK FAULKNER
COLIN GUNTRIP
ALFRED LEWIS
ALBERT POVEY
HUBERT PRATLEY
IN THE WAR
Arthur Frederick G AKERS
Shoeing Smith, 37th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery. Army no. 2779
He was killed in action on 15 September 1914 probably during the Battle of the Marne. He was 32
He was the son of William and Rachel Harriet Akers
He is remembered on La Ferté sous Jouarre Memorial
Frank ADKINS
If this is the correct man, he served in The Royal Engineers. Army no. 167225
There is no reference to his death and to make it harder, his records indicate that he was demobilised in February 1919. For the record only:
He was baptised on 12 May 1889 in Enstone
In the 1901 Census he was living in Church Enstone, the son of John and Emma Adkins
In 1913 he married Elizabeth Lovell and they lived at 16 Spring Cottages, Banbury
Sidney Arthur BENNETT
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5 Brigade, 2nd Division. Army no. 6994
He died on 29 March 1916 probably in the Military Hospital Centre in Shorncliff. He was 33
He was the son of William P and Angelina Bennett, Jubilee Cottages, Enstone
He is buried in grave O 340 in Shorncliffe Military Cemetery
He is known to have been born and lived in Enstone and enlisted in Oxford
William CHAMBERLAIN
Rifleman, 22nd (Wessex and Welsh) Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own), 228 Brigade, 28th Division. Army no. 207922. He was formerly with the same Battalion when it was a Territorial Battalion, Army no. 28874.
He died on 25 October 1918 probably from disease. He was 24
He was the son of John G and Sarah E Chamberlain of Lidstone, Enstone
He is buried in grave 673 in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece
Harry CLARIDGE
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
Light Infantry, 5 Brigade, 2nd Division. Army no. 7897
He was killed in action on 31 October 1914 during the first Battle of Ypres. He was 27
He was the son of Thomas E H and Elizabeth E Claridge
He is remembered on panel 37 and 39 of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres
John Thomas DORSETT
Private, 9th Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 109 Brigade, 36th Division. Army no. 47046. He was formerly with The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Army no. 23149
He was killed in action on 15 October 1918 during the Battle of Courtrai. He was 23
He is remembered on panel 70 to 72 of the Tyne Cot Memorial
Oliver GRIFFIN
Private, 2nd Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
Light Infantry, 5 Brigade, 2nd Division. Army no. 23295. He was formerly with Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry). Army no. 21758
He died on 1 December 1917 from his wounds incurred during the Battle of Cambrai.
He is buried in grave III C 29 in Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt
Frederick (Fred) HAWTIN
He was killed in action on 25 September 1915 on the first day of the Battle of Loos. He was 35.
He was the son of Joseph and Esther Hawtin and the brother of Alfred, the next entry
He is remembered on panel 83 to 85 of the Loos Memorial
Alfred HAWTIN
Sergeant, 1/1st Battalion, Oxfordshire Yeomanry (Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars), 2 Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Army no. 285006
He died on 2 April 1918 from his wounds probably incurred during the Battle of the Somme. He was 30
He was the son of Joseph and Esther Hawtin of Church Enstone
He is buried in grave I H 21 Namps au Val British Cemetery
John Dennis HIGLEY
Private, 5th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment) 35 Brigade, 12th Division. Army no.
He was killed in action on 30 November 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai. He was 23
He was the son of John and Susan Higley, Church Enstone
He is remembered on Panel 8 of the Cambrai Memorial, Louvreral
Wilfred Henry HUCKIN
Private, 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, 2nd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. Army no. 21352
He died on 30 September 1915 from wounds incurred during the Battle of Loos. He was 20
He was the son of Fred and Sarah Huckin, Fir Tree Cottage, Church Enstone
He is buried in grave I D 38 in Noeux les Mines Communal Cemetery
Francis Charles (Frank) HUNT
Private, 1st Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers, 86 Brigade, 29th Division. Army no. 45163. He was formerly a Gunner, Royal Field Artillery. Army no. 177788
He was killed in action on 9 October 1917 during the Battle of Poelcappelle. He was 20.
He was the son of Victor and Gertrude E Hunt, Church Enstone.
He is remembered on panel 54-60 and 163A of the Tyne Cot Memorial
Sadly I have not been able to identify this man
George Edward KNIGHT MM
Gunner, "D" Battery, 286th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Army no. 70650
He died on 9 April 1918 from his wounds probably received in the fighting near Ypres
He is known to have been born in Banbury and enlisted in Oxford
He is remembered on Panel 1 of the Ploegsteert Memorial
George Frederick MURRELL
Private, 31st Mobile Section, Army Veterinary Corps. Army no. 6574
He died on 4 September 1915. He was 42
He is buried in grave IV A 27 Lillers Communal Cemetery
This is probably the man in question but there is no evidence to confirm it. There is a marriage in the Chipping Norton Registration District in 1903 and the military records give a birthplace as Reading and there is just the one in 1873. Whilst
he was older than the norm, it was a non-combatant role and therefore more feasible.
William James PINFOLD
Private, 1st/4th Battalion, King's (Shropshire Light Infantry), 56 Brigade, 19th Division. Army no. 28381. He was formerly with the Training Reserve Battalion, Army no. 3729
He was killed in action on 4 November 1918 during the battle known as the Passage of the Great Honnelle. He was 19
He was the son of William J & Margaret Pinfold of Neat, Enstone.
He is buried in grave 8 of Jenlain Communal Cemetery
Edward Felix Owen REGAN
Able Seaman, HM Submarine E22, Royal Navy. RN no. J/7543
He was killed in action on 25 April 1916. He was 32
He is remembered on panel 13 of Portsmouth Naval Memorial
HMS E22 was involved in experiments in the North Sea to intercept Zeppelins on 24 April 1916. E22 carried two Sopwith Schneider seaplane scouts on her casing. The boat would submerge in calm waters; the planes would float on the surface and take off before returning to Felixstowe on the East coast of England. The trials were not repeated!
HMS E22 was torpedoed by the German U-boat UB-18 off Great Yarmouth on 25 April 1916. There were no survivors.
Francis Joseph (Frank) REYNOLDS
Lance Corporal, 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, 2nd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. Army no. 9517
He was the son of Richard S and Mary Reynolds
He is buried in grave I C 49 of the Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres
Charles SHEFFIELD
Corporal, 1st Battery, 45th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Army no. 94166
He was killed in action on 15 August 1917 in the Flanders battleground. He was 20.
He was the son of George F and Mary E Sheffield of Spring Hill, Enstone. His brother Frank, see next entry, also fell
He is remembered on panel 5 and 9 of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres
Frank SHEFFIELD
Gunner, C Battery, 100th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Army no. 59065
He died on 18 September 1915. He was 21
He was the son of George F and Mary E Sheffield, Spring Hill, Enstone.
He is remembered on pier and face 1A and 8A of the Theipval Memorial
William Alfred SIMMS
Private, 7th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 78 Brigade, 26th Division. Army no. 11503
He died on 25 October 1918 probably from disease after arriving in theatre. He was 29
He was the son of William and Sarah Simms of Enstone
He is buried in grave VI H 17 Doiran Military Cemetery, Greece
Frederick Charles (Fred) SIMONS
Private, 9th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 96 Brigade, 32nd Division. Army no. 16970
He died on 2 February 1915. He was 27
He was the son of the late Edwin and Mary M Simons and the husband of Elsie M Faulkner (formerly Simons) of Enstone
He is buried in grave K 13 3 in Highland Road Cemetery,
Private, 61st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Army no.
139709. He was formerly with The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Army no. 3081 having originally enlisted with The Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars in November 1915
He was killed in action fighting on the Somme on 21 March 1918. He was 26
He was son of Thomas and Sarah Smith of Radford, Enstone.
He is remembered on panel 90 to 93 of the Pozières Memorial
Thank you John Blakeman for this correction
Lewis TAYLOR
Probably Louis Morewood TAYLOR
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5 Brigade, 2nd Division. Army no. 10050
He was killed in action on 30 July 1916 probably near Delville Wood. He was 23
He was the son of William and Elizabeth E Taylor, 3 Grove Road, Bladon
He is remembered on Pier and Face 10A and 10D of the Theipval Memorial
He is known to have been born in Ledwell, lived in Chipping Norton and enlisted in Oxford
Bertie George TUSTIN
Private, 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), 54 Brigade, 18th Division. Army no. 8246. He was formerly Private, The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), Army no. 4054
He was killed in action on 17 February 1917 in the fighting around the Ancre. He was 26.
He was the son of George and Eliza Tustin, Cleveley, Enstone
He is remembered on pier and face 8C, 9A and 16A of the Theipval Memorial
He is known to have been born in Oxford, lived in Enstone and enlisted in Pinner
Arthur WEARING
Gunner, A Battery, 92nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Army no. 51387. He was formerly Private, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Army no. 9460
He died in action on 30 November 1917. He was 38
He was the husband of Emily Wearing of Enstone
He is remembered on panel 1 of the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral
Alfred WIGGINS
Private, 45th Remounts, Royal Army Service Corps, Army no.
R4/068339
He died on 12 January 1919 probably from disease. He was 30
He was the son of George and Mary Wiggins of Lidstone, Enstone
He is buried in grave 1303 in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria
There were no less than 18 hospitals in Kalamaria
Kenneth Arthur BENFIELD
Painter 3rd Class, HMS Calcutta, Royal Navy. RN no. P/MX
He died on 1 June 1941. He was 31
He was the husband of Peggy Benfield of Headington.
He is remembered on panel 56, column 3 of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
HMS Calcutta was an anti-aircraft cruiser which was sunk in the Eastern Mediterranean, about 100 nautical miles west-north-west of Alexandria, Egypt by 2 bombs from German Ju-88 bombers. There were 255 survivors.
George Frederick CANNING
Guardsman, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Army no.
He died on 11 June 1943. He was 33
He was the son of Arthur and Lily May Canning and the husband of Lily Canning of Enstone.
He is buried in row 3, grave 10 St. Kenelms Churchyard Extension, Enstone
The CWGC has no one listed under this spelling, I suspect that it is Diarmuid Edward DONOVAN
Second Lieutenant, Royal Engineers. Army no. 129802
He died on 26 May 1940 at the time of retreat to Dunkirk. He was 20
He was the son of Captain Richard B and Edith M Donovan of Recess, Co. Galway, Irish Republic. - he lived in Oxfordshire
He is buried in plot 9 row a grave 8 Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension
Fredric Hubert FAULKNER
Private, 7th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment. Army no. 5385373
He died between 21 May and 15 June 1940 at the time of Dunkirk He was 20
He was the son of Hubert and Kate Faulkner of Cleveley,
Oxfordshire.
He is buried in plot 8 row b grave 26 Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery, St. Omer
Colin Henry GUNTRIP
Corporal, 1st Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment. Army no. 14744409
He died on 23 April 1945. He was 19
He was the son of Charles and Lemada Guntrip of Ludgershall,
Buckinghamshire.
He is buried in Grave 3 B 6 Jonkerbos War Cemetery
Victor Alfred LEWIS
Sergeant, 107 Squadron, Royal Air Force, RAFVR no. 749416
He died on active service on 11 June 1941. He was 24
He was the son of Alfred and Alice Lewis of Enstone
He is remembered on panel 47 of the Runnymede Memorial
Blenheim V6367 OM- took off from RAF Great Massingham on an anti-shipping mission at 09.13 hours but was recalled because of
the lack of cloud cover but disappeared without trace. All the crew were lost. They were: Pilot Officer R G Sammons, Sergeant P J Walker and Sergeant V Alfred Lewis
Albert Edward Charles POVEY
Sergeant, 144 Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAF No: 366390
He was killed on 29 September 1939. He was 30
He was the son of Albert E and Mary M Povey of Lasham,
Hampshire.
He is remembered on panel 2, the Runnymede Memorial
He was based at RAF Hemswell from 3 March 1939.
He was killed whilst flying in Hampden I, L4134 which was shot down near Heligoland.
The squadron’s first operation, a patrol over the North Sea, had been just three days earlier
Gunner, 16 Defence Regiment, Royal Artillery. Army no.
He died whilst a Prisoner of War of the Japanese Army at the time of his death he was a slave labourer on the Thailand-Burma Railway
His death is recorded as being between 1 and 31 August 1943. He was 22
He was the son of George and Jane Pratley of Kiddington.
He is buried in grave 6 A 73 Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
The regiment had been captured by the Japanese Army when Singapore fell on 15 February 1942
The Fallen in WW1 who are not on the War Memorial
Ernest AKERS
Private, 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire
Regiment) Army no. 8438
He died of his wounds on 6 October 1915
He is buried in grave I B 158 Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord
Ernest William BARTLETT
He was killed in action on 13 September 1915. He was 19
He was the son of William Joseph O and Elizabeth Sophia Bartlett, Lower Cleveley, Enstone
He is buried in grave IV K 8 in the Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, Laventie
He was born in Kencott, lived in Enstone and enlisted in Oxford
Albert William BROOKS
Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery. Army no. 9059 Formerly, Gunner with 156th The Oxford Heavy Battery.
He died on 18 February 1917
He is buried in grave O VI C 12 in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen
He was born in Swerford, lived in Enstone and enlisted in Banbury
John COZIER
Lance Corporal, 1st Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment, 11
Brigade, 4th Division. Army no. 16452. He was formerly Private, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Army no. 17799
He was killed in action on 1 July 1916 during the Battle of Albert.
He is remembered on pier and face 7C and 7B of the Theipval Memorial
He was born in Swerford and lived in Enstone
Alfred James CROSS DCM
Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own), 25 Brigade, 8th Division. Army no. 5428
He was killed in action on 31 July 1917 during the Battle of Pilekem Ridge part of the second Battle of Ypres. He was 21
He was the son of Charles William and Harriett Cross, Ellen's Lodge, Dytchley, Enstone.
He is remembered on panel 46-48 and 50 of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
He was born in Spilsbury, lived in Enstone and enlisted in Oxford
William Thomas DEAN
Private, 1st Battalion. Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment), 99 Brigade, 2nd Division. Army no. 39091. He was formerly Private, Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry) Army no. 41738
He died from his wounds on 31 August 1918 probably received near Arras or Bapaume during the Battle of the Somme. He was 19
He was the son of Harry and Jane Dean, Barn Cottages, Tracey, Enstone. Native of Fulwell, Enstone.
He is buried in grave B 17 in Ligny sur Canche British Cemetery
He was born in Fulwell lived in Enstone and enlisted in Oxford
Walter DICKENSON
Lance Corporal, 1st Battalion, The Oxfordshire and
Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 28 Brigade, 7th Indian Division. Army no. 8621
He was the son of Henry and Mary Ann Dickenson
He is buried in grave XXI C 11 in North Gate War Cemetery, Baghdad
He was born in Enstone (Births Dec 1888 DICKENSON Walter Chipping N. 3a 857), lived in Bloxham and enlisted in Banbury
George Herbert KNIBBS
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment, 88 Brigade, 29th Division. Army no. 17112. He was formerly Private, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Army no. 18188
He died on 8 November 1916
He is buried in grave XXI M 7 in North Gate War Cemetery,
He was born in Swerford, lived in Enstone and enlisted in Bournemouth
Ralph Henry TAYLOR
Private, 2nd/7th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire
Regiment, 182 Brigade, 61st Division. Army no. 35200
He was killed in action on 8 August 1918. He was 19
He was the husband of H Taylor of Charlbury
He is buried in plot 5, row B, grave 9 in Tannay British Cemetery, Thiennes
He was born in Enstone, lived in Charlbury and enlisted in Oxford
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Welcome Back, Vivaldi
PAST PERFORMANCES >
Airs de Cour
Just Dance! - Fort Atkinson Club
Baroque Dance Reimagined - Rush Hour Concerts
Vivica & Vivaldi
Love Is in the Air - Driehaus Museum
Early Music at the Barn
Baroque with a Beat
Ciaconna at the Driehaus Museum
Groove!
¡Sarabanda!
WFMT Beach Party
TCB Picnic
RUBÉN DUBROVSKY
Why? What? How?
In-Kind Support
TCB's Triumph is a triumph!
"Under the leadership of artistic director Rubén Dubrovsky, the fledgling consort—in only its third season—offered a sublime account of Handel’s first foray into a genre he would redefine, culminating in Messiah."
- Chicago Classical Review
Read More Press for "Triumph"
Third Coast Baroque presents the Chicago premiere of Handel’s first oratorio – The Triumph of Time and Disenchantment (Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, HWV 46a). Artistic director Rubén Dubrovsky leads TCB artists Nathalie Colas, soprano, and Angela Young Smucker, mezzo-soprano, joined by guest artists Clifton Massey, countertenor, and Owen McIntosh, tenor, making their TCB debuts.
“Musically thrilling and psychologically captivating” is how Dubrovsky describes Handel’s Triumph, which dramatizes the conflict between earthly pleasures and timeless truths. Beauty is tempted by Pleasure, though Time and Disenchantment win. The allegorical libretto by one of Handel’s Roman patrons, Benedetto Pamphili, expands upon themes explored by Petrarch in his poem Triumph of Time.
We are enhancing the performance with original projection designs by Chicago artist David Lee Csicsko in order to re-create some of the aspects of the original Roman premiere for modern audiences.
George Frideric Handel composed Triumph at age 22, decades before the premiere of his most famous oratorio, The Messiah. Just after young Handel wrote his first operas for Hamburg, he traveled to Italy to absorb the latest musical trends. He developed a reputation as a promising composer and exceptional keyboardist in Florence, Naples, Venice, and Rome, where he created The Triumph of Time and Disenchantment.
Friday, April 12, 2019 at 7:30 pm
First UMC at Chicago Temple
77 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Saturday, April 13, 2019 at 7:30 pm
Galvin Recital Hall
70 Arts Circle Dr, Evanston, IL 60208
Rubén Dubrovsky, conductor
Nathalie Colas, Beauty (Bellezza)
Angela Young Smucker, Pleasure (Piacere)
Clifton Massey, Disenchantment (Disinganno)
Owen McIntosh, Time (Tempo)
David Lee Csicsko, projection design
The Triumph of Time and Disenchantment, HWV 46a
Approximately 2 hrs, 45 mins; including an intermission.
In Italian with English supertitles
ADVANCE TICKETS
Premium $50
General $40
General - Senior (65+) $30
General - Under 30 $20
Student (ID required) $10
AT-THE-DOOR TICKETS
The world premiere of Triumph in 1707 boasted none other than Arcangelo Corelli as concertmaster. The tuneful yet stylish score was so inspired that Handel reused material from over half of the arias in his later works. Handel famously adapted the aria “Lascia la spina” from Triumph into “Lasica ch’io pianga” for his opera Rinaldo, and it remains one of his most recognizable tunes to this day.
Triumph is the only major work from his Italian period that Handel revived (with changes) for London. Handel first expanded the original Italian-language work into a new version renamed The Triumph of Time and Truth (Il trionfo del Tempo e della Verità), HWV 46b in 1737, and then created a further expanded, English-language version, The Triumph of Time and Truth, in 1757. Because of the many versions of Triumph, it is considered both Handel’s first and last oratorio. Third Coast Baroque performs 1707 version of The Triumph of Time and Disenchantment in Italian with English-language supertitles.
More about the artists
Born in Buenos Aires, Rubén Dubrovsky has received critical acclaim for his opera and concert work in today’s most prestigious venues. Known particularly for his interpretations of Handel, Dubrovsky’s operatic repertoire ranges from Lully to Gluck, Mozart and Rossini. During the 2018-19 season, Dubrovsky’s conducts Serse at Oper Bonn, and Die Zauberflöte at the Staatstheater Darmstadt, as well as concerts in Linz, Wroclaw, Baden, Chicago, and Vienna. He has also directed performances at the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden, Theater an der Wien, Nationaltheater Mannheim, Oper Köln, Oper Kiel, Staatstheater Darmstadt, Wiener Kammeroper, and Handel Festivals in Halle and Karlsruhe. Rubén Dubrovsky is the founder and artistic leader of the Bach Consort Wien that has performed at Vienna Musikverein and the Mozart Weeks in Salzburg. His recordings with his Bach Consort Wien include Terry Wey’s CD of works for solo-countertenor, Pace e Guerra, on the Harmonia Mundi label, and mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux’s Hommage à Vivaldi on SONY Classics. He has led many performances televised by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) and 3sat, and released live recordings of Handel’s Messiah in 2016 and Vivaldi’s Gloria and Stabat Mater in 2017 on the Gramola label.
Nathalie Colas
Hailed for her “floating, silky soprano” and deemed “a standout in acting and voice” (Chicago Classical Review), Nathalie Colas was born and raised in Strasbourg, France. She is a current soloist and founder of Third Coast Baroque, Petite Musique Collective, Liederstube, and new music ensemble Fonema Consort. Nathalie is excited to join Haymarket Opera Company once again, after being featured in Cavalli’s Calisto, Telemann’s Don Quichotte, and Pimpinone, amongst others. She was recently heard in Handel’s Messiah with the St Louis Bach Society, in the title role of Rita by G. Donizetti in Switzerland, and with the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest for Sibelius’s tone poem Luonnotar. Engagements in 2018 will include Canteloube Chant D’Auvergne in Oak Park and Rose in J. Offenbach’s Der Zaubergeige in Switzerland. An avid recitalist, Nathalie studied Art Song with the late German baritone Udo Reinemann and regularly performs such repertoire (Symphony Center, Pianoforte Foundation, Omaha Under the Radar, Chicago Arts Club, Driehaus Museum, Central Methodist University). A graduate of DePaul University School of Music and of the Brussels Royal Conservatory, Ms. Colas completed her opera training at the Swiss Opera Studio/Hochschule der Kunst Bern. She was awarded 1st prize in the 2015 Music Institute of Chicago competition.
Angela Young Smucker
Angela Young Smucker has earned praise for her “rich mezzo” (Chicago Tribune) and "powerful stage presence" (The Plain Dealer). Her performances in concert, stage, and chamber works have made her a highly versatile and sought-after artist. Ms. Smucker has been a featured artist with Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Music of the Baroque, Oregon Bach Festival, Conspirare, Seraphic Fire, Haymarket Opera Company, Bach Collegium San Diego, Les Délices, Carmel Bach Festival, Newberry Consort, Leipzig Baroque Orchestra, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and Third Coast Baroque. She has also had the distinct pleasure of working under the baton of such esteemed conductors as Helmuth Rilling, Hermann Max, Jane Glover, Phillip Brunelle, and Rubén Dubrovsky.
In addition to performing, Ms. Smucker is currently pursuing her doctorate at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music and holds degrees from Valparaiso University – where she was also instructor of voice for seven years – and the University of Minnesota. She serves as Executive Director of Third Coast Baroque.
Clifton Massey
Clifton Massey, countertenor, is known for stylish interpretations of wide ranging musical styles. Praised by San Francisco Classical Voice for "gloriously rounded tone and a measure of heft often missing in proponents of his voice type", his singing has taken him to many festivals and venues including Tanglewood, the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam, Metropolitan Museum of NY, Tokyo Opera City, and the Early Music festivals of Berkeley, Bloomington and Boston. Highly valued as an ensemble singer, Clifton performs frequently with American Bach Soloists, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Bach Collegium San Diego, the American Classical Orchestra, Clarion Choir, and has been featured on the Bach Vespers series at Holy Trinity Lutheran and Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City. He is an alumnus of the GRAMMY award winning group Chanticleer, with whom he performed over 200 concerts in a variety of the world's finest concert halls. Recent seasons have included solo Bach Cantatas with Publick Musick of Rochester, NY, the title role of Handel’s Orlando with the Corona del Mar Baroque Festival, and a performance at the Met Gala with pop icon Madonna. Clifton currently resides in NYC and is a member of the GRAMMY nominated professional choir at Trinity Church Wall St.
Owen McIntosh
Described by the New York Times as a “lovely, tender high tenor” in one concert and “appropriately brash” in another, three-time Grammy nominee and Gramophone Award winning tenor Owen McIntosh is widely know for the color and creativity he brings to the stage. Recent solo engagements include; Carmina Burana with the Carmel Bach Festival, Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo with Apollo’s Fire, Bach’s St. John Passion with Tenet, Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with Boston Baroque, Haydn's L'isola Disabitata with the American Classical Orchestra, Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 with Green Mountain Project, Bach's' St. Matthew passion with Grand Rapids Symphony and Monteverdi’s il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria with Boston Baroque. In 2018, McIntosh, as a member of Blue Heron, won the British Gramophone Award in the early music category with their recording of a 16th century anonymous mass with no name; making history as the first non-European group to ever receive the award.
David Lee Csicsko
David Lee Csicsko is an internationally recognized and celebrated designer and artist currently living and working in Chicago, Illinois. During his 30 year career, David has engaged in a wide variety of projects at nearly every scale; from small privately commissioned prints to to his more recent explorations of the possibilities inherent in working with stained glass and mosaics at large scales. These monumental projects have included work for hospitals, universities, elementary schools, churches, and various private homes. While David’s aesthetic and striking use of color and pattern is distinctive, each project he engages in is entirely unique. Through his work, David celebrates the diversity and richness of the human imagination, and expresses the joys of life through his dynamic use of color, bold graphics and playful patterns.
2019/20 PERFORMANCES ARE GENEROUSLY SPONSORED IN PART BY:
Third Coast Baroque NFP is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit organization.
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Just published: Palais de Tokyo. Art politics and aesthetics in the 20th and 21st century
Volume 22 of the Warburg-Haus Studies
Palais de Tokyo. Kunstpolitik und Ästhetik im 20. und 21. Jahrhundert
by Benjamin Fellmann
September 2019, ISBN 978-3-11-062373-4 (gebunden), 978-3-11-062661-2 (eBook), € [D] 69,95
Since the beginning of the 20th century, the monumental Palais de Tokyo in Paris has been a seismograph for the role of contemporary art in international perspectives and its public place in society. Today, as one of the largest art centers in Europe, it is one of the world’s leading exhibition venues. Conceived in intellectual exchanges in the context of the League of Nations and planned as a state-of-the-art museum building in the »world capital of art«, the Palais de Tokyo was built on the occasion of the 1937 world’s fair for both a museum of the state and one of the city.
This first comprehensive monograph shows how France’s first state museum of modern art became a global center of contemporary art and art theory, drawing on a vast amount of source material. The Musée national d’Art moderne, the 1937 World Exposition, the occupation and post-war period, the genesis of the Centre Pompidou in response to the Palais de Tokyo, the experimental Musée d’Art et d’Essai, the Institut des Hautes Études en Arts Plastiques and ambitions for a national center of photography and film since the 1980s are some of the key elements of this history up to the emergence of the contemporary institution and theories of relational aesthetics and participatory art.
The publication in the Warburg-Haus Studies series
Gespenster in Europa. Alternativen für ein anderes Zusammenleben
Themennachmittag mit Kuratorenführung im Kunstverein in Hamburg und Podiumsgespräch im Warburg-Haus
zur Ausstellung Klassenverhältnisse – Phantoms of Perception 17 Uhr Kuratorenführung in der Ausstellung mit Bettina Steinbrügge, Benjamin Fellmann und Tobias Peper Kunstverein, Klosterwall 23 19 Uhr, Warburg-Haus: Podiumsgespräch Gespenster in Europa. Alternativen für ein anderes…
Ausstellung / Politische Emotionen
Hila Laviv: SommerHaus-CutOut
An exhibition and performance in the reading room inspired by Anna Warburg's memory album, October 15th + 18th, 2018
Curated by Gil Cohen. Monday, October 15th, 7.30 pm Thursday, October 18th, 7 pm Inspired by Anna Warburg’s memory album of the Kösterberg, the historic family estate of the Warburg family in Blankenese/Hamburg, Israeli artist Hila Laviv held, with the help of Dana Yoeli, an exhibition and…
Ausstellung / Die Künste im technischen Zeitalter / Kulturwissenschaftliche Bibliothek Warburg / Universitätsjubiläum 2019
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Tag Archives: Midway
More than 500 flights canceled as snow falls across Chicago
Mar 13, 2017 | WLSAM Staff
(CHICAGO) More than 500 flights have been canceled as Chicago prepares for up to 4 inches of snow by Monday afternoon.
As of 6 a.m. Monday, 411 flights were canceled at O’Hare International Airport and 98 flights had been canceled at Midway International Airport, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Delays at O’Hare were averaging about 31 minutes, while delays at Midway were less than 15 minutes.
Snow started falling at O’Hare about 9:45 p.m. Sunday, but less than an inch had accumulated by 1 a.m. Monday, said National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Donofrio. By 5:45 a.m., 2 inches of snow had fallen in north suburban Evanston and northwest suburban Woodstock.
A winter weather advisory was in effect until 1 p.m. Monday, with between 2 and 4 inches of snow accumulations expected in Lake, DuPage and Cook counties. Visibility will be reduced during periods of heavy snowfall and could make for difficult driving conditions, the weather service warned.
“The intensity of the snow will vary from time to time until (Monday) morning,” said meteorologist Gino Izzi. “It seems pretty likely we’ll be experiencing snow during rush hour, so I would plan on a longer than usual commute.”
Izzi said this will be the first time Chicago has recorded at least 1 inch of snow since Dec. 17, 2016, marking the city’s longest streak without snow ever recorded during the winter.
Lake effect snow could then develop Monday evening and continue overnight into Tuesday, adding to snowfall accumulations, the weather service said. Lake effect snow, which can produce very heavy snowfall, sometimes in excess of 2 inches per hour, could continue periodically through Tuesday afternoon.
Temperatures were expected to reach a high of about 30 degrees on Monday, the weather service said. The chance of snow was about 100 percent on Monday, with wind gusts as high as 20 mph. A high near 27 degrees was expected Tuesday, with an 80 percent chance of snow.
The city’s Department of Streets and Sanitation deployed 287 snow plows overnight to tackle the snowy weather. The plows focus on salting and plowing arterial routes to ensure the roads are safe before moving to neighborhood streets, if necessary.
While Chicago braced for its first snowfall in months, larger snowstorms were expected on the East Coast. A blizzard watch was issued for the Boston area, with 12 to 18 inches of snow expected to fall over eastern Massachusetts as well as central and southern Rhode Island, according to the weather service.
© Copyright 2017 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
Tags: airlines, AIRPLANE, Midway, Midway Airport, O'Hare Airport, OHare
Bird strikes send 2 jets back to airports in Illinois
Dec 16, 2016 | WLSAM Staff
CHICAGO (AP) — Two jets each carrying more than 160 passengers have made safe emergency landings in northern Illinois following bird strikes.
Allegiant says Flight 1671 from Chicago Rockford International Airport to Punta Gorda, Florida, experienced a bird strike to its No.1 engine Thursday afternoon and the captain shut down the engine. It says the aircraft carrying 177 passengers and six members safely returned to Rockford, where passengers deplaned at the gate, and a replacement aircraft was being dispatched to carry them to Punta Gorda.
Southwest Airlines said Flight 105 from Chicago Midway International Airport to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas safely returned to Midway after a bird strike Thursday morning. Southwest says the 164 passengers and six crew members arrived in Las Vegas on another aircraft Thursday evening.
Tags: Midway, passenger jets
No injuries in fire on plane at Chicago’s Midway Airport
Sep 19, 2016 | WLS-AM Staff
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago firefighters say no one was hurt after a small fire developed on an airplane at Midway International Airport.
The Fire Department says the blaze was reported in the engine compartment of a plane near Gate 7 shortly after noon Monday.
It says the blaze was put out with an extinguisher.
No passengers were aboard the plane at the time.
Tags: fire, Midway, plane
Chicago’s airports receive $56 million in federal grants
Jun 12, 2016 | WLS-AM Staff
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago’s two major airports are receiving more than $56 million in federal grants for improvement projects and runway construction.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the Department of Transportation grants on Friday.
O’Hare International Airport is getting $45 million for runway construction and a taxiway system. Midway International Airport’s nearly $12 million grant will be used to improve a runway and minimize debris.
In a news release, Durbin says the grants “are crucial to traveler safety.” He says the money will help reduce runway wait times, moving travelers more quickly to and from Chicago.
Tags: airports, chicago, grant, Midway
Midway Airport gets TSA PreCheck Enrollment Center
May 25, 2016 | WLSAM Staff
(CHICAGO) Travelers interested in enrolling in the Transportation Security Agency’s PreCheck program can now begin the process at Midway International Airport.
A PreCheck enrollment center opened Monday in the baggage claim area of the airport near lower level door one, according to a release from the Chicago Department of Aviation.
To enroll in the TSA’s PreCheck program, travelers must first visit an enrollment center in person to begin the process, according to the CDA.
The enrollment center will be open Monday through Friday with hours from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2-7 p.m. on Mondays with Tuesdays; and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
Travelers that enroll in TSA PreCheck get an expedited lane at more than 15o airports, including O’Hare. Enrolled travelers are not required to remove their shoes, light jackets, belts or remove laptop computers from their bags.
Walk-ins at the enrollment center are welcomed, but travelers can also make a reservation. A passport or other documents to prove citizenship and identity are required.
An application fee of $85 must be paid with a credit card, money order or certified check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.
Tags: Midway, screening, TSA
Durbin Asks Airlines to Suspend Baggage Fees
By Bill Cameron, WLS-AM 890 News
(CHICAGO) While the TSA works to hire more people to help with the long screening lines that have hampered at O’Hare and Midway Airports, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) is working on a plan to help shrink lines.
Durbin says he’s arranged for Homeland Security to add 58 screeners and four more teams of bomb-sniffing dogs, but it’s going to take several weeks.
He’s also calling on the airlines to help speed up the lines by suspending baggage fees so that more passengers will check their baggage. He says the airlines can afford it.
“They’re making money and lets be honest about it, taking off on a plane that’s half empty because people are still standing, waiting to go through TSA, isn’t very profitable for an airline,” Durbin said. “It keeps their passengers unhappy and uncertain about future travel plans. So if the airlines will join us and forego a little bit of their profitability for a few months here, we can start to get this system working here.”
So help is on the way, but it’s gonna take a while.
Tags: airlines, airports, baggage, Bill Cameron, luggage, Midway, nick gale, OHare, security, TSA
TSA Fix For Long Lines
By Nick Gale, WLS-AM 890 News
(CHICAGO) There were incredible lines at Midway Airport yesterday and it’s something that is being seen across the country because of a lack of TSA agents. But the federal government says it has a fix.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says the long lines seen at airports across the country isn’t to the level of a national crisis.
“I would not characterize it as a national crisis. I do characterize our current situation as a aviation security imperative,” Johnson said Friday.
The department says it will immediately increase the use of overtime and work to quickly bring in more screening officers to help alleviate long lines. Still, Johnson warns that wait times are inevitable during the busy summer travel season.
Tags: Midway, TSA
Big John Howell Show Notes 4-19-16
Apr 19, 2016 | WLSAM Staff
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration on Monday unveiled the details of its last-ditch plan to put “Star Wars” filmmaker George Lucas’ museum along the lake. Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration on Monday unveiled the details of its last-ditch plan to put the museum along the lake. Greg Hinz the Political Writer and Blogger for Crain’s Chicago Business joined John with details on the new plan. (Listen here)
There may be more armed people at O’Hare and Midway soon. A new ordinance by Alderman Chris Taliaferro, would change a long-standing policy that keeps aviation police officers unarmed when they are on duty at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports. The aviation police officers are all certified law enforcement officers in the state of Illinois. Many work in suburban police departments or are military veterans. Chicago Police officers are there, and they are already armed. The aviation police don’t like the idea that they would actually be expected to run and hide if there’s an incident at the airport.
Donald Trump, who has made his advocacy for New York City after the 9/11 attacks central to his candidacy, accidentally referred to it on Monday as 7/11 — the ubiquitous convenience store.
A Muslim student says he was pulled from a Southwest flight at LAX because he spoke in Arabic. He was even questioned by the FBI. He was talking to a friend on the phone in Arabic and ended the conversation by saying “God willing” in Arabic. Some passengers around him heard him says “Allah” and basically freaked out.
An elementary school in Massachusetts has decided to ban Donald Trump’s image… sort of. A group of 11-year olds were planning on wearing giant masks of Trump during their dance routine for the school talent show. The kids said they picked Trump’s face just because it would look funny. The school wants nothing to do with that though.
Actress Doris Roberts has died at the age of 90. Most recently she was famous from Everybody Loves Raymond.
Tags: donald trump, doris roberts. lucas museum, Midway, muslim, rahm
UPDATE: OSHA investigates fatal crash with luggage vehicle at Midway
(CHICAGO) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation after a man driving a luggage vehicle was killed in a crash Friday night at Midway International Airport on the Southwest Side.
About 11:20 p.m., 52-year-old Michael Yates was ejected from his luggage vehicle when it crashed into another luggage vehicle at Midway, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
Yates, of the 400 block of Heather Lane in Carol Stream, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was pronounced dead, authorities said. An autopsy Saturday found Yates died of multiple injuries suffered in the crash and his death was ruled an accident.
A Chicago Department of Aviation spokeswoman said the crash involved Southwest Airlines employees and referred all questions about the incident to Southwest and Chicago Police.
“After an accident involving ground equipment, one of our ramp agents at Chicago Midway passed away last night,” Southwest spokeswoman Melissa Ford said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time. Resources are on site to support our Southwest family at Midway.”
As of Monday morning, OSHA has opened an investigation into the incident, according to spokeswoman Rhonda Burke.
The police Major Accidents Investigation Unit is also investigating the crash.
Tags: Advocate Christ Medical Center, Midway, OSHA
TSA reviewing why travelers had to wait in long lines at Midway on Sunday
Dec 3, 2014 |
(Chicago) The Transportation Security Administration acknowledged they were caught flat-footed Sunday when travelers at Midway Airport were confronted with a security line that was over a mile long, the Sun-Times reports.
“TSA is currently reviewing the causes of [Sunday’s] longer than usual wait times at [Midway] to prevent a similar occurrence in the future,” the TSA said in a statement released this week. “Unfortunately, some passengers experienced wait times that well exceeded 20 minutes on the morning of Nov. 30, the busiest travel day of the year.”
One of those travelers was Emma Cronin, 21, who was flying to Massachusetts.
She arrived at the airport Sunday morning an hour before her 9:50 a.m. “Getting through the lines usually takes 20 minutes,” Cronin said.
But she was floored to see a line that stretched all the way to the CTA station.
“The line continued all the way through the airport to the CTA Orange Line that goes to and from Midway,” Cronin said. “I was very nervous about missing my flight.”
Her story was just one of many, with some travelers taking to Twitter to kvetch about the security line delays.
“Alright it’s official I hate Midway Airport,” tweeted one frustrated traveler.
The wait hit its peak length between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., the Chicago Aviation Department said Sunday.
Sunday was the busiest travel day of the Thanksgiving holiday, TSA officials said. One reason they were caught unprepared was because a security checkpoint was not opened early to account for the increased volume, the agency said. Officials also attributed delays to early morning staffing levels that were less than anticipated.
“The agency constantly seeks to improve the passenger experience at security checkpoints nationwide, including at Chicago Midway International Airport,” the TSA said in the statement.
–Sun-Times
© Copyright 2014 Sun-Times Media, LLC
Tags: chicago, Midway, TSA
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A. A "certificate" is a legal document issued by the Siting Board to an applicant if the Siting Board determines that the applicant's proposal to construct and operate a major electric generating facility satisfies the statutory standards set forth in Article 10 of the Public Service Law. The certificate authorizes the applicant to construct and operate the proposed facility. The certificate must be in the form of a written decision and opinion, must include explicit findings and determinations required by the statute, and must state the reasons of the Siting Board for the action taken.
A. No. There are three power authorities in New York State: the Power Authority of the State of New York (NYPA); the Green Island Power Authority; and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). The statute expressly provides that all three authorities are subject to the provisions of the Article 10 siting process for major electric generating facilities which they build or cause to be built.
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The Comedy of Errors – Rain Check Run
The YES! Project
Education / Outreach
Woodward Shakespeare Festival
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Ellicia Elliott- Director
Thursday – Friday – Saturday @ 8:00pm
No Performance May 4th
May 2nd – May 18th
Antipholus of Ephesus ……………… Patrick Wall
Antipholus of Syracuse ……………… Rene Ponce
Dromio of Ephesus ………………….. Gabriel Biswas
Dromio of Syracuse …………………. Katie Osle
Adriana ……………………………….. Laura Dodds
Luciana ……………………………….. Jessica Johnson
Balthasar/Dutchess/Pinch ………….. K.D. Younger
Abbess/Emilia/Jailor ………………… Kathie Mollica
Courtesan/Second Merchant/Newspaper Boy …… Kayla Weber
Nell ………………………………….… Chuck West
Angelo ………………………………… David Miller
Egeon …………………………………. Luis Ramentas
Susana Losoya- SM
Jordan Cedillo- ASM/Prop Master
Veronica Munoz- Sound/Sound Design
Chris – Light/Light Design
Ellicia Mertens Elliott — Director– is the co-founder and Artistic Director of The Rude Mechanicals, Eastern Washington’s premiere Shakespeare theatre company. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts Education and an MA in Theatre Production, both from Central Washington University and just recently graduated with her MFA in Directing from the University of Idaho.
Patrick Wall — Antipholus of Ephesus — This is Patrick’s 2nd show with Woodward. He has a minor in theatre from Cal Poly Pomona.
Rene Ponce — Antipholus of Syracuse — Rene is excited to be a part of WSF for a second time! He played Lucius in Titus Andronicus from the 2017 season. A Fresno native, Rene has been involved in the performing arts since childhood. He looks forward to what the future has in store and hopes you enjoy the show!
Gabriel Biswas — Dromio of Ephesus — Gabriel is really excited to get back into acting, improvisation, and comedy. Dromio of Ephesus is his first acting role in five years, but he has been active in the theater community as a techie for almost ten years. In addition to performing, he enjoys playing his guitar, learning about computers, and spending time with his friends. He hopes you all will enjoy the madness that is The Comedy of Errors.
Katie Osle — Dromio of Syracuse — Katie is an early childhood educator who enjoys spending her spare time standing right here and reciting things very loudly for your enjoyment. This is her third production with Woodward Shakespeare Festival. She would like to thank her lovely family and closest friends for enduring the pain of watching her fall on the floor repeatedly “until I get it right and it’s funny”.
Laura Dobbs — Adriana — Laura has somehow stumbled into the world of Shakespeare. Last season she performed in Othello (Emilia) and Measure for Measure (Mistress Overdone) with Woodward Shakespeare Festival. She also played Bottom in Selma Art Center’s recent production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She apologizes to her dog for spending so much time at the park without her.
Jessica Johnson — Luciana — In addition to acting, Jessica enjoys cooking, reading, drawing, dancing, singing, and playing her ukulele. She is an amateur photographer and poet with over ten years of experience. You may have recently seen her in the Fresno State Vagina Monologues (February 2019) or the Inner Ear – Beat Down Poetry Slam (April 2019).
K.D. Younger — Balthasar/Duchess/Pinch — K.D. is making her first appearance with our company in this production, but brings a lifetime of theatre performances and background with her. She is a living history enactress, currently with two “Standup History” shows; one of Martha “Calamity” Jane Cannary and the other as Grainne Ni M’haille (Grace O’Malley), the famous Irish chieftain and sea rover. She also entertains at themed events and more as a comedy oriented standup magicienne.
Kathie Mollica — Abbess/Emilia/Jailor — Kathie Mollica has been acting for almost two years. Her first theater experience was in The Taming of the Shrew (costumer) produced by Woodward Shakespeare Festival. He acting credits include Heda Gabler (Berta the maid) produced by New Ensemble, The Tempest (Gonzalo) produced by Fresno Soap Co, A Christmas Carol (Undertaker’s Woman) produced Good Company Players, King Lear (Oswald) produced by Theatre Ventoux, School of Fish (The Vet) produced by Xan Scott Productions, and Measure for Measure (Escalus) produced by Woodward Shakespeare Festival. Vagina Monologues (My Angry Vagina, Lists, and They Beat The Girl Out of The Boy…) at Fresno State. Currently in The Comedy of Errors (Amelia and Jailer) produced by Woodward Shakespeare Festival. She looks forward to many more years down this path. Much love and thanks to the people that have supported her in this journey.
Kayla Weber — Courtesan/Second Merchant/Newspaper boy — Kayla Weber has recently been in Ann Vermel’s production of Under Milkwood as Polly Garter, Greg Taber’s production of King Lear as Regan, and Renee Newlove’s production of The Tempest.
Charles West — Nell — is a retired English and History teacher. During his career he was a National Endowment for the Humanities Scholar in Shakespeare at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. He was also a Fellow at the Teaching Shakespeare Institute at Georgetown University and Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC. He has contributed Shakespeare lesson plans and other materials to several Folger Library publications. Charles has been a part of the Woodward Shakespeare Festival since Season One as dramaturg and actor, appearing in Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Merchant of Venice, Henry V, Inherit the Wind, Midsummer Nights Dream, and Two Gentlemen of Verona. As a writer he has published poetry, fiction and nonfiction in a variety of publications. His novel, THE SACRED DISC, was published in 2001. He has also written several short plays which have been produced in Florida, Wisconsin, Long Island, New York, Michigan San Juan Capistrano, San Diego, and Napa.
David Miller — Angelo of Syracuse — David was previously in last summer’s production of Othello. He is very happy to be appearing in his second production with WSF. David began performing at McLane high school, where he appeared in several productions. He also performed in Fantastic Mr Fox and Waiting for Lefty at Fresno City College. He will be performing later this summer in the California Opera Association’s production of Carmen. He hopes that you enjoy the show.
Luis Ramentas — Egeon — This is Luis’ third Woodward Shakespeare performance, having previously been seen in Richard III and Henry V. He was a long time member of Theatre 3 Repertory Company appearing in dozens of plays, including Glengarry Glen Ross as Shelly Levine, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window as Sidney, and Long Day’s Journey Into Night as James Tyrone. Luis has also performed with Epic Ensemble, Artist’s Repertory Theatre and Fresno City College.
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Average 400 Meter Time Middle School
99 Currently in the design phase. Rather, vary them by the time of the season to get full impact of the training stimuli. Season ends on Saturday, May 26, 2018. mlbfan24 Cool Runner. Girls 800 meter relay - Gillian Goecke, Ariana McMichael, Raigan Staup, Lilyan Goecke. Boys Athletes With The Best Kicks In The Mile This Year Feb 07, 2019. Amanda Stone stuns talented Central meet with fastest time, WWPSouth runs strong in both boys and girls meet. There is no way, literally NO WAY the average American could run an entire lap on a 400 meter track without stopping to walk along the way. 400/200/100 Intervals. 58 1 Reece Snow Simle 27. The Phases of a 400 Meter Hurdle Race A little while ago I wrote an article breaking down the phases of the 100/110m hurdle race. Since the distance around the track in lane one, the inside lane, is 400 meters the distance around the track for the other lanes can be calculated by knowing the lane width and a few other measurements. While these records have been compiled for over 100 years, there are varying standards for these records. Every Mega Man Zero game has the real prize being S. BRR All Comers Meets. More than half of Minnesota's ranked individuals and teams will be running on one of todays' sixteen meets taking place across the state, and we have it all covered. Men 60+ and Women 50+ do 300 hurdles at 30" but continue to use the 400 meter placement, chopping off the first three hurdles, meaning it is a 7 hurdle race that is different from the high school race. To see which countries are leading the medal count, go here. She was an 11-time Genesee Region champion [Intermediate hurdles – 4X, 400-meter run – 3X, and 1600 meter and 3200-meter relay – 2X each] and set county records in the 400-meter run, the 400 intermediate hurdles and as a member of the 3200-meter relay. 400 Metre Pace. The 3200-meter run, the 100-meter dash and the 1600-meter run for both boys and girls shall be run at the metric distances only. 91s is the second-fastest in Delaware high school history and the fastest on Delaware soil. Fraser-Pryce, she of the green-and-yellow hair dyed to show her Jamaican pride, won bronze with a time of 10. 400 METER TRAINING. Winning time 68. Host IMG Academy in Bradenton gave the future of the sport a taste of top notch facilities to go along with top notch competition. Anyone who takes long distance running seriously (BQ) can beat a minute. ) The following donations were approved for uniform and equipment requests: Middle School Girls Basketball uniforms Middle School Boys Basketball uniforms. It's the type of race you need to sprint for but still have a strategy. 84s over 100 meters gives 10. Numerous Meet Records and All-Time Top Ten Marks went down this weekend, as Middletown brought the heat on the track, and in the field. A track is 400 meters at an imaginary line called a “measure line” that is located in lane one. Easy Pace - Comfortable daily mileage pace where one can carry on a conversation while running. for 400 meters. Some of the common distances for dashes are 50, 55, 60, 100, 200 and 400 meters. 400 Meter Dash: 1:09. Sydney Milani ran the fastest Iowa times in two state meet races, and she's just starting. Four-Time State 400 Champion with Ken Jakalski and Legendary Middle Distance Runner Steve Scott Mike Cox corroborates Tucker's analysis in his article "The Long Sprint: Reclassifying the 800m. A 7th grade student at Ida Middle School died Tuesday morning after running a 400-meter dash at a track meet. Robert was critically injured in a car wreck the week after he won his 2nd Championship. Hopefully the information here on tips4running can help you develop a strategy that will get you to the finish line faster than you ever have before. Anthony Middle School - $988,461. 400 METER TRAINING "SO MANY INGREDIENTS, SO LITTLE TIME" Average Velocity 8. 84s over 100 meters gives 10. 100 Meter Dash; 100 Meter Hurdles; 200 Meter Dash; 300 Meter Hurdles; 400 Meter Dash; 1600 Meter Run; 800 Meter Run; 3200 Meter Run; 4 x 100 Meter Relay; 4 x 200 Meter Relay; 4 x 400 Meter Relay; Long Jump; Triple Jump; High Jump; Discus; Javelin; Shot Put; Pole Vault. Thomas Chaston and Walker Rudolph found themselves at the front of another race today, but this time with less company. GMC MIDDLE SCHOOL INVITATIONAL. 66 … Personal record in the 400 meters came at the 2015 Eastern Kansas League meet when she clocked in at 56. These days, talented middle schoolers post 100-meter times better than Burke's. It takes a toll on your body. 143 to yield a 500 yard time of 328. 16, at Jean K Freeman Aquatic Center on the University of Minnesota campus. A rectangle field has an area of 300 square meters and a perimeter of 80 meters. The distance (400m) remains constant for each lap. Middle School Outdoor: 400 Meter Dash Splechter places third with second fastest time ever for Kansas runner at Rim Rock 400 Meter Dash: 1:03. Latest Completed Heat ; Boys 400 Meter Dash Finals ; Boys 200 Meter Hurdles Prelims ;. Aragon Middle School – $717,968. 800m, 800 meters, 800 metres, statistics. There isn't any absolute "good" or "bad" time. Latest Completed Event ; Boys 400 Meter Dash 8th Grade ; Boys 100 Meter Dash 7th Grade ;. Anthony Middle School - $988,461. How do you train your 400 meter athletes. Loflin Middle School Track Meet Place School Number School Name Contestant Distance/ Time Points Place School Number School Name Contestant Distance/ Time Points 1 5 JOSHUA WEST 2. MaxPreps National Girls Track & Field Leaders - MaxPreps. Access to Multiple Choices is not limited because of ample grant funding for the middle school program. Because most outdoor tracks are now 400 meters long rather than 440 yards, it is more convenient to run 1,600 meters -- only 9. A good 400 meter dash time for high school athletes would be 50-55 seconds and an average time would be 56-59. The 400 Meters provides news, information, videos and results for the 400M from around the internet. The girls' track program, initiated in 1972 at the regional level, moved to state finals in 1974 in two divisions: Class A for grades five through eight and Class B for grades five and six only. The 4 x 400 meter relay state champions are Makenzie Dunmore, Tamiya Roberts, Nilaja Florence, O’Mariyah Tucker, Shania Evans, and Jasmine Reese. 10s for the last 100 meters has him reaching 10. Between 46-48 is top speeds in the US for the 400 in high school. Watts Middle School. School Students/Teachers Ranking (2019 vs 2018) ID Rank (of 2087) School Type Grades Address City Zip County District Is Charter Is Magnet Is Virtual Is Title I Phone # Students Full-time Teachers Student/ Teacher Ratio Free/Disc Lunch Recipients White Black Hispanic Asian American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Average Standard. Northwood MS - 1:04. Kyle Goodman's 800m win and 4x800m and 4x400m splits are one of the best single meet performances in NCHSAA history. To get the number of laps it will take around a particular basketball court to equal a mile, take the length of the basketball court and multiply it by two. Lucas plans to try out for the Miami Trace basketball, cross country and track teams once he reaches seventh grade. For the long-hurdle race, they run 300 meters instead of the 400 metres hurdles. The IAAF ratified Charles Reidpath's 48. The 800 Meters - Training Approaches. Where Are We At: Sprints and Hurdles April 2018 vs 2019 May 05, 2019. Athletes can deemphasize event specific skills and focus on speed training that will benefit all sports that require speed and quickness. 14, and ending on Saturday, Nov. Running movies are few and far between but Dave Christiano from Nashville continues to put out solid family friendly flicks targeted at viewers who enjoy the sports of cross country and track and fiel. 50) in winning 6A titles and also ran state's fastest 60-meter dash time of 7. Athletes must combine speed with endurance to finish the race strong and ahead of the pack. Get your free-forever account! Offering team management tools for coaches, meet registration for all, training tools for athletes, stats for parents & fans, and much more. Events for middle school students are as follows: TRACK EVENTS: 55 meter hurdles, 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1600 meters, 4 X 100 meter relay, 4 X 400 meter relay. Brandon Miller has narrowed down his much-anticipated college decision to 6 illustrious schools WATCH: Brandon Miller Anchors USA's SMR Win At AAU Club Jul 11, 2019. Johnson's 19. If you have a nice tailwind here, take advantage of it and get out fast but relaxed. He owns the meet and Iowa record in the event at 8:50. Archived State Series Information & Results. Run 400 meters in 1 minute June 5, 2009 As you can see I haven't been working at this goal recently, but I look forward to resuming work on it sometime in the future :) September 15, 2008 It has now been seven weeks since I was last at the track, and four weeks since I last went out for a run. MHSAA Record Book If you have information you believe should be included in these records (additions, deletions or corrections), it may be submitted one of three ways: Submitted by a MHSAA member school athletic administrator on official office letterhead, or by using the National Federation Record Application (Note: The Federation form is a. The girls' track program, initiated in 1972 at the regional level, moved to state finals in 1974 in two divisions: Class A for grades five through eight and Class B for grades five and six only. 200 METER DASH SCHOOL TIME/DIST 1 Cami Frey MDN 12. Trevor Wilson: A New Spark to Rickards HS Track & Field. The content and format of the pages may vary from year to year. Mandan Middle School GRADE 7 DIVISION Girls 100 METER DASH SCHOOL TIME/DIST. 300 metres in 48 seconds. 2019: Raced five times in the 400 meter hurdles during the season and competed in the event at the BIG EAST Championships for the fourth straight year; Penn Challenge (3/23): Tallied a time of 59. compiled by Jim Rorick (marks received and verified by 08/13/2019) View High School Girls All-Time List Symbols: +=converted mark; i=indoor Read More Skip to content. 74 2000 Monique Henderson, California State 54. The 800 is an interesting event, as most competitors have both speed and endurance. File photo. Get your free-forever account! Offering team management tools for coaches, meet registration for all, training tools for athletes, stats for parents & fans, and much more. 5 to 1 mile west of that intersection. You will see baseball fields as you enter the driveway. I remember running the 800 meters and clocking 2:00 flat as a junior in high school (Gilmer). But is that really a viable goal? Can I really run 55 seconds for 400 meters at age 55?. If you get 60 seconds that is very good. School Students/Teachers Ranking (2019 vs 2018) ID Rank (of 2087) School Type Grades Address City Zip County District Is Charter Is Magnet Is Virtual Is Title I Phone # Students Full-time Teachers Student/ Teacher Ratio Free/Disc Lunch Recipients White Black Hispanic Asian American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Average Standard. There will be softball practice from 2-4:00 pm for current 7 th and 8th grade girls behind the middle school. He also placed second in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:55. 400 Metre Pace. In 2018 when I did 913 kilometers for a 24 hour time trial I averaged 256 watts. UTEP 400-meter runner Sean Bailey heads to NCAA Track and Field Championships in Austin. 987 1 Cami Frey MDN 27. 00: Pentathlon--3200. 6098 rounded to the nearest 0. Isabella's time is the US#1 time. With a wide gap opened by the time Ziyah received the baton, she ran the 400 meters alone. 55 Meter Hurdles – a ‘flight’ of 5 hurdles is set up at a set distance apart. MHSA track & field records. Can you include your age and sex I wanna compare them to mine and find out if I am behind, ahead, or average I would really appreciate it Thanx :d [This message has been edited by beginner14 (edited 07-25-2001). The average time for someone to complete the 100 yard dash is about 20 seconds. Middle School Outdoor: 100 Meter Dash Detroit Pal set a new record time of 46. Any time under 40 seconds is a good time for the 300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles for high school boys. 4 seconds faster than her previous time, she would have run a 59. Griffith was the founding executive director and CEO of e3 Civic High. As an aerobic test, it may be suitable for children. • All eligible participants should be given equal consideration for playing time over the course of the season based on coach’s discretion. Any suggestions on training programs to maximize their times (but are age appropriate), ie 200 intervals, 400 intervals, 500 intervals etc?. If the meet is underway and we are forced to interrupt the meet we will break for 30 minutes during which time teachers and students will seek refuge in their buses or in a designated area inside the school. On several occasions, due to mechanical problems and huge mileage, participants have completed stages at night. In the 400m, runners are placed in staggered starting blocks to ensure that everyone covers the same distance. Get your free-forever account! Offering team management tools for coaches, meet registration for all, training tools for athletes, stats for parents & fans, and much more. The initial 10-60m will be the fastest top-end instantaneous speed, but if you were to take 50 meter segments, or 100 meter segments, this is the zone where the splits are the fastest. High School: Graduate of Omaha North High Schoolthree year starter in cross country, two in soccer and two in track and fieldClass A State Cross Country qualifier during senior season, placing 48th with time of 20:54. The 440-yard dash, or quarter-mile race, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. That is one of the faster average times so you are right on. As a result, the event has flourished, replacing the mile at many meets. Halle Stadium: This is located on Mt. 400m, 400 meters, 400 metres, statistics. 400 METER TRAINING "SO MANY INGREDIENTS, SO LITTLE TIME" Average Velocity 8. Running movies are few and far between but Dave Christiano from Nashville continues to put out solid family friendly flicks targeted at viewers who enjoy the sports of cross country and track and fiel. At Tokyo he also ran an incredible 8. ] IP: Logged. 9220, which gives 10. Track News from Greeneville Home Meet 2: Blake Ryan placed 3rd, Hayden Charles placed 8th, and Cameron Leonard placed 11th in the Boys 400 Meter Dash Finals, Porter Bradley placed 3rd and Thomas Johnson placed 4th in the Boys 800 Meter Run, Porter Bradley placed 2nd, Nick Daniel placed 5th, Ethan Lillycrop placed 6th, and Boaz Lipscomb placed 13th in the Boys 1600 Meter Run, Drew Oligny placed. usatf officials best practices hurdle placement & height comparison 30-49 110 10 39" 13. Timeline for Juniors and Seniors; Links for "On the Go" High School Students: Community Service Opportunities; Scholarship Information. I can run a 400 in 59 seconds. 2019: Raced five times in the 400 meter hurdles during the season and competed in the event at the BIG EAST Championships for the fourth straight year; Penn Challenge (3/23): Tallied a time of 59. 81 2 Avery Mills Horizon 13. In many countries, athletes compete in the 440 yard dash (402. All 7th & 8th grade girls are welcome to join, no experience necessary. Under 70 seconds is quite good. 81 Franco Montes, Ogden, 2008, 3A record 48. The American School Counselor Association recommends one counselor for every 250 students but has found the average ratio to be nearly double that. Swimmer Eric Shanteau placed third in the 200-meter breaststroke at the U. Running tracks are oval in shape. The fastest girls in the class of 2021 based on combined PRs at each distance. University's white uniforms stood out, but that wasn't what stood out most about the Bulldogs today. 51 1997 21Girls 100 Meter Hurdles 3A Maranda Brownson - Yoncalla14. Day 5 – 8 x 200 meter repeats @ 400 meter pace. The sophomore leads several Olympia-area athletes into this weekend’s state. Middle School Outdoor: 100 Meter Dash Detroit Pal set a new record time of 46. Any suggestions on training programs to maximize their times (but are age appropriate), ie 200 intervals, 400 intervals, 500 intervals etc?. The following pages have been posted on the IHSA Web site since its inception in January 1996. 99 seconds at the Hillsdale Jack Beilfuss Invitational on Saturday and was also a member of the 1,600 and 3,200 relay teams that finished runner-up. She was an 11-time Genesee Region champion [Intermediate hurdles – 4X, 400-meter run – 3X, and 1600 meter and 3200-meter relay – 2X each] and set county records in the 400-meter run, the 400 intermediate hurdles and as a member of the 3200-meter relay. In the very first race of the night, the girls’ 4 x 800 meter relay team of Kayci Martensen, Ella Reilly, Joelle Sigwarth and Hilde Sigwarth clocked a time of 10:22. 3 and took second to me. 2 performance set at that year's Stockholm Olympics as a world record, but it also recognized the superior mark over. the 400-meter record in the 55, 65 and 70-year-old age groups. 400m High School Training Program posted on September 17, 2012 In my last newsletter, I mentioned the top 3 requests I get through personal email were 1. Kurt Powdar Sets State Record, Oscar Smith Grabs Nat. 800-meter champion Khadevis Robinson before becoming an assistant track and field and cross country coach at UCLA. The 2019 state championship was one of the greatest in history. 50 stunning Olympic moments: No8 Eric Liddell's 400 metres win, 1924 A true amateur, the Scot never intended to fill more than a few years in athletics before he was ready to become a missionary. She lifted the baton high for the final pass of the race, made the clean handoff, staggered, and collapsed onto the infield grass. The average velocity is the displacement (a vector quantity) per time ratio. It is equal to 100 centimeters, 1/1000th of a kilometer, or about 39. That is one of the faster average times so you are right on. 13 5 178 Matthew Jackson 8 Springfield 58. The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a sprinting event in track and field competitions. Â A prolonged sprint, two turns at full speed and a long straightaway leave even the toughest runner's legs weak and heavy. Example 1: A male 50 yard freestyle time of 23. I recommend doing a mix of 200 meter work outs combined with 400 meter work outs. 1 day ago · Here’s the latest on later school start times Later hours for middle, high schools have brought relief, concerns so lost class time may have to be made up during the middle or at the end of. Running 800-meter repeats helps you focus on consistency and improving your time with each set. Strides 1 day per week at 800 race pace (6 x 100 meters) Short strides 1 day per week (6 x 50 meters FAST) Strength = speed. MHSA track & field records. Mile High Mile. This marked the last year of 5th graders being at the Elementary level in Perry and Whipple won the 5th grade division by just a single point over Reedurban who competed in their last ever meet with the school being closed next year. What is the average time for a female high school athlete to run the 400 meter dash? An average time for the 400 is about 70 seconds. Hopefully i can get the time down before the end of the season. The range is pretty large though, reasons going from age, build, experience, and even mentally giving up 200m in because it begins to hurt. The average annual per capita income in the province where the village is situated is $1,620, compared with a national average of $2,587, according to the Vietnamese government. Middle-distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. Really good is usually 66-68, and anything lower is obviously going to lead to a lot of success at larger meets and in high school. Accumulated time for set 1 is 240 seconds (4 minutes) Set 2 400 metres in 67 seconds. The total T time is equal to time t1 = x / 40 from A to B (away) plus t2 = x / 60 from B to A (return). “I remember it started off when I was in middle school and that was when springtime the ice would break up early,” says Olemaun. 4 400 meter, when i was in highschool and that was my conference best that year, most high schoolers will get about 55-60 and college will get 50 or less on the 400, even a 12 second 100 meter is and awesome time for most highschools,. Four-Time State 400 Champion with Ken Jakalski and Legendary Middle Distance Runner Steve Scott Mike Cox corroborates Tucker's analysis in his article "The Long Sprint: Reclassifying the 800m. 400 Meter Racing) 800 Meters 1500 Meters vVo2 5000 Meters Tuesday 97% vVo2 Tuesday 100% vV02. The Girls State Meet Is Ready For Golden Ticket Status. The skinny: Ran state's fastest outdoor times in 100 meters (11. 43 6 72 Morgan Ramirez 8 Fort Mill Mi 59. That time is a school- and Hubert Jack Stadium-record. The last class of seniors graduated on June 6, 1991. If an athletic woman who didn't specifically train for running jumped on the track and ran 400m, I'd usually expect her to run about 75 seconds. Training at race pace simulation are generally more intense than building endurance. 19: 500 Meter Dash: 1:02. That event requires the perfect balance between power and conditioning to be good at it. Justin Finney, shown competing at the 2018 SPIRE Showcase, took the 60m hurdles win at the Blue Division #2 meet with his time of 8. At King’s Fork High School, Keith was an AAU national champion in the 4x400-meter relay, running 3:10. Track News from Greeneville Home Meet 2: Blake Ryan placed 3rd, Hayden Charles placed 8th, and Cameron Leonard placed 11th in the Boys 400 Meter Dash Finals, Porter Bradley placed 3rd and Thomas Johnson placed 4th in the Boys 800 Meter Run, Porter Bradley placed 2nd, Nick Daniel placed 5th, Ethan Lillycrop placed 6th, and Boaz Lipscomb placed 13th in the Boys 1600 Meter Run, Drew Oligny placed. What a State Meet it was. (Matthew Putney/ for Lee. The average annual per capita income in the province where the village is situated is $1,620, compared with a national average of $2,587, according to the Vietnamese government. The average time for someone to complete the 100 yard dash is about 20 seconds. Under 70 seconds is quite good. November 17, 2017 Sumit Gulia. The qualifier portion is for any middle school track and field competitor to either qualify, get an additional meet or just to compete. The ratio of the boys in school A and the boys in school B is 2:1 and the ratio of the girls in school A and the girls in school B is 4:5. updated and maintained by Peter Larsson. Mandan Middle School GRADE 6 DIVISION GIRLS 100 METER DASH SCHOOL TIME/DIST. Track is about. A good 400 meter dash time for high school athletes would be 50-55 seconds and an average time would be 56-59. Moretti and Wilson set out to study whether the suddenly high price of ending one’s days in a state with an estate tax was followed by any relocations among the richest of the rich. which usually works on its own. 69 gives you 91. Run 200 meters @ 800 meter pace, 400 meters @ current mile pace and then another 200 meters @ 800 meter pace. By Rick Morris. Numerous Meet Records and All-Time Top Ten Marks went down this weekend, as Middletown brought the heat on the track, and in the field. Middle school athletes from around the state had their "Super Bowl" this past weekend at the FLYRA Middle School State Championship. And taking second at the 2A state championships. Ohio Interscholastic Track and Field Records. 84 3 Lyd Symens Horizon 29. Introduction The 400 meter dash is an endurance sprint incorporating the speed of the sprinter and the endurance of the half miler. 5) 400 meter dash 8 lanes unlimited participants. Chase Middle School vs Northwood MS and Shaw/Garry MS. 91s is the second-fastest in Delaware high school history and the fastest on Delaware soil. updated and maintained by Peter Larsson. Track and field workouts with race pace simulation should be followed by a less intense training day. 88 Saturday at the Ice Breaker Invitational for the US#1 spot in the 400m. 35 m/s , and 9. Middle School Boys Rankings: Cade Flatt A Triple Threat Mar 15, 2018. I think I ran just over 6 minutes in the mile, but we weren't tested at the 800 meter dash. The 800 Meters - Training Approaches. in one more day it's time to look back at the first. The manual covers every major event and includes comprehensive, ready-to-apply information from 33 leading American coaches and experts. Â A prolonged sprint, two turns at full speed and a long straightaway leave even the toughest runner's legs weak and heavy. 94 - third fastest seventh grade time in state of Idaho at this point into the season. RE: Average 400 meter sprint time for a 14 year old girl 4/8/2017 8:51PM - in reply to ken252525; Hope this helps. Waco, Texas. -- First 100 meters pushed hard. Track is about. 2019 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Induction includes the West Plains Cross Country program, Berkeley Track and Field program, as well as University of Central Missouri coaches Kirk Pedersen and Kip Ja. A good 400 meter dash time for high school athletes would be 50-55 seconds and an average time would be 56-59. The 800-meter run is one of the most challenging middle distance runs in the sport of track and field. 2 days ago · The new law does not mandate that middle and high schools adhere to a specific bell schedule, nor does it change the instructional minutes required of schools, so lost class time may have to be. If you are trying to convert a 400 or 800 meter runner to the 300/400 meter hurdles, you can help them to overcome any fear and “feel” success by dropping the hurdle in practice. 48 3 Eleanor Thomsen MDN 29. GMC MIDDLE SCHOOL INVITATIONAL. It takes Serina 0. The first power team rankings of the 2018 outdoor season. 60 2014 Kianna Gray, North Hardin 2A 55. It is the fastest all time 60m in the Ohio M. The women's study revealed the best quotient for the 200 meters divided by the 100 meters to be 1. The 800 metres, or 800 meters (US spelling), is a common track running event. It takes Serina 0. 800 metres in 129 seconds. High School Outdoor: Long Jump: 21-7: 100 Meter Dash: 11. Amanda Stone stuns talented Central meet with fastest time, WWPSouth runs strong in both boys and girls meet. These days, talented middle schoolers post 100-meter times better than Burke's. Host IMG Academy in Bradenton gave the future of the sport a taste of top notch facilities to go along with top notch competition. Each rep is timed, and the athletes always have someone to run beside (same gender, pair a boy with a girl and give the girl a head start, and sometimes have the hurdler run beside a sprinter). Get your free-forever account! Offering team management tools for coaches, meet registration for all, training tools for athletes, stats for parents & fans, and much more. 4 X 400 Meter Grant Middle School record time. 5 to 1 mile west of that intersection. 400 meters = 1/4 of a mile. Take no recovery between the distances. Not may compete in filed events indoors but who knows how many we would have if we had an indoor facility in Mississippi. For the long-hurdle race, they run 300 meters instead of the 400 metres hurdles. Thus, it makes sense for us to focus. Evil E · 9 years ago. Woody was a four-time All-American at Northern Iowa, winning the 1997 NCAA title in the 400-meter hurdles. The average cost of rent in Mooresville is approximately $1,400 a month and the median home cost at $268. Gary Ross really came on strong his final two years of high school to become one of the best if not the best middle distance runners in the state of Maryland. Rather, vary them by the time of the season to get full impact of the training stimuli. While training is important when trying to rev up your 400-meter dash, so is your diet. 92), a US Championship in the 100 meters as well as 22 Oregon school records. Texas A&M runs fastest world time in 4x400-meter relay at. What is a good 400 meter time for girls in middle school? OK. McLaughlin will turn 17 before the 400-meter hurdles heats begin in Rio on Aug. Feb 10, 2019 Brebeuf Jesuit's Semira Killebrew dropped a US #3 time of 7. 200 METER DASH SCHOOL TIME/DIST 1 Reece Snow Simle 12. At King’s Fork High School, Keith was an AAU national champion in the 4x400-meter relay, running 3:10. 72 in the 60m last night at the NEOITC Buckeye Div. I could do better than that in high school when I trained for track in the 4x4. My races are the 400 and 200 meter. Make customizable worksheets about constant (or average) speed, time, and distance, in PDF or html formats. My 5th grade daughter and 7th grade son will be running the "400 meters" in their school's track meet in 4 1/2 weeks. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle-distance event. 2400 (start time 4:15pm) 400 meter relay 800 meter run 110 hurdles 100 meter dash 800 meter relay 400 meter dash 300 hurdles 200 meter dash 1600 meter run 1600 meter relay head track coach: todd waters todd. Brandon Miller has narrowed down his much-anticipated college decision to 6 illustrious schools WATCH: Brandon Miller Anchors USA's SMR Win At AAU Club Jul 11, 2019. If you are a runner the time 4:00-3:45-3:30-3:15 for high school girls with an 800-meter to one mile warm down,and want to get professionally involved you need to strengthen your body. Baylor University. Amanda Stone stuns talented Central meet with fastest time, WWPSouth runs strong in both boys and girls meet. There are some things that you will have to do though to give yourself the best shot at a. UTEP 400-meter runner Sean Bailey heads to NCAA Track and Field Championships in Austin. The quartet of Parker Raymond, Dubem Amene, Ethan Pyeatt and Jordan Brown secured the 4x800 win at the AAU Junior Olympic Games. Dalilah Muhammad eclipsed a 16-year world record at the USA Track. Oh, by the way, the family is distantly related to Eric Liddell, who won the gold medal in the 400-meter dash (and the bronze in the 200) for Great Britain at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Pairs. The aerobic and anaerobic systems are triggered at different speeds (anaerobic systems are triggered at around 75% of 100 metres pace - aerobic threshold) and the aim should be to utilise the anaerobic alactic system for as long as possible. Each member of the team must compete in at least one relay and one individual event. 987 1 Cami Frey MDN 27. Monthly parking costs $100 on average, though there are locations where rates can be as low as $60-80. A good 400 meter dash time for high school athletes would be 50-55 seconds and an average time would be 56-59. A small shopping centre for daily need shall be located near the school. International Basketball Federation basketball courts go by the metric system measuring 28 meters in length (91. The two-time State qualifier caught onto her best event quick, and considers her transition to hurdling her best track accomp. Which is the best boarding school in my area? Communities of organisms coexist in organized, balanced _____? What is a good 400 meter dash time for a middle schooler?. 50) in winning 6A titles and also ran state's fastest 60-meter dash time of 7. What is Serina’s average speed on her drive to school? TIME 6. Anyone who takes long distance running seriously (BQ) can beat a minute. Sean Burrell finished off a triple at the state meet winning the 200 meter dash in a US #3 time of 20. With data compiled from the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, the Des Moines Register has assembled a searchable State Track & Field Meet database that lists event winners and team champions since the first boys' meet in 1906, and 1962 when the first girls' meet was held. In a great week of MS meets, here are the Boys 'Who Won the Week' ending 3/24 with MS State looming only 3 weeks away at Parkview HS pictured is former MS Champ Brian Herron. 78 4 188 Justin Perry 8 Springfield 57. 95 Jake Downard, North Summit, 4-26-2002, 2A record 440-yard dash (class records) 47. Now, multiply 11. The fact-checkers, whose work is more and more important for those who prefer facts over lies, police the line between fact and falsehood on a day-to-day basis, and do a great job. Today, my small contribution is to pass along a very good overview that reflects on one of Trump’s favorite overarching falsehoods. Namely: Trump describes an America in which everything was going down the tubes under Obama, which is why we needed Trump to make America great again. And he claims that this project has come to fruition, with America setting records for prosperity under his leadership and guidance. “Obama bad; Trump good” is pretty much his analysis in all areas and measurement of U.S. activity, especially economically. Even if this were true, it would reflect poorly on Trump’s character, but it has the added problem of being false, a big lie made up of many small ones. Personally, I don’t assume that all economic measurements directly reflect the leadership of whoever occupies the Oval Office, nor am I smart enough to figure out what causes what in the economy. But the idea that presidents get the credit or the blame for the economy during their tenure is a political fact of life. Trump, in his adorable, immodest mendacity, not only claims credit for everything good that happens in the economy, but tells people, literally and specifically, that they have to vote for him even if they hate him, because without his guidance, their 401(k) accounts “will go down the tubes.” That would be offensive even if it were true, but it is utterly false. The stock market has been on a 10-year run of steady gains that began in 2009, the year Barack Obama was inaugurated. But why would anyone care about that? It’s only an unarguable, stubborn fact. Still, speaking of facts, there are so many measurements and indicators of how the economy is doing, that those not committed to an honest investigation can find evidence for whatever they want to believe. Trump and his most committed followers want to believe that everything was terrible under Barack Obama and great under Trump. That’s baloney. Anyone who believes that believes something false. And a series of charts and graphs published Monday in the Washington Post and explained by Economics Correspondent Heather Long provides the data that tells the tale. The details are complicated. Click through to the link above and you’ll learn much. But the overview is pretty simply this: The U.S. economy had a major meltdown in the last year of the George W. Bush presidency. Again, I’m not smart enough to know how much of this was Bush’s “fault.” But he had been in office for six years when the trouble started. So, if it’s ever reasonable to hold a president accountable for the performance of the economy, the timeline is bad for Bush. GDP growth went negative. Job growth fell sharply and then went negative. Median household income shrank. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by more than 5,000 points! U.S. manufacturing output plunged, as did average home values, as did average hourly wages, as did measures of consumer confidence and most other indicators of economic health. (Backup for that is contained in the Post piece I linked to above.) Barack Obama inherited that mess of falling numbers, which continued during his first year in office, 2009, as he put in place policies designed to turn it around. By 2010, Obama’s second year, pretty much all of the negative numbers had turned positive. By the time Obama was up for reelection in 2012, all of them were headed in the right direction, which is certainly among the reasons voters gave him a second term by a solid (not landslide) margin. Basically, all of those good numbers continued throughout the second Obama term. The U.S. GDP, probably the single best measure of how the economy is doing, grew by 2.9 percent in 2015, which was Obama’s seventh year in office and was the best GDP growth number since before the crash of the late Bush years. GDP growth slowed to 1.6 percent in 2016, which may have been among the indicators that supported Trump’s campaign-year argument that everything was going to hell and only he could fix it. During the first year of Trump, GDP growth grew to 2.4 percent, which is decent but not great and anyway, a reasonable person would acknowledge that — to the degree that economic performance is to the credit or blame of the president — the performance in the first year of a new president is a mixture of the old and new policies. In Trump’s second year, 2018, the GDP grew 2.9 percent, equaling Obama’s best year, and so far in 2019, the growth rate has fallen to 2.1 percent, a mediocre number and a decline for which Trump presumably accepts no responsibility and blames either Nancy Pelosi, Ilhan Omar or, if he can swing it, Barack Obama. I suppose it’s natural for a president to want to take credit for everything good that happens on his (or someday her) watch, but not the blame for anything bad. Trump is more blatant about this than most. If we judge by his bad but remarkably steady approval ratings (today, according to the average maintained by 538.com, it’s 41.9 approval/ 53.7 disapproval) the pretty-good economy is not winning him new supporters, nor is his constant exaggeration of his accomplishments costing him many old ones). I already offered it above, but the full Washington Post workup of these numbers, and commentary/explanation by economics correspondent Heather Long, are here. On a related matter, if you care about what used to be called fiscal conservatism, which is the belief that federal debt and deficit matter, here’s a New York Times analysis, based on Congressional Budget Office data, suggesting that the annual budget deficit (that’s the amount the government borrows every year reflecting that amount by which federal spending exceeds revenues) which fell steadily during the Obama years, from a peak of $1.4 trillion at the beginning of the Obama administration, to $585 billion in 2016 (Obama’s last year in office), will be back up to $960 billion this fiscal year, and back over $1 trillion in 2020. (Here’s the New York Times piece detailing those numbers.) Trump is currently floating various tax cuts for the rich and the poor that will presumably worsen those projections, if passed. As the Times piece reported:
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Twins Honor Mauer, Top Kansas City
The Minnesota Twins won a close game at home against the Kansa City Royals at home, the very same night they officially retired Joe Mauer's #7.
It was all KC to start the game. They kicked things off with two runs in the first inning. The Twins trailed 2-0 until the bottom of the fourth when Max Kepler hit a solo home run to close the gap to 2-1.
The Royals responded in the top of the fifth with two more runs to extend their lead to 4-1. Minnesota's bats were just getting warmed up though. In the next frame, Marwin Gonzalez hit a two-run home run, and Ehire Adrianza scored on a double from Jorge Polanco.
Tied up at 4-4, the Twins got the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. C.J. Cron hit a double to send Eddie Rosario home. Minnesota won it, 5-4.
Jake Odorizzi had an off night, throwing seven strikeouts, but giving up seven hits in six innings.
The Twins improve to 47-22 and will look for the series sweep in game three with the Royals on Sunday. Pre-game starts at 12:30 p.m. on AM 1240 WJON.
Filed Under: Baseball, Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins, mlb, Target Field
Categories: Minnesota Twins, Sports
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Brian Lord
31 Articles0 Comments
Brian Lord was a journalist for 3D Printing Industry. Originally hailing from Miami, he moved to the UK where he graduated from the University of Stirling with a Bachelor's degree in History & Media. In the past he has conducted and transcribed interviews for his own personal blog.
K-AMUG presents 3D printed airless bike tire
Brian Lord September 18th 2018 - 11:20am
Based in Ulsan, South Korea, the Korean Additive Manufacturing User Group (K-AMUG) is a developer of 3D printing materials, equipment, manufacturing processes and service-related technologies. It’s la…
Brian Lord September 18th 2018 - 11:20am 0 0
Ashford Orthodontics applies 3D printing, expedites dental production by 24 hours
Brian Lord September 17th 2018 - 1:32pm
Five years after its initial experimentation Ashford Orthodontics, a UK based laboratory, has shown great success with its 3D printed dental equipment. According to CEO and founder, Sean Thompson, “Di…
Brian Lord September 17th 2018 - 1:32pm 0 0
Bladder grown from 3D bioprinted tissue continues to function after 14 years
After more than a decade, a 3D bioprinted bladder, created by Dr. Anthony Atala at Boston Children’s Hospital, is sustaining the live of a patient. The 3D bioprinted organ was made to replace pa…
SwRI and UTSA to develop 3D printed medical implant for slow-release cancer medication
Researchers at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) are developing a 3D printed implant which can deliver a controlled medicine dosa…
Dutch Railways signs 3D printed supply contract with DiManEx
Dutch Railways has signed a multi-year contract with digital supply chain service provider DiManEx, to integrate 3D printing into its spare part distribution. The deal came about as part of Dutch Rail…
DyeMansion raises $5 million to further 3D printing post-processing R&D
Munich headquartered startup DyeMansion has raised $5 million in Series A funding for its 3D printing post-processing technology. The funding came from Unternehmertum Venture Capital (UVC Partners), …
GKN Aerospace cuts production time and costs with Stratasys 3D printer
Stratasys has announced that GKN Aerospace, a UK-based global engineering firm has improved production times for tooling applications since integrating its F900 3D printer into production. This printe…
University researchers develop new method for making 3D printed molds
Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria & the Institute of Science and Information Technology in Italy have developed a new tool for creating 3D printed molds. The tool auto…
3D Printing News Sliced, Volkswagen, Dassault Systèmes, FORMNEXT and more
Today’s digest of the latest 3D printing industry news contains updates from Volkswagen, Dassault Systèmes and Roboze. There is also an new opportunity for educators and students working in the area o…
PrintLab expands 3D printing curriculum
PrintLab, a UK based 3D printing reseller, has announced the launch of additional language options for its PrintLab Classroom learning program. The first new language to be available will be Polish, w…
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Add a Flexible Learning Program to the Database
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Flexible Learning Options are programs and initiatives, both outside school and in schools, designed to meet the diversity of needs for young people to be actively and positively engaged with their learning, achieving better life and learning outcomes and building pathways to further learning beyond school.
The information within our Flexible Learning Options database is aimed at young people (and their parents, youth workers and teachers) to help them find a program that suits them – and at programs, so that they can learn about and from each other. Although there is much variety, what the programs listed in the database have in common is that:
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Don't Default on the American Dream: Children and people with disabilities will go without needed care : article June 28 2011
The Huffington Post : June 28 2011
Ethan Rome : Executive Director, Health Care for America Now
Don't Default on the American Dream: Democrats Should Hold the Line in Debt Limit Talks
The President and Democratic Leaders obviously have a huge responsibility in the debt limit talks. But if there's ever been a time to drive a hard bargain, this is it. There's nothing irresponsible about staring down the Republicans and making them blink. These negotiations boil down to fundamental choices and priorities, and the differences between the sides could not be more stark. Democrats are for working and middle-class families. The Republicans are for rich people and big corporations. Seniors and middle-class families need to win this time.
That's why it was encouraging to hear White House spokesman Jay Carney sum it up so well on Monday: "Do we perpetuate a system that allows for subsidies in revenues for oil and gas, for example, or owners of corporate private jets, and then call for cuts in things like food safety or weather services?"
Carney's question was spot on, and Democrats should forcefully answer it with a resounding "no." Democrats should insist on cutting spending on things like tax breaks for Big Oil and owners of corporate jets before agreeing to any other cuts (as Drew Westen has suggested). There's no basis for whacking seniors and middle-class families by cutting vital programs before ending outrageous tax loopholes for people and companies that don't need them. When it comes to Medicare and Medicaid, there's no rationale for taking a meat ax to these programs at all.
Deep Medicaid cuts, for example, will cause serious, irreparable harm to people. Millions of seniors would be thrown out of nursing homes. Middle-class families would be slammed with crushing health care costs for their parents while struggling to make ends meet, save for retirement and send kids to college. Children and people with disabilities will go without needed care. Huge costs will be shifted to state governments, jobs will be lost and the economy will be hurt.
Democrats have to resist the Republican plan to destroy Medicaid as fiercely as they are fighting the Republican proposal to end Medicare as we know it. They shouldn't cave in on this issue. That would be devastating for people and for the political fortunes of Democrats.
As for tax loopholes for the corporate jet set and others, Democrats should never agree that eliminating tax breaks is the same as increasing taxes. It's not. It's a cut of wasteful, obscene and unaffordable government spending on people and corporations that are awash in money and don't need more - especially in the form of handouts paid for by middle-class taxpayers. It's worth shouting this every minute of every day.
These tax breaks are as pointless and unconscionable as they are extravagant. Can we really afford to spend $21 billion of our tax dollars giving a break to Big Oil, the most profitable companies in the history of the world? Or spend $3.7 trillion continuing the Bush tax cuts for the rich? The Bush tax cuts are responsible for about a third of the national debt. And there are obviously more important things to spend tax dollars on - like a real jobs program that puts people back to work.
America can't afford useless tax cuts for millionaires, billionaires and big corporations. It's been shown repeatedly that cutting taxes for the super rich does nothing to create jobs and grow the economy. Tax cuts for high-income people and companies only make rich people richer at a time when middle-class families are struggling to hang on. Instead, we should be raising revenue by increasing taxes on folks in the highest income brackets, as Rep.Jan Schakowsky of Illinois has sensibly proposed. Asking America's wealthiest people to pitch in and pay their fair share is good policy and politics.
The Republicans aren't interested in deficit reduction or the budget. They are mounting a frontal assault on the middle class. It's about shrinking government and remaking our society so millionaires and corporations get even richer while the rest of us are left with crumbs.
People are hurting and understandably angry. Some Republicans don't know this, and most don't care. But Democrats do. That's why it's worth fighting so hard for seniors and the middle class in the debt limit talks. The stakes are high. The federal government can't default on its debt obligations. We also can't tear apart the programs that preserve and expand the middle class. We can't default on the American Dream. Democrats must keep alive the promise of economic security and opportunity for the people who built this country and make it work.
Follow Ethan Rome on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@HCAN
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Here & There Blog
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About ADRA
ADRA 2018 Annual Report
Snapshot of ADRA's work around the world… View Document
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ADRA Mozambique
Serving the local population since 1987
Though Mozambique is emerging as one of the fastest-growing economies, poverty is still widespread in the country. To address this, ADRA Mozambique has developed capacities in food security, health, and water and sanitation. Our partnership with other agencies has ensured consistent and reliable relief for the most vulnerable people living in Mozambique.
Make a difference around the world
ADRA Mozambique is recognized as one of the best well-drilling agencies in the country. We are bringing water to 700 communities.
Our four-phase, multiyear project in Zambezia has facilitated farmers’ capacity to generate food and income.
Paula’s Story
The day after Christmas in the small community of Dedere, Paula Orlando went into labor. Only 17 years old, Paula had never had a baby before, so when the second day passed with no progress, she began to worry. By the fourth day of intense pains, Paula began to panic. The nearest clinic was more than 15 miles away, and the rural community had no means of transportation. Her family took turns comforting her and praying, but there was little else they could do.
By the end of the fourth day, someone recalled the story of a pregnant woman who had been taken to the clinic several months prior. She too had been experiencing labor difficulties when a bicycle ambulance arrived and took her to the clinic. Inspired, the family rushed from the home and began knocking on doors, asking everyone they met if they knew of the bicycle ambulance. Somebody directed them to a home of an ADRA Health Council member only a few miles down the road. They ran to the house, and the bicycle was immediately released into their care.
Back at the house, Paula was carried out to the waiting ambulance, a covered cot attached to the back of a bicycle. In less than two hours, Paula was safely in a hospital bed, and in less than an hour upon arrival, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
When most people think of an ambulance, they imagine the flashing lights, piercing siren, and high speeds. But in many parts of the world, it is as simple as a bicycle. And even though it may lack the medical equipment and flashy technology, it is no less capable of saving lives.
Because of that one bicycle ambulance, more than 20 women have safely given birth to their babies. Members of the community are so proud of the ambulance that they all contribute money to its maintenance. Now everybody has access to the hospital, just a short ride away.
Mozambique Office
Lynn Boyd, Country Director
adramozambique@adramozambique.org
www.adramozambique.org
Capacity Statement Overview
Ogumaniba, “Together for a Common Purpose,” is a multiyear project funded by USAID to help reduce poverty in the region of Zambezia. The success of this project has depended on a viable, self-sustaining network that unites the efforts of the government, civil society, and international development agencies. It spans the sectors of public health, economics, and infrastructure. The ultimate goal is to empower vulnerable members of society, specifically orphaned or abandoned children.
Our Capacity Statement further highlights the projects, programs, and people of ADRA Mozambique.
Though Mozambique has nearly fully recovered from the 15-year civil war that left a million dead, the country still faces crippling poverty, with 50 percent of the population living under $1 per day. Mozambique is also prone to disasters, with occasional droughts and floods wreaking havoc in equal measure.
I am interested in the following areas:
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1-800-424-ADRA (2372)
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Home News Attorney general announces new crackdown on illegal robocalls
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Attorney general announces new crackdown on illegal robocalls
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, in cooperation with the Federal Trade Commission, on Tuesday announced a major crackdown on illegal robocalls. The sweep includes 94 actions targeting operations around the country that are responsible for more than 1 billion calls pitching a variety of products and services, including credit card interest rate reduction services, money-making opportunities, and medical alert systems.
Operation Call it Quits is joint national crackdown that is part of an ongoing nationwide effort to help stem the tide of universally loathed pre-recorded telemarketing calls. Operation Call it Quits also provides new information to help educate consumers about illegal robocalls. In addition, Raoul, along with other state attorneys general and the FTC, continues to promote the development of technology-based solutions to block robocalls and combat caller ID spoofing.
“I am committed to protecting the rights of Illinois consumers, and that includes defending against illegal robocalls,” Raoul said. “Robocalls cost consumers time and money and violate their privacy. I am proud to be part of this joint effort to take further action to stop this illegal and intrusive practice.”
“We’re all fed up with the tens of billions of illegal robocalls we get every year,” said Andrew Smith, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Today’s joint effort shows that combatting this scourge remains a top priority for law enforcement agencies around the nation.”
As part of today’s crackdown, the Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against Glamour Services LLC, Awe Struck Inc. and Matthew Glamkowski, the manager of Glamour Services and president of Awe Struck. Raoul’s office alleged that since 2007, Glamour Services and Awe Struck have used robocalling and telemarketing to solicit home cleaning services. Many consumers who filed complaints with Raoul’s office had received repeated, unsolicited calls despite having their phone numbers registered with the National Do Not Call Registry. According to Raoul’s office, consumers who asked to be removed from the calling list were ignored, and the calls continued.
Joining Raoul in announcing enforcement actions today are the attorneys general of Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. The consumer protection divisions within the offices of the California district attorneys for Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, and Santa Clara counties; the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; and the Los Angeles City Attorney also participated in the sweep. In addition, five criminal cases are being handled by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Northern District of Georgia, the Middle District of Florida, and the Southern District of Texas, with support from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Consumers who wish to file a complaint against a company responsible for robocalls can do so on the attorney general’s website or by calling the Consumer Fraud Hotline at (800) 243-0618. Information about how consumers can add their number to the Do Not Call registry is also available on the Attorney General’s website.
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Alaska Scenic Drive: Seward Highway
The Seward Highway, linking Anchorage with Seward, passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. For 127 miles, the road winds through a land of remarkable beauty, a land of saltwater bays, frigid blue glaciers, knife-edged ridges, and alpine valleys.
From the reflective waters of Turnagain Arm, you rapidly ascend 1,000 feet above sea level to an alpine meadow. Within the hour, you find yourself back at sea level surrounded by fjords, having just passed through a district of rivers and lakes.
Historical Qualities of Seward Highway
The route from Resurrection Bay to the interior has been in existence for thousands of years of Alaska's history; even Russian explorers searched the area for gold and fur in the 1700s. Following the same early routes used by native Alaskans, the Seward Highway has evolved into a modern transportation system.
Natives first used an area along the Seward Highway 9,000 years ago as a hunting camp. In this area, now known as Beluga Point on Turnagain Arm, Tanaina Indians also discovered abundant game in the region more than 8,000 years after the first natives inhabited the area.
The region finally received its name in 1778. When shallow water forced James Cook to turn around in his quest for the Northwest Passage, he christened the sound Turnagain River. South of Anchorage, Highway 1 now follows the shore of Turnagain Arm.
In 1895, prospectors discovered gold in Hope in the Kenai Peninsula, and the rush began. Suddenly, the tiny towns of Hope and Sunrise grew into booming gold-mining towns. Sunrise was even considered as a potential state capital.
Scattered findings of gold all over the Kenai Mountains established the need for improved transportation routes from the ice-free port of Seward to Turnagain Arm.
By 1910, most miners had left the area in order to follow prospects of gold farther north. Sunrise dwindled into nothing more than a few residences, and mining activity in Hope came almost to a standstill.
However, Cooper Landing's economy was soon influenced not by mining but by interest in big game hunting and fishing.
Today, the mining legacy of the Kenai Peninsula lives on through stories, museum photos, and weathered wood remains scattered throughout the Kenai Mountains. The privately owned town site of Sunrise is a historic archaeological district. The Hope Historical Society operates a small museum that displays items from the gold rush.
Natural Qualities of Seward Highway
Along the highway, you may hear the honking of Canada geese in the wetlands, the whistle of hoary marmots in the alpine valleys, and the cry of bald eagles in the dense coastal forests.
Along Turnagain Arm, you may spot Dall sheep as they scale rugged mountainsides or bring their young near the highway to forage. Moose, bears, mountain goats, salmon, and a variety of birds thrive along the highway as well. Many species of wildflowers help beautify the road corridor.
This map will guide your travels along Seward Highway.
Recreational Qualities of Seward Highway
The section of the Seward Highway adjacent to Turnagain Arm provides scenic vistas across to the Kenai Mountains. Most of the lands above the highway are within Chugach State Park and provide you with a collection of things to see and ways to see them: windsurfing on Turnagain Arm, rock climbing on roadside rock cuts, rafting or canoeing on rivers, kite flying at Beluga Point, angling at creeks, and bicycling the highway. Two hundred miles of trails are in the forest alone.
Once a mining town, Girdwood is now home to a world-famous ski resort that offers excellent scenery and plenty of challenges. This town combines the best of today's recreation with classic activities of the past, such as panning for gold.
Other byway towns including Hope and Cooper Landing offer havens for fishing. In Anchorage, you can browse in shops or visitor centers.
For more useful information related to Alaska's Seward Highway, see:
Alaska Scenic Drives: Seward Highway is just one of the scenic byways in Alaska. Check out the others.
Seward, Moose Pass, Girdwood, Anchorage: Find out what there is to do in these cities along Seward Highway.
Scenic Drives: Are you interested in scenic drives beyond Alaska? Here are more than 100 scenic drives throughout the United States.
Seward Highway Information
Time to allow: Three to five hours
States it runs through: Alaska
Cities it runs through: Seward, Moose Pass, Girdwood, Anchorage
Considerations: From May to mid-October, salmon fishing is at its peak, and you can see whales along the shore and sheep on the mountainsides. Avalanches may cause the road to be closed for short periods throughout the winter, an average of five times a year for approximately four hours.
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How Going Over Niagara Works
by Lee Ann Obringer
George Stathakis, 1930
George Stathakis was a chef who lived in New York. He came to Niagara Falls in 1930 with the idea of gaining fame so he could earn enough money to publish his books on metaphysical experiences.
Stathakis often rowed in the Niagara River, going closer and closer to the Falls with each trip. He reportedly spoke of the Falls in mystic terms. Having studied the trips of both Charles Stephens and Jean Lussier, George decided to go with a heavier barrel (even though Stephens' heavy barrel had lead to his death). George and his friends built the barrel, ending up with a reported 2,000-pound (907-kg) vehicle of enormous strength.
On the day of his ride, Stathakis brought along his pet turtle, Sonny Boy, who was over 100 years old, as a good luck charm (and to tell the story in the event George didn't make it). Unfortunately, the barrel became stuck behind the curtain of water and could not be removed for somewhere around 18 hours. While it is assumed he survived the plunge, he only had enough air for somewhere from three to eight hours, and he ultimately died in his attempt. Sonny Boy survived but never had much to say about it.
Dick Proenneke: 30 Years Alone in the Alaskan Wilderness
Coconut Palm Trees Could Save Your Life on a Desert Island
How Do You Survive Getting Lost in a Cave?
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Category Archives: reproductive labor
Gender Equality, Ubuntu, and Critical Thinking
March is women’s history month. But women make history all year, year after year. Women’s history is no joke. Women are no joke. Women are the harder-working half of humanity, hands down. They do the reproductive labor of our species, as well as productive labor. And because of patriarchal accounting systems, economies and cultures the world over, a woman’s reproductive labor is not fully accounted for; sometimes it is called leisure. But the very reproduction of the species is a far more significant task than leisure. We cannot monetize it. We cannot, or refuse to, dignify it the way our acquisitive culture dignifies the whole predominantly white male lot of Wall Street bankers who helped dramatically deepen the long crisis that capitalism is. The World Bank and IMF will not categorize and catalogue the full worth of women’s labor. But our patriarchal, consumer society has been far more successful at monetizing women’s bodies, at the gross objectification of sisters, daughters, and mothers for their body parts. In this way women are reduced to mannequins and sex dolls, display pieces in downtown boutiques, or rated, graded, and sold as if on the meat market of human flesh, as when dowries are paid. So any thoughtful vegan should be quick to recognize that the liberation of women furthers the cause. More monumental is the task of having men recognize that when women are liberated from gendercide, subordination, and second-class status as humans and as male property, we men will be liberated to become more fully human ourselves. Women’s liberation is its own worthy and urgent cause, but it is also to our own immediate advantage to participate in and share solidarity with full gender equality in our planetary civilization. For us to become more prosperous, more intelligent, and wiser, uniting with feminism is in the selfish interest of men – keeping it real. Reject male privilege. For women are no joke.
This is because an honest appraisal of who we are as individuals suggests the basic logic of the African philosophy of Ubuntu – that “I am because we are,” that we are fundamentally and immutably interdependent beings. It is informed by a basic ecological principle that whatever our material embodiment consists of, it automatically invokes and forms from the contributions of our parents, their parents, the food they ate, the sunshine that shone on it, the minerals/stardust that fed it, and ultimately, the entire universe itself. By this understanding, the American notion of “rugged individualism” is illogical and misleading, perhaps deliberately so as it aims to divide us, isolate us and atomize us. All of us constitute the community, and the full participation of each of us, realizing our full potential, permits collective prosperity. If women are denied an education, the community suffers the loss of her more fully realized participation and contribution to the intellectual and material well-being of the group. The direct consequence of the unjust enforcement of ignorance upon females is collective poverty. This can be proven by looking at any society that has strong evidence of ongoing work toward equalizing the statuses, opportunities and life chances of men and women, and then looking at a society that treats women like livestock, like household appliances. The more just society is always more prosperous, healthy, educated, safe, clean, and so on, by many multiples across any human development measure.
Active critical thinking informs an honest assessment, for men, of the problem with oppressing women, or even passively acquiescing to their oppression. Think, for example, about how women in urban communities around the United States (really worldwide) must deal with street harassment, with the catcalling and worse, which exacerbate the oppression of black women. The street harassment paradigm posits the threat of violence over all of us. Street harassment is motivated by false and problematic beliefs in males of inherent domination, unearned privilege, the machismo quest for superficial and immediate validation, and the pursuit of easy sexual gratification. These are among the same exact prerequisites for deadly beefs on the street between us black men, the same ingredients for the horizontal violence perpetrated between us. While it is objectively true that the external factors of poverty and social debasement have often left us little option but to get over at the expense of one another, we destroy ourselves when we conform to the external anti-black expectation of our manifest, mass failure to thrive in any sustainable way. The motives of street harassment are one and the same as the motives for fatal internecine hostility. This in turn helps, in part, to enable mass incarceration of black men. Thus, the macho atmosphere of street harassment, which makes the lives of our sisters, mothers and daughters unbearable and dangerous, also makes our lives as men perilous. Street harassment is emblematic of a violent community towards all of its members. The streets with the most street harassment are also the streets where the most black brothers die at one another’s hands. Street harassment, rape and bloodshed all live on the same block.
Critical thinking, aggressively centered on a defense of the dignity and full value of human beings, should also inform how we draw conclusions about how we relate to one another and whether or not what we call “tradition” is worth any respect by any intelligent person in this day and age. If you value your own humanity, we can safely and logically assume that other humans value their own essence and identity as well, and consider themselves worth a fair chance in society. Grounded in this logic, a logic that is more immediate to us as humans than almost any other, we should be able to safely regard any tradition, religion, book, philosophy, politic, ethic, or other source of culture and thought that denies the humanity and dignity of people who are different from the majority, or from those with power, as highly suspect, at best. Thus, those who see difference in others and thus deny that others’ humanity, are behaving illogically, and hatefully besides.
The debate around homosexuality in Africa is centered, for the homophobes, in strange defenses of “tradition” or “religion” that claim the alienness of homosexuality to Africa, the “unnaturalness” of gay sex, and so on. These conclusions are fundamentally antihuman, and thus are to be fundamentally rejected; they are unscientific, dishonest and illogical besides. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community is no joke. They are human beings. They are part of the community. They are worthy of respect and of every opportunity to fully contribute to and participate in the growth and empowerment in community; this is no less true in Africa or in black communities anywhere than it is in the West or any other part of the planet. The homophobes in power in Nigeria, in Uganda and elsewhere are using politics to disenfranchise, terrorize, scapegoat and dehumanize a part of the community that should be given every right to enjoy their human lives and be the sisters and brothers to our family that they truly are. By thinking critically and imagining ourselves the target of these laws and antihuman paradigms, we cannot but help draw conclusions that lead us to recognize the inhumanity and fundamental stupidity of homophobia and patriarchy. In this vein, heterosexual people should stand in full solidarity and advocate for the full inclusion and enfranchisement of our homosexual kin. This is the mature stance which will allow all of us to contribute our utmost to grow as a collective. Reject your heterosexual privilege and arrogance. Lives are at stake – and by the logic, critical thinking and Ubuntu understanding we have applied here thus far, it is unacceptable to deny the humanity of anyone in our community, no matter what gender or sexual identities they are born with or adopt. When we begin to take what private parts people have, or what they do with them in private, as justification for branding certain people unworthy of human dignity, we are being utterly childish, and any religion, tradition, or person that has that tendency is also ignorant, childish, dangerous and stuck in the stone-ages.
As a heterosexual male, I hope I have made a reasonable case that we, over-privileged straight men, will be far better off when we reject the convenient privileges of our status which permit us to dominate women and dehumanize gays. Equality of opportunity, for women to be born, to be educated, to enjoy equal participation in the maintenance of a family and household, and to be able to contribute their fullest potential to our collective excellence, will always lead to a superior quality of life for our community. The same equality of opportunity and recognition of humanity for non-heterosexual members of our community will also enable everyone to contribute fully and without fear of denigration.
Machismo is deadly to women and to men. Patriarchy and male supremacy are harming the planet and keeping millions of women from even being born, let alone contributing their full worth to the excellence of humanity. Only equality – an equality that enables us, especially as men, to see women as at our level in all productive, cognitive and creative capacities – can move us forward.
Gender inequality is a hallmark of underdevelopment, a cornerstone of neocolonialism and a function of ignorance. All sorts of indicators of social well-being in different societies show this. And when men, straight men at that, reject the insults of patriarchy, chauvinism, and homophobia, we truly begin to become revolutionary. For we begin to honor the basic nature of human beings that the Ubuntu principle reminds us of – that I am because we are, that all of us deserve to participate to the fullest might we can muster as free people towards our collective greatness.
Posted in activism, africa, african culture, african humanism, african internationalism, african liberation, african revolution, african vegans, african voices, african writers, africans, bell hooks, black liberation, black men, black on black crime, black people, black vegans, black women, black youth, capitalism, catcalling, collectivism, communalism, communism, consumerism, crime, critical thinking, culture of violence, development, domestic violence, economics, ethics, exploitation, feminism, freedom, gay rights, gender equality, gender inequality, gender violence, gendercide, health, homophobia, horizontal violence, human condition, human freedom, human liberation, human potential, human rights, humanism, humans, ignorance, individualism, inequality, injustice, interbeing, internationalism, logic, machismo, male privilege, male supremacy, manhood, masculinity, mass incarceration, neo-colonialism, pan-africanism, patriarchy, rejecting privilege, reproductive labor, respect, rugged individualism, self-determination, sexual violence, street harassment, ubuntu, uhuru, Uncategorized, vegan, violence against women, war on women, womanism, women's history month, women's liberation, women's rights, womynism
Tagged human-rights, science, society, women
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Tag / MND
Rangers football veteran Fernando Ricksen, fighting MND, invites fans to join him for ‘my final night’
England, Motor Neurone Disease, Rangers Football Club, Sport, Sports, United Kingdom, Weather
a veteran of more than 250 games for Rangers, Fernando Ricksen, former Leeds and England boss Don Revie and former Scotland rugby star Doddie Weir with the disease, MND, Rangers star Fernando Ricksen, The Dutchman
Fernando Ricksen played for Rangers between 2000 and 2006. (Credit: Getty Images)
Rangers star Fernando Ricksen has called on fans to join him for a ‘final night’ as he continues to battle motor neurone disease.
Ricksen, who played in defence and midfield for the Scottish Premier League club, appeared in a video posted to Twitter on Sunday.
He joins the likes of American footballer Mike Webster, former Leeds and England boss Don Revie and former Scotland rugby star Doddie Weir with the disease, the latter revealing his diagnosis in 2017.
The Dutchman, a veteran of more than 250 games for Rangers, posted a video from a Twitter account inviting fans to join him for what he says will be his final public appearance.
“Hello, I’m having a special night on the 28th,” said Ricksen, speaking with the aid of a computer-generated voice. “Since it’s getting very difficult for me, this will be my final night.
“Come and make this a night to remember.
“Hopefully see you soon, Fernando.”
The event with the 42-years-old will be at An Evening With Fernando Ricksen at the GoGlasgow Urban Hotel.
He set up the Fernando Ricksen Foundation in 2016 to help raise money to fight the disease.
A tweet by Dutch journalist Vincent de Vries carried further quotes from Ricksen.
“I would like to emphasise on the fact that June 28th will be my final public appearance,” read the tweet.
“In other words: I do NOT have the intention to make it my final day. I will continue fighting, the rest of the battling is just going to happen out of the limelights.”
The 42-year-old has been battling the disease since 2013 alongside his wife Veronika and young daughter Isabella.
As well as playing for Rangers between 2000 and 2006, Ricksen appeared 12 times for the Dutch national team.
Motor neurone disease is a fatal disease which affects the brain and nerves, causing a weakness which worsens over time.
It substantially shortens life expectancy but can be lived with for a number of years, and is a result of motor neurones stopping their function.
According to the NHS website, it mostly affects adults in their 60s or 70s, but can strike at any time.
Who else has the disease?
A number of sporting figures have suffered from MND over the years.
Patrick Grange, a former Chicago Fire player, died aged 29 in 2012 after a battle with the disease.
And studies have shown a possible link between football and the disease, as reported in the Daily Record in 2017.
Dr Ann McKee, chief of neuropathology at Boston University, diagnosed Grange and said he showed signs of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, potentially instigated by repeated heading of the ball.
“He was so young when he died,” she said. “His brain was really scary. You could see tremendous atrophy of his frontal lobes.
“At death, he clearly had CTE. It affected his brain in a very substantial way.”
Other figures include Celtic and Scotland icon Jimmy Johnstone, American footballer Mike Webster, former Leeds and England boss Don Revie as well as Scotland rugby star Doddie Weir.
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Home Actors & Actresses Julia Roberts’ Family: Does The Actress Have A Sister or Brother?
Julia Roberts’ Family: Does The Actress Have A Sister or Brother?
Julia Roberts is the actress who dominated the silver screens for the most part of the 90s and early 2000s. This also made her one of the highest paid actresses in the world at the time of her peak as a result of her big Box Office numbers which are reported to be well over $2 billion at present date. Some of her greatest works in Hollywood include; ‘Steel Magnolias,’ ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘Erin Brockovich.’ Such movies, as well as her striking beauty and charm, made her a highly sought after and successful actress whose works have influenced the new generation of actresses present in the movie industry today. More about what makes Julia tick are contained below.
Julia Roberts’ Bio
Julia Fiona Roberts was born in Smyrna, Georgia on the 28th of October 1967 to parents Walter Grady Roberts and Betty Lou Bredemus. After her parents separated in 1971 after 16 years of marriage, Julia lived with her mother in Smyrna, Georgia. Her mother later re-married, this time to Michael Motes, however, Roberts never liked him because he was abusive and jobless for most parts of the union with her mother. The marriage also ended with Betty Lou stating that marrying him was one of the biggest mistakes of her life.
While she was in high school, she played the clarinet for her school’s band. Upon graduation from high school, Julia Roberts gained admission to Georgia State University but soon dropped out and moved to New York to pursue an acting career.
Her debut movie happened when she got a role in the 1988 film, Satisfaction, alongside Justine Bateman and Liam Neeson. In February 1987, she made her television debut when she was cast as a teenage rape victim in the first season of the series, “Crime Story,” in the episode named “The Survivor”. Her fame started to rise when she gave a stellar performance in the critically acclaimed movie, Mystic Pizza, which was released in 1988. She was featured in the fourth-season finale of Miami Vice the same year. Her first Golden Globe Award win (Motion Picture Best Supporting Actress) and Academy Award nomination (as Best Supporting Actress) came in 1989 after she starred in another critically acclaimed movie, Steel Magnolias, where she played the role of a newlywed bride battling with diabetes.
Other Laudable movies of hers include; Pretty Woman in 1990, Sleeping with the Enemy (1991), The Pelican Brief (1993), My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), Notting Hill (1999), Runaway Bride (1999), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), Ocean’s Twelve (2004), Charlie Wilson’s War released in 2007, Valentine’s Day (2010), Eat Pray Love (2010), Money Monster (2016), and Wonder released in 2017. In 2014, Roberts received an Emmy Award nomination for, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her performance in the film, Normal Heart.
Who Are The Parents, Brother, and Sister?
Roberts comes from a very creative family as her parents Walter Grady Roberts and Betty Lou Bredemus were once famous actors and playwrights who co-founded the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop in Atlanta. Her older brother Eric Roberts is an actor as well. He is popularly known for his role in the movie, King of the Gypsies in 1978 among other notable movies. Julia’s sister, Lisa Roberts Gillan, is also an actress and producer who appeared in the 1999 hit movie, Runaway Bride, with her. Interestingly, a rising actress, Emma Roberts, who plays a lead role in the television series “Scream Queens,” happens to be her niece, the daughter of Eric Roberts.
Facts About Her Family – Husband, Kids & Divorce
Julia Roberts Family
Julia has been in a good number of romantic relationships with famous actors some of which include; Dylan McDermott, Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Liam Neeson. Though she got engaged to Kiefer Sutherland after dating for a while, they called off their already scheduled wedding just three days before the planned date being June 11, 1991.
Her first marriage was to country singer Lyle Lovett. This union took place on the 25th of June at the St. James Lutheran Church in Marion, Indiana. Well over two years after their marriage, a divorce followed in March 1993. After this divorce, she focused more on her career until 1998 when she met Benjamin Bratt with whom she entered into a relationship with till 2001. She would later meet Cameraman, Daniel Moder, while she was on set filming the movie The Mexican in 2000. At this point, Roberts was still dating Bratt while Daniel was still married to his wife, Vera Steimberg.
After Daniel filed for a divorce from his wife, he and Julia got married at her ranch in Taos New Mexico on the 4th of July 2000. Thankfully, the pair are still together to date and they are blessed with 3 adorable children, twins, Hazel Patricia and Phinnaeus Walter Moder (born November 28, 2004) and their only son Henry Daniel Moder who was born on the 18th of June 2007.
See Also: Cameron Diaz Age, Height, Married, Husband, Twin Sister, Net Worth
What is Julia Roberts’ Height?
One of the most striking features about Julia Roberts is her looks and pearly white teeth but many may not realize just how tall the celebrity is. One thing is for sure, friends and fans become awestruck when they meet Julia in person and one of these pertinent reasons is because of her height. Julia is a very tall lady who stands at an enviable height of 1. 75 m (5 feet 7 inches.) We are quite sure she intimidates a lot of girls and guys with her height and sheer presence. Hopefully, her husband, Daniel, doesn’t feel inferior when he stands with her because she is visibly taller than he is. You can also imagine just how tall she gets with her heels on. Your guess is as good as ours.
Dozie Nze
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Trump, Egyptian President hold bilateral meeting at White House
Jim Spellman
@jimspellmanTV
President Donald Trump meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Published April 9, 2019 at 8:15 PM
A warm welcome at the White House for Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
On the agenda: counterterrorism and regional security including the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Libya, the Middle East and Yemen.
CGTN’s Jim Spellman reports.
“We have many things to discuss as you would imagine; military, trade, but I have to say that a lot of progress has been made in a lot of different ways in terms of terrorism and other things with Egypt. It’s really incredible,” said U.S. President Donald Trump.
The U.S. provides about $1.3 billion a year in military aid to Egypt-second only to Israel.
The visit comes amid growing concerns in Washington over closer Egyptian ties with Russia, including major arms purchases from Moscow. But it was all smiles in the Oval Office.
“All the credit goes to you Mister President. Thank you very much for your support on all fronts this is what we are seeking to promote bilateral relations in various fields. Political, economic, military, cultural and others,” said President El-Sisi.
El-Sisi is also facing criticism over human rights violations – claims of torture and extrajudicial death sentences against political dissidents and concerns about a new Egyptian law that could allow Sisi to remain in power until 2034.
Trump didn’t mention those concerns but did focus on expanding bilateral trade.
“We do a lot of work together and I think we’ve never had a better relationship Egypt and the United States than we do right now,” Trump said.
The White House argues that efforts to help modernize Egypt’s economy will help create stability and peace in Egypt and throughout the region.
The Heat: China-EU summit »
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The AMS Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centres, deliver complete occupational therapy services at both clinics in Montreal and Dorval.
We have several ErgoSB Occupational Therapists on our clinic team.
Mimi Luong
Mimi is a graduate of the Occupational Therapy bachelor program at McGill University (B.Sc., 2006) in Montreal. Upon completion of her degree, Mimi worked at the Ergo-medic Rehabilitation Centre where she holds the title of head OT in special work reinsertion programs. Her passion for rehabilitation only increased with time and she decided to join the AMS network and lead the department. Mimi is in charge of the functional capacity programs at AMS and of all occupational therapy rehabilitation protocols. Mimi has the privilege of mentoring and supervising future graduates in the field of occupational therapy from Universities all over central and eastern Canada.
Mimi has expanded her expertise throughout her practice by attending continuing education courses and practiced in the following areas:
Hand injury/ post-surgery rehabilitation
Occupational medicine & rehabilitation
Mimi’s approach is “hands on” as she specializes in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Her practice focuses on work & car injuries, spinal & other musculoskeletal problems in patients ranging from hard labor workers to recreational athletes.
Amanda Hadida
Amanda graduated in 2014 from the University of Montreal with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Before completing her studies in Occupational Therapy, she had completed a bachelor in Exercise Science from Concordia University in 2010.
Throughout her academic career, both in Exercise Science and in Occupational Therapy, Amanda completed internships in multiple settings, such as with Varsity sports teams, in a private setting and in hospitals.
During her studies in Occupational Therapy, Amanda was able to take courses and have internships in; orthopedics, hand therapy, neurology, pediatrics, traumatology and geriatrics. Furthermore, playing sports since her youth and her experience throughout her studies as well as her passion for the field of Occupational Therapy, has made Amanda greatly interested in musculoskeletal and vocational rehabilitation. Amanda has and will be taking her continuing education in the fields or orthopedics, hand therapy and neurology.
Sarah Jomaa
Sarah graduated in 2009 from the University of Toronto with a Master`s degree in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Following her degree she moved to Montreal, where she has been working in private clinics ever since. Sarah has worked primarily with clients who have sustained work accidents, as well as car accidents and has worked with numerous private clients who have mostly sustained hand injuries. Sarah has carried out work site evaluations, and has worked with clients in functional capacity programs. To enrich her practice, she has taken continuing education courses and has working knowledge in the areas of hand and shoulder musculoskeletal injuries and treatment, motivational interviewing, pain management, and postural hygiene during weight manipulation.
Samuel Benamron
Occupational Therapy Director
Looking for the team members of another speciality?
See all our therapists
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What Really Goes On in There
Date: November 10, 1991, Sunday, Late Edition - Final
Byline: By George Johnson;
CONSCIOUSNESS EXPLAINED By Daniel C. Dennett. Illustrated. 511 pp. Boston: Little, Brown & Company. $27.95.
Wielding his philosophical razor, William of Ockham declared, in the early 14th century, that in slicing the world into categories, thou shalt not multiply entities needlessly. He might have been pleased when, half a millennium later, James Clerk Maxwell helped tidy things up by writing the equations that show magnetism and electricity as perpendicular shadows cast by light beams, radio waves, X-rays and other forms of what we now call electromagnetic radiation. Einstein did Maxwell one better by equating mass with energy. And today the physicists promise us that once we give them their superconducting supercollider, they will take a giant step toward the day when they can unify light with gravity and the two forces at work inside the nuclei of atoms -- showing how everything, even the geometry of space and time, crystallized from the primordial flash of the big bang.
But there would still be a gaping hole in this grandmother of unification theories: an explanation of the minds that are doing the unifying. Since brains are made from the same atoms as everything else, there must be some way to unify mind and matter. The alternative would be to go against the Ockhamite tradition and, like Descartes, admit mind as a separate substance operating outside the laws of physics.
Daniel C. Dennett, the director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University, is one of a handful of philosophers who feel this quest is so important that they have become as conversant in psychology, neuroscience and computer science as they are in philosophy. "Consciousness Explained" is his attempt, as audacious as its title, to come up with a scientific explanation for that feeling, sometimes painful, sometimes exhilarating, of being alive and aware, the object of one's own deliberations.
Ever since Emil Du Bois-Reymond demonstrated in 1843 that electricity and not some supernatural life force travels through the nervous system, scientists have tried to explain mental life biologically. It's been a long, slow haul. An important step was taken in the early 1940's when the neurologist-philosopher Warren McCulloch and the teen-age prodigy Walter Pitts showed how webs of neurons exchanging electrical signals could work like little computers, picking out patterns from the confusion buzzing at our senses. Inspired by this metaphor, neuroscientists have been making the case that memories are laid when the brain forms new connections, linking up patterns of neurons that stand for things in the outside world.
But who, or what, is reading these neurological archives? The self? The ego? The soul? For want of a theory of consciousness, it is easy to fall back on the image of a little person -- a homunculus, the philosophers call it -- who sits in the cranial control room monitoring a console of gauges and pulling the right strings. But then, of course, we're stuck with explaining the inner workings of this engineer-marionette. Does it too have a little creature inside it? If so, we fall into an infinite regress, with homunculi embedded in homunculi like an image ricocheting between mirrors.
The great success of cognitive science has been to point a way out of this fun house. As Mr. Dennett explained in an essay in his 1978 book, "Brainstorms," the reason we get the regress is that at each level we are assuming a single homunculus with powers and abilities equal to those of its host. Suppose instead that there are in the brain a horde of very stupid homunculi, each utterly dependent on the others. Make the homunculi stupid enough and it's easy to imagine that each can be replaced by a machine -- a circuit made of neurons. But from the collective behavior of all these neurological devices, consciousness emerges -- a qualitative leap no more magical than the one that occurs when wetness arises from the jostling of hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
The information processing carried out by the homuncular hordes need not be a particularly orderly affair. In the late 1950's a computer scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology named Oliver Selfridge unveiled a model called Pandemonium, in which homunculi -- he called them demons -- shouted at one another like delegates in a very democratic parliament, until they reached a consensus on what was going on outside the cranial chamber. In a more recent theory, called the Society of Mind, Selfridge's colleagues Marvin Minsky and Seymour Papert call these homunculi agents. The psychologist Robert Ornstein calls them simpletons, perhaps the most appropriate name of all.
Some homunculi might be dedicated to such basic tasks as detecting horizontal and vertical lines, or identifying phonemes. Their reports would be monitored by other homunculi (shape recognizers, word recognizers) that are monitored by still other homunculi. Suppose you are watching a play. Tripped by reports from various line and shape detectors, the homunculus that recognizes bilateral symmetry might fire, and its signals (along with those of other homunculi) would activate the person detector. There is someone on stage.
But before that final flash, other parts of the brain might be entertaining rival hypotheses -- what Mr. Dennett calls multiple drafts. Spinning tops and pine trees can also appear bilaterally symmetrical. But the minority committees of homunculi considering these interpretations would be contradicted by reports from various motion detectors (trees don't move, people don't spin) and finally by the sighting of moving columns generally agreed by yet other homunculi to be arms and legs.
Considering all this hubbub, maybe it's a blessing that we are not more conscious than we are. Usually it is only the winning interpretations that we become aware of. But occasionally we get to eavesdrop on the behind-the-scenes debate. Sometimes in winter, I glance out the back window of my apartment in Brooklyn and am startled to see an old Indian woman in a shawl, like a figure from an R. C. Gorman painting, standing on the terrace of the building behind mine, huddled against the wind. It takes a second longer before a rival, more convoluted interpretation emerges: the shape is really a tree wrapped in burlap to protect it until spring. Sometimes, driving fast with the window down, you might find your word detectors, fed by your phoneme detectors, misfiring, picking voices out of the wind.
But what exactly is happening when these subliminal judgments shove their way into consciousness? As Mr. Dennett explains, if the result of all the homuncular discussion is that a winning interpretation is presented for appreciation by some central self, then we have solved nothing. We're back to the image of an intelligent, fully conscious homunculus sitting in a control room, which Mr. Dennett calls the Cartesian Theater.
His way out of this mess is to propose what he calls a Joycean machine, a kind of mental operating system (like the computer programs Windows or MS-DOS) that acts as a controller, filtering the cacophony of inner voices into a silent narrative -- a stream of consciousness. To avoid the problem of infinite regress, he hypothesizes that this master controller is not a fully cognizant marionette but a "virtual machine," created on the fly from temporary coalitions of stupid homunculi. It is because of this mental software, he proposes, that we can not only think but reflect on our own thinking, as we engage in the step-by-step deliberations that occupy us when we are most aware of the plodding of our minds.
For someone who is encountering this kind of theory for the first time, that is probably not a very convincing summary. But Mr. Dennett's argument is not easily compressible. At a time when so many nonfiction books are just horribly long magazine articles, he makes use of just about every one of his 500 pages. As he readily concedes, it is practically impossible -- for him or anyone else -- to keep from lapsing into a deeply grooved mental habit: thinking that there is some kind of ego inside us, peering out through the ocular peepholes. To break us of these assumptions, he makes his argument cumulatively, using thought experiments and anecdotes to build up his case piece by piece. For 50 pages or so, he attacks his subject from one angle, until we start to get a glimmer of what he means. Then he retreats and attacks from another angle.
Consider, for example, his story of Shakey, a robot invented in the late 1960's by Nils Nilsson and his colleagues at Stanford Research Institute, a scientific think tank in Menlo Park, Calif. Shakey is a box with motorized wheels and a television camera for eyes. Conceived in the dark ages of electronic miniaturization, Shakey had a brain that was too big to keep on board, so the robot used a radio transmitter to communicate with a central computer. Human operators would type commands on a keyboard, like "Push the box off the platform." Shakey would dutifully explore the room until it found the box. Then it would push a ramp up to the platform, roll up on top and shove the box onto the floor. The robot was able to navigate because its software was designed to recognize the signature that boxes, pyramids and other objects left on the electronic retina of its video eye. As an object came into sight, the computer would measure differences in illumination, detecting an edge here, a corner there. Referring to rules about how different objects look from different vantage points, it might decide whether it was seeing, say, the slope of a pyramid or the incline of a ramp.
Mr. Nilsson would watch these cogitations on a video monitor, as Shakey confronted a big dark blur, tracing its edges with bold white lines and finally declaring it a box. But (this is the punch line) there was no master homunculus inside Shakey watching a television screen. The monitor was purely for the benefit of the human observers; when it was unplugged, the robot worked just fine. One would look in vain for fleeting images of boxes and pyramids reverberating inside Shakey's circuitry. The robot's brain was just processing signals, the ones and zeros of binary code. It had no need of a Cartesian Theater. But it acted as though it had one.
Now let us retreat and approach the problem from a different perspective, an evolutionary one.
In the beginning, the dividing line between self and other was no more than a membrane of lipids, sugars and proteins separating the inside of a cell from the outside world. But little by little pseudopods and flagella, the unicellular precursors of arms and legs, evolved to help organisms embrace the edible and avoid being eaten. As multicellular creatures evolved, Mr. Dennett explains, they developed more complex survival mechanisms: duck when confronted with a looming object (it might be a buzzard or a rock); pay attention to vertical symmetry (it might be another creature looking at you, in which case you could draw on detectors that distinguish between predator, prey and potential mate). Mr. Dennett speculates that these survival mechanisms are the precursors of the mental homunculi. Over eons, animals acquired an evolutionary grab bag of these self-perpetuating tricks, which allowed them not only to monitor the environment passively but to explore, hungering for the information that increased their odds of survival as surely as a good piece of meat.
At first many of the neural devices were discrete, Mr. Dennett speculates, unconnected to one another. But slowly they began to develop communication lines. Imagine the first primitive people, just dimly conscious, learning to use language to milk their fellow humans for information: "Is there food in that cave or a jaguar?" Then one day, someone might have asked for information when there was no one else around: "Now let me see, where was it that I left that chisel?" And, lo and behold, another part of his brain answered. A loop was closed in which the vocal cords, the vibration of the air and the eardrums were used as a pathway to connect one part of the brain with another. A virtual wire was formed. Eventually this signaling became silent -- the voices were in the head.
To make sense of all the mental racket -- the shouting of the homunculi -- the Joycean machine developed and assumed the task of deciding what to think about next. As Mr. Dennett sees it, this is a good part of what consciousness is. Riding on top of the neural machinery -- the hardware of the brain -- is a program that simulates a serial computer, creating a step-by-step narrative from the tumult unfolding in the world and in the head.
The Joycean software is not inborn like, for example, the looming-object detector. It is an accretion of learned behaviors, habits of mind, developed for recruiting teams of homunculi to deal with the long deliberative processes that the brain's wetware alone is not well equipped to handle -- planning a trip to Europe, dividing up a restaurant check, reliving an embarrassing encounter and deciding what you should have said.
If at this point you're still not quite in the swing of Mr. Dennett's theory, you can be sure he will keep retreating and attacking and retreating and attacking, circling in on his prey.
At first I was a little disappointed when I realized that what I was reading was not so much a brand-new theory of consciousness as a synthesis and sharpening of ideas that have been around awhile -- Mr. Minsky and Mr. Papert's Society of Mind model, Julian Jaynes's theory of inner voices described in "The Origins of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind." But in illuminating these ideas and relentlessly putting them to the test, Mr. Dennett's exposition is nothing short of brilliant, the best example I've seen of a science book aimed at both professionals and general readers.
Scientists who look down on colleagues who write popular accounts can rest assured that Mr. Dennett is never less than methodical, thorough, fair in his attributions -- you can almost feel those other philosophers and scientists reading over his shoulder as he types. It's a wonder, then, that he managed to write a book that is also so clear and funny, with introspective flights of fancy worthy of Nicholson Baker. How do you know, Mr. Dennett muses, that everyone in the world but you isn't a zombie? Or that you are not just a brain in a vat, hooked up to a simulation you think is life? It has been a long time since I have felt so engaged by a book.
For all its clarity and style, "Consciousness Explained" is not easy reading. Mr. Dennett probably should have put his methodology (something called heterophenomenology) in one of his appendices (he has one for scientists and one for philosophers). And parts of his argument will be difficult for people who haven't read some of the popular accounts of artificial intelligence and cognitive science. But this book is so good that it's worth studying up for.
In his best seller, "The Emperor's New Mind," the Oxford mathematician Roger Penrose dismissed in a few pages the possibility that consciousness can be explained by thinking of the brain as a kind of computer. If there is any justice, everyone who bought a copy of Mr. Penrose's far more difficult book will buy a copy of Mr. Dennett's and marvel at how, in the hands of a master explicator, the richness and power of the computer metaphor of the mind comes shining through. A JOYFUL KILLER OF SACRED COWS
People resist the idea that consciousness can be explained in terms of unconscious physical processes because they are "reluctant to include themselves in the great fabric of the physical sciences," said Daniel C. Dennett during a telephone interview from his office at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., where he teaches everything from ethics to computer science. "They want to see themselves as exempt."
Just as Copernican theory overthrew the idea that we are at the center of the universe and Darwinian theory overthrew the idea that we are qualitatively different from beasts, he said, now the materialist explanation of consciousness is breaking down the last "wall of defense" against the idea that we are ordinary. We have already "abandoned the outer ramparts," and now we're being asked to abandon the "inner ramparts."
But if you think of your own thinking as the result of purely physical processes, he said, "the losses are not as great" as you might fear. "The shadow you refuse to look at is much worse than the shadow you actually look at." Indeed, he added, "consciousness explained is not diminished at all."
That is not to say it isn't changed. "Since consciousness, unlike earthquakes and diseases, is constituted by the beliefs you have about it, changing what you think changes the phenomenon itself."
After spending the last 30 years thinking about thinking, though, Mr. Dennett is ready to explore a new sensitive spot. "I am fascinated by the emotional difficulties people have with Darwinism" -- difficulties, he said, that "they don't have with Newton or Einstein or even quantum mechanics."
"To a very great extent our ideas about life, our fondest hopes about the meaning of life, are challenged by the Darwinian idea," he said. It's hard to square the idea that "the mind is something that evolved" with the idea that "minds are the source of meaning." Thus people feel repugnance toward Darwinism.
Given that Mr. Dennett enjoys killing people's sacred cows, it's not surprising that he is now the chairman of the committee that will award the Loebner Prize to the first computer that passes the so-called Turing Test -- by fooling a panel of judges into thinking it is human. The award is $100,000. But as yet Mr. Dennett doesn't see any winners on the horizon. "I think," he said, "I could unmask any computer in a minute." SARAH BOXER WE ARE WHAT WE SPEAK
to come . . .
Wittgenstein once said, "If a lion could talk, we could not understand him." . . . I think, on the contrary, that if a lion could talk, that lion would have a mind so different from the general run of lion minds, that although we could understand him just fine, we would learn little about ordinary lions from him. Language . . . plays an enormous role in the structuring of a human mind, and the mind of a creature lacking language -- and having really no need for language -- should not be supposed to be structured in these ways. Does this mean that languageless animals "are not conscious at all" (as Descartes insisted)? This question always arises at this moment as a sort of incredulous challenge, but we shouldn't feel obliged to answer it as it stands. Notice that it presupposes something we have worked hard to escape: the assumption that consciousness is a special all-or-nothing property that sunders the universe into two vastly different categories: the things that have it . . . and the things that lack it. . . . While the presence of language marks a particularly dramatic increase in imaginative range, versatility, and self-control . . . these powers do not have the further power of turning on some special inner light that would otherwise be off.
When we imagine what it is like to be a languageless creature, we start, naturally, from our own experience, and most of what then springs to mind has to be adjusted (mainly downward). The sort of consciousness such animals enjoy is dramatically truncated, compared to ours. A bat, for instance, not only can't wonder whether it's Friday; it can't even wonder whether it's a bat; there is no role for wondering to play in its cognitive structure. While a bat, like even the lowly lobster, has a biological self, it has no selfy self to speak of -- no Center of Narrative Gravity, or at most a negligible one. No words-on-the-tip-of-its-tongue, but also no regrets, no complex yearnings, no nostalgic reminiscences, no grand schemes, no reflections on what it is like to be a cat, or even on what it is like to be a bat. This list of dismissals would be cheap skepticism if we didn't have a positive empirical theory on which to base it. Am I claiming to have proven that bats could not have these mental states? Well, no, but I also can't prove that mushrooms could not be intergalactic spaceships spying on us. -- From "Consciousness Explained."
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https://apnews.com/7eef177eeb0a426badb764bdaee39b23
Theater review: ‘Buddy’ doesn’t fade away
Carolyn LambersonJuly 9, 2016 GMT
The story by now is so familiar. Young Charles Hardin Holley, nicknamed Buddy, blasts out of Lubbock, Texas, to become a pioneering and influential rock ’n’ roll performer and songwriter. His death at age 22, in a 1959 airplane crash that also claimed the life of J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and Ritchie Valens, is widely remembered as “the day the music died.”
Buddy Holly, he of the thick black glasses, creative vocal hiccups and musical genius, lives on in myriad ways, through his music, through characterizations on TV and in movies and, since 1989, a jukebox musical telling the story of his life.
“Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” was a smash hit for Spokane Civic Theatre six years ago. This weekend, the new company, Spokane Valley Summer Theatre, brings “Buddy” back to Spokane in an amiable and fun production that hits a lot of right notes.
There’s a lot of experience with “Buddy” in this production. Directed by former Civic executive artistic director Yvonne A.K. Johnson, SVST’s cast is headed by Civic “Buddy” vet Dalen Gunn. He wears Holly like a comfortable suit. He has the young rocker’s mannerisms and passion down, and easily works his way through Holly’s characteristic singing hiccups. Sure, he bears a passing resemblance to the Texan, but he’s also up to the task of playing Holly’s guitar parts and singing some of the most iconic songs in the early rock repertoire: “That’ll Be the Day,” “Everyday,” “Not Fade Away,” “Peggy Sue” and “Rave On.”
The story, written by Alan James, is a Cliff Notes version of Holly’s life starting in 1956, from the early days with his band, The Crickets, chafing at the pressure to play country-western music, to the first flush of success with his first No. 1 hit, “That’ll Be the Day.” We see him meeting Norman Petty (Mike Muzatko), the New Mexico producer who sees the potential in the young Texan. We watch as he and his bandmates Jerry Allison (Andrews Repsold) and Joe B. Mauldin (Jon Lossing) bring the house down at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. He watch his whirlwind courtship of Maria Elena Santiago, who becomes his wife two months after they meet. And we relive parts of that final concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. It’s a breezy telling of a short life.
The musicians in “Buddy” – Repsold on drums, Lossing on bass, Jacob Segalla as fourth Cricket and guiarist Tommy Alsop – are a tight combo. David McElroy adds some fun energy as an unnamed Apollo singer. As Valens, Paul Villabrille brings an easy charm to “La Bamba.” And as the Big Bopper, Kevin Partridge simply nails it, right down to the elongated “Hello, baby” that opens the Bopper’s hit, “Chantilly Lace.”
The SVST production was a little slow to find its footing Thursday night, but by midway through Act I, the able cast was on both feet, keeping the audience’s toes tapping. Feb. 3, 1959, may have been the day the music died, but “Buddy” proves the music indeed lives.
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Our world is growing. Today, the global population is expected to rise by two billion in the next three decades, and nearly the same number of people is expected to move upward out of poverty by 2040. Increasing access to energy and electricity is a key part of facilitating this social and economic mobility. Accordingly, global demand for energy is expected to grow by almost 30% by 2040. This is all against a backdrop of rising carbon emissions. Each year, we continue to put greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as we fuel economies and growth. This is not just in countries with newly booming populations or economies. In 2018, the United States emitted at a higher rate than we’ve seen in the last ten years, signaling the need for a renewed, strengthened commitment to decarbonizing our world.
At the Andlinger Center, we are driven to find new, creative ways to fuel societies and economies while limiting carbon pollution. What technologies, policies, and changes will get us there, and what stands in the way, are the questions we are tackling with full force. In the past year, the Andlinger Center launched Rapid Switch, an international research collaboration that aims to determine a realistic pace of and practical pathways to decarbonizing energy systems around the world. To help inform this research, we have mobilized research institutions, corporations, and NGOs across China, India, and Australia to incorporate local perspectives into solutions for this global challenge. We are working to identify and resolve bottlenecks in anticipation of transitions to low-carbon economies, and bringing in voices from across the spectrum to include anyone who has a stake in understanding how changing energy landscapes and a changing climate will affect their lives and livelihoods. We are doing this in communities across the globe and in our local community.
At our annual meeting, we welcomed New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy as the keynote speaker. He pointed to the critical role of universities in driving innovations that not only solve problems, but also create economic opportunities. We engaged with the N.J. Board of Public Utilities to advise on how the offshore wind industry could develop in the state, and hosted a meeting to explore ways to develop sustainable supply chains for industries in New Jersey. In each activity, we aim to amplify our impact by actively collaborating with our partners, and by seeking new ones, to broaden the avenues through which we translate ideas into action.
We continue to grow our reach. Next year, we will host the second cohort of Young Global Leaders at our executive education module in partnership with the World Economic Forum. We will train today’s decision makers on energy technologies, and on how to incorporate information about energy and environmental management into business strategies.
We are building our capacity and adding to our academic arsenal of people and programs that will help yield solutions for a long-term energy and environmental future. As of Sept. 1, 2019, we welcomed Jesse Jenkins to our faculty, who brings a systems perspective to energy analysis, and two new Gerhard R. Andlinger visiting fellows, Harry Warren, an energy industry veteran, and Richard Moss, a top climate advisor to policymakers.
The pages that follow showcase the research and activities we are excited to undertake each day to move the needle on these complex and challenging global issues. More importantly, they showcase the power and importance of community. I invite you to join us in our mission – attend a seminar, participate in our fellowship programs, ask our faculty questions, read our energy and environmental news, collaborate on research, and support the funding of our activities. We need everyone with us in this endeavor. We succeed with your continued support and engagement.
Welcome to our Andlinger Center community.
Yueh-Lin (Lynn) Loo
Director of the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment
Theodora D. ’78 and William H. Walton III ’74 Professor in Engineering
Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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456 US Highway 22 West, Whitehouse, NJ
Hearing Evaluations and Testing
Hearing Aid Fitting and Repair
Custom Ear Molds and Ear Plugs
Hearing Aids We Carry
How The Ear Works
Normal Hearing Function
Sound is transmitted through the air as sound waves and are gathered by the outer ear and sent down the ear canal to the eardrum.
The sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, which sets the three tiny bones in the middle ear into motion.
The motion of the three bones causes the fluid in the inner ear, or cochlea, to move.
The movement of the fluid in the inner ear causes the hair cells in the cochlea to bend. The hair cells change the movement into electrical impulses.
These electrical impulses are transmitted to the auditory nerve and up to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound.
The Outer Ear
The part of the outer ear that we see is called the pinna, or auricle. The pinna, with its grooves and ridges, provides a natural volume boost for sounds in the 2000 to 3000 Hz frequency range, where we perceive many consonant sounds of speech.
The ear canal, also called the external auditory meatus, is the other important outer ear landmark. This part of the ear is lined with only a few layers of skin and fine hair, with many veins traveling all around it. This means that there is an abundant flow of blood to the ear canal. Earwax (cerumen) accumulates in the ear canal and serves as a protective barrier to the skin from bacteria and moisture. Earwax is normal, unless it completely blocks the ear canal.
The Middle Ear
The eardrum, or tympanic membrane (TM), is the dividing structure between the outer and middle ear. Although it is an extremely thin membrane, the eardrum is made up of three layers to increase its strength.
The ossicles are the three tiny bones of the middle ear located directly behind the tympanic membrane. These are the three tiny bones (smallest in the human body) in the middle ear: malleus (hammer), incus (anvil,) and stapes (stirrup) and their job is to further amplify the sound. These three bones form a connected chain in the middle ear. The malleus is embedded in the innermost layer of the tympanic membrane, and the stapes is connected to a membranous window of the inner ear, called the oval window. The ossicles translate mechanical vibrations received at the eardrum into the inner ear.
The Eustachian tube is the middle ear’s air pressure equalizing system. The middle ear is encased in bone and does not associate with outside air except through the Eustachian tube. This tubular structure is normally closed, but it can be involuntarily opened by swallowing, yawning, or chewing. It can also be intentionally opened to equalize pressure in the ears, such as when flying in an airplane. When this happens, you might hear a soft popping sound.
The Inner Ear
The inner ear is an organ located deep within the temporal bone, which is the bone of the skull on both sides of the head above the outer ear. The inner ear has two main structures: the semicircular canals and the cochlea.
The semicircular canals do not contribute to hearing, but assist in maintaining balance as we move. The cochlea is the hearing organ of the inner ear, which is a fluid-filled structure that looks like a snail’s shell. The cochlea changes the mechanical vibrations from the eardrum and the ossicles into a sequence of electrical impulses. Sensory cells, called hair cells, bend in the cochlea as the fluid is disrupted by the mechanical vibrations. This bending of the hair cells causes electrical signals to be sent to the brain by way of the auditory nerve. The cochlea is arranged by frequency, much like a piano, and encodes sounds from 20Hz (low pitch) to 20,000Hz (high pitch) in humans.
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1976 Hi-Lo milk launched in the A.C.T.
Ho-Lo milk was the first low-fat specialty milk to be launched on the New South Wales market and a few years later was marketed in the Australian Capital Territory. It had high calcium and high protein, and was promoted as useful for people who were trying to lower the cholesterol in their diets. The “Hi” aspect of the name referred to the addition of milk solids made up of protein, minerals and lactose. Boosting the milk solids also increased the calcium content.
During the 1970s and ’80s, dietary fats were the villains that made you put on weight and gave you a heart attack. And animal fats – from meat and dairy – were the worst of all. We started to see “reduced fat” and “low fat” foods on the supermarket shelves. Including modified milk.
Hi-Lo Milk was launched by Dairy Farmers Co-operative Ltd. in the early 1970s. It had a 2 per cent fat content, as compared to the 4 per cent fat of regular milk. The product was introduced in Canberra (ACT) in 1976. In 1983 Dairy Farmers followed up with Shape, a no-fat high calcium milk.
Hi-Lo ran into trouble with the Trade Practices Commission in 1976. The TPC claimed that the milk was being advertised as an aid to slimming, although the calorie content was not much lower than that of full fat milk and gave the company 28 days to change the name. Dairy Farmers responded that the name was not misleading. Dietitians weighed into the argument, claiming that Hi-Lo was not milk, but a product made from milk. They were particularly concerned that mothers would give low-fat milk to their children.
Over the years a wide variety of low-fat and no-fat milks were developed by the various dairy companies, often marketed only in their home states. In Victoria, for example, Rev was launched in 1978. Sales of full-fat milk declined in favour of the low-fat versions and this situation persisted for decades. Low-fat dairy became part of the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
However, by 2018, the new villain had become carbohydrates. There was a noticeable swing to full-fat milk with sales surging by almost 10 per cent in the course of a year, while consumption of low-fat and other modified milks dropped by about 6 per cent. Sales of non-fat milk had dropped by almost 20 per cent since 2014/15.
But we’re probably still not drinking enough milk. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that in 2011/12 only around one in ten Australians consumed enough dairy products to meet the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Children aged 2-8 years were most likely to meet the recommendation they reported, while less than 1% of people aged 71 years and over were getting enough..
« 1976 Apricot Chicken recipe – Australian food history timeline » 1977 Breville Kitchen Wizz released
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Suicide Bombing Hits Kabul Restaurant, One Dead
By Matt Roberts on January 1, 2016
At least one person, a 12-year-old boy, has been killed, and around a dozen others wounded, following a suicide bombing, at a restaurant, in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Afghanistan Forces Seize Two Tonnes Of Explosives
By Matt Roberts on December 16, 2015
Afghan security forces have seized and destroyed as much as two tonnes of explosives, in the capital, Kabul.
Afghanistan Airport Siege Ended, 50 Dead
At least 50 people, both civilians and security forces, are believed to have been killed, following a siege by Taliban militants, at an airport in Afghanistan.
Pakistan Says Afghanistan Militants Kill Seven Soldiers
By Matt Roberts on October 27, 2015
At least seven Pakistani soldiers have been killed, by militants firing, from neighbouring Afghanistan, according to Pakistan.
Kabul Car Bomb Kills 10, Targets Foreigners
By Matt Roberts on August 22, 2015
At least 12 people have been killed, and a further 66 wounded, following a car bomb, which had reportedly targeted foreign citizens, outside a hospital, in the Afghan capital city, Kabul.
Car Bomb Kills Five In Kabul
At least five people have been killed, following a car bomb in the Afghan capital city, Kabul, near the airport, by suspected Taliban militants.
Dozens Killed In Kabul Bomb Attacks
By Matt Roberts on August 7, 2015
A series of bomb attacks, which began with a truck bomb earlier in the day, have killed dozens in the Afghan capital city, Kabul.
Taliban Attack Northern Afghanistan City
By Matt Roberts on April 27, 2015
Heavy fighting has occurred between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants in northern Afghanistan, after the insurgent group tried to capture the northern city of Kunduz.
Taliban Kidnap 19 In Afghanistan
Taliban militants have kidnapped at least 19 working for a land mine clearance project in eastern Afghanistan, according to a military spokesperson.
Afghanistan Presidential Palace Bombing Kills Six
By Matt Roberts on March 25, 2015
A suicide bombing attack near the Afghanistan presidential palace has killed six people and wounded more than 30, local officials have said.
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Themes in Hebrews 11:19
Abraham » Faith of
The atonement » Typified
Decision » Instances of » Abraham
Faith » Instances of » In the offering up of isaac
Faith » Trial of » Abraham, when commanded to offer isaac
Offerings » Human sacrifices » Offered by » Abraham
Reputation » Spiritual
Resurrection » Typified » isaac
Jesus Christ, Resurrection » Typified
Spiritual » Renewal » Reputation
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
AbrahamFaith, As Basis Of SalvationAbraham, Characteristics OfCircumcision, spiritualCreditJustice, In Believers' LivesReligionRighteousness, As Faith
Abraham, The Friend Of GodAbraham, Testing And VictoryJustification By FaithOld Testament People As TypesReckoningRighteous By FaithRighteousnessRighteousness imputed
What, then, are we to say about Abraham, our human ancestor? For if Abraham was justified by actions, he would have had something to boast about though not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." read more.
Now to someone who works, wages are not considered a gift but an obligation. However, to someone who does not work, but simply believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. Likewise, David also speaks of the blessedness of the person whom God regards as righteous apart from actions: "How blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered! How blessed is the person whose sins the Lord will never charge against him!" Now does this blessedness come to the circumcised alone, or also to the uncircumcised? For we say, "Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness." Under what circumstances was it credited? Was he circumcised or uncircumcised? He had not yet been circumcised, but was uncircumcised. Afterward he received the mark of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. Therefore, he is the ancestor of all who believe while uncircumcised, in order that righteousness may be credited to them. He is also the ancestor of the circumcised those who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the Law, but through the righteousness produced by faith. For if those who were given the Law are the heirs, then faith is useless and the promise is worthless, for the Law produces wrath. Now where there is no Law, neither can there be any violation of it. Therefore, the promise is based on faith, so that it may be a matter of grace and may be guaranteed for all of Abraham's descendants not only for those who were given the Law, but also for those who share the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. As it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations." Abraham acted in faith when he stood in the presence of God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that don't yet exist. Hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," just as he had been told: "This is how many descendants you will have." His faith did not weaken when he thought about his own body (which was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old) or about Sarah's inability to have children, nor did he doubt God's promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, his faith became stronger and he gave glory to God, being absolutely convinced that God would do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."
In the same way, Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." You see, then, that those who have faith are Abraham's real descendants. Because the Scripture saw ahead of time that God would justify the gentiles by faith, it announced the gospel to Abraham beforehand when it said, "Through you all nations will be blessed." read more.
Therefore, those who believe are blessed together with Abraham, the one who believed.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who also inherited the same promise, because he was waiting for the city with permanent foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac he who had received the promises was about to offer his unique son in sacrifice, about whom it had been said, "It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you." Abraham was certain that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did get Isaac back in this way.
Our ancestor Abraham was justified by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar, wasn't he? You see that his faith worked together with what he did, and by his actions his faith was made complete. And so the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." And so he was called God's friend. read more.
You observe that a person is justified through actions and not through faith alone.
By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did, and by faith he was declared to be righteous, since God himself accepted his offerings. And by faith he continues to speak, even though he is dead.
AbelAbel and CainFaith, As Basis Of SalvationCommendationExamples Of FaithAtonement, Types Of
Righteousness, As FaithWorship, Acceptable AttitudesThe Witness Of GodRighteous By ObedienceSacrificeExcellence
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac he who had received the promises was about to offer his unique son in sacrifice,
AbrahamFaith, Nature OfChild sacrificeAtonement, Types OfBeneficial Afflictions For FaithAfflictions, Benefits OfThe Only ChildExploits Of FaithOnly Child Of People
God's Promise To AbrahamFaith KjvStaying Strong And Not Giving UpSacrificeNever Giving UpFaith In Godriskexamstrying
while Abel brought the best parts of some of the firstborn from his flock. The LORD looked favorably upon Abel and his offering,
AbelAbel and CainFirstbornFatnessAtonement, Types OfGrain OfferingAnimal LifeOfferingsSacrifice, In OtWorship, Acceptable Attitudes
Divine FavourFat Of The SacrificesPeople Commended By GodCareer SuccessAcceptanceSacrificeTithes And OfferingFavorRespecting Your Body
God said, "Please take your son, your unique son whom you love Isaac and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him as a burnt offering there on one of the mountains that I will point out to you."
CalvaryAbrahamAtonement, Types OfLove, And The WorldSuffering, Of Jesus ChristWorship, Acceptable Attitudes
Worship, Places OfThe Only ChildSacrificing The FirstbornOnly Child Of PeopleThose Who Loved
Abraham was certain that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did get Isaac back in this way.
Atonement, Types OfForeshadowingAbility, God's PowerOld Testament Parables
The Dead Are RaisedRaising Childrenaccounting
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
AbrahamFaith, Nature OfExamples Of FaithCommitment, to GodReceiving An InheritanceHistory
Abraham, New Testament ReferencesAbraham, Calling And LifeCalling, Of IndividualsDestinationsExploits Of FaithNot Knowing Where
Sometime later, God tested Abraham. He called out to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am!" he answered. God said, "Please take your son, your unique son whom you love Isaac and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him as a burnt offering there on one of the mountains that I will point out to you." So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his male servants with him, along with his son Isaac. He cut the wood for the burnt offering and set out to go to the place about which God had spoken to him. read more.
On the third day he looked ahead and saw the place from a distance. Abraham ordered his two servants, "Both of you are to stay here with the donkey. Now as for the youth and me, we'll go up there, we'll worship, and then we'll return to you." Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. Abraham carried the fire and the knife. And so the two of them went on together. Isaac addressed his father Abraham: "My father!" "I'm here, my son," Abraham replied. Isaac asked, "The fire and the wood are here, but where's the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answered, "God will provide himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." The two of them went on together and came to the place about which God had spoken. Abraham built an altar there, arranged the wood, tied up his son Isaac, and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. Then he stretched out his hand and grabbed the knife to slaughter his son.
Hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," just as he had been told: "This is how many descendants you will have." His faith did not weaken when he thought about his own body (which was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old) or about Sarah's inability to have children, nor did he doubt God's promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, his faith became stronger and he gave glory to God, read more.
being absolutely convinced that God would do what he had promised.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who also inherited the same promise, because he was waiting for the city with permanent foundations, whose architect and builder is God. read more.
By faith Sarah, even though she was old and barren, received the strength to conceive, because she was convinced that the one who had made the promise was faithful. Abraham was as good as dead, yet from this one man came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people died having faith. They did not receive the things that were promised, yet they saw them in the distant future and welcomed them, acknowledging that they were strangers and foreigners on earth. For people who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking about what they had left behind, they would have had an opportunity to go back. Instead, they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac he who had received the promises was about to offer his unique son in sacrifice, about whom it had been said, "It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you." Abraham was certain that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did get Isaac back in this way.
On the third day he looked ahead and saw the place from a distance. Abraham ordered his two servants, "Both of you are to stay here with the donkey. Now as for the youth and me, we'll go up there, we'll worship, and then we'll return to you." Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. Abraham carried the fire and the knife. And so the two of them went on together. Isaac addressed his father Abraham: "My father!" "I'm here, my son," Abraham replied. Isaac asked, "The fire and the wood are here, but where's the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answered, "God will provide himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." The two of them went on together and came to the place about which God had spoken. Abraham built an altar there, arranged the wood, tied up his son Isaac, and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. Then he stretched out his hand and grabbed the knife to slaughter his son. Just then, an angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven and said, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he answered. "Don't lay your hand on the youth!" he said. "Don't do anything to him, because I've just demonstrated that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only unique one, from me." Then Abraham looked up and behind him to see a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went over, grabbed the ram, and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named that place, "The LORD Will Provide," as it is told this day, "On the LORD's mountain, he will provide." The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, "I have taken an oath to swear by myself," declares the LORD, "that since you have carried this out and have not withheld your only unique son, I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the gates of their enemies. Furthermore, through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed my command." After this, Abraham returned to his servants and they set out together for Beer-sheba, where Abraham settled.
For your obedience has become known to everyone, and I am full of joy for you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
GenuinenessInnocence, Teaching OnJoy, Of The ChurchWisdom, Human ImportanceCharacter Of Saints
HarmlessnessGuileBe Wise!Obeying The GospelYou Will Rejoice In Salvation
By faith our ancestors won approval.
People Commended By God
First of all, I thank my God through Jesus the Messiah for all of you, because the news about your faith is being reported throughout the world.
Prayer, As Praise And ThanksgivingRomeThankfulnessThanksgiving, OfferedComplimentsStrong Faith In ChristThanking God For PeopleThe Gospel Worldwide
Thank YouBeing GratefulGrateful HeartSpreading The GospelGiving ThanksThanksadoration
Acts 16:2
Timothy was highly regarded by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium.
By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did, and by faith he was declared to be righteous, since God himself accepted his offerings. And by faith he continues to speak, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken away without experiencing death. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he won approval as one who pleased God. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him. read more.
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, reverently prepared an ark to save his family, and by faith he condemned the world and inherited the righteousness that comes by faith. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who also inherited the same promise, because he was waiting for the city with permanent foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith Sarah, even though she was old and barren, received the strength to conceive, because she was convinced that the one who had made the promise was faithful. Abraham was as good as dead, yet from this one man came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people died having faith. They did not receive the things that were promised, yet they saw them in the distant future and welcomed them, acknowledging that they were strangers and foreigners on earth. For people who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking about what they had left behind, they would have had an opportunity to go back. Instead, they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac he who had received the promises was about to offer his unique son in sacrifice, about whom it had been said, "It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you." Abraham was certain that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did get Isaac back in this way. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons "and worshipped while leaning on the top of his staff." By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelis and gave them instructions about burying his bones. By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after he was born, because they saw that he was a beautiful child and were not afraid of the king's order. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter, because he preferred being mistreated with God's people to enjoying the pleasures of sin for a short time. He thought that being insulted for the sake of the Messiah was of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, without being afraid of the king's anger, and he persevered because he saw the one who is invisible. By faith he established the Passover and the sprinkling of blood to keep the destroyer of the firstborn from touching the people. By faith they went through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do this, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not die with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies with a greeting of peace. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped death by the sword, found strength in weakness, became powerful in battle, and routed foreign armies. Women received their dead raised back to life. Other people were brutally tortured, but refused to be ransomed, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Still others endured taunts and floggings, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins. They were needy, oppressed, and mistreated. The world wasn't worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and from caves to holes in the ground. All these people won approval for their faith but they did not receive what was promised,
Then Abraham looked up and behind him to see a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went over, grabbed the ram, and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
AbrahamHornsRamsSubstitution
Names Of GodHorns Of AnimalsVicarious Substitution
because just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea creature for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
FishesStomachsTypes Of ChristForetelling Christ's DeathMinistry Of The Son Of Man
Three Days And NightsFishmathjonah
Jonah 2:10
Then the LORD spoke to the sea creature, and it spewed Jonah onto the dry land.
Commands, in OTRescueVomittingIndigestion
God's OrdersFishjonah
Ability, God's Power
Atonement, Types Of
Old Testament Parables
The Dead Are Raised
In Like Manner
God back dead speaking certain raise figuratively
Word Count of 37 Translations in Hebrews 11:19
Dead (16)
Able (14)
Even (14)
Back (11)
Figuratively (5)
Whence (5)
Among (3)
Reasoned (3)
Considered (3)
Concluding (1)
Having (1)
Reckoned (1)
Actually (1)
Sacrificed (1)
Potentially (1)
Died (1)
Assumed (1)
Reckoning (1)
Certain (1)
Someone (1)
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Bringing cutting-edge science into the classroom and beyond
Quick guide to HeLa cells
What are they, and how are they used?
Scientists grow large numbers of identical cells for laboratory experiments. The cells are usually of a specific cell line (or type), and there are many different lines available. Ruth Paget takes a look at one widely used type – HeLa cells – to find out more about their fascinating history.
What are HeLa cells?
HeLa cells are human cervical cancer cells (the cervix is found at the top of the vagina and the entrance to the uterus). The cells were first cultured, or grown, in a laboratory in 1951 and were the first type of human cancer cell to be cultured continuously for experiments. There are many different strains (subtypes) of HeLa cells that are now used.
How do HeLa cells grow continuously?
HeLa cells grow rapidly given the right medium (nutrients and conditions) and space. This is because HeLa cells are cancer cells, which multiply and grow quickly in an uncontrolled way compared to normal cells. They can also spread and infect other cells. HeLa cells became cancerous due to infection with human papilloma virus 18 (HPV18). Cervical cancer is very closely associated with HPV 16 and HPV18, which can disrupt the normal activity of the cell to make cells become cancerous. However, not every woman that contracts one of these viruses will develop cervical cancer.
In normal cells, the Hayflick limit means cells can only divide by mitosis a certain number of times because the telomeres at the ends of the chromosomes shorten with each division. This doesn’t apply to many types of cancer cells because they produce an enzyme called telomerase, which elongates the telomeres after chromosomes are copied and allows the cells to multiply continuously.
Scientists have used HeLa cells to develop the polio vaccine; they have gone into space and have been exposed to nuclear testing and to toxins.
Why HeLa?
HeLa cells come from a sample taken from a woman called Henrietta Lacks and were named using the two initials of her first (He) and last (La) names. She had a cervical tumour, which caused her death some months later, so she never knew that her cells became a cell line that would be widely used in science.
How have HeLa cells been used in science?
The doctor who took Henrietta’s cells – George Gey – grew them in the lab and distributed them to other scientists across the world to use in their experiments. They have made a significant impact on scientific research. Scientists have used HeLa cells to develop the polio vaccine; they have gone into space and have been exposed to nuclear testing and to toxins. The cells have furthered our understanding of cancer, HIV/AIDS and cells in general, and are still widely used today to grow viruses and to test anti-tumour medicines.
Ethical and moral questions about HeLa cells
The moral and ethical issues surrounding HeLa cells and other human cell lines are still much debated.
Should patients’ identities be protected?
The process of naming cell lines has changed since the 1950s to prevent people finding out who cells come from. It became widely known that HeLa cells came from Henrietta Lacks, despite other names such as Helen Lane being used to try to maintain her anonymity. The family of Henrietta Lacks did not know scientists were using Henrietta’s cells, and they were exposed to unwanted intrusion and attention. Today, cell lines are anonymised so they can’t be traced to a named person. For more, see the Department of Health information on patient confidentiality.
Should patients give consent?
Neither Henrietta nor the Lacks family gave consent for her cells to be used this way, and the family never understood how the cells would be used as it wasn’t explained to them. This led to a lot of anxiety and strain for the family. The issue of consent is still widely debated. For more on this, see the Nuffield Council on Bioethics’ information on using human tissue.
Should companies be able to profit from cultured cells?
The Lacks family were unable to afford healthcare in the USA. Henrietta Lacks did receive free healthcare treatment for her cervical cancer, but, as she was African American, she had to travel miles to a segregated hospital to be treated. George Gey, the doctor who treated Henrietta Lacks, didn’t profit from the cells when he sent them to other scientists, but some pharmaceutical businesses cultured HeLa cells and have profited from their manufacture.
Do you think people should let their cells or tissues be used in scientific research?
Do you think it’s a good idea if people have to give consent before their tissues can be used?
Do you think it was right to take the cells from Henrietta Lacks?
Read our Q&A with Rebecca Skloot, who has written a book about Henrietta Lacks and the story of HeLa cells, which won the Wellcome Book Prize in 2010.
Lead image:
HeLa cells showing nuclei and nucleoli.
Laura Trinkle-Mulcahy/Wellcome Images CC BY NC
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This resource was first published in ‘The Cell’ in February 2011 and reviewed and updated in September 2015.
Cell biology, Medicine, Health, infection and disease
The Cell
Education levels:
16–19, Continuing professional development
Snapshots of the stem cell story
A brief timeline of events
Where did cells come from?
A brief history of the cell
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The Golden Ring
The Golden Ring in figures
1h40 – transfer from Moscow to Vladimir by express train.
200 – number of Suzdal’s historical monuments in a radius of 9km.
8 – number of medieval towns that still make up the Golden Circle.
In Russia, it’s possible to go back in time. Leave contemporary Moscow and you will discover the Russia of the Tsars like Ivan the Terrible and Boris Godunov, a land of white churches and golden domes, rolling prairies, forests and the great Volga. Eight historic towns form the birthplace of Russian culture. Back in the XII century, Moscow was but a fort in the woods, while life bubbled in fortresses like Vladimir, Suzdal, Rostov and Yaroslavl. It was here, at the intersection of the rivers controlled by the Byzantine and Tatar-Mongol empires, that ancient Russian culture was forged with its incomprehensible yet alluring mentality and that intangible Russian soul.
It was in Suzdal for example, not the bustling and modern Moscow or the elegant and European Saint Petersburg, that you will find babushkas in headscarves hurrying to church. And you will think, this is the real Russia.
UNESCO World Heritage – open air museums
The cultural capital of the Golden Ring has been preserved, not by miracle like some guides will tell you, but because these capitals of principalities lost their political and economic influence to Moscow that became the capital of the unified territory. Towns like Suzdal and Rostov thus escaped industrialisation, saving the magnificent architectural works that are now international heritage sites.
The art of Russian living: isba and dacha
The Russian countryside is a place of communal living where families share every moment of the day, even lunch. These small communities have maintained a traditional way of life where the isba and the dacha are an integral part of the rural harmony.
To truly revel in the “Art de Vivre” of Russia, wake up early in a wooden cabin and look out the window onto the Volga where a fisherman is returning with his catch of the morning for breakfast. Savour piping hot blini fresh from the pan, smother them in homemade jam and ask your host for the recipe. All you have to do is show her with your hands. In the countryside, people only speak Russian, but no one is in a hurry. There is time and patience to teach you to some basics like how to pronounce “zdravstvuite” et “spasibo”.
The world of the Russian: fields, forest and rivers
These three elements are fundamental to understanding Russia. They have shaped the culture, character and cuisine. The vast prairies around Suzdal are its wealth. The immaculate vegetable patches, cultivated in rich black soil, are the foundations of Russian gastronomy. When you have visited the garden of your host, you will understand the ingredients that compose each dish served up at lunch. Between Suzdal and Rostov, ask your driver to stop. Go into the forest and inhale deeply: you will catch the gentle scent of mushrooms, wild strawberries, black currants and wild raspberries. There would be no Russian cuisine without these forests.
During the Middle Ages, rivers linked fortified towns. The most beautiful church of all, that of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin on the Nerl, rises up on the banks of the river, blessing travellers setting course away from Vladimir.
The Volga is the wealth of Yaroslavl, a merchant town. The river’s winding course leads it all the way to the Caspian Sea. During your voyage around the Golden Ring, these images will help you to understand the works of Pushkin and Tolstoy.
Sacred places of the Orthodox religion
Since the fall of communism, Orthodox faith has made a comeback and the many cathedrals and churches, as well as historical monuments, are the end destination of millions of pilgrims. The spiritual centre of the Orthodox religion, the Trinity Lavra of Saint Sergius, attracts pilgrims from across the country. It is not possible to understand Russian history, its literature or music without referencing the nation’s faith.
Follow your guide and watch to see if future priests start to learn English. Visit the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity for which, in the XV century, Andrei Rublev painted the world’s most famous icons. Listen to the choir in the same cathedral as the Tsars. In Rostov the Great, the sound of a dozen bells will swoop across Lake Nero, only to echo back from the forest on the opposite shore. Do you recognise this sound? You’ve likely heard it before in the works of Sergey Rakhmaninov.
Mum, Dad, are we going to see more churches and icons?
The rolling prairies, forests, rivers and lakes of the Golden Ring are perfectly adapted to exercise for adults and children. When your tired spirit starts to confuse the Tsars and Patriarchs, take a break and get the blood flowing. In summer, you can go horse-riding in the valley by the Nerl and, in winter, you can try dog sledding on the frozen Volga.
The classic Golden Ring is composed of eight towns that vary according to size and importance: Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl Zalessky, Rostov Veliki, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Suzdal and Vladimir. On a map, this famous itinerary extends over 1,000km. From Moscow, it’s easier to get to Yaroslavl, Rostov or Vladimir by train to avoid the traffic leaving the capital, which could take you longer than the whole visit of Suzdal. Around the Golden Ring, it’s necessary to travel by car with a private chauffeur because there are no trains or buses going to these towns. By car, you will get off the beaten track, and you can even ask your driver to stop to enjoy the fairytale wooden isbas or visit a village shop.
You can visit the Golden Ring throughout the year. In winter, from December to March when the golden blue onion domes sparkle like stars over Bethlehem in a setting like that of « Doctor Zhivago ». Summer traditionally starts in May when everything becomes green and ends in September. The “golden” autumn lasts until October – it was Pushkin’s favourite season.
How to get to the Golden Ring and where to go next
As you know, Russia is not only Moscow and Saint Petersburg. This is why, after visiting Moscow, we recommend spending a few days in the Golden Ring. Don’t know how to choose what towns? The most remarkable ones are included in our 4-day circuit, after which you can catch a night train to Saint Petersburg. It’s one of our best itineraries in Russia.
Visiting every town in the Golden Ring during one trip is not particularly recommended. It would be like visiting every National Trust heritage site in a week. Our ten years of experience in the business have taught us how to prepare a selection of itineraries depending on how long you want to dedicate to the Golden Ring.
1 day: Sergiev Posad or Suzdal
Sergiev Posad, 70km from Moscow, is the best choice for a day trip from the capital. The Trinity Lavra of Saint Sergius is a famous pilgrimage destination and home to the most important monastery in all Russia. The town is also the oldest place known to make the famous “matryoshka” (nesting) dolls.
Another option is to visit Suzdal and Vladimir. The express train (1h40) makes it possible to visit both these towns in a day and immerse yourself in provincial life 200km from Moscow.
2 days: Yaroslavl or Suzdal
Take the express train to Yaroslavl and have a stroll under century-old linden trees along the Volga. For a change of pace, head to the charming town of Rostov Veliki. Lake Nero reflects the onion domes of the famous Kremlin churches and the magnificent Cathedral of the Assumption. In Yaroslavl, you will be accommodated in a hotel on the river, falling asleep to the gentle sounds of lapping water. In Rostov Veliki, a 200-year old merchant house is waiting for you. From Yaroslavl, return directly to Moscow or continue north to Saint Petersburg or even further to Vologda and the Arkhangelsk region. In two days, you also have the time to take the express train to Vladimir, the medieval capital of the Rus. You can learn to decode secret messages of XII-century architects at the Cathedral of Saint Dmitri. Head to Suzdal to spend the night where there are no trains or motorways. The town has been preserved and greets visitors with dozens of bright onion domes that belong to its many monasteries dating back to before the Revolution. From Vladimir, catch the express train back to Moscow or take the night train to Saint Petersburg, unless you would prefer to visit Nizhni Novgorod, an old merchant town to the South, before hopping on the Trans-Siberian.
4 days: our best itinerary!
Do you prefer to get off the beaten track? Then you will enjoy our 4-day itinerary around the Golden Ring. It links Vladimir, Suzdal, Rostov and Yaroslavl using various modes of transport: express train from Moscow to Vladimir to admire the pine forests, from Suzdal to Rostov by chauffeur-driven car on the narrow country roads through the fields, villages and old kolkhozes, then on from Yaroslavl to St Petersburg by night train in a sleeper compartment.
5 days or more: the whole Golden Ring
Do you dream of seeing the full Golden Ring? Start by Sergiev Posad, then on to Rostov Veliki before following the banks of the Volga to Yaroslavl and Kostroma, the old merchant town. Then head to Plyos, a picturesque village popular with many famous Russian artists. From there, you head south to Suzdal and Vladimir. You can also choose to do this itinerary in the other direction.
North from the Golden Ring to the land where birds know no fear
Our tourist agency develops unique itineraries that go deep into the heart of Russia. Yaroslavl is a great place to start before heading towards the Great North (Arkhangelsk region). One night train and you will land in Kargopol that, just a few decades ago, had no road access, only a dirt track. Here in the taiga, life is tranquil and traditional. The author and traveller, Mikhail Prishvin nicknamed this region “the land of fearless birds”.
Svetly Terem
Small log-cabin hotel with 11 rooms on two floors in a remote part of Suzdal. 1 km from the centre and away from the road.
Pushkarskaya Sloboda
The largest hotel complex in Suzdal with traditional wooden isbas and classic rooms. 155 bedrooms in total.
Surikov Guest House
The Surikov family guest house is in a quiet street just 200 metres from the Convent of the Intercession that dates back to the XIV century.
Volzhskaya Zhemchuzhina
Hotel on the Volga built by the pier in the centre of Yaroslavl. The historical quarter that surrounds it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Volga-Volga
A house with ten rooms, just 400 metres from the Volga. This private, family-run hotel is the dream for many Russians: to own a dacha on the Volga.
So interesting to see the countryside and these smaller cities. Suzdal and Yaroslavl were lovely places to see and walk around. A highlight at Suzdal was a small group of monks who sang a psalm at one of the churches. Magic!
Cathryn Roos, Australia
Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Golden Ring tour
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Moscow, St Petersburg
Moscow, Saint Petersburg and the whole Golden Ring
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Home Page Atomic Bomb Essays After the atomic bomb Essay
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The development and usage of the first atomic bombs has caused a change in military, political, and public functionality of the world today. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki revolutionized warfare by killing large masses of civilian population with a single strike. The bombs effects from the blast, extreme heat, and radiation left an estimated 140,000 people dead. The bombs created a temporary resolution that lead to another conflict. The Cold War was a political standoff between the Soviet Union and the United States that again created a new worldwide nuclear threat.
The destructive potential of nuclear weapons had created a global sweep of fear as to what might happen if these terrible forces where unleashed again. The technology involved in building the first atomic bombs has grown into the creation of nuclear weapons that are potentially 40 times more powerful than the original bombs used. However, a military change in strategy has came to promote nuclear disarmament and prevent the usage of nuclear weapons. The technology of building the atomic bomb has spurred some useful innovations that can be applied through the use of nuclear power. The fear of a potential nuclear attack had been heightened by the media and its release of movies impacting on public opinion and fear of nuclear devastation. The lives lost after the detonation of the atomic bombs have become warning signs that changed global thinking and caused preventative actions.
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The devastation brought about by the atomic bomb has caused fear among all the people that have realized the potential destructive power of its invention. The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945 completely obliterated both cities (Lanouette 30). Little Boy, the bomb dropped on Hiroshima killed 70,000 people with an additional 66,000 injured (30-39). Fat Man, the bomb dropped on Nagasaki also carried its share of Americas duty by killing 40,000 people and injuring another 25,000 (30-39). The bombs also killed an estimated 230,000 more people from the after effects of the two explosions (30). The two bombings had opened the worlds eyes to the destructive power that could be unleashed by man.
The bombs had raised hell on earth for those few minutes and produced a tremendous amount of casualties. The way people had died was shocking. More than 75% of the people killed died from the instantaneous heat and light at the moment of explosion called flash burns (Summary of Damages and Injuries 3, 25). During the first minute of the explosion many injuries where caused by the instantaneous penetrating radiation from the nuclear explosion (3). Other casualties came from burning fires that had ignited throughout the cities from the tremendous heat of the blast (3). The pressure of the blast waves created flying debris, collapsed buildings, and forcibly hurled people to their death (3).
Undoubtedly those who survived the initial effects of the blast were very lucky.
The amount of deaths caused by the blast itself was incomparable to the number of lives lost to the other effects after the initial explosion (Summary of Damages and Injuries 3). The inferno created by the bomb wasnt from the explosion itself, but the after effects of fires, collapsed buildings, and flying debris (3). In Hiroshima fires sprang up simultaneously all over the wide flat central area of the city; these fires combined to form immense fire storms which continued to destroy anything that had not already been destroyed by the blast. Buildings that had encountered considerable structure damage collapsed and continued to take even more lives (13). In the end both cities were left totally obliterated with nearly all of their residential districts and businesses flattened and most of their citizens dead (14).
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The technology that had built the atomic bomb helped the world get a glimpse of its own mortality (Lanouette 28). The power of mass destruction had been taken out of natures hands and was now controlled by people. This created a worldwide anxiety of how this newly cast power could be used and changed how the world functions today. The atomic bombs may have resolved one conflict, but with that resolution arose .
After the Atomic Bomb Essay 690 Words | 3 Pages
The development and usage of the first atomic bombs has caused a change in military, political, and public functionality of the world today. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki revolutionized warfare by killing large masses of civilian population with a single strike. The bombs effects from the blast, extreme heat, and radiation left an estimated 140,000 people dead. The bombs created a temporary resolution that lead to another conflict. The Cold War was a political standoff between the Soviet Union and the United States that again created a new worldwide nuclear threat. The destructive potential of nuclear weapons had created...
Analysis Of The Atomic Bomb Essay 706 Words | 3 Pages
Analysis Of The Atomic Bomb Essay Ever since the dawn of time man has found new ways of killing each other. The most destructive way of killing people known to man would have to be the atomic bomb. The reason why the atomic bomb is so destructive is that when it is detonated, it has more than one effect. The effects of the atomic bomb are so great that Nikita Khrushchev said that the survivors would envy the dead (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, 1982). These devastating physical effects come from the atomic bombs blast, the atomic...
Introduction The development and usage of the first atomic bombs has caused a change in military, political, and public functionality of the world today. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki revolutionized warfare by killing large masses of civilian population with a single strike. The bombs’ effects from the blast, extreme heat, and radiation left an estimated 140,000 people dead. The bombs created a temporary resolution that lead to another conflict. The Cold War was a political standoff between the Soviet Union and the United States that again created a new worldwide nuclear threat. The destructive potential of nuclear weapons had...
Analysis Of The Atomic Bomb Essay Ever since the dawn of time man has found new ways of killing each other.The most destructive way of killing people known to man would have to be the atomic bomb. The reason why the atomic bomb is so destructive is that when it is detonated, it has more than one effect. The effects of the atomic bomb are so great that Nikita Khrushchev said that the survivors would envy the dead (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, 1982).These devastating physical effects come from the atomic bombs blast, the atomic bombs thermal...
Ever since the dawn of time man has found new ways of killing each other. The most destructive way of killing people known to man would have to be the atomic bomb. The reason why the atomic bomb is so destructive is that when it is detonated, it has more than one effect. The effects of the atomic bomb are so great that Nikita Khrushchev said that the survivors would envy the dead (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, 1982). These devastating physical effects come from the atomic bombs blast, the atomic bombs thermal radiation, and the atomic...
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Atomic Bomb In World War 2 Essay During World War II the United States government launched a $2 billion project. This project, known as the Manhattan Project, was an effort to produce an atomic bomb. This project was taken on by a group atomic scientists from all over the world. The first atomic bomb was not tested at all. It was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945 killing over 80,000 people and almost completely leveling the entire city. It destroyed more than 4 square miles, or 60% of the city. The flash of the blast was so intense...
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Nuclear / Particle Physics Effects of the atomic bomb Essays on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Ever since the dawn of time man has found new ways of killing each other. The most destructive way of killing people known to man would have to be the atomic bomb. The reason why the atomic bomb is so destructive is that when it is detonated, it has more than one effect. The effects of the atomic bomb are so great that Nikita Khrushchev said that the survivors would envy the dead (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, 1982). These devastating physical effects...
Atomic Bomb Essay 421 Words | 2 Pages
Atomic Bomb Essays were the first nuclear weapons to be developed, tested, and used. In the late 1930s physicists in Europe and the United States realized that the fission of uranium could be used to create an extremely powerful explosive weapon. In August 1939, German American physicist Albert Einstein sent a letter to U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt that described this discovery and warned of its potential development by other nations. The U.S. government established the top secret Manhattan Project in 1942 to develop an atomic device. The leader of the Manhattan Project was U.S. Army Brigadier General Leslie R....
By Ralph CoppinsTuesday, August 8, 2000 The Effects of the atomic bomb Essay were terrible. Theres no doubt in my mind that the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a costly mistake. Atomic bombs produce heat millions of degrees high, and visible ultraviolet and inferred rays. Everyone and everything exposed to their blast is affected. No one is left untouched, whether it be emotional or physical; in many cases both. However, many members of the science community argue that the atomic bomb was a great advance in technology, and see their effect on Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a...
The Effects Of The Atomic Bomb Essay were terrible. There's no doubt in my mind that the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a costly mistake. Atomic bombs produce heat millions of degrees high, and visible ultraviolet and inferred rays.(Lapp 844) Everyone and everything exposed to their blast is affected. No one is left untouched, whether it be emotional or physical; in many cases both. However, many members of the science community argue that the atomic bomb was a great advance in technology, and see their effect on Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a scientific experiment. People from the...
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After the atomic bomb Essay Introduction The development and usage of the first atomic bombs has caused a change in military, political, and public functionality of the world today. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki revolutionized warfare by killing large masses of civilian population with a single strike. The bombs effects from the blast, extreme heat, and radiation left an estimated 140,000 people dead. The bombs created a temporary resolution that lead to another conflict. Th
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March 2007: 'Commonwealth soldiers form union'
Written on 24 April 2007 . Posted in Forces Personnel News
BAFF would be glad to hear from anyone affected by the issues raised in the BBC article below. Membership of the British Armed Forces Federation is available to any serving or retired members of HM Forces whatever their nationality, residence status, or place of birth.
The story below was published in March 2007, a few months after the launch of BAFF. In a televised interview at the time on BBC News 24, our Chairman emphasised that the newly-formed BAFF was for all members of the British armed forces, regardless of nationality or place of birth. He felt that a separate body for Commonwealth citizens could be seen as having a racial basis, and as potentially divisive.
However, our Chairman defended the right of armed forces personnel to form an association (not a trade union) operating openly and within the law, if that was their wish, and he offered BAFF help if they needed it.
We have not heard anything more about a Commonwealth Soldiers' Union, and we understand that the serving soldier mentioned in the BBC story has since left the Army.
(BBC News) Wednesday, 7 March 2007
Soldiers from the Commonwealth serving in the British army are so dissatisfied with their treatment they are to form a union, the BBC has learned.
The move comes amid complaints of widespread racism, unfair treatment and a lack of welfare support.
The union, while powerless to strike or negotiate, will give advice to members.
The Ministry of Defence said there was no evidence of endemic racism in the Army and special provision was offered to the 6,000 Commonwealth soldiers.
Belize-born [Name omitted for privacy reasons], who is setting up the British Commonwealth Soldiers' Union, joined the Army in 1999 and said on one occasion he had been attacked in his barracks by other soldiers dressed as members of the Ku Klux Klan...
Mr [Name], still a serving soldier, said his complaints were not acted on.
"Nothing was done. Because I made the complaint I was further victimised.
"As a serving soldier myself, personally, I have gone through the chain of command time and time again within the seven-and-a-half years I have been in the Army and time and time again the chain of command have failed me."
Rising numbers
"Commonwealth soldiers are third-class soldiers. First you have the British-born white soldier, then you have the British-born black soldier, then last you have the black Commonwealth soldier.
"In some units, the white soldiers will be given priority for courses over the black soldiers, and the black soldier - no matter how long he's been in, if he has been in four years longer than the white soldier - he will be put behind the white soldier," he told the BBC.
Recent years have seen the number of servicemen and women from Commonwealth countries swell as the MoD struggles to recruit people born in the UK.
In 2000, there were just 435 from the Commonwealth but that figure has since risen to 6,000 - the bulk of whom are from Fiji.
Last year, the British Armed Forces Federation was set up to lobby on behalf of all members of all the services, but many of the Commonwealth soldiers spoken to by the BBC had not heard of it.
The adjutant-general, Lt Gen Freddie Viggers, the Army's personnel chief, told BBC News that the stories he had heard were disturbing and that episodes of "bad behaviour" would be investigated.
"We do take all allegations and incidents of harassment or discrimination on grounds of race or gender or religion very seriously. It is bad behaviour and it is not good enough in a professional army."
He said the Army's improvements in dealing with all personnel had been recognised.
BBC News (March 2007) Commonwealth soldiers form union
BAFF article revised May 2009.
Representation, Foreign + Commonwealth
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Home News ‘Star Wars: Jedi Challenges’ AR Game Now Lets You Play as Kylo...
‘Star Wars: Jedi Challenges’ AR Game Now Lets You Play as Kylo Ren
Kishalaya Kundu -
Kishalaya Kundu
Lenovo has added a new Dark Side Expansion for the ‘Star Wars: Jedi Challenges’ augmented reality (AR) game, enabling players to finally be the bad guy. As part of the update that will be rolled out for free from October 1, gamers will be able to play as Kylo Ren and face off against iconic Star Wars characters, such as Yoda, Rey, Luke Skywalker and others.
Lenovo is also introducing a new lightsaber option that fans will be able to buy in real life. The Limited Edition Kylo Ren Lightsaber, which has been priced at $99.99 in the US, is modeled on the weapon wielded by Kylo Ren in recent Star Wars movies, and will be fully compatible with the Jedi Challenges app. It will be available for purchase in the US from this winter, but there’s no word on its Indian availability just yet.
In case you’re unaware of Jedi Challenges, it’s an AR game that allows players to slay their Star Wars enemies using a replica lightsaber controller. The games are compatible with the Lenovo Mirage headset, and requires a smartphone running Disney’s Jedi Challenges app that’s available on Android and iOS.
“Jedi Challenges is one of the most authentic Star Wars experiences that fans can bring into their homes”, said Kyle Laughlin, the Senior Vice President of Games and Interactive Experiences at Disney Parks, Experiences & Consumer Products. According to him, “The Dark Side Expansion offers fans more content and a different perspective to the experience and ultimately extends the story in entirely new ways”.
The aforementioned announcements were made by Lenovo at the IFA 2018 in Berlin, where the company also announced a bunch of other laptops and smart home devices. We’ve got boots on the ground at Berlin, and you can catch our full coverage of the annual tech show by clicking through this link.
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Stephen Colbert Wiki Bio, Wife, Net Worth, Kids, Salary, Son, Family
Brittany Craft
1 Who is Stephen Colbert?
2 Let us Understand That the net worth and Origin of Earnings from Stephen Colbert
3 Let us Understand Stephen Colbert’s Livelihood and Also That Exactly the life
4 Know Concerning Relationship Background And Stephen Colbert’s Associations
5 Prizes and Achievements of Stephen Colbert
6 Can Be Stephen Colbert Lively About Your Socialmedia? Learn about His Social Networking Marketing Profile
Who is Stephen Colbert?
A best known for hosting lots of humor programs such as satirical Comedy Stephen Colbert is a American Central app comic book, television host, actor, and author. He’s got the net worth of $45 million.
Let us Understand That the net worth and Origin of Earnings from Stephen Colbert
An extremely powerful and humorous individual Stephen Colbert gets the net worth of about $45 million. Being a celebrity, Stephen has emerged in various films. Likewise, his other films such as, “Monsters vs. Aliens”, “Mr. Peabody & Sherman”, also “Bewitched”, grossed $381.5 million, $275.7 million, respectively also “131.4 million”. Among the favorite film, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”, that has a entire price of about $217 million grossed around $958.4 million according to the Box office album. In addition, he made his appearance in several tv series such as “Shock Asylum”, “Nobody wants anything! He also made his appearance in video games such as “Outlaw Tennis”, and Theatre such as “Business “. His looks in these films, TV shows, video games, and Theatre has assisted him to catch a massive amount of cash to maximize his overall net worth. Additionally, made his appearance like a anchor in several awards function such as “37th Kennedy Center Honors”, “38th Kennedy Center Honors”, “39th Kennedy Center Honors”, also “69th Primetime Emmy awards ” where he’s paid that can also be added in his own net worth. He also spends his time at several charities and encouraged them such as ALS Association, Amnesty International, Autism Speaks, Charity People, Clinton Global Initiative, Collaboration Foundation, Comic Relief, DonorsChoose.org, Feeding America, First Book, Global Fund for Women, Mixing Forces, NEXT such as Autism, Parkinson Society Maritime Region, Save the Children, Stand Up to Cancer, along with Yellow Ribbon Fund. He possesses a lavish house whose value remains unknown.
Why, that’s foolish! #LSSC
A post shared by The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) on Aug 7, 2018 at 6:44pm PDT
Let us Understand Stephen Colbert’s Livelihood and Also That Exactly the life
Stephen was born May 13, 1964, Washington, D.C., usa. He’s the son of James William Colbert Jr. has been a immunologist and medical school dean at Yale University, Saint Louis University, and eventually in the Medical University of South Carolina and mum is Lorna Elizabeth Colbert who had been a homemaker. He had been born with 11 sisters called James III, Edward, Mary, William, Margo, Thomas, Jay, Elizabeth, Paul, Peter and that he had been the youngest of 11 children in a Catholic household. He attends Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, after two Decades after he has moved to a Northwestern University and graduated from Northwestern’s School of Communication at 1986. He began his career as a celebrity at a Second City Chicago along with different comedians along with his humor was appreciated at which he fulfilled with a second City manager Del Close in his own college. Throughout his start of the profession, Stephen Colbert created a fantastic connection with Steve Carell, fellow cast member of the Second City. Later on, he debuts the comedy sketch show Exit 57 and played and wrote the play, Dana Carvey Show and made his appearances on The Daily Show on Comedy Central that gained him further acclaim and attention. Following his hard work and ability, he has the opportunity to perform in several tv series such as “Shock Asylum”, “Nobody wants anything! “, and a lot more.
TONIGHT: @andersoncooper and @Andy crashed a house party in North Carolina. #LSSC pic.twitter.com/5hUPATTKUy
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) August 25, 2018
Know Concerning Relationship Background And Stephen Colbert’s Associations
He’s a married man and also got married to Evelyn McGee-Colbert at the calendar year 1993 and has three kids called Madeline Colbert, John Colbert, Peter Colbert. Before he got married that he had been at a relationship with Charlene.
Happy Friday! TONIGHT we're rewatching that epic episode with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, Dominic Cooper talking Mamma Mia! and a musical performance by Beck!
Posted by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Friday, August 24, 2018
Prizes and Achievements of Stephen Colbert
He’s won three Grammy awards and Emmy Award. Additionally, he had been nominated for Grammy awards for three occasions and Emmy awards for 30 occasions.
Backstage with @corybooker and some #LSSC staff!
Can Be Stephen Colbert Lively About Your Socialmedia? Learn about His Social Networking Marketing Profile
Stephen Colbert looks finance of utilizing the social networking websites that could be readily determined after studying his official social networking accounts. He’s posted just for 944 occasions on Instagram and contains 584.8k Followers there. But on his Twitter accounts, he’s twitted for 5,545 days until now, which provides him a total of 17.8m followers. Speaking on his official Facebook webpage, he’s 1,817,718 followers also has 1,607,155 enjoys.
Happy Friday! TONIGHT we're rewatching that epic episode with @andersoncooper and @Andy, @dominiccoop talking #MammaMia2 and a musical performance by @beck! #LSSC pic.twitter.com/qW3O6z0CH4
Tico Torres Wiki, Net Worth, Wife, Family, Son, Baby, Married, Mother, Now
Lindsey Pelas Bio, Relationship, Son, Net Worth, Salary, Weight, Affair
John Elway Bio Wiki, Wife, Son, Career, Salary, Daughter, Baby, Education
Amal Clooney Bio, Wedding, Net Worth, Education, Kids, Child, Children
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Satchel Paige 1949 (Bowman Gum Card)
July 7, 1906 – June 8, 1982 Leroy Robert “Satchel” Paige
Hall of Fame baseball great Satchel Paige was born on on July 7, 1906 in Mobile, Alabama. Page was the first player from the Negro Leagues to pitch in the World Series during 1948. He was also the first player from the Negro Leagues to be inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. After a legendary professional career in the Negro Leagues. Paige was signed as the oldest rookie in Major League baseball history at age 42 with the Cleveland Indians. Paige also became the oldest player in Major League baseball history at age 59. He celebrated his birthday by throwing three shutout innings for the Kansas City Athletics. Many consider Paige to be the greatest pitcher of all times in professional baseball. The great Joe DiMaggio said of Paige’s pitching “the best and fastest pitcher I’ve ever faced”. Paige died on June 8, 1982 in Kansas City, Missouri at age 75
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The Takeaway: Three-Quarters of Minority Retirees Struggling Financially
By Elizabeth Nolan Brown , April 19, 2012 08:37 AM
The majority of Asian, African American and Hispanic retirees in the United States struggle to cover basic living expenses, according to new research from the nonprofit Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW). "With many people of color working in low wage jobs, they are unable to save for retirement, leading to overwhelming numbers of older African American, Hispanic or Asian Americans who are not able to cover their most basic expenses as they age," Donna Addkison, the president and CEO of WOW, told Reuters. A lifetime of lower-wage jobs also means smaller Social Security benefits in retirement.
The Elder Economic Security Index estimates that a single, retired adult needs between $19,000 to $25,000 a year to cover the costs of living, and couples need between $29,000 and $39,000. Only about a quarter of older Asian, African American and Hispanic adults in the U.S. have retirement incomes within those ranges, according to WOW's analysis of Census data.
"Basic expenses" include things like housing, food, utilities, transportation, health care and medications. Overall, 52 percent of retiree households report incomes considered inadequate to cover these costs. For Asian retirees, the number rises to 65 percent; 74 percent of African American retirees and 76 percent of Hispanics fall below the secure income range.
For single retirees, the picture is even more grim, with only 17 percent of single Hispanic retirees, 21 percent of single black retirees and 28 percent of single Asian retirees reporting incomes considered sufficient to cover basic needs.
Thursday Quick Hits:
Senator Bob Corker, senior Republican on the Senate Aging Committee, said the United States is heading for a long-term care "crisis," and "there is no doubt there is a public sector role" in the future of financing long-term care services.
Gen X-the post-boomer generation, born from 1965 to 1981-is the first to deal with the fact that the models of American retirement are completely changing. "Gen X is a transition generation," says Carol O'Rourke, a certified financial planner.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the proportion of people over 85 who died as hospital patients dropped to 29 percent in 2007, from 40 percent in 1989; the proportion who died at home rose from 12 to 19 percent.
And .. Remembering Dick Clark: CNN shares reader comments on the entertainment icon, who died Wednesday at 82. "Just knowing that he was still involved with music and the kids that grew up with him helped us deny our own aging," wrote one commenter. "Clark always came across as this classy and friendly guy who genuinely enjoyed the music he played," wrote another.
Photo: Andersen Ross/Blend/Aurora
retirees Asian Americans African Americans retirement security Hispanic
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Boeing's Reusable, Unmanned X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Begins 2nd Flight
Affordable, responsive vehicle delivers unprecedented capability to US Air Force
These images are available for editorial use by news media.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of ULA
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CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., Dec. 11, 2012 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today successfully returned an unmanned U.S. Air Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle to orbit, continuing to demonstrate how the system provides responsive, reusable access to space.
An Atlas V rocket launched OTV-1, the first of two vehicles in the program, into a low Earth orbit at 1:03 p.m. Eastern time from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 41.
The X-37B, which combines the best of aircraft and spacecraft design in an unmanned test platform, is testing reusable vehicle technologies dealing with space experimentation, risk reduction and concept-of-operations development.
"The second mission for OTV-1 demonstrates the vehicle is capable of multiple missions and affordable access to space," said Paul Rusnock, vice president of Boeing Government Space Systems.
OTV-1 was first launched in April 2010 and returned to Earth that December. It is the United States' first unmanned vehicle to return from space and land on its own. The space shuttle had been the only space vehicle capable of landing on a runway.
A second vehicle, OTV-2, set a record for a reusable space vehicle in June of this year when it completed a 469-day mission. Previously, Space Shuttle Discovery held that record with an accumulated total of 365 days in orbit.
Boeing's commitment to space-based unmanned vehicle technology spans a decade and includes support to the Air Force Research Lab's X-40 program, NASA's X-37 program, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's X-37 Approach, Landing and Test Vehicle program.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 60,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.
Diana Ball
Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems
diana.ball@boeing.com
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Home Client Services Meet the Team – Roxanne Pollard
Meet the Team – Roxanne Pollard
Luke Phillips August 22, 2018 August 22, 2018
The Creative Thinker
Welcome to the latest article in our Meet the Team series. This time round, we’d like to introduce you to Roxanne Pollard, a Senior Client Service Executive within our first-line Client Services team. Having been with GForces for just over six years, she’s seen the company evolve and adapt alongside the automotive industry and the needs of our clients.
“I was encouraged to apply for a role here by Sian McCurrach. We’d worked together previously, and she hadn’t stopped singing GForces’ praises since she’d started,” Roxanne explains. “I could see why though, as soon as I arrived. I immediately got the impression of an exciting, professional company. I really saw the stepping stones of my potential career path ahead.”
“I started in Software Support, which was completely new to me. I had a sales background, where I’d mainly been working in construction software for major contractors. But I was completely ready for something new with GForces – or at least prepared for it. I moved from selling software to fixing software, and haven’t really looked back since!”
And it’s not the first time Roxanne has chosen a different path or risen to a challenge. When it came to her education, she followed lifelong creative interests and built her own portfolio before applying to the Kent Institute of Art and Design. Although she hadn’t previously studied art officially, her talent and passion were obvious enough to ensure her acceptance. Since then, she’s taken great pride in applying creative thinking to many aspects of her work too.
“I definitely have an eye for detail. A problem can often be tracked back to something very small or only slightly out of place. It’s our job to identify the root cause of a problem, no matter how small, and I think a creative background helps accomplish that. I’m used to coming at things from different angles, and taking a good, long look at the end result before being happy with it.”
Her keen eye is also put to good use in a favourite pastime, photography – which in turn, goes well with her love of travel.
“Travel really does broaden the mind, or to be more accurate, expands perspective – art and culture are very similar in that way. I think it’s what helps keep me level-headed and calm in a crisis. It’s about knowing that the little things do matter, and can make a big difference.”
The same broad outlook is also what feeds Roxanne’s satisfaction within her own role.
“I enjoy supporting people and seeing the end result. I’m definitely motivated by seeing other people’s success. Lauren Ambrose has been my biggest influence at GForces. She has always known where I belonged in terms of the team and my career. Client Services is without a doubt where I fit best here. Kat Kent, Client Services Lead, has also been an inspiration, right from the start. We’re a fast-paced company, and at the beginning, there were definitely times it seemed daunting. Kat was always there to give support and advice, guiding me on my journey. It’s just another thing I appreciate about GForces – we have good people here.”
“I’ve met a lot of hard-working people. There is a genuine pride we share in what we deliver. We constantly monitor feedback, and act on it. We thrive on hard work and gain huge amounts of experience because of it. As a result, we see a lot of progression within the team. We’re naturally sought out to become Product Managers or for other technical roles.”
Roxanne is also very proud of the company.
“I like that GForces is quietly confident as a company. We don’t need to shout about what we do or overstate our capabilities. From a Client Services perspective, we simply provide the best customer support possible by delivering an omnichannel solution via phone, email and live chat. Our actions speak much louder than our words. And I’m really excited about all we’re capable of as a company and the collective experience and background we offer. We’re always moving forward, but I also think we stay grounded and remember our routes as we go. We’ve built everything together, and with huge amounts of hard work.”
The themes of hard work, passion, and appreciation are clearly becoming common threads in this Meet the Team series. We’d even go so far as to say they’re essential aspects of working at GForces. We look forward to bringing you another new take and perspective on life within Client Services at GForces very soon.
Sergio Marchionne – In Remembrance
Throwback Thursday: James Bond Gadgets to Become a Reality?
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Tag Archives: gigue
Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut
Posted by Edward McCue in Bach's Works
basso continuo, cantata, Caspar von Stieler, Christoph Graupner, Darmstadt, emotions, Georg Christian Lehms, gigue, Ich dein betrübtes Kind, Leipzig, oboe, opera, Palace Church, recitative, soprano, The autograph score of BWV 199. The autograph score of BWV 199. Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut, Trinity Sunday, viola, violin, violoncello piccolo, Weimar
The autograph score of BWV 199.
Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut (BWV 199) is a solo soprano cantata in eight movements that Bach first performed three hundred years ago at the Palace Church in Weimar on 12 August 1714. Originally scored for oboe, two violins, viola, and basso continuo, a later Leipzig version replaces the obbligato viola with a violoncello piccolo.
The text for the eleventh Sunday after Trinity by Georg Christian Lehms, describing a sinner in search of redemption, had also been set to music in 1712 by Christoph Graupner in Darmstadt. The sixth movement of the work is based on the chorale Ich, dein betrübtes Kind by Caspar von Stieler.
From the start, Bach employs recitatives to propel the emotional imagery of the text and, in conclusion, celebrates the sinner’s acceptance with a joyful gigue
The Rostropovich Suites Compared
Posted by Edward McCue in Audio Recordings, Bach's Successors, Bach's Works, Other Artists
allemande, bourée, Bruckner, cello, courante, dance, EMI, Fanfare Magazine, Galina Vishnevskaya, gavotte, gigue, James A. Altena, meter, minuet, monaural sound, Mstislav Rostropovich, Pablo Casals, performance practice, Prague, Prague Spring Festival, repeat, Semyon Kozolupov, soprano, Stradivarius, studio recording, suite, Suites for Unaccompanied Violoncello, Supraphon, tempo
While Mstislav Rostropovich did of course record the Suites for Unaccompanied Violoncello (BWV 1007-12) near the end of his career, for EMI in 1995 (issued on both CD and DVD), the release of another cycle from forty years before, from the dawn of his career in 1955, is a major event that demands attention.
This recording was made at the annual Prague Spring Festival, when the cellist was but twenty-eight years old. (It is also a notable occasion in that Rostropovich there met his wife, the famed soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, and proposed to her after a whirlwind ten-day courtship!) The monaural sound is quite clear, if a bit hard-edged and closely miked; the audience is very quiet, though now and then an occasional soft cough is barely audible in the background. While quite acceptable on its own terms, the audio quality of course does not compete with the velvety sound of EMI’s digital set. A similar disadvantageous comparison can be made about the quality of the cellos used; Rostropovich had not yet acquired his famed “Duport” Stradivarius, and the unidentified instrument used in Prague, while again good enough in and of itself, cannot compare with the ravishing, burnished tone quality of the “Duport.” For an instant revelation of the difference, listen to the opening of the Prelude to the Fifth Suite, where the sheer depth and opulence of the “Duport” in the EMI set is positively dumbfounding. There is also the occasional note in Prague that is not quite dead in tune – clearly due in part to the far less rich overtones of the instrument rather than any shortcoming on the part of Rostropovich. If the sound of the instrument itself is a decisive desideratum here – and for many people it justifiably is – then this Supraphon release will likely not be much more than a curiosity.
However, in addition to instrumental sound there is the issue of differences in interpretation over the intervening span of four decades, and that is where this set comes into its own. The first thing to note is that overall, with the major exceptions of the preludes to the First, Third, and Fourth suites, the Gigue in the First Suite, and the Sarabande in the Fifth Suite, the earlier performances are noticeably swifter. (The total timing of the EMI set is 137:54, compared to 123:52 here). That said, comparisons of some individual movements can be misleading, as in the 1955 performances Rostropovich omits repeats in some movements – e.g., the allemandes in the Third and Sixth suites, the bourées in the Fourth Suite, the Courante in the Sixth Suite – though even in some of those instances the 1955 versions would still be swifter if the repeats were observed. (The cuts in Prague doubtless stem from Rostropovich’s early training; in the booklet notes to the EMI set, the cellist recounts that his teacher, Semyon Kozolupov, strictly forbade pupils to play repeats of the second half of movements written in binary form, allowing repeats only in the first half.) If observance of all the repeats is a major criterion for evaluating a set of the suites, then again this set will not be competitive with the EMI studio recording.
What, then, does this Supraphon set have that commends it as a supplement or alternative to the EMI studio version? In a word (actually two words), that elusive and almost intangible quality I would call “narrative intensity.” Despite my unreserved adoration of Rostropovich as the greatest cellist in recorded history (and is there any lover of cello music who does not so venerate him?), I had always found the EMI set of these suites somehow lacking, and this new release has finally made clear why. As tonally gorgeous and technically immaculate as those sets are, and despite the programmatic titles and descriptions that Rostropovich gives to each suite in that set, it is live in Prague and not in the studio that the cellist finds and articulates fully sustained interpretive profiles. Listen for example to the Sarabande in the Second Suite, dubbed “Sorrow and intensity” by Rostropovich in the 1995 EMI set. While that studio recording is very beautiful, it lacks meditative profundity; whereas in Prague there is a rapt sense of total inward intensity – what the Germans call Innigkeit – that transforms the movement into one bearing comparison with the symphonic Adagios of Bruckner. Likewise, while still too slow for my taste, the gavottes and Gigue in the Sixth Suite in Prague have some forward momentum, unlike the suffocatingly leaden versions in the EMI set.
Another notable difference is that in Prague Rostropovich is metrically much more exact, whereas on the EMI set he is rather free (or “rhapsodic,” to borrow his description of Pablo Casals). This is particularly true in the in the concluding dance movements (the menuets, bourées, gavottes, and gigues), with the last two movements of the Second Suite again offering particularly striking instances. While I suppose that some might characterize the earlier recordings as comparatively stiff, I do not find them so, and indeed prefer the more strict approach as better articulating the structure of the music. On the other hand, I much prefer the brisker tempos taken in the EMI set to the preludes of the First, Third, and Fourth Suites, the Allemande in the Third Suite, and the Courante in the Sixth Suite, as imparting a necessary greater degree of energy to those movements.
While my overall interpretive preference is therefore with the Prague versions, I cannot simply recommend that set in preference to the EMI one for those desiring a recording of Rostropovich in this repertoire. The two sets are strikingly different, and each has its considerable merits in manifesting the cellist’s extraordinary musical genius. (Indeed, the Prague set caused me to appreciate virtues of the EMI set that had not registered with me before.) For fans of Rostropovich, it goes without saying that this is a mandatory acquisition; but to lovers of cello music in general and the Bach suites in particular, I would say much the same thing, despite its occasional limitations.
Urgently recommended.
James A. Altena – Fanfare Magazine
Duo Crezdi to Appear in Recital
Posted by Edward McCue in Bach's Life, Bach's Predecessors, Bach's Successors, Bach's Works, Festival Events
Antonio Veracini, basso continuo, bassoon, Boulder Bach Festival, Buxtehude, Chaconne in D minor, chorale, chorale partita, coloratura, continuo, Dario Castello, Dresden, Duetto no. 3 in G Major, Duo Crezdi, Fifteen Inventions, First Congregational Church, Florence, Georg Böhm, gigue, harpsichord, Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, Johann Ludwig Krebs, Josquin des Prez, Leipzig, minuet, organ, partita, passacaglia, Paul Miller, Peter Wollny, Rick Erickson, Rosary Sonatas, Sacred Mysteries, scordatura, Sei gegrüsset Jesu gütig, sonata, Sonata in G minor, Sonata No. 4 in C minor, Sonata Prima in A minor from Libro secundo, tetrachord, Vater unser im Himmelreich, Venice, violin, Zachary Carrettin
Duo Crezdi
In the final concert of the thirty-second season of the Boulder Bach Festival, Zachary Carrettin, violin, and Rick Erickson, harpsichord and organ, will join forces as Duo Crezdi in an artist recital at First Congregational Church in Boulder, Colorado at 7:30 pm on Friday, 3 May 2013.
The violin sonatas on the program will come from very different places and times. The earliest is Dario Castello’s Sonata Prima in A minor from Libro secundo. Diligent scholarship has not been able to determine any exact dates for Castello’s birth or death. In fact, almost no shreds of biographical evidence exist about the composer. This much is known: Castello lived much of his life in and around Venice. He was an excellent wind player and a master of the bassoon, an instrument which was very popular in Venice at the time. He published two books of sonatas in 1621 and 1629, which were so popular that they were reprinted in the 1640s and 50s. His sonatas are made up of a number of short contrasting sections and the work to be performed by the Duo Crezdi is no exception. As one of the first to write idiomatically for the violin, Castello’s music has a refreshing and delightful spontaneity about it which is easy to hear even four hundred years later.
Biber’s (1644-1704) Passacaglia stands as the last piece in the composer’s ambitious cycle of Rosary Sonatas. For each of the fifteen Sacred Mysteries, Biber composed a violin sonata, but each one is in a different tuning, or scordatura. In the sole surviving copy of the score, every sonata is prefaced by a lovely copper engraving. The Passacaglia is the last piece in the cycle, and the only one for violin without continuo. It is the only sonata that “duplicates” an earlier tuning for the violin – in this case, the ordinary tuning G – D – A – E. The Passacaglia consists of sixty-five repetitions of a descending tetrachord (four-note motive) in which all manner of harmony, melody and expression appears. In the middle of the piece, the descending motive even appears in an upper voice, complicating matters for the interpreter. Claiming the prize as probably the most elaborate composition for solo violin up to that time, Biber’s Passacaglia almost surely had some influence on J. S. Bach when he composed, some decades later, his own magnificent Chaconne in D minor (BWV 1004) for solo violin.
Chronologically speaking, the Bach and Veracini sonatas date from almost the same time. Bach’s six accompanied sonatas for violin and keyboard were composed no later than 1725, and the composer continued to tinker with them for many years thereafter. The Sonata in C minor (BWV 1017) is cast very much in the mold of a trio sonata. As Peter Wollny noted, each part (violin, keyboard right hand, keyboard left hand) has its own rhythmic character in the slow movements. For example, in the third movement the violin has a lyrical melody, the right hand of the keyboard has continuous triplets, and the left hand has a bass line mostly in quarter notes. The two fast movements feature dense counterpoint and imitative textures, perfectly in keeping with the idea that each part should be interesting and meaningful in and of itself.
Antonio Veracini (1659-1733) led a colorful life and held important posts in Florence and Dresden. As the story goes, he once claimed that “as there is one God, there is one Veracini.” Without lacking a sense of drama either in life or in music, Veracini once jumped out of a building during an argument in Dresden. He even survived a shipwreck in the English Channel. Veracini’s nephew diplomatically wrote that “the heart, rather than cleverness, guided [Veracini’s] finger and bow.” Of his many published violin works, Veracini’s Sonata in G minor (appearing in 1721 as op. 1, no. 1) is an intense, many-colored piece. Opening with a broad French-style introduction, it quickly moves through an impetuous Allegro before settling into a more lyrical Aria. The anxious Allegro that follows contains several outbursts that might have given even the stoic Bach a severe case of indigestion. The final two movements, a short Minuet and an almost ridiculous Gigue that alludes to the sound of the postman’s bell, do little to dispel the image of an undeniably brilliant, yet slightly unstable, musical mind.
Two works for organ on the concert will feature compositions by men who were close to the Bach circle personally. Johann Ludwig Krebs (1713-1780) studied with Bach in Leipzig. The use of the letters of Bach’s name in the fugue subject reflect an ancient practice, dating back to Josquin, called soggetto cavato (“carved subject”) where the letters of a name determine the musical notes. We therefore have, according to German spelling, a subject of B-flat, A, C, B-natural.
Georg Böhm (1661-1733) was connected to the Bach family from his studies in Ohrdruf, a town which knew several generations of Bachs. Böhm might have tutored the young J. S. Bach but there is no direct evidence to support this assertion. Much later, C. P. E. Bach claimed that his father, J. S., loved to study Böhm’s music. Böhm’s Vater unser im Himmelreich is stylistically much like Buxtehude’s music. It is probably one of the most expressive works he penned. Particularly noteworthy is Böhm’s exploration of the organ’s high coloratura register.
The remaining works by J. S. Bach will show his mastery both of small-scale and large-scale musical forms. The Duetto no. 3 in G Major (BWV 804) is similar in texture to one of Bach’s famous Fifteen Inventions (BWV 772-86), but it is more extended and elaborate. Bach derives an entire motivic menagerie by exploring the possibilities of a simple seven-note cell, heard at the beginning in the right hand. Contrasting with this small scale form, the chorale partita for organ on Sei gegrüsset, Jesu gütig (BWV 768) is an extended set of variations on a chorale tune. This is the most ornate of the four sets of chorale variations Bach left us and contains eleven variations on the tune. The variations range from simple to elaborate and give us a full spectrum of Bach’s powers of inventiveness.
Paul Miller – Boulder Bach Festival
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Striker dreams of big club move and Champions League football
Date: 11th November 2019 at 6:53am
Written by: DJ
27-year-old Norway and AFC Bournemouth striker Joshua King has declared that he dreams about making a move to a “big club” in the future so that he can experience the UEFA Champions League.
If the forward fails to make an appearance in the European elite competition, King has declared that he will personally be disappointed.
Joshua King scored his 45th goal in the Premier League for the Cherries during the clubs recent 1-0 win at Dean Court over Manchester United.
He currently remains 7 goals clear of team-mate Callum Wilson as the clubs all-time leading goal scorer in the top flight of English football.
King’s rise to prolific goalscorer in the Premier League came about due to his move to the south coast and working with manager Eddie Howe.
In January 2013, following uninspiring loan spells with Preston North End, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hull City and Blackburn Rovers, where he scored a total of 3 times in 36 league appearances, he left Manchester United on a permanent basis to join Blackburn.
However, he still failed to overly impress adding just 3 more league goals to his tally in 56 appearances in the Championship.
It was then, in May 2015, following the Cherries promotion to the Premier League that AFC Bournemouth completed the signing of King.
His transfer fee was set to be decided via a tribunal, but both clubs eventually agreed on a fee of around £1million.
That fee leaves King as potentially AFC Bournemouth’s greatest Premier League signing.
Overall in all competitions, King has scored 47 goals and made 156 appearances for AFC Bournemouth.
But whilst it is clear that he remains content on the south coast and appreciative of the work of Eddie Howe, he still has a desire to test himself at a higher level.
Is King good enough for a "top club" in the Champions League?
Big mood????
A post shared by Joshua King Jr. (@iamjoshuaking) on Oct 13, 2019 at 2:44am PDT
AFC Bournemouth striker Joshua King told Goal as quoted by the Daily Echo…
“…It’s my dream to play for a top club one day, but I am enjoying my time at Bournemouth. I’m learning a lot with Eddie Howe. I enjoy being with my team-mates, who also make me a better player as well. My long-term dream is to play Champions League football.
“If I retire and look back and I haven’t played in the Champions League then I will be disappointed in myself. Right now I am enjoying my time at Bournemouth…”
Druss_the_Legend wrote…
I’ll repeat what I said last week. Form is temporary class is permanent… but how long can we give Wilson? Callum again a shadow of his former self (against Newcastle). He’s not bringing players in and not a threat. King needs the number 9 position with someone behind. Even if only to add back Wilson’s competitive spirit and make him fight for the place? Our attack that should be so potent is looking anaemic at the moment. – Join the conversation, click here.
Your Comment Cance Reply
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Church garden provides produce for soup kitchen
September 25, 2019 | News | Volume 23 Issue 17
Nicolien Klassen-Wiebe | Manitoba Correspondent
The garden at Grace Mennonite Church in Steinbach, Man., donates its produce to local soup kitchen, Soup’s On. (Photo by Larry Friesen)
In the summer of 2004, Joy Neufeld opened the first soup kitchen in Steinbach. Fifteen years later, Soup’s On is still serving its community and is thriving.
Neufeld, a member of Grace Mennonite Church in Steinbach, started the project because she loved working in the kitchen. “I just love cooking and baking, but the last thing Steinbach needed was another restaurant,” she says.
What she did see was a growing need to address poverty in her city. “I happened to work for an organization at the time, where I frequently saw people in poverty,” she says, which led her to do some research and visit organizations like Agape House and Anna’s House in Steinbach that provided assistance to people in need. She discovered that the people on the frontlines were saying over and over that there was a need for a soup kitchen in Steinbach. “We are a city; we have all the problems and concerns other cities have,” she says.
“I felt God calling me to help,” Neufeld says. “I just thought, this is it, this is the answer.”
Grace Mennonite donated the use of its basement and kitchen, so she didn’t have to start from scratch. The church is a major support to the project, since Soup’s On doesn’t have to pay for any expenses like rent or water. “They are as gracious as their name,” Neufeld says.
But the church wouldn’t have enough resources or energy to run the project on its own, she says. It is also very much an effort of the whole community.
Soup’s On provides free suppers every Tuesday and Friday, serving from 40 people to as many as 80 per meal. Neufeld says the number fluctuates so much that it’s difficult to predict, so she just tries to be prepared and adjust accordingly to last-minute changes. The soup kitchen also provides breakfast and lunch programs for schools in the Steinbach area.
A few years after Soup’s On began, Grace Mennonite started another project of its own: a garden. A tangle of vegetables soon sprang up beside the church and has been returning consistently every summer for about a decade.
A group of about eight congregants help with the garden, gathering every Tuesday evening to work. A couple rows of beds, about three metres long and two metres wide, provide vegetables that are given to the Soup’s On kitchen.
Although the garden was not Neufeld’s idea, and she is not involved in its care, the garden team consults with her every spring to see what vegetables will be most useful in the soup kitchen. Team members then grow, harvest, prepare and deliver the vegetables to her kitchen.
“I am just the lucky recipient of all that produce,” she says. “It’s a tremendous program, the garden. It’s an amazing help.”
This summer, the garden produced cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, onions, potatoes, radishes and carrots. It also has rhubarb, a cherry plum tree, a few apple trees and grapevines. Last year, the garden team made about nine litres of grape juice, which the church used for communion.
Despite having to relocate the garden, due to church renovations, it grew well this summer, says Larry Friesen, garden coordinator and a member of Grace Mennonite. It was a dry summer but, thanks to the church’s irrigation system, the plants are now gorgeous.
Once a week, kneeling in the damp soil picking weeds and nurturing the fledgling plants, congregants have an opportunity to share updates on their lives and connect with each other. “For us, it’s a bit of a fellowship more than anything,” Friesen says. They have wiener roasts and share snacks together occasionally, and usually end the season with a harvest potluck supper.
But the most rewarding part of it all is seeing the patrons of Soup’s On enjoy the vegetables, says Friesen, who sometimes volunteers in the kitchen.
Neufeld’s cucumber and tomato salad is a favourite among the diners, and she always hears appreciative comments about the fresh vegetables. “Any time you can have fresh vegetables out of a garden is a benefit,” says Friesen.
The garden requires only about an hour of work once a week, which is a small investment for the reward that comes as a result, says Friesen. “To see people enjoy what Joy will put out, and come back for seconds and thirds, or give her a hug or a thank you after a meal, it’s worth everything we do there.”
Soup’s On has become a community of soup kitchen diners, volunteers, congregants and people from the neighbourhood. “This soup kitchen has turned out to be something more than just people living in poverty coming to have a meal,” says Neufeld. “This is people living in poverty coming to have a meal and realizing there’s a community that cares about them. I’ve had guests come and tell me, literally with tears in their eyes, ‘I know people care about me.’ It’s amazing.”
This article appears in the Sept. 30, 2019 print issue, with the headline “Vegetables harvested, soup’s on."
An experiment in generosity
Watch: Raw Carrot at Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church
Larry Friesen, garden coordinator, shows a harvest of potatoes from the garden. (Photo courtesy of Larry Friesen)
Sharon Reimer picks cucumbers from the garden. (Photo by Larry Friesen)
Betty Koop showcases the garden’s tall tomato plants. (Photo by Larry Friesen)
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The Shelters will be at Beat Kitchen in April and at Lollapalooza in August.
The full lineup of 170 music acts for this year’s Lollapalooza was announced earlier this week. The event takes place August 3 – 6 in Grant Park. Chance the Rapper, who’s been in the news lately for his efforts to stop gun violence in Chicago, is one of the headline acts, along with Lorde, The Killers, and Arcade Fire. The Shelters (whose self-titled album came in at number two on the Broken Hearted Toy Favorite Releases of 2016 list), Cage The Elephant, Liam Gallagher, Spoon, Tegan and Sara, Warpaint, and The Shins will also be performing. Tickets for Lollapalooza are already sold out.
Tickets went on sale today for Juliana Hatfield at Lincoln Hall on May 1; The Shelters at Beat Kitchen on April12; Robyn Hitchcock at The Old Town School Of Folk Music on June 17; and Alison Moyet at Park West on September 19.
The Factory Theater, a major force in Chicago for decades, has a new play called Born Ready opening tonight at its space on the far north side. Stacie Barra’s play about an aging actress and a young dancer who join forces as a comedy duo is directed by W. Bullion and stars Eleanor Katz and and Clara Byczkowski.
Wild Honey’s benefit for The Autism Think Tank takes place tomorrow night, March 25 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale California. Jackson Browne, Peter Case, Victoria Williams, Syd Straw, David Baerwald, Continental Drifters, Plainsong, and Cait O’Riordan are among the musicians who’ll be performing The Band’s Music From Big Pink album. Founding Band member Garth Hudson will also be on hand.
Singer-guitarist James Moeller will be getting a workout tomorrow night at Phyllis Musical Inn when whitewolfsonicprincess, the mysterious alt rock band he leads with vocalist Carla Hayden, shares the stage with his more garage rock oriented outfit The Telepaths. Music starts at 10:00 p.m.
The Refugee Theatre’s production of the High Fidelity Musical wraps up tomorrow night.
The Experience Hendrix all-star tribute to the legendary guitarist comes to the Chicago Theatre tomorrow night, March 25. Performers include Billy Cox, Buddy Guy, Zakk Wylde, Johnny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Dweezil Zappa, and others.
The Smithereens will be back in the Chicago area next Saturday, April 1 when they play the Prairie Arts Center in Schaumburg. The Smithereens’ ESP3PECIALLY F0R YOU 30th Anniversary of their debut album Especially For You, came in at number three on my Favorite Releases Of 2016 list.
The Heroes And Villains Fan Fest returns to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center tomorrow and Sunday, March 25 and 26, with special guests from several popular TV shows. Two-day passes for general admission are $90, Saturday only is $55, and Sunday is $45. Various forms of VIP packages are also available.
The 20th Annual Chicago European Union Film Festival is currently taking place at the Gene Siskel Film Center, and by the time it’s finished on March 30, 62 films from 28 countries will have been screened
The Regrettes, the Los Angeles-based quartet whose full length debut Feel Your Feelings Fool is an irresistible blend of punk and the 1960s girl group sound, will be at Schubas next Sunday night. Brooklyn-based indie rock band Active Bird Community, which released its latest album Stick Around earlier this year, will be the opening act.
Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul will be summering in Europe this year, with concerts scheduled in Ireland, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, and Norway. Musician/actor/radio host Steven Van Zandt first recorded with The Disciples Of Soul in 1982 with the release of the Men Without Women album. Musically, of course, Van Zandt is best known for his work with Bruce Springsteen
The ambitious psychedelic rock fest Tim Ferguson, Gregory Curvey, and Lee Klawans are going to stage at the LiveWire Lounge in Chicago this September has been officially dubbed Kaleidoscope Eye. The bands involved are The Red Plastic Buddha, The Luck Of Eden Hall, Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor, Friends of Dennis Wilson, Warhorses, Heaven’s Gateway Drugs, Magic Castles, The Orange Drop, White Shape, Constantine, Aethereal, Junkee Girl, Diagonal, and Lucille Furs.
It’s A Small World After All
April, Rock She Will
RSD - Seeing Double
RSD - Big Ticket Items
The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club - Don’t Buy This...
Festivals On The Horizon
The Regrettes - Feel Your Feelings Fool
Past And Present Perfect
Tomorrow The Moon - Blow, Mind, Blow
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Home » Analysis » Evangelisation » Following St Francis: Fr Francesco Mary Gavazzi ‘just wanted to follow and live for God alone’
Following St Francis: Fr Francesco Mary Gavazzi ‘just wanted to follow and live for God alone’
By Nick Holt
Pax et bonum: Franciscan Father Francesco Mary Gavazzi, second from left, with his Franciscan Friars of the Renewal brothers in New York City. Photos: Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
In May 2018, Father Francesco Mary Gavazzi was ordained a priest with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal at St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. The ordination marked a 12-year journey for the Australian native that began in 2006 at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. Fr Gavazzi spoke with The Catholic Leader from his new home at St Fidelis Friary in London about his vocation as a Franciscan of the Renewal, seeking Christ, and why God’s love is so great.
What was your involvement in the Catholic Church growing up?
I was baptised and raised Catholic. My two brothers, three sisters and I went to Catholic schools. But growing up in Sydney, we didn’t have much involvement in the Church apart from going to Mass on Sunday. Life was pretty good and secure and I suppose we thought we had all we needed.
Things changed when I was 17. Mum was diagnosed with cancer after my sister Emma, who has Down syndrome, was born. With Mum’s illness, we started to pray together as a family. That was when I got more involved in the Church.
My twin brother and I began to serve at Mass. When I prayed and served at the altar I had this growing awareness that God was close and that He was leading me somewhere.
Still I had no attraction to any of the parish activities so I never really got involved in parish life. Instead, my dad, twin brother and I got connected with a homeless shelter for men in the inner city. We’d go down every Monday night and sometimes we’d stay there overnight. Having travelled to Indonesia as a family as kids, I’d been exposed to poverty, but this was the first really close encounter with the suffering poor.
Looking back, my dad’s witness was an inspiration because he’d stay overnight with us and the guys at the shelter, even though he had a full day of work the next day. This was a big deal because the shelter was just a big hall and all of us would camp out on the floor. Almost all the men were struggling with addiction or mental illness, so sleep could be hard to come by. Yet Dad was always faithful to it and joyful even after a rough night. Even more than that, he got to know the guys by name, and has stayed in contact with some of them over the years.
What made you decide to go to America and become a priest?
Serving: Father Francesco Mary Gavazzi.
I think the answer to that is simply that I was led to this specific community – the CFRs – who happen to be founded and based in New York. A priest once told me that God calls a person not so much to marriage in general, but to be married to this or that specific person. I think the same is true of religious life. When God calls a person to consecrated life, He (usually) also has a specific community in mind where a person can live out concretely his or her vocation. It’s the idea that every vocation has to “take flesh” in a specific context. For me, this has been the CFRs.
Our community is based in New York and that is where the formation happens. So no matter what part of the world you come from, New York is where you go first. We have guys from all over the world – Ireland, England, Nigeria, Canada, Guatemala, Poland, Germany, France etc.
During my years at uni, I loved to travel, but never had a desire even to visit America, let alone live there. But when I was in Germany for World Youth Day in 2005, I ran into this group of friars outside a church. They were standing outside a black van with tinted windows that said “Bronx Brothers” on the side of it, with guitars and music equipment all around them. I’ll never forget the way one of them walked into the church with a guitar in either hand and got down on both knees in front of the tabernacle. To me, that image captures what attracted me to this community. I also remember one of the friars sharing his story and explaining how when he was younger he had been blocking out God’s voice like someone putting on a pair of ear muffs. I knew I was meant to hear it because that’s what I had been doing since I first experienced the initial call. After the trip to Germany for World Youth Day and that encounter with the friars, I was pretty sure that if I ever said “Yes” to this vocation, it would be with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. In 2006, I left Sydney for New York City. More than anything, more than knowing where it all would lead, as I got on the plane, I just wanted to follow and live for God alone – even if it meant leaving Australia, as hard it was at the time.
Why did you choose the friars?
I met a couple of religious communities in Sydney and was familiar with the diocesan priesthood, growing up in the parish. Still I never felt drawn to those communities or to the diocesan priesthood. That’s why the encounter with the friars in Germany was really significant. For the first time I saw the possibility of responding to God’s call. It became real for me. It even became attractive.
Why the friars? I think what happened to me was something similar to what happened to Andrew and Peter and the other disciples – even before they knew who Jesus really was, they simply ran into Someone who was human and yet had something more, something exceptional. Before they knew He was the Christ, the Son of God, they simply wanted to be with Him, to hang out with Him. Because they’d never met anyone like Him. It was something like this when I met the friars. Even more than the things you look for in a community – a love for Jesus in the Eucharist, the Church, Our Lady, prayer, being close to those who suffer, etc. – in the end it was where I felt myself being led. This definitely meant letting go of my plans and allowing my life to become part of God’s plan. But, with the friars, it became something that I desired to do too, as though my will and God’s will were starting to align.
What are you doing in London now you’re settled?
I arrived in July in the midst of a beautiful and warm London summer. Despite the warm weather, we still had about 50 people coming to our soup kitchen (here in East London) during the day for food, clothing, a shower or just some company. As it has gotten colder, the demand for those basic things has increased. Thankfully, we are blessed with many friends who help us run the soup kitchen, both serving and providing for the material needs. We’re now preparing for our annual Christmas party for our guests. Beyond this, outside our local area, we receive lots of requests for retreats, parish missions, talks, Masses and confessions and we’ve been responding to these as much as we can. One of the brothers and I are actually going to Poland for a retreat with about 400 youth after Christmas. Then there is a monthly “discipleship day” that we host here at the friary for those seeking to go deeper in following Jesus. We also have an event called the “Catholic Underground” every second month at the local parish which includes Eucharistic adoration, music and fellowship. Of course, with all this apostolic activity, what keeps us rooted and grounded is our life of prayer, especially daily Mass and holy hour.Actually, the daily holy hour is something Mother Teresa personally encouraged our founders to do as they were beginning the community back in 1987. As a priest, putting the Eucharist and the Gospel at the heart of my life is still the most important thing because this is the source of our life as Christians and the heart of all mission. Any true renewal we hope to see in London, in New York, in Sydney, in Brisbane, will flow from this.
What led you to deepen your faith with the Lord?
There is a line in one of the psalms that says “taste and see that the Lord is good. Happy is the man who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8). When I experienced that this is really true, and as I have grown in certainty that this is true, I would say that at some point I arrived at the point Peter reached in John’s Gospel. Many are leaving Jesus because they don’t understand what he is saying, and he asks those around him if they want to go as well, and Peter basically says (if you’ll let me paraphrase St Peter), “Lord, who else will we go to? You are the only One who makes life truly complete (only you have the words of eternal life)” (John 6:68). As a Franciscan priest, the opportunity is ever-present to allow God to be Who He is every day. That might sound odd – that we could allow God to be Himself – maybe it’s better to say that we can allow God to be Himself for us. Mother Teresa used to say “give God permission”.
When we say Yes to God’s will for our life, even His will for this moment, we give Him permission to provide, guide and bring new life – His life – to the most ordinary circumstances. My vocation as a Franciscan and priest is the particular way I have been called to live the primary vocation of every Christian – to follow Christ wherever He leads. This is the great adventure and it calls every Christian to act with great courage, fidelity to truth, charity and perseverance.
Why should we seek Christ?
When we discover that Christ has first sought us, that he is the One who has come to us, something that man could never have foreseen or imagined – that God Himself would become so close to us as to become human – not because we were worthy but precisely because we weren’t and yet still he gives Himself. When this fact pierces our heart, when it becomes a reality that is experienced (not only an idea) – we are moved to seek Him.
Moved by the God who is moved toward us. When I discover that there is Someone who is moved towards me, desires to be with me and to lift me up from my waywardness and sinfulness to share in a new kind of existence – this is a wonder that evokes a response in me – and a desire to spend my life in the presence of this Person.
I think every Christian must arrive at that point where we can say with Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
In Christ, truth and love coincide.
Why is God’s love so great?
“God is love” (1 John 8). One of my favourite descriptions of love is to prefer the destiny of the other even at the cost of one’s own life. This is the love of God in Christ. This is what we see when we look at the crucified Christ, what we put before our eyes on Good Friday, what is made present at every Mass – a love that goes “to the end” (John 13:1) for you and I. The Lord says through the prophet Jeremiah “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with unfailing kindness”. (Jeremiah 31:3) The saints let this truth transform them.
Their lives were a response to it. One of the best books I’ve read on St Francis is called Love’s Reply. That’s it. Francis’ life was a response – his poverty, preaching, love for lepers, fasting, prayer, his vision of creation etc. – all of it was a response to the love of God that he had encountered. He couldn’t find adequate words to describe the love of God in Christ. Of the Eucharist he said: “O humble sublimity. O sublime humility. That the Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that for our salvation He hides Himself under a morsel of bread.”
Written by: Nick Holt
Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy 2018-12-14
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More than 2000 Australia priests reject breaking seal of confession
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Respiratory Therapist - Per Diem in Norristown, PA at Suburban Community Hospital
2701 Dekalb Pike
Suburban Community Hospital is a not-for-profit, acute care hospital, and a member of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. For over 65 years, Suburban Community Hospital has been delivering quality healthcare to Montgomery County and the surrounding region.Suburban Community Hospital, originally named Riverview Hospital, opened in 1944. Chartered at 740 Sandy Street in Norristown, PA, Riverview Osteopathic Hospital would provide medical and surgical services to the sick, afflicted and injured, and would educate persons in the care and nursing.
Our HistoryIn the mid-1940s and 1950s, the community grew and Riverview Hospital's occupancy rate increased considerably. In 1958, ground was broken for an expansion wing, that would provide additional patient rooms, a new dining room, an expanded emergency room, and a new elevator. By 1962, Riverview Hospital was operating as an 80-bed hospital with a professional staff of 47 physicians, while becoming a member of the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania.
In early 1970, the ground breaking was held for the East Norriton site. As the steel skeleton framework began to rise, a new name for the hospital was discussed. Sentiment for the old revered Riverview was on the minds of many, while a new hospital, new location and new name was also on their minds. After much discussion and debate, the name Suburban General Hospital was chosen. In 1972, the construction was completed and the ribbon-cutting was conducted. Suburban General Hospital opened its doors as a 153-bed, acute care, teaching hospital.
For more than twenty five years, Suburban General Hospital provided the community with quality health care and services right in their own neighborhood. In 1981, the Suburban General Healthcare System was established. During the ensuing years multiple entities were established under the parent corporation.
Then, in 1997, with the oversight and approval of the Professional Staff and Board of Directors, Suburban General Healthcare System signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mercy Health System. In January 1999, a Blessing and Dedication ceremony was celebrated by His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, and Suburban General Hospital became Mercy Suburban Hospital and part of Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
In order to grow its capabilities even further, in February 2016 the hospital was acquired by Prime Healthcare, a nationally renowned health system consisting of more than 40 hospitals in 14 states, and dozens of affiliated groups and care facilities. As part of that transition, the hospital changed its name to Suburban Community Hospital to reflect its dedication to the community that it’s been part of for more than 70 years.
The hospital is extremely proud to have trained hundreds of physicians throughout the years, many of whom continue to practice in the community and are on staff at Suburban Community Hospital.
In 2004, in response to community growth and development the hospital added a new, "green" addition to house a new 30-treatment room Emergency Department, Laboratory and Surgical Services Suite. Additionally, new equipment and technology was purchased. In the last several years, many areas in the hospital have been modernized.
As Suburban Community Hospital continues to expand the East Norriton location to meet the needs of the community, it is with great pride that we reflect on our beginnings on Sandy Street. With the modern technology and new facilities, patients can be assured that the quality, compassionate care that characterized Riverview Osteopathic Hospital and Suburban General Hospital still embodies Suburban Community Hospital today.
Under the direction and authorization of the medical director and cardiopulmonary director, the RCP II is responsible for performing respiratory therapeutic and pulmonary diagnostic procedures as ordered by the physician. Emphasis will be toward the assessment, planning, implementation and documentation of care, with consideration of age and population specific needs and requirements of the patient. In the absence of a supervisor, may be assigned/identified as Lead RCP, having responsibility for the section or department during their shift.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING
1. State Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) License required2. Current BCLS (AHA) certificate upon hire and maintain current.3. Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) certification from the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) required4. 2 years experience as an RCP preferred.5. ACLS certificate within 60 day of hire and maintain current.6. NRP certificate preferred 7. PALS certificate within 60 days of hire and maintain current.8. Associate Degree or Bachelor of Science degree preferred 9. High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
Therapist Jobs
Respiratory Therapist Jobs
Jobs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Therapist Jobs Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Tag Archives: amygdala
Don’t stress about stress – Part 3: Coping
Posted on November 23, 2014 by cedwardpitt
In our last two blogs, we’ve been looking at stress, and why stress is usually more helpful than harmful.
It’s not that stress can never be harmful. Stress can be a trigger to some illnesses (although not as many as the popular media often portrays). What is it that makes the difference between helpful and harmful? What is it that causes one person to surf the tsunami of sewerage that often confronts us in life, while another person sinks?
The answer lies in resilience.
Resilience is the term given to the individual’s capacity to cope.
Researchers in the field of psychiatry often use the term resilience, which “is the capacity and dynamic process of adaptively overcoming stress and adversity while maintaining normal psychological and physical functioning” [1] although psychologists and social science researchers would use the term “coping”, which is defined by Compas et al as, “conscious and volitional efforts to regulate emotion, cognition, behavior, physiology, and the environment in response to stressful events or circumstances.” [2] Skinner and Zimmer-Gembeck define coping as, “action regulation under stress.” [3]
Considering the definitions used, the terms are essentially interchangeable. The other observation to be made here is that coping/resilience is an active process. It’s not something that happens despite of us – we actively cope with stress. In the face of a situation involving emotional arousal (danger or stress), we take steps to deal with our inner and outer environments (the physiological processes of our body, as well as the environment around us). Sometimes these steps are conscious and/or under our control. But theorists also consider automatic, unconscious, and involuntary responses to also be part of the coping spectrum [4].
WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO RESILIENCE?
What makes up those actions? What influences the action steps?
Psychologists have described hundreds of individual methods of coping through recent research, although there have been efforts to consolidate the plethora of individual coping strategies into “family” clusters, based on function. For example, a primary tier is to “Coordinate actions and contingencies in the environment” which involves “finding additional contingencies” which on the third level involves “reading, observation, and asking others.” [3] Table 1 in the paper by Skinner and Zimmer-Gembeck [3] summarize the many ways of coping and how they can be grouped together into families, and their corresponding adaptive process.
Personality factors
Coping strategies follow along the lines of personality type [5], as well as the stage of development in children [3]. Personality types such as Neuroticism and Openness have been well studied, with Neuroticism associated with maladaptive coping strategies, and Openness correlated with adaptive coping (in marital relationships [6] and in public speaking tasks [5]).
Further research has shown how personality significantly influences coping, with the severity of the stress, and the age and culture of a person influencing the strategy and strength of the coping response [4]. Of course, personality traits like neuroticism sound bad, but they confer their own strengths. For example, negative affect has protective benefits by enhancing the detection of deception [7].
The shared connection that personality types and coping responses have is in their shared genetics, with personality and coping styles influenced by common genes [8]. This makes perfect sense as it has been shown that changes in individual genes effect the ability of the brain to associate the correct value to rewards [9], which then influences both mood [10], and learning [11]. Even though environmental variables are important in determining personality and learning aspects of coping with stress, the brains underlying capacity to process the incoming signals correctly will significantly influence the direction and outcome of the learning process, which includes learning which coping strategies work best for each individual.
On a deeper level, there are several biological processes that make up the features of resilience. Animal studies on resilience, as a whole, have shown that resilience “is mediated not only by the absence of key molecular abnormalities that occur in susceptible animals to impair their coping ability, but also by the presence of distinct molecular adaptations that occur specifically in resilient individuals to help promote normal behavioral function.” [12] That is, resilient individuals have the full complement of critical components in the resilience pathway, and have some extra tools too.
Human studies thus far have shown strong links to genetic changes that affect the proteins in the stress system. Epigenetic mechanisms are involved, and the role of the environment is also significant, especially uncontrollable early childhood trauma. Wu et al list the current studies of genetic changes that effect resilience in humans [1: Table 1]. The proteins involved are responsible for the growth of new nerve pathways (BDNF), and for their function, especially within the stress system (CRHR1, FKBP5) and in control of mood and reward systems (COMT, DAT1, DRD2/4, 5-HTTLPR, the HTR group).
Wu et al [1] also summarised the currently known facts about epigenetic factors in resilience. Interestingly, they noted an animal study in which chronic stressors increased an epigenetic marker called histone acetylation in the hippocampus in mice, which enhanced the protective effects of the stress (epigenetics will be the subject of a future blog)
Resilience on a personal level
So coping and resilience are known protective factors for stress, and are more commonly deployed than most people realize. Despite all of the publicity that stress has generated, human beings remain remarkably unscathed. It’s estimated that, “in the general population, between 50 and 60% experience a severe trauma, yet the prevalence of illness is estimated to be only 7.8%.” [12] (Note: By ‘illness’, the authors were referring to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, not all of human sickness).
But when it comes to recommending different coping strategies on an individual level, it is a much harder thing to do. What is adaptive in some situations and for some people is maladaptive in other situations and for other people.
For example, in animal studies, “stressed females tend to perform better than males on non-aversive cognitive or memory tasks … Conversely, in tests of acute stress or aversive conditioning, stress enhances learning in males and impairs it in females … the literature suggests that in cognitive domains females cope better with chronic forms of stress, whereas males tend to cope better with acute stress.” [12] So animal studies confirm a difference in the biological stress response between men and women. If these studies in animals can be extended to humans, it may explain the tendency for men to engage in “fight-or-fight” responses to stress where women usually move to “tend-and-befriend” mode [13].
Human studies on coping also demonstrate that what is good for one is not necessarily good for another. Connor-Smith and Flachsbart confirm that, “In particular, daily report and laboratory studies suggest that individuals high in sensitivity to threat may either benefit from disengagement or be harmed by engagement in the short term, with the opposite pattern appearing for individuals low in threat sensitivity.” [4]
So in other words, just because engaging may be a positive method of coping does not mean that it should be recommended to everyone. Some people will have more harm from trying to engage. Care should be taken when giving people advice about how to manage their stress. Ill-informed instructions can actually make things worse.
It’s well established that stress can have negative impacts on your physical and mental health. But contrary to the popular view, stress is not always bad. As a number of authors point out, most people go through significant stress at some point in their lives, but only a fraction succumb to that stress.
The difference is the factors that make up resilience. Where we are along the stress spectrum (that is, whether you are wired to be more stressed, or more resistant to stress) depends on our genetic predisposition, which determines the physiology of our stress system and our personality, and the ways we learn to cope.
How we cope best depends on our individual traits and the situation. There is no one-size-fits-all. Pushing a person into a form of coping that’s not suitable can actually cause a lot of harm.
Remember, we normally find what coping strategies work for us automatically as our resilience is mostly innate, and we all go through severe stress at some point or another in our lives, but only a small fraction of us will succumb to that stress.
In the last blog in the series, we’ll have a brief look at what happens when stress overwhelms us … when stress is breaking bad.
Wu, G., et al., Understanding resilience. Front Behav Neurosci, 2013. 7: 10 doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00010
Compas, B.E., et al., Coping with stress during childhood and adolescence: problems, progress, and potential in theory and research. Psychol Bull, 2001. 127(1): 87-127 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11271757
Skinner, E.A. and Zimmer-Gembeck, M.J., The development of coping. Annu Rev Psychol, 2007. 58: 119-44 doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085705
Connor-Smith, J.K. and Flachsbart, C., Relations between personality and coping: a meta-analysis. Journal of personality and social psychology, 2007. 93(6): 1080
Penley, J.A. and Tomaka, J., Associations among the Big Five, emotional responses, and coping with acute stress. Personality and individual differences, 2002. 32(7): 1215-28
Bouchard, G., Cognitive appraisals, neuroticism, and openness as correlates of coping strategies: An integrative model of adptation to marital difficulties. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 2003. 35(1): 1
Forgas, J.P. and East, R., On being happy and gullible: Mood effects on skepticism and the detection of deception. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 2008. 44: 1362-7 http://bit.ly/Jm66a7
Kato, K. and Pedersen, N.L., Personality and coping: A study of twins reared apart and twins reared together. Behavior Genetics, 2005. 35(2): 147-58 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10519-004-1015-8
Dreher, J.-C., et al., Variation in dopamine genes influences responsivity of the human reward system. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009. 106(2): 617-22
Felten, A., et al., Genetically determined dopamine availability predicts disposition for depression. Brain Behav, 2011. 1(2): 109-18 doi: 10.1002/brb3.20
Ullsperger, M., Genetic association studies of performance monitoring and learning from feedback: the role of dopamine and serotonin. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2010. 34(5): 649-59
Russo, S.J., et al., Neurobiology of resilience. Nature neuroscience, 2012. 15(11): 1475-84
Verma, R., et al., Gender differences in stress response: Role of developmental and biological determinants. Ind Psychiatry J, 2011. 20(1): 4-10 doi: 10.4103/0972-6748.98407
Posted in Biological, Psychological | Tagged amygdala, anxiety, brain, cerebral cortex, coping, coping strategies, coping with stress, cortex, fear, fight-or-flight, implicit memory, memory, neurobiology, psychologist, psychology, resilience, stress, thought | Leave a reply
Dr Caroline Leaf and the tongues trivia tall tales
In every day life, if someone started talking in strings of indecipherable, chaotic syllables, you’d be giving them quite a lot of space, concerned about how much methamphetamine they’d been using.
In the average charismatic church, it’s just another service (the speaking in tongues, not the meth).
I’ve grown up in Pentecostal churches, and was baptised in the Holy Spirit when I was a child, so I forget how freaky it is for those who’ve never seen a whole church start talking or singing in tongues. For the uninitiated, the Bible talks about speaking in other tongues, which is a “New Testament phenomena where a person speaks in a language that is unknown to him. This language is either the language of angels or other earthly languages (1 Cor. 13:1). It occurred in Acts 2 at Pentecost and also in the Corinthian church as is described in 1 Corinthians 14. This New Testament gift was given by the Holy Spirit to the Christian church and is for the purpose of the edification of the Body of Christ as well as for glorifying the Lord.” (http://carm.org/speaking-in-tongues)
In scientific terms, speaking in tongues is referred to as “Glossolalia”, from the Greek, ‘glosso-‘ ~ ‘the tongue’ and ‘-lalia’ ~ ‘to speak, to chat’. Scientists who initially studied it in the 60’s and 70’s drew the conclusion that glossolalia was related to psychopathology (that people who spoke in tongues were crazy) [1, 2], and in later decades, it was thought to be caused by a form of temporal lobe epilepsy [3].
Earlier today, Dr Caroline Leaf, a communication pathologist and self-titled cognitive neuroscientist, declared that, “When we speak in tongues, research shows that the areas involved in discernment in the brain increase in activity, which means we increase in wisdom.”
I was fascinated to find this research for myself. Dr Leaf never references her social media memes, so I started looking through the medical literature on the subject from respected databases like PubMed, and search engines like Google Scholar.
Despite a thorough search, I was only able to find one article that studied the pattern of brain activity during speaking in tongues. The article, “The measurement of regional cerebral blood flow during glossolalia: A preliminary SPECT study” [4] took five healthy women, psychiatrically stable, long term members of their churches, who had all spoken in tongues for many years. They scanned their brain activity after a period of singing to gospel songs in English and compared it to their brain activity after the same amount of time praying in tongues (while listening to the same music as before).
What they found was that the brain was more active in the left superior parietal lobe, while there was a decrease in brain activity in the prefrontal cortices, left caudate nucleus and left temporal pole. There was a trend for an increase in the activity of the right amygdala, but this may have just been chance.
So are any of those brain regions responsible for discernment as Dr Leaf suggested?
Well, that all depends on how you define “discernment”. “Discernment” is not really a common neurobiological term. The standard term in the literature is “judgement”. The brain regions that are associated with evaluation and judgement are the amygdala and ventral portions of the striatum as well as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the insula, the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and the periaqueductal gray (PAG) [5].
Are there any parts of the brain that match in the two lists? Only one – the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, or vmPFC for short. The prefrontal cortex is important in reasoning and decision-making, especially if there is uncertainty or novelty, while the vmPFC in particular is involved in the use of goal-relevant information in guiding responses, e.g., assigning value to choice options [6].
According to Dr Leaf, “When we speak in tongues, research shows that the areas involved in discernment in the brain increase in activity”. But that’s certainly not what the research paper said. The actual research is entirely the opposite.
Again, there are really only two reasonable explanations as to why the research contradicts Dr Leaf; either there is another piece of research which supports Dr Leaf’s assertion, or Dr Leaf is simply wrong.
At the risk of repeating myself, Dr Leaf needs to quote her sources when she is writing her little social media memes. Her meme may be perfectly justified by robust scientific evidence, but if she isn’t willing to share her sources, we’ll never know, and the only conclusion remaining is that Dr Leaf can’t interpret simple research.
So as it stands, there really isn’t any evidence that speaking in tongues makes you more discerning. By trying to claim otherwise, Dr Leaf further undermines her own reputation and credibility as an expert.
Hine, V.H., Pentecostal glossolalia: towards a functional reinterpretation. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 1969. 8: 212-26
Brende, J.O. and Rinsley, D.B., Borderline disorder, altered states of consciousness, and glossolalia. J Am Acad Psychoanal, 1979. 7(2): 165-88 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/370074
Persinger, M.A., Striking EEG profiles from single episodes of glossolalia and transcendental meditation. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1984. 58: 127-33
Newberg, A.B., et al., The measurement of regional cerebral blood flow during glossolalia: a preliminary SPECT study. Psychiatry Res, 2006. 148(1): 67-71 doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2006.07.001
Doré, B.P., et al., Social cognitive neuroscience: A review of core systems, in APA Handbook of Personality and Social Psychology, Mikulincer, M., et al., (Eds). 2014, American Psychological Association: Washington, DC. p. 693-720.
Nicolle, A. and Goel, V., What is the role of ventromedial prefrontal cortex in emotional influences on reason?, in Emotion and Reasoning, Blanchette, I., (Ed). 2013, Psychology Press.
STOP THE PRESSES! Dr Leaf releases a new meme based on my correction, still doesn’t acknowledge source. (13 November 2014)
So, I can’t find fault on what Dr Leaf said here. It fits with the paper I quoted from Newberg et al (2006). Still, it begs the question of why Dr Leaf couldn’t have said this in the first place, and why she still isn’t willing to share her citations?
It also raises the other obvious question, why is it important to know what our brain does in glossolalia? It’s only a study of 5 patients, and I’m sure that not all episodes of speaking in tongues is associated with decreased intentionality. The research, being so small, isn’t a true reflection of the practice of speaking in tongues. Lets hope that the future will bring more funding to better study this central tenet to the charismatic faith.
Posted in Biological, Caroline Leaf, Psychological, Spiritual | Tagged action, amygdala, brain, caroline, caroline leaf, cerebral cortex, cognitive neuroscientist, control, cortex, criticism, discernment, dr caroline leaf, Dr Leaf, epilepsy, Facebook, glossolalia, holy spirit, judgement, Leaf, meme, mind, neurobiology, pentecostal, pseudoscience, psychology, speaking, speaking in tongues, SPECT, thought, tongues, VMPFC | 2 Replies
Putting thought in the right place, part 2
In the last blog post, I discussed the Cognitive Action Pathways model, a schematic conceptual representation of the hierarchy of key components that underpin human thought and behaviour.
Small changes in the early processes within the Cognitive-Action Pathway model can snowball to effect every other part of the process. A real life example of this is ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder.
ASD has been present since time immemorial. Numerous bloggers speculate that Moses may have had ASD, while a couple of researchers proposed that Samson was on the spectrum (although their evidence was tenuous [1]). Thankfully, autism is no longer considered a form of demon possession or madness, or schizophrenia, or caused by emotionally distant “refrigerator mothers”, nor treated with inhumane experimental chemical and physical “treatments” [2, 3].
The autism spectrum is defined by two main characteristics: deficits in social communication and interaction, and restricted repetitive patterns of behaviour. People on the autism spectrum also tend to have abnormal sensitivity to stimuli, and other co-existing conditions like ADHD. The full diagnostic criteria can be found in DSM5. The new criteria are not without their critics [4-6], but overall, reflect the progress made in understanding the biological basis of autism.
ASD is recognized as a pervasive developmental disorder secondary to structural and functional changes in the brain that occur in the womb, and can be detected as early as a month after birth [7]. In the brain of a foetus that will be born with ASD, excess numbers of dysfunctional nerve cells are unable to form the correct synaptic scaffolding, leaving a brain that is large [8, 9], but out-of-sync. The reduced scaffolding leads to local over-connectivity within regions of the brain, and under-connectivity between the regions of the brain [10]. The majority of the abnormal cells and connections are within the frontal lobe, especially the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the medial prefrontal cortex [11], as well as the temporal lobes [12]. The cerebellum is also significantly linked to the autism spectrum [13]. There is also evidence that the amygdala and hippocampus, involved in emotional regulation and memory formation, are significantly effected in ASD [10].
There is also strong evidence for an over-active immune system in an autistic person compared to a neurotypical person, with changes demonstrated in all parts of the immune system, and the immune system in the brain as well as the rest of the body [14]. These immune changes contribute to the reduced ability of the brain to form new branches as well as develop new nerve cells or remove unnecessary cells.
There are a number of environmental and epigenetic associations linked to autism. These include disorders of folate metabolism [15, 16], pollutants [17], fever during pregnancy [18] and medications such as valproate and certain anti-depressants [19, 20] which are linked with an increase in autism[1]. Supplements such as folate [15, 21], omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids [22] and the use of paracetamol for fevers in pregnancy [18] have protective effects.
Although these factors are important, genes outweigh their influence by about 4:1. Twin studies suggest that between 70-90% of the risk of autism is genetic [23, 24]. Individual gene studies have only shown that each of the many single genes carry about a one percent chance each for the risk of autism [10]. It’s been proposed that the hundreds of genes linked with autism [10, 25] are not properly expressed (some are expressed too much, some not enough). The resulting proteins from the abnormal gene expression contribute to a different function of the cell’s machinery, altering the ability of a nerve cell to fully develop, and the ability of nerve cells to form connections with other nerve cells [26]. The effects are individually small, but collectively influential [24]. Autism is considered a complex genetic disorder involving rare mutations, complex gene × gene interactions, and copy number variants (CNVs) including deletions and duplications [27].
According to the Cognitive-Action Pathways model, the triad of the environment, epigenetics, and genes influence a number of processes that feed into our actions, thoughts, perceptions, personality and physiology. In ASD, the starting place is language processing.
New born babies from as young as two days old prefer listening to their own native language [28], which suggests that we are born already pre-wired for language. Auditory stimuli (sounds) are processed in the temporal lobes, including language processing. In neurotypical people, language processing is done predominantly on the left side, with some effect from the right side. But in people with autism, because of the abnormal wiring, there is only significant activity of the right temporal lobe [12]. Even more, from data so recent that it’s pending publication, loss of the processing of information of the left temporal lobe reversed the brains orientation to social and non-social sounds, like the sound of the babies name [7].
The change in the wiring of the left and right temporal lobes then alters the processing of language, specifically the social significance of language and other sounds. So already from a young age, people with autism will respond differently to environmental stimuli compared to a neurotypical person.
In the same way, the fusiform gyrus is part of the brain that processes faces. It’s quite specific to this task in a neurotypical person. However, the altered wiring of the brain in someone with autism causes a change, with different parts of the brain having to take up the load of facial processing [29].
Each time that one part of the brain can’t perform it’s normal function, the other parts take up the load. However that reduces the capacity for those parts of the brain to perform their own normal functions. In the case of the temporal lobes and the fusiform areas, this results in a reduced ability to discern subtleties especially those related to recognizing social cues. A neurotypical person and an autistic person could be standing in front of the same person, listening to the same words, and seeing the same facial expressions, but because of the way each persons brain processes the information, the perception of those words and cues can be completely different. This demonstrates how genetic changes can lead to changes in the perception of normal sensory input, resulting in differences in the physiological response, emotions, feelings, thoughts and actions, despite identical sensory input.
The same changes that effect the cerebral cortex of the brain also have an influence on the deeper structures such as the hippocampus and the amygdala. The hippocampus is largely responsible for transforming working memory into longer term declarative memory. Studies comparing the size of the hippocampus in ASD children have shown an increase in size compared with typical developing children [30]. Combined with the deficits in the nerve cell structure of the cerebellum [13], autistic children and adults have a poor procedural memory (action learning, regulated by the cerebellum) and an overdeveloped declarative memory (for facts, regulated by the hippocampus). This has been termed the “Mnesic Imbalance Theory” [31].
The amygdala is also functionally and anatomically altered because of the changes to the nerve cells and their connections. The amygdala is larger in young children with ASD compared to typically developing children. As a result, young ASD children have higher levels of background anxiety than do neurotypical children [32]. It’s proposed that not only do ASD children have higher levels of background anxiety, they also have more difficulty in regulating their stress system, resulting in higher levels of stress compared to a neurotypical child exposed to the same stimulus [33].
On a chemical level, autism involves genes that encode for proteins involved in the transport of key neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine. Early evidence confirms the deficits of the serotonin and dopamine transporter systems in autism [34]. These neurotransmitters are integral to processing the signals of mood, stress and rewards within the brain, and as discussed in the last chapter, are significantly involved in the genesis of personality.
The abnormal neurotransmitter systems and the resulting deficiencies in processing stress and rewards signals contribute to a higher correlation of neuroticism and introverted personality styles in children with autism symptoms [35, 36].
So people with autism genes are going to process stress and rewards in a different way to the neurotypical population. As a result, their feelings, their thoughts and their resulting actions are tinged by the differences in personality through which all of the incoming signals are processed.
The underlying genes and neurobiology involved in autism also effect the final behavioural step, not only because genes and sensory input influence the personality and physiology undergirding our feelings and thoughts, but also because they cause physical changes to the cerebellum, the part of the brain involved in fine motor control and the integration of a number of higher level brain functions including working memory, behaviour and motivation [13, 37].
When Hans Asperger first described his cohort of ASD children, he noted that they all had a tendency to be clumsy and have poor handwriting [38]. This is a good example of how the underlying biology of ASD can effect the action stage independently of personality and physiology. The cerebellum in a person with ASD has reduced numbers of a particular cell called the Purkinje cells, effecting the output of the cerebellum and the refined co-ordination of the small muscles of the hands (amongst other things). Reduced co-ordination of the fine motor movements of the hands means that handwriting is less precise and therefore less neat.
A running joke when I talk to people is the notoriously illegible doctors handwriting. One of the doctors I used to work with had handwriting that seriously looked like someone had dipped a chicken’s toes in ink and let it scratch around for a while. My handwriting is messy – a crazy cursive-print hybrid – but at least it’s legible. I tell people that our handwriting is terrible because we spent six years at medical school having to take notes at 200 words a minute. But it might also be that the qualities that make for a good doctor tend to be found in Asperger’s Syndrome, so the medical school selection process is going to bias the sample towards ASD and the associated poor handwriting (Thankfully, those that go on to neurosurgery tend to have good hand-eye coordination).
But if your educational experience was anything like mine, handwriting was seen as one of the key performance indicators of school life. If your handwriting was poor, you were considered lazy or stupid. Even excluding the halo effect from the equation, poor handwriting means a student has to slow down to write neater but takes longer to complete the same task, or writes faster to complete the task in the allotted time but sacrificing legibility in doing so.
Either way, the neurobiology of ASD results in reduced ability to effectively communicate, leading to judgement from others and internal personal frustration, both of which feedback to the level of personality, molding future feelings, thoughts and actions.
Thought in ASD
By the time all the signals have gone through the various layers of perception, personality and physiology, they reach the conscious awareness level of our stream of thought. I hope by now that you will agree with me that thought is irrevocably dependent on all of the various levels below it in the Cognitive-Action Pathways Model. While thoughts are as unique as the individual that thinks them, the common genetic expression of ASD and the resulting patterns in personality, physiology and perception lead to some predictable patterns of thought in those sharing the same genes.
As a consequence of the differences in the signal processing, the memories that make their way to long-term storage are also going to be different. Memories and memory function are also different in ASD for other neurobiological reasons, as described earlier in the blog with the Mnesic Imbalance Theory.
The Cognitive-Action Pathways model is a way of describing the context of thoughts to other neurological processes, and how they all interact. It shows that conscious thoughts are one link of a longer chain of neurological functions between stimulus and action – simply one cog in the machine. The autistic spectrum provides a good example of how changes in genes and their expression can dramatically influence every aspect of a person’s life – how they experience the world, how they feel about those experiences, and how they think about them.
I used autism as an example because autism is a condition that’s pervasive, touching every aspect of a person’s life, and provides a good example of the extensive consequences from small genetic changes. But the same principles of the Cognitive-Action Pathways Model apply to all aspects of life, including conditions that are considered pathological, but also to our normal variations and idiosyncrasies. Small variations in the genes that code for our smell sensors or the processing of smells can change our preferences for certain foods just as much as cultural exposure. Our appreciation for music is often changed subtly between individuals because of changes in the structure of our ears or the nerves that we use to process the sounds. The genetic structure of the melanin pigment in our skin changes our interaction with our environment because of the amount of exposure to the sun we can handle.
So in summary, this blog was to set out the place that our thoughts have in the grand scheme of life. Thought is not the guiding or controlling force, it is simply a product of a number of underlying functions and variables.
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[1] A word of caution: While there’s good evidence that valproate increases the risk of autism, and a possible link between some anti-depressants and autism, that risk has to be balanced with the risk to the baby of having a mother with uncontrolled epilepsy or depression, which may very well be higher. If you’re taking these medications and you are pregnant, or want to become pregnant, consult your doctor BEFORE you stop or change your medications. Work out what’s right for you (and your baby) in your unique situation.
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Dr Caroline Leaf: Putting thought in the right place
Posted on November 8, 2014 by cedwardpitt
Following hard on the heels of her false assumption that our minds control our health, not our genes, and following the same theme, Dr Leaf had this to say today, “Everything is first a thought; the brain is being controlled with EVERY thought you think!”
Dr Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and a self-titled cognitive neuroscientist. Reading back through my blogs, this “thought controls the brain / mind controls matter” is a recurrent theme of hers. It is repeated multiple times in her books, like when she writes, “Thoughts influence every decision, word, action and physical reaction we make.” [1: p13] and “Our mind is designed to control the body, of which the brain is a part, not the other way around. Matter does not control us; we control matter through our thinking and choosing” [2: p33] just as a couple of examples.
So how does thought relate to the grand scheme of our brain and it’s processing? Does our thought really control our brain, or is it the other way around. Through all of the reading that I have done on neuroscience, I propose a model of the place of thought in relation to the rest of our brains information processing. It is based on the LIDA model, dual systems models, and other neuroscientific principles and processes.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “It’s just the tip of the iceberg.” It comes from the fact that icebergs are made of fresh water, which is nine-tenths less dense than seawater. As a result, ten percent of an iceberg sits above the waters surface with most of it hiding beneath.
The information processing of our brains is much the same. We may be aware of our conscious stream of thought, but there is a lot going on under the surface that makes our thoughts what they are, even though we can’t see the process underneath.
What’s going on under the surface is a complex interplay of our genes and their expression which controls the structure and function of our brains, which effects how we perceive information, how we process that information and combine it into our memories of the past, predictions of the future, and even the further perception of the present [3].
Genes, epigenetics and the environment
We start with the most fundamental level of our biological system, which is genetics. It becomes clear from looking at any textbook of biological sciences that genes are fundamental to who we are. From the simplest bacteria, fungi, protozoans and parasites, through to all plants, all animals and all of human kind – EVERY living thing has DNA. DNA is what defines life in the broadest sense.
Proteins are responsible for the size, shape and operation of the cell. They make each tissue structurally and functionally different, but still work together in a highly precise electrochemical synchrony. But ultimately, it’s our genes that hold all of the instructions to make every one of the proteins within our cells. Without our genes, we would be nothing more than a salty soup of random amino acids.
Epigenetics and the environment contribute to the way genes are expressed. Epigenetics are “tags” on the strand of DNA that act to promote or silence the expression of certain genes (I discuss this in more detail in chapter 12 of my book, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/466848). Environmental factors (the components that make up the world external to our bodies) can influence genes and epigenetic markers. The environment can cause genetic mutations or new epigenetic marks that change the function of a particular gene, and depending on which cell they effect (a very active embryonic cell or a quiet adult cell) will largely determine the eventual outcome. The environment is more influential to our genetic expression than epigenetics.
Still, on average only about 25% of the expression of a complex trait is related to environmental factors. So while the environment is important, it is still outdone 3:1 by our genome.
Yes, epigenetics and the environment are important, but they influence, not control, the genome.
We live in a sensory world. The five senses are vital in providing the input we need for our brain to understand the world and meaningfully interact with it.
Different organs are needed to translate the optical, chemical or mechanical signals into electrical signals. Different parts of our brain then interpret these signals and their patterns.
Our genes significantly influence this process. For example, if someone is born with red-green colour blindness then how he or she interprets the world will always be subtly different to someone with normal vision. Or a person born with congenital deafness will always interpret his or her environment in a different way to someone with full hearing. I’ve highlighted these two conditions because they provide stark examples to help demonstrate the point, but there are many unique genetic expressions in each of the five senses that subtly alter the way each of us perceives the world around us.
So while we may all have the same photons of light hitting our retinas, or the same pressure waves of sound reaching our ears or touch on our skin, how our brains receive that information is slightly different for every individual. The information from the outside world is received by our sensory organs, but it is perceived by our brain, and even small differences in perception can have a big impact on the rest of the system.
Personality is “the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s distinctive character” [4]. Formally speaking, personality is, “defined as constitutionally based tendencies in thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that surface early in life, are relatively stable and follow intrinsic paths of development basically independent of environmental influences.” [5]
Professor Gregg Henriques explained it well in Psychology Today, “Personality traits are longstanding patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions which tend to stabilize in adulthood and remain relatively fixed. There are five broad trait domains, one of which is labeled Neuroticism, and it generally corresponds to the sensitivity of the negative affect system, where a person high in Neuroticism is someone who is a worrier, easily upset, often down or irritable, and demonstrates high emotional reactivity to stress.” [6] The other four personality types are Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience.
Gene x environment studies suggest that personality is highly heritable, with up to 60% of personality influenced by genetics [7], predominantly through genes involved in the serotonin [8] and dopamine systems [9, 10]. The “non-shared environment” (influences outside of the home environment) contributes heavily to the remainder [11, 12].
Personality is like a filter for a camera lens, shaping the awareness of our emotional state for better or worse, thus influencing the flow on to our feelings (the awareness of our emotions), our thoughts, and our actions.
Watkins describes physiology as streams of data that are provided from the different parts of your body, like the heart rate, your breathing rate, the oxygen in your blood, the position of your joints, the movement of your joints, even the filling of your bladder telling you that you need a break soon.
All of these signals are constantly being generated, and collated in different parts of the brain. Some researchers consider them positive and negative depending on the data stream and the signal its providing. They coalesce into emotion [13].
According to Watkins, “emotion” is the sum of all the data streams of physiology, or what he described as “E-MOTION … Energy in MOTION.” [13] In this context, think of emotion as a bulls-eye spirit-level of our body systems. The different forces of our physiology change the “level” constantly in different directions. Emotion is the bubble that marks the central point, telling us how far out of balance we are.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that although emotion is a familiar concept, the work of literally thousands of brilliant minds has brought us no closer to a scientifically validated definition of the word “emotion”. Some psychologists and researchers consider it vague and unscientific, and would prefer that it not be used altogether [14].
I’ve retained it because I think it’s a well-recognised word that conceptually describes the balance of physiological forces.
“Feelings” are the perception of emotion.
I discussed earlier in the chapter that what we perceive is different to what we “see” because the subtle genetic differences in our eyes and brains causes the information to be processed differently between individuals. The same applies to the perception of our emotion.
As I wrote earlier, personality is largely determined by our genetics with contributions from our environment [11, 12]. The emotional signal is filtered by our personality to give rise to our feelings. Classically, an optimistic personality is going to bias the emotional input in a positive, adaptive way while a pessimist or neurotic is going to bias the emotional signal in a maladaptive way
That’s not to say that an optimist can’t have depressed feelings, or a neurotic can’t have happy feelings. In the same way that a coloured lens will allow a lot of light through but filter certain wavelengths out, most of our emotional state of being will come through the filter of our personality but the feelings will be subtly biased one way or another.
Executive Functions
Executive function of the brain is defined as a complex cognitive process requiring the co-ordination of several sub-processes to achieve a particular goal [15]. These sub-processes can be variable but include working memory, attention, goal setting, maintaining and monitoring of goal directed action and action inhibition. In order to achieve these goals, the brain requires flexibility and coordination of a number of networks and lobes, although mainly the prefrontal cortex, parietal cortex, anterior cingulate and basal ganglia, and the while matter tracts that connect them.
Executive functions process the incoming information and decide on what goals are best given the context, then plan the goals, execute them to the motor cortices, and monitor the action. Research work from Marien et al [16] demonstrates that unconscious/implicit goals can divert resources away from conscious goals especially if it is emotionally salient or otherwise strongly related. They also confirm that conscious awareness is not necessary for executive function but that implicit goals can be formed and executed without conscious involvement.
Thoughts are essentially a stream of data projected into our conscious space. Baars [17, 18] noted that the conscious broadcast comes into working memory which then engages a wider area of the cerebral cortex necessary to most efficiently process the information signal. We perceive thought most commonly as either pictures or sounds in our head (“the inner monologue”), which corresponds to the slave systems of working memory. When you “see” an image in your mind, that’s the visuospatial sketchpad. When you listen to your inner monologue, that’s your phonological loop. When a song gets stuck in your head, that’s your phonological loop as well, but on repeat mode.
There is another slave system that Baddeley included in his model of working memory called the episodic buffer, “which binds together complex information from multiple sources and modalities. Together with the ability to create and manipulate novel representations, it creates a mental modeling space that enables the consideration of possible outcomes, hence providing the basis for planning future action.” [19]
Deep thinking is a projection from your brains executive systems (attention or the default mode network) to the central executive of working memory, which then recalls the relevant information from long-term memory and directs the information through the various parts of the slave systems of working memory to process the complex details involved. For example, visualizing a complex scene of a mountain stream in your mind would involve the executive brain directing the central executive of working memory to recall information about mountains and streams and associated details, and project them into the visuospatial sketchpad and phonological loop and combine them via the episodic buffer. The episodic buffer could also manipulate the scene if required to create plans, or think about the scene in new or unexpected ways (like imagining an elephant riding a bicycle along the riverbank).
Even though the scene appears as one continuous episode, it is actually broken up into multiple cognitive cycles, in the same way that images in a movie appear to be moving, but are really just multiple still frames played in sequence.
Action is the final step in the process, the output, our tangible behaviour
Our behaviour is not the direct result of conscious thought, or our will (as considered in the sense of our conscious will).
We discussed this before when we talked about our choices in chapter 1. There are two main pathways that lead from sensory input to tangible behaviour – various automated pathways that take input from the thalamus, deep in the brain, and sent to motor circuits in the supplementary motor area and motor cortex of the brain. These can be anything from evasive “reflex” actions[1] to rehearsed, habituated motor movements, like driving. Then there is the second pathway, coming from the executive areas of our brain, that plan out options for action, which are reviewed by the pre-supplemental motor area and the default mode network.
This second pathway is amenable to conscious awareness. Like thought, the projection of different options for action into our consciousness helps to engage a wider area of cerebral cortex to process the data. Most of the possible plans for action have already been rejected by the implicit processing of our executive brain before consciousness is brought in to help. Once an option has been selected, the action is sent to the pre-supplementary motor area, the supplementary motor area, the basal ganglia and finally the motor cortex.
According to the model proposed by Bonn [20], the conscious network has some feedback from the control network of our brain, providing real time context to actions about to be executed, and a veto function, stopping some actions at the last minute before they are carried out. This is largely a function of the basal ganglia [21], with some assistance from working memory.
So as you can see, according to the CAP model, conscious thoughts are one link of a longer chain of neurological functions between stimulus and action – simply one cog in the machine. Thoughts are dependent on a number of processes that are both genetically and environmentally determined, beyond our conscious control. It’s simply wrong to assume that thoughts control the brain.
Dr Leaf is welcome to her opinion, but it is in contradiction to the overwhelming majority of neuroscientific knowledge
Leaf, C., Who Switched Off My Brain? Controlling toxic thoughts and emotions. 2nd ed. 2009, Inprov, Ltd, Southlake, TX, USA:
Leaf, C.M., Switch On Your Brain : The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health. 2013, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Hao, X., et al., Individual differences in brain structure and resting brain function underlie cognitive styles: evidence from the embedded figures test. PLoS One, 2013. 8(12): e78089 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078089
Oxford Dictionary of English – 3rd Edition, 2010, Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK.
De Pauw, S.S., et al., How temperament and personality contribute to the maladjustment of children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord, 2011. 41(2): 196-212 doi: 10.1007/s10803-010-1043-6
Henriques, G. (When) Are You Neurotic? Theory of Knowledge: Psychology Today; 2012, 23 Nov 2012 [cited 2013 23 Nov 2012]; Available from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/theory-knowledge/201211/when-are-you-neurotic.
Vinkhuyzen, A.A., et al., Common SNPs explain some of the variation in the personality dimensions of neuroticism and extraversion. Transl Psychiatry, 2012. 2: e102 doi: 10.1038/tp.2012.27
Caspi, A., et al., Genetic sensitivity to the environment: the case of the serotonin transporter gene and its implications for studying complex diseases and traits. Am J Psychiatry, 2010. 167(5): 509-27 doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.09101452
Chen, C., et al., Contributions of dopamine-related genes and environmental factors to highly sensitive personality: a multi-step neuronal system-level approach. PLoS One, 2011. 6(7): e21636 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021636
Krueger, R.F., et al., The heritability of personality is not always 50%: gene-environment interactions and correlations between personality and parenting. J Pers, 2008. 76(6): 1485-522 doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2008.00529.x
Johnson, W., et al., Beyond Heritability: Twin Studies in Behavioral Research. Curr Dir Psychol Sci, 2010. 18(4): 217-20 doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01639.x
Watkins, A. Being brilliant every single day – Part 1. 2012 [cited 2 March 2012]; Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q06YIWCR2Js.
Dixon, T., “Emotion”: The History of a Keyword in Crisis. Emot Rev, 2012. 4(4): 338-44 doi: 10.1177/1754073912445814
Elliott, R., Executive functions and their disorders Imaging in clinical neuroscience. British Medical Bulletin, 2003. 65(1): 49-59
Marien, H., et al., Unconscious goal activation and the hijacking of the executive function. J Pers Soc Psychol, 2012. 103(3): 399-415 doi: 10.1037/a0028955
Baars, B.J. and Franklin, S., How conscious experience and working memory interact. Trends Cogn Sci, 2003. 7(4): 166-72 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12691765 ; http://bit.ly/1a3ytQT
Baars, B.J., Global workspace theory of consciousness: toward a cognitive neuroscience of human experience. Progress in brain research, 2005. 150: 45-53
Repovs, G. and Baddeley, A., The multi-component model of working memory: explorations in experimental cognitive psychology. Neuroscience, 2006. 139(1): 5-21 doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.12.061
Bonn, G.B., Re-conceptualizing free will for the 21st century: acting independently with a limited role for consciousness. Front Psychol, 2013. 4: 920 doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00920
Beste, C., et al., Response inhibition subprocesses and dopaminergic pathways: basal ganglia disease effects. Neuropsychologia, 2010. 48(2): 366-73 doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.09.023
[1] We often describe rapid unconscious movements, especially to evade danger or to protect ourselves, as “reflexes”. Medically speaking, a true reflex is a spinal reflex, like the knee-jerk reflex. When a doctor taps the knee with the special hammer, the sudden stretch of the tendon passes a nerve impulse to the spinal cord, which is then passed to the muscle, which makes it contract. A true reflex doesn’t go to the brain at all.
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Understanding Thought – Part 2, The Neuroscience of Thought
Posted on October 24, 2014 by cedwardpitt
What is thought?
We’re all familiar with thought, to be sure, just like we’re familiar with our own bodies. But just because we know our own bodies doesn’t make us all doctors. In the same way, we might know our own thoughts well, but that doesn’t make us experts in the science of thought.
But understanding thought is important. If we don’t know what thoughts are, then it’s very easy to be conned into believing the myriad of myths about thought perpetuated about them by every pop-psychologist and B-grade life coach. This series of blogs is taken from my book Hold That Thought: Reappraising the work of Dr Caroline Leaf.
We’ve looked at some basic neurobiology, and today we’ll look at the neurobiology of thought itself. Later we’ll discuss some psychological models of our thought processing, and finally we’ll discuss the common brain states and functions that are usually confused with thought.
Neuroscience of thought
Global Workspace / Intelligent Distribution Agent Model
Building on Baddeley’s model of working memory, Baars proposed the Global Workspace theory [1], and Baars and Franklin went further by adding the Intelligent Distribution Agent model [2]. Central to this model is the “Cognitive cycle”, a nine-step description of the underlying process from perception through to action. In the model, implicit neural information processing is considered to be a continuing stream of cognitive cycles, overlapping so they act in parallel. The conscious broadcast of our thought stream is limited to a single cognitive cycle at any given instant, so while these thought cycles run in in parallel, our awareness of them is in the serial, sometimes disparate, streams of words or pictures in our minds. Baars and Franklin suggests that as many as ten cycles could be running per second [3], and since working-memory tasks occur on the order of seconds, several cognitive cycles may be needed for any given working memory task, especially if it has conscious components such as mental rehearsal [2].
In recent years, the Global Workspace/Intelligent Distribution Agent hypothesis has been updated to help facilitate the quest to create different forms of artificial intelligence. The LIDA (“Learning Intelligent Distribution Agent”) model incorporates the Global Workspace theory with the concepts of memory formation to create a single, broad, systems-level model of the mind.
Franklin et al summarise the process, “During each cognitive cycle the LIDA agent first makes sense of its current situation as best as it can by updating its representation of its current situation, both external and internal. By a competitive process, as specified by Global Workspace Theory, it then decides what portion of the represented situation is the most salient, the most in need of attention. Broadcasting this portion, the current contents of consciousness, enables the agent to chose an appropriate action and execute it, completing the cycle.” [4] Information within the cognitive cycle is broadcast to our consciousness in order to recruit a wider area of the brain to enhance the processing of that information [2, 5]. It’s the broadcasting of this portion of the information flow that renders it “conscious”.
Thought, therefore, is simply a broadcast of one part of a deeper flow of information. This is very important, as it means that thought is not an instigator or a controlling force. It’s not a case of, “I think, therefore, I am”, but, “I am, therefore, I think.”
Neural networks involved in the neurobiology of thought?
There is good evidence that working memory, and the attention required to select the information streams that fill the global workspace at any one moment, are intrinsically linked to a group of brain regions tagged as the Prefrontal Parietal Network [6]. Disease or damage to the PPN or impairment of the PPN in the lab impairs normal conscious function. Research-level brain imaging studies have strongly implicated the PPN in perceptual transitions, the conscious detection of stimuli in a range of modalities, sustaining percepts, and in metacognitive decisions (awareness of awareness) on those percepts. Finally, a reduction of conscious level when under general anesthesia is associated with a reduced lateral prefrontal activity [6].
Other neural networks have been defined that are also important in the neurophysiology of conscious awareness. When there are no external stimuli, the brain doesn’t just turn off. Some parts of the brain become even more active. The same parts of the brain are active when we daydream (what researchers call “stimulus independent thought”).
We have all experienced this at some point. Our body will be doing something while our brain is off somewhere else. I find this happens to me when I’m driving home from work. Going the same route every day means that I often drift into autopilot as I’m thinking about the events of the day or my stomach reminds me that I’m hungry, and five minutes later I pay attention to my surroundings and realise that I’m nearly home.
There are many other sentinel neurocognitive networks, among them: the default mode network, the central executive network, and the salience network. The central executive network is involved in actively working on an external task, which we think of as attention. The default mode network is involved in autobiographical retrieval and self-monitoring activity, the “stimulus independent thought”, or day-dreaming. The salience network acts as a switch between the two, figuring out which external stimuli need active attention and switching on the central executive network [7]. Whichever one of these networks is active at the time, that network is actively feeding information into the working memory, which is what we perceive as “thought”.
When the brain is engaged in a new or difficult task requiring active attention, the executive parts of the brain overtake the default mode network. But when attention is not actively required such as well-practiced tasks, or if our attention diminishes as with boring tasks, the Default Mode Network becomes dominant again. The switch between attention and the default mode network is strongly related to the neurotransmitter dopamine [8]. These networks heavily overlap with the Prefrontal Parietal Network and the global workspace model.
Recent neurobiological evidence confirms the role the default mode network in thought processing, specifically the part of the brain called the cingulate cortex. This has been confirmed in studies in healthy subjects [9], and in people with formal thought disorders (especially auditory verbal hallucinations) [10]. Specifically, the DMN is often the part of the brain that is the most active in remembering the past, and using similar mechanisms, also the simulations of the future. It is linked to daydreaming and creativity especially when a problem is allowed to “incubate” for a while, while the brain is involved in another task that is more menial, or low stress. It’s theorised that the attentional and implicit networks in the brain are brought into a closer proximity and allowed to interact, which improved the likelihood that a novel solution would be discovered [11].
Research into the topics of thought and consciousness is ever-growing and expanding, and if you want to read more about these topic, they have been very well covered in a two part series from De Sousa, [12] and [13].
Baars, B.J., A cognitive theory of consciousness. 1988, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge England ; New York:
Madl, T., et al., The timing of the cognitive cycle. PLoS One, 2011. 6(4): e14803 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014803
Franklin, S., et al., Conceptual Commitments of the LIDA Model of Cognition. Journal of Artificial General Intelligence, 2013. 4(2): 1-22
Bor, D. and Seth, A.K., Consciousness and the prefrontal parietal network: insights from attention, working memory, and chunking. Front Psychol, 2012. 3: 63 doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00063
Meehan, T.P. and Bressler, S.L., Neurocognitive networks: findings, models, and theory. Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 2012. 36(10): 2232-47 doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2012.08.002
de Wit, S., et al., Reliance on habits at the expense of goal-directed control following dopamine precursor depletion. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 2012. 219(2): 621-31 doi: 10.1007/s00213-011-2563-2
Shackman, A.J., et al., The integration of negative affect, pain and cognitive control in the cingulate cortex. Nat Rev Neurosci, 2011. 12(3): 154-67 doi: 10.1038/nrn2994
Lutterveld, R.v., et al., Network analysis of auditory hallucinations in nonpsychotic individuals, in Auditory verbal hallucinations and the brain, Lutterveld, R.v., (Ed). 2013, University Medical Center Utrecht: The Netherlands. p. 117-37.
Baird, B., et al., Inspired by distraction: mind wandering facilitates creative incubation. Psychol Sci, 2012. 23(10): 1117-22 doi: 10.1177/0956797612446024
De Sousa, A., Towards an integrative theory of consciousness: part 2 (an anthology of various other models). Mens Sana Monogr, 2013. 11(1): 151-209 doi: 10.4103/0973-1229.109341
Posted in Biological, Caroline Leaf, Psychological | Tagged amygdala, brain, caroline leaf, cerebral cortex, cognitive neuroscientist, default mode network, dr caroline leaf, Global Workspace, Global Workspace theory, neurobiology, psychology, thought, working memory | 1 Reply
Understanding Thought – Part 1
But understanding thought is important. If we don’t know what thoughts are, then it’s very easy to be conned into believing the myriad of myths about thought perpetuated about them by every pop-psychologist and B-grade life coach.
This series of blogs is taken from my book Hold That Thought: Reappraising the work of Dr Caroline Leaf. We will look at some basic neurobiology first, then look at the neurobiology of thought itself. We’ll discuss some psychological models of our thought processing, and finally we’ll discuss the common brain states and functions that are usually confused with thought.
Neurobiology 101
The nerve cell
At the most fundamental level of our thought process is the nerve cell, also called a neuron. Nerve cells, like all cells in the body, have a nucleus containing the genetic material. The nucleus is surrounded by cytoplasm, a watery chemical soup that contains the functional proteins that make the cell run. A thin lipid layer called the cell membrane envelopes the nucleus and cytoplasm. The cell membrane contains important protein structures such as receptors that help the cell receive signals from other cells, and ion channels, which help the cell regulate its internal chemistry.
Compared to other cells, nerve cells have three unique structures that help them do their job. First are dendrites, which are spiny branches that protrude from the main cell body, which receive the signals from other nerve cells. Leading away from the cell body is a long thin tube called an axon which helps carry electrical signal from the dendrites, down to the some tentacle-like processes that end in little pods. These pods, called the terminal buttons of the axon, and then convey the electrical signal to another nerve cell by directing a burst of chemicals towards the dendrites of the next nerve cell in the chain.
In order for the signal to be successfully passed from the first nerve cell to the second, it must successfully traverse a small space called the synapse.
The synapse
Despite being very close to each other, no nerve cell touches another. Instead, the spray of chemicals that’s released from the terminal button of the axon floats across a space of about 20-40nM (a nanometre is one billionth of a metre).
There are a number of different chemicals that traverse synapses, but each terminal button has its own particular one. The most well known are serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine.
If the signal from the first nerve is strong enough, then a critical amount of the chemical is released and will make it across the gap to the dendrites of the second nerve cell on the other side. The chemical interacts with specific receptors on the new dendrites, which cause them to open up to certain salts like sodium and potassium. As sodium and potassium move in and out of the cell, a new electrical current if formed in the second nerve cell, passing the signal down the line.
To prevent the chemicals in the synapse from over-stimulating the second nerve cell, enzymes breakdown the chemicals to clear the space before the next signal comes past.
Nerve pathways
Combining nerve cells and synapses together creates a nerve pathway, where the input signal is received by specialised nerve endings and is transmitted down the nerve cell across a synapse to the next nerve cell, across the next synapse to the next nerve cell, and on and on until the signal has reached the destination for the output of that signal.
And that’s it. The entire nervous system is just a combination of nerve cells and the synapses between them.
What gives the nervous system and brain the near-infinite flexibility, and air of mystery, is that there are eighty-six billion nerve cells in the average adult (male) brain. Each nerve cell has hundreds to thousands of synapses. It’s estimated that there are about 0.15 quadrillion (that’s 150,000,000,000,000) synapses throughout the average brain [1]. And that’s not including the nerve cells and synapses in the spinal cord, autonomic nervous system and throughout the body. Each of these cells and synapses connect in multiple directions and levels, and transmit signals through the sum of the exciting or inhibiting influences they receive from, and pass on to, other nerve cells.
Single nerve cells may have the appearances of trees with their axon trunks and dendritic branches. But altogether, the billions of connections would more resemble a box of cobwebs.
Higher order brain structures
But unlike a box of cobwebs, the brain has precise organisation to the myriad of connections. These areas can be defined either by their structure, or by their function.
Structurally, there are areas in the brain that are dominated by nerve cell bodies, formed into a little cluster, called a nucleus (different from the nucleus of each cell). Then there are groups of axons bundled together, called a tract, which behave like a data cable for your computer. Nuclei process multiple sources of signal and refine them. The refined signals are sent into the appropriate tract to be transmitted to either another set of nuclei for further refinement, or to distant structures to carry out their effect. The axons of the nerve cells that make up the tracts are usually covered in a thick white material called myelin. Myelin acts like insulation on a wire, improving the speed and accuracy of the communicated signal. Parts of the brains with lots of myelinated cells are described as “white matter”. The nuclei and the cerebral cortex (the outer covering of the brain) are unmyelinated cells, and are referred to as “grey matter”.
On a functional level, the brain is divided into parts depending on what information is processed, and how it gets processed. For example, the cerebral cortex is divided into primary areas for the senses and for motor functions, secondary areas and tertiary association areas. The primary sensory areas detect specific sensations, whereas the secondary areas make sense out of the signals in the primary areas. Association areas receive and analyze signals simultaneously from multiple regions of both the motor and sensory areas, as well as from the deeper parts of the brain [2]. The frontal lobe, and specifically pre-frontal cortex, is responsible for higher brain functions such as working memory, planning, decision making, executive attention and inhibitory control [3].
Everything our senses detect is essentially deconstructed, processed then reconstructed by our brains. For example, when reading this page, the image is decoded by our retina and sent through a number of pathways to finally reach the primary visual cortex at the back of our brain. The primary visual cortex has 6 layers of nerve cells which simultaneously encode the various aspects of the image (especially colour, intensity and movement of the signals) and this information is sent to the secondary association areas that detect patterns, both basic (lines are straight, curved, angled) and complex (two diagonal intersecting lines form an ‘x’). One part of the secondary association areas in the visual cortex (the Angular Gyrus) processes these patterns further into the patterns of written words. The information on the various patterns that were discerned by the secondary association areas then get sent to the tertiary association area for the senses where those visual patterns are combined with patterns processed from other sensory areas (hearing, touch and internal body sensations) to form a complex pattern of multimodal association [2]. In the case of reading, the tertiary association area allows comprehension of the written words that were previously only recognised as words by the secondary association areas.
In the recent decades, with the widespread adoption of non-invasive methods of studying the active living brain such as PET scanning and fMRI, researchers have discovered that rather than discrete parts of the brain lighting up with a specific task, entire networks involving multiple brain regions are activated. This has lead to the paradigm of neurocognitive networks, in which the brain is made up of multiple interconnected networks that “are dynamic entities that exist and evolve on multiple temporal as well as spatial scales” and “by virtue of both their anatomical and functional architectures, as well as the dynamics manifested through these architectures, large-scale network function underlies all cognitive ability.” [4]
Emotions are a difficult concept to define. Despite being studied as a concept for more than a century, the definition of what constitutes an emotion remains elusive. Some academics and researchers believe that the term is so ambiguous that it’s useless to science and should be discarded [5].
I’ll discuss emotions further in chapter 2, but for now, it’s easiest to think of our emotional state as the sum total of our different physiological systems, and feelings are the awareness, or the perception of our emotional state.
Different parts of the brain are responsible for the awareness of these feelings. The amygdala is often considered the seat of our fears, the anterior insula is responsible for the feeling of disgust, and the orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex are involved in a broad range of different emotions [6].
Different emotional states are linked with different neurotransmitters within the brain. For example, a predisposition to anxiety is often linked to variations in the genes for serotonin transport [7] while positive and negative affect (“joy / sadness”) are linked to the dopaminergic system [8].
Memories, like thoughts, are something that we’re all familiar with in our own way.
Memory is quite complicated. For a start, there’s more than one form of memory. You’ve probably heard of short term and long term memory. Short term memory is further thought of as sensory memory and working memory. Long term memory is divided into semantic and episodic memory. Memory is also classified as either declarative memory, also called explicit memory, and nondeclarative memory, also called implicit memory.
Squire and Wixted explain, “Nondeclarative memory is neither true nor false. It is dispositional and is expressed through performance rather than recollection. These forms of memory provide for myriad unconscious ways of responding to the world. In no small part, by virtue of the unconscious status of the nondeclarative forms of memory, they create some of the mystery of human experience. Here arise the dispositions, habits, and preferences that are inaccessible to conscious recollection but that nevertheless are shaped by past events, influence our behavior and mental life, and are an important part of who we are.” [9]
On the other hand, declarative memory “is the kind of memory that is referred to when the term memory is used in everyday language. Declarative memory allows remembered material to be compared and contrasted. The stored representations are flexible, accessible to awareness, and can guide performance in a variety of contexts. Declarative memory is representational. It provides a way of modeling the external world, and it is either true or false.” [9]
Working memory is a central part of the memory model. Information from feelings, stored memories and actions all converge in working memory. The model of working memory initially proposed by Baddeley involves a central executive, “a control system of limited attentional capacity that is responsible for the manipulation of information within working memory and for controlling two subsidiary storage systems: a phonological loop and a visuospatial sketchpad.”[10] Baddeley later added a third subsidiary system, the episodic buffer, “a limited capacity store that is capable of multi-dimensional coding, and that allows the binding of information to create integrated episodes.” [10]
Working memory is known to be distinct from other longer term memories that are dependent on part of the brain called the hippocampus, because patients with severe damage to the hippocampus can remember a small amount of information for a short time, but are not able to push that information into longer term memory functions to retain that information. Information in working memory doesn’t last for any more than a few minutes [9].
So, there are many forms of memory that are important to our lives and influence our behaviour that are “inaccessible to conscious recollection”. But even declarative memory, which is accessible to thought, doesn’t actually make up the thought itself. Memories are stored representations.
When memories are formed or retrieved, the information is processed in chunks. As Byrne pointed out, “We like to think that memory is similar to taking a photograph and placing that photograph into a filing cabinet drawer to be withdrawn later (recalled) as the ‘memory’ exactly the way it was placed there originally (stored). But memory is more like taking a picture and tearing it up into small pieces and putting the pieces in different drawers. The memory is then recalled by reconstructing the memory from the individual fragments of the memory.” [11] Recalling the original memory is an inaccurate process, because sometimes these pieces of the memory are lost, faded or mixed up with another [12]. This is why what we perceive and what we recall are often two different things entirely.
Why do we have memory then, if it’s so flawed at recalling information? Because memory is less about recalling the past, and more about imagining and planning the future. As Schacter writes, “The constructive episodic simulation hypothesis states that a critical function of a constructive memory system is to make information available in a flexible manner for simulation of future events. Specifically, the hypothesis holds that past and future events draw on similar information and rely on similar underlying processes, and that the episodic memory system supports the construction of future events by extracting and recombining stored information into a simulation of a novel event. While this adaptive function allows past information to be used flexibly when simulating alternative future scenarios, the flexibility of memory may also result in vulnerability to imagination-induced memory errors, where imaginary events are confused with actual events.” [13]
Sukel, K. The Synapse – A Primer. 2013 [cited 2013, 28/06/2013]; Available from: http://www.dana.org/media/detail.aspx?id=31294.
Hall, J.E. and Guyton, A.C., Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiology. 12th ed. 2011, Saunders/Elsevier, Philadelphia, Pa.:
Stuss, D.T. and Knight, R.T., Principles of frontal lobe function. 2nd ed. 2013, Oxford University Press, Oxford ; New York:
Tamietto, M. and de Gelder, B., Neural bases of the non-conscious perception of emotional signals. Nat Rev Neurosci, 2010. 11(10): 697-709 doi: 10.1038/nrn2889
Squire, L.R. and Wixted, J.T., The cognitive neuroscience of human memory since H.M. Annu Rev Neurosci, 2011. 34: 259-88 doi: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-061010-113720
Byrne, J.H. Learning and Memory (Section 4, Chapter 7). Neuroscience Online – an electronic textbook for the neurosciences 2013 [cited 2014, Jan 3]; Available from: http://neuroscience.uth.tmc.edu/s4/chapter07.html.
Schacter, D.L., et al., The future of memory: remembering, imagining, and the brain. Neuron, 2012. 76(4): 677-94 doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.11.001
Posted in Biological, Caroline Leaf, Psychological | Tagged amygdala, brain, caroline leaf, cerebral cortex, cortex, DNA, dr caroline leaf, implicit memory, memory, mind, neurobiology, psychology, thought, toxic thought | 2 Replies
Dr Caroline Leaf, Dualism, and the Triune Being Hypothesis
The idea that humans have an immaterial soul, separate to the body, has spanned history and culture. This idea is known as dualism. The concept of the spirit is fundamental to the Christian church. Christians are usually taught that humans are a spirit, having a soul and living in a body (the Triune Being Hypothesis). The concept permeates the work of Dr Caroline Leaf, forming the basis for her assumptions that our minds can control matter.
However, the Bible does not state that the spirit and soul are separate to the body, only that they are linked in the earthly and supernatural realms. Over the last few decades, cognitive neuroscience has demonstrated that definable neural networks within the human brain mediate the components of the traditional soul. Religious belief and spiritual experiences are also heavily reliant on the human brain.
These findings, along with a number of other philosophical objections, prove that dualism is not compatible with science or philosophy. Dr Leaf’s reliance on the concept of dualism creates an intellectual dissonance between her teaching and neuroscience.
The notion that the soul and the spirit are separate to the body is also incorrect. However, quantum physics, and String Theory in particular, suggest that other dimensions and other universes exist, which may provide a scientifically plausible explanation of both natural and supernatural realms. It may be that our earthly body houses our natural spirit and soul within the brain, but that these are translocated to the celestial realm upon death. The challenge for the Christian church now is to unite the evidence of cognitive neuroscience with the description of the spirit, soul and body from scripture and further delineate the doctrine of humans as triune beings.
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Are we a body with a mind, or a mind with a body?
It sounds a bit like the age-old chicken and the egg conundrum. In Ancient Greece, Plato proposed that human beings have an immaterial soul distinct from the material body while Descartes reinvigorated the idea in the 17th century. But the idea of the distinct immaterial soul is also found throughout different religions, and seems to be interwoven through the Bible as well.
For Dr Caroline Leaf, Communication Pathologist and self-titled Cognitive Neuroscientist, dualism is fundamental to her theory of “Mind over Matter”. In her 2013 book, “Switch On Your Brain”, Dr Leaf states that, “Our mind is designed to control the body, of which the brain is a part, not the other way around. Matter does not control us; we control matter through our thinking and choosing.” [1: p33] She has also made several similar public statements via her social media feeds, such as, “Don’t blame your physical brain for your decisions and actions. You control your brain!” (6/6/2014) and “Your mind is all powerful! Your brain simply captures what your mind dictates! 2 Timothy 1:7.” (11/5/2014)
I have previously blogged about the scriptural and scientific voracity of Dr Leaf’s various statements on the Mind-Body problem (see also “Dr Caroline Leaf and the Myth of the Blameless Brain“, and others). But when she published, “Your mind will adjust your body’s biology and behaviour to fit with your beliefs” (21/6/2014) I thought enough was enough. The concept of dualism not only permeates the teachings of Dr Leaf, but also significantly influences the current understanding of the Biblical principles of the soul and spirit. So, this topic deserves an in-depth review, to ensure that the thinking within the church aligns with both scripture and science.
The Triune Being Hypothesis
On the 9th of June 2014, Dr Leaf published another meme on her social media feeds, “We are triune beings designed to be lead by the Holy Spirit … who speaks to our spirit. Our spirit controls our soul/mind and our soul/mind controls our body.”
By virtue of growing up in a Christian family, going to a Christian school, and digesting thousands of sermons during my lifetime, I’m very familiar with the concept of humans as a triune being (“triune”, meaning “three in one”). The concept I’ve been taught is similar to Dr Leaf’s view: that humans consist of three separate but interlinked components, the ethereal spirit and soul, and the physical body. The soul, in turn, consists of the mind, will and emotions. The three-part design reflects the image of God who is, of course, a triune being (the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit). The hypothesis proposes that the body is just an earthly dwelling for a being that is fundamentally spirit in nature, the soul being the intermediary between the two.
In keeping with the theme, this essay will be in three parts! First, I review the Biblical evidence relating to the body, soul and spirit. Second, I review the scientific evidence relating to the spirit and soul. And finally, I discuss how the scriptural and scientific evidence relates to our current understanding of dualism, the triune being hypothesis and the implications for Dr Leaf and Christianity more broadly.
The Bible on the Triune Being Hypothesis
One of the fundamental arguments used by those who support the idea of man as a triune being is the way the Apostle Paul used distinct words to describe body, soul and spirit within the same sentence. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Paul wrote, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (emphasis added).
The three words used in ancient Greek were pneuma (‘spirit’), psyche (‘soul’) and soma (‘body’). According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, the words pneuma (‘spirit’) and psyche (‘soul’) were often used indiscriminately. So although the Apostle Paul distinctly used the word pneuma separately to the word psyche as in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, most of the other New Testament writers weren’t so precise.
James wrote that without the spirit (pneuma), the body (soma) would die (James 2:26). This also suggests that the spirit is different to the body, but still integral to the whole person, although given the interchangeable use of the terms, James may have also been referring to the soul.
However, Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body (soma), but are not able to kill the soul (psyche): but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul (psyche) and body (soma) in hell.” This suggests that both the soul and the body maybe found in hell, a post-death spiritual dimension (see also Luke 12:5). So it seems that at least in some form, our supernatural selves also possess a body and mind.
This idea seems to have some backing in the form of the description given in the Bible of the resurrected body of Jesus. After Jesus was crucified and buried, scripture describes the empty tomb, and the multiple sightings of Jesus by the disciples up until the time that he ascended into heaven (Luke 24). He walked along the road to Emmaus with two disciples, Cleopas and probably Cleopas’ wife Mary (see also John 19:25). He then appeared in the middle of the group of disciples within an instant. He still possessed the defects caused by the crucifixion. He ate some broiled fish and some honeycomb (see Luke 24:42-43). He said to the disciples at this meeting with them, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Luke 24:39) Not only did he have the same physical characteristics as his pre-resurrected body (same appearance, same gender etc), but he also had similar mental traits, such as self-awareness, memory of his pre-resurrection life, and emotions and connection to the people around him. However, he was not subject to the natural laws of physics, twice suddenly appearing in a closed room (John 20:19 and 26).
Therefore it appears that rather than being a spirit housed in a body and furnished with a soul, we are instead an inseparable combination of body, soul and spirit – three unique but indivisible parts – but in different dimensions depending on which side of eternity we currently reside.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 confirms, rather than precludes, this view. Reviewing the scripture again, Paul wrote, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul chooses to emphasize all three components of our triune being equally in his prayers and wishes. If only our spirit was to pass into the celestial realm, then Paul wouldn’t have needed to delineate the three parts of our triune composition, but could have instead written “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”. By penning, “whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless”, Paul seems to treat all three parts as equally important to our future with Christ.
It follows that if we believe that our heavenly body is an integral part with our spirit and soul on the celestial side of eternity, then it should follow that our spirit and our soul are part of, and dependent on, our earthly body on this side of eternity.
This proposal differs from the conventional wisdom at two fundamental points:
1. I suggest that the spirit is integral to, and dependent on our earthly body whilst we live on the earth,
2. I suggest that the whole person is translated across from the earthly realm to the celestial, rather than just the spirit.
Such suggestions are compatible with current scientific understanding. There is ample evidence of spiritual neural networks that complement the emotional and moral parts of our brain (this will be discussed further in a future section).
String Theory provides a plausible explanation of other dimensions and worlds in parallel with our own which could very easily explain a spiritual dimension. String Theory is the theory that the very fabric of the cosmos is made up of tiny vibrating loops of energy, which physicists call “strings”. These strings are almost impossibly small. Physicist Brian Greene said that, “Each of these strings is unimaginably small. In fact, if an atom were enlarged to the size of the solar system, a string would only be as large as a tree!” [2] It’s the shape and vibrational pattern of each of these strings that gives subatomic particles their properties, which in turn combine to make up everything we see in the universe, including ourselves.
In order for these strings to vibrate and move the way they are predicted to, String Theory postulates that there are actually 11 dimensions of space. In one of these dimensions, a string could become stretched out into a membrane, or a “brane” for short. I’ll let Brian Greene and colleagues explain it further.
“BRIAN GREENE: The existence of giant membranes and extra dimensions would open up a startling new possibility, that our whole universe is living on a membrane, inside a much larger, higher dimensional space. It’s almost as if we were living inside … a loaf of bread? Our universe might be like a slice of bread, just one slice, in a much larger loaf that physicists sometimes call the “bulk.” And if these ideas are right, the bulk may have other slices, other universes, that are right next to ours, in effect, “parallel” universes. Not only would our universe be nothing special, but we could have a lot of neighbours. Some of them could resemble our universe, they might have matter and planets and, who knows, maybe even beings of a sort. Others certainly would be a lot stranger. They might be ruled by completely different laws of physics. Now, all of these other universes would exist within the extra dimensions of M-theory, dimensions that are all around us. Some even say they might be right next to us, less than a millimetre away. But if that’s true, why can’t I see them or touch them?
BURT OVRUT: If you have a brane living in a higher dimensional space, and your particles, your atoms, cannot get off the brane, it’s like trying to reach out, but you can’t touch anything. It might as well be on the other end of the universe.
JOSEPH LYKKEN: It’s a very powerful idea because if it’s right it means that our whole picture of the universe is clouded by the fact that we’re trapped on just a tiny slice of the higher dimensional universe.” [3]
Although it sounds preposterous, String Theory isn’t a fantasy of a few physicists who have watched too many sci-fi shows. String Theory is mathematically proven, and accepted by the majority of scientists.
What if our physical reality was one brane, the supernatural realm was a different brane, and heaven was another? Angels could be all around us, in a different dimension of space that we cannot ordinarily perceive, but who have the ability to move into our dimension if required. When we die, it’s possible that our whole person is transformed into a different dimension – the supernatural or celestial brane. The physical body remains like a snakeskin left after the snake has shed it.
My theory is only one of many possible theories. Ultimately, they all remain scientifically unprovable. While String Theory is well accepted by physicists all over the world, and the predictions of extra dimensions and branes are mathematically robust, my hypothesis that the supernatural realm is a dimension of space on a brane is conjecture, and would be impossible to test mathematically or scientifically. The concept of extra dimensions and branes is one way of explaining the Bible’s description that our spirit, soul and body remain together, but in a different realm to the physical reality that we currently experience.
Science on the Triune Being Hypothesis
So if it’s possible that we can live as a whole person, spirit, soul and body, in a celestial dimension, what makes up our spirit, soul and body in the physical dimension?
Biological science and neuroscience have uncovered many of the previously mysterious qualities that define us as human beings, although there is still much more to be uncovered.
The body is our physical selves – our flesh and blood, sealed by our coating of skin. The body is so ultimately universal, I don’t want to waste space justifying the case for the normal. The obvious physical separation makes each person easy to delineate, although there are rare exceptions that challenge the division of body and soul/spirit.
In May 2014, Faith and Hope Howie were born in Sydney (Australia) [4]. They were born with two separate faces and two brains which merged into one brain stem. They had one body. While they were considered to be conjoined twins, in the strictest medical sense, they had a condition called disrosopus, resulting from the over-expression of a protein involved in the formation of the cranial structures [5]. The condition is extremely rare, and most children with the condition are either stillborn, or don’t survive for more than 24 hours after birth. That Faith and Hope survived for 19 days is a miracle in itself.
Strictly speaking, Faith and Hope were one baby that developed two brains, rather than being twins who failed to adequately separate. So did they have two souls or one? I don’t propose to answer this question here, but it will be worth pondering as we review the concept of the soul.
The soul is traditionally considered to consist of the mind, will and emotions. In the earthly realm, there is overwhelming evidence that all the parts of the traditional soul are found in the human brain.
a. The Mind
The mind is considered to be “a person’s ability to think and reason; the intellect.” [6] As we will discuss in more detail later, dualism suggests that the mind is an ethereal force separate to the body. But modern neuroscience has accumulated decades of evidence to the contrary. Our stream of consciousness is linked to the function of our working memory [7, 8]. Working memory in turn is heavily dependent on the part of the brain called the pre-frontal cortex and on a neurotransmitter called dopamine [9]. When dopamine-secreting nerve cells are damaged in the pre-frontal cortex, conditions involving disordered thought such as schizophrenia occur [9, 10]. Schizophrenia is best known for hallucinations, essentially hearing and/or seeing things that are not there. These symptoms are reversed by medications that enhance the dopamine response [11]. Lesions of the frontal lobe can also result in the loss of abstract thinking [9]. So it is fair to say that the function of the mind is dependent on the brain, specifically the pre-frontal cortex. If the function of the pre-frontal cortex is disrupted, either by damage to a group of cells, or by impairment of the signaling of those cells via disruption of the neurotransmitter dopamine, the patterns of thought change. These changes in the patterns of thought can be reversed if the impairment can be reversed. Therefore the mind is dependent on the brain. If the mind were independent of the brain, then the function of the mind would not be affected by damage or impairment to the physical brain.
Our stream of thought is a function of our working memory utilizing a wider area of the brains cortex to better process important information. Baars [7, 12] noted that the conscious broadcast comes into working memory which then engages a wider area of the cerebral cortex necessary to most efficiently process the information signal.
We perceive thought most commonly as either pictures or sounds in our head (“the inner monologue”), which corresponds to the slave systems of working memory. When you “see” an image in your mind, that’s the visuospatial sketchpad. When you listen to your inner monologue, that’s your phonological loop. When a song gets stuck in your head, that’s your phonological loop as well, but on repeat mode.
So our mind, also called our stream of thought, is simply a projection of information from our working memory, broadcast to our cerebral cortex, and our consciousness, for extra processing power. It is dependent on our pre-frontal cortex. When the pre-frontal cortex is damaged, our mind can experience defective output, as is the case in thought disorders such as schizophrenia.
b. The Will
The second part of our soul is our will, “the faculty by which a person decides on and initiates action.” [6] Like our mind, the feeling that we have free will is a ubiquitous human trait. Haggard observed, “Most adult humans have a strong feeling of voluntary control over their actions, and of acting ‘as they choose’. The capacity for voluntary action is so fundamental to our existence that social constraints on it, such as imprisonment and prohibition of certain actions, are carefully justified and heavily regulated.” [14]
Again, like the mind, our feeling of our will comes from our brain. Over three decades ago, Libet performed an experiment that demonstrated measurable neural activity occurring up to a full second before a test subject was consciously aware of the intention to act [15]. More recently, a study by Soon et al showed that predictable brain activity occurred up to eight seconds before a person was aware of their intention to act [16]. Haggard again, “Modern neuroscience rejects the traditional dualist view of volition as a causal chain from the conscious mind or ‘soul’ to the brain and body. Rather, volition involves brain networks making a series of complex, open decisions between alternative actions.” [14]
These brain networks initially involve the basal ganglia deep in the brain along with the dopamine rewards system, which provide a flexible interaction between the person’s current situation and the memory of previous similar situations. Also important are the frontal lobes in general, and the pre-Supplementary Motor Area (pre-SMA) in particular, which have crucial roles in keeping actions focused and ‘on task’, or in “binding intention and action”. Parts of the pre-SMA are also active in voluntary selection between alternative tasks and in switching between the selections. An area of the anterior frontomedian cortex, near the pre-SMA, was activated in veto trials more than in trials on which participants made an action. This brain activity might have a key role in self-control [14].
Damage to different areas of the frontal cortex and the other parts of the motor system can result in a number of different conditions, highlighting the role of the brain in our “voluntary” actions. For example, blockage of a small artery in the brain called the artery of Huebner may cause a stroke of the head of the Caudate Nucleus, resulting in the loss of voluntary movement, loss of motivation and loss of speech [17]. Psychosis and ADHD are also disorders of action output of the brain, both of which improve with medications that improve the function of the frontal lobes of the brain. In children with ADHD, the change can be dramatic in a short space of time, and research across the last few decades proves the effect is more than placebo [18, 19].
The feelings of intention and the sense of agency (planning to do or being about to do something, and the sense that one’s action has indeed caused a particular external event) are so fundamental to human experience that it’s hard to consider the alternative: that our ‘free will’ is by-and-large an illusion. Our brain has already reviewed a number of alternative actions for any particular situation, and by the time that our consciousness becomes aware of the decision our brain has made, our motor area of our brain has already primed the neuromuscular circuit in preparation to perform the action. At best, our ‘free will’ is more like a veto function rather than a full conscious control of our behaviour [20]. Multiple parts of our brain are involved in the planning and execution of our actions, especially the basal ganglia and the pre-SMA.
c. The Emotions
Emotions are a difficult concept to define. Despite being studied as a concept for more than a century, the definition of what constitutes an emotion remains elusive. Some academics and researchers believe that the term is so ambiguous that it’s useless to science and should be discarded [21]. I use a concept of emotions described by Dr Alan Watkins [22], which thinks of our emotional state as the sum total of the state of our different physiological systems, while feelings are the awareness, or the perception of our emotional state. However, I should stress that this is only one concept. Often the terms “emotion” and “feelings” are used interchangeably.
That said, neurobiology has still mapped specific feelings/emotions to different parts of the brain. The amygdala is often considered the seat of our fears, the anterior insula is responsible for the feeling of disgust, and the orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex are involved in a broad range of different emotions [23].
Different moods have been linked to specific neurotransmitter systems in the physical brain. A predisposition to anxiety is often linked to variations in the genes for serotonin transport [24] while positive and negative affect (“joy / sadness”) are linked to the dopaminergic system [25].
What is clear is that scientifically speaking, our emotions and the perception of them is dependent on our physical brain.
Summarizing the Soul
Dualism’s view that the soul is an ethereal force separate to the body is redundant. The evidence from the scientific study of the brain makes it clear that every aspect of the traditional ‘soul’ – the mind, will and emotions – is housed in the brain.
3. THE SPIRIT
The scientific study of spirituality is on the leading edge of scientific progress.
Whether a spiritual realm exists is not something that can be tested scientifically. I’ve discussed the Biblical view of the triune being hypothesis earlier in this essay, and suggested that a spiritual realm is at least scientifically plausible depending on your interpretation of String Theory. Ultimately, it remains a matter of faith.
The existence of the spiritual realm may be debatable, but what’s well accepted is that human beings are fundamentally spiritual. Spiritual or mystical experiences are reported across all cultures [26], and throughout history, religions in various forms have spanned the globe, integral to civilizations and the forming of cultural identity. It’s therefore not surprising to find that the brain is a focal point for spiritual experience. Just as hunger, laughter, anger and many other characteristic human traits have their own unique pathways in the brain, so does the experience of the divine.
Spirituality can be defined as “an individual’s experience of and relationship with a fundamental, nonmaterial aspect of the universe that may be referred to in many ways – God, Higher Power, the Force, Mystery and the Transcendent and forms the way by which an individual finds meaning and relates to life, the universe and everything.” [27] On consideration, spirituality encompasses both episodic mystical experiences and ongoing religious beliefs.
Spiritual experiences involve multiple brain regions, and are mediated by a number of different neurotransmitters. In a study of Carmelite Nuns reliving a spiritual experience, Beauregard and Paquette observed activation of the right medial orbitofrontal cortex, the right medial prefrontal cortex, the right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, the right middle temporal cortex and the left superior and inferior parietal lobes [26]. There is also evidence that dopamine and serotonin are important neurotransmitters in the religious experience [27]. More recent work on the function and connectivity of the medial orbitofrontal cortex shows all of these brain regions have strong connections to each other [28], and that together they function to encode and determine the predicted and real values of our choices. In particular, the medial orbitofrontal cortex helps to encode the anticipated rewards of incoming stimuli. The anticipated and actual values for the perceived stimuli are compared to give a prediction error, which serves as a teaching signal that can be used to improve future value assignments at the time of decision-making [29]. This is intrinsically linked to the limbic rewards system via dopamine, which partially explains the increase in dopamine during intense religious experiences.
Yet spiritual experiences are more than the rewards processing of incoming stimuli. Intense religious experiences have been reported during the aura of temporal lobe epilepsy, especially on the right side [27, 30]. It maybe that the right temporal lobe is largely responsible for the sensed presence of a higher being, and for the more intense religious experiences. Some scientists even went so far as to claim that complex weak magnetic stimulation of the right temporal cortex produced intense religious experiences [31], although this maybe more related to the suggestibility of the subjects rather than the temporal lobe “stimulation” [32]. Therefore, while it is likely that the right temporal lobe is involved in experiences of spirituality, there is no lab-based repeatable evidence to confirm or delineate it.
However, the cognitive and neuroanatomical correlates of religious belief have been delineated. Kapogiannis and colleagues summarized their work by stating that, “religious belief engages well-known brain networks performing abstract semantic processing, imagery, and intent-related and emotional theory of mind, processes known to occur at both implicit and explicit levels. Moreover, the process of adopting religious beliefs depends on cognitive-emotional interactions within the anterior insulae, particularly among religious subjects. The findings support the view that religiosity is integrated in cognitive processes and brain networks used in social cognition, rather than being sui generis.” [33]
If spirituality is indeed solely based on the structure and function of the human brain, what are the implications for organized religion?
To start with, it would mean that those with deficits in certain cognitive functions would experience spirituality to a lesser degree, or at least experience it to a different degree. In keeping with this hypothesis, Canadian researchers have shown that those people with mentalization deficits (reduction in the ability to understand the mental state of oneself and others which underlies overt behaviour), such as people on the Autism spectrum, are less likely to believe in a personal God [34]. On the flipside, other people would be naturally wired to the divine: intuitive and sensitive to the experience of the spiritual.
Moreover, even if a person is not naturally spiritual, one can train oneself to become more spiritual. The brain increases the neural connections within regions that are recurrently stimulated, which leads to expertise. For example, the mid-posterior hippocampus of London taxi drivers is much larger compared to London bus drivers. London taxi drivers are required to drive anywhere in London without maps, and so develop a much larger region of spatial knowledge than the bus drivers, who drive pre-determined routes [35]. Similarly, novices who meditate show increased growth of neural networks involved in the regulation of emotion [36]. It would follow that brain regions involved in the processing of spiritual experience would increase with regular spiritual practice, resulting in a greater sense of the presence of God and his joy.
On the other hand, if acceptance of God is dependent on the function of certain networks within our brain, then how does that affect the foundational principle of salvation? Is it justice if one is condemned to eternal damnation when one has less capacity to believe in the first place?
I cannot offer a definitive answer to that question. Maybe there is no definitive answer? Given that Jesus told Nicodemus, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17), and that Peter says about God, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), I trust that God will judge everyone fairly, but I’m not sure how the capacity of a person to accept salvation is judged. Perhaps that’s something that someone who’s theologically trained can comment on.
The Triune Being Hypothesis – A New Approach
In summary, while the Bible makes a distinction between body, soul and spirit, it maintains that they are inseparable parts of the same whole person. In the earthly realm, our spirit and the various aspects that traditionally constitute our soul are all enabled though various networks within our physical brain. The Bible also offers evidence that in the transition from the terrestrial to the celestial dimensions, the whole person is translocated and transformed, not just the spirit or soul. Like a reptile shedding its skin, our earthly body and brain remain after death but the person has been translocated into the celestial realm.
Psychoneural or Cartesian dualism is the premise that matter and mind are distinct entities or substances; that the one can exist without the other; and that they may interact, but that neither can help explain the other.
Dualism appears self-evident. It seems to explain behavior; and it accounts for the survival of the soul after death. Our mind and our body also appear separate. We have direct knowledge of our mental states, but we do not have direct knowledge of our brain states, so by simple logic, our mental states are not identical with our brain states. Dualism seems to be the obvious model of choice.
Despite claiming to be a cognitive neuroscientist, Dr Leaf embraces dualism, expanding the original concept of a soul into the broader idea of the soul and spirit of the triune being hypothesis, complete with its own hierarchy, “We are triune beings designed to be lead by the Holy Spirit … who speaks to our spirit. Our spirit controls our soul/mind and our soul/mind controls our body.” (Dr Leaf social media post, 9/6/2014)
However, we know that executive functions, emotions and even spiritual experiences can be induced or improved by stimulating the responsible brain networks (electrically in the lab, or with medications). And pathological changes to the brain, such as tumours, strokes, or brain injuries, all have the capacity to change the emotional or cognitive function of the sufferer, depending on the location of the lesion within the brain. If the mind were truly separate to the brain, then changes to the physical brain would not influence the mind or soul. Therefore, medicine and cognitive neuroscience have shown that dualism is false.
Philosophically, dualism is also fatally flawed. According to Bunge [37], dualism fails on a number of counts:
1. Dualism is conceptually fuzzy: “the expression ‘mind-body interaction’ is an oxymoron because, by hypothesis, the immaterial mind is impregnable to physical stimuli, just as matter cannot be directly affected by thoughts or emotions. The very concept of an action is well defined only with reference to material things.”
2. Dualism is experimentally irrefutable: “since one cannot manipulate a nonmaterial thing, as the soul or mind is assumed to be, with material implements, such as lancets and pills.”
3. Dualism considers only the adult mind: “Hence it is inconsistent with developmental psychology, which shows how cognitive, emotional and social abilities develop (grow and decay) along with the brain and the individual’s social context.”
4. Dualism is inconsistent with cognitive ethology: “in particular primatology … comparative psychology and cognitive archaeology”.
5. Dualism violates physics: “in particular the law of conservation of energy. For instance, energy would be created if a decision to take a walk were an event in the nonmaterial soul. Moreover, dualism is inconsistent with the naturalistic ontology that underpins all of the factual sciences.”
6. Dualism confuses even investigators who are contributing to its demise: “in the cognitive, affective and social neuroscience literature one often reads sentences of the forms ‘N is the neural substratum (or correlate) of mental function M,’ and ‘Organ O subserves (or mediates, or instantiates) mental function M’ – as if functions were accidentally attached to organs, or were even prior to them, and organs were means in the service of functions … Why not say simply that the brain feels, emotes, cognizes, intends, plans, wills, and so on? Talk of substratum, correlate, subservience and mediation is just a relic of dualism, and it fosters the idea (functionalism) that what matters is function, which can be studied independently of stuff. But there is neither walking without legs nor breathing without lungs. In general, there is neither function without organ nor organ without functions.”
7. Dualism isolates psychology from most other disciplines: “insofar as none of them admits the stuff/function dichotomy.”
8. Dualism is barren at best, and counterproductive at worst, “In fact, it has spawn superstitions and pseudosciences galore … (and) has slowed down the progress of all the disciplines dealing with the mind.”
Bunge sums up the concept of dualism, “In short, psychoneural dualism is scientifically and philosophically untenable. Worse, it continues to be a major obstacle to the scientific investigation of the mind, as well as to the medical treatment of mental disorders.”
In short, dualism is dead.
Dualism and Dr Leaf
This damning evaluation of dualism poses significant ongoing problems for Dr Leaf and her teaching. Her proposition that “Our spirit controls our soul/mind and our soul/mind controls our body” is not supported by either science or by scripture. This significantly weakens her standing as a biblical and scientific authority, and highlights an intellectual dissonance between science, scripture, and her published work.
Unless Dr Leaf is prepared to review her position and change her teaching on the subject, the gap between her teaching and the accepted scientific position will only continue to widen, and her authority and respect will continue to weaken.
The New Triune Being Hypothesis and the Christian Church
For the Christian church, the Triune Being Hypothesis in its current form is now redundant. The review of the biblical evidence, and the current evidence from neuroscience, has disproven the triune being hypothesis insofar as there is no Biblical or scientific proof that the spirit, soul and body are separate entities. However, it’s reasonable to consider the spirit, soul and body as inseparable parts of the whole being, which are translocated together into the celestial realm upon death.
At the very least, the position of the Christian church on the nature of the soul/spirit requires review, and topic should be brought back to the table to be appropriately debated. It’s clear that the old, generally accepted hypothesis of the separate, immaterial soul/spirit is untenable with current scientific evidence. In this essay, I have proposed one theory which is at least plausible with current scientific understanding. However, there are many other theories that may be just as valid, and warrant consideration.
It’s my hope that with academic honesty and divine guidance, the truth of our triune nature can be further delineated.
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Lyons, K. and Mills, D., ‘Gone to play with the angels’: Conjoined twins Faith and Hope are laid to rest after family’s tearful memorial service in Sydney. Daily Mail, UK, 2014 June 2 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2645824/Gone-play-angels-Faith-trying-attention-Hope-happy-just-hold-finger-rest-Family-conjoined-twins-pay-tearful-tributes-Sydney-memorial-service.html
Zaghloul, N.A. and Brugmann, S.A., The emerging face of primary cilia. Genesis, 2011. 49(4): 231-46 doi: 10.1002/dvg.20728
Arnsten, A.F., The neurobiology of thought: the groundbreaking discoveries of Patricia Goldman-Rakic 1937-2003. Cereb Cortex, 2013. 23(10): 2269-81 doi: 10.1093/cercor/bht195
Goghari, V.M., et al., The functional neuroanatomy of symptom dimensions in schizophrenia: a qualitative and quantitative review of a persistent question. Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 2010. 34(3): 468-86 doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.09.004
Melnik, T., et al., Efficacy and safety of atypical antipsychotic drugs (quetiapine, risperidone, aripiprazole and paliperidone) compared with placebo or typical antipsychotic drugs for treating refractory schizophrenia: overview of systematic reviews. Sao Paulo Medical Journal, 2010. 128: 141-66 http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-31802010000300007&nrm=iso
Haggard, P., Human volition: towards a neuroscience of will. Nat Rev Neurosci, 2008. 9(12): 934-46 doi: 10.1038/nrn2497
Libet, B., et al., Time of conscious intention to act in relation to onset of cerebral activity (readiness-potential). The unconscious initiation of a freely voluntary act. Brain, 1983. 106 (Pt 3): 623-42 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6640273
Soon, C.S., et al., Unconscious determinants of free decisions in the human brain. Nat Neurosci, 2008. 11(5): 543-5 doi: 10.1038/nn.2112
Espay, A.J. Frontal Lobe Syndromes. Medscape eMedicine 2012 [cited 2014, July 1]; Available from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1135866-clinical – showall.
Castells, X., et al., Amphetamines for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2011(6): CD007813 doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007813.pub2
Hodgkins, P., et al., The Pharmacology and Clinical Outcomes of Amphetamines to Treat ADHD. CNS drugs, 2012. 26(3): 245-68
Beauregard, M. and Paquette, V., Neural correlates of a mystical experience in Carmelite nuns. Neurosci Lett, 2006. 405(3): 186-90 doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2006.06.060
Mohandas, E., Neurobiology of spirituality. Mens Sana Monogr, 2008. 6(1): 63-80 doi: 10.4103/0973-1229.33001
Kahnt, T., et al., Connectivity-based parcellation of the human orbitofrontal cortex. J Neurosci, 2012. 32(18): 6240-50 doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0257-12.2012
Plassmann, H., et al., Appetitive and aversive goal values are encoded in the medial orbitofrontal cortex at the time of decision making. J Neurosci, 2010. 30(32): 10799-808 doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0788-10.2010
Devinsky, O. and Lai, G., Spirituality and religion in epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav, 2008. 12(4): 636-43 doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2007.11.011
Persinger, M.A., et al., The electromagnetic induction of mystical and altered states within the laboratory. Journal of Consciousness Exploration & Research, 2010. 1(7)
Granqvist, P., et al., Sensed presence and mystical experiences are predicted by suggestibility, not by the application of transcranial weak complex magnetic fields. Neurosci Lett, 2005. 379(1): 1-6 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15849873
Kapogiannis, D., et al., Cognitive and neural foundations of religious belief. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2009. 106(12): 4876-81 doi: 10.1073/pnas.0811717106
Norenzayan, A., et al., Mentalizing deficits constrain belief in a personal God. PLoS One, 2012. 7(5): e36880 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036880
Maguire, E.A., et al., London taxi drivers and bus drivers: a structural MRI and neuropsychological analysis. Hippocampus, 2006. 16(12): 1091-101 doi: 10.1002/hipo.20233
Holzel, B.K., et al., Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Res, 2011. 191(1): 36-43 doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2010.08.006
Bunge, M., The Mind-Body Problem, in Matter and Mind. 2010, Springer Netherlands. p. 143-57.
Postscript: There is a lot more to String Theory, and anyone interested in knowing more would be well served by reviewing the transcripts or watching the PBS series “The Elegant Universe”, hosted by Brian Greene.
Posted in Biological, Psychological, Social, Spiritual | Tagged ADHD, amygdala, anxiety, ASD, bible, body, brain, caroline, caroline leaf, cartesian, cerebral cortex, christianity, cognitive neuroscientist, cortex, death, Descartes, disorder, dr caroline leaf, Dr Leaf, dualism, emotion, fear, heaven, hell, hypothesis, Leaf, memory, mind, neurobiology, Plato, psychoneural, quantum physics, soul, spirit, stress, string theory, thought, toxic thought, triune, triune being, will | 17 Replies
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Tag Archives: Jay Carney
Pursuing a Dream
February 5, 2014 By The Central Standard Times in Politics Tags: Congressional Budget Office, debt, deficit, higher costs, Jay Carney, keep your plan, Obamacare, promises, unemployment Leave a comment
Those prolific folks at the Congressional Budget Office have written up yet another installment in their annual “Budget and Economic Outlook” series, and it might be their best work yet. That’s high praise, given how the president used to gush about the non-partisan brilliance of these eyeshade-wearing savants of the bureaucracy, but their latest look at Obamacare really is quite a read.
In a taut 175 pages of impeccable public policy prose, including the numerous charts and tables and citations of sources and such, the report lays out all the sorry facts about the nation’s fiscal health. This has been a recurring theme of the series for so long now that it’s become too boring to prompt comment, but the parts about Obamacare offer an intriguing if somewhat predictable plot twist. To hear the CBO boys tell it, the law isn’t working out well.
The report projects that the law will result in the loss of 2.5 million full-time equivalent jobs in the next decade, leave 31 million people still without health insurance but paying for the privilege, add $1.4 trillion to the federal deficit, cause millions of Americans to lose the health insurance plans that they liked, and wind up costing the average American money out of his paycheck. Given that the law’s eponymous president repeatedly promised that it would spur economic activity, insure everyone, wouldn’t add a single dime to the deficit, anyone who liked his health insurance plan could keep it, and the average American would wind up with an extra $2,500 in his paycheck, it seems fair to say that things aren’t going as intended.
Back when the president was making such preposterous promises on behalf of Obamacare he had CBO reports to back them up, all based on the equally preposterous presumptions the agency was forced to proceed from, which is probably why he used to gush about its non-partisan brilliance. The latest report is based on assumptions more closely resembling reality, and is therefore less to the president’s liking, but all that past praise forced the White House to carefully interpret rather haughtily dismiss the CBO’s conclusion.
By far the most entertaining portion of White House spokesman Jay Carney’s juggling act was his insistence that the 2.5 million lost jobs is proof the law’s unexpected success. After correctly noting that the report does not blame the job losses on disincentives for employers to provide jobs, and without noting that it also said such an effect might well occur when the delayed employer-mandate at last kicks in after the mid-term elections, Carney seemed proud that CBO found the initial job losses would result from Obamacare’s disincentives for employees to accept low-wage jobs rather than relinquish their health care subsidies and other benefits. As Carney thus explains it, those 2.5 million lost jobs mean “Americans would no longer be trapped in a job just to provide coverage for their families, and would have the opportunity to pursue their dreams.”
Any Americans who don’t dream of a life of care-free welfare dependency probably wouldn’t put it in such poetic terms, but at this point they likely comprise only a small share of the Democratic votership. It remains to be seen how the economy will fare under the guidance of an administration that takes such pride in lost jobs, and we’ll be looking forward to next year’s installment in the “Budget and Economic Outlook” to find out.
Inside the Insider Threat Program
July 11, 2013 By The Central Standard Times in Politics Tags: federal employees, Fort Hood, Insider Threat Program, Internal Revenue Service, Jay Carney, National Security Agency, Obama, scandals 1 Comment
The latest scandal to beset the Obama administration is the ominously-named Insider Threat Program, an executive order issued shortly after the Wikileaks scandal that attempted to plug such national security leaks by having federal employees and contractors rat on one another for any suspicious behaviors. This information comes courtesy of the McClatchy newspaper chain, which also reports that agencies having nothing to do with national security were also affected and that experts believe the suspicious behaviors that are to be reported are not reliable predictors of any illegal acts, and it’s attracted enough attention from the other media that White House Press Secretary Jay Carney was forced to admit that he was “stumped” by the insistent questions at a news conference and was completely unaware of the program’s existence.
Although we never actually worked for the McClatchy company it has somehow acquired the obligation to pay us a pension in our old age, so we take its reporting seriously. The company’s reporting has been annoyingly pro-Obama for the most part, at least by the measure of the local newspaper that it bought a few years ago, but in this case it raises several troubling questions. One might well wonder, for instance, why it took so long — after the election, in fact — for a directive that was issued to some five million people to come to light. One might also wonder why Carney didn’t get the memo, given that he’s a federal employee who has surely witnessed enough strange behavior to fill a warehouse of files, and there are more significant questions as well.
As satisfying as it is to know that government workers have been subjected to the same level of insufferable co-worker snoopiness as their private sector counterparts, there is something troubling about the idea that they have been asked to tattle-tale for such easily explained behaviors as financial difficulties, odd working hours, or “unexplained travel.” Combined with the revelations of the Internal Revenue Service harassing the administration’s political opponents, the Department of Justice treating investigative reporting as a criminal conspiracy, the National Security Agency combing through the phone and internet records of millions of Americans, requests that the public report “fishy” information about Obamacare to a White House web site, attempts to silence whistle-blowers on Benghazi and other scandals, as well as a frankly stated view that “the government is the only thing we all belong to,” it starts to give a claustrophobic feeling to life in the age of Obama.
The program doesn’t seem to have been a success, either. It was in effect well before the massacre at Fort Hood, Texas, but the officers who witnessed the crazed Islamist rantings and ravings of the shooter but apparently didn’t find it suspicious enough to overcome their fears of being thought Islamophobic by reporting it. Nor did it prevent the scandalous information about the NSA’s far-reaching data-gathering from being leaked by an unshaven 29-year-old with a stripper girlfriend and a penchant for Latin American satrapies. If the intent was to prevent any information embarrassing to the Obama administration from reaching the public, it must be judged an abject failure.
One might also wonder, for that matter, if Obama got the memo. Prior to the election there were a series of leaks about classified national security programs such as the weekly “kill lists” that the president approved to order drone strikes on suspected terrorists which bolstered his reputation as a tough-on-terrorism hawk rather than a Nobel Prize-winning peacenik, and all of them were attributed to “high-ranking administration officials” whose suspicious behaviors were presumably apparent to Obama. One of the leaks resulted in the imprisonment of a Pakistani doctor who had been helping the Central Intelligence Agency’s fight against terrorism, but it was one of those pre-election scandals that got little attention from the press. Perhaps Obama was every bit as outraged about those leaks as the ones that embarrassed rather than glorified administration, but that’s another thing one might wonder about.
A Hard Day on the Job
May 15, 2013 By The Central Standard Times in Politics Tags: Associated Press, Benghazi, hard questions, IRS, Jay Carney, scandals, White House press corps Leave a comment
Anyone who has ever endured a tough week on the job can almost, but not quite, feel sorry for Jay Carney.
The boyish White House press secretary has been having an undeniably hard time of it lately, what with his boss suddenly beset by scandals ranging from the multi-layered fiasco of the Benghazi terror attack and its aftermath to the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of opposition groups to a Justice Department that has been spying on the Associated Press, and the embarrassing spectacle of Carney flailing about as he struggles to provide a plausible explanation for all of it would ordinarily induce pity in a sympathetic soul. Even so, Carney is more to be scorned than pitied because he is so obviously out of practice.
At Tuesday’s news briefing Carney was aggressively grilled by the assembled reporters about all of the aforementioned issues, and the poor fellow seemed quite taken aback that anyone in the media would be guilty of such brazen lese majesty as to ask a question at a press conference. His surprise is somewhat understandable, given the polite behavior of the press during such past scandals as the New Black Panthers’ kid-glove treatment, Solyndra and other “green job” boondoggles, Fast and Furious, the presidenlavish lifestyle, and assorted failures such as the stimulus and the broken promises of Obamacare, but Carney should have foreseen that those reporters’ instinctive pugnaciousness would eventually assert itself. The press still isn’t nearly so adversarial as it has been during Republican administrations, but on Tuesday they at least stopped being obsequious.
In a previous week’s news conference Carney had insisted that the scrubbing of any mention of an al-Qaeda terror from the government’s official explanation of the Benghazi attack and substituting some fanciful nonsense about a spontaneous popular reaction a little-seen YouTube video was only a “stylistic” and “not substantive” change, but the reporters on Tuesday were stubbornly cynical about the claim. Even such stalwart supporters as The New Yorker and The Washington Post are starting to treat Benghazi as a story that reflects poorly on the administration, and Carney had a rather stunned look on his face when the reporters were so unenthused about his denunciations of the Republicans for taking an interest in the death of an ambassador and four other Americans.
The same rudeness attended the matter of the IRS harassment of conservative groups, which has offended civil libertarian sensibilities to the point that some news media have been using the N-word — Nixon — to describe the scandal. Carney gamely insisted that he and his boss were also appalled that an agency under executive branch control would do such nasty things to groups that the president had vilified in countless speeches. Although the press wasn’t so ravenous as it was about George W. Bush’s 30-year-old National Guard attendance records, it was more than inquisitive enough to rattle Carney. He boldly asserted that the White House had nothing to do with the scandal, but added that all he or the president knew was what they read in the papers. A reporter from the Bloomberg news service, of all places, asked how Carney could be so certain of the White House’s innocence if he didn’t know any more than what was being reported, and Carney responded with a flustered “I think I can say that I feel confident in that, but, I you know, I don’t have any.”
Harsher questions were asked about the Justice Department’s snooping around the phone records of the Associated Press, an action that everyone in the press is taking personally. The press has been badly mistreated for many years by the Obama administration, which has kicked reporters off airplanes for insufficiently enthusiastic editorials in their papers, denied access on an unprecedented scale, stonewalled investigations into various matters, and even kept a reporter in a closet during a vice presidential appearance, but the assault on AP seems to have at last caused a rift in the longstanding love affair between the president and the press. More respectful treatment might be accorded at the next presidential news conference, which might be many healing months away, but the reporters had no reluctance to beat up on Carney over the matter. Unaccustomed to such treatment, Carney wound up using the word “unfettered” a dozen times when explaining the president’s commitment to a free press.
The president’s high opinion of a free press is likely based on an assumption that it would it always sing his praises, and it remains to be seen if he will be as tolerate when the press is critical. Those reporters might fall back in line if it appears that efforts are redounding to the benefit of the Republican party, but in the meantime Jay Carney should get used to working for a living.
That Shrinking Feeling
January 31, 2013 By The Central Standard Times in Politics Tags: Corporate jets, defense cuts, dividend income, economic contraction, Economy, GDP, Jay Carney, Republicans, surprise Leave a comment
America’s economy made a brief appearance in the headlines Wednesday, jostling for space on the newscasts with illegal immigrants, the latest gun-grabbing frenzy, and some predictable anti-homosexual aspersions cast during the pre-Super Bowl hype. The news was that the economy shrank by a tenth of a percentage point in the last three months of the past year, which is bad, so the media will likely let the matter drop soon.
It’s the kind of news that demands some brief acknowledgement from even the most reluctant reporters, though, so most of the press organizations immediately began spelunking for some heartening information that might be hidden inside in the dark cavern of the Commerce Department’s grim report. The decline was a “surprise” according to the headline writers, who always seem surprised when anything bad happens in the age of Obama, and the lead stories were quick to mention that it all means the Fed will continue to keep the money-printers working overtime. Most reports were also happy to prominently feature the Democrats’ view that this was the “best-looking contraction in U.S. GDP you’ll ever see.”
A fellow named Paul Ashworth, the chief economist for Capital Economics, was able to make that claim without giggling because the report indicated that most of the decline was attributable to cuts in the defense budget and a decline in inventories. Both of these are a “one-off,” Ashworth contends, and thus the economy should soon be roaring back to its previously sluggish pace. The appointment of Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense is just the latest indicator that we haven’t seen the last of cuts to the defense budget, the drops in inventory investments and exports can’t easily be explained by any temporary circumstances, and the phenomenal 85.2 percent increase in dividend income that kept the decline from being much worse is also a “one-off” caused by investors trying to get ahead of the coming economy-slowing tax hikes, but Ashworth and his many re-Tweeters can be forgiven their incurable optimism.
If you’re not convinced by such happy talk, the Democrats have a back-up argument that it’s all the Republicans’ fault. White House press secretary Jay Carney helpfully explained that investors were frightened by the appalling spectacle of Republicans in the House of Representatives balking at the president’s prudent plan of massive tax hikes and endless deficit spending during the recent “fiscal cliff” negotiations, and he even blamed the defense cuts on those notoriously anti-military Republicans. The reason the Republicans insist on such shenanigans, Carney further explained, is to make sure that “tax loopholes remain in place for corporate jet owners.”
Carney was not asked to explain why Obama’s never-ending stimulus is still needed if the latest report indicates that the private sector continued to chug along despite a purported decrease in government spending, which is a shame, because we would have enjoyed hearing it. We’ll likely have to settle for more illegal immigrants, gun-grabbing, and Super Bowl hyperbole, and none of it will be quite so much fun.
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Tag Archives: singing
A Tale of Two Ads
October 30, 2012 By The Central Standard Times in Politics Tags: advertisements, children's choir, negative campaign, Obama, singing Leave a comment
Oh, what a difference four short years can make.
It was around this time back in the dark days of ’08 that we found our country in the grip of strange mania, an almost religious enthusiasm for the presidential campaign of Barack Obama. In the mainstream press, throughout the popular culture, even at our favorite tavern, Obama was explicitly hailed as a messianic figure, an avatar that would lead the nation into a new era of hope and change. Even the schoolchildren were singing the praises of the secular savior.
That ad with the singing schoolchildren was especially disquieting. There was a queasy Kim Jon-Il feel about the spectacle of a choir of adorably toothy urchins serenading the dear leader with hymns of allegiance, their eyes filled with adoration as they gazed into a glorious future with the harmonized surety that “Obama’s gonna lead us.”
We were reminded of that creepy bit of political propaganda by the latest advertisement advanced on behalf of Obama’s campaign. Dubbed “A Message From the Children” and produced by one of the fancy-schmantzy Madison Avenue ad firms, the spot features a new batch of cute youngsters — the old ones presumably being too pubescent, acne-riddled, and wised-up by now — but with same appeal to the absolute moral authority of the not-yet-grown-up.
The earlier ad was filmed in warm, soothing, campaign-themed color, while the latest one is in a self-consciously serious black-and-white, and the difference in the two messages is similarly stark. There’s no mention at all of Barack Obama in the latest ad, much less any effort to extol his glory, but rather a dystopian vision of what life would be like if the other guy got elected. The children sing of a future in which strip mines abound, homosexuals are subject to draconian treatments, sick people are left to die, oil spills overrun the oceans, endless wars are fought, polar bears are eliminated, “Big Bird is sacked,” and there is “lots of Chinese stuff.” Except for the parts about Big Bird having to find a real job and the abundance of inexpensive imports it all sounds quite horrible, and the juvenile cast seems convincingly appalled about it as they sing to their Romney-leaning elders that “We’re kinda blaming you.”
The young’uns have the same chin-up air of moral superiority as their parents, and even seem to have somehow replicated the smug soprano self-righteousness of the old folk boom balladeers, so it will likely have some motivating effect on the aging segment of the country that remains committed to Obama’s presidency. Less clear is the effect it might have on the rest of the electorate, which might well recognize that the song’s caricature of the Republicans is utter nonsense and note the sharp contract with the earlier optimism of Obama’s political career. Gone is the utopian promise of the last campaign, replaced by an equally overstated pessimism about the alternative.
Such children’s horror stories might even work, at least well enough to eke out a victory next week, but somehow they don’t seem so frighteningly dangerous as the earlier juvenilia. Obama has devolved from a mass hysteria intent on the fundamental transformation of America into a niche-marketed advertising campaign to hang on to political power. Something so small, petty, and implausible isn’t likely to make a lasting difference in the character of nation, and the resulting gridlock and polarization might even give those poor kids a chance to figure things out.
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Virtual Reality: A Futuristic Tool that's Transforming Education Now
The technology is evolving as quickly as it's being consumed and many students and teachers are reaping the rewards of having a brand new element for engagement. What did Goldman Sach's name as the most disruptive technology in education? Virtual Reality. VR is a gamechanger when it comes to immersive and vivid learning experiences. Simply put, virtual reality opens up excitement and optimizes engagement by taking kids to places they would otherwise not be able to explore. Teaching a biology class? Take students to the bottom of the ocean, 200 feet below the surface, and enable them to examine marine life and oceanic plants as lifelike fish and whales casually swim by. Studying anatomy? Descend directly into the human body and explore the complexities of things like the heart, lungs, muscles, and blood. Or, what about history? Yes, this technology can even immerse kids directly in historic events by taking them back in time and making them believe they're really there. VR is 100 percent immersive as it makes students feel like they're actually experiencing what they see in the viewer. Come learn more about the implications VR has for all levels of education and try the world-class Oculus Rift on the spot. We'll answer your VR questions, show how this technology works, and explain why it's set to enhance education like nothing else we've seen. If you're ready to step into the future, come learn how virtual reality is poised to reshape education. (Presenter(s): Palo Peirce, Director of Sales, N/A, and Rick Fredkin, Eduporium)
Tags 6-8, 9-12, 21st Century Skills & Resources, Intermediate
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Mr. Adam Leighton is an AV-Rated lawyer and partner at Cohen & Cohen, P.C. He has been recognized throughout his career for his exceptional defense of innocent injured people. His areas of expertise include automotive injuries, medical negligence, and legal premises cases. Mr. Leighton’s previous clients’ awards and testimonies attest to his professional accomplishments
Mr. Leighton earns yearly recognition from peer and professional organizations. He was named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in DC by the American Trial Lawyers Association. He has been named one of Washington D.C.’s Super Lawyers seven years in a row. In 2017, he was chosen and recognized by his peers in the 23rd edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
Adam Leighton graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Economics from Tulane University. He got his J.D. at the University of Toledo School of Law. During law school, he was a clerk for the Sixth District Court of Appeals in Toledo, an intern at the Lucas County Public Defender’s Office, and a clerk for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Mr. Leighton is an active member of the DC Bar and is a (inactive) member of the Maine State Bar Association and of the Maryland State Bar Association. He has served as a Board of Governor and as a Chair of the Education Committee, as well as as a trial judge at the George Washington University Law School.
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Spectating at the End of the World
Posted by xraymike79 in Capitalism, Climate Change, Consumerism, Corporate State, Empire, Environmental Degradation, Military Industrial Complex, Peak Oil, Pollution
6th Mass Extinction, Abrupt Climate Change, Antarctic Ice Melt, Anthropogenic Climate Disruption (ACD), Climate Change, Collapse of Industrial Civilization, Corporate State, Corporatocracy, Davi Kopenawa, Eco-Apocalypse, Extinction of Man, Green Washing, Guy McPherson, Inverted Totalitarianism, Military Industrial Complex, Mr. Natural, Neoliberal Capitalism, Robert Crumb, Security and Surveillance State, Social Psychology and Theories of Consumer Culture: A Political Economy
Front Row Seat to the Eco-Apocalypse
Another year has turned over on Earth, home to an exothermic, bipedal omnivore known as capitalist carbon man whose expanding numbers and army of fossil-fueled machinery spans the globe. There’s nothing subtle or restrained about his reign of terror. He pokes and prods the climate change beast while taking for granted the stability of the Holocene, a peculiar aberration in the paleoclimate record. Plotted on a graph, the history of Earth’s climate resembles the jagged teeth of a demonic monster, a volatile creature whose abrupt and catastrophic shifts have wiped landscapes clean of most life. The consequences of burning the equivalent of an olympic sized swimming pool of oil (300,000 liters) per second, year after year, into the atmosphere will ultimately prove lethal to the planet’s habitability. Recently, scientists were surprised to discover a “Delaware-sized methane cloud” hovering over the U.S. southwest, the remnant of “years of intentionally released and errantly leaked natural gas during fossil fuel drilling operations.” No less problematic to the Earth’s homeostasis are the many other destructive habits of capitalist carbon man such as moving ten times more dirt than all natural processes, fixing more nitrogen than all terrestrial bacteria, and producing more sulfate than all ocean phytoplankton.
The exponential melting of Earth’s cryospheric regions is a foreboding harbinger of devastating sea level rise, altering oceanic and jet stream circulation, changing hydrologic cycles, and wholesale disruption of the entire planet’s biospheric system. A brief retrospective of our unfolding environmental meltdown by a major news source concludes that “2014 will likely go down as the year that melting polar ice caps graduated from being a geographic abstraction to a symbol of the irreversible ways we’ve warped the planet.” News reports continue to grow more ominous with recent warnings that the oceans are on the verge of belching their decades of stored heat from human industrial activity. CIVILIZATION is in the process of going ‘poof’ as its leaders play monkey politics and the masses are drowned in a sea of consumerist images. As Dr. McPherson recently pointed out, gallows humor is the 6th stage of grief for coping with a civilization that is blind to its own demise.
“Going Green” is a Marketing Slogan and Inverted Totalitarianism is the Most Successful Form of Tyranny
The unsettling truth is that the slogan “going green” has become a marketing ploy to greenwash capitalism and keep business-as-usual going. The speeches of corporate and political leaders are sprinkled with conscious-soothing key words such as “sustainable”, “eco-friendly”, and “2°C climate goal”, but there’s nothing sustainable about globalized techno-capitalism and the target of limiting warming to 2°C is a cruel illusion. So-called “green energy” is severely limited by suitable geography and intermittency of power production. The behemoth Google learned from its own extensive research that “today’s renewable energy technologies won’t save us.” The top business firms appear to be having a problem squaring their green rhetoric with reality, and there seems to be no way to make automobiles truly sustainable. Germany, the poster child for a green economy, is now “burning more coal than at any point since 1990.“:
“We already are on the edge of what is possible,” Mr. Löllgen said in an interview at his Düsseldorf office. “Is it worth it if we as a country succeed in reaching our targets in reducing carbon emissions, but sacrifice good jobs and our industrial base?”
Another misleading headline I get tired of reading states that humans may be headed for a 6th mass extinction. Let’s clarify this statement once and for all by admitting emphatically that we are well in the throes of a mass extinction which will likely include ourselves within this century. By all rational evidence, industrial civilization with its billions of inhabitants cannot survive without fossil fuels. The only way capitalist carbon man will ever be sustainable is as fertilizer beneath the crumbled concrete and asphalt ruins of industrial civilization. Don’t expect any mea culpa from a culture which has been programmed to believe converting all of nature into inanimate symbols of wealth is “progress” and “development”. Not even the dire warnings of esteemed scientists and religious leaders can break the spell cast by capitalism and its definition of progress. Our institutions have become intransigent, petrified monoliths to which all will be sacrificed.
“I think the notions of free will and self-determination have the appearance of reality during a civilization’s gestation and expansion phases, when there is more opportunity and social mobility. As things calcify, instruments becoming institutions that serve their own ends, the facade is harder to maintain. Human existence has always been contingent and constrained by circumstances. These ‘free’ notions are illusions, narrow windows of perception with a limited range of influence during times of transient prosperity.” ~ BP
The term inverted totalitarianism, coined a decade ago by philosopher Sheldon Wolin, describes America’s brand of despotism in which “every natural resource and every living being is commodified and exploited to collapse as the citizenry is lulled and manipulated into surrendering their liberties and their participation in government through excess consumerism and sensationalism.” Opposition to this dominant consumer culture is systematically co-opted and suppressed by the marginalization and alienation of alternative thought. Neoliberal capitalism governs not only states and economies, but extends right down to an individual’s behavior and way of living:
One of the goals of neoliberalism is to foster a population of individuals who will play an active role in their own self-governance by interacting with the market and consumption through calculated acts and investments… sets of rules and conditions are established between institutions, economic and social practices, and patterns of behavior. They generally function outside of conscious awareness and they habitually influence social behavior. Examples of dominant consumer culture discourse include the political linking of consumer sovereignty and choice with freedom, the linking of citizenship and national pride with consumption, the work and spend treadmill that many people choose to pursue, the commercialization of childhood and adolescence, and the celebration of consumer values through the mass media and advertising.
– Social Psychology and Theories of Consumer Culture: A Political Economy
Who better to label people as “unpatriotic” if they acknowledge the reality of climate change than the host of TV’s quintessential symbol of capitalism, The Wheel of Fortune? Beneath this digital web of commercials and TV infotainment is the iron fist of militarized local police and the panopticon surveillance state which can quickly stomp out those troublesome malcontents who break free of the American hologram. What better way is there for controlling entire populations than to condition them to enjoy their chains of slavery? America’s form of tyranny, a blend of covert and overt oppression, is the most successful in the history of mankind.
None of This Can Really Be Happening, Can It?
With all the disjointed and delusional thinking out there, I feel compelled to write a blog post periodically to get the facts straight and assure myself that what I see and hear every day is really happening. Yes, we really are terraforming the Earth into a barren wasteland while convincing ourselves that it’s worth it for the sake of a cubicle job and life in cookie-cutter suburbia. Yes, we really are ruled by the Washington-Wall Street-Pentagon complex. No, you will never get the raw truth from mainstream news outlets. Yes, I’m getting older and need to exercise more because a sedentary lifestyle is as bad as smoking. Yes, industrial civilization is still on track to collapse within my lifetime. As Robert Crumb’s mystic guru Mr. Natural exclaimed, “The whole universe is completely insane!”
205 thoughts on “Spectating at the End of the World”
Very good essay, Mike. The omnivore with the omnicidal civilisation. Not to worry. Garden-variety growth has now morphed into ‘sustainable growth’ so if we continue following that path, I’m sure things will come good. The deputy premier of Queensland recently called those who are concerned about climate disruption ‘zealots’. The craziness never ends.
This following story kills me. It shows how much of a Ponzi scheme our economy is, dependent upon perpetual, unsustainable growth and that there will be a sucker born every minute:
Miami’s climate catch-22: Building waterfront condos to pay for protection against the rising sea
…The more developers build here, the more taxes and fees the city collects to fund a $300-million storm water project to defend the shore against the rising sea. Approval of these luxury homes on what environmentalists warn is global warming quicksand amounts to a high-stakes bet that Miami Beach can, essentially, out-build climate change and protect its $27 billion worth of real estate…
…The ocean around South Florida, which sits on porous limestone, is expected to rise nearly three feet in the next 86 years, according to Florida State University research.
Beaches are already receding. The mayor attended a “sand sampling” last month before ordering replacement reserves: “We were passing bags all around,” Levine said. “I was saying, ‘Bring me that Bahamian white.’”
To compound the problem: Hurricanes may gain strength, researchers predict, and strike more often as average annual temperatures in the southeast heat as much as nine degrees.
Meanwhile, Miami Beach keeps growing. Last year, the city collected $128 million in property taxes, an increase from $117 million in 2013 and $114 million in 2012. Thirty-two new condo towers have been proposed since 2011, said Peter Zalewski, founder of condo consulting site CraneSpotters.com. Twelve are currently under construction. The average asking price for resale condos, he said, is about $1.1 million.
Many buyers come from South America, more concerned by currency instability in their home countries than encroaching saltwater: “They want somewhere safe to park their money,” said Zalewski, whose firm tracks applications. “A lot of buyers here never step foot in the condos. They’ll sell them before the water makes it to the bottom floor of their buildings, anyway.”…
…Most public improvements are initially financed with bonds, an alternative to higher-rate private loans. That’s only possible if Miami Beach continues to collect money, public works director Eric Carpenter said. Access to cheaper cash accelerates a process that, he said, “absolutely needs to happen, quickly and aggressively.”
Officials want to take advantage of the development spurt while it lasts. “The time to put away things for a rainy day is when it’s sunny outside,” Carpenter said. “If you wait until it’s raining, it’s too late.”…
You’re getting sharper by the day, Mike, but you really do need to get out more – no sarcasm intended. It will result in you getting even more sharp and stand a better chance of seeing the pennies drop in people’s minds in one hell of a rush – thereby ensuring the collapse of civilisation will be earlier than scientists predict, which gives the rest of nature a bit more scope for recovering.
Your’e getting sharper than ever, Mike. But you must get our more, no sarcasm intended.
This will help keep your mind sharp and increase your longevity so you may make it to when the pennies will drop in people’s minds because of what is happening all around them!
This will accelerate the collapse giving nature a better chance
http://witsendnj.blogspot.com/2012/03/ringside-seats-at-finish-line.html?m=1
“Steadily rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may be affecting brain chemistry and contributing to the obesity epidemic, according to a new hypothesis, which still awaits rigorous testing and debate.”
“The idea proposes that breathing in extra CO2 makes blood more acidic, which in turn causes neurons that regulate appetite, sleep and metabolism to fire more frequently. As a result, we might be eating more, sleeping less and gaining more weight, partly as a result of the air we breathe.”
…interesting. That hypothesis was 2 years ago. I wonder what the status of it is now.
Mike, you are doing a lot more than just being a passive spectator at this collapse of human civilization. You are an active and insightful commentator and analyst of this climactic process. And you do this in a passionate, measured, humorous, realistic manner that provides a valuable service to folks at all levels of awakening to the nightmare our deluded leaders and the unthinking masses they manipulate are perpetrating upon themselves and trillions of our fellow living beings. You are an excellent teacher of the subject you are expounding. If I had the power to do so, your voice would be on every tv set and in every classroom in the world. This message you are putting out trumps any other possible agenda or concern that folks might imagine they have. Keep it coming, I love it! Nothing matters more than truth….
Louise said:
I agree, but brilliant people can be intimidating to the deluded leaders and the unthinking masses. Here is an interesting link: http://www.quora.com/Why-do-conservatives-deny-climate-change-What-has-climate-change-got-to-do-with-their-ideology
There are a lot more stupid people than smart people. How do you communicate with the unthinking masses?
http://today.duke.edu/2014/11/solutionaversion
You’re like a sculptor working with soft clay trying to create a likeness of mankind’s future. IMO you should throw the lump of clay against the wall, into a fan, or out the window and there will be revealed to you the final state of civilization. Should you warn the citizenry? Or not? I’m convinced “knowledge” will not move this beast one inch from its destructive path. Only when the “signs” become too great to ignore will complacency be replaced by panic and a mad rush to convert worthless paper assets into almost worthless fiat into the remaining real assets will commence. Humans fall apart without a steady flow of resources and energy and acquiring them and a surplus is man’s main concern. Even today, for those paying heed to the Cassandras, the main concern is in acquiring more wealth or preserving wealth, even as the ecosystem, the basis of all wealth, deteriorates from their efforts. Like odd prescient molecules in cancer cells we scream for a cessation to the insanity of infinite growth as the body wastes away, but it’s useless to try and stand between a human and their struggles to obtain their next dopamine high, a short-lived state of mind often confused with happiness. We will continue to believe in the miracles of technological progress and lovely after-death existences until all of our accomplishments are but an anomalous strata of sediment in a fossil record spanning billions of years.
Still waiting for your website. You’re welcome to post your essays here anytime. Just let me know.
If I smoke my cigarettes while sitting at the computer all day surfing the DooomOsphere, don’t the negative effects cancel each other out? Does it even really fucking matter anymore? Do I need to stay fit so I can last longer in dystopian land? Won’t they send the fit looking one’s straight to the corporate gulag? On the other hand being plump will make one an irresistible target for the newly formed neighbourhood cannibal clan.
It just goes to show you that even I have trouble internalizing this stark reality.
Well said xraymike79.
Damn well said.
Thanks for the complement. Coming from a fellow blogger, I’m even more appreciative.
kevin lister said:
Perhaps the most frightening thing of all is that atmospheric CO2 is now growing super exponentially, so when we hit our “tipping points” we will be going at full speed and the technological races that we are trapped in mean that we are doomed to continue to go faster and faster. See http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Vortex-Violence-losing-climate-ebook/dp/B00PUNSI06
Techno-capitalist Industrial Civ does not appear to have any breaks, does it? Speed kills…
Here they go again down under. I know they have been preparing, but not sure how it will take. They just had their warmest year on record, so I imagine it is very dry. That record won’t last.
Tough conditions expected for firefighters battling bushfires in South Australia, Victoria
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-03/tough-conditions-expected-for-firefighters-in-sa-vic/5998194
driscollx said:
R. Crumb in the early 1970s opened my eyes to the rise and collapse of industrial civilization in all its demonic forms. An excellent retrospective of his inimitable commentary on America can be found here:
http://www.amazon.com/R-Crumbs-America-Robert-Crumb/dp/0867194308
Jerry McManus said:
I like R. Crumb’s work, but I didn’t know he added three future scenario panels to his original “a short history of America” strip:
http://boingboing.net/2009/08/07/r-crumbs-short-histo.html
Of the three, the only one that looks like a continuation of the previous series is the “ecological disaster”
The “ecotopian solution” seems the least likely, it would require voluntarily demolishing a century of prior investment in fossil fueled infrastructure and replacing it with forests. Not to mention the question of where the food for billions of people comes from.
Interesting that he titled the techno-fix as the “fun” future. Fun for who? The elite few who can afford it?
I think he pretty much settled the question about his view of America’s future when he left America with his wife and daughter to live in France.
Actually, now that you mention it, I enjoyed watching the movie “Crumb” a few weeks back and one of the more poignant moments is when they are packing up their house in California. Maybe I missed something, but I had the the distinct impression that the move was all his wife’s idea and that he would have been content not changing anything.
Anyway, I just wanted to make clear that I don’t think any of his future scenario panels were necessarily his view of the future, just his reflection on where various segments of the popular culture thinks the future is going. If nothing else Crumb is a master at holding up a mirror to our warped culture, warts and all.
In that respect he nails it, the three dominant views being:
unlimited technological progress
ecological catastrophe
ecological utopia
If you asked him what his view of the future is I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he snorted in derision and sneered “who cares?”
…Crumb’s daughter was the main reason they now live in France. Her 2010 drawing album, Sophie Crumb: Evolution of a Crazy Artist, connects her American childhood with her French life.
“We wanted to take her out of California,” says Aline Crumb.
“We were afraid she might become some sort of Valley girl,” he adds.
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2014/11/29/tracking_down_elusive_comic_book_iconoclast_r_crumb.html
Eco-boy Alex is swinging into full mental jacket denialism.
http://www.ecoshock.info/2014/12/green-illusions-ozzie-zehner.html
Check out Gail Tverberg’s take on Green Energy and her links.
Every energy source has unintended consequences.
http://www.solarindustrymag.com/issues/SI1309/FEAT_05_Hazardous_Materials_Used_In_Silicon_PV_Cell_Production_A_Primer.html
http://motherboard.vice.com/en_ca/blog/there-are-no-substitutes-for-the-metals-in-your-smartphone
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/boom_in_mining_rare_earths_poses_mounting_toxic_risks/2614/
http://spectrum.ieee.org/green-tech/solar/solar-energy-isnt-always-as-green-as-you-think
http://www.eike-klima-energie.eu/news-cache/solarstrom-in-deutschland-klimakiller-nummer-1/
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/09/01/letter-solar-power-is-not-the-clean-green-energy-as-promoted/
A comprehensive, albeit, slightly wasted attempt:
http://www.reddit.com/r/Permaculture/comments/2qdpuf/mass_extinction_vs_green_energy/
Don’t give up Robert. You just can’t tell how many seeds of doom you are planting in the hopeful brains of young techno-utopians and permaculturists out in the vastness of the world wide web. Todays happy futurist may turn out to be tomorrows newest depressed doomer. Don’t give up. Just give it time to take root, grow and kill all hope. I hereby dub thee Johnny Doomer Seed
Oh, the Lord is good to me.
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need:
The web and the blogs and the high speed PC;
The Lord is good to me.
Oh, the earth is good to me.
And so I thank the earth,
The earth is good to me.
my wife says you’re fucking hilarious .)
I’ve often said to her, you can say anything you want about me, even that I’m lousy in bed, or anything else, but don’t ever say I’m not funny. Too bad gallows humor is the 6th stage of grief.
Hey, I just saw this. Your wife is brilliant, brilliant I say!
Neoagrarian said:
Decades ago when Wendell Berry wrote his opus “The Unsettling of America”, he famously said “Ours is a crisis of character”. It’s been a long time since I read that book, but the thought has stayed with me. And with the accumulated benefit of emotional maturity and further evidence, it rings truer than ever. And so it follows that we are not going to “think” our way out of it. Nor are we going to deploy further ingenuity, more innovation, or yet more cleverness to our singular predicament. We’re undergoing a very real metastasis of a species here. A “thing” has been built up in increments through the arc of history, and the “thing” exceeds any capacity of the human brain (singular or collective) to divine it’s nature. At it’s core is the master idea, always unspoken, of the “control imperative”.
I’m unsure that we were ever “meant” to think of things that the scope and scale of our dilemma now requires of us. I’m not all that sure either, how constructive any attempt to do so would be. And so there is a very real incongruity between our “situation” and our ability to wrap our minds around it. Which is why we see the spectrum of reactions that we do – from blithe indifference all the way to (appropriate) wide-eyed alarmism.
Neo, thanks for reminding us of a great book, and its wise author. I still recall my 25 yr old idealism when I read this book in ’75, and had my first glimpse of the tragedy now being played out in full. On some inchoate level, I felt Berry was talking about forces we could hardly believe existed, having been born into this ‘Age of Koyyanasqatsi’……
Nowadays, as the ante has been upped to to the point of no return, it seems to be fashionable to dismiss Berry as an unsophisticated bumpkin who never really did get it. Quite the contrary. He was one of those most articulate voices in the wilderness who was trying to raise the alarm when there was still a reasonable chance of averting disaster. As it now becomes clearer in certain quarters that the jig is up, I find an increasing level of neutered resignation sinking in.
http://collapseofindustrialcivilization.tumblr.com/post/99077075097/in-the-early-1970s-ecologist-barry-commoner-wrote
NDAA 2015 calls for mass fracking on all public land and fueling cars with shale gas. And Obama’s propaganda of being eco-friendly:
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=767&Itemid=74&jumival=12911
HORN: …the NDAA of 2015, most people probably were paying attention to how it affects the Pentagon and how it affects things with the Islamic State and other things that the Pentagon’s doing around the world. And that is actually what was cited in the White House’s press release that it put out once President Obama signed it off into law after Congress passed it.
But included in that bill and less cited–definitely not cited by the White House, but it was cited by some of people in Congress–that’s how I found out about it, and I found out about it through industry press releases–were provisions to do two things: number one, expedite permitting of fracking on all public lands in the United States overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. That was one clause. There was a second clause to incentivize the manufacturing of vehicles that are powered by shale gas, euphemistically called alternative fuel vehicles. It’s a provision within the NDAA of 2015…
…So this speaks to broader industry trends and it speaks to–it is sort of a desperate, desperate thing for the industry. They need new land, they need new areas to drill, just to keep drilling rates flat. And that speaks to stuff that I’ve been reporting on all year about sort of the shale gas bubble and related issues. And I think that all of this can be seen in this one provision in the NDAA of 2015.
PERIES: So, Steve, let’s get back to this false dichotomy that has been created. The Obama administration has a very environmentally friendly image out there, painted as the enemy of the fossil fuel industry by the GOP. But what are the facts behind this media image, and what are some of the examples that has put this issue into question for you?
HORN: Well, I think the most telling example of the falseness of this narrative and why it’s more akin to propaganda than reality is really looking at what–again what’s been happening in the courts. And if you look at a case that was just settled over the summer, that was environmental groups versus the White House and its Council on Environmental Quality, basically the Council on Environmental Quality came out and said that it does not have to weigh climate change on every single energy project that its agencies produce or that permit. And so that is the environmental groups want that to be part of the NEPA process, the National Environmental Policy Act process, which is known, at least by environmental attorneys and practitioners, as the Magna Carta of environmental law. It’s sort of akin to the Constitution of the United States, how important it is in making decisions on energy projects and infrastructure projects, etc.
Well, what the White House was saying is that it shouldn’t have to consider climate change and it shouldn’t have to advise agencies to consider climate change on all of the permitting process processes. So, I mean, that is something that if it came from a Republican White House or the Bush administration, for example, it would be expected and there would be an extreme backlash by environmental groups over it. But there wasn’t much of any of a backlash or much of any of a reaction to this court decision which was handed down in August.
What White House has done since then is at the end of the year they issued new draft rules that pretty much do the same thing as they said they were going to the first time, which is do exactly that, consider climate change on all infrastructure projects. But now it goes through this whole new process once again that it already went through, which is a public commenting period, a chance for legal appeals, and that sort of thing. And so by the time it’s all said and done, this will be out of the hands of the Obama administration. It will go way past 2016. Someone else will be running the White House at that point. It was basically the Obama White House’s way of looking like they–at least making the appearance that they care about climate change and making the appearance like they care about sustainable energy systems, but in reality just continuing business as usual, knowing full well that this is a process, these type of rules take years to put in place.
They already had the chance once. This was actually a ball that get rolling under the Bush ministration originally. It was a challenge to the Bush administration Council on Environmental Quality. It moved into the Obama administration. And now it looks like it’s going to be basically more than a decade since or at least a decade since the original legal challenge by environmental groups until anything is done, and on such a basic issue that is considering climate change reviews or permitting processes for energy and infrastructure projects.
PERIES: Another such contradiction is really the image that they’re portraying internationally. Now, Obama actually went to China and made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas effects by making all sorts of pledgers [sic]. And then you had Secretary of State Kerry making a very well received speech at the COP 20 summit in Lima, Peru. And so they’re saying one thing to the international audience and doing another thing here in the United States. What do you think of that contradiction?
HORN: Well, I think the State Department is just such a telling example of that contradiction in its split mission and really in the way that it delegates tasks in the State Department. It has an energy–Bureau of Energy Resources, and it has sort of another bureau that deals with climate change and goes to the United Nations summits and negotiates.
And so the–and, first of all, the negotiations back in 2009, under the Obama administration at Copenhagen, it’s well known at this point and it was revealed through the WikiLeaks documents that the United States delegation basically threw the whole agreement under the bus there. So it’s not as if the climate change team is sort of this noble actor that is acting benevolently at these conferences. It does give nice speeches, but its actions show something else.
But I think that even further than that, the State Department has his Bureau of Energy Resources that promotes all kinds of energy production around the world, technology /træns foʊr/ for teaching best practices of different energy sources. And the one that I’ve covered the most is the State Department’s Global Shale Gas Initiative, now known as the Unconventional Gas Technical Engagement Program. And so this was started under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton under the Obama administration, now lives on under John Kerry’s State Department. Basically, this is the United States acting as a global missionary force for fracking, going to other countries, bringing United States corporations with it, and trying to spread fracking technology around the world. It was covered really well in a fall article on Mother Jones magazine. And it’s also–and what they did was plumbed the WikiLeaks documents that are now online. And therein it really shows that–you know, so on one hand, you have the United States State Department going to these climate conferences, disingenuously saying that it cares about climate change, while it does mean it’s throwing agreements under the bus. But at the same time, you have the State Department actively out going around the world and really just doing the bidding of the oil and gas industry, the–you know, you’re probably looking broader than that, the coal industry, basically all industries. The State Department is acting as a middleman and a guarantor for opening up markets for all of these industries. And so that’s why they can say as much as they want about how they care about climate change, but even at the same time, the State Department is acting as a middleman for the very industries that are causing runaway climate change. I think that that says all that we need to know about what they’re doing.
“In other words, near-term extinction of humans was already guaranteed, to the knowledge of Obama and his administration (i.e., the Central Intelligence Agency, which runs the United States and controls presidential power). Even before the dire feedbacks were reported by the scientific community, the administration abandoned climate change as a significant issue because it knew we were done as early as 2009. Rather than shoulder the unenviable task of truth-teller, Obama did as his imperial higher-ups demanded: He lied about collapse, and he lied about climate change. And he still does.”
Guy McPherson – Climate-Change Summary and Update
http://guymcpherson.com/2013/01/climate-change-summary-and-update/
Pingback from http://www.BLCKBRD.com:
Something else to “spectate upon”: Atmospheric CO2 at Mauna Loa reading > 400 ppm on January 1, 2015:
https://scripps.ucsd.edu/programs/keelingcurve/
The Scripps people took a break on Dec 23 and I was wondering when they’d return to work.
I was stunned, well not really. There was every possibility, but highly unlikely that we could drop and remain at 398 or 399 for a while.
So a year ago it seemed that we were at 397 so it seems we’re rapidly approaching a doubling effect here. If we stay at or above 400 it would mean we’re 3 months ahead of what occurred last year. That puts us into >400 for 6 months of the year when we were >400 for 3 months of 2014. It’s possible that we could be completely above 400 by the end of 2015.
Not that the 400ppm number really has any inherent meaning in this deal. It’s just that we could be heading for 450 ppm much earlier than we’re being told.
Again as I’m so often reminded the ppm for Carbon Dixode that Scripps reports does not include all the other green house gases that probably have pushed us well into the stratosphere.
It will be interesting to see if the Arctic gets close to ice free this year.
I shared with the people at my aqua zumba class tonight the fact that Germany was colder than the Norwegiann polar circle. Well, all the woman (I’m the only man in the class) were just a bunch of wusses and started to scream, cry and hyperventilate that I thought the instructor would have to call 911 and get paramedics to the scene.
No that’s not how it happened, although I wish it did, then I’d know that most of them were alive and not zombies from The Walking Dead. They all just looked at me with a blank and disinterested expression on their faces. I wondered if any of them even knew where either Germany or Norway is. They certainly didn’t get why the news was important. Hey, got to get going on those New Years resolutions and get in shape for the season out in the Hamptons.
That’s okay, I was talking in the locker room about how Columbus committed genocide on about 40 million indigenous people. One guy changing behind me turned around and let me know that was just not possible. It was all a bunch of bullshit. I wondered myself if I had inflated the figure just to be dramatic, but was pretty certain I was close. I suggested he pick up a copy of 1492, but let him know that the vast majority of Americans don’t even read a book a year and I had no illusions.
At some point I get the feeling that the management at the club is going to ask me to keep my mouth shut or some well educated privileged member is going to attack me for speaking about America in such critical ways. Hey remember, “America, Love it or leave it.”
13 species we might have to say goodbye to in 2015
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/science/wildlife-news/141231/13-species-we-might-have-say-goodbye-2015
Robert Crumb on technology, the possibility of revolution in the ’60’s & ’70’s, and American culture:
[excerpts]
SR: I remember that some years ago you were still resisting computers and cell phones, but are they slowly crawling into your world?
Crumb: Yes, it’s like the telephone, you know – in the 1910’s you could choose not to have a telephone, because the older methods of communication were still in use, like to send messengers – if you were in business in a big city like New York, you would give the message on paper to a messenger boy, who would run and deliver it. But then the telephones became so common that the world became dependent on them and it would be very hard not to have one… That’s the same now with computers. Computers have become so pervasive, and if you don’t have an email it’s difficult to do a lot of transactions – the world becomes dependent on that stuff! So I use emails and I order books through the internet, you can find now almost any book that you need on a computer. Incredible! So, if I’m interested in some book I say to the secretary – please find this for me, she usually finds it and it’s cheap. It all made old books less expensive because they’re so easy to find now. In the old days, you would hunt around for years to find the book you were looking for. Now you can find even the most obscure old book, and it’s not expensive, amazing! Information is so much available, you can become your own private investigator, you can become a detective, if you are interested in some aspect of society that you have suspicion that there’s underlying conspiracy – I am completely obsessed with all kind of conspiracies, and you can look this all up, you can do your investigation, and find up amazing stuff, gather evidences…I have files and archives against corporations, and medical science and politics…
SR: Do you think that big business eventually took over this culture, this way or another?
Crumb: To a great degree, yes… In recent America everything is about making money, and the hippies resisted that, but there were a lot of people who cashed in on hippy culture, took advantage on that, and music and the whole hippy culture became commercialized…All these businessmen figured how to repackage it and sell it and that was one of the things that ruined it. On the other hand, there was too much drug taking around. People on drugs just could not see things clearly…Then people became paranoid of each other, it was awful! And also the politics, people that I knew in 1970/1971 were talking about the revolution as if it was around the corner! As if it’s going to happen any day! These people didn’t have the idea of this solid power we were up against. And of course it is good that it didn’t happen, because people that were the most well known, the main spokesmen of pushing this leftist “revolution” in America, if they had gained power they would have been very dangerous, Abbie Hoffman and these people – I’m sure that they would have start putting their enemies in prison camps…It was just too immature. My generation would not pull off any kind of social change, but at the same time they had huge influence on America.
SR: Now that you live in a small town in France, do you miss the chaos and the vibration of the big American towns?
Crumb: No! Most of my life I lived in a small town in the country, outside of big cities. I left San Francisco in late 1969,and I’ve never lived in the big city since. Big cities make me feel I’m being run over, I don’t think that I even miss the American culture, I carried my culture with me. The things that I like about American culture I have all here in my room… Old music, old comics, the books, I have it all here… When I go to America, it just breaks my heart to see how they’ve ruined the country. In the last two decades that I lived there, in the 70s and 80s, I watched this process of destroying everything I liked about it. Everything I loved about America was being destroyed in front of my eyes! Especially in California, where real estate development was the name of the game…
http://rishaproject.org/int17.html
Thanks for the link to that interview. Many, if not all comics seem to be done on computer these days. It’s definite that original artwork doesn’t even leave the artist’s possession any longer. It’s merely sent over in a digital format to the publisher.
All very, very, very sad. If only we could have a nation wide blackout for a while. Oh, of course we do have a blackout of a sorts each and every day when it comes to MSM. Well, at least NYC is at the top of the list of places to expect blackouts, the electrical kind, to arrive.
Major U.S. Cities Face More Blackouts under Climate Change
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/major-u-s-cities-face-more-blackouts-under-climate-change/
Chilling account of how climate change is already adding to problems of conflict & social breakdown in fragile states
http://www.climatenewsnetwork.net/climate-change-increasing-stresses-fragile-states/
Stephen said:
Is this as weird and scary as I think? Opinions are welcome.
http://arctic-news.blogspot.com/
Scary? Yes. Weird? Nah just physics. Feels weird though. Here is some more stuff to ponder.
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/331/6016/450.abstract?sid=f1f07fa6-dae7-4a15-a38f-58f77793b7a1
Supporting Online Material for
Enhanced Modern Heat Transfer to
the Arctic by Warm Atlantic Water
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/suppl/2011/01/26/331.6016.450.DC1/Spielhagen.SOM.pdf
http://neven1.typepad.com/blog/fram-strait/
The only thing worse than extreme weather, is no weather at all. We will be long gone before then, but we get to suffer the first steps of that journey. Pay close attention from min 3 to 4.
Sulfurous Hades, no wind power and a big stink. I was also thinking that once the various forests die from extreme temperatures we’ll have incredible wildfires followed perhaps by unprecedented storms and rainfall that erode the barren soils. Maybe Monsanto can engineer a pioneer “heat weed” that can quickly stabilize vulnerable areas, if survival of the financial fittest doesn’t eliminate them first. And tomorrow we’ll all wake up and roll the dice one more time in the game called Extinction and the token will move one space closer to “game over – you lose.”
Oh you are correct about that; but we won’t have to wait for extreme temperatures to do it. Trees of all species are already dying just from absorbing air pollution. Ozone is invisible but highly toxic to plants, including annual crops. Wildfires are unprecedented as is the number of trees and branches falling on houses, powerlines, cars and unsuspecting people. It’s pretty obvious if you look at them that they all exhibit symptoms of fatal decline such as cankers, holes, splitting bark and withered foliage and needles. http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2013/01/29/whispers-from-the-ghosting-trees/
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Why do I know we will fail? Watch these videos and you will have your answer.
Guesstimates on the top 6 traded commodities in the world.
1) oil
2) food
3) sex
4) drugs
5) guns
6) junks
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/counter-intelligence/
The Protestant work ethic never falters when working to deny reality. These are the descendants of the “Pilgrims”. The only people ever to go on a pilgrimage and stay.
Wow! McPherson has gone ULTRA-DOOMER for the new year with his new “edge of extinction” podcast:
I won’t comment on the many wildly pessimistic assumptions he has to make to get there…
Yes, speed kills…
Brutus critiques Nafeez Ahmed’s latest article:
End of the End?
“At a fundamental level, the biophysical conditions for life on earth are changing from the relative steady state of the last 200,000 years or so that humans have existed, or more broadly, the 65 million years since the last major extinction event. The current rate of change is far too rapid for evolution and culture to adapt. New ways of managing information, economics, and human social structures simply cannot keep up.
All that said, well, sure, let’s get going and do what can be done. I just don’t want to pretend that we’re anywhere close to a new dawn.”
LOL Dave Cohen makes mincemeat: http://www.declineoftheempire.com/2015/01/2015-will-be-another-big-year-in-flatland.html
Nafeez’s is another Doomer who has backed tracked recently. His brain has changed his mind me thinks.
In the first minute of Nafeez’s informative cut&paste movie, “The Crisis of Civilization” he claims the biggest problem is that the experts and everyone else are looking at everything in isolation; not holistically. You know, like tunnel vision thinking economists who think that rearranged economies, due to unprecedented social attitudes, will fix our host of predicaments. I thought Nafeez was past listening to privileged over educated white guys. I think this is just another crisis cult forming. We should see many more as the great unraveling continues and the panicked and desperate masses cling to any and all hope.
Last line in the essay:
“So welcome to 2015: a year when our choices could determine the future of the planet.”
We already made our choices and there is no escaping the worst of the consequences of the laws of physics, chemistry and biology.
You might enjoy the exchange here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/306488669449557/permalink/698819203549833/
awesome tree pics
H/T Jay Hanson:
FREE, NAKED, AND ALONE
“78-year-old Masafumi Nagasaki is the sole resident of a tropical island located at the southern tip of Okinawa, Japan. He would rather obey the demands of nature than of another person, which is what led him to escape civilization and live on Sotobanari Island. We decided to go and find out exactly what kind of lifestyle he’s leading, and why he chooses not to wear clothes.”
Charlie Brooker, writer and creator of Channel 4’s Black Mirror, explains the inspiration behind the series, what the title means and how close the stories get to real life.
My Bad. I meant for that to be at the bottom of the thread.
BTW most, maybe all, episodes of Black Mirror can be found on youtube.
Australians battle worst bushfire for 30 years
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/australians-battle-worst-bushfire-for-30-years-9955734.html
Perhaps this sums up the end times for humans:
50 Doomiest Charts of 2014
“If these trends continue – and there’s no reason to expect that they won’t – the next 40 years will see almost all vertebrate species extirpated.”
Commented on at Reddit:
great links you guys, you are like salt and prepper. When you write for a living meant to be read by a large audience, you always end your story with, “and they lived happily ever after.”
Aviation Industry Set to Triple Its Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050
The aviation industry is growing so quickly that its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are expected on present trends to triple globally by 2050. The industry itself is committed to reducing its emissions, but technological and political constraints are hindering rapid progress.
If commercial aviation were a country, it would rank seventh in global greenhouse gas emissions according to a recent report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)…
H/T David Lysak at America2.0
A dark, but accurate cartoon depiction of human life in an age of eco-apocalypse:
http://roachinstallations.wordpress.com/2012/11/03/a-to-z/
A wind-power company wants to withhold information on how many bird deaths they cause each year because keeping the info secret keeps communication public channels open. Then the so-called greenies go ape shit in comments about how many other things kill birds besides windturbines as if that exonerates them. It’s fucking unreal.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/17/windfarm-company-pacificorp-sues-us-government-bird-deaths
Arctic influence on jet stream keeps rains from Central Coast
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2015/01/03/3425153/arctic-influence-on-jet-stream.html
Don’t miss Part II – http://survivalacres.com/blog/the-human-condition/
Looks like a picto-essay tour de force!
Will have to really delve into it when I have more time.
Good find! I especially like this:
Wetiko: The mental disorder we NEED to hear more about
http://blackology101.com/2013/08/17/wetiko-the-mental-disorder-we-need-to-hear-more-about/
The ‘norm’ for humanity is love. Brutality is an aberration. We are not sinners by nature. We learn to be bad. We are taught to stray from our good paths. We are made to be crazy by other people who are also crazy and who draw for us a map of the world which is ugly, negative, fearful, and crazy.
-Jack D. Forbes, Columbus and Other Cannibals
LOL and I just finished writing to the SA Admin – You must have put a huge amount of work into collecting and sorting the images. It’s a powerful commentary and what can we do but witness and catelogue?
Although – I’m sure you won’t be surprised to know that I disagree with the characterization of earlier tribal societies. They were pretty brutal too, from what I read. The Wetiko thing for instance did not originate as a critique of European colonizers, it was a mythical spirit the Iroquois nation used to discourage cannibalism which, along with extensive warfare, slavery, and truly barbaric torture techniques characterized those tribes pre-contact. They invented scalping long before they met Europeans. Heh.
Agreed, no such thing as the “noble savage”. That does not change the fact that the concept gets at the very heart of our predicament.
Are humans barbaric warlike cannibals by nature, are we fated to destroy all life including ourselves no matter what, or can Wetiko Psychosis be treated as just that, a psychopathy that deserves to be stamped out of the human experience, if at all possible.
Well, it wasn’t all that long ago that I very much believed humanity was making progress in terms of behaving more decently towards each other and the rest of the planet…but the trends as reported by Des for example caused me to re-examine that and upon closer inspection it would seem we simply became more clever at masking the destruction to the environment and violence towards our fellow humans, largely thanks to the potency of fossil fuels. When that is stripped away we will revert to more overt forms of exploitation. If history and pre-history are any guide, humans are indeed a plague species and we can no more remove that aspect of our makeup than we can remove the urge for sex. Just try suggesting that at some point, any point, people should have less sex to control population and see how seriously that is taken, ha! We are governed by our instincts whether we like to admit it or not.
Brilliant stuff:
COLUMBUS AND OTHER CANNIBALS: HISTORY AND PROPHECY FOR THE 2000’S
https://web.archive.org/web/20110719221929/http://nas.ucdavis.edu/Forbes/CANNIBALS.html
[COLUMBUS AND OTHER CANNIBALS] is focused upon my use of the Native American concept of the “Wetiko” psychosis, the disease of cannibalism. I believe that the exploitative consumption of the earth, the living creatures of the earth, and, above all, other human beings and their homelands, constitute actual, real, unmitigated cannibalism. Tragically, the cannibalism of which I write has become more and more an acceptable part of modern economic and personal exploitation, with those who do the consuming giving little or no thought to the diminishing or even elimination of the lives of those at the receiving end of their quest for profit and super-sustenance.
The Greatest Epidemic Sickness Known to Humanity
http://realitysandwich.com/75652/greatest_epidemic/
We are currently in the midst of “the greatest epidemic sickness known to man”… Many of us don’t even realize this, as our collective insanity is so pervasive that it has become normalized. Our collective madness has become transparent to us, as we see and interpret the world through it, rendering our madness invisible, thereby unwittingly colluding with the collective psychosis that is wreaking incredible death and destruction on our planet. […] Our collective psychosis is invisible to us, as it expresses itself both in the very way we are looking, as well as all of the unspoken ways we have been conditioned not to perceive. Due to its cloak of invisibility, we don’t see our madness, a psychic blindness which makes us complicit in the creation of our madness.
Vampire Squid Economics: A Case Study in Full-Blown Wetiko Disease
http://realitysandwich.com/80488/vampire_squid_economics_wetiko_disease/
This concept of “Wetiko” psychosis is resonating with me because, purely by coincidence, I tossed off this train of thought a few minutes before at PeakOil.com in response to this article (cross posted from Automatic Earth):
Oil, Power, And Psychopaths
http://peakoil.com/publicpolicy/oil-power-and-psychopaths
Didn’t I read somewhere that it is really only psychopaths who want power over other people in the first place?
I also seem to recall that was the whole point of the American experiment in so-called “Democracy”. Nothing to do really with giving people the vote, remember, at first it was only white male landowners who were deemed worthy of that privilege.
No, it was all about balance of power, the three branches of government, and a president who only served a short term at the pleasure of the (white male landowning) people. No chance in that arrangement, supposedly, for the psychopaths to take over.
Guess that didn’t work out too well.
If only we, as in society, could figure out how to drown the psychopaths in the bathtub before they even have a chance, then maybe, just maybe, we could get a moments peace.
Oh for cryin’ out loud. It was tribal hunter-gatherers who drove dozens of species of megafauna extinct between 6 and 15,000 years ago, every continent and island where humans migrated. And human slavery was a global habit not even questioned until bad bad civilization turned against it. The industrial era will drive us to extinction along with most else, one way and another, but the human urge to grow is integral to our nature and THAT is the underlying fatal trait – not modern capitalism. Consumerism as an expression of status is a fetish that dates back to the days of shell beads and feathers.
Oh dear, I seem to have invoked the wrath of the white liberal super-mom from New Jersey. I guess I’ll shut up now.
LOL. I must be an oddball because I could care less about material symbols of status and I don’t believe this sort of behavior is inherent.
Haha! COID is a status symbol. You “own” a blog. THAT is a status symbol masquerading as a not-status symbol. That’s why I got fed up with California. It was a constant refrain of – I’m more laid-back than you, so I’m superior. I’m more radical than you, I’m more Buddhist than you, I own less than you etc etc…so I’m superior.
Well – the fish never recognizes the water it swims in, right?
Oh really? You really think I need this blog?
Of course not! Why should you have an ego? Shut it down.
You strike me as a bitter person who can’t entertain the possibility that they may be wrong about a few things.
I’m used to such defensive insults – I’m actually a mirthful person who can see – and appreciate – the absurdity of life. Not bitter, at all. Amused, rather.
You would be wise to just state your case without emoting.
How dare you call me liberal?
There are many examples of hunter-gatherer societies which were sustainable,and which existed and thrived for 50,000,years or more.An excellent book on this is ‘The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Hunters and Gatherers.’
Industrial civilisation and Agricultural civilisation have many unavoidable systemic flaws which did not exist under a Hunter Gatherer system.Jared Diamond is correct when he states that Agriculture is the biggest mistake our species ever made.
Of course,the unstoppable juggernaut of industrial civilisation has obliterated or rendered unviable by habitat destruction,etc,most of the societies in the book above.
The book above has an excellent chapter by John Gowdy:’Hunter -Gatherers and the mythology of the market,’ Well worth reading.
I possess the truth!!! No, I do!!! Do not! Yes I do! You’re mother is a…
Glad I have nothing to defend! Carry on…
I guess we hope that a groundswell of support will go rippling through human society, behaviors will change, people will no longer feel the need to reproduce profligately or greedily acquire wealth. Why would we think that? Has any society ever adopted self-control as a strategy in the past when decimation was an annual event? It may have taken greedy, cooperative, profligate behaviors just to stay even with nature. Everyone thinks we can cooperate to limit ourselves, but I don’t think so. We can cooperate to further our collective goals of successful reproduction and acquisition of wealth as in a capitalistic society, and that will be the extent of our cooperation. If you come to me and say you want to form a cooperative that limits my reproductive freedom and “pursuit of happiness”, then I will no longer be very cooperative. As in the old Soviet Union, I will officially pretend to work while you officially pretend to pay me, and I’ll spend most of my time on the black market trying to enrich myself and the six kids I have at home. If you tried to enforce limits you would get warfare and mental depression that results from being unable to pursue goals that supply adequate dopamine.
As the collapse ensues the dopamine of consumerism will once again be overcome by the dopamine of spirituality (no great intellectual awakening of the masses) and the clergy will likely pursue the heretics and sacrifice them to appease the Gods that have unleashed economic and environmental horrors upon the faithful peoples of the earth. For a while new limits will more than decimate the population until only the most greedy, cooperative and profligate tribes remain to be in balance again with the natural and unnatural forces arrayed against them. ISIS seems to embody that “give it a go” spirit that just may find success against the “this is the way it theoretically could be” tribes of Europe and the United States.
If you were wondering why some people insist on trying to change the course of the Titanic, here it is:
Your dark vision is not something I will dispute. On the contrary, I believe you are really at the kernel of things.
But rather than chronicle our stupidity, hubris, and where our collective greed, self-interest, and ability to delude ourselves has gotten us, I prefer to try and focus on doing anything that may improve the chances that some of life on Earth may survive… perhaps even some human life. Neither of those is assured…”
It’s a nice sentiment on the part of the writer and commendable; sadly it’s delusional and I wonder when people following that logic will break down.
Another of my personal stories to add some texture here, a short one I promise this time. I was in my 20’s when my parents were diagnosed with cancer. I got the “pleasure” performing tasks that most people even today won’t ever do as they’ll shove those old folks into “homes” out of sight and mind as they deteriorate and shrivel up.
So without being too description image talking care of your parents in the way they took care of you in those first few years of life. It’s just a part of the life/death cycle, unfortunately it’s tasks that would turn the stomachs of most people merely thinking about it let alone trying to picture themselves doing them.
So I wonder how long can people do those “anythings” and hold onto their sanity as they begin to realize banging their heads against the wall only results in pain and suffering.
I did those “anythings’ the writer mentions for far too long and daily I’m aware of how screwed we are and how worthless any and all of those efforts were. Just on a day to day basis interacting, speaking and getting to observe people (the blessings of public transportation) I’d say that the overwhelming majority of people in our “civilized” world are not interested or desire to even consider making any changes to our lives.
The author of the graphic novel “Climated Changed” says exactly that in his book. He’d have to live like a person in the third world in order to produce a small level of carbon and you know what he doesn’t want to do that as he likes what IC has to offer. I’d still recommend the book to anyone though as it was worth the read.
Hey, know that NYC has put wireless in the subway it’s an unbelievable sight to watch all the people sitting and standing completely connected to their phones which now ring. Yesterday it was like a Busby Berkley musical in it’s own perverse way.
So, with my astral body separated from my physical form I observe that IC is ground zero and ripples outwards in great waves much like those old films used to show the destructive force of those bombs we used to test in the South West. To keep the center going we’ll keep reaching out further and further and destroy everything in site.
Check this out, especially at 4:50.
And yes I too agree that consumerism is the replacement for religion. Anyone watching those shopping videos on youtube post Thanksgiving should have not even have to question that statement.
I agree James once consumerism is gone only religion can come close to replacing the lost Super Hyper stimuli.
Andy Thomson has been working on a theory of religion for a number of years. One of his more interesting points is how corporations through consumerism hijack the same neural processes as religions. Specifically, he compares the psychology of the Big Mac meal to the psychology of religion, but it applies to all consumerist products and experiences. (Min 9 for Big Mac comparison) Notice the youtube users handle. He will be among the first sacrifices – me too Lol
An appropriate line from a Grateful Dead song (The Wheel):
“You can’t go back and you can’t stand still
If the thunder don’t get you then the lightnin’ will.”
Even if we tried to “make right” any part of our existing civilization (with what we have left), at this point, unwinding it to any lower state would cause calamity, and incremental steps would be overcome by rapid increases in entropy. It’s full speed or bust – and full speed just gets us to bust faster!
Dead right.A tangled web of unsustainable institutions and activities.
The dude is still alive:
“Capitalism is destructive because it has to eliminate the kind of customs, mores, political values, even institutions that present any kind of credible threat to the autonomy of the economy…–that’s where the battle lies. Capitalism wants an autonomous economy. They want a political order subservient to the needs of the economy.”
WOLIN: … I think if you go back way to the Athenian democracy, one of the things you notice about it is that it paid citizens to participate. In other words, they would be relieved from a certain amount of economic insecurity in order to engage actively in politics. Well, when we get to our times and modern times, that kind of guarantee doesn’t exist in any form whatsoever. We barely can manage to have an election day that isn’t where we suspend work and other obligations to give citizens an opportunity to vote. They have to cram a vote into a busy, normal day, so that the relationship between economic structures and institutions and political institutions of democracy are just really in tension now, in which the requirements of the one are being undercut by the operations of the other. And I don’t see any easy solution to it, because the forces that control the economy control to a large extent public opinion, modes of publication, and so on, and make it very difficult to mount counter-views.
HEDGES: Well, in fact, to engage in real participatory democracy or political activity is to put yourself in a more precarious position vis-à-vis your work, your status within the society.
WOLIN: There’s no question about it. And that’s true of, I think, virtually every activity. It’s now certainly frowned upon in academic work, and certainly in public education it’s frowned on. And there’s no effort made to really make it a bit easier for people to participate. And the intensity that economic survival requires today leaves most people exhausted. There’s–and understandably. They don’t have much, if any, time for politics. So we’re in a really difficult situation, where the requirements of democracy are such that they’re being undermined by the realities of a kind of economy and society that we’ve developed.
HEDGES: Which you point out Hobbes foresaw.
WOLIN: He did. He did indeed. And his solution was you surrender your political rights.
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=12557
He fails to mention that Athenian democracy was the privileged domain of an exclusive artistocratic male minority whose leisure to ruminate was afforded on the surplus of a slave working class. If you aren’t directly procuring the necessities of life, some embodied energy, whether in the form of the living or the dead, is doing the work for you. This would be sobering but for its opacity.
I enjoyed Wolin’s work. He concludes in ‘Vision’ that democracy cannot exist on these large scales. I would go one step further: it has never existed but in an abstract form, much like the idea of the free market itself The irony of this social construction of freedom is it manifests itself most readily when there is a decided lack thereof, when there is a large enough surplus borne on the backs of a majority slaving away on their “superiors'” behalf to free a select group from the existential hardships of life, so that these fortunate parasitical few can engage in an existential crisis. The crisis would evaporate if they were to be physically active in securing sustenance. False dichotomies like Cartesian dualism would melt away. Holism is rooted in hardship and connection.
It is little wonder that the later Athenian elite wouldn’t relinquish their adherence to a rational and ‘mind-based’ epistemology even when mathematical proof demonstrated reality to be a continuum and thus irrational. They abhorred change. They can be forgiven. There are few among us who would willingly surrender the ease, comfort and advantages of an exploitative relationship once we’ve gained a taste and grown accustomed to its narcotic ambrosia. This is why the privileged western industrialized society will stay its course to the bitter end.
No free lunch for a life of leisure.
WOLIN: Well, I think it’s important to grasp that superpower includes as one of its two main elements the modern economy. And the modern economy, with its foundations in not only economic activity but scientific research, is always a dynamic economy and always constantly seeking to expand, to get new markets, to be able to produce new goods, and so on. So the superpower’s dynamism becomes a kind of counterpart to the character of the modern economy, which has become so dominant that it defines the political forms.
I mean, the first person to really recognize this–which we always are embarrassed to say–was Karl Marx, who did understand that economic forms shape political forms, that economic forms are the way people make a living, they’re the way goods and services are produced, and they determine the nature of society, so that any kind of government which is responsive to society is going to reflect that kind of structure and in itself be undemocratic, be elitist in a fundamental sense, and have consumers as citizens.
HEDGES: And Marx would also argue that it also defines ideology.
WOLIN: It does. It does define ideology. Marx was really the first to see that ideology had become a kind of–although there are antecedents, had become a kind of preconceived package of ideas and centered around the notion of control, that it represented something new in the world because you now had the resources to disseminate it, to impose it, and to generally make certain that a society became, so to speak, educated in precisely the kind of ideas you wanted them to be educated in. And that became all the more important when societies entered the stage of relatively advanced capitalism, where the emphasis was upon work, getting a job, keeping your job, holding it in insecure times. And when you’ve got that kind of situation, everybody wants to put their political beliefs on hold. They don’t want to have to agonize over them while they’re agonizing over the search for work or worrying about the insecurity of their position. They’re understandably preoccupied with survival. And at that point, democracy becomes at best a luxury and at worst simply an afterthought, so that its future becomes very seriously compromised, I think.
HEDGES: And when the ruling ideology is determined by capitalism–corporate capitalism; you’re right–we have an upending of traditional democratic values, because capitalist values are about expansion, exploitation, profit, the cult of the self, and you stop even asking questions that can bring you into democratic or participatory democracy.
WOLIN: I think that’s true to an extent. But I would amend that to say that once the kind of supremacy of the capitalist regime becomes assured, and where it’s evident to everyone that it’s not got a real alternative in confronting it, that I think its genius is it sees that a certain relaxation is not only possible, but even desirable, because it gives the impression that the regime is being supported by public debate and supported by people who were arguing with other people, who were allowed to speak their minds, and so on. And I think it’s when you reach that stage–as I think we have–that the problematic relationship between capitalism and democracy become more and more acute.
HEDGES: And yet we don’t have anyone within the mainstream who questions either superpower or capitalism.
WOLIN: No, they don’t. And I don’t think it’s–it may be a question of weakness, but I think–the problem is really, I think, more sort of quixotic. That is, capitalism–unlike earlier forms of economic organization, capitalism thrives on change. It presents itself as the dynamic form of society, with new inventions, new discoveries, new forms of wealth, so that it doesn’t appear like the old regime–as sort of an encrusted old fogey type of society. And I think that makes a great deal of difference, because in a certain sense you almost get roles reversed. That is, in the old regime, the dominant powers, aristocracy and so on, want to keep the lid on, and the insurgent democracy, the liberalizing powers, wanted to take the lid off.
But now I think you get it–as I say, I think you get it kind of reversed, that democracy, it now wants–in its form of being sort of the public philosophy, now wants to keep the lid on and becomes, I think, increasingly less–more adverse to examining in a–through self-examination, and becomes increasingly, I would say, even intolerant of views which question its own assumptions, and above all question its consequences, because I think that’s where the real issues lie is not so much with the assumptions of democracy but with the consequences and trying to figure out how we’ve managed to get a political system that preaches equality and an economic system which thrives on inequality and produces inequality as a matter of course.
An excerpt from Gowdy’s essay that I mentioned above:
‘The hunter-gatherer literature shows that ‘economic rationality’ is peculiar to market capitalism and is an embedded set of cultural beliefs, not an objective universal law of nature. There are many other, equally rational, ways of behaving which do not conform to the laws of market exchange. The myth of economic man explains the organising principle of contemporary capitalism,nothing more or less. It is no more rational than the myths which drive Hadza, Aborigine, or !Kung society. In industrial societies, however, the myth of economic man justifies the appropriation by a few of the human material culture which has evolved over millennia, and also the appropriation and destruction of the world’s physical and biological resources.
Thanks for mentioning this author. It appears homo economicus has been trained like an obedient servant to not ask questions or think outside of the (TV) box, and we can even see that mentality here in people who should know better. I guess they didn’t bother to read this link that was in the essay and are unfamilar with the term white privilege:
“…The term denotes both obvious and less obvious passive advantages that white persons may not recognize they have, which distinguishes it from overt bias or prejudice.[2] These include cultural affirmations of one’s own worth; presumed greater social status; and freedom to move, buy, work, play, and speak freely.[1] The effects can be seen in professional, educational, and personal contexts.[3] The concept of white privilege also implies the right to assume the universality of one’s own experiences, marking others as different or exceptional while perceiving oneself as normal.[4][5]…”
That’s a fairly accurate description of most of the white people I know and many Asians (Indians, Chinese) around here. They still maintain a vestige of their culture; holidays, food and temples, but in every other aspect they are westernized capitalists. Trapped in the never ending misery of the produce-consume cycle and think it’s the height of civilization.
Good links, vids from you on the consumer culture. Thanks much.
Yes, white privilege would extend to all who have been subsumed into the capitalist consumer culture.
It’s been well documented that indigenous people, such as in Africa and Latin America, have been ravaged by alcohol and drugs when they are uprooted from their native culture and forced into the global capitalist scheme. Native peoples of North America as well.
Not only ravaged, but actually addicted and deluded into participating in it.
Having grown up in a Housing Project in the East New York Section of Brooklyn I’ve always been part of integrated neighborhoods. It was always stunning as I grew up to meet white people (from all over the country and who come to NYC for fame, fortune, success and sex (mucho sex) and had never, and I mean never had any interaction with people who weren’t white.
As such I have very little fear of Blacks, Hispanics, etc and am always stunned at how they seem to have embraced the trappings of IC and believe they have the same opportunities as whites.
The Blacks I ride the occasional express with are as enmeshed in the system as whites and for the most part enjoy being plugged in their iPods, iPhones, etc. It’s amazing to look as I get on and off the bus how most of them are actually watching television or playing video games. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen an actual book being read.
And regarding the ever present presence of White Privilege.
A few weeks ago at Betty’s Bakery on Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn I went to pick up a few of the home made Ring-Dings and Twinkies they make (the taste is so much more and better than what I remember those copyrighted items from Drake tasting like when i was a kid, more like food than like oil). Well a white guy was raging at one of the workers. All the workers are either Black or Hispanic (just like at the New York Health and Racquet Club all lower level jobs are held by non-white).
The white guy, exuding that pheromone of white privilege all over the store. He was venom at the young woman who explained she needed a few more minutes to putting the writing on the birthday cake he ordered. Well, he would have none of it, he paid $90 for the cake and wanted it now. I mean you had to be there, and I hope some of the people reading this blog have actually witnessed scenes like this instead of living via a computer, to be stunned at how his tone was full of condescension and arrogance that seemed like reading any of those fiction books depicting slavery.
As usual I wanted to say and do something, yet had I done anything it was likely I could have cost the servers their jobs and created more chaos as sometimes happens when interfering in such explosive situations. So, while standing behind the guy and getting the eye of the woman he was screaming at and the women behind the counter I just kept shaking my head and rolling my eyes up in disbelief.
He walked out in a huff. And while I was being served none of the woman (and they wonder why the woman accusing the Cos of rape hadn’t wanted to come forth (money and power know no color boundaries)). I waited and waited and finally I just said, I can’t believe the way whites use their privilege to treat others in such a disgraceful manner. The energy of the store just shifted, as all the woman said they never heard any white person ever say anything like that. They all saw me as a friend and not an enemy.
One of the young woman was majoring communication and was transferring from Manhattan Commmunity College to North Carolina. She said the only person who ever talked about such topics was her communication professor. During the interchange I asked if she had ever heard of Morris Berman. She had via that professor, who strongly urged the student to read him, but the young woman hadn’t gotten around to it.
As much as little interchanges like this would give others hope for the future (and me at one point in the past) it does nothing of the kind for me. I highly doubt this young woman will get to around to Berman or so many others unless it’s required reading for college. She believed that she was going to change the world via her major in communications.
Sadly, I held back the tug of the horses always in my head bringing up the vast array of things this young woman was never going to have the future she envisioned due to so many factors most especially Climate Change and Peak Oil.
By the way Betty is for the upscale, wealthy whites who have gentrified the neighborhood their parents fled, actually running screaming to Staten Island and Long Island, back in the late fifties and sixties when non-whites started to move into the neighborhood.
Did anyone notice that a few weeks ago when California finally received some rain the “professionals” at the weather channel were positively orgasmic when relating the events of those massive rain storms. They led the viewers to believe that those few days of rain were going to make some difference to the current drought. Bollocks as the article that reported trillions of gallons of water would be needed to make a dent.
An opportunity to educate on the real facts regarding the drought, but it gets twisted into another report of how everything can be manipulated to being something good.
Hey, the war between the police and our Mayor continues. I’m still wondering why the police feel so strongly about one of their own getting killed and it’s murder, but when the victim is a black it’s referred to as preventing a crime in process.
And then there is Michael Grimm out in Staten Island who at first declined to resign after being convicted of Tax Evasion and changed his mind.
NYC coming apart at the seams, but Mayor DeBlasio’s food maven Nancy Romer, a fully pensioned Brooklyn College Professor still deludes people into believing the five boroughs can feed itself will not ever read this blog or Guy’s Climate Change piece.
Remember everyone go out and get your flu shot as it’s spreading. What the heck is happening at Fukishima and with Ebola?
Reblogged this on The Rise and Fall of the Human Empire and commented:
Lucid, accurate, concise yet thorough.
xraymike79 is not only one of the few who really understands what’s happening. He also has great skill at sharing that understanding with others.
Why am I doing this…
I was not familiar with Thomas J. Goreau’s work. His credentials appear to be stellar.
Pyrolysis addresses carbon emissions, but it is crop and pasture lands that cause 80% of extinctions. There are ways to address biodiversity on pasture lands, but to affect carbon emissions and biodiversity together means we have to co-ordinate a plethora of massive actions. Such a massive co-ordination of multiple efforts flies in the face of geo-political reality. Excellent video.
“Where is the Asteroid coming from?”…White Privilege:
Just noticed the old date on this article…
Currently: “14% of all UK electricity being produced by wind”
http://www.edie.net/news/6/Record-renewable-production-in-Scotland-sets-example-for-UK-Government/
Engineer Stephen Latham twittered me his rebuttal:
http://www.entrans.co.uk/david%20mackay%27s%20book,%20sustainability%20without%20the%20hot%20air.html
good one, though it won’t overcome other inherent limitations.
http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v2/n6/full/nclimate1451.html?WT.ec_id=NCLIMATE-201206
• Wind power. According to the American Wind Energy Association, the 5,700 turbines installed in the United States in 2009 required approximately 36,000 miles of steel rebar and 1.7 million cubic yards of concrete (enough to pave a four-foot-wide, 7,630-mile-long sidewalk). The gearbox of a two-megawatt wind turbine contains about 800 pounds of neodymium and 130 pounds of dysprosium — rare earth metals that are rare because they’re found in scattered deposits, rather than in concentrated ores, and are difficult to extract.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/renewable-energys-hidden-costs/
Wind power requires 10X as much nickel as fossil power. Peak nickel may hit by 2025.
http://www.roperld.com/science/minerals/nickel.htm
Smithsonian Institute calculate wind turbine bird deaths.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-many-birds-do-wind-turbines-really-kill-180948154/?no-ist
New study on bat deaths due to turbines
http://www.climatenewsnetwork.net/wind-turbines-may-lure-bats-into-fatal-errors/
Great interview at NakedCapitalism…
The Real Cause Of Low Oil Prices: Interview With Arthur Berman
“…Of course, natural gas and renewable energy go hand-in-hand. Since renewable energy—primarily solar and wind—are intermittent, natural gas backup or base-load is necessary. I think that extreme views on either side of the renewable energy issue will have to moderate. On the one hand, renewable advocates are unrealistic about how quickly and easily the world can get off of fossil fuels. On the other hand, fossil fuel advocates ignore the fact that government is already on board with renewables and that, despite the economic issues that they raise, renewables are going to move forward albeit at considerable cost.
Time is rarely considered adequately. Renewable energy accounts for a little more than 2% of U.S. total energy consumption. No matter how much people want to replace fossil fuel with renewable energy, we cannot go from 2% to 20% or 30% in less than a decade no matter how aggressively we support or even mandate its use. In order to get to 50% or more of primary energy supply from renewable sources it will take decades.
I appreciate the urgency felt by those concerned with climate change. I think, however, that those who advocate a more-or-less immediate abandonment of fossil fuels fail to understand how a rapid transition might affect the quality of life and the global economy. Much of the climate change debate has centered on who is to blame for the problem. Little attention has been given to what comes next namely, how will we make that change without extreme economic and social dislocation?…”
Excellent video: Confronting Anthropocentrism
fuck the ism’s an old 80’s punk meme
thx xraymike for your work http://peakaustria.tumblr.com/image/107133670978
The Age of the Anthropocene where today’s CO2 levels are same as that of the mid-Miocene period(15 million years ago) when sea level were 25–40 meters higher and global mean temperatures were 3–6°C hotter.
Balls of Steel or just plain stupid?
The thermodynamic and chemical forces on this planet created us. Yes, we’re greedy and competitive. What else would you expect? Lion to lay down with lamb? Talking about white privilege and indigenous peoples sustainability does what? The Yanomamo man said they were far more respectful of the environment than the white man and with a little “arrowing” now and then, with a childbirth infection thrown in, could live sustainably. Sure, we’ve taken “arrowing” to a whole new level, a level so horrendous that we dare not arrow each other any longer, thereby ensuring our own demise from overpopulation and overconsumption. It’s too late to become indigenous again and spend the next thousand years making biochar. The entire human cancer needs to be snuffed out without delay, but the ancillary damage to the environment, just like the damage occurring to a body from chemo and radiation therapies, would destroy the ecosystem too. Even the Yanomamo are somewhat disgusting in their superstition, arrowing and associated behaviors. I wouldn’t want to emulate them. If truth be known the entire ecosystem is not a harmonious whole, but rather a non-stop killing field where new structures feed upon the bodies of the fallen. Technological organization supported by fossil fuels allows for military and police enforcement of “nice” behavior with aggression and competitive impulses shunted to the local stadium for a weekend bloodletting. The die is cast, the methane is leaking, there’s no going back in an orderly way.
Homo Colossus rules!!!
UK loaned £1.7bn to foreign fossil fuel projects despite pledge
The UK government has provided well over a billion pounds in loans to fossil fuel projects around the world despite a pledge to withdraw financial support from such schemes, an analysis of loans made by the UK’s export credit agency has revealed…
…The UK Export Finance (UKEF) deals appear to fly in the face of the 2010 coalition agreement, where the Conservatives and Lib Dems pledged to clamp down on funding for fossil fuel operations abroad…
…Just days after taking office, prime minister David Cameron promised he would lead the “greenest government ever”. UKEF is a ministerial department that reports to Vince Cable, the business secretary….
…The rate of funding for fossil fuel projects around the world appears to have speeded up in the last financial year, with around £1bn given to such operations in the 2013-14 financial year. At home, the government has come under fire for overseeing a boom in fossil fuel investment and a decline in clean energy investment.
Coal-mining, petrochemical complexes, and oil and gas exploration and infrastructure are among the industries benefiting from the loans and guarantees, which cover projects in countries including Slovakia, Russia, Brazil, India, Germany, Norway, Vietnam, the Phillipines and Saudi Arabia…
Our anthropocentrism is killing us. Capitalist carbon man’s way of living is nonnegotiable. This means it will never be “sustainable”, “eco-friendly”, or “green.” These words are just self-delusional claptrap. The following comment typifies the mindset:
“In the interests of providing environmentally friendly electricity, does it really matter that much if a few basking sharks get killed? We all have to make sacrifices if we are going to achieve green energy from wind, including the birds, bats and marine life.” – link
In the interests of saving the village, does it really matter that much if a few peasants get killed? We all have to make sacrifices if we are going to achieve victory, including the village men, women and children.
Scorched earth policies and “destroying the village in order to save it” are how I would characterize efforts to “green” the capitalist economy. Have you seen any fundamental rethink in the real world on how “modern” man conducts his way of life?
Pym said:
The best advice I’ve encountered about the collapse is Tim Kreider’s cartoon and artist’s statement:
http://www.thepaincomics.com/weekly080423a.htm
The Gulf states’ oil price challenge
…Yet there is trouble building up for the future: the oil prices at which government budgets break even have on average increased by more than three times since the early 2000s as spending commitments have risen.
According to IMF estimates, break-even now lies above current oil prices for Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with even Kuwait and Qatar now touching it at the current price…
…Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar have substantial overseas reserves that are equivalent to several annual budgets, giving them considerable leeway to incur deficits without debt. Bahrain and Oman, both of whom have only small overseas reserves, have less room for fiscal manoeuvre. Bahrain in particular already has government debt of more than 40% of GDP. It has already taken some austerity measures, being the only country among the group in which estimated 2013 spending lay below that for 2012.
Yet governments across the region are well aware that the rapid spending growth of the last decade cannot continue. This approach could see financial reserves exhausted within as little as a decade in the case of Saudi Arabia and between one and two decades for the others…
…In sum, the current oil price drop does not pose an immediate threat to the stability of the Gulf. Even in the case of Bahrain and Oman, their richer neighbours could prevent a politically undesirable economic collapse through grants and loans. And when their overseas reserves are exhausted, they will still be able to delay the inevitable by issuing debt that they can strong-arm local banks to accept.
Yet eventually state spending and economic growth will slow and even reverse. The focus of policy will gradually shift towards more painful but necessary reforms, which could nevertheless be too little too late to stave off a fiscal crisis. And as reality finally begins to catch up with this part of the world, its regional and global power looks likely to decline…
I think Saudi Arabia has many problems that the empire does not wish to be known. How might the junkie plebs react if they thought their main dealer might get rubbed out by the Islamic Fundie cartel? Sure there are other dealers, but can they afford them? Do they want to go hat in hand to the Russians or Iranians? Blow back comes in many forms.
Reporting Saudi Arabia’s hidden uprising
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27619309
Middle East Time Bomb: The Real Aim of ISIS Is to Replace the Saud Family as the New Emirs of Arabia
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alastair-crooke/isis-aim-saudi-arabia_b_5748744.html
You’re forgetting the House of Saud is backed by the U.S. MIC.
Tomgram: Engelhardt, A Record of Unparalleled Failure
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175854/tomgram%3A_engelhardt,_a_record_of_unparalleled_failure/
The author failed to mention that the MIC has become a business, war for profit. Thus, our military no longer serves strictly as national defense, but as a means to generate profit for the arms industry. Yes, Uncle Sam is a hardcore weapons trafficker and a warmonger.
I don’t have any reason to believe the American Military was ever used exclusively for the defense of the nation from invading hordes. As far back as the late 19th and early 20th century the American Military was used for the defense of the corporate entities that were expanding all over the globe to gain access to natural resources and new markets.
A read of Smedley Butlers’ “War Is A Racket” or Jules Archer’s “The Plot to Seize the White House” will inform most people how the military was at the beck and call of corporate leaders to aid them in their destructive, abusive policies that left nothing but blood and bones in their wake. People’s lives were crushed under the heel of this brutal force.
I’m a believer in what Butler had to say and how he behaved with dignity and respect towards those who served under him. He was always willing to roll up his sleeves and work alongside his men which lead to his being a beloved leader and engendering great loyalty from those who knew him.
When I hear Derrick Jensen speak about bringing down IC I can’t really see him as a leader of the stature of Butler. Jensen seems intent on sending others out to do the things he wouldn’t do himself. Perhaps that is one of the reasons he and Aric McBay wound up going in different directions as well as Jensen’s disgraceful lack of support for the Trans segment of the GLBT community.
True about War being a racket. The business of war has just gotten bigger and more powerful.
“Rivers are key links in the global hydrologic cycle, are important networks for biogeochemistry and ecology, and are vital resources for human civilization.” Behold the Amazon, the largest river of them all by far:
From Extinctions to Melting Ice: 10 Environmental Issues We’ll See More of in 2015
Climate change study says most of Canada’s oil reserves should be left underground
Fully exploiting oilsands would contribute to catastrophic warming, scientists say
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/climate-change-study-says-most-of-canada-s-oil-reserves-should-be-left-underground-1.2893013
And here is pretty well the only thing most over privileged Canadians care about. The Calgary Herald is the Tar Sands bought and paid for mouth piece. Note the ever hopeful predictions of a quick turn around by the fully ordained econopriest. Such faith.
ATB forecast predicts oil prices will cut Alberta’s growth in half for 2015
http://calgaryherald.com/business/energy/alberta-economic-growth-slashed-by-half-in-2015?__lsa=dd22-4c58
The cancer of techno-capitalist carbon man will soon die off as its host reconfigures biospheric conditions to the exlusion of most multi-cellular organisms.
Peter Ward: “Engineering our way out is our only hope, that I can see, but engineering our way out will only work if we recognize the limitations of engineering our way out…that we have to take dire steps soon or it will be too late.”
Worth watching as well…
Help me out since I don’t have time to watch this. What do they suggest we DO about it. I know the problem. What are the interventions they are offering?
I am going to Stockholm the day after tomorrow to pursue the Nobel Prize, as in my video, for Dr. Herman Daly. That is just one of the interventions I am onto.
The saying has never been truer that if you are not being part of the solution then you are only being part of the problem (I’ve varied that saying a bit here). We are all consumers. How many of us are giving back? You are. You did when you promoted my briefing. I’d like to get you to help it go viral. We need to reach a ‘social tipping point’ before we reach the runaway climate tipping point.
My reply…
I’ve posted the video to Reddit in a few places to a response of deadening silence. The problem is that nothing can be done without the leadership and power of government institutions. And therein lies the problem because governments have become handmaidens to corporations. Everything is greenwashed and alternative thought is disparaged and ignored. The masses have been conditioned to be nonthinking consumers. They don’t think and simply parrot soundbites they’ve heard from TV. Without complete honesty and strong action and policies from government leaders about our dire situtation, nothing will be done and the human race will continue stampeding toward extinction. I just read that Brazil appointed a climate change denier as their science minister. There’s no end to the insanity.
OK people, I’m done with this asswipe Robert Scribbler (AKA Robert Marston Fanney). I posted at his site the video above that includes interviews with Peter Ward and Guy McPherson, and here’s the response from Scribbler, aka ‘Fantasy Scribe’:
My measured response which was deleted:
“Peter Ward is not promoting geoengineering in order to extend the burning of fossil fuels. You throw scorn at people without having full knowledge. Scientists like Ward are advising that such methods are likely needed to stop the catastrophic melting of the poles which is already well underway. Playing with renewable energy is not going to prevent this from happening, and attempting to convert industrial economies to run solely on renewables over the next half century without making radical changes to our growth-dependent economy and energy-intensive way of living is not a feasible solution, as Germany is learning:
“Germany is burning more coal than at any point since 1990.“:
Notice that Ward said “we have to take dire steps soon…” This means that we have to make big sacrifices in the way we live and not cling to the current system which is unsustainable.”
Scribbler further commented:
My response which was also deleted:
“McPherson is stating a simple fact when he says that oil has been a master fuel for industrial civilization. I don’t know of any expert in any field who would discount that statement. Again, you heap scorn on people without understanding them or what they said. Your blanket acceptance that “renewable energy” will replace fossil fuels for industrial civilization is naive and not supported by the facts of the real world. It’s well documented that corporations use investments in renewable energy to greenwash and cover up their environmentally damaging practices.”
Scribbler is the typical latte liberal who refuses to admit that industrial civilization will be coming down. No amount of fantasies about powering this monster with “renewable energies” is going to stop the collapse.
Scribbler quickly posts, “Denmark Kicking Fossil Fuels Addiction With Record 39 Percent (and Growing) Wind Generation”
Once you take your “greenwash” blinders off, you realize the following:
But there’s a major caveat afoot here, as well. Wind may have powered nearly half of Denmark’s electricity demands, but The Local points out it’s still a tiny amount of the country’s overall energy usage:
But while wind power accounted for nearly 40 percent of Denmark’s electricity in 2014, wind only covers about five percent of the nation’s total energy use. According to the Danish Energy Association, electricity only makes up one tenth of Denmark’s total energy usage and the use of fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas still accounts for about three fourths of Denmark’s total energy use.
So while a new world record for wind power is great, Denmark—and the rest of us behind it—still have a long, long way to go when it comes to weening ourselves off carbon-heavy energy sources. [Think Progress]
http://gizmodo.com/denmark-just-set-a-major-world-record-for-wind-energy-1678092048
Bioenergy accounts for a far greater percentage of Denmark’s “renewable energy” than does wind – and indeed for a greater share in the country’s overall energy mix than is the case in any other European country. As in Germany, Denmark’s bioenergy includes biofuels for transport, which studies show tend to be worse for the climate than equivalent quantities of oil once all the direct and indirect emissions from deforestation, peatland destruction and other land use change associated with them are accounted for. And it includes wood pellets, with Denmark being the EU’s, and likely the world’s, second biggest pellet importer after the United Kingdom. Most of those pellets come from the Baltic states and Russia, from countries where clear-cutting of highly biodiverse forests is rampant. Studies show that burning wood from whole trees can be worse for the climate than burning coal over a period of decades or even centuries….
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/27392-abundant-clean-renewables-think-again
Renewables have become a crisis cult. Providing contrary evidence makes you a heretic to the climate cause in the eyes of the faithful. Basically Scribbler accused you of being in a league with the Devil “Sorry Mike, we won’t have any more fossil fuel company and billionaire-based geoengineering promotion here.” and banished you from the flock in one sentence That’s how the religious do it (I know you were not part of his flock). For the latte liberal being unplugged/disconnected is unthinkable. Their faith is no different than the denier or nuclear energy to the rescue cults. None of the faithful will believe it until they are walking among the ruins of industrial civilization. The wizard Greer had similar observations in his post yesterday:
” Still, I suspect the next big energy bubble is probably going to come from the green end of things. Over the last few years, there’s been no shortage of claims that renewable resources can pick right up where fossil fuels leave off and keep the lifestyles of today’s privileged middle classes intact. Those claims tend to be long on enthusiasm and cooked numbers and short on meaningful assessment, but then that same habit didn’t slow the fracking boom any; we can expect to see a renewed flurry of claims that solar power must be sustainable because the sticker price has gone down, and similar logical non sequiturs. (By the same logic, the internet must be sustainable if you can pay your monthly ISP bill by selling cute kitten photos on eBay. In both cases, the sprawling and almost entirely fossil-fueled infrastructure of mines, factories, supply chains, power grids, and the like, has been left out of the equation, as though those don’t have to be accounted for: typical of the blindness to whole systems that pervades so much of contemporary culture.)”
Scribblehead has put himself in the same conspiracy camp as the geoengineeringwatch-chemtrail knuckleheads.
Scribblehead sayz…
The big business/big oil strategy seems to be
1. Depress and demoralize people about renewable energy and other sustainability solutions as much as possible.
2. Which keeps people hooked on the same old crap (fossil fuels, bad practices) if they buy it.
3. Which allows cynical pricks to capitalize on disasters and … Wait for it…
4. Make billions selling geo-engineering ‘solutions’ that probably won’t work.
Hello pure oil company energy gamesmanship. It’s not just a race to the bottom. It’s a race to the evil.
It’s as if cigarette companies had a stake in lung cancer treatments that would ultimately be more profitable with the most extreme risk of patient death.
mass said:
Scribbler has totally jumped the shark. Now he’s painting Denmark as some wind utopia.
http://theenergycollective.com/robertwilson190/344771/can-you-make-wind-turbine-without-fossil-fuels
I guess this is why they need to make a scramble for the arctic as well:
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/01/07/arct-j07.html
Actions speak louder than rhetoric:
Denmark is the European Union’s (EU) only net exporter of oil. The Nordic state’s oil exports totaled approximately 13.7 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2013…
…Based on current trends, DW predict Denmark’s ongoing issues with North Sea developments will see it become a net importer of oil by 2021. By this time, oil production will likely have waned to around 130 kb/d – the country’s lowest daily output in 30 years.
http://www.douglas-westwood.com/news/info.php?refnum=919
Thanks for posting this link and the followups.
A few weeks before Almuth Ernsting wrote that piece, I had emailed her my anti-green energy rant. I saw in her article a few sentences that were almost word for word what I sent her, very gratifying. Thanks to Apneaman for suggesting I stop preaching to the choir and reach out to a wider audience. Keep up the good work folks.
The reason there is so much renewable energy propaganda is because GE and the mining consortiums love the extractive resource intensity renewables offer. I posted a comment on today’s truthout.
http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/28447-why-carbon-should-be-left-in-the-ground
Hey Robert. I read your story on NBL, but I no longer comment there. Good for you for finding someone who helped make you happy. Of course that kind of life changing transformation brought about by love is considered wrong in the rational scientific progress pop-physcologly mindset of today. You must be a fully functioning, baggage free, happy, well adjusted member of society with strong career and financial goals and a well laid out life plan to your last breath before thinking about attempting a relationship. In other words, you must become a “brand” before putting yourself on “the market”. I can’t tell you how many people I hear parroting all that relationship tripe as if it is gospel. I think a 50% plus divorce rate, and all time high of people living by themselves in the west confirms that their “healthy relationship” strategy is just another never ending consumer product. Go to any dating site and see the people list their requirements for a partner just like they are ordering extras on a new car or vacation package; everybody wants an all inclusive partner/deal. Corporate consumerists mentality is ubiquitous in every realm of life. I have known a number of men who were on the highway to hell and/or rudderless and changed for the better after meeting the right lady. It happens. Apparently, humans need to be with and around other humans and to care for each other to thrive and that can’t be packaged bought and sold.
Glad to hear you found an audience in need of catching up on reality. Your doom seeds will probably help awaken some person(s) to take steps to prepare and lessen their suffering. That is about one of the only choices we have left ourselves.
I like the Inuit solution, simple but effective. How that scales up to 7-billion-going-on-9-billion people is hard to say. Throw in trillions of dollars in military spending by the “kunlangeta” and we have a real problem.
What “Psychopath” Means
It is not quite what you may think
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-psychopath-means/
[…] In a 1976 study anthropologist Jane M. Murphy, then at Harvard University, found that an isolated group of Yupik-speaking Inuits near the Bering Strait had a term (kunlangeta) they used to describe “a man who … repeatedly lies and cheats and steals things and … takes sexual advantage of many women—someone who does not pay attention to reprimands and who is always being brought to the elders for punishment.” When Murphy asked an Inuit what the group would typically do with a kunlangeta, he replied, “Somebody would have pushed him off the ice when nobody else was looking.”
Activists Plastered the Tube with Posters Telling People Their Jobs Are Bullshit
http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/david-graeber-pointless-jobs-tube-poster-interview-912
Ozzie Zehner:
“I would say that the environmental movement has relegated itself to cheerleading and mindless chants and that it’s time for us to step away from the pom-poms. I encounter a boundless enthusiasm for creating positive change when holding dialogues with environmental groups. Unfortunately, the mainstream environmental movement is channeling that energy into an increasingly corporatist, and what I call a “productivist,” set of priorities.
Now I admit, it’s difficult to say we’ve ever had a truly transformational environmental movement, but if you go back 50 years, activists were at least on a far better path. Prominent environmentalists were living modestly, challenging dominant economic assumptions, and imagining durable strategies for human prosperity that were more in tune with the non-human planet. That humility has largely eroded.
The modern environmental movement has rolled over to become an outlet for loggers, energy firms and car companies to plug into. It is now primarily a social media platform for consumerism, growth and energy production – an institutionalized philanderer of green illusions. If you need evidence, just go to any climate rally and you’ll see a strip mall of stands for green products, green jobs and green energy. These will do nothing to solve the crisis we face, which is not an energy crisis but rather a crisis of consumption.
There is an impression that we have a choice between fossil fuels and clean energy technologies such as solar cells and wind turbines. That choice is an illusion. Alternative energy technologies rely on fossil fuels through every stage of their life. Alternative energy technologies rely on fossil fuels for mining operations, fabrication plants, installation, ongoing maintenance and decommissioning. Also, due to the irregular output of wind and solar, these technologies require fossil fuel plants to be running alongside them at all times. Most significantly, alternative energy financing relies on the kind of growth that fossil fuels drive….”
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/15588-power-shift-away-from-green-illusions
A friendly “Be Careful” alert.
Oil-Qaeda’s new strategy is to point out the futility of alternative, renewable, “green” energy.
It is a massive propaganda campaign (Agnotology: The Surge – 14).
How do we discern them from us?
Because they won’t entertain any criticism of capitalism or the Washington-Wall Street-Pentagon complex or American Empire.
And of course they will claim climate change since rhe industrial revolution is just part of a natural cycle.
Hi Mike. I saw your comments on ourfiniteworld and I’ve shared your indignation in the past. Unfortunately, the system is on autopilot now. It’s coasting on its own bloated mass and blighted short-sightedness. Homo Colossus will have fun,fun,fun, ’till Nature takes the T-Bird aWAYeeeay.
Homo Colossus! good one.
It’s from Catton, Jr. The title of Mike’s essay is revealing: we are spectators. Impotent. This leviathon has metastized beyond any individual’s ability to cope. Someone once said capitalism creates the conditions for its own demise. It is self-annhilating. Enjoy the show.
I wrote this a while back:
https://collapseofindustrialcivilization.com/2014/04/20/overpopulated-by-homo-colossus/
True, there is no awakening the man who is asleep even while he is awake.
And many of those people on her site, including Tverberg, are really clueless about the severity of manmade climate change.
Even the climate simulations have consistently underestimated the severity. Then there are a whole slew of deniers who will always find some other explanation even if you threw them into a furnace. I think it was Colbert who chided their triumphant citation of the latest blizzard as disconfirming evidence with the parallel in faulty logic: ‘there’s no hunger in the world because I just ate.’ These are the same people who celebrate humanity’s accomplishments with the hackneyed expression, “you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it’ forever on their lips. Apparently, accomplishing climate change isn’t one of them. One must remember, ‘always think good thoughts.’ Only people divorced from reality and whole systems could manufacture such whimsical nonsense as New Age spirituality. Apparently, there’s a group of folks who are under the impression they are plants. They believe they can live on air and sunshine alone. By all means, please carry on with this delusion. Sartre was only half right: Hell is a certain order of other people and Nietzsche had cause to lament the common man.
Greer had a piece awhile back on how ‘global warming’ was a misnomer tantamount to bad PR. It would have been better to call it ‘global exergy exacerbation.’ Unfortunately, this rhymes with masturbation – the likeliest association people with sharp black and white world views would make. I’m convinced the biggest contribution most people will make toward mitigating carbon footprinting is when they are dead.
Speaking of Greer, he’s moved beyond repeating posts to repeating whole sections within the same essay. Perhaps it’s owing to a new and enlarged audience, but his promised response to the crisis was already dealt with in his green wizardry project a few years ago. If he didn’t have to drum up new purchases of his books, he could simply provide a link. Oh well, capitalism isn’t dead yet.
good comment. I read Greer’s blog for a while, but there were too many instances of scientific ignorance for me to keep going. Also his embracing homeopathy aggravated me, Did you here about the homeopath who decided to commit suicide? Took an underdose.
Gail is a nice lady and does much fine work, but her final paragraph shows how strange human think is.
“We don’t have much time to fix our problems. In the timeframe we are looking at, the only other solution would seem to be a religious one. I don’t know exactly what it would be; I am not a believer in The Rapture. There is great order underlying our current system. If the universe was formed in a big bang, there was no doubt a plan behind it. We don’t know exactly what the plan for the future is. Perhaps what we are encountering is some sort of change or transformation that is in the best interests of mankind and the planet. More reading of religious scriptures might be in order. We truly live in interesting times!”
Why would any higher being create such a wonderful gift as the earth just so we could shit all over it and each other? The single thing that is in the best interest of the planet would be for mankind to go away forever, yet in spite of the fact that we are clearly destroyers, it somehow is always about us. I guess that crisis cult thinking is to be expected in these interesting times and the record shows that it is the common response to failing societies.
Maybe she should turn to Matt Savinar for an Astrology reading.
I had to look that dude up. Lol cognitive compartmentalization is both fascinating and disturbing. Astrology is as equally effective as praying….and animal sacrifices.
I would guess that the behavior of 98% of people is dominated by social and emotional areas in the brain and that adept ass-kissing and technological knowledge go hand-in-hand in successful self-promotion. The intellect, which must be built over long periods of time, is either missing or is captured by technological education. Most would rather let a gut feeling (a subconscious decision) guide their behavior, and many simply cannot deviate from making an emotional or ill-informed choice. Next presidential election we’re going to have a choice between Hillary and Jeb and what’s your gut feeling about that? Makes me want to puke. Most people won’t do anything reasonable based upon an honest appraisal of reality, their subconscious and social minds must be snake-charmed into going along with the program and the program must be sold to their social minds, not their stunted intellects, which could reject the desired program. Can’t sell it reasonably, then make it impossible to say no by fabricating moral atrocities like was done in Kuwait during the Gulf War. Babies being removed from incubators and left to die? The simple moral mind is outraged and manipulated into action. Unfortunately, our leaders follow their subconscious desires towards the power and money while constructing lame and well-worn rationals like “I’m here to help the people.” Rather, in truth they should say, “I’m here to help the corporations and the corporations are here to enrich me. But don’t be forlorn little mindless man, the corporations will also help you with $10.00 an hour jobs by the bucketfull and all the tasty frankenfood you can eat. I promise.”
Hillary or Jeb
http://srsroccoreport.com/germany-death-of-renewable-energy-bring-on-the-dirty-coal-monsters/germany-death-of-renewable-energy-bring-on-the-dirty-coal-monsters/
Interesting interview mainly about abrupt climate change:
Alarm over Kara Sea permafrost thawing
“Remember the big sinkhole on Yamal Peninsula discovered last summer? Scientists have now discovered leaking methane gas from the shelf west of Yamal. That is where Gazprom will drill.”
http://barentsobserver.com/en/arctic/2015/01/alarm-over-kara-sea-permafrost-thawing-09-01#.VLA1Oh25ebY.facebook
The terror attack in France was bad, but the propaganda is over the top. There were probably ten people murdered in Chicago last night and four were gunned down in San Francisco while Air Force drones are blasting “radicals” in the Middle East from the skies. But the news from within the tribe is never reported and magnified as much as attacks coming from “radical Islam.” Why not a sensational report about how 80% of Americans will soon be unemployed and be completely unable to “adapt” to an ecosystem killing climate change? No, no, no, we have to report for days on end about a few terrorists in France. Why? Undoubtedly they’re trying to soften us up for the next round of meddling in the Middle East and the necessary controls to be implemented in das Heimatland. In reality, the whole thing is ape-shit insane.
Good observation. Capitalist carbon man cannot let a few malcontents ruin the party of global resource extraction and maximum energy consumption. It’s a distracting sideshow that keeps the masses in fear while the corporations clamp down even further by lumping any sort of dissent as “hate speech” and “terrorism” which interferes with their plunder of the planet.
The most disturbing thing to me is how, in many of the press reports, they have started using the term “Islamist” as shorthand for “radical militant terrorist”. The removal of any qualifier, such as “radical Islamist” or “militant Islamist”, is a subtle but monumental change as it paints all 1.6 Billion followers of that particular religion as being “the enemy” thus setting us up for a truly global clash of civilizations. A world class psy-op if there ever was one.
– State Terrorism and Neoliberalism: The North in the South, Ruth Blakeley
All the bullshit about freedom of speech, the pen is mightier than the sword, etc.etc.
So I think, why not publish a picture of Jesus kissing a man and see what happens?
We are the asteroid…
Some say the end is near.
Some say we’ll see Armageddon soon.
I certainly hope we will.
I sure could use a vacation from this
Bullshit three ring circus sideshow of freaks…
Some say a comet will fall from the sky.
Followed by meteor showers and tidal waves.
Followed by fault lines that cannot sit still.
Followed by millions of dumbfounded dip shits…
Mom’s gonna fix it all soon.
Mom’s comin’ round to put it back the way it ought to be…
…I’m praying for rain
And I’m praying for tidal waves
I wanna see the ground give way.
I wanna watch it all go down.
Mom, please flush it all away.
I wanna see it go right in and down.
I wanna watch it go right in.
Watch you flush it all away.
Time to bring it down again.
Don’t just call me pessimist.
Try and read between the lines.
I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t
Welcome any change, my friend.
I wanna see it all come down.
Bring it down
Suck it down.
Flush it down.
Human cognition is trapped between the cellular technological system of which it has little control and the macro scale technological system of which it has little control. Human eukaryotic cells gave us shape and behavior through regulation of growth, ontological regulation so that we would fit somewhere in the ecosystem. The technological system is an anomalous growth which has put the greedy human ape at the helm of an technologically evolving system that is incapable of creating the tools to control itself. The ecosystem was complete and co-evolved. The human technological growth is an outlier, something that will never “fit” within the framework of biological life. It can only grow to satisfy the needs and desires of ever increasing numbers of humans that believe they are escaping boredom, suffering and death, when they are actually creating their own death trap and forever destroying the natural complexity surrounding them.
We seem to be as blind as a bacterial or fungal colony in a petri dish. I like to read the peak oil blogs where they discuss how we can use such and such new technology to suck that much more nutrition out of the ground, even as the waste that increasingly permeates their surroundings will eventually terminate them. A bacterial colony would do the same, switching to new more expensive enzymatic tools to take advantage of lower EROEI resources, even as the wastes continue to build. And meanwhile, faint communications from within the cells warn of an impending collapse and a terminal destination (that’s us). But it doesn’t matter, it’s equivalent to speaking to your own cancer cells to slow down, stop growing, you’re going to ruin the whole damned body. We are capable of battling a growing cancer within our own bodies with limited effectiveness, but when anyone suggests limiting our own cancerous growth within the ecosystem, the greedy, dopamine-loving brain says “No way!”, and searches for a technology to suppress the externalities resulting from our growth while at the same time it tries to create new technologies to open up as yet untapped resources gradients. Thorium, that’ll do it. Sure it will. And neither will a sound currency allow a continuation of slow and steady growth. They think we’re going back to some previous condition of steady advancement, but we’re on a one way trip. We trade priceless species that require billions of years to evolve in exchange for little squirts of dopamine for consumers and a little ego inflation for capitalists. Putting humans, or any species in charge of a second-order technological system is lethal.
Beautifully written. I recently had a reminder of how dependent the city dweller is to the trappings of modern life. If the plumbing to your house clogs up and the pump inside your Maytag washer goes kaput, you are pretty much dead in the water, literally. Modern man is completely removed from any sort of beneficial symbiotic relationship with nature. We have tipped the scales against planetary homeostasis with our techno-capitalist waste and will drown in its excrement.
I know how most shit works, own plenty of tools and have repaired much of it as a means of self employment and as a stubborn and frugal, I don’t need/trust anyone DIYer over the years. Doesn’t matter all that much once the grid comes down No power=no pressure=no plumbing. Having practical skills may provide people like me with some advantage in a de-industrialized world, but even guys like me have never learned how to make everyday things 100% by hand; w/o supply chains. We just do the maintenance for industrial civ. I have built lots of furniture and crafts over the years. Once I have decided on the project, it’s jump in the truck and off to one or more of the airplane hanger sized, building supply temples, then back home to create my masterpiece using an assortment of grid powered tools designed and refined over the last hundred years or so. Lay out, some sanding, staining and painting are about the only things I really do without being plugged in….except for the lights.
Nothing fixes overshoot except collapse.
W/O power, how many of us could survive more than a few weeks or months? My husband and I have a tree farm with several ponds, a garden, pet chickens, freezer full of deer meat and a generator, but the generator needs gasoline. If something happened to the grid, gasoline will be hard to come by. If the grid goes, what happens to the government and who stop your land from being seized?
From http://cluborlov.blogspot.kr/2012/10/in-praise-of-anarchy-part-iii.html
…” animals obey a certain power law: their metabolic cost scales with their mass, and the scaling factor is less than one, meaning that the larger the animal, the more effective its resource use and, in essence, the more effective the animal—up to a certain optimum size for each animal. The growth of every animal is characterized by a bounded, sigmoidal curve: growth accelerates at first, then slows down, reaching a steady state as the animal matures.
What Prof. West was able to discover is a small set of general laws—formulated as algebraic equations about as simple and general as the laws of Newtonian mechanics—that have been validated using data on trees, animals, colonies of bacteria—all manner of living things, and that provide amazingly precise predictions. As the size of the organism increases, its metabolic cost, heart rate and so on scales as m-1/4 while its lifetime scales as m1/4 (where m is the animal’s mass). The ¼-power comes from the three dimensions plus a third fractal dimension. This is because all living systems are fractal-like, and all networks, from the nervous system to the circulatory system, to the system of tunnels in a termite colony, exhibit fractal-like properties where a similarly organized subsystem can be found by zooming in to a smaller scale. That is, within any fractal network there are four degrees of freedom: up/down, left/right, forward/back and zoom in/zoom out.
Prof. West then turned his attention to cities, and discovered that they can be characterized by similar power laws by which they too accrue greater benefits from increased size, through increased economies of scale, up to a point, but with two very important caveats. First, whereas with living systems an increase in size causes the internal clock to slow down—the larger the size the slower the metabolism, the slower the heart rate and the longer the lifespan—with cities the effect of greater size is the opposite: the larger the city, the larger is the metabolic cost and the energy expenditure per unit size, and the more hectic is the pace of life. To keep pace with the metabolic requirements of a growing socioeconomic system, socioeconomic time must continuously accelerate.
Second, whereas all living systems exhibit bounded growth up to an optimum size, socioeconomic systems such as cities exhibit unbounded, superexponential growth. These two differences added together imply that cities must reach a point where they must move infinitely fast in order to maintain their homeostatic equilibrium: a singularity. But it is inevitable that they reach natural limits well before they reach the singularity, and collapse.”
Fractals are damn freaking awesome. Sometimes when I watch a fractal zoom video, I can feel the dopamine drip. This Doc is a great primer.
From the documentary…
“…art is actually really close to mathematics and they’re just using different language.”
In other words, cities exhibit the same out-of-control growth as cancer cells.
Excerpt from Techno-Fix: Why Technology Won’t Save Us Or the Environment
By Michael Huesemann, Joyce Huesemann
Another Excerpt from Techno-Fix: Why Technology Won’t Save Us Or the Environment
The second comming?
The Singularity
And as the technogasm reaches a climax the earth lets loose a methane mega-burp. The end.
And Man created God, or what came first, Man or God?
Methinks man has a god complex…
Mankind’s God Complex
I haven’t read any of the books specifically discussing the biochar ‘solution’, mentioned in a video Mike posted earlier, but it would seem to fit into the ‘Tech-no -fix’ delusion category. With 8 billion tons of extra carbon entering the atmosphere each year, this quantity of biochar would need to be produced each year just to prevent any further increase of atmospheric CO2..With the soils currently producing food for our grotesquely inflated population needed for that purpose into the indefinite future as the population increases about 80 million each year, where is the biomass needed to produce that quantity of biochar going to come from?
No doubt we will see a movement develop claiming that more forests will have to be sacrificed to produce biochar to ‘save’ us. The insanity of industrial civilisation is exquisite. Assiduously unearthing naturally sequestered carbon at one end of the machine, while the other end wanting to expend enormous effort to resequester that released carbon, in order to prevent the deleterious effects of that carbon, and to restore the structure and fertility of the soils which were in excellent condition before agriculture developed and soil erosion, salinization and structural deterioration became the serious problems they are now.
I like that twist on techno-fix = “tech-no-fix”.
The balmy islands of Seychelles couldn’t feel farther from Antarctica, but their fossil corals could reveal much about the fate of polar ice sheets.
Dutton found evidence that global mean sea level during that period peaked at 20 to 30 feet above current levels. Dutton’s team of international researchers concluded that rapid retreat of an unstable part of the Antarctic ice sheet was a major contributor to that sea-level rise.
“This occurred during a time when the average global temperature was only slightly warmer than at present,” Dutton said…
…”Following a rapid transition to high sea levels when the last interglacial period began, sea level continued rising steadily,” Dutton said. “The collapse of Antarctic ice occurred when the polar regions were a few degrees warmer than they are now — temperatures that we are likely to reach within a matter of decades.”
Several recent studies by other researchers suggest that process may have already started.
“We could be poised for another partial collapse of the Antarctic ice sheet,” Dutton said.
Have not had time to read this yet, but looks interesting…
Energetic Limits to Economic Growth
http://bioscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/61/1/19.full.pdf
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Flirtalike is awesome so you can forget speed dating, classified personals, dating apps, dating sites, or chat rooms! If you have tried services like PlentyOfFish (POF), OKCupid, eHarmony, MiuMeet, Mocospace, Skout, Jazzed, Tagged, Likealittle, myYearbook, Zoosk, Hi5 or Badoo - you might want to try flirtalike - once you're in, you'll never want to leave again.
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Most dating apps are fairly LGBTQ inclusive. Still, it's nice to have an app to call your own. Her is tailored to lesbian, bisexual and queer women. It's a worthy notion -- but the app has some bugs and glitches that made it frustrating to use. Most of my queer female friends have told me they found the app "just OK," and that they usually end up back on Tinder or Bumble. Still I checked it regularly for some time and had a few pleasant conversations with actual human beings. And isn't that all we're really looking for in a dating app?
I was on Clover for quite some time, but had since forgotten it existed until I started to compile this list. It strikes me as a less-successful hybrid of OkCupid and Tinder with a relatively small user base, even though I live in an urban area with plenty of people who use a wide variety of dating apps. Clover says it has nearly 6 million users, 85 percent of whom are between the ages of 18 and 30.
The stigma toward dating apps is fading, and these apps are quickly becoming the normal way to meet and connect with other single people. To help you navigate the deluge of dating apps, we’ve selected some of the best dating apps, as well as some of those that bring something unique to the table. And if that wasn’t enough, we’ll also offer our expert opinions on their accessibility, foibles, pratfalls, best intended uses, and everything else in between. Hopefully, Cupid’s arrow is in your favor!
The main mission of Match is to bring people together — no matter if it’s for casual flirting, friendships, dates, relationships, marriages, or anything else. For free, Match allows users to create an account, fill out a profile, upload photos, browse singles, and communicate, and the site sees more than 13.5 million visitors a month, so your flirting options are practically endless.
Feel lonely and still can't find a person for life and love? It's time to try Flirt – the perfect site for singles who know what they want! 1000s of interesting people are ready to share your interests and love experience! Enter flirty chat rooms, talk online with fun-loving flirts who are eager to find mates for dating adventures. Chat, meet new mates, choose a life partner or just flirt without serious intent.
On the upside, the profiles are brief, which allows you to make decisions quickly. The downside is that short profiles make it harder to figure out what people are looking for. Knowing very little about a person can also make initial messaging more challenging. You'll need to wade through a sea of profiles, which makes it easy to pass over people you might have given a chance under different circumstances.
They say a conversation opener is a a question or topic that creates a dialogue between two or more people. These ‘starters’ are some of the most elusive and hard to think of, and without them one is left with awkward silence. A lack of starters is common at the beginning of a relationship, when speaking to someone not entirely familiar to the speaker, or when conversing with any female.
There's really only one path to finding other singles on the site: swipe, message, and go from there. The main section of the site, the swiping section, allows you to swipe on profiles extremely quickly, with many users only looking at the main profile picture before swiping one way or the other. There are some more advanced paid features that let you “boost” your swipe, such as super-liking a member, or reverse your swipe option and go back to a profile you accidentally passed on. Communication can only take place once both members like each other, at which time either match may initiate a conversation.
Why? It's the original “I don’t have the time to waste energy on people who don't find me physically attractive” app. I also believe people go on the app without a set idea of what they want overall, so the idea of a date and one-nighter is attractive and effortless. But that doesn’t mean everyone is opposed to relationships of growing from the first encounter.
We were named Cupid for a reason: to help lonely people fall in love. Thousands of our users have already found dates in our chat rooms. Making people happy is not just our job, it’s a life goal. You can find many free chatting sites, but this one is the easiest to navigate and offers the most exciting way of meeting new charmers. Online chatting offers hundreds of opportunities for those searching for a person to make their heart beat faster. Here you will find plenty of lovely singles for enjoyable chatting.
Statistically speaking, there’s plenty of evidence that dating apps work—especially for those among us whose endgame is meeting a long-term partner. There are stats that say marriages among people who met on an app are less likely to end after the first year, and despite a big cultural annoyance about the process, the vast majority of Americans think that, ultimately, apps are a good way to meet people. Even anecdotally, a lot of the people I spoke to for this piece—all of whom self-identified as dating app haters—nevertheless met their long-term partner on an app.
What it'll cost you: For free, you get to create a profile and send unlimited winks. The full membership, however, that allows you to send and receive private messages, chat with the instant messenger, and see who's viewed your profile is $29.95 for 1 month, $19.99 per month for 3 months, $16.66 per month for 6 months, and $11.67 per month for a year.
MeetMe is another one of those location-based dating apps. It features a simple. colorful interface that's easy to use. It also boasts over 100 million downloads and uses between all the various platforms. Its original intention is to be used as a way to meet people in your area. However, if enough sparks fly, those people can easily become more than just friends. The biggest issue with this one is the fake profiles and it's a fairly serious problem. However, most of these apps have fake profile problems so we're not sure when enough is enough. Still, we recommend this one for patient people and, by all means, if you can't find anything in a few weeks, get rid of it.
Features for introverts: The SmartPick can really be your best friend, serving as the best icebreaker. If both you and someone you're interested in both vote "yes" on each other's profiles, the SmartPick feature will let you know the good news by email and shoot you a message in your Zoosk inbox. Another good option is the Super Send feature, which could help eliminate the scary feeling from being the one to make the first move. Choose a message to break the ice, then allow Zoosk to blast it out for you using Super Send. If someone indicates they're interested by writing back, then you get to view each other's profiles.
On Hinge users are asked questions like, “What are you looking for?” and “Who is your ideal celebrity dinner date?” Says Slater: “It allows you to get a better sense of their personality outside of their abs. I also haven’t had to swipe with Hinge because when people go through my profile, all they have to do is like my answers or my photos and they’ll get put in a queue that I can look through, knowing they’ve already expressed interest. It really streamlined the whole process in terms of quality and efficiency.”
Made for the modern dater, Flirt.com is an easy-to-sign-up and easy-to-use platform for meeting singles aged anywhere from “18-78.” Accounts only take a few minutes to create and new members can start browsing immediately based on basic search settings (sex, age bracket, location). The site is both minimalistic in its layout and methods for matching, but effective if you’re looking for something casual and low-commitment. Plus, the member ratio of men to women is fairly well balanced, which means the odds of finding a date are good.
How it works: Like a good wingman (or wing woman), Zoosk starts to understand you more and more as time goes on to help introduce you to the person you can spend the night or rest of your life with. The site's unique algorithm recognizes your preferences through the actions you take. The more you interact with the site, the better it can match you with your ideal human.
Naughty flirting doesn’t get any better than on the appropriately-named BeNaughty. The app’s impressive features include location-based matching, private photo and video sharing, and sexy icebreakers to help you get the conversation going. Millions of frisky singles (whose average age is between 18 and 35) use BeNaughty and say it’s their favorite — so much so that the app has an 89% success rate. And, you guessed it, a free subscription will give you access to everything.
I was on Clover for quite some time but had forgotten it even existed until I started to throw this list together. I felt like it was a less successful hybrid of OkCupid and Tinder, and I also felt like the user base was pretty small, even though I live in an urban area with plenty of people who use a wide variety of dating apps. Clover says it has nearly 6 million users, 85 percent of whom are between the ages of 18 and 30.
The format is simple. Each featured dater takes part in a question-and-answer livestream on the first night, where they introduce themselves and take questions from the viewing contestants. The next night sees the games begin, and the contestants are asked a series of multiple choice questions about the night before. Players who get all the questions right go on to the next round, where they’re asked a number of questions by the featured dater — who then narrows the field down to three contestants, based on their answers. Those final three choices then get the chance to impress their prospective date via live video by doing whatever it is they do best — whether that’s by busting some killer dance moves, telling jokes, or some other talent. The pair will then go on a date paid for by Quiz Date Live, which can range from hit Broadway shows, Michelin-star dining experiences, helicopter rides over Manhattan, or other luxurious dates.
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As for how to approach potential hookup partners you've matched with, transparency and manners are important, as always. "The key to initiating a hookup over a dating app is to exercise patience," says Caleb Hacke, health and wellness expert at Maple Holistics. "Ultimately, it's more important to make sure you don't offend or put off anyone who isn't interested in a hookup than it is to get your point across as boldly and as quickly as possible."
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China Is Not A Normal Country
By Chang Ping, published: December 22, 2014
On 19 April this year, at the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review held in Geneva, while Ti-Anna Wang, the daughter of the democracy activist Wang Bingzhang, whom a Chinese court had sentenced to life imprisonment, was giving testimony on her father’s behalf, a man photographed her using a concealed camera. After investigating the matter, the UN cancelled this man’s UN pass. This incident revealed an “open secret” – the man who photographed Ti-Anna enter the conference room as a representative of a Chinese non-governmental organization (NGO), he and his organization in fact work for the Chinese government, and their work includes taking intimidating photographs.
The Chinese government did not have to pay much of a price for this action and, moreover, China still dispatches these so-called NGO’s to attend similar conferences. These Chinese NGO’s do not have to dissemble. As long as they do nothing more serious than intimidation, the international agencies will accept them. On 23 October, when the UN convened in Geneva a review on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, a member of the review comittee asked Chinese officials about the cocoperation between Chinese government and NGO’s. A Chinese official replied that China’s government cooperated with the All-China Women’s Federation (中华全国妇女联合会). Some NGO members at the conference expressed surprise, and asked if the Chinese official could give a different example of such cooperation. How could anyone not know that the All-China Women’s Federation was not a real NGO? Someone replied that the Chinese government deliberately makes this claim so that constant repetition of this claim would force the international community to accept the argument that the All-China Women’s Federation is a NGO.
The All-China Women’s Federation is in essence an official government agency, but the Chinese government insists on marketing it to the international community as an NGO, and the international community has to accept this. At a minimum, I did not hear public disagreement about the status of the All-China Women’s Federation at the UN review on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women from either the UN review committee or other NGOs. Accepting the All-China Women’s Federation as an NGO makes the review somewhat false, at that moment, the UN Conference Hall became just like the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
This is an example of what I have recently experienced, but it is not an isolated example. In fact, the Chinese government is in the act of using similar methods to redefine the rules of civilization.
The meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shintaro and Xi Jinping at the APEC Summit in Beijing allowed people to once again raise the concept of Japan as an abnormal country. It refers to the restrictions imposed on Japan militarily and diplomaticly since World War II. I would like to point out that, in an overarching sense, China is an abnormal country. Japan’s abnormality is punishment for invasion and military defeat, and this punishment hurts the self-esteem of some Japanese patriots. China’s abnormality lies in its challenges to, and revisions of, the rules of civilization, and these challenges and revisions hurt all of mankind and the international order.
The Fourth Plenum of the 18th CCP Congress, which just ended last month, had as its theme “the overall advancement of governing the nation according to law,” and promulgated a 17 thousand word “Decision” that proclaimed “wield state power according to the constitution,” and “govern the nation according to law.” Just as world opinion was analyzing any new changes in this “Decision” and wondering why people like Liu Xiaobo and Ilham Tothi, who called for constitutionalism and rule of law, were thrown into jail, the Chinese communist’s official media stated emphatically that China’s “wielding state power according to the constitution” differed from the West’s constitutional democracy. Not only is it different, in fact it is completely opposite: western constitutionalism seeks to restrict and balance the exercise of political power to limit the power of political parties, while China’s “wield state power according to the constitution” means the “integration of the leadership of the party, of people be the masters of the country, and governing the nation according to law,” that is the consolidation of the power of the only ruling party.
The Party’s media took it a step further, glibly criticizing western constitutionalism as “sacrificing the people’s basic interests, splitting democracy and the rule of law to realize the selfish interests of a single party and even of a single person.”
The National People’s Congress convenes in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People in March of every year. Although the whole world knows that this Congress is less than even a rubber stamp congress (real major policies are all announced by conferences of party representatives), still the media gather pretentiously, and specialists analyze the Congress’ themes, the ratio of minority representatives, the percentage of women’s representatives, and the number of workers’ representatives. It’s not that these data do not have significance, but that, when people cite these data, they completely forget, or intentionally avoid, this fact: this meeting is not a real Congress, and these representatives are not congressional representatives. The Political Consultative Conference is even more unrepresentative: although it was established under the rubric of participating in governing the state and deliberating on government affairs, nonetheless, it has not one iota of decision-making power. When officials from the National People’s Congress and the Political Consultative Conference visit western countries, however, they always request their hosts treat them as members of a congress or a senate, and basically that is how they are treated.
From its inception, the Xinhua News Agency has always been a Chinese communist propaganda organ, and in this it has never changed. Still, Xinhua claims to be one of the “world’s four great news agencies,” along with the Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse. Xinhua has established more than one hundred branches throughout the world, publishing its press releases in many languages. Not only are Xinhua journalists controlled by the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but also they have such responsibilities as disinformation campaigns, collecting intelligence, and even engaging in espionage. Nonetheless, they still pass through the world as freely as journalists from normal news agencies.
The Global Times, an off-shoot of the CCP’s flagship newspaper People’s Daily, is a political tabloid given to demagoguery. It regularly quotes western media out of context to produce reports and criticisms that completely skewer the meaning of the original; it also publishes fictional interviews and fabricates reports. This kind of a newspaper is nonetheless treated as a serious media outlet. Global Times, together with well regarded international agencies, have organized media forums whose invitees include such German media as Deutsche Welle, North German Radio and Television, and Times Germany, to discuss world events.
What is more deceptive are education and scholarship. The Chinese government has never attempted to hide the fact that it has always implemented a Chinese communist ideological education program in kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, colleges, and academic institutions at all levels. Education in utilitarianism and populism are all the rage. If teachers criticize current affairs, they may be reported by their students, suspended from teaching, or even dismissed from teaching. The government controls the expenditures for scientific research, and it’s no secret that the approval system is widely corrupt. Even in such famous institutions as Peking University, students surfing foreign internet sites are charged by the hour. Overseas Chinese students organizations are heavily influenced by Chinese embassies. Mainland students studying at tertiary institutions in Hong Kong must report to and sign up with the Central Liaison Office, the main CCP organization in Hong Kong. If they do not sign up, their degrees will meet with all kinds of restrictions when they return to the Chinese mainland.
On 10 July, 2014, the People’s Daily published an essay titled Take a Closer Look at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) – Raise High the Banner of Marxism, Make Scholarship for the People. According to this essay, CASS’s strength is “demonstrated in its academic attitude of having a strong political stance” and “making scholarship for the people.” CASS announced that it was taking political discipline as the primary factor in evaluating its members, and that CASS was strictly implementing a one vote veto system whereby those being evaluated for political adherence could have their evaluation failed by a single nay vote among evaluators. Is an academic institution that takes political discipline as a priority still a normal academic institution? No wonder Chinese netizens ridiculed CASS’ Director Wang Weiguang for his essay Domestic Class Struggle Will Never Be Extinguished.
But CASS does appear to be a magnificent academic institution: “39 research institutes, 180 research centers, nearly 300 disciplines, nearly 4000 researchers, an average of 300 academic publications per annum, more than 3,890 kinds of scientific papers, more than 510 research reports, and more than 1,200 important policy recommendations have been submitted….”
Abnormal power structures result in abnormal social forms. For this reason, citing abnormalities in Chinese society is an impossible task because the list will have no end.
But different from previous and present autocracies loathed by people, China’s communist regime has been working to export its abnormalities. As the recent APEC meeting made it clear, China wants to be considered equal to the other great nations. But China does not want to do what it did in earlier years any more when it used concealment and deception to accord with, and mix into, international society. At present, China declares in a lofty tone its opposition to western constitutional democracy, berates “foreign hostile forces,” while at the same time compelling the world to accord with and become accustomed to China.
The original purpose of the west’s diplomatic tactics, such as engagement, negotiations and cooperation, are all meant to allow civilization to influence barbarism, to let in enlightenment, and to allow the normal supercede the abnormal. However, many a times, these efforts in reality have worked as an endorsement of an abnormal country, making the abnormal normal. When people choose not to see China’s abnormalities, the world itself has already become abnormal.
Other essays by Chang Ping on this site:
How Brainwashing Works in China
The Triumph of Propaganda
Chinese Communist Party as the Mafia Boss
Tiananmen Massacre not a “Passing Lapse” of the Chinese Government
Without the Right to Remember There Can Be No Freedom to Forget
Chang Ping.
Chang Ping (长平) was the former chief commentator and news director of Southern Weekend whose work was censored by the Chinese government until he was expelled and all his writings censored in China in early 2011. He lives in Germany now and is a current affairs commentator for South China Morning Post. This essay is written exclusively for China Change.
(Translated by Ai Ru)
3 responses to “China Is Not A Normal Country”
Re-ideologizing Chinese Universities « China Change says:
[…] China Is Not A Normal Country, by Chang Ping, December 22, 2014. […]
A New Regime, Not a New Country « China Change says:
[…] China Is Not A Normal Country, by Chang Ping, December 2014. […]
Though less abnormal than during the totalitarian Mao Era, the PRC still remains an abnormal country, especially among the major world powers. Among the G-20 nations, only the PRC and Saudi Arabia allow their general populace no say whatsoever in selecting the government’s top national leaders.
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Jalen Gibbs Nick Richards College basketball Basketball Sports College sports Men's college basketball Men's basketball Men's sports Damian Chong Qui Immanuel Quickley Malik Jefferson Ashton Hagans Nana Opoku Brandon Leftwich EJ Montgomery Omar Habwe Keion Brooks Nate Sestina Kahlil Whitney
Kentucky SEC Mount St. Mary's Northeast Saint Mary's (Cal.) West Coast
Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers at Kentucky Wildcats 11/22/2019
Kentucky's Nick Richards, left, is pressured by Mount St. Mary's Jalen Gibbs (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Mount St. Mary's Damian Chong Qui (15) is guarded by Kentucky's Immanuel Quickley (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky's Ashton Hagans (0) shoots near Mount St. Mary's Malik Jefferson (42) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky's Nick Richards (4) reacts after a shot near Mount St. Mary's Nana Opoku (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky's Tyrese Maxey, left, shoots near Mount St. Mary's Malik Jefferson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky's Nick Richards, top, shoots near Mount St. Mary's Nana Opoku (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Mount St. Mary's head coach Dan Engelstad watches his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Mount St. Mary's Brandon Leftwich, right, shoots while defended by Kentucky's Nick Richards (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Mount St. Mary's Omar Habwe (13) passes the ball past Kentucky's EJ Montgomery during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky's Keion Brooks Jr.takes an uncontested shot during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mount St. Mary in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. Kentucky won 82-62. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky's Ashton Hagans (0) looks for a teammate near Mount St. Mary's Nana Opoku during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. Kentucky won 82-62. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky's Nate Sestina reacts after scoring during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mount St. Marys in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. Kentucky won 82-62. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky's Nate Sestina, top, shoots near Mount St. Mary's Omar Habwe (13) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. Kentucky won 82-62. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky head coach John Calipari directs his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mount St. Mary's in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. Kentucky won 82-62. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky's Ashton Hagans (0) shoots while defended by Mount St. Mary's Nana Opoku during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. Kentucky won 82-62. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky's Nick Richards, left, dunks while defended by Mount St. Mary's Dee Barnes (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. Kentucky won 82-62. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky's Kahlil Whitney dunks during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mount St. Mary's in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. Kentucky won 82-62. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL TALK | NBC SPORTSCBT Connecticut Huskies
No. 14 Villanova survives UConn, 61-55
By Liz FinnyJan 18, 2020, 2:47 PM EST
In a game with ever-changing momentum, Villanova’s Jermaine Samuels stepped up to make crucial shots as the Wildcats held on for a narrow 61-55 win over the Huskies.
In crunch time, the Wildcats turned to their experienced players — juniors Samuels and Collin Gillespie.
Samuels hit a three with 31 seconds left to give ‘Nova a four-point lead, ending the game with a team-high 19 points and going 4-of-6 from long. Collin Gillespie helped the Wildcats turn around a slow second-half start, scoring 10 straight after going scoreless for almost 27 minutes.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl played an important role in the Wildcats’ win as well, knocking down four critical free throws to extend the lead at the end of the game. The freshman crashed the boards for a total of seven rebounds, including three huge offensive boards.
Villanova (14-3) closed the game on an 18-7 run to pull off the victory, as UConn (10-7) gave it everything they had, keeping it close to the very end.
The Huskies got out to an early lead over the Wildcats, with Akok Akok making impressive plays on both sides of the court — turning a blocked shot into a three-pointer on the other end. Akok led the team with three blocks, grabbing two of five first-half blocks. UConn made clear why it is one of the nation’s best shot-blocking teams, totaling six blocks on the game and forcing Villanova to hit perimeter shots by taking away the paint.
After getting off to a slow start, Villanova shot lights out from beyond the arc in the first half, going 6-of-11 and utilizing spacing to avoid UConn’s high-level shot blocking. Six different Wildcats sank one from deep as ‘Nova finished 11-of-23 on the day.
After the game, Villanova coach Jay Wright commented on the team’s two slow starts on the day, saying the team had to learn how to play every possession intently.
While UConn wasn’t able to keep up from beyond the arc — shooting only 2-of-15 — the Huskies took advantage down low, with a whopping 36 points coming from inside the paint compared to the Wildcats’ 12.
Turnovers also plagued the Huskies, as they lost the ball 17 times, which the Wildcats capitalized on to score 23 of their 61 points.
UConn is clearly on the rise under the coaching of Dan Hurley and made it a tough game for Villanova. The Huskies will rejoin the Big East next season, making this a rivalry to watch moving forward.
No. 6 Baylor ends No. 1 UConn’s 98-game home win streak
Brad Horrigan/Hartford Courant/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
HARTFORD, Conn. — Tea Cooper scored 27 points and No. 6 Baylor used a dominant fourth quarter to beat top-ranked UConn 74-58 on Thursday night, ending the Huskies’ 98-game home winning streak.
UConn fell one victory short of tying its own NCAA record of 99 in a row at home. The Huskies previous loss at home came in the Big East final against Notre Dame on March 12, 2013.
Baylor (12-1) led by three going into the fourth quarter and neither team could get much going on offense in the first few minutes of the final period. The Huskies cut the deficit to one on Christyn Williams’ jumper with 6:36 left. Then the defending national champions took over.
The Lady Bears responded with the next 15 points to put the game away. The run started on a layup by Lauren Cox and two baskets by Nalyssa Smith. Smith finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
UConn (12-1) didn’t score a basket after Williams’ jumper until Crystal Dangerfield hit a 3-pointer in the final minute and the game decided.
Christyn Williams scored 21 points to lead the Huskies.
This was UConn’s first real test of the season. Since 2007, the Huskies (12-1) have played at least one team ranked in the top five before the New Year. This season the only ranked opponent before Thursday that UConn has faced was then-No. 16 DePaul.
While UConn hadn’t been tested this season until this game, Baylor suffered its only loss of the season in the Paradise Jam Tournament over Thanksgiving to then-No. 5 South Carolina.
Baylor was up 33-25 late in the second quarter when UConn coach Geno Auriemma called a timeout. The Huskies responded by scoring the next nine points before Baylor hit the last basket before the half to take a 35-34 lead into the break.
The Lady Bears extended that lead to 55-52 after three quarters. The Huskies had a chance to make it a one-point game, but Walker missed a layup with a few seconds left. Auriemma slammed the scorers table with both hands in disgust after she missed it.
STREAK BUSTERS: This wasn’t the first time that Baylor ended one of UConn’s streaks. The Lady Bears topped UConn last season, ending the Huskies’ 126-game regular season wining streak.
BUSY MONTH: UConn has three more games against ranked teams coming up over the next few weeks with No. 23 Tennessee coming to Connecticut on Jan. 23 in the first matchup of the former rivals since 2007. The Huskies then face No. 2 Oregon on Feb. 3 and fourth-ranked South Carolina on Feb. 10.
TIP-INS:
The Lady Bears also beat UConn last season when the Huskies were ranked No. 1. The two victories are Baylor’s only wins over a No. 1 team. … These two teams are 1-2 in victories since 2010-11, with UConn going 339-18 and Baylor 324-24. … UConn will be ranked in the poll this upcoming Monday for the 500th consecutive week. … A host of WNBA coaches and GMs were in attendance checking out Cox, Crystal Dangerfield, Cooper and Juicy Landrum.. … Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont sat behind the UConn bench. … Caitlin Bickle played her first action for Baylor in over a month after she had surgery to repair a partial tear in her right meniscus. … UConn’s 99-game home winning streak ended against St. John’s on Feb. 19, 2012.
Baylor: Hosts Oklahoma State on Sunday
UConn: Hosts Houston on Saturday.
Tags: Baylor Bears, Connecticut Huskies
Wednesday’s Things To Know: Creighton rolls, SDSU remains perfect,
Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
Only two ranked teams played on Wednesday night, neither of them coming from one of the top six conferences, but there were a couple of games that were worth monitoring.
Here are the things you need to know from college basketball’s New Year’s Day action:
1. WE CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF JUST HOW DANGEROUS CREIGHTON CAN BE
The Bluejays absolutely tore apart Marquette on Wednesday night. The final score was 92-75, but Creighton led by as much as 25. They got 78 of their 92 points from the four guards in the starting lineup — 24 points came from Mitchell Ballock. 21 points came from Ty-Shon Alexander. Damien Jefferson chipped in with 17 points. And Marcus Zegarowski added 16 points and six assists.
Marquette simply could not guard that quartet, and there are not going to be many teams out there that can. On their day, the Jays are among the most lethal teams in the country. They space the floor, they have shooting everywhere and there are few coaches that excel at using that shooting and that spacing to create hard-to-guard actions better than McDermott.
It doesn’t always go like this (San Diego State beat Creighton 83-52), but on the nights that it does, Creighton is going to be tough to beat.
2. SAN DIEGO STATE IS STILL UNDEFEATED
San Diego State won their 14th straight game on Wednesday night, taking care of Fresno State despite the fact that they were missing a couple of injured players, including starting center Nathan Mensah.
The Aztecs are one of just two undefeated teams left in the country, which is perfect because on Saturday, the 14th-ranked Aztecs head to Logan to take on Utah State in a battle of the preseason Mountain West favorite and the current Mountain West favorite.
3. WAS CINCINNATI’S BEATDOWN OF UCONN MORE ABOUT UCONN OR CINCINNATI?
It was weird watching Cincinnati dismantle UConn in Fifth-Third Arena on Wednesday night.
Cincinnati has struggled this season relative to what their expectations were. They lost three of their last four games prior to tonight, with the one win coming at home against a Tennessee team that was just starting their descent off of the cliff that night.
UConn, on the other hand, seemed like they were, at the very least, a team with a level of toughness and swagger that embody Danny Hurley’s teams.
Which is why it was mildly surprising to see the Bearcats simply grind UConn down into a pulp.
Now, there was definitely a matchup element to this game. UConn is at their best when they are getting up and down the floor, forcing turnovers and playing in transition. Cincinnati never let them play that way, and UConn never had an answer for their zone.
But this also seemed a little bit like a turning point for the Bearcats, who got one of Jarron Cumberland’s better games of the season. He’s been better since the disaster against Colgate, when he tossed up a three from beyond halfcourt with five seconds left, costing his team a win. Only time will tell on that front, but manhandling a team that they should manhandle is a good sign for this group.
Ranking the best college basketball teams of the decade
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
By Rob DausterDec 31, 2019, 9:00 AM EST
More college basketball all-decade content here.
The 2010s are coming to an end, which should make you feel incredibly old.
We’ve now gone a full decade with John Calipari in charge of the Kentucky Wildcats. We’re more than a decade removed from the existence of Psycho T on a college basketball campus. In the last ten years, we’ve seen Kentucky and Duke win titles by playing as young as possible, Virginia win by playing as slow as possible, Villanova win by shooting as many threes as possible and UConn win a pair of titles by hoping a star point guard can carry them through a six-game tournament.
We’ve experienced Jimmermania. We survived Zion Williamson’s Shoegate. We watched Louisville win a national title and then had the NCAA erase it from our collective memory because an assistant coach liked to turn dorm rooms into the Champagne Room.
It’s been a wild ride.
And over the course of the next two weeks, we will be taking a look back at some of the best parts of the decade.
Today, we are giving you the ten best college basketball all-decade teams of the last ten seasons.
North Carolina after defeating Gonzaga in the 2017 national title game (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
The criteria for ranking the best teams in college basketball over the last decade was pretty simple: We’re not ranking how good the players on these rosters ended up being once they reached the NBA, or how good those teams looked on paper, or even basing it strictly on whether or not they won the national title. Take, for example, 2015. Duke won the national title that season, but I think everyone will agree that the Kentucky team that started the season off at 38-0 was the best team in college basketball that year.
And, for clarity’s sake, we are including the 2009-2010 season in this discussion. We did consider this season as well, but since everyone in college basketball stinks this year, our life was made easier.
So without further ado, these are the definitive, unquestioned best teams that set foot on a college basketball court in the last decade.
2010 DUKE: Mike Krzyzewski’s first national title of the decade. It might go overlooked among Coach K’s best teams because there were no eventual superstars on the roster, but that team won a share of the ACC regular season title, the ACC tournament title and, of course, the national title with a team that had six NBA players on it. That number doesn’t include Jon Scheyer, who was a senior All-American that probably would have made a roster somewhere if he hadn’t injured his eye.
2014 WICHITA STATE: This was the best team that Gregg Marshall had at Wichita State. The Shockers won their first 35 games of the season, with Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker running the backcourt, but the best player on the roster that year was actually Cleanthony Early, who was eventually picked in the second round of that June’s draft.
2016 VILLANOVA: This season’s version of the Wildcats won the national title and rid Jay Wright of the stigma of being unable to get out of the first weekend of the tournament. I think that the 2018 iteration of the Wildcats was significantly better, but this group had to be considered because A) they won the national title, and B) there were six NBA players on the roster, including three (Josh Hart, Ryan Arcidiacono and Jalen Brunson) in the starting lineup.
2017 NORTH CAROLINA: I was such a big fan of this group. With Joel Berry, Justin Jackson and Kennedy Meeks leading the way, the Tar Heels won the outright ACC regular season title before making a run to win the national title, redeeming themselves for a loss in the same game the previous season.
2019 DUKE: This Duke team had as much, if not more, talent on their roster than any team that we’ve seen the last decade. R.J. Barrett became the first player to average 22 points, seven boards and four assists at a high-major since Penny Hardaway in 1993, and he was the second-best player on that team. Remember Zion? The Blue Devils finished third in the ACC regular season standings, but they won the ACC tournament and entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 overall seed before flaming out in the Elite Eight.
Definitive proof Louisville won the 2013 national title (Mark Cornelison/Getty Images)
10. 2013 LOUISVILLE
RECORD: 35-5 (14-4 Big East)
WHAT THEY WON: Big East regular season title, Big East tournament title, national title
WHO WERE THE STARS?: Russ Smith, Peyton Siva, Gorgui Dieng, Luke Hancock, Montrezl Harrell
Before we get into it, I need to clarify something: I know you remember this team. I know that you watched them win the national title, and that we all remember Russdiculous doing Russdiculous things and Luke Hancock hitting four straight threes in the title game. But none of that happened. The NCAA erased it all from the history books when they punished Louisville.
So just remember that, as we discuss this group, you are legally barred from actually remembering them. It’s the NCAA’s rule, my hands are tied.
In all seriousness, this was one of my favorite college basketball teams of the decade. It was the last great team from the old Big East, winning a share of the regular season title before taking home the Big East tournament title. They finished the season with the second-best rating in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency metric in his database, and they did it all with one of the most entertaining players we’ve ever seen in Russ Smith. They played fast, they forced turnovers and they were the crowning achievement for Rick Pitino, who went from building the best team of the 1990s at Kentucky to one of the best teams of the 2010s at Louisville.
Aaron Craft, Jared Sullinger and the rest of Ohio State’s 2011 team (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
9. 2011 OHIO STATE
RECORD: 34-3 (16-2 Big Ten)
WHAT THEY WON: Big Ten regular season title, Big Ten tournament title, lost in the Sweet 16
WHO WERE THE STARS?: Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft, David Lighty, William Buford, Jon Diebler
For my money, this was the best team that Thad Matta ever had at Ohio State. I know he had the one year with Greg Oden and I know they reached the Final Four in 2012, but to be honest, this was his best. I just don’t know how you thought you were going to be able to guard them. Sullinger was a first-team All-American low-post scorer and he was surrounded with three big, long wings (Lighty, Buford, Diebler) who all shot at least 43 percent from three. Diebler shot better than 50 percent from beyond the arc while taking more than six threes per game. Craft was the guy that tied it all together.
The Buckeyes were clearly the best team in the country in 2011. They were No. 1 in KenPom’s rankings, and gap between them and the team sitting at No. 2 was the biggest of any season this decade. They just happened to get a 2-for-16 shooting performance from Buford on the wrong night, as the dropped out of the tournament in the Sweet 16.
Wisconsin after defeating Kentucky in the 2015 Final Four (Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
8. 2015 WISCONSIN
WHAT THEY WON: Big Ten regular season title, Big Ten tournament title, lost in the national title game
WHO WERE THE STARS?: Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig, Josh Gasser
The 2014-15 version of the Wisconsin Badgers was the consummate Bo Ryan basketball team. It was built around a 7-foot center in Frank Kaminsky that entered the program as an unknown three-star prospect that spent two seasons as a seldom-used sub before exploding into an All-American as a junior. He was paired on the front line with Nigel Hayes and Sam Dekker, the former a future All-American and the latter a first round pick, to give Ryan three players that were impossible to guard because they could post-up, play on the perimeter and shoot the three.
The result was arguably the best offense that we’ve seen this decade. The Badgers posted the highest adjusted offensive efficiency in the KenPom era, and while there is a lot of noise in that number, there are two things that make me believe there is some truth to that statement: A) There are only two teams in KenPom’s database that had a higher raw points-per-possession, and B) This was posted in what was the best season of the decade. Seven teams finished the year with four or fewer losses, the only time that’s happened since the turn of the century.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL ALL-DECADE TEAMS
Duke won the 2015 national title, Coach K’s fifth (Lance King/Getty Images)
7. 2015 DUKE
RECORD: 35-4 (15-3 ACC)
WHAT THEY WON: National title
WHO WERE THE STARS?: Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones, Justise Winslow, Quinn Cook, Grayson Allen
The interesting thing about this Duke team is that, for much of the season, they didn’t even look like the best team in the ACC. There was a point in mid-January where it looked like this thing could end up spinning off the rails. They had lost to N.C. State on the road, their first loss of the season, and they had gotten run out of Cameron Indoor Stadium by a pretty regular Miami team just two days later. They fell out of the top 60 in adjusted defensive efficiency and it looked like the idea of pairing a slow-footed center with a point guard that’s not exactly known for his physicality and toughness would come back to bite them.
Hell, they didn’t win the ACC regular season or tournament title.
But when it mattered, in the NCAA tournament, it all came together. Duke was awesome defensively throughout their run. The only team to score more than 1.0 points-per-possession against them was Wisconsin in the national title game, who had 63 points on 60 possessions. The Blue Devils ended up sweeping the Badgers – they had won by 10 in Madison in December – en route to Coach K’s second title of the decade.
North Carolina in 2012 before Kendall Marshall got hurt (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
6. 2012 NORTH CAROLINA
WHAT THEY WON: ACC regular season title, lost in the Elite Eight
WHO WERE THE STARS?: Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall, John Henson, Reggie Bullock, James Michael-McAdoo, P.J. Hairston
From a neutral’s perspective, I don’t think that there was a more disappointing injury to take place during this decade than when Kendall Marshall fractured a bone in his wrist during the second round of the NCAA tournament against Creighton.
The Tar Heels were absolutely loaded. Every member of their starting lineup ended up being a first round pick, with four of the five getting selected in the top 17 picks of the 2012 NBA Draft. They had played Kentucky to a stalemate in Rupp Arena that December, losing when Anthony Davis blocked a John Henson shot at the buzzer to seal a one-point win. Kentucky was considered far and away the favorite to win the national title that season, but North Carolina was right there with them and on the opposite side of the bracket.
Everyone wanted the rematch.
And thanks to one, single scaphoid fracture, that never happened.
That should not change how we view the 2012 North Carolina team. They were, as you can see, absolutely loaded.
Kentucky had a lot of talent in 2010 (Mark Cornelison/Getty Images)
5. 2010 KENTUCKY
RECORD: 35-3 (14-2 SEC)
WHAT THEY WON: SEC regular season title, SEC tournament title, lost in the Elite Eight
WHO WERE THE STARS?: John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Patterson, Darius Miller
John Calipari’s first season with the Wildcats really set the tone for what we would get from him during his tenure.
For starters, Cal brought in an absolutely electric recruiting class, headlined by John Wall and Demarcus Cousins, arguably the two best recruits that season. Throw in Eric Bledsoe and add a sprinkle of the veteran presence that came from Patrick Patterson and Darius Miller, and suddenly Cal had a roster that included five NBA players – including two top five picks and four lottery picks in total. That team would go on to win both SEC titles before falling short of the Final Four when they went 4-for-32 from three in the Elite Eight against West Virginia.
That’s not the last time we’ve see a Coach Cal team loaded with talent lose because they couldn’t shoot it all that well.
But what made that season truly notable came during the draft. Five Kentucky players were selected in the first round, and Cal said that it was the greatest moment in the history of the program, something that rankled the feathers of Kentucky’s old guard. But it was also a prescient statement on the future of the program he wanted to build: He was going to turn Kentucky into the prime spot where you go to do your eight months before jumping to the NBA. Getting someone like Daniel Orton picked in the first round despite averaging three points was evidence that you didn’t need to thrive at Kentucky to make it to the next level. You just needed to be there.
And in the decade since, he’s had as much success as any coach in the country, even if there is only one title to show for it.
Virginia after their 2019 redemption (Matt Marriott/Getty Images)
4. 2019 VIRGINIA
WHAT THEY WON: ACC regular season title, national title
WHO WERE THE STARS?: De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, Mamadi Diakite, Kihei Clark
We all know about just how good Virginia is on the defensive side of the ball, and this roster was no different. Kihei Clark and Mamadi Diakite were both plus-defenders, among the best that you are going to find in college basketball at their position. There’s an argument to be made that De’Andre Hunter is the best defensive player that we saw in college basketball this decade. I don’t think that’s an exaggeration.
But what set this version of the Cavaliers apart was just how efficient and lethal they were offensively. Kyle Guy was an NBA draft pick because of how well he can shoot. Ty Jerome was a first round draft pick because of his ability to operate in ball-screens. And Hunter was simply bigger and more athletic than anyone that tried to defend him.
When you give a Tony Bennett team three NBA players who excel on the offensive end of the floor, you are going to be very, very difficult to beat.
John Calipari’s only national title came in 2012 (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
WHAT THEY WON: SEC regular season title, national title
WHO WERE THE STARS?: Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb, Marquis Teague, Darius Miller
We always hear about just how close the 2015 Kentucky team came to going undefeated on the season. We don’t hear all that much about how close this Kentucky team, the first team to win 38 Division I basketball games in a single season, came to finishing out the year unblemished. If it wasn’t for a buzzer-beating Christian Watford three at Indiana and an SEC title game loss to a Vanderbilt team that had three pros, we might remember this group differently.
As it stands, Kentucky had the consensus National Player of the Year, Anthony Davis, surrounded by a perfect compliment of young talent (Teague, Kidd-Gilchrist) and wily veterans (Lamb, Jones, Miller). They finished the season as one of the nation’s elite offenses, and defensively, Davis took them to another level. Fun fact: Kentucky finished the 2012 season with the highest block rate of the decade. The only teams in the KenPom era that bettered them were a couple of the UConn teams in the mid-00s.
This group also changed college basketball in a pretty significant way. This proved that national titles could be won with rosters built around the best freshmen in the sport. The one-and-done era was already in full swing, but this win turned each and every recruiting class into an arms race. Arizona jumped in the mix. Kansas jumped in the mix. Even schools like LSU, or Missouri, or Cal tried to replicate what Kentucky did in 2012.
I think there’s an argument to be made that this team was the most influential team of the decade.
Kentucky was two games away from 40-0 in 2015 (Mark Cornelison/Getty Images)
WHAT THEY WON: SEC regular season title, SEC tournament title, lost in the Final Four
WHO WERE THE STARS?: Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, Willie Cauley-Stein, Trey Lyles, Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Tyler Ulis
I think there’s a very strong case to make that this Kentucky team is the best team in college basketball history that didn’t win the national title. There was so much talent on the roster that, if you remember, Coach Cal had to talk about ‘platoons’ as much as possible to try and keep everyone happy. They legitimately went 10 deep. Devin Booker, who is one of the top five young scorers in the NBA, came off the bench. That is an embarrassment of riches for one roster.
And what made this team so good is that they were unquestionably the best team in the country on the defensive side of the ball that season. The only two teams that have posted better adjusted defensive efficiency numbers in KenPom’s database were Texas Tech in 2019 and Louisville in 2013. When you have a team with that much game-changing talent – remember what Karl-Anthony Towns did to Notre Dame in the Elite Eight? – that is willing to sacrifice minutes, accept roles and defend the way they defended, it’s the Coach Cal masterpiece.
It’s unfortunate that they didn’t win the title.
Because if any team deserved a 40-0 record, it was this group.
The best of the decade (Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
1. 2018 VILLANOVA
WHAT THEY WON: Big East tournament title, national title
WHO WERE THE STARS?: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Omari Spellman, Eric Paschall, Donte DiVincenzo, Phil Booth
This team was Jay Wright’s Mona Lisa. They were old, they were positionless, they shot a ton of threes and they were loaded with soon-to-be NBA players.
Let’s start with the basketball side first. This team finished as the second-best offense in the KenPom era, according to his adjusted offensive efficiency metric, but no one since 2002 has posted a higher raw points-per-possession than this Villanova team. They shot better than 40 percent from three while firing up nearly half of their field goal attempts from beyond the arc. What made them so difficult to defend was that their point guard, Jalen Brunson, the National Player of the Year, was a lethal post scorer while Omari Spellman, their center, shot 43.3 percent from three and averaged two blocks per game. Throw in myriad versatile, sharp-shooting wings that would go on to play in the NBA, and there was just no way to stop this group. They only lost two games at full strength all season long – at Butler when Butler shot 15-for-22 from three, and at Creighton in overtime when Creighton shot 12-for-29 from three.
But the other side of it is that this roster was quintessential Jay Wright. Brunson was a McDonald’s All-American, but he needed three years in college because the NBA doesn’t recognize talent when it doesn’t come in freak physical packages. Bridges was a redshirt junior because he needed to add weight in college and accepted playing behind Josh Hart as a sophomore. Paschall was a redshirt junior after transferring into the program from Fordham. Booth (redshirt junior), DiVincenzo (redshirt sophomore) and Spellman (redshirt freshman) all missed a season due to injury or, in Spellman’s case, academics.
Booth is the only one of those five that hasn’t found success in the NBA, and I think he’ll get there eventually.
When you combine next-level talent and elite shooting on an unselfish, old roster, this is what happens.
You get the Team Of The Decade.
Bracketology: Welcome to the top line, San Diego State January 20, 2020 1:30 pm College Basketball Top 25 Power Rankings: Baylor and Gonzaga lead the way January 19, 2020 12:23 pm No. 14 Villanova survives UConn, 61-55 January 18, 2020 2:47 pm No. 6 Baylor ends No. 1 UConn’s 98-game home win streak January 9, 2020 10:00 pm Wednesday’s Things To Know: Creighton rolls, SDSU remains perfect, January 2, 2020 12:05 am Ranking the best college basketball teams of the decade December 31, 2019 9:00 am College Basketball’s All-Decade Team December 31, 2019 9:00 am College Basketball All-Decade: The 13 best coaches of the last 10 years December 30, 2019 3:00 pm Monday’s Overreactions: Vernon Carey, Baylor and UConn is back! November 25, 2019 10:43 am UConn guard charged with evading police is granted probation November 18, 2019 4:29 pm No. 15 Florida falls to UConn 62-59 on the road November 17, 2019 6:02 pm Best Bets: Previewing Auburn-Davidson, Baylor-Washington, Texas-Purdue November 8, 2019 12:50 pm College Basketball 2019-2020 Preseason Top 25 November 4, 2019 12:00 am UConn player who fled crash applies for probation program October 29, 2019 1:57 pm Police: UConn’s James Bouknight had odor of alcohol following crash October 28, 2019 11:53 am College Basketball Preseason AP Top 25 October 21, 2019 12:09 pm UConn’s Dan Hurley and the Big East preview podcast October 21, 2019 11:57 am 2019-20 NBC Sports College Basketball Preseason All-America Teams October 15, 2019 10:00 am College Basketball 2019-2020 Preseason Top 25 October 15, 2019 7:00 am The American Preview Podcast: A team-by-team breakdown of the league October 10, 2019 11:59 am AAC Season Preview: Power rankings, preseason awards, and is Memphis the best team in the league? October 10, 2019 9:00 am College Basketball’s Impact Freshman October 3, 2019 10:30 am After Texas Tech, what is the next program to go from off-the-map to powerhouse? October 2, 2019 9:00 am 2020 NCAA Tournament Printable Bracket October 1, 2019 1:41 pm CBT Podcast: We’re back, baby! Preseason Top 25, All-Americans, Kansas September 30, 2019 3:17 pm 2019-20 College Basketball Expert Picks September 30, 2019 11:00 am Ollie gets win over UConn in one arm of dispute August 13, 2019 9:34 pm UConn to leave AAC in 2020, pay $17M exit fee July 26, 2019 3:42 pm American Athletic Conference Offseason Reset: What does all the turnover mean for the league? July 18, 2019 10:00 am NCAA: Former UConn coach Kevin Ollie violated head coach responsibility rules July 2, 2019 12:35 pm UConn sees recruiting bump from Big East move July 2, 2019 9:29 am UConn officially back in Big East June 26, 2019 1:45 pm Report: Big East votes to invite UConn to rejoin June 24, 2019 7:24 pm UConn’s return to Big East is great for college basketball June 22, 2019 11:28 am UConn lands transfer guard R.J. Cole May 14, 2019 7:20 pm Former UConn coach Kevin Ollie sues former assistant April 30, 2019 11:06 am Ogunbowale, Irish rally, top UConn 81-76, now play for title April 5, 2019 11:47 pm Monday Overreactions: Recapping first weekend; looking ahead to Final Four March 25, 2019 8:00 am Best Bets: The Bettor’s Guide to Friday’s NCAA tournament games March 22, 2019 3:00 am 2019 NCAA Tournament: Saturday second round tip times, announcer pairings March 22, 2019 12:36 am
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‘Audrie & Daisy’ Trailer Reveals Netflix’s Heartbreaking, Infuriating Sexual Assault Documentary
by Adam Chitwood August 28, 2016
Netflix has released the first trailer for the upcoming sexual assault documentary Audrie & Daisy. Directed by Bonnie Cohen and Jon Shenk (The Island President), the film had its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and tells the heartbreaking, true-life story of two young women who were sexually assaulted: Audrie and Daisy. They were strangers to each other and never met, but their stories are told in parallel as a means of chronicling both the worst case scenario for victims of sexual assault, as well as the glimmer of hope. Spurred by a video of her assault that quickly made the rounds in her high school, Audrie Pott was so ashamed that she committed suicide within a week of her attack. Daisy Coleman, meanwhile, became the victim of nationwide shaming as many rallied around her attacker—a football star and the son of a politician—as the story soon made headlines across the country.
I caught the film myself at Sundance earlier this year and it’s a tactful, thoughtful, and anger-inducing piece of filmmaking. It takes the time to really zero in on who these girls are and what they faced after being assaulted, which in turn has plenty to say about the way our society stacks the deck against anyone who dares speak out about having been violated. It’s an important story that needs to be told, and Cohen and Shenk expertly cover everything from the effects of social and televised media on these women, to an inherent bias from authorities to believe the male in these situations, which happens to a not insignificant number of women and is one of the major reasons most sexual assaults go unreported.
I’m happy this film is going straight to Netflix as it’s tough to convince someone to actually go to the theater to watch a documentary about sexual assault and suicide, but I do hope folks will give it a watch from the comfort of their own home. Portions of the film are hard to watch to be sure, and you’ll certainly come away angry and frustrated, but Cohen and Shenk are careful to shine a light on the advocates working to protect young women like Audrie and Daisy from similar occurrences in the future. and it ends on a surprisingly hopeful note.
Watch the Audrie & Daisy trailer below, and click here to read Matt’s review from Sundance. The film will be available to stream on Netflix on September 23rd.
This Week in Trailers: 'La La Land', 'Manchester by the Sea', 'Batman'…
Watch: Spider-Man Tom Holland Shows Up Chris Hemsworth in Stunt Video
• Audrie & Daisy • Bonnie Cohen • Jon Shenk • Netflix • Trailer
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Covered In Folk: Jesse Winchester (1944-2014)
(with Roseanne Cash, Chris Smither, Mark Erelli, The McGarrigles +8 more!)
I started this entry towards the end of March, an early thaw that revealed a fertile earth ready for Spring even as insanity reigned in my personal life, and many drafts went unfinished. Since then, southern-born musician and songwriter Jesse Winchester has succumbed to the bladder cancer that plagued him for the better half of a decade – but the deceptively simple, direct lyrics and tunes that brought him a modicum of fame and no small counterpart of peer recognition through a long and storied career linger in the air, soothing mind and body as the world slows down to summer heat.
I first wrote about Winchester’s work over at Star Maker Machine back in 2009. Today we take the more comprehensive approach with a long-overdue Covered In Folk feature in tribute to Winchester’s songbook, featuring coverage from a company of contemporaries, including Emmylou Harris, Chris Smither, Pierce Pettis and more.
The musician’s musician, the singer-songwriter’s singer-songwriter: even as we overuse such terms through our criticism and praise, it remains both trope and truism that some of the best artists make their name through the works of others. And although he produced and released his songbook almost entirely through his own performances, Jesse Winchester is one of those artists whose name is all over the liner notes of his generation. His work has been recorded and celebrated by Tom Rush, Emmylou Harris (x2), Lyle Lovett, The Everly Brothers, Jimmy Buffett (x3), Elvis Costello, Little Feat, Wilson Pickett, and a host of well-known Country artists; many of those same stars, plus James Taylor, Lucinda Williams, Allen Toussaint and more, came together in 2012 for a tribute album after the gentle interpreter of the human condition fell ill with cancer.
Winchester deserves the attention. In his own voice, he was a contemporary polymath of genre, with folk and blues elements that cross boundaries even as they dig deep into the soul. Rolling Stone named him The Greatest Voice of the Decade after a 1977 performance that marked a triumphant return to the US after a draft-dodging decade in Quebec.
And although the bulk of his work dates back to the seventies, Winchester continued to write and record throughout his life, albeit sparingly, and in a career ever hampered by a reluctance to play the popstar game. His 2009 appearance on Elvis Costello’s Spectacle, where he performed Sham-A-Ling-Ding-Dong – a song that American Songwriter aptly called “an ode to both the triumph of true love over time and to the profundity of nonsensical doo-wop lyrics, all delivered by Winchester in a fragile croon that transmits all of the deep emotions hiding between the lines” – is a stunning example of a true master at the end of a too-short career, in a performance that brought Neko Case – and me – to tears.
What makes a musician’s influence so strong that his work affects his peers so well? Mostly, the ability to put into words those universal sentiments that songwriters have long struggled to make. Winchester’s work is often thick with nostalgia, and rich with first person sentiment, but it is, in the end, stunning in its simplicity, with plain lines bare and carefully constructed, pitch-perfect hidden depths that shimmer under seemingly straightforward lyrics. Listen, as his songs shine through the voices that celebrate him – from Mark Erelli’s tender folk lullaby to Chris Smithers’ stomping, driving blues, Emmylou’s inimitable balladry, and the countrygrass sounds of New Grass Revival.
COVERED IN FOLK: JESSE WINCHESTER [zip!]
Roseanne Cash: Biloxi [2012]
Mark Erelli: Defying Gravity [2007]
Louise Taylor: Let’s Make A Baby King [2002]
New Grass Revival: Let’s Make A Baby King [1989]
Lucy Kaplansky: Everybody Knows But Me [1994]
Kate & Anna McGarrigle: Skip Rope Song [1998]
Mary Black: Lay Down Your Burden [1993]
Pierce Pettis: Talk Memphis [2009]
Chris Smither: Talk Memphis [1995]
Chris Smither: Thanks To You [1997]
John Gorka: Do La Lay [2007]
Emmylou Harris: My Songbird [2010]
Category: Covered In Folk, RIP Comment »
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Jeremy Richardson
Jeremy Richardson is a senior energy analyst in the Climate and Energy program, conducting analytical work on the Environmental Protection Agency’s carbon regulations. Prior to this position, Dr. Richardson was a Kendall Science Fellow and researched the fundamental cultural and economic drivers of coal production in West Virginia. He has a Ph.D. and M.S. in physics from the University of Colorado at Boulder as well as a B.S. in Physics from West Virginia University. See Jeremy's full bio.
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How States Can Make Energy Storage Work for Communities
December 13, 2019 11:19 AM EDT
Know of a state where policy might be moving on energy storage? Or a lawmaker interested in the potential for storage to improve people’s lives? Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) new policy brief, “How to ensure energy storage policies are equitable,” offers a policy roadmap for clean energy champions to design ways to stimulate greater deployment of energy storage—in ways that put the needs and interests of communities first. Read more >
What’s a Coal State to Do?
September 6, 2019 1:00 PM EDT
As we collectively work to minimize the impacts of climate change, which we are already seeing today, we will transition to a clean energy economy—and we must ensure fairness to the workers in fossil fuel industries and the communities that depend on them. This is especially true for coal, which has helped keep the lights on for generations. Read more >
A wide range of stakeholders from across the country met in December 2018 to develop a set of principles to ensure equitable deployment of energy storage technologies. (Photo: Megan Rising/UCS)
Putting Communities First in Deploying Energy Storage
A wide range of stakeholders just released a set of principles for equity and energy storage. Read more >
Photo: WildEarth Guardians/Flickr
How Securitization Can Help Achieve a Just Transition for Coal Communities
March 28, 2019 12:58 PM EDT
Over the years, I’ve written and spoken extensively about the urgency of providing a fair and equitable transition for coal-impacted communities as we collectively move towards a clean energy economy. This includes not just the workers at the coal-fired power plants, but also the mine workers that feed those plants, as well as the communities surrounding those plants and mines that depend on the coal industry for their economic livelihoods. Given the scale of the climate crisis, it is imperative to drive down greenhouse gas emissions and transition to clean energy as quickly as possible. But the cost of this transition should not be borne solely by coal communities and workers, not does it have to be. By coupling clean energy commitments with the careful and targeted use of a powerful and somewhat lesser known financial tool called securitization, states can do both: accelerate the transition to clean energy and ensure that impacted coal workers and coal communities don’t get left behind.
Beaver Valley nuclear in PA. Photo: United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Natural Gas is Undermining Pennsylvania’s Nuclear Plants—And That’s Bad News for the Climate
November 8, 2018 12:01 AM EDT
What are the implications for Pennsylvania, which has five nuclear power plants that in total provide the second highest nuclear operating capacity of any state? Read more >
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Browse: Home / 2017 / April / 21 / IHOB – Senior Edition: ANGELA MARIE (AMBER) TENG
IHOB – Senior Edition: ANGELA MARIE (AMBER) TENG
IWB / April 21, 2017 / Comments Off on IHOB – Senior Edition: ANGELA MARIE (AMBER) TENG / Cross-Cultural, Journey Stories, Senior Profile, US Culture
Interview by Lily Zhao ’18. Photos by Victor Alvarez ’19.
Angela Marie Teng, or Amber (an abbreviation of Angela Marie Bernadette, her full name) as known by her friends, is an international senior from the Philippines. She grew up in Manila, and lived there until she came to Providence for college. Here at Brown, she has been involved in a number of student activities and organizations such as the Archaeology Department’s Dig DUG, the Senior Class Gift, rugby, and the cheerleading team as an underclassman. She’s interested in issues such as improving awareness and removing the stigma around mental health and women’s empowerment internationally. Read on to find out about her thoughts on adjusting to Brown as an international student and her reflections looking back as a senior about to graduate, including everything about the value of the connections she has made over the years at Brown to her love of avocados.
I’m from Manila, Philippines. I’ve lived there all my life, until coming here for university.
What is your major?
I double concentrate in Economics and Archaeology.
What languages do you speak?
Mostly just English and Tagalog. I actually couldn’t speak English until I was 6 years old.
Which clubs have you been involved in at Brown?
Right now, I’ve kind of been focused on the job search and have reduced my commitments, but freshman year until the start of senior year I was involved in the IFJ. I used to write and lead external affairs for a while. I also currently help lead the Dig DUG, which is the archaeology DUG. It’s super fun! We sponsor a lot of cool events with yummy Meeting Street cookies. You should come to our events! I also tried to stay involved in sports for a while, but the time commitment is just so intense. I played rugby and cheered for Brown for a bit… haha. It was great. I love the team. It’s just like a bunch of great people who want to share their passion for the sport with you. Aside from that, I also worked on campus as a research assistant for linguistics and environmental science. Right now, I also work closely with the Brown Senior Class Gift. Oh, and I work at BUDS hehe hit me up for iced coffee.
Why did you decide to study in the US?
I guess like initially I wanted to come to the US to study because education is one of America’s best exports. Brown is definitely a good match for me – I love Brown because it looks at a lot of aspects of who you are when they review your application, so it really made sure that this was a place that I would belong in, as well as contribute to. In addition, being in a school as liberal as Brown allowed me to explore various disciplines, instead of being limited to one field, choose my area of interest and subsequently helping me expand my knowledge.
Also, while this may sound idealistic, I wanted to do something to help my country, and get a chance to show how great and talented Filipinos are. When I was in high school, I started hearing about my country’s problems, a lot of which were economic in nature, like income inequality and poverty. This is what got me interested in Econ. I wanted to learn from the US and see how it is trying to solve similar challenges in the hope that this can be applied to my country.
How have your four years here been different from what you expected?
I think before coming to the States, I had like a very outsider perspective of universities like Brown. It was kind of like to me it was just an idea, an aspiration, you know like, kind of, my dream, like this has been my dream for so long, even all throughout high school. I worked really hard to get here. Like never in my life have I actually envisioned myself getting into like an Ivy League like Brown, like ever. In terms of how my expectations differed, I thought it would be like super duper ultra competitive with everyone just trying to kill themselves over the best grades, and like I expected that everyone you meet is just trying to pull you down to get on top. That’s how I thought it would be like. I thought the competition would be like that intense. Just because it was really hard to get in here, you know. And it is true that it is competitive, but I was surprised at how kind, and warm, and collaborative everyone is at Brown. Like at Brown, honestly it’s my home. I was surprised at how open everyone is and how willing they were to take the time and effort to help you succeed here and help you love the school and love what you do and help you navigate through the college experience. They provide so much support—not just academically, but also for mental health, peer counseling, everything. Honestly, it’s exceeded my expectations by so, so, so, so much. Aside from being an excellent academic institution, Brown just gives me this sense of warmth. Whenever I think about Brown, I think of home.
What did you find most difficult and/or easiest to get used to?
Culture for both–
I guess the hardest thing was the culture. I mean the US is already like kind of liberal compared to my country, maybe not my whole country but like my personal experience in my country. And Brown is even more liberal than that, to an extent. I studied in a Catholic school. It was not co-ed. It was all girls. We prayed a lot, and we wore uniforms and skirts that they strictly measured to be two inches below the knee. They measured your socks, you can’t wear colored hair ties, you can’t wear double piercings, no bracelets. Literally it’s super strict. It’s very traditional, because I feel like a large proportion of our population is Catholic. A lot of our value system stems from religious values as well. I guess initially the biggest adjustment for me at Brown was being in such a diverse place with people from all walks of life, and like people with different religions, different socioeconomic backgrounds, different beliefs, and kind of having all of my beliefs questioned because of that.
On the flipside, I think culturally, it’s a lot more open here—so that was something I really like and made it easier for me to transition. A lot of the taboo topics in my country to talk about are discussed more openly here. Like until recently, I feel like nobody really openly talks about condoms or sex or like mental health in the Philippines. I feel like now there’s a bit more discussion on that front because we have a really proactive and inclusive generation of youth. I think it’s important to talk about issues like these that might not be so culturally acceptable especially to the elders because we know things like these do happen in my country, it’s just that nobody talks about it because of the stigma. I guess it was different because here at Brown specifically people are aware of these issues and I think that’s one thing that I thought was really effective instead of having a somewhat false sense of innocence and purity. It helps to be able to provide people with complete and accurate information, so they know what they’re getting into and understand the consequences of their actions. Despite these challenges though, it’s evident that there are a lot of people in the Philippines who are putting in work to make critical improvements on these fronts.
On a more Brown-specific note, it was easier for me to feel at home here because people kind of let you do your own thing without judging you, and then just like take you as you are. I feel like I was really able to be myself here, and be a part of a community of people who I could get close with on a personal level, so that was great. I’ve met some of my best friends here
What is the food or dish that you miss from home?
Oh my god, like everything. My favorite food is sinigang, which is a Filipino dish. It’s like kind of sour soup but my dad makes it with tuna belly. It’s so good! It’s like my favorite. And rice, I love Philippine rice, like the way we make it there. It’s just the right stickiness. There’s not too much water, there’s not too little water, it’s just right. Rice! Rice is life. Oh and mangoes, oh my god, I love mangoes so much. It’s just the best thing ever. I love food, honestly if you get me on the topic of food, I’ll never stop talking about it. But yeah, those are my favorites, the fruits, and rice. Sophomore year I cooked a bit. Junior year, I made food for my roommates. I would make them this dish called adobo, which is just like chicken, with a sauce, and you put it on rice. I always liked to experiment, and try making new stuff junior year, and then senior year came and I’m just like “I’m going to live off eggs for the rest of the week.” I actually just bought like two dozen eggs, so I’m living off that, because it takes so much effort, and I live across from Tallulah’s. I’m close to basically all the restaurants on Ives, and Medeira’s.
What is an Americanism you have picked up in the last four years?
My first two weeks here, I had a super thick accent and nobody could understand what I was saying, so I tried to say it how they say it, so that we could communicate properly and I would stop holding the lines at the v-dub. The first time I went home I was talking to my friends and they were asking me about the Filipinos at Brown. And then apparently, I was saying “Filipino” with an “ohhhhh”, instead of a hard “o” and they were like “dude, what did you just say?” and they were like “you have an accent.” I didn’t even notice that but apparently it’s a big thing. It’s like if you’re American then I have an accent, but if you’re Filipino then I have an accent also. I feel like it depends on where I’m at, like if I’m in the States my accent is more American, versus if I’m in Manila then my accent is more Filipino. So there’s that, so just the way I talk. Oh and avocados. I’m addicted to avocados now. My whole housing group, we just hoard avocados, it’s like the worst thing ever. I mean, the best, but also the worst. I barely ate them in Manila the way we eat them here. And Greek yogurt!
What do you wish you knew as an incoming freshman?
If I could go back in time and talk to freshman year me, I would tell myself to be more open and be less shy, and less timid, and less scared. I feel like as a freshman, I was kind of hesitant to be that open and to let myself feel the culture here and life at Brown. It took me a while before I actually felt like Brown was my home. For the first few years, I was like half here and half in Manila, and I kind of wasn’t living in the moment. It was only when I stopped dwelling on what I had in Manila that I didn’t have here, and just focusing on the things I have at Brown and in the States…that was the only time that I felt at home, like I belonged here. I was kind of scared to get to know people, because it was different, and I was kind of scared to get out of my comfort zone and let go. So if I could go back I would tell myself, “just do it, you know, you only live once.” Haha. Honestly, life is too short to be too concerned about what everyone thinks of you. College is so short, I’m literally about to leave and I wish I’d done more at Brown. There are just so many great people, and so many great things to do at Brown, and it’s only now in senior year that I’m really taking advantage of that. And making a huge effort to make deep bonds with people, and this whole time I feel like if I started sooner, I would have been able to get closer to a lot more people, been able to experience and contribute a lot more.
How has living here changed how you act or interact at home?
I think I’m a lot more empathetic, I’m a lot more open to new ideas and new people, and I’m a lot more understanding I think. I feel like when you’re in an environment where everyone is very similar to you, like everyone is coming from similar backgrounds and you all have the same beliefs, it’s easy to kind of be closed to new things and fall into routine. Being at Brown being exposed to everybody from different walks of life, from different parts of the world, with different beliefs. I think it’s made me a lot kinder, and just understanding. When people say things, give out new and “crazy” ideas; it doesn’t really faze me because Brown teaches you to be open to everyone, to be open and inclusive, and to really cherish diversity. That’s definitely one of the things I learned.
But also because it’s kind of liberal here, sometimes when I go back home, there are small things and mannerisms that people have that I’ve begun to question and I guess think about more deeply, especially when people use terms that are somewhat politically incorrect or could be offensive in other cultures. Also, I think when I was in Manila I was somewhat passive, to an extent, about the double-standard that existed for women and that was especially prominent in traditional societies. I mean, it was so routine that it felt almost normal and okay and just something that didn’t need to be questioned. I’m in this class right now about women in the Ancient Mediterranean, and a lot of it is understanding where those social constructs come from, as well as the gender values we have. I guess that made me more passionate and aware about women empowerment, in a sense, so when people say misogynistic stuff in Manila that I used to just let pass or not even notice, I can now identify it better and take action rather than just being passive. I feel like that awareness has helped me have the courage to stand up for my beliefs even though it was kind of the norm in my society.
What is one thing that you’re going to miss about Brown?
I guess what I’m going to miss the most about Brown is the people, for sure. It’s really only sometimes that you can be in a community where you actually want to get to know everyone around you, everyone at Brown. It’s only sometimes that you can say that, you know? Just being in a place where everyone is very open, understanding, warm, and excited to get to know you, super innovative and super passionate about what they do. We’re literally in a university made of the most passionate, brightest, driven people. That’s exciting and super inspiring, like coming to class and sitting with people who have launched start-ups, are in Forbes 30 under 30, having professors who have won Nobel Prizes, just being with people who genuinely love what they do. That’s something that inspires me everyday, and that’s something that I’ll miss the most about Brown, just being in this creative environment where people really value learning and want to help you succeed. Honestly, that’s my favorite thing about Brown.
What was your favorite spring break memory?
Actually my spring breaks are pretty chill, because I have an aunt in Ohio so I just go see her during spring break in Columbus. I love spending time with my family and just relaxing with their dog haha.
Anything to add? Any words of wisdom to younger students?
Stay driven, love what you do, do what you love. Oh and always be kind!!!
Tags: ihob, senior
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The International Writers’ Blog (IWB) is a platform for members of the Brown community to create, share, and engage with stories relating to identity, language, race, culture, belonging, cross-cultural understanding, and more.
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Tag Archives: King Tut
In Search of… The Mummy of King Tut
In the annals of parapsychology, no creature has a greater basis in fact that the mummy. They do exist. Mummies have been discovered in nearly every part of the world, dating back untold centuries. They are on display in museums across the globe.
The most well-known, the Egyptian mummy, is the result of a complicated process. After death, the body was treated with certain chemicals designed to preserve it long after death, and wrapped in special bandages also soaked in chemicals to aid in preservation. The body itself is adorned with all the elaborate trappings of life. Pharaohs of ancient Egypt were interred in pyramids, huge testaments to their importance and the gateways to their new world, the afterlife.
Buried with the Pharaohs were gold, jewels, and more mundane items, all of which were their for their later use in the world after death. Most of the grand tombs of the ancients have long been found to be empty, looted by grave robbers willing to risk the curses associated with the tombs for the fabulous wealth within.
The most famous Egyptian tomb was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922. It was the most complete, fabulous tomb of the young Pharaoh King Tutankhamen who ruled from BC 1333 to 1324. Along with the jewels and treasure, Howard Carter also discovered sealed jars. When opened, they were found to contain the remains of King Tut’s organs. Mummies had them removed and carefully preserved to delay or avoid decomposition.
Much is known about King Tut. Renowned as the “fun pharaoh,” he ruled over a kingdom famed for song and merriment. In fact, a song performed by King Tut himself, “King Tut,” went to number two on the Egyptian charts, kept out of the number one slot by “Nile Delta Blues” by Pinetop Per-Kin-Ra.
The song was later covered by Lady Gaga-Ra in BC 1218.
The cause of Tut’s death is unknown, but it is speculated that he was assassinated by political enemies. What is known is that after his removal from his tomb in 1922, the mummy of King Tut was reanimated when a an assistant archeologist read from the scroll of Toth. Far from being the fun-loving King Tut, the reanimated pharaoh returned to life angered at those who betrayed him.
Parapsychologists have long hunted The Mummy. Sightings have them as far afield as Scotland, where he was allegedly photographed near Loch Ness in what has become known as the Surgeon’s Mummy Photograph. Yes, Loch Ness. It was a coincidence.
The creature is driven by rage. Researchers feel that The Mummy is a threat to all of humanity. Many amateur groups have tried to stop him but not even the most seasoned of meddling kids have been able to end his threat.
The Mummy is known to be devious and clever, and uses black magic spells and incantations. He has been kept alive by drinking the juice of nine tana leaves, a species indigenous only in the mythical realm of Thundera. It is there that he is often thwarted by a group of parapsychologists calling themselves Tundercats.
Many people scoff at the mummy. They put him in the same category as the Jersey Devil and the New York Mets. Proponents point to the lack of empirical evidence. They say that magic does not exist. They contend that Thundercats is a cartoon and Mumm-Ra and Tut are clearly not the same character. Despite a keynote address by Ardath Bey, noted Egyptian expert and producer of 1932’s documentary The Mummy, skepticism remains.
The motivations of The Mummy of King Tut are not always clear. Although classical Egyptologists are divided on his motivations, most hold that he has a specific set of goals. 1- To avenge his death. 2- To find the reincarnation of his lost love and claim her for all eternity. 3- Win the Indianapolis 500.
Other aspects of his personality are also well-documented. Despite his love of his native Egypt, King Tut is also fiercely loyal and patriotic to his adopted land. In 1939 he became a naturalized American citizen under an assumed name, Kharis von Imhotep of Sweden. When World War Two broke out he enlisted in the US Army.
A series of comic books detailed his exploits and made him a modern-day folk hero. However, he returned home only to find himself once again hunted by scientists and monster hunters. Bitter and rejected he turned once again to a life of evil, rededicating himself to destroying humanity.
Parapsychological research groups continue to monitor the world for signs that he has surfaced. Credible reports are often hard to come by. One of the last confirmed sightings came in 1967.
To finance his arcane rituals he turned to a life of crime. The arch-fiend was last spotted in Gotham City.
The violence in the Middle East and the uncertainty in Egypt have given new fears that The Mummy may be behind the chaos.
The menace of The Mummy cannot be overstated. If you spot The Mummy there are certain steps to take. First, make sure you are not looking at an accident victim. The Mummy is often mistaken for victims of car accidents. Next, do not, under any means, ask him for The Mummy’s autograph, and lastly, never stare at his Ankh.
Tags: archeology, Ardath Bey, Batman, bmj2k, Boris Karloff, Egypt, Egyptology, horror movies, Howard Carter, Imhotep, In Search of, Johnny Quest, Kharis, King Tut, Loch Ness, monster movies, monsters, Mr. Blog, Mr. Blog's Tepid Ride, Mr. BTR, Mumm-Ra, old movies, Scooby Doo, SNL, Steve Martin, The Mummy, The Unknown Soldier, Thundercats, Victor Buono, World War Two
Categories comics, Culture, Halloween, history, humor, Life, movies, music, news, science, superstition, Television, Travel
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« Friday Ephemera | Main | But it’s Clean if it’s Taken by Force »
Elsewhere (27)
Megan McArdle suspects Julian Assange is unwell.
[Assange says,] “In a world where leaking is easy, secretive or unjust systems are nonlinearly hit relative to open, just systems. Since unjust systems, by their nature induce opponents, and in many places barely have the upper hand, mass leaking leaves them exquisitely vulnerable to those who seek to replace them with more open forms of governance.”
Ah. This must be why WikiLeaks has been getting so much material from the governments of China, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea, and why internal documents from Cargill are currently dominating their traffic. Ooops! That was a flash from an alternative universe where what Assange is saying isn’t nonsense. In the real world, he got a bunch of government documents because the US, in its addlepated, well-meaning way, dumped all of them on a network open to 3 million people where they could be seen by a disaffected 23-year old stupid enough to either believe he could get away with this, or not understand how long the years in jail might be.
Theodore Dalrymple on what’s wrong with WikiLeaks.
The actual effect of WikiLeaks is likely to be profound and precisely the opposite of what it supposedly sets out to achieve. Far from making for a more open world, it could make for a much more closed one. Secrecy, or rather the possibility of secrecy, is not the enemy but the precondition of frankness.
And Tim Blair notes the vanities and secrets of the WikiLeaks mouthpiece.
[Assange] says that WikiLeaks has “changed two governments, taken the scalp of a prime minister, taken the scalp of a defence minister and [achieved] many other reforms.” Assange doesn’t identify the governments or the two ministers. Perhaps he’s talking about the 2007 election in Kenya, which Assange claims to have influenced by leaking a secret report. Then followed months of deadly violence, with which Assange seems oddly comfortable: “1,300 people were eventually killed, and 350,000 were displaced. That was a result of our leak,” says Assange. It’s a chilling statistic, but then he states: “On the other hand, the Kenyan people had a right to that information and 40,000 children a year die of malaria in Kenya.” So another 1,300 corpses won’t matter much. Tipping an already-volatile African nation into further mayhem might be Assange’s greatest achievement to date.
Christopher Hitchens weighs in.
The WikiLeaks founder is an unscrupulous megalomaniac with a political agenda… All you need to know about Assange is contained in the profile of him by the great John F. Burns and in his shockingly thuggish response to it. The man is plainly a micro-megalomaniac with few if any scruples and an undisguised agenda. As I wrote before, when he says that his aim is “to end two wars,” one knows at once what he means by the “ending.” In his fantasies he is probably some kind of guerrilla warrior, but in the real world he is a middle man and peddler who resents the civilization that nurtured him.
As usual, feel free to add your own.
Posted at 08:53 in Politics, Psychodrama | Permalink
There is a debate at City University London between Assange and David Aaronovitch of the Times, haven't had time to watch this yet (or frankly the stomach), but readers might be interested:
http://www.city.ac.uk/whatson/2010/9-sep/30092010-wikileaks-e.html
Assange clearly wants to destroy the west. Its all our fault you see.
Posted by: andy | December 06, 2010 at 09:02
Well, what he wants is the question, I think. I suspect attention is high on the list. As others have pointed out (at length), the recent “revelations” have ranged from the innocuous and obvious (Sarkozy, Palin, Berlusconi, etc) to the potentially destabilising. Not that Mr Assange seems particularly concerned with the possible fallout for other parties. Still, I’m sure it’s all very thrilling.
What’s interesting to me is how, beneath all the activist posturing and pretentious theorising, the most popular motive seems to be an urge to do harm to America and the West in general – a two-finger salute - as if the US were some surrogate parent being spat at by sulky teenagers. Assange wants to “end two wars,” he says, presumably by undermining Western efforts to seed democracy and exposing our military and informants to mortal risk. One blogger, linked to approvingly by the lofty lefties at Crooked Timber, made his own feelings clear: “The leaking of these WikiLeaks cables was a brave act and if it damages US foreign policy in the Middle East and elsewhere, which I think it will, I’m all for it.”
As Megan McArdle notes, if bravery’s the thing, it would be much braver to target governments less inclined to tolerate embarrassment and exposure and whose methods are, shall we say, unequivocal. To date, Mr Assange and his associates have shied from such tempting targets – targets that might actually justify their elaborate rationale.
It is surely an example of the Law of Intended Consequences, David. But I'm sure that Assange will soon discover a more powerful one. His statement re. non-linearity, given that he (and his organisation) attempt to control the flow of information, is surely crap, as chaotic systems are exactly that - chaotic.
And if he so naive, it cannot be long before he is hoist by his own petard as his treatment of leaks is clearly assymetric and skewed against the Anglosphere.
Posted by: Robert Edwards | December 06, 2010 at 09:56
“It cannot be long before he is hoist by his own petard.”
There is a sort of ‘moth-to-a-flame’ aspect, as so often with narcissist psychodrama. Assange claims he wants to “hold governments accountable.” But to whom is *he* accountable? The more material is leaked, the less benign his motives seem to be. What “social justice” motive lies behind the most recent WikiLeaks publication - an extensive list of America and Britain’s security-sensitive infrastructure, including fuel pipelines, communication hubs and insulin factories? What noble motivation is in play here? Is the public in some way better off for knowing the approximate whereabouts of these things – and for knowing that terrorists and other potential enemies will know their whereabouts too?
http://hurryupharry.org/2010/12/06/a-leak-too-far/
If Mr Assange were a little more concerned with more obvious - and much more odious - targets, where his own theorising might hold water, his motives wouldn’t seem so dubious. But he isn’t, so they do. “Unjust systems” are, we’re told, “exquisitely vulnerable” to the methods employed by WikiLeaks; yet the most unjust systems on Earth remain all but untouched.
And the five news agencies who collaborated with WikiLeaks in redacting the released documents, plus at least another two who wanted access but couldn't get it ... they too are just psychological adolescents/narcissists, craving attention? All of them suffering from an "urge to do harm to America and the West in general"? And the wildly guessed-at motivations of, say, the *publishers* of "Mein Kampf" equally matter ... how, exactly" Please do enlighten, from a distance, as always.
"The media outlets agreed to work together, with about 120 journalists in total working on the project, at times debating which names of people cited in the documents could be published....
"Le Monde and El Pais came into the media partnership late, about a month ago. The [New York] Times, Guardian and Spiegel had already done quite a bit of work on the documents and shared it, El Pais' Moreno said....
"Some news organizations, including AP and The Washington Post, also have sought access to the documents, but they were denied because of the arrangement between the five media partners."
Oh, and as Assange himself has noted, of truly unjust systems: "People say, why don't you release more leaks from the Taliban. So I say hey, help us, tell more Taliban dissidents about us."
That would be *your* next step, right?
Posted by: Geoffrey Falk | December 06, 2010 at 12:43
Looking at his blog, I don't think Geoffrey is well either...
Posted by: Anna | December 06, 2010 at 14:16
Presumably Assange would have been keen to leak the plans for Operation Overlord if he had been in business in 1944. After all it's important to “hold governments accountable.”
Posted by: Bob-B | December 06, 2010 at 14:33
Geoffrey,
In any given instance, I could only guess at the motives of the newspapers and agencies taking part. I’m sure any number of motives are in play. The New York Times, for instance, took a “public interest” line regarding leaks and confidentiality when the US embassy reports appeared last month, but took a very different stance the previous year regarding Climategate, when it refused to publish “private information” that was “acquired illegally” and which was “never intended for the public eye.” (NYT, November 20th, 2009.)
WikiLeaks once defined its purpose as being to “expose oppressive regimes,” ostensibly those in “Asia, the former Soviet bloc, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.” Added to that was a broader invitation to help reveal “unethical behaviour” in “governments and corporations” elsewhere. But a number of “revelations” seem to have reached way beyond that original (and, for many, unobjectionable) remit.
Given Mr Assange’s character, his statements, his self-flattering blog (now deleted) and his elaborate manifesto, and given his apparent disregard for the fallout faced by third parties (see above), it doesn’t seem outlandish to question the coherence and sincerity of his stated motives. Some might argue that the particulars of any given leak are immaterial and that what matters is the on-going threat to government of exposure; but again, the disregard for consequences is striking. And if the bulk of material is, as it seems to be, aimed at damaging the West, successfully or otherwise, then entertaining other, less edifying motives is perfectly reasonable. To not do so would be ludicrously trusting.
Incidentally, Geoffrey, having scanned your ill-tempered and rather paranoid website, with its colourful references to “niggers” and “fags,” I’d rather you didn’t grace us with your presence.
Firstly: Follow the money; who pays for this?
Secondly: I had a look at 'Geoff's Blog' and felt in urgent need of a bath.
Thirdly: I have heard that an arrest warrant has been issued. This is not necessarily a Good Thing.
Fourthly: Ken Livingstone has just come out in support of this e-hooligan. Which event tells us all we need to know.
"The Taliban has issued a chilling warning to Afghans, alleged in secret US military files leaked on the internet to have worked as informers for the Nato-led coalition, telling Channel 4 News "US spies" will be hunted down and punished."
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/uk/taliban+hunt+wikileaks+outed+afghan+informers/3727667.html
"[Assange] insisted that any risk to informants' lives was outweighed by the overall importance of publishing the information."
http://www.registan.net/index.php/2010/07/30/taliban-use-wikileaks-to-hunt-murder-named-afghans/
Just in case anyone forgets what kind of guy Assange is.
Posted by: SG | December 06, 2010 at 16:48
Following on from SG's link, there is this delightful comment from Ms Assange:
'He claimed that many informers in Afghanistan were “acting in a criminal way” by sharing false information with Nato authorities'.
Aside from the fact that he doesn't tell us how he knows that informers are providing false-tip offs, he's basically doing what Neil Clark did with the Iraqi interpreters three years ago - namely, he's declaring that anyone who works with NATO in Afghanistan deserves to die.
He really is a piece of shit, and I don't know how his actions fit in with Wikileak's initial mission statement, which was ‘in exposing oppressive regimes in Asia, the former Soviet bloc, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East’.
Posted by: sackcloth and ashes | December 06, 2010 at 17:13
SG,
Quite. The “social justice activist” who says, “Our goal is justice to innocents, not to harm them” and who then reveals informants’ details to (among others) the Taliban, and who subsequently claims he was “forced” into doing so because the White House allegedly refused to assist him in editing the material. He had no choice apparently, nor, it seems, any patience. It had to be all or nothing, and it had to be right now.
It’s a moral calculus that not everyone would be comfortable with.
I find Assange's arrogance astonishing: if he has, as he claims, brought down ministers both prime and ordinary as well as changing governments, did he really think the ones who took their places (for it is a certainty that a defeated government or sacked minister is never replaced y a vacuum) were better? Does he know that the second one to come along was better than the first?
The parallel would be a child pulling up a plant in a garden and assuming that mother nature would automatically reward the garden with something more lovely. The evidence of most gardeners is that pull out one plant and a less-attractive weed is more likely to take its place.
But Assange and his crowd love to talk about 'accountability' as if it is some holy grail. He and they may believe they are somehow achieving greater democracy (and automatically beneficial in their eyes), but most people understand that there is no given here. A large number of governments around the world would deal with this rather swiftly: he can do this solely because the west is a 'soft target' that will, oddly, try to defend his right to free speech. I can, however imagine there are all sorts of issues in nations and religions where such freedom and open thought is not tolerated.
He is lucky he can play in an area where the rules of sedition and treason no longer hold sway. However as to him being 'unwell' some clearly think that the itch he may have at the back of his head is from a pinpoint of red light.
Posted by: Sting | December 06, 2010 at 17:41
I repeat my earlier query: Who pays for this?
"I don't know how his actions fit in with Wikileak's initial mission statement"
"At its inception, WikiLeaks announced that "our primary interests are oppressive regimes in Asia, the former Soviet bloc, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East." Since the summer, the group has focused exclusively on the United States--in particular, its controversial military adventures abroad. Also, all documents not related to the Iraq war files have been removed from WikiLeaks.org, and no submissions are currently accepted. And instead of continuing the Wiki-based approach that allows "the entire global community" to participate, WikiLeaks has given exclusives to a handful of mainstream media organizations and no longer allows the public to comment on documents."
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20020996-281.html#ixzz17MKqpC1N
“I find Assange’s arrogance astonishing.”
This is arguably the nub of it. (Last year, Assange described himself as “the heart and soul of this organization, its founder, philosopher, spokesperson, original coder, organizer, financier and all the rest.” Modesty has never troubled Mr Assange, as anyone who’s read his hilariously self-flattering blog will know.) Even setting aside leaks that endanger informants and other personnel and leaks that may make terrorism easier and more serious, there’s the issue of process. As I asked earlier, to whom is WikiLeaks accountable? Assange and his associates continue to circumvent the law and democratic proprieties, including mechanisms independent of government. Whatever one’s views on any particular leak, no-one gave Assange a mandate to compromise security, to disrupt diplomatic relationships, or to endanger lives. The arrogance implicit in the project – made explicit by Assange and his personality cult (“V for Vendetta! A for Assange!”) – is hard to avoid. There may have been instances when the organisation’s actions were defensible, even admirable, but to expect an ongoing license to disclose at will – and Good Guy status by default – is an expectation too far.
If anyone still isn’t clear “what kind of guy” Mr Assange is, here’s an extract from his personal blog, in which Saint Julian admires himself breathlessly:
“At some point in my unintended wooing of her, she looked up, fluttered her eyelids and said’'Oh, you know so much! I hardly know anything!’. ‘That is why you believe in God,’ I explained. This conversational brutality took her breath away and she swooned. I was exactly what she secretly longed for; a man willing to openly disagree with her father. All along she had needed a man to devote herself to. All along she had failed to find a man worthy of being called a man, failed to find a man who would not bow to gods, so she had chosen a god unworthy of being called a god, but who would not bow to a man.”
http://web.archive.org/web/20071020051936/http://iq.org/#Canberra
What about the rest of the Wikileaks group? I understand from reading the last edition of the 'Economist' that some of Mr Assange's colleagues are not happy with his actions. Are they happy with the political direction Wikileaks has taken? And if not, why don't they speak out?
Sackcloth,
Wikileaks co-founder John Young:
"I don't want to limit this to Wikileaks, but yes, they're acting like a cult. They're acting like a religion. They're acting like a government. They're acting like a bunch of spies. They're hiding their identity. They don't account for the money. They promise all sorts of good things. They seldom let you know what they're really up to. They have rituals and all sorts of wonderful stuff. So I admire them for their showmanship and their entertainment value. But I certainly would not trust them with information if it had any value, or if it put me at risk or anyone that I cared about at risk."
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20011106-281.html
Posted by: carbon based lifeform | December 07, 2010 at 08:07
I wonder if WikiLeaks continues to operate, will it's consumers become numb to it eventually? People can only handle so much scandal/outrage, and soon it will take more and more outrageous things to make the news, or to even get anyone to notice. "Only a million embezzled? Come back to me when it's a billion."
Will Governments be more or less compassionate in the future knowing their secrets will show up on the internet. You know, why bother with clandestine activities when you can just nuke the site from orbit. Or will it drive Governments to run with the whole "you know too much, and now you must die" method of secrecy.
Posted by: Chris S. | December 07, 2010 at 08:33
“I don’t know how his actions fit in with WikiLeaks’ initial mission statement.”
Here’s the thing. WikiLeaks is no longer a wiki project that, as its own publicity once put it, “publishes and comments on leaked documents alleging government and corporate misconduct.” It’s become something else, something much less savoury. The objection here - obviously – is not to leaks per se or the exposure of wrongdoing. What’s objectionable is the belief that ongoing exposure is more important than its particulars and consequences – that exactly what is being exposed and who may get hurt simply doesn’t matter. Or doesn’t matter enough.
For instance, where’s the public interest argument for revealing Lebanese informants hoping to undermine Hizballah? Will such disclosures encourage others to risk their safety to combat clerical fascism, or the reverse? Where’s the public interest argument for publishing a list of America and Britain’s security-sensitive infrastructure, including fuel pipelines, communication hubs and insulin factories? Where’s the “government misconduct”? Is it wrong for elected governments to identify their own key infrastructure with a view to protecting it from terrorism? Or is it misconduct to triumphantly share that list with terrorists and other potential enemies? Who elected Mr Assange to make judgments of this kind? Who gave him a mandate to, as one supporter put it, “disrupt the system”?
And whose “system” is he trying to disrupt? As noted above, WikiLeaks’ focus remains almost exclusively on certain, relatively easy targets – i.e. Western targets - with other submissions declined and publication timed to maximise political leverage. And they are targets, chosen above other, more obvious lines of enquiry. Almost four years ago, Assange announced that WikiLeaks had “representatives from expatriate Russian and Tibetan refugee communities,” links with dissidents from Communist regimes and “over 1.1 million documents so far from dissident communities and anonymous sources.” The promised rush of information, though, has been somewhat less than one might have hoped. Instead, Assange tells us that America is “an increasingly militarized society and a threat to democracy.”
Priorities, see?
So here we have a man whose most telling feature is a blithe disregard for the fallout of his actions and who regards America as a threat to democracy. (His reactions to his critics, even once-close associates – “these are not consequential people” - are perhaps his second most telling feature.) Assange disdains nation states and their legal and democratic proprieties, including their necessarily imperfect checks and balances, in favour of some kind of information anarchism, with himself as its gatekeeper. I don’t think that makes him the hero he seems to think he is. It’s no longer credible to imagine that WikiLeaks is a “neutral” global player, concerned only with airing “misconduct” wherever it may be. It’s now The Assange Show – starring “the James Bond of journalism” - and when it’s not about him it’s about how awful America and the West is.
"and when it's not about him it's about how awful America and the West is."
He knows his market. ;)
"Almost four years ago, Assange announced that WikiLeaks had “representatives from expatriate Russian and Tibetan refugee communities"...
And perhaps that's the problem. Not much of a stretch to imagine that our left-winged gadfly may have found out just a little too much about a "you know too much, and now you must die" government and he got a visit from one of their "diplomats". Maybe this drama being played out is all that is keeping him from entering the fertilizer business, permanently.
If anything has come out of this episode, it's that by and large our governments are behaving in the manner we suspect: somewhat incompetently, somewhat underhandedly, but not to any absurd degree. So it's a bit much to expect them to be as ruthless as the tinfoil hat brigade would claim them to be. But were they as conniving as, say, I am, then they'd false-flag a leak concerning someone who wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty, and then cry, "who will rid me of this turbulent leaker?"
Posted by: David Gillies | December 07, 2010 at 18:50
Wikileaks are for-hire mercenaries - Cryptome
From the earliest discussions, Young alleges, Wikileaks intended to pimp out the information for funds.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/07/cryptome_on_wikileaks/
Posted by: AC1 | December 07, 2010 at 22:59
bit tin-foil
WikiLeaks: a “staged” crime scene
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/30576
Here's a turn-up with reference to Mr Assange's arrest, and refusal of bail. Naomi Wolf has just written an article stating that we mustn't jump to conclusions, and that the Swedish judicial process must be aloud to continue without presumptions or prejudices concerning Mr Assange's guilt or innocence.
She also reminds us that while the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' is an important principle of Western law, it is important to consider the position of the two women at the centre of this case. The crime of rape is a serious one, and in all too many cases in the past female victims had their experiences trivialised and disregarded, and that in a perverse act of male chauvinism they were often treated by the law and the public of being responsible for the crime committed against them. It is therefore important to consider Mr Assange's rights as the accused, but also to avoid the temptation to denigrate or smear the accusers ...
Actually. I lie. Guess what that hypocritical harridan has written?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-wolf/interpol-the-worlds-datin_b_793033.html?utm_source=DailyBrief&utm_campaign=120710&utm_medium=email&utm_content=BlogEntry&utm_term=Daily+Brief
"Throughout the day WikiLeaks supporters have been mounting denial of service attacks against Mastercard, PayPal, Visa, and others deemed to have impeded WikiLeaks. Reportedly, these supporters have disclosed large files containing Mastercard account numbers and expiration dates."
http://legalinsurrection.blogspot.com/2010/12/wikileak-supporters-declare-cyberwar-on.html
"Operation Payback, operated by the clandestine group known as "Anonymous" has launched cyber attacks against companies that have yanked their support for WikiLeaks. It has used its Twitter feed as a forum to claim responsibility for the attacks as well."
Not really helping their case, is it?
No, not really. Though conceivably it may help those who would like to see much tighter control of internet activity.
What’s interesting is the juxtaposition of this:
“An organization of online ‘hacktivists’ linked to the 4Chan network ‘partially paralyzed’ MasterCard.com on Wednesday after the credit card company stopped processing donations to WikiLeaks… ‘While we don’t have much of an affiliation with WikiLeaks, we fight for the same reasons,’ the statement explains. ‘We want transparency and we counter censorship. The attempts to silence WikiLeaks are long strides closer to a world where we cannot say what we think and are unable to express our opinions and ideas.’”
And, in the same article, this:
“While some media commentators have spoken positively of WikiLeaks… there’s certainly no shortage of online coverage that's been critical of the group. Because of that, Anonymous says the websites of Fox News, CNN, The Washington Times and the BBC are on its radar.”
http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/defending-wikileaks-anonymous-hacktivists-attack-mastercard-is/19751869
So the people who claim they wish to counter “censorship” are merrily planning to attack those who dare to disagree with them. While revealing customers’ card details online and disrupting the financial transactions of entirely innocent third parties.
Again, not a watertight moral calculus. But a revealing one, I think.
"So the people who claim they wish to counter “censorship” are merrily planning to attack those who dare to disagree with them."
David, now they're after *all* their 'enemies'...
"An Anonymous member told AFP news agency the group would extend their campaign to anyone with "an anti-Wikileaks agenda"... Coldblood admitted that such attacks "may hurt people trying to get to these sites" but said it was "the only effective way to tell these companies that us, the people, are displeased"."
It's the only way, we have no choice, you made us do this, etc etc...
"us, the people, are displeased"
They're 'the people' now. How convenient.
They always are.
This Assange character spoke in front of the Brotherhood Movement here in Sweden not too long ago (a speech followed by a cosy Q&A session). You can read more about the Brotherhood Movement (aka the Swedish Association of Christian Social Democrats) here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Association_of_Christian_Social_Democrats#Controversy
Then, of course, he was hired as columnist at Aftonbladet a few months ago. Read more about Aftonbladet here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftonbladet-Israel_controversy#See_also
(I know, it's Wikipedia, but read the links or, if the the links are in Swedish, use google)
If I were to guess Assange's political orientation (not exactly a wild guess): a typical "the United States is the root of all evil"-anarchist/leftist/left-libertarian - take your pick.
Posted by: Stevie of Sweden | December 09, 2010 at 14:28
Stevie,
“If I were to guess Assange’s political orientation (not exactly a wild guess): a typical ‘the United States is the root of all evil’ -anarchist/leftist/left-libertarian - take your pick.”
And I think that matters quite a lot. Given Assange’s arch, tendentious and hugely speculative theorising, any realistic evaluation also has to include the types of psychology most strongly drawn to such theories. And to the cultish behaviour that has followed.
I find it very hard to view WikiLeaks, and Mr Assange in particular, as some unambiguously benign safeguard against malfeasance. Assange’s project operates as a law unto itself and, in his own words, is intended to “radically shift regime behaviour,” with the US singled out as an authoritarian conspiracy that must be exposed and degraded. At the very least it isn’t clear that the efforts of Assange and his admirers will remake governance in a way any of us might find more agreeable, especially given their hugely selective focus, their anti-American / anti-Western animus and their disregard for consequences. (The latter point being apparent in the ongoing electronic vandalism and “reprisals” in his name.)
The “progressive” Sunny Hundal, for instance, links approvingly to this stirring announcement:
“Right now, as you read this, there is a random group of about 5,000 people talking and plotting on how to exact revenge on various corporations that have been less than helpful with the operations of WikiLeaks… Now, they are getting angry people all over the world to join in on their cause and start attacking whatever they choose. It’s hacktivism at its best.”
“Attacking whatever they choose.”
'Right now, as you read this, there is a random group of about 5,000 people talking and plotting on how to exact revenge on various corporations that have been less than helpful with the operations of WikiLeaks… Now, they are getting angry people all over the world to join in on their cause and start attacking whatever they choose. It’s hacktivism at its best'.
I presume that Mr Hundal's support for 'hacktivism' would end if someone started fucking with his website.
"no-one gave Assange a mandate to compromise security, to disrupt diplomatic relationships, or to endanger lives."
August 3rd 2010:
"The Taliban announced its gratitude to Wikileaks and vowed to hunt down those revealed in the documents to be collaborating with the U.S. It appears that they have now made good on that threat. Khalifa Abdullah, a tribal elder, was removed from his home in Monar village, in Kandahar province’s embattled Arghandab district, by gunmen. He was then executed. At the same time, 70 other tribal elders received death threats warning them that the Taliban had obtained reason to believe they were collaborating with the U.S."
http://www.dailytech.com/Taliban+Murders+Afghan+Elder+Thanks+Wikileaks+for+Revealing+Spies/article19250.htm
Posted by: dw | December 09, 2010 at 19:31
“I presume that Mr Hundal’s support for ‘hacktivism’ would end if someone started fucking with his website.”
Mr Hundal is keen to tell us that he approves of “direct action,” provided it’s being inflicted on someone else, and provided someone else has to pick up the tab. When those being inconvenienced complain, this apparently gives him “even more pleasure.”
http://davidthompson.typepad.com/davidthompson/2009/02/behold-my-virtue-3-.html
As I said, it’s worth noting the psychology of these things.
The next few weeks will be revealing. No doubt other companies (and of course their customers) will soon be targeted for their heresy, all in the name of “freedom.” Innocent third parties will find their user accounts unusable, their email contacts publicised and their personal details unsafe, creating countless opportunities for frauds, spammers and thieves. So the question is, do you want to be threatened in perpetuity by resentful misfits and borderline sociopaths?
"Innocent third parties will find their user accounts unusable, their email contacts publicised and their personal details unsafe, creating countless opportunities for frauds, spammers and thieves."
David, just because they can:
"An anonymous hacking outfit called "Gnosis" has infiltrated Gawker Media, hijacking the front page and leaking the company's internal chat logs, source code, and content databases along with the usernames, email addresses, and passwords of over 1.3 million users."
http://www.metafilter.com/98455/Bring-It-On
Posted by: Rafi | December 13, 2010 at 08:37
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Bobby Ross Jr.
Bobby Ross Jr. hates flying but loves on-the-ground reporting, so he spends plenty of time in the air.
Since joining The Christian Chronicle in 2005, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 14 countries. As editor-in-chief, he oversees all news and editorial functions while serving as the Chronicle’s lead national writer.
Ross on a 2018 reporting trip to Haiti.
A former religion editor for The Oklahoman and religion writer for The Associated Press, he is a 1990 journalism graduate of Oklahoma Christian University.
His stories have earned numerous awards from secular and religious press associations.
Ross and his wife, Tamie, are longtime members of the Edmond Church of Christ in Oklahoma, where Bobby is a deacon for communications and helps teach the kindergarten Sunday school class. Their family includes two sons, a daughter, a daughter-in-law and an absolutely perfect grandson.
Bobby's recent articles:
(Who is Alex Trebek?)
I have wondered about Alex Trebek’s faith for a while. My curiosity was piqued last May when the longtime “Jeopardy!” host — battling stage 4 pancreatic…
‘He died in the house of the Lord, serving’
FORT WORTH, Texas — Tony Wallace wasn’t afraid of dying. The faithful Christian talked often about heaven, friends and family members recalled at the church…
Seven tips for covering horrific events at houses of worship — and treating victims right
I love journalism. I love my fellow journalists. But as I pointed out in last week’s column on the media barrage faced by minister Britt…
Why Texas minister talked to me — and only me — about deadly church shooting
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas — A few minutes after noon Sunday, my iPhone started pinging with messages from friends — alerting me to a shooting at…
Church shooting victim remembered: Hero sacrificed his life to save many
FORT WORTH, Texas — At first, Glenda White didn’t realize that her husband, Richard, had been shot. When gunfire broke out during Sunday worship at the…
Texas minister reflects on shooting that shattered his congregation’s peace
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas — Britt Farmer had his head down, focusing on the sermon he was about to preach. That’s when the 60-year-old minister heard…
Texas church grieves, prays, sings after deadly shooting
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas — The West Freeway Church of Christ, a close-knit congregation of about 280, didn’t get to finish its Sunday morning worship assembly.…
Three people dead, including gunman, in shooting at Church of Christ in Texas
A gunman opened fire during the Lord's Supper at a Church of Christ in Texas this morning, killing two worshipers. At least one armed member…
Decade in review: Christian Chronicle’s 10 biggest stories of the 2010s
What a decade! The 2010s saw the invention of the iPad, three more "Star Wars" movies (although I still haven't seen the 1977 original) and…
OKLAHOMA CITY — Not long after I joined The Christian Chronicle staff in 2005, I traveled to the northeastern U.S. to work on a story.…
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Archive for the ‘ANY REVOLUTION HAS SOME UNPLEASANT CONSEQUENCES’ Tag
JOHN CHUCKMAN ESSAY: WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS ELECTION? Leave a comment
WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS ELECTION?
Brushing away the extreme claims and rhetoric of much election analysis, there are some observations which deserve attention. These unfortunately mostly provide hard lessons and not a lot of encouragement for people who hold to principles of democracy, enlightenment, and progressivity.
The election demonstrated perhaps better than ever, and better than has been generally recognized, that America is, indeed, a plutocracy. It took a genuine American Oligarch, a multi-billionaire, a man with a lifetime’s economic empire-building, to defeat a family which could provide the very definition of being politically well-connected, a family which had laboriously constructed and carefully maintained a kind of deep well ever-flowing with money for their ambitions.
It was the ever-flowing well of money, drilled by Bill Clinton with help from some extremely shady friends, such as Jeffrey Epstein, that made the Clintons keystone establishment figures in the Democratic Party. It was not personal charm or exceptional political generalship – although Bill, in his heyday, displayed some of both of those – that earned the Clintons their place, it was the money, the “mother’s milk of politics.” In what is euphemistically called “fund raising,” many hundreds of millions of dollars were provided for the party over the last couple of decades by Bill Clinton’s efforts.
Hillary fully appreciated the fact that money buys power and influence. She lacked Bill’s superficial charm, but she certainly more than shared his ambition. On the charm front, when she was ready to move into running for office, she adopted, perhaps under Bill’s tutelage, a kind of forced clown face with arched eyebrows, bugged-out eyes, and a smile as big as her lips would allow, and these expressions were accompanied by little gestures such as briefly pointing to various on-lookers or waving helter-skelter whenever she campaigned.
Her gestures reminded me of something you might see atop a float in a Christmas Parade or of the late Harpo Marx at his most exuberant. These were not natural for her. They were never in evidence years ago when she spent years as a kind of bizarre executive housewife, both in a governor’s mansion and later in the White House, bizarre because she indulged her husband’s non-stop predatory sexual behavior in exchange for the immense power it conferred on her behind the scenes over her far more out-going and successful politician-husband.
Anyway, Hillary knew that gestures and simulated charm do not get you far in American politics. She determined to build a political war chest long ago, and there are many indications over the years of her working towards this end of making this or that change in expressed view, as when running for the Senate, when sources of big money suggested another view would more acceptable. She was anything but constant in the views she embraced because when she ran for the Senate she spent record amounts of money, embarrassingly large amounts.
In her years of speaking engagements, she aimed at special interests who could supply potentially far more money than just exorbitant speaking fees. Later, in the influential, appointed post of Secretary of State – coming, as it does, into personal contact with every head of government or moneyed, big-time international schemer – she unquestionably played an aggressive “pay for play” with them all. Covering up that embarrassing and illegal fact is what the private servers and unauthorized smart phones were all about.
A second big fact of the election is that both major American political parties are rather sick and fading. The Republican Party has been broken for a very long time. It hobbled along for some decades with the help of various gimmicks, hoping to expand its constituency with rubbish like “family values,” public prayer and catering to the Christian Right, and anti-flag burning Constitutional amendments, and now it is truly out of gas. That is precisely why a political outsider like Oligarch Trump could manage to hi-jack the party.
He was opposed by tired, boring men like Jeb Bush, seeking to secure an almost inherited presidency, and a dark, intensely unlikable, phony Christian fundamentalist like Ted Cruz, and it proved to be no contest. It was a remarkable political achievement, but I think it was only possible given the sorry state of the party.
The Republican Party had been given a breather, some new life, by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. He had an extremely mixed record as President, but he was popular, held in some affection, and did have a clear vision, but his effect on the party was not lasting. Trump could be seen as another Reagan, but I think the comparison is superficial. Trump literally hi-jacked the party, and he was not deliriously crowned by its establishment.
The Republican Party itself was formed not long before Abraham Lincoln’s candidacy out of the remains of worn out and collapsed predecessors, including the Whigs and Free-Soil Democrats. Parties do not last forever, and here was Trump creating something of a minor political revolution inside a tired and fairly directionless old party, a phenomenon which I do not think was sufficiently noticed.
The press was too busy attacking him from the start to take notice or do any intelligent analysis, and he was attacked precisely for the potential damage to the establishment he represented. His most promising quality is his potential for creating a new coalition of interests and one excluding the continuation of the Neocon Wars Hillary vigorously embraced and would expand.
But the Democratic Party is in serious trouble, too. It has a great deal of internal rot, as the Wiki-Leaks material from the DNC clearly shows us. Arrogance, lack of direction, ignorance of the people it has always claimed to serve, bad decision-making, and the absolute prostrate worship of money are the major symptoms.
It would have been impossible for the party to have so made up its mind and committed its resources to Hillary Clinton without serious rot. She has always had strong negatives in polling, always been (rightly) suspected concerning her honesty.
The Wiki-Leaks material tells us about many internal conflicts, including harsh high-level judgments of Hillary’s decision-making, resentment over the back-stabbing character of daughter Chelsea who is said to resemble Hillary in her behavior and attitudes, and the belief of some that Hillary just should not have run. And, frankly, she had become for many a rather tiresome, used-up figure from whom absolutely nothing spectacular in politics or policy could possibly be expected. But they not only blindly supported her, they broke all their own party rules by internally and secretly working to defeat a legitimate and viable contender, Bernie Sanders.
Sanders might well have been able to win the election for the Democrats, but their establishment was blind to the possibility and rejected his candidacy out-of-hand. After all, there were Bill and Hillary beckoning to their running well of money. In hindsight, it might be just as well that Sanders was cheated out of the nomination. He proved a weak individual in the end, giving in to just the forces he had claimed to oppose and leaving his enthusiastic followers completely let down. He may well even have been secretly bribed by money from the Clintons since he bought a fairly expensive property not long afterward. But, in any event, there he was, out on the hustings, supporting everything he ever opposed personified in Hillary Clinton. Men of that nature do not stand up well to Generals and Admirals and the heads of massive corporations, a quality which I do think we have some right to expect Trump to display.
Another important fact about the election is that it was less the triumph of Trump than the avoidance of Hillary that caused the defeat. The numbers are unmistakable. Yes, Trump did well for a political newcomer and a very controversial figure, but Hillary simply did badly, not approaching the support Obama achieved in key states, again something reflecting the documented fact that she is not a well-liked figure and the Party blundered badly in running her. But again, money talks, and the Clintons, particularly Bill, are the biggest fundraisers they have had in our lifetime. No one was ready to say no to the source of all that money.
Now, to many Americans, the election result must seem a bit like having experienced something of a revolution, although a revolution conducted through ballots, any other kind being literally impossible by design in this massive military-security state. In a way, it does represent something of a revolutionary event, owing to the fact that Trump the Oligarch is in his political views a bit of a revolutionary or at least a dissenter from the prevailing establishment views. And, as in any revolution, even a small one, there are going to be some unpleasant outcomes.
The historical truth of politics is that you never know from just what surprising source change may come. Lyndon Johnson, life-long crooked politician and the main author of the horrifying and pointless Vietnam War, did more for the rights of black Americans than any other modern president. Franklin Roosevelt, son of wealthy establishment figures, provided remarkable leadership in the Great Depression, restoring hopes and dreams for millions. Change, important, change, never comes from establishments or institutions like political parties. It always comes from unusual people who seem to step out of their accustomed roles in life with some good or inspired ideas and have the drive and toughness to make them a reality.
I have some limited but important hopes for Trump. I am not blind or delirious expecting miracles from this unusual person, and after the experience of Obama, who seemed such a promising young figure but fairly quickly proved a crushing, bloody disappointment, I can never build up substantial hopes for any politician. And what was the choice anyway? Hillary Clinton was a bought-and-paid one-way ticket to hell.
Trump offers two areas of some hope, and these both represent real change. The first is in reducing America’s close to out-of-control military aggressiveness abroad. This aggressiveness, reflecting momentum from what can only be called the Cheney-Rumsfeld Presidency, continued and grew under the weak and ineffectual leadership of Obama and was boosted and encouraged by Hillary as Secretary of State. Hillary, the feminists who weep for her should be reminded, did a lot of killing during her tenure. She along with Obama are literally responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of women and their families, many of them literally torn apart by bombs.
The other area of some hope is for the welfare of ordinary American people themselves who have been completely ignored by national leaders for decades. George Bush’s lame reaction to Hurricane Katrina (before he was internationally shamed into some action) has become the normal pattern for America’s national government when it comes to ordinary Americans.
The truth is that the legacy of FDR has withered to nothing and no longer plays any role in the Democratic Party, and of course never did in the Republican Party. By welfare, I do not mean the kind of state assistance that Bill Clinton himself worked to end. Nothing can impress someone not familiar with America’s dark corners more than a visit to places like Detroit or Gary or Chicago’s South Side, parts of New Orleans, or Newark or dozens of other places where Americans live in conditions in every way comparable to Third World hellholes. No, I mean the people’s general well-being. Trump’s approach will be through jobs and creating incentives for jobs. I don’t know whether he can succeed, but, just as he asked people in some of his speeches, “What do you have to lose?” Just having someone in power who pays any attention to the “deplorables” is a small gain.
People should never think of the Clintons as liberal or progressive, and that was just as much true for Bill as it is for Hillary. His record as President – apart from his embarrassing behavior in the Oval Office with a young female intern and his recruitment of Secret Service guards as procurers for women he found attractive on his morning runs – was actually pretty appalling. He, in his own words, “ended welfare as we know it.” He signed legislation which would send large numbers of young black men to prison. He also signed legislation which contributed to the country’s later financial collapse under George Bush. He often would appoint someone decent and then quickly back off, leaving them dangling, when it looked like approval for the appointment would not be coming. His FBI conducted the assault on Waco, killing about eighty people needlessly. A pharmaceutical plant in Sudan was destroyed by cruise missiles for no good reason. There were a number of scandals, including the suicide of Vince Foster and the so-called Travelgate affair, which were never fully explained to the public. It was his Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, who answered, unblinkingly, a television interviewer’s question about tens of thousands of Iraqi children who died owing to America’s embargo, “We think it’s worth it.” He committed the war crime of bombing Belgrade. When news of the horrors of the Rwanda genocide were first detected by his government, the order secretly went out to shut up about it. No effort was made to intervene.
No, any real change in America could never come from people like the Clintons, either one of them.
Posted November 11, 2016 by JOHN CHUCKMAN in Uncategorized
Tagged with AGENTS OF CHANGE, AGENTS OF CHANGE NEVER INCLUDE PARTIES OR INSTITUTIONS, AMERICAN ELECTION 2016, AMERICAN ESTABLISHMENT, AMERICAN POLITICS, ANY REVOLUTION HAS SOME UNPLEASANT CONSEQUENCES, BERNIE SANDERS AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY, BERNIE SANDERS PROVES HIMSELF INADEQUATE, BILL CLINTON AS SEXUAL PREDATOR, BILL CLINTON RECORD AS PRESIDENT, BILL CLINTON'S BAD TREATMENT OF APPOINTEES, BILL CLINTON'S EVER-FLOWING WELL OF MONEY, BROKEN POLITICAL PARTIES IN AMERICA, CHELSEA CLINTON AND WIKI-LEAKS, DESTROYING PHARMACEUTICAL PLANT IN SUDAN FOR NO GOOD REASON, DONALD TRUMP AS AN AGENT OF CHANGE, DRIVE AND TOUGHNESS NEEDED FOR CHANGE, ELECTION RESULT AS A BIT OF A REVOLUTION, ENDING WELFARE IN OUR TIME, FBI ASSAULT ON WACO AND BILL CLINTON, GOVERNMENT WHICH IGNORES ITS PEOPLE, GREAT DEPRESSION, HI-JACKING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, HILLARY AND OBAMA KILLING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES, HILLARY AS BOUGHT-AND-PAID-FOR ONE-WAY TRIP TO HELL, HILLARY CLINTON 2016, HILLARY CLINTON AS BIZARRE EXECUTIVE HOUSEWIFE, HILLARY CLINTON LOST BECAUSE SHE IS SIMPLY UNPOPULAR, HISTORY OF REPUBLICAN PARTY, HOW POLITICAL PARTIES CHANGE AND DIE, JEB BUSH, JOHN CHUCKMAN, MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HORROR AS SECRETARY OF STATE, ORDINARY PEOPLE IGNORED IN AMERICA BY THEIR GOVERNMENT, PAY FOR PLAY IN HILLARY'S STATE DEPARTMENT, PLUOCRACY IN AMERICA, RONALD REAGAN AND REPUBLICAN PARTY, RWANDA GENOCIDE AND BILL CLINTON GOVERNMENT, SENDING YOUNG BLACK MEN TO PRISON, TED CRUZ, THE ARROGANCE OF THE AMERICAN ESTABLISHMENT, THE CHENEY-RUMSFELD PRESIDENCY, THE CRUSHING BLOODY DISAPPOINTMENT THAT IS OBAMA, THE PRESS AND DONALD TRUMP, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS A DIRECTIONLESS OLD HULK, THE ROLE OF MONEY IN AMERICAN POLITICS, THE ROT INSIDE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BECOMES OBVIOUS IN 2016, THE SURPRISING PLACES GREAT POLITICAL CHANGE COMES FROM, TRUMP AS AMERICAN OLIGARCH, UNITED STATES POLITICS, VIETNAM WAR, VINCE FOSTER AND TRAVELGATE, WAR AND THREATS OF WAR UNDER INEFFECTUAL OBAMA, WAR CRIME OF BOMBING BELGRADE, WHY THE CLINTONS CANNOT BE VIEWED AS LIBERAL OR PROGRESSIVE
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Tropane and nicotine alkaloid biosynthesis-novel approaches towards biotechnological production of plant-derived pharmaceuticals
Kirsi-Marja Oksman-Caldentey
BA34 Industrial biotechnology and food solutions
Many plants belonging to the Solanaceae family have been used as a source of pharmaceuticals for centuries because of their active principles, tropane and nicotine alkaloids. Tropane alkaloids, atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, are among the oldest drugs in medicine. On the other hand nicotine, the addictive agent in tobacco, has only recently gained attention as a backbone for novel potential alkaloids to be used for certain neurological diseases. The biotechnological production of alkaloids utilizing plant cells as hosts would be an attractive option. However, to date very little success in this field has been gained because of the lack of understanding how these compounds are synthesized in a plant cell. Metabolic engineering attempts have already shown that when the rate-limiting steps of the biosynthetic pathway are completely known and the respective genes cloned, the exact regulation towards desired medicinal products will be possible in the near future. The new functional genomics tools, which combine transcriptome and metabolome data, will create a platform to better understand a whole system and to engineer the complex plant biosynthetic pathways. With the help of this technology, it is not only possible to produce known plant metabolites more effectively but also to make arrays of new compounds in plants and cell cultures.
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
https://doi.org/10.2174/138920107781387401
Tropanes
Biosynthetic Pathways
Metabolic Engineering
Metabolome
Oksman-Caldentey, K-M. (2007). Tropane and nicotine alkaloid biosynthesis-novel approaches towards biotechnological production of plant-derived pharmaceuticals. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 8(4), 203-210. https://doi.org/10.2174/138920107781387401
Oksman-Caldentey, Kirsi-Marja. / Tropane and nicotine alkaloid biosynthesis-novel approaches towards biotechnological production of plant-derived pharmaceuticals. In: Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. 2007 ; Vol. 8, No. 4. pp. 203-210.
@article{351b5ada626b416e8b3b2e94f8e19df4,
title = "Tropane and nicotine alkaloid biosynthesis-novel approaches towards biotechnological production of plant-derived pharmaceuticals",
abstract = "Many plants belonging to the Solanaceae family have been used as a source of pharmaceuticals for centuries because of their active principles, tropane and nicotine alkaloids. Tropane alkaloids, atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, are among the oldest drugs in medicine. On the other hand nicotine, the addictive agent in tobacco, has only recently gained attention as a backbone for novel potential alkaloids to be used for certain neurological diseases. The biotechnological production of alkaloids utilizing plant cells as hosts would be an attractive option. However, to date very little success in this field has been gained because of the lack of understanding how these compounds are synthesized in a plant cell. Metabolic engineering attempts have already shown that when the rate-limiting steps of the biosynthetic pathway are completely known and the respective genes cloned, the exact regulation towards desired medicinal products will be possible in the near future. The new functional genomics tools, which combine transcriptome and metabolome data, will create a platform to better understand a whole system and to engineer the complex plant biosynthetic pathways. With the help of this technology, it is not only possible to produce known plant metabolites more effectively but also to make arrays of new compounds in plants and cell cultures.",
author = "Kirsi-Marja Oksman-Caldentey",
doi = "10.2174/138920107781387401",
journal = "Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology",
publisher = "Bentham Science Publishers",
Oksman-Caldentey, K-M 2007, 'Tropane and nicotine alkaloid biosynthesis-novel approaches towards biotechnological production of plant-derived pharmaceuticals', Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 203-210. https://doi.org/10.2174/138920107781387401
Tropane and nicotine alkaloid biosynthesis-novel approaches towards biotechnological production of plant-derived pharmaceuticals. / Oksman-Caldentey, Kirsi-Marja.
In: Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Vol. 8, No. 4, 2007, p. 203-210.
T1 - Tropane and nicotine alkaloid biosynthesis-novel approaches towards biotechnological production of plant-derived pharmaceuticals
AU - Oksman-Caldentey, Kirsi-Marja
N2 - Many plants belonging to the Solanaceae family have been used as a source of pharmaceuticals for centuries because of their active principles, tropane and nicotine alkaloids. Tropane alkaloids, atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, are among the oldest drugs in medicine. On the other hand nicotine, the addictive agent in tobacco, has only recently gained attention as a backbone for novel potential alkaloids to be used for certain neurological diseases. The biotechnological production of alkaloids utilizing plant cells as hosts would be an attractive option. However, to date very little success in this field has been gained because of the lack of understanding how these compounds are synthesized in a plant cell. Metabolic engineering attempts have already shown that when the rate-limiting steps of the biosynthetic pathway are completely known and the respective genes cloned, the exact regulation towards desired medicinal products will be possible in the near future. The new functional genomics tools, which combine transcriptome and metabolome data, will create a platform to better understand a whole system and to engineer the complex plant biosynthetic pathways. With the help of this technology, it is not only possible to produce known plant metabolites more effectively but also to make arrays of new compounds in plants and cell cultures.
AB - Many plants belonging to the Solanaceae family have been used as a source of pharmaceuticals for centuries because of their active principles, tropane and nicotine alkaloids. Tropane alkaloids, atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, are among the oldest drugs in medicine. On the other hand nicotine, the addictive agent in tobacco, has only recently gained attention as a backbone for novel potential alkaloids to be used for certain neurological diseases. The biotechnological production of alkaloids utilizing plant cells as hosts would be an attractive option. However, to date very little success in this field has been gained because of the lack of understanding how these compounds are synthesized in a plant cell. Metabolic engineering attempts have already shown that when the rate-limiting steps of the biosynthetic pathway are completely known and the respective genes cloned, the exact regulation towards desired medicinal products will be possible in the near future. The new functional genomics tools, which combine transcriptome and metabolome data, will create a platform to better understand a whole system and to engineer the complex plant biosynthetic pathways. With the help of this technology, it is not only possible to produce known plant metabolites more effectively but also to make arrays of new compounds in plants and cell cultures.
U2 - 10.2174/138920107781387401
DO - 10.2174/138920107781387401
JO - Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
JF - Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Oksman-Caldentey K-M. Tropane and nicotine alkaloid biosynthesis-novel approaches towards biotechnological production of plant-derived pharmaceuticals. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. 2007;8(4):203-210. https://doi.org/10.2174/138920107781387401
10.2174/138920107781387401
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Isla del Tesoro Rum, new ambassador of Cuban Light Rum
Isla del Tesoro Rum, another jewel from the ancient and famous aging wineries of the Rum Factory of Santiago, city where Light Rum was born to Cuba and for the whole Globe in 1862. It was first introduced to the world with commercial purposes in the Food Fair in Barcelona, Spain, held from March 31 to April 3, 2014.
Toast for your Havana! With the launch of a promotional campaign to pay tribute to Havana, Cuba Ron S.A joins the great celebration for the half millennium of the capital, which will be held on November 16, 2019.
25th anniversary! Cuba Ron celebrates 25th anniversary. This celebration reinforces the commitment to continue with the authentic tradition of Cuban light rum.
Festival of the Rum in Cuba Cuba Ron Corporation organizes the Second Rum Festival of Cuba with the participation of industry professionals, producers and national and international distributors.
Known since 1862 as the cradle of light rum, Santiago de Cuba is a land of smells and special colors, where the mix of the Cuban essence gets a singular expression. That is how this rum was born.
A brand that reflects a name of araucanian origin, and identifies the rum from Santo Domingo, a town in the province of Villa Clara. Bottled only in origin, it comes in two types: Carta Blanca and Añejo, and also has a wide assortment of liqueurs.
Perla del Norte A rum elaborated with the use of a unique technology from spirits and aged bases, under different stages of mixing and aging in barrels of American white oak from diverse types and uses, in which some components have reached up to 7 years aging being aged in their final stages in old extra barrels that have been preserved with caution and used wisely.
Isla del Tesoro This rum is designed as a product that evokes crude and crude eau-de-vie, craved by pirates and privateers who ravaged the Cuban coasts, the so-called Treasure Island.
Julio Enrique Ayan. Rum Master
Advertising spot. Ron...
Welcome to The Corporation Cuba Ron S.A.
We manufacture, market and export rums and other alcoholic drinks.
Cubay Rum
A brand that reflects a name of araucanian origin!
Our Key To Success
Cuba Ron S.A. Corporation is the producing organization for the trademarks of rum in Cuba, receiver of the faithfulest traditions in the Cuban Rum Culture. Incorporated in November 1993, it is the organization called to unify harmoniously the main and most traditional Cuban rum factories in a strong and unique business structure, with the agility to respond to the requirements and challenges of today's world trade.
Our mission Is to produce, market and export rums and spirits with the highest quality standards to meet the demands of customers, combining high performance of human resources, adequate respect for the environment and technology, with the tradition of the best Cuban rum.
Our vision Is to have a portfolio of products for domestic and export market, competitive and diversified according to customer requirements. To have a high level of professionalism, knowledge and motivation of workers to allow them to continuously improve their performance.
Cuba Rum has guided The diversification of its essential activity, the production and commercialization of rum and other alcoholic drinks, strengthening its wallet of products with high quality rums.
Rum Factory Cardenas
Located in the province of Matanzas it was founded in 1878 by Don Jose Arechabala Aldama. The product portfolio of this famous winery contemplates Decanters formats of the Havana Club trademark, the Cubay liqueurs, eaux-de-vie Sao Can, the Refino and Perla del Norte rums.
It was founded in 1972 and is located in the municipality of Santo Domingo in the province of Villa Clara. This factory has launched a challenge to the world of spirits: Cubay Carta Blanca Extra Viejo, the first of its kind with 14 years of rest and 40° of alcohol, which preserves the coloring of the rums in its class.
Rum Factory Santa Cruz
Located in the municipality of Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque province, this factory has a total area of 35.1 hectares and a covered area of 73788 m2. Its construction dates back to 1919 and it initially was only a distillery to produce alcohol and other spirits. Now, white and gold Havana Club brands are produced.
Rum Factories Santiago de Cuba
Located at Peralejo street No. 103, between San Antonio and San Ricardo, Santiago de Cuba, it occupies an area of 16,430 m2. Founded in 1862, it is the oldest factory in the country in which the tradition of Cuban light rum has been kept and inseparable part of the national culture.
A perfect pairing: Santiago de Cuba's extra dry rum and Habanos San Cristóbal of Havana.
The exclusive and first-rate pairing of Santiago de Cuba extra dry rum and Habanos San Cristóbal of Havana allowed us to savor that cultural tradition that unites all of Cuba through two of its most emblematic products.
Cuban rum has two new Masters
The number of Cuban Rum Masters increased to ten after the meeting of the Regulatory Council of the Protected Designation of Origin (D.O.P.) CUBA for rums, where it was decided to recognize Francisco Javier Sabat Gonzalo and Noemi del Toro with the prestigious category.
Solidarity brigade “Venceremos” visit the Rum´s Museum in Santiago de Cuba
President Miguel Díaz Canel participates in the launch of Cubay Extra Añejo Santa Clara 330th Anniversary Rum.
The president of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez participated in the special presentation of the Cubay Extra Añejo Santa Clara 330th Anniversary Rum, on July 15 during the celebrations of Santa Clara’s city birthday.
Monday to Thursday 8:00am to 5:30pm, Fridays 8:00am to 4:30pm
246 st. between 5ft Ave and el mar
Barlovento complex, Jaimanitas, Playa
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Home » Breaking News » Helping east Africa food appeal
Helping east Africa food appeal
Special collections will take place at all masses across County Clare at the weekend, as part of a national appeal to help people caught up in the current food crisis in east Africa.
Trócaire executive director Éamonn Meehan, from Kilmaley, has urged people to get behind the appeal and support the agency’s efforts to save lives in the affected areas. 25 million people in east Africa are facing starvation in the coming months and millions could die unless they receive immediate assistance. Severe drought, driven by climate change, is currently affecting Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia and this has resulted in failed harvests and the widespread death of livestock.
The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called for a national church collection to support Trócaire’s work in the region.
“With the failure of successive rains and a prolonged drought having taken hold of the region, just surviving has now become the main challenge facing the people of east Africa,” Éamons said. “Millions of people in the region are facing starvation. The crops have failed and animals are dying because of a lack of grazing and water.”
The United Nations has described the situation in the drought-ravaged parts of Africa as the greatest humanitarian crisis since the Second World War but Trócaire says steps can be taken to reduce the number of people at risk if action is taken now.
“Trócaire is working on the ground and providing vital aid to hundreds of thousands of people,” said Éamonn. “We are targeting particularly vulnerable groups including the elderly, people with disabilities and those living with HIV. Our health centres in Somalia are treating 19,000 people each month for malnutrition and associated illnesses. We are also supporting health clinics in places like Turkana in northern Kenya, where 12 per cent of children under the age of five are severely malnourished and at immediate risk of death. The clinics weigh and examine the children and the mothers of those who are identified as high-risk are given a high-protein, high-vitamin supplement to feed them.
“What we are providing at the moment is quite literally life-support for people. In the coming months in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Ethiopia Trócaire is hoping to reach hundreds of thousands more people with emergency food, water and drought tolerant seeds but this can’t be done without the generosity of people in County Clare. I would urge parishioners to please give what they can to the church collection.”
Tags Éamonn Ethiopia famine Kenya Kilmaley Somalia South Sudan Trocaire
There will be church gate collections this weekend to help a humanatarian food appeal for east Africa.
Previous Planning granted for solar energy farm
Next Belief erodes further that hurlers have it
Inagh-Kilnamona regain U-21 A title
Big Clare support for Trócaire
Extra time heartbreak for Kilmaley
ON Saturday afternoon Sinn Féin selected Violet Anne Wynne as its candidate in Clare for …
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Motley Crue’s Vince Neil: ‘There’s a Lot of Sacrifice’ Preparing for 2020 Tour
Emma McIntyre, Getty Images
Motley Crue's Stadium Tour with Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts is still about six months away, but it's never too early to start preparing for a cross-country trek full of shows. Frontman Vince Neil said there are a lot of sacrifices to be made during that build up.
ExtraTV spoke with the rockers at their press conference for the upcoming tour, and asked what they do to get themselves in the proper headspace and physical shape for such a demanding couple of months. "We're gonna go into hibernation mode, we're gonna sleep for six months to prepare," bassist Nikki Sixx laughed.
"There's a lot of sacrifice," Neil added. "You gotta do everything that you have to do — because from running around clubs to running around theaters to running around arenas to running around stadiums, there's a whole big difference. You've gotta be ready for it."
Neil was the only member of Crue who's toured over the last year, playing legendary hits from the band at smaller-scale venues all throughout the country. According to the group's manager Allen Kovac, a nutritionist and personal trainer are working with some of the rockers before they hit the road in June.
Watch the full segment, also featuring Tommy Lee and Mick Mars below.
Top 30 Hair Metal Albums
Source: Motley Crue’s Vince Neil: ‘There’s a Lot of Sacrifice’ Preparing for 2020 Tour
Filed Under: motley crue, Vince Neil
Categories: Entertainment News
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China trade deal to ease global uncertainty
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Pig Latin String Converter
The purpose of this program is to obtain an array string (word) from the user through the keyboard, and display the first and last letter of the word on the screen. If the first letter in the word entered by the user begins with a consonant, the first character of the word is moved to the last position and append "ay" is added to the end of it. However, if the word begins with a vowel, the program simply adds an "ay" to the end of the word.
Download | Source Code
Penny Accumulator
The purpose of this program is to calculate the accumulated value of pennies after each day, if we were to be given one penny to start the first day, and double each previous day thereafter for a certain number of days specified by the user. We would also like to know after how many days will we make at least $1,000,000.
Order Value Calculator
The purpose of this program is to process the mail order house 5 given product orders in the quantities specified by the user. The user will first enter a product number, and a quantity for that product through the keyboard. The program will then calculate the total value of the order for that specific product, and ask the user if he/she wishes to add more products to this value. If the user response positive to this question by entering a "Y", the program will take the user through the loop again, and allow them to enter another product through the keyboard. Once the user is finished entering all the products in the quantity desired, the total value of orders is displayed on the screen, when the user responds to the question to continue entering a value with an "N" (standing for No).
The purpose of this program is to take two numeric variables through the keyboard and return the sum, product, difference and quotient of the two numbers to the screen.
Integer Comparison
The purpose of this program is to compare several integers with each other and print the smallest of them to the screen. The number of integers to be compared will be entered by the user along with the first integer. The remaining integers will then be entered from the inside of an if statement one by one and compared to the previous integer to find the smallest of each pair.
Fraction Multiplication Table Generator
The purpose of this program is to generate a table of multiplication given a specific denominator of a fraction. This program has been constructed through multiple files. In other words, there is a seperate file for the class definition, one for the members functions, and another for the driver of it.
Download | Source Code 1 - 2 - 3
Fraction Calculator Using Classes
The purpose of this program is to create an interface through which users can add, subtract, divide, and multiply two fractional numbers together. For this program to function, the user is prompted to enter the operation that is to be calculated in the format (a/b + c/d) on the keyboard, where the sign '+' can be replaced with either a '-', '*' or a '/' to perform the respective mathematical operation. The program then calculates the results from one of the following equations:
a/b + c/d = (a*d + b*c) / (b*d)
a/b - c/d = (a*d - b*c) / (b*d)
a/b * c/d = (a*c) / (b*d)
a/b / c/d = (a*d) / (b*c)
The divisor and the divident of the result are then assigned to two different variables. Those values are then simplified to the lowest terms, which are then displayed on the screen as the result of the calculation.
The divisor and the divident of the result are then assigned to two different variables, which are displayed on the screen as the result of the calculation.
Fraction Calculator Using Structures
Fraction Average Calculator
The purpose of this program is to allow a user to enter a number of fractions through the keyboard. These fractional numbers, will then be added together to obtain a total for all the fractions entered by the user. The total is then divided by the number of fractions entered by the user to calculate the Average of these sets of fractions. This program has been constructed through multiple files. In other words, there is a seperate file for the class definition, one for the members functions, and another for the driver of it.
The purpose of this program is to create an interface through which users can add two fractional numbers together. For this, program to function, the user is first prompted to enter the first fraction in the form of a/b, then the second fraction in the form of c/d. The program then calculates the addition of these two fractions using the equation ((a*d)+(b*c))/(b*d). The divisor and the divident are assigned to two different variables, which are then displayed on the screen as the result of the calculation.
Desk Cost Calculator 2
The purpose of this program is to calculate the cost of building a Desk using four functions. The first function will ask the user for the number of drawers the desired desk should have, the second function asks for the type of wood to be used, the third function will calculate the cost of the order, and a fourth function will display the actual cost of the customers order on the computer screen.
Desk Cost Calculator
Craps Game
This program simulates playing of a game of Craps. Our job here was to modify the code to add some chatter to the code so that depending on the outcome of the roll of dice, the player is prompted a different set of randomly generated chatter text to make the game more fun. We have also added wagering to this program, to allow the player to bet on the rolling of dice. Depending on if the player looses or wins, the betting amount is added or subtracted from the total available balance. The game ends when the player looses all of his or her money. The program has also been modified to randomize the outcome of the rolling of dice to make the game more fair. If a player bets more then he or she has in the bank, the program will prompt the player to enter a new betting amount, since there would not be enough money available in his bank to place that bet.
Character Recognition
The purpose of this program is to take a single character through the keyboard as an argument, return a non-zero integer if the letter is lowercase, or a zero if the letter is uppercase.
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Items Cotton Exchange, New Orleans, La.
Cotton Exchange, New Orleans, La.
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection
Image ID 66871
Detroit Publishing Company postcards
Place: Detroit
Publisher: Detroit Publishing Company
Shelf locator: MFY 95-29
New Orleans (La.)
Commodity exchanges -- Louisiana -- New Orleans
Content: 1903-1904.
Offset photomechanical prints
Postcard series number: DPC# 7024
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): c0354510-c62c-012f-40e7-58d385a7bc34
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. "Cotton Exchange, New Orleans, La." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1898 - 1931. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-a644-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. "Cotton Exchange, New Orleans, La." New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed January 21, 2020. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-a644-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. (1898 - 1931). Cotton Exchange, New Orleans, La. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-a644-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-a644-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 | title= (still image) Cotton Exchange, New Orleans, La., (1898 - 1931) |author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library |accessdate=January 21, 2020 |publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>
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Rail Travel Alerts Help & FAQ
Ski Trains
Around UK
Book in advance and save on Darlington train tickets
Get the best deals for trains to Birmingham New Street station
Darlington Birmingham New Street Train
Use our train ticket search box to get all the info on the train line from Darlington to Birmingham New Street including timetables and the various fare types.
Buying your train ticket is simple, not just between Darlington and Birmingham New Street but to and from any railway station on the UK network.
If you are ready to book your train ticket then simply start typing your departure and arrival stations into the search box, hit the green button and then follow the prompts.
Darlington Birmingham New Street stations
Follow these links for more information:
Darlington Train Tickets
Trains to Birmingham New Street
Darlington Train Station
Darlington railway station, operated by East Coast, serves the town of Darlington in County Durham, England and lies on the East Coast Main Line which connects London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh. The station is approximately 230 miles to the north of London Kings Cross. The station has a staffed ticket office although passengers should note that it is not open in the late evening. Passengers are able to collect tickets purchased in advance (for example, on the internet) from one of the automatic ticket machines located in the station.
Facilities at the station include ATM's, First Class Lounge, pay phones, public wifi, cafe, shops, toilets and baby changing facilities.
Passenger services are operated by CrossCountry, First TransPennine Express, East Coast and Northern Rail. Services calling at the station generally depart towards London Kings Cross, York, Newcastle Central, Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central, Birmingham New Street, Oxford, Reading, Bristol Temple Meads and Liverpool Lime Street. The station is an important stop for East Coast services as it acts as an interchange for Grand Central services to Sunderland and Northern Rail services to Middlesbrough.
Parking is available at the station for 382 vehicles and is open 24 hours a day.
Birmingham New Street Train Station
Located in Birmingham city centre, Birmingham New Street railway station offers passengers services to destinations including London Euston, Coventry, Bristol Temple Meads, Plymouth, Penzance, Nottingham, Derby, Reading, Oxford, Southampton Central, Bournemouth, Northampton, Liverpool Lime Street, Crewe, Birmingham International and Holyhead.
The station, in the West Midlands region of England, is operated by Network Rail with passenger services being operated by CrossCountry, Virgin Trains, Arriva Trains Wales and London Midland.
Passenger facilities at the station include ATM's, a First Class Lounge, pay phones, public wifi, food outlets, shops (including Boots, Costa Coffee and W H Smith), toilets and baby changing facilities. There is a short stay car park at the station for 40 vehicles and is open 24 hours a day.
The station is one of three main line railway stations serving the centre of Birmingham: the other two are Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill. Birmingham Moor Street railway station is a short walk from Birmingham New Street and the route to take is well signposted and takes passengers under the Bullring shopping centre.
The station is the eighth busiest railway station in the UK and the busiest outside London, with 32 million passenger entries and exits between April 2012 and March 2013. It is also the busiest interchange station outside London, with over 5.1 million passengers changing trains at the station annually.
© Directrail.com, a brand of Direct Ferries Ltd - all rights reserved.
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‘With Medicine, You Forget About Yourself’
By Jessica Pickens on August 29, 2018
Hurricane Maria affected 3.4 million people in Puerto Rico when it swept through the island. More than 4,600 people were killed, thousands were displaced from their homes, most people didn’t have electricity, and the island was left with $94 million worth of damage.
In September 2017, Dayhana Pena-Santiago, MD, served on the front lines as a physician, helping care for people after the Category 5 hurricane. Today, she brings that care and love of community service to Union, where she is the newest doctor at Union Medical Center—Center for Family Medicine.
While practicing medicine in Puerto Rico with her fellow physicians, she would care for displaced residents at hurricane shelters.
“We would travel and set up clinics in the communities. It was a difficult setting to provide care, because it was all makeshift,” said Dr. Pena-Santiago. “It was all about helping the patients with their most basic needs.”
Dr. Pena-Santiago and her peers cared for patients this way for two months before they were able to return to their traditional doctor’s office.
In her own home, Dr. Pena-Santiago was without power for a month and pulled together with her coworkers and neighbors to conserve food and gas. She didn’t mind the inconveniences; Dr. Pena-Santiago was just happy to care for others in need.
“With medicine, you forget about yourself,” she said.
She is bringing this philosophy to the Upstate as she starts at Union Medical Center—Center for Family Medicine. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Dr. Pena-Santiago has a passion for caring for underserved populations.
“During my residency in Puerto Rico, I cared for underserved populations and Union is very similar,” she said. “I like to contribute to the community in a positive way.”
She went into medicine because it gave her the opportunity to help people.
“For me, medicine is about caring for others,” she said. “I like to see people as a whole and take care of them. With family medicine, you’re able to create a long-standing relationship with that person.”
To make an appointment with Dayhana Pena-Santiago, MD, at Union Medical Center—Center for Family Medicine, call 864-429-8029. The practice is located at 322 W. South St. in Union.
Dayhana Pena-Santiago, MD
Dr. Pena-Santiago
Union Medical Center
Dayhana Pena-Santiago
While dashing through the snow, don’t fall
Avoid winter weather injuries with these tips
Start the new year off with health!
Don't miss the first events of 2020
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Years in Disney history
Brave Little Tailor
Huey, Dewey, and Louie make their animated debut.
Theatrical releases
January 13 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Miami, Florida)/(New York City, New York)
January 31 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Baltimore, Maryland)
February 4 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is released nationwide.
February 11 - Self Control
February 25 - Boat Builders
March 11 - Donald's Better Self
April 1 - The Moth and the Flame
April 15 - Donald's Nephews
May 6 - Mickey's Trailer
May 27 - Wynken, Blynken and Nod
June 17 - Polar Trappers
July 8 - Good Scouts
July 29 - The Fox Hunt
August 19 - The Whalers
September 9 - Mickey's Parrot
September 23 - Brave Little Tailor
October 14 - Farmyard Symphony
November 4 - Donald's Golf Game
November 25 - Ferdinand the Bull
December 9 - Merbabies
December 23 - Mother Goose Goes Hollywood
The Mickey Mouse Theater of the Air, a musical-variety radio show for children, broadcast on NBC radio stations from January 2 to May 15 to promote the February 1938 release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
September 29 - Subsidiaries of Walt Disney Productions, Ltd. merge with the main company to form Walt Disney Productions.
Character debuts
September 14 - Detective Casey
January 1 - Frank Langella (actor)
January 2 - Mickie McGowan (voice actress)
February 1 - Sherman Hemsley (actor, voice actor, and comedian)
February 3 - Marshall Efron (actor, voice actor, comedian, and screenwriter)
February 22 - Barry Dennen (actor and voice actor)
Madge Sinclair (actress and voice actress)
Pete Henderson (comedian)
May 24 - Tommy Chong (comedian, actor, screenwriter, director, activist, and musician)
June 27 - Kathryn Beaumont (actress, voice actress, singer, and school teacher)
June 28 - John Byner (voice actor)
July 6 - Luana Patten (actress and model)
July 9 - Brian Dennehy (actor and voice actor)
July 20 - Diana Rigg (actress and voice actress)
July 22 - Terence Stamp (actor)
July 30 - Michael Bell (actor, voice actor, voice director, and animal rights activist)
August 21 - Kenny Rogers (actor and songwriter)
August 29 - Elliot Gould (actor, voice actor, and comedian)
August 30 - Don Pedro Colley (actor, voice actor, director, and producer)
September 2 - Mary Jo Catlett (actress and voice actress)
September 8 - Adrian Cronauer (radio DJ, lawyer, and United States Air Force sergeant)
Christopher Lloyd (actor, voice actor, and comedian)
Derek Jacobi (actor and director)
December 29 - Jon Voight (actor)
≪ 1937 Timeline 1939 ≫
Retrieved from "https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/1938?oldid=3843489"
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Distorted-Loop.com
Word-miner, watching iChange since '99.
Apple’s iPhone explodes across South East Asia as O2 UK price war story grows
Apple’s iPhone is becoming the dominant device in key territories of SouthEast Asia, while in the UK carrier O2 continue to aggressively defend its iPhone franchise as price war breaks out.
O2 is planning to launch a two-year Apple iPhone tariff for £25 per month. The tariff will include 100 minutes and unlimited texts. That follows announcement of a SIM-only deal last week.
O2 has much to fight for. It has sold over 2 million iPhones in the UK, but now faces stiff competition from other carriers who have broken its once exclusive hold on UK iPhone sales. Vodafone and Orange are both seizing share, with the former company confirming 100,000 new iPhone sign-ups in the first week the product went on sale.
The impact of the Apple device continues to break waves. AdMob, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing mobile advertising networks, today released a report focused on trended manufacturer share, smartphone OS share, and the top devices in Southeast Asia, Australia, and India in Q4 2009.
The report found that smartphone penetration reached 40 percent across Southeast Asia in Q4 2009. Singapore had the highest smartphone penetration at 77 percent and Vietnam had the lowest at 22 percent. The region is seeing huge growth and is currently dominated by Nokia – with Apple now in second place.
From the report:
Nokia continued to be the leading manufacturer in Southeast Asia with 52 percent of requests, followed by Apple with 15 percent and Sony Ericsson with 12 percent in Q4 2009. The remaining 10 Manufacturers accounted for 21 percent of traffic.
Symbian OS is the most popular operating system in the region and accounted for 77 percent of smartphone requests in Q4 2009. The iPhone OS came in second with 19 percent of requests. Combined, they represented 96 percent of smartphone traffic in Southeast Asia.
The iPhone OS was most dominant in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong with 93 percent, 84 percent and 76 percent, respectively, of ad requests in December 2009. These three countries are responsible for 69 percent of the region’s total iPhone traffic.
Clearly the iPhone is in prime position for Apple’s international introduction of the next-generation of its device.
Supplemental to the UK story. O2 last week made the following information available:
Tariffs for iPhone and all Smartphone customers
Customers who already have an iPhone or are just happy with their existing Smartphone can choose from a range of sim only tariffs starting at just £15 per month for 300 minutes, unlimited UK texts, data and Wi-Fi on a 12-month sim only contract, or from £20 per month on a 30-day rolling contract.
Those customers who don’t ever want to worry about how many minutes or texts or how much data they have used, O2 introduces a set of tariffs offering unlimited UK calls, texts and data from just £45 a month.
iPhone customers who want to use their iPhone as a modem can do so and not pay more than £2 per day with O2’s newest Internet Tethering Bolt On.
Tariffs for non-Smartphone customers
Non-Smartphone customers who are happy to keep their current phone can choose from a range of sim only tariffs starting at just £10 for 100 minutes per month with unlimited texts on a 30-day contract.
In addition, O2 has launched a set of tariffs offering unlimited UK calls and texts from just £40 a month.
O2 has also launched new mobile broadband tariffs, designed for ease of use.
Customers can now choose a 1GB per month tariff with unlimited Wi-Fi on either a 30-day contract or an 18-month contract.
This is in addition to O2’s existing 3GB with unlimited Wi-Fi tariff for £15 per month. In addition, customers signing up to any 18-month 3GB mobile broadband tariff will receive their first 3 months free.
The company’s excessive usage policy and standard terms apply for all these offers, see o2.co.uk for details.
This entry was posted in Apple, Music News, News, Opinion and tagged Admob, apple, iphone, iphone 3G, iphone 3gs, nokia, o2, Orange, south east asia, UK, vodafone on 03/02/2010 by Jonny.
About Jonny
I'm a freelance writer with an interest in Apple.
View all posts by Jonny →
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DISTRIBPIX
Blue Sunshine- Original Negatives Found, 4k restoration in the works!!!
By distribpix on April 5, 2015 • ( Leave a comment )
Original Camera Negative for Jeff Lieberman’s, 1978, Blue Sunshine, FOUND!!
Anyway, for those of you who don’t have much time, I will first skip all the bullshit! I just wanted to confirm the rumors that have been circulating, although I have not been able to get on Facebook or the blog as much lately, I have gotten some email and a few calls regarding this. I think it is a rather awesome film discovery and worthy of some major press and fan satisfaction. Recently, I have discovered the original Picture Negative to Jeff Lieberman’s, 1978, Blue Sunshine. There has not been a physical transfer or scan, but based on the actual elements, they look absolutely great, which is a huge start. This is a famous and sought after film, and one that the horror community has embraced as sort of a cult classic. The bottom line is that film is set in LA, it has murderous maniacs, caused by some LSD they took, need I say more! Combine that with this brand new find and were talking a serious Blu Ray Release!!
So,”YES”!… The Original Camera Negative for Jeff Lieberman’s, 1978, Blue Sunshine, has been FOUND, alive and well and heading to the lab for a truly glorious restoration project. Details will follow when finalized, but the simple approach is a 4k scan, followed by Davinci timing, which it will need plenty of and then after we complete the timing, we can decide on what levels of digital restoration we need to perform, like scratch and dirt removal. It is something we need to think about before we even start the scan because today, many of the higher end scanners have a technology from Kodak called DICE, and this is a very expensive and even a complex addition to the scanners, and it basically enables the scanner to effectively remove dirt, scratches and other flaws during the actual scanning process(I think of it like a digital wet gate). You can search “film scanning DICE technology” and learn more about it. But essentially, when this option used, the scanner automatically slows down and adjusts the rate that the film goes across the gate. During this slower scan, much of the flaw that would take weeks to remove manually with digital software, can now be done with DICE. Of course, this can add anywhere from $10-20 dollars to each minute of scan time, so it is a very expensive option, so we have not yet decided if this negative will be scanned that way.
Blue Sunshine, 1978, Original Camera Negative.
Well, “when it rains it pours”, is how the saying goes and for my small and rather intimate archival efforts, I can admit that this is true. These past 6 months have been amazing, from discovering a crisp 35mm print of an American literary and cinematic classic like Orson Welle’s, Falstaff(1965) to the negative of an American underground-cult classic like Jeff Lieberman’s, Blue Sunshine(1978), at Distribpix Inc we are certainly doing something right and that is literally unearthing some of cinema’s lost film treasures and elements.
Always traveling all over the place to retrieve film elements, look at new ones and archive collections takes a toll on the body and mind. It is like going on a scavenger hunt and if your successful , you need a 56 foot trailer truck, fork lift, 5 thousand dollars and a bottle of Advil, to simply ‘move it out’. Unlike many other worthy and valuable hobbies, like stamp collecting, where an entire collection of rare value can be carried in a briefcase and stored in a safe, a film collection needs a large space, a warehouse, a film storage facility, it’s a lot, and by film collecting standards I am rather small potatoes, housing much of a 3000 square foot warehouse with random films element and always convincing myself that I have room for me( which I do)!
And what is great, which is not that uncommon in film discoveries from the Distribpix archive, is that most of the time we are able to track down the origin of the films elements and find out where they originated (mainly through files, record and research) and how they ended up where they are. In most cases, it can be it’s own show or episode, it can be that amazing and detailed, other times its rather simple and straightforward. This is exactly the case with the negative for Blue Sunshine. For me, this was a simple forensic analysis and the determination was made through files that were from my private records, but after through research, the same info was also found to be easily available on the internet.
Analysis of the discovery of the Film Elements for Blue Sunshine (Original Picture Negative):
Here is what I can tell you about the life of the original picture negative for Blue Sunshine. Again, this is concise and to the point, but the actual story like many, is packed with details. In the late 1970’s when Jeff Leiberman had the original film negatives, he had utilized the services of Movie Lab in NYC to not only strike prints, but also store and ship prints. Movie Lab was one of the major go to labs of the day, and provided services to almost every film company during the 70’s and 80’s, from Hollywood to New York.
Their bicoastal location allowed prolific producers and directors on both coasts to more easily churn out pictures in the booming exploitation market. In many cases, these local labs thrived on the business of exploitation filmmakers(more on the cheaper, action style films and X-rated adult features), as the demand for this niche and theatrical prints was at it’s peek, as grindhouse after grindhouse dotted the streets of NYC and many other cities across America. America wanted it’s filth and they needed it quickly and easily, the only way to make it accessible was to have prints struck and in some cases hundreds of them for theaters all over the world! Today, we take for granted that much of the HD quality video we all watch on our tablets and mobile devices is streaming from some invisible Cloud that lingers in the atmosphere, of course I am speaking of cloud based servers and storage. But, back in the 70’s and 80s’s, if you want to see the shit, if you wanted anything to do with it, you went to the theaters. It was an experience. It was a way of life, this was just before and during the infancy of the home video revolution(VHS). This is how America and most viewed films, it was a place for the commoner and the cinephile, the raincoated-pervert or the business man. If you wanted it, you came out to see it, no way around!! I was fortunate enough to be a youngster around it, I saw it and experienced NYC and Times Square in the late 70’s and early 80’s, man it was incredible. Anyway, there is no way of getting around technology, don’t fight it, embrace it.
Back to the story……so while the labs were always busy the began to depend more and more on the success of the filmmakers and producers, and as these filmmakers would move on from one project to another, it was not uncommon to have original elements either stored or held at specialty film labs. Movie Lab was that place for Blue Sunshine, as well as literally thousands of other films elements from studios big and small, from around the world.
In the early 90’s, when Movie Lab had gone out of business, which is it’s own story, there were still thousands of film elements that were either abandoned, not claimed, unknown or just not identified correctly and became the property of Movie Lab and/or their responsibly to get rid of it, as they space the inhabited for so long was now to be vacated. So in the early 90’s, after a business deal was made between Distribix Inc. and Movie Lab, all of these various film elements were brought by trailer trucks to a warehouse in New Jersey, owned by Distribpix. These elements were stored for a while and eventually ended up in some different areas, some stayed in NYC, and many went to Los Angeles and then we followed the paper the trail to Seattle’s, Something Weird Video, where they would stay for approximately 25 years, hidden and tucked away with thousands of other boxes in storage areas, filled with film elements, ranging from negatives, to prints, mag tracks, trailers, work prints, etc.
The simple reason they ended up in Seattle, at SWV, was due to the fact that in the early 1990’s a young and aggressive businessman( as well as cinephile, professional collector, comic book hound, punk rock expert, and well known video bootlegger) by the name of Mike Vraney had contacted Arthur, the owner of Distribpix Inc, as Mike wanted to distribute some of the early Distribpix sex exploitation films, as well as try and exploit the new Movie Lab acquisitions as well. While I was just getting out of junior high school around that time, I was still aware of what was going on, to a degree, now my tenure and files can confirm everything. Anyway, Mike Vraney and Distribpix had a very pleasant relationship, and I remember times when Mike, Dave Friedman and my father and brother, would often all rendevoux once a year in the Big Apple, where they would romp around, eat and drink. Mike was a true character and I have thought about him so much since his passing just over 15 months ago. He leaves behind an amazing legacy and film collection, and a good portion of those elements are owned by Distribpix Inc. Anyway, after Mike’s passing I had spent almost a year going back and forth to Seattle every 6 weeks or so, to spend time with Lisa, Mike’s wife and owner of SWV, as well as Tim Lewis, the head of operations. We had some great times. I also got to be at Mike’s memorial and oother events to remember his life. While in Seattle this past summer, I had also been looking through elements and gathering films as well. In July of 2014, after spending 3-4 consecutive days on my hands and knees, I was elated to find a box that was labeled with Blue Sunshine.
I don’t exactly recall why I was looking for it or why it was on my ‘keep an eye out for” list, maybe because Jeff had mentioned it to a friend of mine, as he knew I would be scouring through the Movie Lab elements with a fine tooth comb, but Lisa was also aware of the fact that they might be there. I mean Jeff Leiberman even had a hunch, as he would know best and he was right. I immediately brought the box to Lisa where it was locked away in her office until I was able to have it securely package and shipped to the east coast. Where is sits beside me and awaits a 2 hour drive too the lab in just over 48 hours! That is the life line of these elements, I hope you enjoyed this story. I am want to thank Mike/Lisa/Tim from SWV for always being such solid people to me and great hosts and I want to thank and congratulate Jeff Lieberman on the confirmation that his original negative not only exists, but will be getting a grand restoration and one done with love, passion and care to detail.
While this is a great find and the elements are now safe with me they will be going home to daddy!! After the restoration, which is complete I will personally drive the negatives back to Jeff’s home, where the reels can live with Jeff, sandwiched between some of his other prized elements he owns. I just hope his film elements for Remote Control, will not be too jealous of his brand new and gorgeous looking 35mm-celluloid addition to the family!
More details to follow. Thank you for reading.
http://www.distribpix.com
Categories: DISTRIBPIX, PRESS RELEASES
Tagged as: 35 mm, 4k scan, blue sunshine, cult, Davinci Software, digital restoration, DISTRIBPIX, exploitation classic, film preservation, film restoration, horror, jeff lieberman, LSD, Movie Lab, negative, remote control, times square, zalman king
Constance Money aka Misty Beethoven
WESTGATE GALLERY PRESENTS: THE DEVILS PLAYGROUND
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DNA Discoveries with Denise Sproed
Focusing on Autosomal DNA Clues blended with classic genealogy research
DNA Helps
Sproed 60th Anniversary
Fine Wood Carving
Alfred Edward Righetti
M, b. 14 July 1894, d. 6 October 1965
Isaac Kent/Lucy Hopkins Descendants
Joseph Collard Descendants
Birth*: Alfred Edward Righetti was born on 14 July 1894 at Guadalupe, Santa Barbara County, California.
Marriage*: He married Susie Marie "Marie" Barlow on 26 November 1920 at Santa Barbara County, California.
Death*: Alfred Edward Righetti died in Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County, California, on 6 October 1965, at the age of 71.
Burial*: He was buried after 6 October 1965 in Atascadero Pine Mountain Cemetery (Find A Grave Memorial# 79761362) at Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County, California.
Father*: Elvezio Righetti b. 8 May 1865, d. 19 Feb 1947
Mother*: Lillian May Pezzoni b. 15 May 1876, d. 27 Oct 1959
Susie Marie "Marie" Barlow b. 9 Dec 1899, d. 4 Dec 1978
Emma Righetti b. 25 Apr 1927, d. 22 Feb 1985
Loretta Lillie Righetti b. 12 Apr 1934, d. 22 May 1981
Edith Righetti
F, b. 1 July 1896, d. 15 August 1987
Birth*: Edith Righetti was born on 1 July 1896 at Orcutt, Santa Barbara County, California.
Death*: She died in Santa Barbara County, California, on 15 August 1987, at the age of 91.
Tilden Milton Righetti
M, b. 15 March 1899, d. 2 September 1938
Birth*: Tilden Milton Righetti was born on 15 March 1899 at Orcutt, Santa Barbara County, California.
Death*: He died in Santa Barbara County, California, on 2 September 1938, at the age of 39.
Ernest Righetti
M, b. 21 July 1902, d. 31 October 1988
Birth*: Ernest Righetti was born on 21 July 1902 at Orcutt, Santa Barbara County, California.
Death*: He died in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, California, on 31 October 1988, at the age of 86.
Leo J. Righetti
M, b. 21 February 1904, d. 23 March 1922
Birth*: Leo J. Righetti was born on 21 February 1904 at Orcutt, Santa Barbara County, California.
Death*: He died on 23 March 1922, at the age of 18.
Lillian Emma Righetti
F, b. 19 May 1914, d. 30 August 1985
Birth*: Lillian Emma Righetti was born on 19 May 1914 at Orcutt, Santa Barbara County, California.
Death*: She died in Newport Beach, Orange County, California, on 30 August 1985, at the age of 71.
Paul Albert Righetti
M, b. 19 September 1919, d. 7 October 1979
Birth*: Paul Albert Righetti was born on 19 September 1919 at Orcutt, Santa Barbara County, California.
Death*: He died on 7 October 1979, at the age of 60.
Susie Marie "Marie" Barlow
F, b. 9 December 1899, d. 4 December 1978
Birth*: Susie Marie "Marie" Barlow was born on 9 December 1899 at Garfield, Pawnee County, Kansas.
Marriage*: She married Alfred Edward Righetti, son of Elvezio Righetti and Lillian May Pezzoni, on 26 November 1920 at Santa Barbara County, California.
Death*: Susie Marie "Marie" Barlow died in San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County, California, on 4 December 1978, at the age of 78.
Burial*: She was buried after 4 December 1978 in Atascadero Pine Mountain Cemetery (Find A Grave Memorial# 79761247) at Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County, California.
Alfred Edward Righetti b. 14 Jul 1894, d. 6 Oct 1965
Emma Righetti
F, b. 25 April 1927, d. 22 February 1985
Birth*: Emma Righetti was born on 25 April 1927.
Death*: She died on 22 February 1985, at the age of 57.
Father*: Alfred Edward Righetti b. 14 Jul 1894, d. 6 Oct 1965
Mother*: Susie Marie "Marie" Barlow b. 9 Dec 1899, d. 4 Dec 1978
Loretta Lillie Righetti
F, b. 12 April 1934, d. 22 May 1981
Birth*: Loretta Lillie Righetti was born on 12 April 1934 at Casmalia, Santa Barbara County, California.
Death*: She died in San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County, California, on 22 May 1981, at the age of 47.
Thomas Harrison Gouff
M, b. 11 September 1936, d. 29 May 1993
Birth*: Thomas Harrison Gouff was born on 11 September 1936 at Plattsmouth, Cass County, Nebraska.
Death*: He died in Pozo, San Luis Obispo County, California, on 29 May 1993, at the age of 56.
Burial*: He was buried after 29 May 1993 in Santa Margarita Cemetery (Find A Grave Memorial# 34449492) at Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo County, California.
Craig Allen Gouff+ b. 12 Jun 1956, d. 19 Mar 1992
Craig Allen Gouff
M, b. 12 June 1956, d. 19 March 1992
Birth*: Craig Allen Gouff was born on 12 June 1956 at Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, California.
Death*: He died in Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County, California, on 19 March 1992, at the age of 35.
Burial*: He was buried after 19 March 1992 in Santa Margarita Cemetery (Find A Grave Memorial# 28876319) at Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo County, California.
Father*: Thomas Harrison Gouff b. 11 Sep 1936, d. 29 May 1993
Walter Theodore Kyber
M, b. 6 September 1904, d. 11 January 1994
Birth*: Walter Theodore Kyber was born on 6 September 1904 at California.
Marriage*: He married Florence Myrtle Dent, daughter of Frank Egbert Dent and Mary Hester Guthrie, on 16 June 1928 at Ventura County, California.
Death*: Walter Theodore Kyber died in Los Angeles County, California, on 11 January 1994, at the age of 89.
Florence Myrtle Dent b. 22 Nov 1904, d. 29 Dec 1993
Viva Louise "Louise" Lincoln
F, b. 10 January 1916, d. 9 January 2004
Birth*: Viva Louise "Louise" Lincoln was born on 10 January 1916 at Santa Paula, Ventura County, California.
Marriage*: She married Floyd Elmer "Jack" Dent, son of Frank Egbert Dent and Mary Hester Guthrie, on 8 February 1936 at Ventura County, California.
Death*: Viva Louise "Louise" Lincoln died in Merced, Merced County, California, on 9 January 2004, at the age of 87.
Burial*: She was buried on 15 January 2004 in Turlock Memorial Park at Turlock, Stanislaus County, California.
Floyd Elmer "Jack" Dent b. 10 Mar 1907, d. 30 Nov 2000
Nancy Louise Dent+ b. 9 Aug 1941, d. 27 Oct 1998
Orpha Pauline "Pauline" Taylor
F, b. 25 October 1909, d. 21 March 1989
Birth*: Orpha Pauline "Pauline" Taylor was born on 25 October 1909 at Missouri.
Marriage*: She married George Oscar Dent, son of Frank Egbert Dent and Mary Hester Guthrie, on 1 June 1929 at Ventura County, California.
Death*: Orpha Pauline "Pauline" Taylor died in Ventura County, California, on 21 March 1989, at the age of 79.
George Oscar Dent b. 17 Dec 1908, d. 8 Jul 1973
I think I shall never see, a completed genealogy!
Compiler: From the research of Denise Sproed, RN, BSN, Copyright 2010-2018
Site updated on 15 Dec 2019 at 7:56:05 PM; 17,279 people
Page created by John Cardinal's Second Site v7.00. | Customized with artwork by Sylvia Sproed
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Little Steve Sees “Japanese” Bombers
It was at two years old [1942] that I—and the rest of the family—we moved to Philadelphia area, Drexel Hill, 325 Riverview Avenue. That just sticks in my mind and Drexel Hill. We did that because Dad [Taylor] was in the navy.
In the First World War, he was a seaman. In the Second World War, he became an officer to the point where at the end of that war and in retirement, he was a captain level, which is the same as a colonel in the army, which is quite an honorable position.
Dad was a determined guy and a very much of an expert or—let me just say—a perfectionist. He was an accountant before the navy and after the navy and he taught at Bentley University, Bentley College, which now is a university.
In the navy, back to the navy, back in the Second World War, we were at this place in Drexel Hill. After the war—and I recall the VJ Day—and there were some things that were outstanding that I recall in Drexel Hill.
Because I have some very creative brothers, they taught me that Japanese planes were coming in to bomb us. The story had gotten around. They put me in a two-sided porch, two-windowed, windowed on two sides. All I could see was these Japanese planes coming down to bomb us during the blackout time.
Blackouts meant everybody had to turn out their lights in the whole city because they thought that—it was actually in relationship to Germany—because they thought the Germans would fly over and see the houses and see the outline of the houses on ultra—not ultraviolet, but red—infrared vision of the housing and would bomb. We’ll we didn’t know that and we had the blackouts anyway.
Dad, Taylor Albert Duncan Senior, he was one of the wardens, who went around the streets when he got home from the navy time, and he would insist that the city was blacked out. Of those around in his neighborhood, he was responsible. He would make sure that people had their lights out or you couldn’t see it in the houses with lights.
And so that is one of the very prominent memories that I have of the Second World War. I have other little memories, but that was a very outstanding one. I was for sure I could see these Japanese planes because, as I say, I have very creative brothers. They would tell me about all this was happening. It, of course, never did happen.
[325 Riverview Avenue, Drexel Hill, PA is correct. I’ve previously reported Grandma Duncan’s version, which was Riverview Cove. It is listed on the maps as Avenue.—dch]
story told by Steve to the family reunion gathering on January 10, 2014; recorded and transcribed by Dawn [Steve’s daughter]
What do you remember of the blackouts?
What stories have your folks told you about that period?
Do you recall Grandpa Taylor serving as an air raid warden? What can you tell us about it? Did he wear a special patch, badge, or uniform? Did he have to “report” houses that weren’t blacked out? How did he deal with enforcement?
Do you remember Steve sleeping on this porch? Do you recall him expressing fear? Do remember the “Japanese bombers” story? What can you tell us about it?
This entry was posted in Steve, Taylor and tagged 1942, air raid warden, Bentley College, blackouts, Drexel Hill, Navy, World War I, World War II on January 28, 2015 by Dawn Duncan Harrell (1970-2019).
Wally, a Bird, and Some Glue
With so many men away [at war in 1942], 13-year-old Wally was offered the job as janitor in the little Baptist Church in Drexel Hill, where his dad was a deacon.
One Saturday, when Wally came in to clean, he heard a small bird fluttering above in the rafters. Wally took a castor from under the leg of a chair and used it as a shot-put to hit the bird. Each time he threw it, the bird fluttered to the other end of the ceiling. Then it happened. The glass castor hit the beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
He rode his bike to his friend’s house and asked him to come and help. He went home and got some airplane glue and rode back to the church. The two boys got banquet tables, which were stored, screwed in the legs made of pipe, and stacked them on top of each other to make a scaffold. With his friend holding on, Wally climbed up and glued the two pieces of the chandelier back together again.
Many years later, when we were in Philadelphia, Wally took me back to the church and we found it open. Sure enough, we could see the line of repair. I don’t know if anyone at the church ever found out.
written memories of Wally, contributed by Barbara (Wally’s wife), December 12, 2012
Can you add to the story? Please do. Write in the box below (You may need to click “Leave a Reply” above to make the box, name, and address fields appear.).
Do you remember this story? What other details can you add?
What was the name of the small Baptist church in Drexel Hill? Or was this Wayland Baptist Church in Meadville that the family attended briefly before moving (see Virginia Accepts the Lord)?
This entry was posted in Wally and tagged 1942, Barbara Duncan, chandelier, Drexel Hill on September 24, 2014 by Dawn Duncan Harrell (1970-2019).
Hot Waters of Baptism
Baptism in the Baptist Church was by immersion, in a big tub in the floor in front of the podium. It was usually covered by a removable section of flooring and covered with an oriental rug. On a Sunday when there was to be baptisms, Wally was told to go to the basement and get the coal fire started to heat up the water the day before. That he did.
The Sunday service was started. The pastor got up to preach. As he spoke from the podium, the corners of the oriental rug started to flutter with poof sounds that Wally would mimic and make us laugh at the telling.
One of the elder men in the church came up to Wally. “When did you turn off the heat, Wally?” he asked realizing that it was the steam from the baptismal underneath that was causing the rug to dance.
“No one told me to turn it off,” Wally replied. He ran down to the basement and turned off the furnace, but obviously there was not enough time for all that water to cool down.
The pastor had his fishing boots on, oblivious to the temperature of the water. As he prepared to do the baptisms, he read from his Bible. Starting to sweat beads of perspiration from the heat, he reached for one towel from the pile reserved for those getting baptized. Then he reached for another.
As the first lady entered, she gingerly dipped her toe into the too warm water.
I can only write from my imagination and from what Wally told me about that day, but those baptized came out a little pink and had more than a baptism of water.
This entry was posted in Wally and tagged 1942, baptism, Barbara Duncan, coal fire, janitor on June 11, 2014 by Dawn Duncan Harrell (1970-2019).
Wally and Lee Decide to Follow Christ
Wally sneaked in the stage door of the Word of Life conference because he couldn’t get in the regular way. After the collection, the ushers brought the plates forward and put the plates in his hand. This may have taken place at Mechanics Hall in Boston.
Wally came to faith in his later teens.
excerpt from a Skype conversation between Steve and Dawn Harrell (Steve’s daughter), February 3, 2013
We were at Alden Union Church and Rev. William Allan Dean was the minister. That’s where I came to know the Lord in my teen years. I remember the place in the church where we sat. I didn’t go forward because we didn’t do that in those days. My faith grew in a slow progression throughout those years. There were certain times when we emphasized coming to know the Lord. Youth group met on Saturday night and I just grew in the Lord at that time. I graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1945.
Mother [Virginia] never had a real personal relationship until we went to Alden Union Church. She grew up Episcopal. The Bible study Wendell mentioned met on the sun porch; it had windows all around but it was closed in. There were maybe twenty to thirty women there.
Dad [Taylor] went to Alden Union because it was a Baptist church, but he never had a real close walk with God. He was definitely in favor of faithful church-going.
When Jack Wyrtzen was in Boston, we would go down to his campaign. Wally sneaked in back door because he didn’t get there on time. As he came in, they handed him the plates to take up the money. He passed the plates. I think I was looking for him. I got into the wrong area and then in to the men’s room. It was such a confusing place.
excerpt from a phone conversation between Lee and Dawn Harrell (Steve’s daughter), February 6, 2013
The first time we had any contact with the Duncans, we lived at 222 Stanley Avenue, in Menoa, Pennsylvania. I lived there with my family. We had five children. The Duncans lived not far away at 325 Riverview Cove, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. We were sitting out on the front steps, and this lady with a baby carriage came by. That was Mrs. [Virginia] Duncan with Lee walking along. It was probably Bob [b. 1933] in the carriage. I can’t really remember how old I was but probably between four and eight years old [Wendell was born in 1928, so this was ca. 1932–1936]. I believe that’s how my mother met the Duncan family.
Next time I remember the Duncans, I was a teenager. My father said, “I’d like to take you to the church where they were having a Christmas program.” Lee Duncan played the part of Mary. It was a liberal Baptist church. We went to Aldan Union Church in Aldan, Pennsylvania and my father was interest in getting the Duncan family to come to Aldan Union. William Allan Dean was the pastor at Aldan Union. It was an independent denomination. The original church building still exists. They came.
My mother was part of the contact with the Duncans. She invited Mrs. [Virginia] Duncan to a women’s Bible study. It was taught by a lady at Aldan Union. She came. In fact if I remember correctly, they met in the Duncan home, a beautiful big home in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.
I think I was in high school. We were in youth group together at Aldan Union Church. Lee [b. 1927] was older than I. Wally [b. 1929] was younger. He was not in the youth group Lee and I were in.
excerpt from a Skype conversation between Wendell Caley (longtime friend of the Duncan family) and Dawn Harrell (Steve’s daughter), January 29, 2013
When I visited him a few weeks ago [Fall 2006], Wally told me that he made a decision to accept Christ as a young teen, as did his sister, Lee. Their mother [Virginia] took notice of the “change” in their lives, explored the reason, and then made a decision to follow Christ herself. Grandpa [Wally] credits her strength of character and commitment to Christ as the reasons that the rest of the family took seriously the invitation to follow Christ. His mother taught the adult Sunday school class at Park Street Church in Boston for many years. So there is much in our heritage for which to be grateful.
written memories of Wally, contributed by Jim Duncan (Wally’s son), on the occasion of Wally’s death, November 7, 2006
Wally describes the one year anniversary of Pearl Harbor as the most wonderful day of his life. On December 7, 1942, Wally (age 13) accepted Jesus as his personal savior. It became the most defining moment of his life. He knew that he was a new creature, a child of God, never to be snatched out of His hands. He had gone to a Jack Wyrtzen [a founder of Word of Life Fellowship and inspiration for Youth for Christ] rally in Boston and at the end there was an altar call for those who wished to announce that they had personally accepted the grace offered at the cross. Wally was too embarrassed to go forward. He waited until the rally was over and the auditorium had cleared out. He went backstage and saw the evangelist packing up his briefcase.
“Mr. Wyrtzen,” he said. “I want to tell you that I have accepted Jesus into my heart as my savior.”
“That is wonderful, young man.” Mr. Wyrzten replied. He sat down and spoke with the young boy who realized he needed a savior. The two prayed together.
Wally was so excited; he told me he ran along the railroad tracks as fast as he could all the way home. He never lost the thrill of reliving that wonderful moment. He never doubted again that he wouldn’t see his Father in heaven one day and meet Jesus face to face. Indeed, when he died on November 7, 2006, he died with the blessed assurance that he was going to meet his savior.
written memories of Wally, contributed by Barbara Duncan (Wally’s wife), December 12, 2012
Do you remember this story? What other details can you add? I’d love to have a fuller telling of this movement in the family history. It seems pivotal.
This may come up in the interview with Grandma Virginia, but can anyone tell the story of her decision to know Christ on a deeper level?
Lee, do you recall this rally? Did you attend? Can you talk about your own experience of trusting Christ?
I have a family calendar that someone put together, which says, “Grandpa Taylor Duncan was in the Navy and was assigned in Philadelphia during WWII. Wally spent his freshman and senior years in Newton, Mass.; his sophomore and junior year of high school here [Drexel Hill].” Can anybody (Lee or Betty) talk further about those moves back and forth and their impact on the family? I guess the family lived in this house between 1944 and 1945. Can anyone confirm or modify this guess?
The house-photo I’ve included is a photo of a photo from the family calendar. Who put this calendar together? Are the photos in digital format? Can you send me to that link or email them to me? Thanks.
This entry was posted in Bob, Lee, Virginia, Wally and tagged 1942, Aldan Union Church, Barbara Duncan, Dawn Harrell, Jack Wyrtzen, Jim Duncan, Park Street Church, Pearl Harbor, Wendell Caley, Word of Life Fellowship, World War II, Youth for Christ on January 30, 2013 by Dawn Duncan Harrell (1970-2019).
Wally Goes to War
[Virginia]: He was missing this morning. He had gone to school apparently. Instead of that, he made up his mind that he was going to go on adventure, so he got on this ship down at the dock. I didn’t know where he was. When it was time for him to come home from school, he didn’t come. Then I got this telephone message: “I’m down in South America” somewhere. I don’t know where he was, right over the border.
[Barb]: Well he was missing for a few days, before you knew where he was?
[Virginia]: No, the first day I didn’t know where he was. No. You know, he called me up and said, “I’m so far I can’t get to a telephone. Couldn’t get to a telephone before because they wouldn’t let us get off the boat.” When he got back on the boat, he said, “I’ve either got to make up my mind to go along with them and go over to Asia,” I guess it was, “or to come home.” I said, “Well, you better come home here and get home here fast!” because you know his father was all upset about it. Before you could say anything more much, he was home. He said, “You know, if I’d have gone, it would have been at least four months before I would ever have got home.”
[Barb]: He hadn’t even packed his bags?
[Virginia]: Oh, yeah, when they went over to. . . .
[Barb]: No, but, had he packed his bags?
[Virginia]: Oh, I don’t think they bothered packing much.
partial conversation between Virginia and Barbara Duncan (Wally’s wife) in the summer of 1987, courtesy of Barbara Duncan
Wally enlisted in the Navy at age 13 after lying about his age [ca. 1942]. Had his dad not been a Navy captain himself and gotten wind of it, he might have pulled it off. At the time, every self-respecting lad was itching to go fight the Huns and the Japs—even if they really were too young to be soldiers.
When [Wally] was about 13, he had this same determination and wanderlust. His father was in the Navy and was not home. World War II was raging and all patriotic, able-bodied men were joining the military. Serving their country was indeed an honor. It is hard to imagine, but Wally doctored up his birth certificate, making himself older than he was. He was large for his age and could pass for an older teen. He signed up for the Merchant Marines [an auxiliary of the Navy, responsible for transporting goods and services] and took off to see the world without telling anyone. He made it for the one trip to Central America before his father caught up with him and brought him back home. Somehow he never told the story with regret or even any sympathy for his parents. Adventurer he was!
Do you remember this story? What other details can you add? For example, did he put into port anywhere? What were his rank and duties? What was the name of his ship? How did his father engineer the “capture”? How, if at all, was Wally punished?
What did Grandma have to say about Wally’s “escape”?
Lee, Betty, Steve, what were you doing in 1942?
Describe life at home when your dad was away in the Navy?
This entry was posted in Taylor, Virginia, Wally and tagged 1942, Barbara Duncan, Central America, Jim Duncan, Merchant Marines, Navy, World War II on January 9, 2013 by Dawn Duncan Harrell (1970-2019).
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Nuclear bridges in multinucleated giant cells associated with primary lymphoma of the brain in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
H. Mizusawa, A. Hirano, J. F. Llena, T. Kato
In an autopsied case of a 37-year-old man with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), multinucleated giant cell encephalopathy was noted in close proximity to multiple nodules of primary lymphoma of the brain. Some multinucleated giant cells and macrophages contained HTLV-III-like viral particles. Nuclear bridges, thin strands connecting individual nuclei with one another, were observed with both light and electron microscopes within some of the multinucleated giant cells. There were also thin tapering nuclear processes, which were probably part of nuclear bridges. The possibility that the nuclear bridges and processes represent amitotic nuclear division is discussed.
Giant Cells
Cell Nucleus Division
Virion
Encephalopathy
Multinucleated giant cell
Nuclear division
Primary central nervous system lymphom
Mizusawa, H., Hirano, A., Llena, J. F., & Kato, T. (1987). Nuclear bridges in multinucleated giant cells associated with primary lymphoma of the brain in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Acta Neuropathologica, 75(1), 23-26. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686788
Nuclear bridges in multinucleated giant cells associated with primary lymphoma of the brain in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). / Mizusawa, H.; Hirano, A.; Llena, J. F.; Kato, T.
In: Acta Neuropathologica, Vol. 75, No. 1, 01.1987, p. 23-26.
Mizusawa, H, Hirano, A, Llena, JF & Kato, T 1987, 'Nuclear bridges in multinucleated giant cells associated with primary lymphoma of the brain in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)', Acta Neuropathologica, vol. 75, no. 1, pp. 23-26. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686788
Mizusawa H, Hirano A, Llena JF, Kato T. Nuclear bridges in multinucleated giant cells associated with primary lymphoma of the brain in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Acta Neuropathologica. 1987 Jan;75(1):23-26. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686788
Mizusawa, H. ; Hirano, A. ; Llena, J. F. ; Kato, T. / Nuclear bridges in multinucleated giant cells associated with primary lymphoma of the brain in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In: Acta Neuropathologica. 1987 ; Vol. 75, No. 1. pp. 23-26.
@article{c422ce922a3c4e09b5c93efc12f10d4e,
title = "Nuclear bridges in multinucleated giant cells associated with primary lymphoma of the brain in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)",
abstract = "In an autopsied case of a 37-year-old man with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), multinucleated giant cell encephalopathy was noted in close proximity to multiple nodules of primary lymphoma of the brain. Some multinucleated giant cells and macrophages contained HTLV-III-like viral particles. Nuclear bridges, thin strands connecting individual nuclei with one another, were observed with both light and electron microscopes within some of the multinucleated giant cells. There were also thin tapering nuclear processes, which were probably part of nuclear bridges. The possibility that the nuclear bridges and processes represent amitotic nuclear division is discussed.",
keywords = "AIDS, Encephalopathy, Multinucleated giant cell, Nuclear division, Primary central nervous system lymphom",
author = "H. Mizusawa and A. Hirano and Llena, {J. F.} and T. Kato",
journal = "Acta Neuropathologica",
T1 - Nuclear bridges in multinucleated giant cells associated with primary lymphoma of the brain in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
AU - Mizusawa, H.
AU - Hirano, A.
AU - Llena, J. F.
AU - Kato, T.
N2 - In an autopsied case of a 37-year-old man with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), multinucleated giant cell encephalopathy was noted in close proximity to multiple nodules of primary lymphoma of the brain. Some multinucleated giant cells and macrophages contained HTLV-III-like viral particles. Nuclear bridges, thin strands connecting individual nuclei with one another, were observed with both light and electron microscopes within some of the multinucleated giant cells. There were also thin tapering nuclear processes, which were probably part of nuclear bridges. The possibility that the nuclear bridges and processes represent amitotic nuclear division is discussed.
AB - In an autopsied case of a 37-year-old man with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), multinucleated giant cell encephalopathy was noted in close proximity to multiple nodules of primary lymphoma of the brain. Some multinucleated giant cells and macrophages contained HTLV-III-like viral particles. Nuclear bridges, thin strands connecting individual nuclei with one another, were observed with both light and electron microscopes within some of the multinucleated giant cells. There were also thin tapering nuclear processes, which were probably part of nuclear bridges. The possibility that the nuclear bridges and processes represent amitotic nuclear division is discussed.
KW - AIDS
KW - Encephalopathy
KW - Multinucleated giant cell
KW - Nuclear division
KW - Primary central nervous system lymphom
JO - Acta Neuropathologica
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I believe in the power of kindness. How about you?
Bidding You Aloha but Not Goodbye
Aloha Is More Than a Word. You hear it frequently in Hawaii, but it is so much more than just a word we use. Yes, people use it as a greeting or to say goodbye too, but not when we talk about spreading aloha. Aloha is a way of life many strive to reach. It involves showing kindness, compassion, and empathy to others in big and small ways. It is about showing love and respect. I believe in spreading aloha, and I cannot honestly say that my blogging has been an effective tool for doing so. Finding … READ MORE
Mele Kalikimaka and Hauoli Makahiki Hou
From the land where palm trees sway, I want to share with you my dream for the future, as I wish each of you much peace and joy during the holiday season and throughout the coming year. I hope and pray 2011 is a year of change, where people make an honest effort to be more open-minded and really try to educate themselves about differences by reading books like Delightfully Different or similar stories that explain autism spectrum and/ or other differences. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream and so do I. READ MORE
My Christmas Wish: Sweeter People and More Joy and Understanding
I purposefully avoided posting this past week. My meeting with the new administrator of the former school was disappointing although I was proud of how I handled myself. I wonder if he can say the same. I lost hope in ever getting through to anyone at the school because this man is known for implementing an empathy program at his former school yet, I did not feel any compassion from him. Still, I know there are good people in this world and my children are safe. They are both amazing and kind despite the world … READ MORE
Kindness, Compassion, and Support Are What the World Needs Now
November 13, 1012 is World Kindness Day, a day designated to realize the need for more compassion and kindness. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone observed it and really was kind for one full day? Yes, I am a dreamer, but like John Lennon, I am not the only one. I still believe in the goodness of humanity despite evidence to the contrary. I still dream of a kinder world, and that is why I think it is essential that we teach children how to be kind and how to recognize the difference between kindness and … READ MORE
Mahalo Nui Loa for Support
I need to focus on gratitude today. I am grateful for any and all who interact on Twitter, who one plus my Google posts, who like and share my posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. I’ll always be grateful to those of you who have reached out over the past two years, especially to those who still do, and to those who reached out to M. too. I’m grateful for new followers. And, I am grateful so many are now speaking out about the need for more kindness, understanding, and acceptance of differences in this … READ MORE
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People (13) Apply People filter
Experiments (6) Apply Experiments filter
Theories (2) Apply Theories filter
Organizations (1) Apply Organizations filter
Displaying 1 - 25 of 31 items.
Edward Drinker Cope's Law of Acceleration of Growth
The Law of Acceleration of Growth is a theory proposed by Edward Drinker Cope in the US during the nineteenth century. Cope developed it in an attempt to explain the evolution of genera by appealing to changes in the developmental timelines of organisms. Cope proposed this law as an additional theory to natural selection.
Subject: Theories
Ontogeny and Phylogeny (1977), by Stephen Jay Gould
Ontogeny and Phylogeny is a book published in 1977, in which the author Stephen J. Gould, who worked in the US, tells a history of the theory of recapitulation. A theory of recapitulation aims to explain the relationship between the embryonic development of an organism (ontogeny) and the evolution of that organism's species (phylogeny). Although there are several variations of recapitulationist theories, most claim that during embryonic development an organism repeats the adult stages of organisms from those species in it's evolutionary history.
Subject: Publications
"Behavioral Thermoregulation by Turtle Embryos" (2011), by Wei-Guo Du, Bo Zhao, Ye Chen, and Richard Shine
In "Behavioral Thermoregulation by Turtle Embryos," published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in April, 2011, Wei-Guo Du, Bo Zhao, Ye Chen, and Richard Shine report that turtle embryos can move towards warmer temperatures within the egg when presented with a small, 0.8 degrees Celsius gradient. This behavioral thermoregulation may benefit the embryo's fitness by accelerating the rate of development enough to decrease the incubation period by up to four and a half days. Embryos are generally thought to have little control over their surroundings.
David Baltimore (1938– )
David Baltimore studied viruses and the immune system in the US during the twentieth century. In 1975, Baltimore was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering reverse transcriptase, the enzyme used to transfer information from RNA to DNA. The discovery of reverse transcriptase contradicted the central dogma of biology at the time, which stated that the transfer of information was unidirectional from DNA, RNA, to protein.
Subject: People
“Of Pregnancy and Progeny” (1980), by Norbert Freinkel
Norbert Freinkel’s lecture Of Pregnancy and Progeny was published by the American Diabetes Association’s journal Diabetes in December of 1980. In the lecture, Freinkel argued that pregnancy changes the way that the female body breaks down and uses food. Through experiments that involved pregnant women as well as infants, Freinkel established the body’s maternal metabolism and how it affects both the mother and the infant. Freinkel’s main focus of research in the latter part of his life was diabetes, specifically in pregnant women.
"In vitro Experiments on the Effects of Mouse Sarcomas 180 and 37 on the Spinal and Sympathetic Ganglia of the Chick Embryo" (1954), by Rita Levi-Montalcini, Viktor Hamburger, and Hertha Meyer
"In vitro Experiments on the Effects of Mouse Sarcomas 180 and 37 on the Spinal and Sympathetic Ganglia of the Chick Embryo" were experiments conducted by Rita Levi-Montalcini in conjunction with Viktor Hamburger and Hertha Meyer and published in Cancer Research in 1954. In this series of experiments, conducted at the University of Brazil, Levi-Montalcini demonstrated increased nerve growth by introducing specific tumors (sarcomas) to chick ganglia. Ganglia are clusters of nerve cells, from which nerve fibers emerge.
Subject: Experiments
Epidermal growth factor is a signaling molecule that stimulates the growth of epidermal tissues during development and throughout life. Stanley Cohen discovered epidermal growth factor (EGF) during studies of nerve growth factor as a side effect of other experiments. EGF stimulates tissue growth by initiating a variety of cellular mechanisms. This work led to the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded to Cohen and Rita Levi-Montalcini.
Subject: Processes
"A Diffusible Agent of Mouse Sarcoma, Producing Hyperplasia of Sympathetic Ganglia and Hyperneurotization of Viscera in the Chick Embryo" (1953), by Rita Levi-Montalcini and Viktor Hamburger
"A Diffusible Agent of Mouse Sarcoma, Producing Hyperplasia of Sympathetic Ganglia and Hyperneurotization of Viscera in the Chick Embryo," by Rita Levi-Montalcini and Viktor Hamburger, appeared in 1953 in the Journal of Experimental Zoology. The paper provided the first evidence that nerve growth factor is a diffusible substance. Nerve growth promoting tumors were implanted into developing embryos to determine whether the tumors stimulated growth by direct contact or by a diffusible substance.
"How do Embryos Assess Risk? Vibrational Cues in Predator-Induced Hatching of Red-Eyed Treefrogs" (2005), by Karen Warkentin
In 'How do Embryos Assess Risk? Vibrational Cues in Predator-Induced Hatching of Red-Eyed Treefrogs' (2005), Karen Warkentin reported on experiments she conducted to see how red-eyed treefrog embryos, Agalychnis callidryas, can distinguish between vibrations due to predator attacks and other environmental occurrences, such as storms. Though the ability of red-eyed treefrogs to alter their hatch timing had been documented, the specific cues that induce early hatching were not well understood.
Subject: Experiments, Organisms
Edward Drinker Cope (1840-1897)
Edward Drinker Cope studied fossils and anatomy in the US in the late nineteenth century. Based on his observations of skeletal morphology, Cope developed a novel mechanism to explain the law of parallelism, the idea that developing organisms successively pass through stages resembling their ancestors. Others had proposed the addition of new body forms at the end of an individual organism's developed as a mechanism through which new species arose, but those proposals relied on changes in the lengths of gestation or incubation.
Gene Transfer Strategy Used to Treat Tay - Sachs Disease (2005), by Sabata Martino’s Research Group
In the early 2000s, Sabata Martino and a team of researchers in Italy and Germany showed that they could reduce the symptoms of Tay-Sachs in afflicted mice by injecting them with a virus that infected their cells with a gene they lacked. Tay-Sachs disease is a fatal degenerative disorder that occurs in infants and causes rapid motor and mental impairment, leading to death at the ages of three to five. In gene therapy, researchers insert normal genes into cells that have missing or defective genes in order to correct genetic disorders.
Charles Otis Whitman (1842-1910)
Charles Otis Whitman was an extremely curious and driven researcher who was not content to limit himself to one field of expertise. Among the fields of study to which he made significant contributions were: embryology; morphology, or the form of living organisms and the relationships between their structures; natural history; and behavior.
Bernard Nathanson (1926-2011)
Bernard Nathanson was an obstetrician and gynecologist in New York City, New York, who argued for, and later against, women's rights to abortion. Between 1970 and 1979, Nathanson oversaw at least 75,000 abortions, 5,000 of which he performed himself, earning him the nickname of abortion king. However, his views regarding abortion shifted in 1973, after he watched an abortion using ultrasound imaging technology. Afterwards, Nathanson began to oppose women's rights to abortion, and he published the anti-abortion book Aborting America and produced the film Silent Scream.
Subject: People, Reproduction
Sir Graham Collingwood Liggins (1926-2010)
Sir Graham Collingwood Liggins devoted much of his professional life to obstetric research. Liggins demonstrated that hormones created by the fetus helped initiate labor, rather than hormones originating solely from the mother. Liggins also discovered that cortisol given to pregnant mothers helped delay premature labor, and that it increased the likelihood that premature infants would breathe normally after birth. Prior to cortisol treatment, premature infants often died of respiratory distress syndrome characterized by the inability to inflate immature lungs.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT) is a biotechnology company that uses stem cell technology to develop novel therapies in the field of regenerative medicine. Formed in 1994, ACT grew from a small agricultural cloning research facility located in Worcester, Massachusetts, into a multi-locational corporation involved in using both human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and human adult stem cells as well as animal cells for therapeutic innovations.
Subject: Organizations, Reproduction
Alexis Carrel's Immortal Chick Heart Tissue Cultures (1912-1946)
In an effort to develop tissue culture techniques for long-term tissue cultivation, French surgeon and biologist Alexis Carrel, and his associates, produced and maintained a series of chick heart tissue cultures at the Rockefeller Institute in New York City. From 1912 to 1946, this series of chick heart tissue cultures remained alive and dividing. Since the duration of this culture greatly exceeded the normal chick life span, the cells were deemed immortal.
Corticosteroids' Effect on Fetal Lung Maturation (1972), by Sir Graham Collingwood Liggins and Ross Howie
In a clinical trial from 1969 to 1972, Sir Graham Collingwood Liggins and Ross Howie showed that if doctors treat pregnant women with corticosteroids before those women deliver prematurely, then those women's infants have fewer cases of respiratory distress syndrome than do similarly premature infants of women not treated with corticosteroids. Prior to the study, premature infants born before 32 weeks of gestation often died of respiratory distress syndrome, or the inability to inflate immature lungs.
"Experimental Studies on Congenital Malformations" (1959), by James G. Wilson
The article Experimental Studies on Congenital Malformations was published in the Journal of Chronic Diseases in 1959. The author, James G. Wilson, studied embryos and birth defects at the University of Florida Medical School in Gainesville, Florida. In his article, Wilson reviewed experiments on birds and mammals from the previous forty years to provide general principles and guidelines in the study of birth defects and teratogens, which are things that cause birth defects.
Albert William Liley (1929-1983)
Albert William Liley advanced the science of fetal physiology and the techniques of life-saving in utero blood transfusions for fetuses with Rh incompatibility, also known as hemolytic disease. Due to his advances, fetuses too young to survive premature delivery, and likely to die in utero if their Rh incompabilities were left untreated, were successfully transfused and carried to term. Liley was as passionate as a clinician and researcher as he was about his views on the rights of the unborn.
China's One-Child Policy
In September 1979, China's Fifth National People's Congress passed a policy that encouraged one-child families. Following this decision from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), campaigns were initiated to implement the One-Child Policy nationwide. This initiative constituted the most massive governmental attempt to control human fertility and reproduction in human history. These campaigns prioritized reproductive technologies for contraception, abortion, and sterilization in gynecological and obstetric medicine, while downplaying technologies related to fertility treatment.
Subject: Ethics, Legal, Reproduction
The Miracle of Life (1983), by NOVA
The most-watched NOVA documentary ever made and a revolution in the understanding of human development, The Miracle of Life (abbreviated Life) employs the most current developments in endoscopic and microscopic technology to capture the intricacies of human development. Narrated by Anita Sangiolo and vividly illustrating the most minute and hard-to-reach parts and processes of living systems, this film truly flexes the muscles of the newest photographic technology of its time, with esteemed photographer Lennart Nilsson behind the camera.
Subject: Outreach, Reproduction
Oswald Theodore Avery (1877-1955)
Oswald Theodore Avery studied strains of pneumococcus of the genus Streptococcus in the US in the first half of the twentieth century. This bacterium causes pneumonia, a common cause of death at the turn of the twentieth century. In a 1944 paper, Avery demonstrated with colleagues Colin Munro MacLeod and Maclyn McCarty that deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, instead of protein, formed the material of heritable transformation in bacteria. Avery helped untangle some of the relationships between genes and developmental processes.
Social Implications of Non-Invasive Blood Tests to Determine the Sex of Fetuses
By 2011, researchers in the US had established that non-invasive blood tests can accurately determine the gender of a human fetus as early as seven weeks after fertilization. Experts predicted that this ability may encourage the use of prenatal sex screening tests by women interested to know the gender of their fetuses. As more people begin to use non-invasive blood tests that accurately determine the sex of the fetus at 7 weeks, many ethical questions pertaining to regulation, the consequences of gender-imbalanced societies, and altered meanings of the parent-child relationship.
Subject: Reproduction, Ethics, Legal
Francis Sellers Collins (1950- )
Francis Sellers Collins helped lead the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium, which helped describe the DNA sequence of the human genome by 2001, and he helped develop technologies used in molecular genetics while working in the US in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. He directed the US National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR), which became the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), located in Bethesda, Maryland, from 1993 to 2008.
John Craig Venter (1946- )
John Craig Venter helped map the genomes of humans, fruitflies, and other organisms in the US in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and he helped develop an organism with a synthetic genome. In February 2001, Venter and his team published a human genome sequence after using a technique known as Expressed Sequence Tags, or ESTs. Venter worked to bridge commercial investment with scientific research. Venter founded a number of private companies, including the for-profit Celera Genomics, headquartered in Alameda, California, as well as research institutes, such as the not-for-profit J.
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The ark of the Covenant hidden under the Kaliningrad
by space · June 9, 2016
According to the researcher Anatoly Bakhtin, the priceless relic was transported from the Holy Land, first in Paris and then in East Prussia.
On the shelves there was a book “the Prussian trail of the ark of the Covenant.” The process of its creation was pretty interesting. Famous Kaliningrad archivist Anatoly Bakhtin wrote his work in 2000. And even managed to receive a fee from the capital of the publishing house. But then came another economic crisis, and the book came out in print. It published only 12 years later, and just recently held a presentation of the author’s historical studies, as the name implies, one of the greatest mysteries of human civilization.
– The idea actually was born in 1989, recalls Bakhtin. – Then we have in the region once again was looking for the Amber room, and I was, you might say, seconded to a team of searchers from the regional archive. Digging in the documents, came across a mention of a secret organization of the Third Reich “Ahnenerbe”. Now it is more or less known, and then this name was known not even to every historian. It turned out that so far the specific facts of activity of the “Ahnenerbe” is little known. And here I learned that in Germany, finally released on the organization owner. I went to Berlin and bought it for 120 DM. Of special scientific sensationalism and there did not find, but became interested in the legends and sagas of East Prussia. Especially the one about the Golden coffin on the Balga. It could be the ark of the Covenant, in whose existence I did not believe at first, but gradually began to lean towards the possibility of the existence of such relics.
According to the version, which was developed by Anatoly Bakhtin, the famous biblical artifact could discover the knights Templar, were active in the XII-XIII centuries in Palestine. And from the Holy land to smuggle him to Paris, where was located the headquarters of the Templars. And when the French king Philip IV the fair began to prepare the defeat of the order, the knights decided to take care of its values. Aware of almost a dozen and a half ships, which left the port of La Rochelle in an unknown direction. In the history of this episode known as “lost fleet of the Templars”. In fact, as suggested by Bakhtin, ships with the Treasury, the archives and relics of the order were heading for East Prussia.
– Teutonic order, the Templars could trust their treasures in temporary storage until their organization would not recover its former influence and power, – said Anatoly Pavlovich. – And when it became clear that this does not happen, the values of the found application. For example, in East Prussia began suddenly in many to build stone castles, which were extremely expensive.
The ark of the Covenant, in the opinion of the archivist, appeared in Malbork – at that time a modest castle, which stood on the outskirts of the marshes. Rich in Elbing relic not taken, fear that it was not possible to observe secrecy a very delicate operation. For this reason, Marienburg and then it became the capital insignia of the state as it is a sacred artifact for the first time touched the Prussian lands. After the defeat of the Teutons at the battle of Grunwald in 1410 the castle was taken by a detachment of mercenaries. But before this the Ark had to be evacuated in the rivers to the Gulf, and then by sea to Balga. And hid somewhere in the County. However, this was not the last journey of the relics.
– Most likely, a few years after the secularization of the Teutonic order’s former Grand master Albrecht again, secretly took the Ark of Balga – says Bakhtin. – And where it is sent, it can only be assumed, the options are endless.
Where exactly in the territory that was once called East Prussia, is hidden the ark of the Covenant – a mystery akin to the location of the Amber room. But if this theory is correct, then a famous Hollywood action hero Indiana Jones needlessly fussed with the search for the artifact, late years of commercials for 700.
Tags: Histori
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Waves are found that go through the “cobweb of the universe”
by space · April 28, 2017
Astronomers for the first time discovered peculiar waves traveling along the threads of the “web of the Universe” – a gigantic network of threads of dark and visible matter that unites all clusters of galaxies and clouds of intergalactic gas, according to an article published in the journal Science.
“The discovery of these waves is so interesting to us for the reason that in these oscillations information about how the Universe was heated up in the first few billion years after the Big Bang is hidden,” says Joseph Hennawi of the University of California at Santa Barbara (USA).
Ray in the Dark Universe
It is believed that the universe in its structure is similar to a giant three-dimensional web. Its threads are clusters of dark matter, the so-called filaments. At their intersection points are dense clumps of visible matter – individual galaxies and groups of star metropolises.
In July 2012, astrophysicists discovered one of these cobwebs connecting the galaxies Abell 222 and Abell 223, due to distortions in the light of the distant stars that dark matter evoked. Subsequently, “Hubble” received three-dimensional images of such “umbilicals”, studying galaxies in the cluster MACSJ0717 in the constellation Auriga, and this year the scientists received pictures of several hundred similar threads and calculated their typical mass and other properties.
Hennawi and his colleagues saw for the first time how these threads “swing” under the action of peculiar waves that go through them from one cluster of galaxies to others, solving the cosmic analogue of the problem with the search for a needle in an endless haystack.
As the astronomer explains, today most scientists assume that the “cosmic web” does not stand still, but fluctuates under the influence of waves that produced the first galaxies and stars in the “dark ages” of the universe. Under this term, scientists understand one of the first periods of her life, when the universe was filled with neutral hydrogen and helium, opaque to light. In other words, we will never see the universe of that time.
When the first bright stars and supermassive black holes appeared, the molecules of this gas were sharply torn to pieces and ionized, which gave rise to a series of powerful oscillations that traveled through the first galaxies and the space between them. According to Hennawi and his colleagues, traces of these waves could be preserved inside the “web”.
Light bulb for “web”
The problem is that the gas in these filaments does not shine, and it can be detected only if it is illuminated by the powerful radiation of some other object, for example, the quasar, the active nucleus of a supermassive black hole in the center of a distant galaxy located behind a filament .
If we find two quasars located close to each other, then the differences in the spectrum of their radiation will give out whether the gas that is radiating their rays on the way to the Earth is moving or not, and whether there are waves in it that cause the matter of “filaments” to shrink or stretch.
“Searching for pairs of quasars is no different from looking for a needle in a haystack, we had to sift through several billion photos of objects that are a million times fainter than our eyes can see in order to find at least two pairs of suitable quasars,” the scientist continues. .
Having discovered these fluctuations, the scientists had to spend a lot of extra time in order to understand what they actually are. To this end, Hennawi and his colleagues created a computer mini universe with its “web” and attempted to reproduce the differences in the spectrum of quasars that they recorded in the real world using the Keck telescopes in Hawaii and the Magellan in Chile.
As these calculations showed, the presence of waves in the “web of the universe” suggests that its matter became completely transparent quite late, about 12.9 billion years ago, 800 million years after the Big Bang. This conclusion coincides with the current cosmological theories, and further observations of such fluctuations, as the authors hope, will help us to reveal other details of the “enlightenment” of the Universe.
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Home About us Country Representatives
Ms. Bettina Maas
Bettina Maas, a national of Germany began her professional career with UNFPA as a Programme Officer in Mexico. She became the Deputy Representative of UNFPA for China, Mongolia and DPRK in 1993.
Bettina Maas, a national of Germany began her professional career with UNFPA as a Programme Officer in Mexico. She became the Deputy Representative of UNFPA for China, Mongolia and DPRK in 1993. From 1997 to 2000, she worked as a Program Officer in the Latin America Division and as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Executive Director at the UNFPA's headquarters in New York.
From 2001 to 2004, she was the Representative in Yemen and from 2004 to 2007 in Cambodia. Subsequently, she became the Deputy and Director a.i of the Division for Arab States, Eastern Europe and Central Asia at UNFPA’s HQ. Between 2009 and 2011, she was the Chief of the Executive Office. Prior to her appointment to Ethiopia she was the UNFPA Representative in Mozambique. She holds Master Degree in Anthropology from the Free University of Berlin, Regional Development of University of Veracruz, Mexico, and a certificate on Management from the Open University of England.. Prior to joining the UNFPA she worked in teaching and research.
Find Ms. Bettina Maas:
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read story >31 January 2019
UNFPA handed-over ambulances to Somali Region and ARRA
17 December 2018, Addis Ababa – UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, today handed-over 5 ambulances to the Somali Region Health Bureau and the...
read story >17 December 2018
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Voting & Points Stockholm 2000
1999 2000 Stockholm
Eurovision 2000 Results: Voting & Points
Eurovision Song Contest 2000 result: Denmark won with the song "Fly On The Wings Of Love" by Olsen brothers with 195 points
Date: Saturday 13 May 2000
Location: Globen, Stockholm, Sweden
Broadcaster: SVT
Hosts: Kattis Ahlström & Anders Lundin
Voting: Televoting (Russia, FYR Macedonia, Turkey, Romania and Netherlands used juries)
Participants: 24; Host (Sweden), Big-4 (Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom), The 13 countries with the highest average score over the previous five years (other than Big-4), The 5 countries that were excluded from Eurovision 1999, Debuting countries (Latvia)
Debuting countries: Latvia
95 percent of the Danish viewing public saw the 2001 contest on TV - the highest percentage in Europe
All Eurovision songs must not be longer than three minutes.
Portugal holds the record of most points in a Grand Final. In 2017 Salvador Sobral won with record breaking 758 points with the song "Amar Pelos Dois"
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Kevin McAnarney
Michael Smuin - October 13, 1938 – April 23, 2007 - Internationally Acclaimed Dancer & Choreographer Passes
by David Perry, Kevin McAnarney
Michael Smuin – founder and Artistic Director of the Internationally acclaimed Smuin Ballet (www.smuinballet.org) passed away this morning in San Francisco after collapsing in the midst of a rehearsal for his next season. Smuin was 68.
"We are all deeply saddened and shocked," said Dwight Hutton, Smuin Managing Director. "However, he died doing precisely what he loved to do. Our sympathy and condolences go out to Michael's son, Shane, his brothers Stephen and Douglas and his former wife Paula Tracy during this difficult time."
"In the midst of our grief, we celebrate this great artist," said Patti Hume, Board Chair for Smuin Ballet. "Michael was as much a San Francisco icon as the Golden Gate Bridge or the theatres of this City he graced for some many years with his artistry."
Smuin made the San Francisco Bay Area his home since he was a Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet, before going on to dance on Broadway, and appearing in film and television. He was Principal Dancer and Resident Choreographer for American Ballet Theatre before returning to San Francisco as Director of San Francisco Ballet (1973-1985), and was instrumental in raising that company's profile in the international arts community, including many "Dance in America" programs on PBS. He directed ABT's 50th Anniversary Gala. Broadway credits include "Sophisticated Ladies", "Anything Goes" (Tony Award for Choreography), "Shogun" and "Canciones de Mi Padre". Feature film credits include "Rumble Fish", "A Walk In the Clouds", "Cotton Club", "Star Wars", and "The Fantasticks". Television credits include "Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall". He has won Emmy Awards for "Romeo and Juliet", "The Tempest", and "A Song for Dead Warriors". His ballets are currently in the repertories of major dance companies around the country.
Plans for a memorial service are pending. The Smuin family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations and remembrances be made to Smuin Ballet (300 Brannan Street, Suite 407, San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 495-2234 Fax: (415) 495-2317 Email: info@smuinballet.org).
SMUIN BALLET
AUGUST 13 - 18, 2007 at The JOYCE THEATER
Smuin Ballet will perform a special New York City engagement this summer, August 13th – 18th, 2007 at The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue (at 19th Street). The acclaimed company is returning to the Joyce with a new program of work from the late multi-talented choreographer. The performances will include: Schubert; Obrigado, Brazil; Bells of Dublin and Shinju.
Debuting in March 1994, Smuin Ballet has quickly established itself as "one of this country's most entertaining, original ballet troupes," (Dance Magazine). Recognized for its accessible and innovative repertory, the company adheres to the philosophy that ballet should be a living dance form that can continue to engage and delight modern audiences and numerous sold-out houses. Between 1995 - 2006, the company has premiered over forty works by Michael Smuin and has recently begun premiering works by a new generation of choreographers, drawn from Smuin Ballet's own company of artists. The mission of Smuin Ballet is to bring enjoyment of dance to new as well as to existing audiences through works that extend and enrich the art with presentations of uncompromising originality and quality.
Smuin Ballet is proud to have called the Bay Area home for the past eleven years. Audiences throughout the vast San Francisco metropolitan area have embraced Smuin performances with passion and enthusiasm since the beginning, supporting an expanding subscription program and touring schedule. The company offers four seasons in the Bay Area — the San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Mountain View, and new this year — a Carmel season as well. There are three engagements yearly at each venue. Smuin Ballet also tours nationally and internationally.
Performances for the summer engagement are: Monday - Wednesday at 7:30 pm; Thursday - Saturday at 8:00 pm; and matinees at 2:00 pm on Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets will be on sale at a later date at the Box Office; through JoyceCharge (212) 242-0800 and www.joyce.org.
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Employment Law Advisor
Discussing the Fascinating World of Labor & Employment Law
On Transgender Employment Discrimination and Mr. Sessions’ Latest Commentary
October 6, 2017 employmentlawadvisor Department of Justice, Discrimination, Office of the Attorney General, Sex, Title VII, Title VII Attorney General, Chevron doctrine, deference, Discrimination, Eric Holder, gender identity, gender stereotypes, Jeff Sessions, judicial deference, Retaliation, sex-based, Title VII, transgender
I had a very light, easy day planned yesterday. I was out of the office to attend a continuing legal education workshop offered by my former firm. I planned to just sit and absorb generic information about the latest in labor and employment law, when a colleague announced at the end of one session that Mr. Sessions had just declared that Title VII does not protect transgender employees from discrimination. So, now I have some things to say.
What Does Title VII Say (on Its Face)?
By way of background, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”) proscribes two primary employment practices (and I am summarizing except for where you see quotation marks):
Discriminating against an applicant or employee with respect to the terms and conditions of employment (e.g., hiring/refusal to hire; compensation; terms, conditions, or privileges of employment; termination) “because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”
Limiting, segregating, or classifying applicants or employees in any way that would deprive them of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect their status as an employee “because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”
See 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a). Title VII also proscribes retaliating against an employee for making a charge of discrimination or otherwise testifying, assisting with, or participating in enforcement proceedings. See 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a). But we shan’t discuss retaliation, today. Just discrimination.
What Does Title VII Mean (according to Courts)?
Alright, so notice that the statute says “sex” and not “sexual orientation” or “gender identity.” On its face, that would suggest that Title VII only prohibits, for example, an employer from discriminating against a woman [in favor of a man]. But we no longer read the statute that narrowly because the Supreme Court has looked at this issue at least twice. In Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228 (1989), the Court held that Title VII’s prohibition against sex-based discrimination also prohibited discrimination based on gender stereotypes – as in, when the employee at issue, there, was told that she could not be promoted unless she walked, talked, and dressed “more femininely.” And then, in Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, 523 U.S. 75 (1998), the Court held that same-sex harassment also constitutes prohibited sex discrimination under Title VII. The Supreme Court has not yet addressed transgender discrimination.
In addition, some Courts of Appeals have held that Title VII prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity, including status as a transgender person. See, e.g., Chavez v. Credit Nation Auto Sales, L.L.C., 2016 WL 158820 (11th Cir. Jan. 14, 2016) (reversing summary judgment in favor of the employer and remanding for retrial in the district court on whether gender bias was a motivating factor in the termination); Smith v. City of Salem, 378 F.3d 566 (6th Cir. 2004) (applying Hopkins to hold that Title VII prohibited discrimination against transgender employees based on gender stereotyping). See also Rosa v. Parks W. Bank & Trust Co., 214 F.3d 213 (9th Cir. 2000) (citing Title VII case law and holding that a transgender loan applicant stated a claim under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act by alleging that his loan was denied because he was biologically male but was dressed in traditionally female attire); Schwenck v. Hartford, 204 F.3d 1187 (9th Cir. 2000) (citing Title VII case law and holding that a transgender woman stated a claim of sex discrimination under the Gender Motivated Violence Act based on the perception that she was a “man who failed to act like one”).
What Does Title VII Mean (according to the Attorney General)?
Statutory interpretation can be difficult because we are often looking at a constitutional provision or a statute that was drafted dozens and dozens of years ago in a completely different context, and are trying to figure out what it should mean now, in the current context. (For example, we’ll leave, for another day, the conversation about what guns looked like when the Second Amendment was drafted.) How do we decide what a law that was implemented in 1964 means in 2017?
Well, that’s generally the problem of the courts. But sometimes, an administrative agency decides that it has an opinion about how a seemingly-ambiguous statute should be interpreted. And sometimes we listen, and sometimes we don’t (and I’ll discuss that in a minute, below).
With respect to Title VII, on December 15, 2014, then-Attorney General Eric H. Holder wrote a memorandum addressing his office’s interpretation of Title VII:
“…I have determined that the best reading of Title VII’s prohibition of sex discrimination is that it encompasses discrimination based on gender identity, including transgender status…The most straightforward reading of Title VII is that discrimination ‘because of…sex’ includes discrimination because an employee’s gender identification is as a member of a particular sex, or because the employee is transitioning, or has transitioned, to another sex.”
To reach that conclusion, Attorney General Holder reviewed the language of the statute, Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decisions (including those noted above), and administrative guidance, including the Office of Personnel Management’s 2011 guidance indicating that the “federal government’s policy of providing a workplace free of discrimination based on sex includes a prohibition against discrimination based on gender identity,” and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s 2012 ruling that discrimination on the basis of gender identity is discrimination based on sex, and President Obama’s 2014 Executive Order prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity in federal employment and government contracting (citations omitted). It is noteworthy that Attorney General Holder seemed to recognize the limitation of his memorandum as unable to “prescribe the course of litigation or defenses that should be raised in any particular employment discrimination case”; that is, the purpose of the memorandum was to clarify the Department of Justice’s position on the statute, which would then be interpreted by the courts.
We should read Attorney General Sessions’ October 4, 2017 memorandum in the same way, whether he does or not. On the one hand, Attorney General Jefferson B. Sessions believes that Title VII only addresses discrimination in contexts where one gender is treated differently from another:
“Accordingly, Title VII’s prohibition on sex discrimination encompasses discrimination between men and women but does not encompass discrimination based on gender identity per se, including trangender status. Therefore…this memorandum…hereby withdraws the December 15, 2014, memorandum…”
On the other hand, he was able to reach that conclusion while acknowledging that certain types of discrimination “take account of the sex of employees” – which, by the way, sounds exactly like sex-based discrimination, to me – but do not impose different burdens on similarly situated members of each sex. I think it’s going to take a case where a transgender man and a transgender woman at the same employer are treated differently for this administration to even consider whether this position is absurd. But we shall see.
Do We Care What the Attorney General Thinks about What Title VII Means?
We all know how statutes get here, yes? The legislative branch legislates (makes laws) and then the judicial branch judges (interprets). The JUDICIAL BRANCH interprets. It decides what a law means and – really, just the Supreme Court – decides whether a law (or interpretation of a law) is constitutional. Generally. But every once in awhile, the executive branch – which is really just supposed to enforce the law that the legislative branch writes and the judicial branch interprets – decides that it has some feelings about the law; that is what the Attorneys General did in the memoranda we discussed above. And that’s totally fine, especially where the law is ambiguous. And it’s really fine because we have a line of jurisprudence that tells us what to do with the executive branch’s musings about what a law means. That line of cases addresses the idea of judicial deference.
Generally, to determine what a law means a court will look to the decisions of the courts above it, or to prior decisions from its own court, or to decisions of its peers; so, if the Seventh Circuit were interpreting a law, it would look to the Supreme Court, to prior decisions in the Seventh Circuit, and if necessary, to Court of Appeals decisions in other Circuits. When a court is trying to “determine what a law means,” it is really trying to figure out what Congress intended by what it drafted. And no, they can’t pick up the phone and ask. They just have to figure.
But judicial deference is what occurs when a court decides that another party – other than a court – knows what Congress meant better than the court does. In Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. NRDC, 467 U.S. 837 (1984) – the source of our “Chevron doctrine” – the Supreme Court held that if Congress’ intent is not clear (i.e., if a statute is silent or ambiguous on a particular issue), the Court can look to the applicable agency’s interpretation of the statute and decide whether that interpretation is “based on a permissible construction of the statute.” Id. at 843. (When I say “applicable agency,” that just means the court is looking for statutory interpretation from the agency that is an expert on the statute; so, for example, it is not looking to the Environmental Protection Agency for its interpretation of Title VII, we are looking to the Department of Justice.)
So, what would the Supreme Court say about the latest memorandum? We don’t really know, yet, and may not know for awhile because I do not see any Title VII transgender discrimination cases on its docket for the 2017-2018 term. An educated guess, though? Well, I’m just assuming that Justices Breyer, Ginsburg, Kagan, and Sotomayor would conclude that Title VII did prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity. I’m assuming that Justice Thomas would not; and I’m hesitating, but I could probably conclude the same of Justices Alito, Roberts, and maybe Kennedy. But I am honestly not so sure about Justice Gorsuch. I do not necessarily think he would be swayed by the morality of the issue; rather, I suspect that his conclusions about the memorandum would stem from his disdain for the Chevron doctrine. I have seen this summarized in two other places, so I’m not going to attempt to recreate that, here (just go here and here). Suffice it to say that Justice Gorsuch has said that “Chevron seems no less than a judge-made doctrine for the abdication of the judicial duty.” See Gutierrez-Brizuela v. Lynch, 834 F.3d 1142 (10th Cir. 2016). In other words, the entire purpose of the system of checks and balances fundamental to our government is that each branch has its own responsibility with respect to each law – the legislature drafts, the judiciary interprets, and the executive branch enforces. And they don’t get to switch roles. And the judiciary (the Supreme Court) is the perfect body to interpret laws because it, with its lifetime appointments and such, is supposed to be the most insulated from the political fluctuations characteristic of the other two branches. So, deferring to the interpretation of a branch of government that is not supposed to be interpreting all is both inappropriate from a constitutional perspective and frightening from a moral perspective [especially under this administration].
What Do I Think?
Well, that doesn’t matter. Honestly. (But let me take this moment to say that I am speaking for myself and not for my employer on this blog…Although, my employer will speak about this shortly, and I do not believe our views will differ.)
The most important thing for me to say is that even if you find no comfort in my explanation about how much to ignore the latest memorandum, you, as an employer, can decide to offer more protection than the law does. If the Supreme Court pronounced tomorrow that Title VII does not prohibit gender identity discrimination or if Congress amended the statute to specifically exclude protection on the basis of gender identity to resolve any statutory ambiguity, you could prohibit it by policy.
You should prohibit it by policy. In my opinion, the core of all the anti-discrimination laws is that the way we treat an employee should be based on their conduct and qualifications, and not on their identity. In other words, it is absolutely appropriate to discipline a person for their poor performance or misconduct; identifying as a gender different from that as which you were born is not misconduct. It may be inappropriate to dress provocatively (e.g., in a scantily-clad manner); it is not inappropriately provocative to dress in clothing stereotypically worn by the gender as which you identify and not the gender as which you were born.
Just my two cents, mind you.
At any rate, I’ll keep you posted if we hear anything else about this area of the law. This is super important.
Have You Ever Heard of the Higher Education Opportunity Act?
October 5, 2017 October 5, 2017 employmentlawadvisor "Have You Ever Heard of...", Academic Programs, Drugs and Drug Testing, Higher Education, U.S. Department of Education alcohol, drugs, financial aid, HEOA, IPEDS
Every so often, I encounter a statute that makes my eyes glaze over and starts me on a search for chocolate and coffee before I jump in. ERISA may have been the last statute that made me feel that way, but the Higher Education Opportunity Act (20 U.S.C. §§ 1001-1611aa-1) is certainly another. “Why would you want to make your eyes glaze over?” you ask. Well, this is one of those statutes that you have to at least attempt to understand if you are working in higher education because it impacts issues such as accreditation and federal aid to students. The December 2008 “Dear Colleague” letter will help you to understand a lot of it, but here is a very very VERY brief summary:
Who does it apply to?: Institutions of higher education.
Who does it protect?: Students at institutions of higher education.
What does it do?: Before the HEOA, there was the Higher Education Act of 1965; the HEOA reauthorizes and/or changes programs authorized under the HEA, authorizes new programs, and makes changes to other laws. These statutes do what feels like millions of things. I might be exaggerating, but here are a few of the things:
Regulates the accreditation of institutes of higher education, including by holding accrediting agencies accountable for enforcing accreditation standards.
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, or national origin in studies, programs, and contracts.
Requires a [fairly detailed] program preventing drug and alcohol use and abuse.
Regulates the provision of educational loans.
Regulates the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (“IPEDS”), which collects data on institutional characteristics, costs, admissions, enrollment, financial aid, degrees, student success, etc.
Regulates various programs with which you are familiar – Teach for America, for one.
Who enforces it?: U.S. Department of Education.
Reporting deadlines: None.
Document retention requirements: None.
There’s really so much here, honestly. I have my reasons for reading it, including because I have to draft/revise policies at my institution. But I suspect that folks in your financial aid departments and in your various academic programs are (or should be) very familiar with its requirements for their own purposes, too. I would suggest just reviewing the table of contents, at a minimum, so you can try to spot the sections that will be most relevant to you. Because there’s A LOT.
Of course, ask me if you have any general questions, and I’ll try to point you down the right path.
Have You Ever Heard of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act?
August 21, 2017 August 21, 2017 employmentlawadvisor "Have You Ever Heard of...", Age, Discrimination, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Age, Discrimination, EEOC, employer, Gross v. FBL Financial Services, mixed motive, OWBPA
I didn’t want to make you wait too much longer for this one – last week, I mentioned the Age Discrimination Act and I am sure that several of you scowled because you’re used to hearing about the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (29 U.S.C. § 621).
Who does it apply to?: All employers who have “engaged in an industry affecting commerce” (read: pretty much all employers) and who have 20 or more employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. Cliffnotes version: if you are an employer with at least 20 employees, this probably applies to you.
Who does it protect?: All applicants and employees over age 40.
What does it do?: It prohibits employers from making decisions that affect the terms and conditions of employment for an applicant or employee (e.g., compensation, promotion, training, etc.) based solely on the person’s age; however, nothing in the statute prohibits an employer from offering a voluntary retirement program to an employee over age 65 who held a bona fide executive or high policy-making position.
Who enforces it?: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The “based solely on” part of the prohibition is important. At one time, an employee could successfully prove age discrimination by establishing that their age was even one of several factors the employer considered in changing their terms and conditions of employment (i.e., that the employer had a “mixed motive”). After the Supreme Court’s decision in Gross v. FBL Financial Services Inc., 557 U.S. 167 (2009), an employee could only prevail by establishing that age was the “but-for” cause (i.e., the sole reason) for the decision.
At some point, we will discuss the idea of obtaining a waiver and release of claims from an applicant/employee. A waiver and release generally appears in a settlement agreement or separation agreement with an applicant/employee, and is a very long paragraph that lists statutes under which an employee could assert claims. Well, there is a special procedure that an employer has to follow when asking an applicant/employee to release age discrimination claims, and those procedures appear in the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (“OWBPA”). That is just a quick preview, but I promise, we will talk about it another day…
Have You Ever Heard of the Age Discrimination Act?
August 17, 2017 August 21, 2017 employmentlawadvisor "Have You Ever Heard of...", Academic Programs, Age, Higher Education, Protected Categories, Uncategorized Age, Age Discrimination Act, Department of Labor, DOL
Now, wait a minute, employment lawyers – I didn’t say the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. We’ll get to that one another time. This post is about the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. § 6101 et seq.), which is a little different. Here is the quick and dirty:
Who does it apply to?: All programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance (e.g., colleges and universities).
Who does it protect?: Applicants and participants in programs and activities receiving federal funding assistance.
What does it do?: It prohibits age discrimination in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance, unless the program, by law, requires that age be considered. That is, a program can reasonably take age into account as a factor necessary to the normal operation or achievement of any statutory objective (e.g., providing special benefits to children or the elderly), or if the differentiation is based on reasonable factors other than age.
Who enforces it?: U.S. Department of Labor (Civil Rights Center)
On its face, the statute does not protect individuals of a particular age like the Age Discrimination in Employment Act does. I suspect that the intent here was to prevent colleges and universities from, for example, applying a blanket prohibition against admitting students over a certain age. However, there is language in the statute that would allow a program or activity to consider age if it is “necessary to the normal operation or achievement of a statutory objective.” I’m curious to see how this language is applied in different contexts in higher education. Stay tuned…
The “Have You Ever Heard of” Series
August 16, 2017 employmentlawadvisor "Have You Ever Heard of..." document retention, laws, regulations, reporting deadlines, scope, statutes
Do you know what I absolutely love about my work? Learning new things. I know, it’s just a little nerdy. It’s also a briefly terrifying when you first learn about something and realize you should have known about it a lot sooner. But if you’re like me, that soon passes and you’re just happy to have the knowledge.
Along those lines, I’m going to be giving you a “Have You Ever Heard of” series of posts. Each post will highlight a new federal or state law and include critical tidbits like:
Citations for related regulations
A summary of the law (including who it applies to and what it requires or prohibits)
Document retention requirements
…in other words, just enough information to be dangerous. I’m actually very excited about this series, and I hope you’ll find it helpful.
Please feel free to drop a note and tell me if there’s any particular law that is still leaving you perplexed and I’ll make sure to cover that soon.
Student Accommodations and Academic Integrity
May 8, 2017 employmentlawadvisor Academic Integrity, Accommodations, Discrimination, Students Academic Integrity, consistency, disparate treatment, student accommodations, testing
Student accommodations can be a very difficult area for professors and administrators, who struggle with balancing a genuine concern for individual student needs with the importance of maintaining the integrity of a particular examination.
I mean, let me be clear – accommodations can be tricky for everyone, whether we are talking about an employee or a student. There is a very human instinct to give the requesting person exactly what they want and that instinct can be very dangerous, particularly because it is not easily maintained. In this area, consistency is key. That means being consistent with that person and also being consistent in the types of accommodations that are offered to similarly-situated people. Let me give you an example so you see what I mean:
Professor Smith has a student – Amy Adams – in her class who has been approved for double time on her exams, which means she is allowed to use 4 hours instead of the normal 2 hours. Professor Smith decides not to time Amy’s test, and Amy actually ends up using 6 hours to take the exam. Brad Smith is in the same class, but takes the makeup exam on a different day than Amy. Brad has also been approved for double time on his exams, which means he is allowed to use 4 hours instead of the normal 2 hours. During the exam, Brad asks Professor Smith if he can have an additional hour (for a total of 5 hours) to take the exam. Professor Smith has a meeting scheduled and cannot sit for 5 hours, so she refuses.
Here, there was nothing necessarily nefarious about Professor Smith’s refusal to give Brad an additional hour – it appears to have been related to the professor’s schedule and not to some illegal animus towards Brad. However, for all intents and purposes, Amy and Brad were the same (i.e., they were in the same class, with the same teacher, and with the same approved accommodations) and should have been treated the same. By doing something that she thought was helpful for Amy, Professor Smith created a precedent for accommodations in her class. Let’s add to the scenario that Professor Smith and Amy are both Caucasian and that Brad is Black – would that add an additional complication to the disparate treatment?
Now, let’s add academic integrity to the mix. This time, we are not just talking about the amount of time a student is given to complete an examination, but also the conditions under which the student is taking the test. How early in the day can the student be required to take the test? What if the student needs to take the test at a different time or on a different day from the other students – must the student take the exact same test? Can the student be given a different test?
Unfortunately, like all things in the world of labor and employment law, there is no bright line rule here. The only blanket rule I will give is this: all tests should be timed. Unless a student’s doctor has approved (and the institution has a practice of giving) truly unlimited time for a test, you are not doing anyone a favor (as we saw in the example above with Amy and Brad) by giving unlimited time to a student on a test, unless you plan on doing that with all other students going forward. The important thing is that the accommodated student should not be penalized for needing an accommodation. If the student needs to take the test at a different time or on a different day from the rest of the class and the professor elects to create a different exam (to reduce the likelihood of cheating), then the accommodated student’s test should not be more difficult than the other tests, for example. Aside from that, as with everything else, consistency and reasonableness are key.
This is a tricky one – have you had to deal with this issue? How are you handling it?
7th Circuit Holds that Title VII Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation
April 5, 2017 April 22, 2017 employmentlawadvisor Case Law, Discrimination, Sex, Title VII 7th Circuit, Discrimination, gender, Hively v. Ivy Tech, Sex, Title VII
Earlier this month, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, No. 15-1720 (7th Cir. Apr. 4, 2017), a case in which an openly-lesbian part-time adjunct professor alleged that she was being blocked from full-time employment with Ivy Tech because of her sexual orientation in violation of Title VII.
On its face, the statute does not include sexual orientation, but prohibits only discrimination on the basis of “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.” See e.g. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–2(a). Thus, the district court granted Ivy Tech’s motion to dismiss Hively’s suit because sexual orientation is not a protected class under Title VII.
The Seventh Circuit acknowledged that it was not within the scope of its power to amend Title VII to add a new protected category. However, this case did call the Court to decide what it meant to discriminate on the basis of sex, and whether actions taken on the basis of sexual orientation are a subset of actions taken on the basis of sex. To do so, the Court looked to Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Servs., Inc., 523 U.S. 75 (1998), where the Court held that although Title VII was not initially enacted to address the evil of male-on-male sexual harassment, it was appropriate to apply the statute’s protection to “reasonably comparable evils” such as that. Id. at 79-80. The Court went on to conclude that it “would require considerable calisthenics to remove the ‘sex’ from ‘sexual orientation.'” Hively, at 20. Thus, protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation does not require the creation of a new category; it is a form of sex discrimination.
If you have been following the ever-expanding area of sexual orientation/gender identity law, a question has already popped into your head, and the Court anticipated that and answered: in this case, it did not consider whether gender discrimination is a subset of sex discrimination, and has left that question for another time. As an aside, the Court noted that many courts are currently using the terms “gender” and “sex” synonymously. These terms are not the same, however, and I suspect that will become an issue in a new case in the not-too-distant future. “Sex” typically refers to the biological distinctions (e.g., genitalia); “gender” refers the way in which people view themselves. That is, as an example, a person with a penis may be male in sex, but may identify as being a woman in gender.
Tell me about your policies – were you already including sexual orientation in the categories of people protected under your EEO/anti-discrimination policies?
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Dortmund R3: all games drawn
6/26/2007 – The two favourites, Anand and Kramnik, played unmemorable 21-move draws, both with the black pieces. Leko got nothing out of Naiditsch's rare Nimzowitsch Variation – the game was drawn in 38 moves. Carlsen tried a long squeeze against Alekseev in an anti-Queen's Indian line, but the Russian's defences held. A fairly calm day in Dortmund.
CHESS MEETING
The Sparkassen Chess Meeting will take place from June 23rd to July 1st, 2007, in the Dortmund Civic Theater, with eight players competing in a single round robin. The average rating is 2727, making the event a Category 20 tournament.
Round 3: Tuesday, June 26, 15:00h
½-½ Vishy Anand
Shak. Mamedyarov
½-½ Vladimir Kramnik
½-½ Evgeny Alekseev
½-½ Arkadij Naiditsch
Games – Report
Round three report – all four games drawn
The start of round three in Dortmund
The two favourites both played games that are unlikely ever to appear in an anthology of the greatest chess battles. Gelfand-Anand saw the world no. 1 equalize easily from the opening, and the draw was agreed at move 21.
Gelfand,B (2733) - Anand,V (2786) [D45]
Sparkassen GM Dortmund GER (3), 26.06.2007
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.b3 0-0 8.Be2 b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.Bb2 Qe7 11.Rad1 Rad8 12.Rfe1 Rfe8 13.Bd3 e5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Nd4 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Ne4 18.Nf5 Qg5 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Qb5 Ba6 21.Qxa6 ½-½.
Unable to get an advantage with white: Boris Gelfand
Likewise, Mamedyarov's 4.e3 Queen's Indian posed world champion Vladimir Kramnik few problems, and a short tactical interchange saw the draw come at the same move 21.
Mamedyarov,S (2757) - Kramnik,V (2772) [E14]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.Bd3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Nc3 Bd6 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qc2 c5 10.Rd1 Nc6 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.a3 Ne5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.e4 d4 15.Ne2 c4 16.Qxc4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Bf4 Rc8 19.Qb4 a5 20.Qe1 Bxf4 21.Rxd4 Bxh2+ ½-½
Naiditsch answered the question of what to play as Black against Leko's 1.e4 by choosing the rarely-seen Nimzowitsch Variation of the Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6). Leko avoided the most critical lines and settled for 4.d4, which is not supposed to offer White much. Black duly equalized and by move 25, had a typical Sicilian ending, in which it was White who had to be the more careful.
Leko,P (2738) - Naiditsch,A (2654) [B29]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 e6 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.Qe4 d6 8.0-0 Nb6 9.Bb5 Bd7 10.exd6 Bxd6 11.Nc3 a6 12.Be2 f5 13.Qd3 Qc7 14.Be3 Ne5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.f4 Bf6 17.Bd4 Bxd4+ 18.Qxd4 0-0-0
19.Rad1 Bc6 20.Qe3 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Re8 22.Bf1 e5 23.fxe5 Rxe5 24.Qd4 g6 25.Qd6 Qxd6 26.Rxd6 Kc7 27.Rd4 Nd7 28.Kf2 Nf6 29.Be2 b5 30.Bf3 g5 31.a4 h6 32.axb5 axb5 33.h3 f4 34.h4 Rf5 35.hxg5 hxg5 36.Rb4 Re5 37.Bxc6 Kxc6 38.g3 fxg3+ ½-½.
Peter Leko, still waiting to draw first blood
In the longest games of the day, Carlsen adopted a quiet anti-Queen's Indian line, that is famous for offering White the chances of a long squeeze, with a few winning chances and almost no risk of losing. Alekseev allowed a pawn to go fairly early on, to force a pure rook ending, in which his active rook always looked as though it should hold the balance. Carlsen tried long and hard, but the Russian's defences held.
Carlsen,M (2693) - Alekseev,Evgeny (2679) [E18]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.Nh4 Bxg2 10.Nxg2 d5 11.Qa4 Qe8 12.Qxe8 Rxe8 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Be3 c5 15.Nf4 Rd8 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Rac1
17...d4 18.Bd2 a5 19.Nd3 Nd7 20.e3 Nf6 21.Rfd1 Ne4 22.exd4 Nxd2 23.Rxd2 Bg5 24.f4 Rxd4 25.fxg5 c4 26.Rdc2 Rxd3 27.Rxc4 g6 28.R4c3 Rd2 29.R1c2 Rad8 30.Rxd2 Rxd2 31.Rb3 a4 32.Rb4 a3 33.bxa3 Rxa2 34.a4 Kg7 35.h4 h6 36.Kf1 hxg5 37.hxg5 Kf8 38.Re4 Rc2 39.Ke1 Rc5 40.Rg4 Ke7 41.Kd2 Ke6 42.Kd3 Rc1 43.Rc4 Rg1 44.g4 Rg3+ 45.Kc2 Kd5
46.Rf4 Kc5 47.Kd2 Ra3 48.Ke2 Kd5 49.Kf2 Ra2+ 50.Kg3 Ra3+ 51.Kf2 Ra2+ 52.Ke3 Ra3+ 53.Kd2 Kc5 54.Kc2 Rg3 55.Kb2 Rg2+ 56.Kc3 Rg3+ 57.Kc2 Ra3 58.Kb2 Rg3 59.a5 Kb5 ½-½.
Full Schedule and Results
Round 1: Saturday, June 23, 15:00h
1-0 Arkadij Naiditsch
½-½ Peter Leko
Round 2: Sunday, June 24, 15:00h
Arkadij Naiditsch
½-½ Magnus Carlsen
Evgeny Alekseev
1-0 Shak. Mamedyarov
1-0 Boris Gelfand
Round 4: Wednesday, June 27, 15:00h
Round 5: Friday, June 29, 15:00h
Round 7: Sunday, July 1, 13:00h
Live coverage by Yasser Seirawan on Playchess
Playchess commentator GM Yasser Seirawan
The games of Dortmund 2007, which start at 15:00h local time (CEST), will be broadcast live on the official site and on Playchess.com server. On the latter, starting from Sunday, June 24, there will be daily live audio commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan, with a minimum of three one hour lectures per round, beginning approximately thirty minutes after play has started. For a charge of ten Ducats (about one Euro) a visitor gets a twelve hour pass to listen to the live lectures.
Ducats are the currency used on Playchess.com. You can purchase Ducats here. The amount will be credited to your playchess.com account. You need to allow one working day for processing. If you want your Ducats immediately you can order them using our Click&Buy service. Ducats can also be used to buy ChessBase products.
Note that you can also purchase Ducats directly from Fritz or the Playchess client using the menu "Edit – Payments – Fill up account". This takes you to a special purchase page with your account name automatically passed on, to simplify the process.
All games so far in PGN
ChessBase reports on Dortmund 2006
Realizing an Advantage
In this DVD the author answers how to realize an advantage, considering both the psychological aspects of the realisation of an advantage and the technical methods.
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106 STAT. 4970 PUBLIC LAW 102-585 —NOV. 4, 1992 described in subparagraphs (J) and (K) of paragraph (4) that are located in the State.
(E) RECERTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall require
the recertification of entities certified pursuant to this paragraph on a not more frequent than annual basis, and shall require that such entities submit information to the Secretary to permit the Secretary to evaluate the vsdidity of subsequent purchases by such entities in the same manner as that required under subparagraph (B). "(8) DEVELOPMENT OF PRIME VENDOR PROGRAM.— The Secretary shall establish a prime vendor program under which covered entities may enter into contracts with prime vendors for the distribution of covered outpatient drugs. If a covered entity obtains drugs directly from a manufacturer, the manufacturer shall be responsible for the costs of distribution. "(9) NOTICE TO MANUFACTURERS. — The Secretary shall notify manufacturers of covered outpatient drugs and single State agencies under section 1902(a)(5) of the Social Security Act of me identities of covered entities under this paragraph, and of entities that no longer meet the requirements of paragraph (5) or that are no longer certified pursuant to paragraph (7). "(10) No PROHIBITION ON LARGER DISCOUNT. — Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a manufacturer from charging a price for a drug that is lower than the maximum price that may be charged under paragraph (1). "(b) OTHER DEFINITIONS. —In this section, the terms 'average manufacturer price*, 'covered outpatient drug*, and 'manufacturer^ have the meaning given such terms in section 1927(k) of the Social Security Act. "(c) REFERENCES TO SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.— Any reference in this section to a provision of the Social Security Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the provision as in effect on the date of the enactment of this section. "(d) COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS.—A manufacturer is deemed to meet the requirements of subsection (a) if the manufacturer establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the manufacturer would comply (and has offered to comply) with the provisions of this section (as in effect immediately after the enactment of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992), as applied by the Secretary, and would have entered into an agreement under this section (as such section was in effect at such time), but for a legislative change in this section (or the application of this section) after the date of the enactment of such Act.". 42 USC 256b (b) STUDY OF TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CLINICS AS COVERED ^o ^- ENTITIES ELIGIBLE FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNTS.— (1) STUDY.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study of the feasibility and desirability of including entities described in paragraph (3) as covered entities eligible for limitations on the prices of covered outpatient drugs under section 340B(a) of the Public Health Service Act (as added by subsection (a)). (2) REPORT.— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the study conducted under paragraph (1), and shall include in the report—
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Carrier Corp. and Midea Electric to Form Manufacturing Joint Venture in China
Carrier Corp.
GUANGZHOU, China, July 2 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Carrier Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), and Guangdong Midea Electric Appliances Co., Ltd (Shenzhen Stock Exchange. 000527), a unit of the Midea Group, have signed an agreement to form an air-conditioning manufacturing joint venture, Foshan Midea Carrier Air Conditioning Equipment Co., Ltd, in Shunde, China. Midea will hold a 60 percent stake and Carrier will hold the minority stake in the joint venture. He XiangJian, chairman of the Midea Electric board, and Geraud Darnis, chairman and president of Carrier Corp., celebrated the contract signing at a ceremony today in Guangzhou.
The Midea-Carrier joint venture will produce residential and light commercial duct-free split air-conditioning systems exclusively for Carrier for the global market. The partners expect the manufacturing facility to be fully operational by the end of the year.
"The Midea-Carrier joint venture is a milestone in Carrier's long and successful relationship with Midea," said Darnis. "This venture brings together the strengths of two leaders in the global air-conditioning industry."
Midea is the largest exporter and leading air-conditioning manufacturer in China, the world's second largest and rapidly growing air-conditioning market. Midea offers world-class design expertise and manufacturing scale in duct-free split systems while Carrier is the global leader in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) systems. Carrier's founder, Dr. Willis Carrier, invented modern air conditioning in 1902. Carrier brings a well recognized brand name and unsurpassed global distribution network to the joint venture. Carrier has a significant presence in China with seven factories, more than 100 sales and service offices, 2,500 employees and a state-of-the-art global research and design center in Shanghai that opened in December 2006.
Midea and Carrier will invest 200 million Yuan (U.S. $29 million) in registered capital to establish the new company.
"Carrier has a rich history in China and this investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to China and its HVACR markets," added Darnis.
Fang Hongbo, president of Midea Electric Co., Ltd, said, "Our new JV is aimed to be a stable, long-term platform of capital, product, technical and brand cooperation and alliance between Midea and Carrier. We will take full advantage of this opportunity to draw on manufacturing, technical and management experience from both parties to accelerate the globalization of the new venture."
In addition to Foshan Midea Carrier Air Conditioning Equipment Co., Ltd, Midea Air Conditioning and Toshiba Carrier Corp. have four successful manufacturing joint ventures. Carrier indirectly participates in those joint ventures through its minority ownership of Toshiba Carrier.
About Midea Electric
Midea Electric originated from the air-conditioner business unit of Midea Group and listed in 1993. Midea Electric is the second largest residential A/C player in China. In 2007, total revenue was $4.4 billion. Midea Electric currently has 46,000 employees and is headquartered in Shunde, Foshan Guangdong Province.
About Carrier Corp.
Carrier Corp., headquartered in Farmington, Conn., is the world's largest provider of heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions. With 2007 revenues of $14.6 billion, Carrier has approximately 43,000 employees worldwide and operations in more than 170 countries. Carrier is part of United Technologies Corp., a Hartford, Connecticut-based provider of a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. Visit http://www.carrier.com for more information.
Source: Carrier Corp.
Keywords: Computer/Electronics
Frost & Sullivan Applauds RedLine for Distinguishing Itself in the Fresh Produce Market by Offering an Integrated Solution for Growers and Shippers
Dramatic changes in Network, Media and Industry Competition by 2020 predicts Strategy Analytics
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Frost & Sullivan: Europe and North America Drive Demand for Premium, Sustainable Lubricants to Meet Environmental Regulations
Campbell Soup Company and Lexmark Executives Elected To the Manufacturing Leadership Board of Governors
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1988 San Marino Grand Prix
Race 2 of 16 in the 1988 Formula One World Championship
VIII Gran Premio di San Marino
Autodromo Dino Ferrari, Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Permanent racing facility
60 laps, 302.4 km (187.986 mi)
Sunny, warm
McLaren-Honda
Alain Prost McLaren-Honda
1:29.685 on lap 53
Lotus-Honda
The 1988 San Marino Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Imola on 1 May 1988. The 60-lap race was the second round of the 1988 Formula One season. Ayrton Senna scored his first victory for the McLaren team, with turbocharged Honda-powered cars sweeping the top three positions.
1 Qualifying
2 Race summary
3.1 Qualifying
3.2 Race
4 Championship standings after the race
Qualifying[edit]
The McLaren-Hondas totally dominated qualifying for the San Marino Grand Prix. Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost occupied the front row of the grid with times of 1:27.148 and 1:27.919 respectively. Their nearest challenger was the Lotus of reigning World Champion Nelson Piquet with a time of 1:30.500. All the more interesting was that Piquet's Lotus was powered by the same specification turbocharged Honda engine that powered the McLarens and he was as fast as them through the speed trap on the run to Tosa, yet he was over 3 seconds slower than Senna. The difference was that the lowline McLaren MP4/4's were untouchable under acceleration and they had superior grip to any other car on the grid.
Amazingly, considering the team's success in its Formula One history dating back to 1966, this was only the third time that there was an all-McLaren front row for a Grand Prix. The other two times had been at the 1972 Canadian Grand Prix (Peter Revson and Denny Hulme) and the 1986 German Grand Prix (Keke Rosberg and Alain Prost).
Not including the last two races of 1987 that he missed through injury, Nigel Mansell missed qualifying on the front row of the grid for the first time since the 1986 Mexican Grand Prix. He qualified his Williams-Judd in 11th place, five places behind teammate Riccardo Patrese in 6th. The fastest atmo car in qualifying was the Benetton-Ford of Alessandro Nannini who ended up 4th on the grid in front of the disappointing Ferrari of Gerhard Berger who, along with teammate Michele Alboreto (who qualified 10th, almost 4.5 seconds slower than Senna), found the turbocharged Italian V6 engines down on power throughout.
The claims of Berger and Alboreto were backed up by the speed trap figures. The fastest car on the long run to Tosa was the Lotus-Honda of Piquet timed at just over 302 km/h (188 mph) (1.5 km/h faster than the McLarens). The Ferraris were much slower at 293 km/h (182 mph), and were some 16 km/h (10 mph) slower than the McLarens over the start-finish line (McLaren were fastest there at almost 250 km/h (155 mph). In fact, both Ferraris were almost 5 km/h (3 mph) slower over the start line than the atmospheric Benettons (who were also the fastest of the atmos at Tosa with 292 km/h (181 mph)) and were also slower at the start/finish line than the Zakspeeds, showing just how much trouble they were in.
One of the surprises of qualifying was American veteran Eddie Cheever. Not noted as the best qualifier, Cheever qualified 8th in his Arrows-Megatron, though he was still 4.1 seconds behind Senna. Cheever and Arrows had tested at Imola a week before the race and came up with a set-up they liked. The same settings were put on Derek Warwick's Arrows but the Briton admitted he found the settings lazy and could only qualify 14th, 1.2 seconds slower than his teammate. The turbocharged Arrows', with Cheever and Warwick still hampered by the pop-off valve cutting in early, were touching just under 295 km/h (183 mph) on the run to Tosa to make them the fastest behind the Honda powered cars.
The EuroBrun-Ford Cosworth of Oscar Larrauri, the Ligier-Judds of Stefan Johansson and former Imola pole winner René Arnoux, and the Zakspeed turbo of Bernd Schneider all failed to qualify, while the Osella of Italian Nicola Larini was excluded after scrutineering when it was discovered that the car's engine mounting points had been illegally changed. The scrutineers ruled that this constituted an entirely new chassis for the Osella FA1L and as the new chassis had net yet been crash approved by FISA, the team was excluded from the meeting. For Ligier it was the first time since the team's début in Formula One in 1976 that neither car had qualified for a race. For Arnoux it was a bitter pill to swallow as he had sat on the pole at the circuit three times previously when he had driven for both Renault (1980 and 1982) and Ferrari (1983). Johansson, driving for Ferrari (1985 and 1986) and McLaren the previous year, had finished each race in the points.
After qualifying, Lotus team boss Peter Warr and lead driver Nelson Piquet made the claim that despite the three second gap between the McLarens and the rest of the field, they believed the Lotus and even the Ferraris were better aerodynamically than the McLarens and that would hurt their fuel consumption on what was one of the most fuel thirsty circuits on the calendar. Warr predicted the McLarens would not be able to maintain their advantage and still finish the race on their 150-litre fuel limit. Not for the first time, or the last, his public predictions would prove to be wrong.
Race summary[edit]
The McLaren of Ayrton Senna led from the start, whilst his teammate Alain Prost had his engine stall coming to take his place on the grid (Prost later reported that the engine had also stalled earlier on the parade lap). The car was still rolling so he bump started it but it almost stalled again as the race started and he dropped to 7th place behind the Arrows of Eddie Cheever. Whilst he was able to recover these places and get back to second place by lap 8, he could not catch Senna who controlled the gap according to the traffic. Maintaining a lead of 6–10 seconds, Senna slowed on the last lap to make sure he finished without running out of fuel which reduced the gap to the pursuing Prost to just 2.3 seconds at the line. Prost later admitted he had turned up his turbo boost in his fight up to second and although still lapping quicker than most of the field, he was then forced to conserve for the rest of the race for fear of running dry before the end.
Nelson Piquet battled with an ill-handling Lotus but used superior Honda power to maintain 3rd place ahead of a train of cars including both Benettons, both Williams and Berger's Ferrari. He was lucky to make it to the finish line as the extra boost needed to keep his position cut severely into his fuel. Had he not been lapped only four laps from the finish (meaning he only had to complete three of the remaining laps), he might not have had enough fuel to complete his last lap.
Nigel Mansell made a superb drive from a poor 11th place on the grid to be briefly up to 3rd place after taking Piquet under braking for the Rivazza on lap 40. However, as soon as Mansell got past the Lotus, blue oil smoke started to appear from the back of his Williams and less than a lap later Piquet again used his Honda's superior power to slipstream Mansell through the Tamburello and re-take 3rd through Villeneuve. However fleeting the move was, Mansell would retire just a lap after dropping to 4th with a faulty voltage regulator.
Thierry Boutsen's Benetton came home in 4th ahead of Gerhard Berger in the Ferrari, though late in the race he was hampered by a down on power engine thanks to a cracked exhaust on his car, and rounding out the points was his teammate Alessandro Nannini. Nannini had been fighting for 3rd place with Piquet, but despite being consistently quicker in the corners, he had to yield to superior Honda power on the straights. Piquet and Nannini banged wheels at the Tosa hairpin, and a couple of laps later the Italian lost 4th place to his teammate after another wheel banging dual with the reigning World Champion caused him to spin at Tosa. Nannini dropped to 7th with Boutsen, delayed 2 seconds by Nannini's spin, now charging after Piquet. A fired up Nannini then put in the fastest atmospheric lap in a climb back into the points and 5th place. Nannini had to settle for 6th though after being passed on the last lap at the Acqua Minerale chicane by a grass-cutting Gerhard Berger, now charging thanks to being lapped and having to drive one less lap on fuel. Some were surprised that Berger wasn't penalised for the move and while Ferrari team boss Cesare Fiorio claimed it was necessary for Berger to avoid a crash with Nannini, television replays suggested otherwise.
Both Senna and Prost recorded a fastest race lap faster than Nelson Piquet's qualifying time and both McLaren drivers had lapped the entire field up to and including Piquet in 3rd place by lap 56 of the 60 lap race. That was actually good news for Piquet and Berger in their turbo powered cars against the atmospheric Benettons as it meant they had to do one less race lap on their allowed fuel and could push harder for the final three laps of the race. Prost's second place earned him 6 points which saw him surpass his 1984 and 1985 McLaren teammate Niki Lauda as the all-time career points leader, with 421.5 to Lauda's 420.5 points.
In what had become standard practice at McLaren since Prost's disqualification for being 2 kg underweight at the 1985 San Marino Grand Prix, both McLarens stopped within metres of taking the chequered flag. Prost had started the last lap some 7 seconds behind his teammate but was only 2.334 behind at the flag as Senna had driven only as fast as he needed to both win and conserve fuel at what was traditionally one of the most fuel thirsty circuits on the Formula One calendar.
Surprisingly given that in previous years numerous drivers of turbo powered cars had failed to finish a race at San Marino due to running out of fuel and that the 1988 fuel limit of 150 litres was 45 less than in 1986-1987, and 70 less than the 1984-1985 limit, no turbo runner ran out of fuel at Imola in 1988. The only turbo starter to not finish was the Ferrari of local hero Michele Alboreto, who was classified as 18th and last despite suffering engine failure on lap 54. This was his second engine failure of the day after his Ferrari also blew up in the morning warm-up session forcing him into the spare car for the race. He was also forced to start from the rear of the field after stalling his engine as the field went away on the warm-up lap.
Classification[edit]
12 Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda 1:41.278 1:27.148 —
11 Alain Prost McLaren-Honda 1:41.597 1:27.919 +0.771
1 Nelson Piquet Lotus-Honda 1:44.806 1:30.500 +3.352
19 Alessandro Nannini Benetton-Ford 1:45.090 1:30.590 +3.442
28 Gerhard Berger Ferrari 1:43.394 1:30.683 +3.535
6 Riccardo Patrese Williams-Judd 1:45.673 1:30.952 +3.804
18 Eddie Cheever Arrows-Megatron 1:48.399 1:31.300 +4.152
20 Thierry Boutsen Benetton-Ford no time 1:31.414 +3.993
16 Ivan Capelli March-Judd 1:47.518 1:31.519 +4.371
27 Michele Alboreto Ferrari 1:45.982 1:31.520 +4.372
5 Nigel Mansell Williams-Judd 1:45.616 1:31.635 +4.487
2 Satoru Nakajima Lotus-Honda 1:47.399 1:31.647 +4.499
14 Philippe Streiff AGS-Ford 1:47.465 1:32.013 +4.865
17 Derek Warwick Arrows-Megatron 1:49.081 1:32.483 +5.335
30 Philippe Alliot Lola-Ford 1:47.215 1:32.712 +5.564
22 Andrea de Cesaris Rial-Ford no time 1:33.037 +5.889
31 Gabriele Tarquini Coloni-Ford 1:48.146 1:33.236 +6.088
24 Luis Pérez-Sala Minardi-Ford 1:49.211 1:33.239 +6.091
29 Yannick Dalmas Lola-Ford 1:46.062 1:33.374 +6.226
15 Maurício Gugelmin March-Judd 1:49.306 1:33.448 +6.300
4 Julian Bailey Tyrrell-Ford no time 1:33.874 +6.726
23 Adrian Campos Minardi-Ford 1:49.012 1:33.903 +6.755
3 Jonathan Palmer Tyrrell-Ford 1:47.265 1:33.972 +6.824
36 Alex Caffi Dallara-Ford 1:48.156 1:34.204 +7.056
9 Piercarlo Ghinzani Zakspeed 1:48.463 1:34.567 +7.419
33 Stefano Modena EuroBrun-Ford 1:48.466 1:34.782 +7.634
32 Oscar Larrauri EuroBrun-Ford 1:54.566 1:35.077 +7.929
26 Stefan Johansson Ligier-Judd 1:43.633 1:35.654 +8.506
25 René Arnoux Ligier-Judd 1:49.054 1:36.123 +8.975
10 Bernd Schneider Zakspeed 1:51.498 1:36.218 +9.070
21 Nicola Larini Osella
Race[edit]
12 Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda 60 1:32:41.264 1 9
11 Alain Prost McLaren-Honda 60 + 2.334 2 6
1 Nelson Piquet Lotus-Honda 59 + 1 Lap 3 4
20 Thierry Boutsen Benetton-Ford 59 + 1 Lap 8 3
28 Gerhard Berger Ferrari 59 + 1 Lap 5 2
19 Alessandro Nannini Benetton-Ford 59 + 1 Lap 4 1
18 Eddie Cheever Arrows-Megatron 59 + 1 Lap 7
2 Satoru Nakajima Lotus-Honda 59 + 1 Lap 12
17 Derek Warwick Arrows-Megatron 58 + 2 Laps 14
14 Philippe Streiff AGS-Ford 58 + 2 Laps 13
24 Luis Pérez-Sala Minardi-Ford 58 + 2 Laps 18
29 Yannick Dalmas Lola-Ford 58 + 2 Laps 19
6 Riccardo Patrese Williams-Judd 58 + 2 Laps 6
3 Jonathan Palmer Tyrrell-Ford 58 + 2 Laps 23
15 Maurício Gugelmin March-Judd 58 + 2 Laps 20
23 Adrián Campos Minardi-Ford 57 + 3 Laps 22
30 Philippe Alliot Lola-Ford 57 + 3 Laps 15
27 Michele Alboreto Ferrari 54 Engine 10
33 Stefano Modena EuroBrun-Ford 52 Not Classified 26
4 Julian Bailey Tyrrell-Ford 48 Gearbox 21
5 Nigel Mansell Williams-Judd 42 Engine 11
31 Gabriele Tarquini Coloni-Ford 40 Fuel System 17
36 Alex Caffi Dallara-Ford 18 Gearbox 24
9 Piercarlo Ghinzani Zakspeed 16 Gearbox 25
16 Ivan Capelli March-Judd 2 Gearbox 9
22 Andrea de Cesaris Rial-Ford 1 Suspension 16
21 Nicola Larini Osella Excluded
32 Oscar Larrauri EuroBrun-Ford
26 Stefan Johansson Ligier-Judd
25 René Arnoux Ligier-Judd
10 Bernd Schneider Zakspeed
Source:[1]
Championship standings after the race[edit]
Drivers' Championship standings
1 Alain Prost 15
2 Ayrton Senna 9
3 Gerhard Berger 8
4 Nelson Piquet 8
5 Derek Warwick 3
Constructors' Championship standings
1 McLaren-Honda 24
3 Lotus-Honda 9
4 Benetton-Ford 4
5 Arrows-Megatron 3
Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
^ "1988 San Marino Grand Prix". formula1.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
^ a b "San Marino 1988 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
Previous race:
1988 Brazilian Grand Prix FIA Formula One World Championship
1988 season Next race:
1988 Monaco Grand Prix
1987 San Marino Grand Prix San Marino Grand Prix Next race:
Formula One Grands Prix (1980–89)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1988_San_Marino_Grand_Prix&oldid=888648620"
1988 Formula One races
San Marino Grand Prix
1988 in Italian motorsport
Pages using collapsible list with both background and text-align in titlestyle
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A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE CONFERENCE
The significance of and outcomes from the Fourth World Conference on Women will be gauged from a number of perspectives. From each perspective arises a complex set of expectations when a meeting like the FWCW is convened. Criteria for measuring success and failure shift between the actors according to their roles, level of participation, and initial relationship to the agenda. Some focused on the documents that emerged from the FWCW, others on the commitments States made, and still others on the process involved and what it represents in the global agenda for women's equality.
THE BEIJING DECLARATION AND PLATFORM FOR ACTION: The attainment of a consensus agreement on the Platform for Action, which deals with, identifies, analyzes, and invites action by Governments, was one baseline of success for some participants. While fundamental differences over some of the language in the draft Platform emerged at the 39th Session of the CSW, over the word "gender" for example, the facility for entering reservations to selected portions of the document was always likely to provide dissenters with a mechanism for living with the elements they found disagreeable. The large number of reservations on health and sexuality reflect abiding political and cultural differences that the FWCW exposed and reflected, but could not realistically be expected to resolve. The combination of consensus language and reservations can be viewed as a status report on those issues for women in different parts of the world.
Compared to the exchanges at the 39th Session of the CSW, the atmosphere at the informal consultations in August and in Beijing was more cooperative. Some key players appeared to shift from earlier positions and signaled an early desire to reach agreement. For example, the Holy See gave an early assurance that it did not wish to unravel any existing agreements to counter highly publicized claims that it was seeking to re-open debates from the ICPD. A conference officer suggested that the poor publicity itself might have been a factor, along with negotiating strategy.
Time was a constraint, given the large number of outstanding issues and their content, and forced an acceleration of the negotiating pace that generated some objections. At one stage, the Chair of the informal group discussing the section on health, Mervat Tallawy (Egypt), offered to resign when delegates claimed that she was forcing the agenda. For the most part, work progressed at a slow but steady pace. Long hours were required, but a final agreement was never in serious doubt. As one member of the Secretariat commented on the final day, "This was a Conference that could not fail."
In addition to the baseline objective of a consensus document, many saw this conference as an opportunity to consolidate and reaffirm commitments made at other UN conferences in a single document focused on the role of women. Of particular importance was the integration of the references to gender in each of these prior agreements into the Platform for Action and Beijing Declaration. A common topic in FWCW debates was where the language ranged in relationship to agreements reached in prior conferences. Delegates cited prior language to defend political territory claimed in Vienna, Cairo or Copenhagen and to prevent expansion of their principles. In fact, the FWCW extended a number of established commitments.
Among the expansions was a call to protect human rights activists working in environments where freedom of assembly and freedom of speech are restricted. Delegates also declared that systematic rape during armed conflict is a war crime and, in some cases, a crime against humanity. They recognized the rights of women to exercise control over their sexual and reproductive health and decision-making. Recognition was made that parental rights and responsibilities must be qualified to ensure that adolescents and children enjoy respect, privacy and access to counseling and other health-related services when required, and that the best interests of the child are a primary consideration. References to how unremunerated work could be measured were expanded. Treatment of some macro-economic issues and their effect on women drew praise from NGOs and developing country delegates and reservations from developed country delegates. Despite these advances in language from other UN conference documents, the FWCW did not make significant strides relative to the UNCED women's agenda. Delegates, NGOs and observers complained that their environmental issues were given relatively little attention in Beijing and that accepted concepts and language were being challenged or ignored.
CONFERENCE OF COMMITMENTS: The FWCW became a "Conference of Commitments" thanks to a 1994 Australian proposal, supported by NGOs, to invite participating States to use their Plenary speeches to announce undertakings consistent with the objectives of the Platform for Action. The idea gathered momentum during the 39th Session of the CSW in New York and found a place in the Platform for Action. During negotiations, however, an Australian suggestion that the commitments should be recorded by the Conference Secretariat and included in an annex of the FWCW report was dropped. Opposition to the recording of commitments came from States concerned that specific commitments on a limited number of the "Critical Areas of Concern" in the Platform would detract from the wider agenda. Instead, NGOs monitored the Plenary speeches. In her comments throughout the FWCW its preparatory process, Secretary-General Mongella spoke of the analysis-laden agenda of the women's movement and the need to proceed to action. For leading delegations and NGO representatives, the commitments became the first tangible indicators of substance. For its part, the UN has been invited to consider a high level official at the level of the Secretary-General's office, and to continue and enhance its programme of mainstreaming gender throughout its activities.
For those who have heard enough words and demand action, the "Commitments" proposal provided a push toward implementation; an opportunity not only to monitor but to apply pressure by ensuring that delegations and observers alike would have no doubt about who was doing what, and who wasn't. NGOs found that the proposal also provided a strategic "hook" during pre-Conference regional gatherings, creating a tangible rallying point for new and existing constituencies around the world. One of the NGO organizers responsible for monitoring the Commitments explained that the important thing would be to "bring Beijing home." The Commitments, alongside the Platform and Declaration, will provide national lobbying efforts with additional weight, contributing to NGOs' ability to propose specific examples of initiatives to their governments when they begin to jointly work out national strategies for implementation.
THE GLOBAL PROCESS: For many, the global process of the FWCW will be the rich and complex criteria adopted to assess its success. Members of the Secretariat and the NGO community have characterized the process in a number of interesting ways, with many noting the perception of being at the threshold of a "Century of Women." There is a sense that women will not only be seen to take power but use it to participate in a re-definition of economic, political and social life and re-make peace and development in the image of a more balanced and just humanity. A senior member of the FWCW Secretariat said the UN's world conferences had literally changed women's lives. In Beijing, an Arab women's human rights group had addressed the Plenary, which would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The process has begun to lift the veil on new ways of thinking. Between Nairobi and Beijing, the women's agenda became a gender agenda. Men's opportunities for different roles as nurturers must also be enhanced.
The transition to a universal agenda was captured in Beijing by the reaffirmation of women's rights as human rights. In Nairobi, the agenda was taken beyond national welfare programmes for women towards the development of global feminist consensus building. The President of the European Women's Lobby, Anne Taylor, said that an evolution has taken place in the women's movement between Nairobi and Beijing, with women around the world "occupying a different space" today. She suggested that objectives are clearer and commitment to implementation of the Platform resolute. Governments have become comfortable with the language but have yet to discover the powerful voice behind it. Some participants are already calling for another world conference in five years time. The proposal is already under active consideration in the CSW and the UN Secretariat.
Within the UN system, the conference will be viewed as the latest stage in a process of supporting and developing a global agenda for women's equality. The FWCW is a product of the UN system's advanced thinking on women's issues, which has contributed to a recognition that gender is an indispensable component of its cross-cutting programme of world conferences on the environment, population, human rights, and social and economic development. For the member States, the UN's conferences on women (Mexico 1975, Nairobi 1985) and agreements (Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979) serve as a powerful mechanism, mediating between the demands of a worldwide network of women's movements in civil society and national legislators. Governments' attitudes toward women's participation and the politics of gender vary immensely, as was witnessed during the FWCW. For the vanguard of the women's movement(s), the UN process has fostered the internationalization of their issues and provided unique opportunities for face-to-face networking, agenda development and mobilization. With an interest in accessing and influencing both the intergovernmental negotiations at the formal FWCW and maintaining their power to mobilize and exchange ideas, NGOs will assess both the formal negotiations and the parallel NGO Forum at Huairou. Through the eyes of the women at Huairou the two conferences express all the essential dimensions of the process. In all, over 50,000 people took part in the two events, the largest UN world gathering.
At the heart of the process of which the FWCW will become a milestone is a process of struggle, learning and consensus building around achievable objectives.
Most delegates attending UN meetings and conferences are obliged to apply themselves to issues, sometimes for the first time. Within the G-77/China this was acknowledged by one of the senior delegates from the Philippines at the 39th Session of the CSW. The learning process is one of the less tangible outcomes. Nevertheless, those who have followed the process report that issues that were once beyond the pale for some delegations at international fora, including domestic violence and sexual rights, are now firmly on the agenda. Some feel that the FWCW initiated what will be a continuing discussion on new issues, specifically "sexual orientation" in the context of non-discrimination and human rights. Informal discussion on this and issues related to sexual rights were described as open and frank, although positions did not change on the text.
A number of NGOs who are well acquainted with the issues have informed themselves about UN negotiations and are developing professional lobbying techniques and strategies to create one of the most effective branches of global civil society. The gap between those in the know and those accustomed to viewing power at a distance, however, was evident and contributed to tensions among NGOs at the FWCW. Those who prepared well in advance were satisfied with their input and the results of their lobbying. The mechanism adopted to provide daily monitoring and feedback was a representative group called "Equipo." This team coordinated NGO procedural matters with the UN Secretariat. The response from government delegates to NGO efforts varied according to political cultures and the negotiating environment. At the 39th Session of the CSW, Secretary-General Mongella commented that governments had invited their NGO guests into their "living room, but then disappeared into the kitchen and failed to reappear until a late stage in the evening."
A similar process occurred at the FWCW, especially when critical issues were finally decided by the high-level group. The large number of amendments and contentious issues during the first reading of the draft Platform in Beijing necessitated the formation of informal working groups to deal with the detail. This created difficulties for some NGO representatives in terms of monitoring and lobbying. Inevitably, some felt excluded from the decisive exchanges. The UN is currently conducting a review of its procedures for NGO access to its negotiations. The evolving relationship between NGOs and the UN reflects the more global movement in which women are setting their own agenda, taking action and encouraging governments to follow.
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Home Science 40 Interesting Pancreas Facts
40 Interesting Pancreas Facts
by Sankalan Baidya February 16, 2016
written by Sankalan Baidya February 16, 2016 9980 views
1. Interesting Pancreas Facts: 1-10
2. Interesting Pancreas Facts: 11-20
This article on pancreas facts will really make you give importance to this little organ that you have long been ignoring. You will get to know exactly how important this tiny organ is that remains well-hidden between bones (ribs) and the stomach. In fact, unlike the stomach and the large intestine, pancreas is an organ, without which, survival is impossible. So, let us learn 40 interesting pancreas facts and find out why this organ is so important.
Interesting Pancreas Facts: 1-10
Naming and medical history of pancreas
1. The name ‘pancreas’ is derived from Greek and it means – All Flesh. It is a rubbery gland and has a pale color.
2. Early medical experts found it extremely difficult to understand the true function of the organ and they actually considered pancreas to be nothing more than a shock absorber.
3. The only reasons why early authors considered it as a shock absorber was its rubbery texture and its location. It was believed that this organ was responsible for protecting the stomach from getting damaged by collision with the vertebral column.
4. In mid-17th century, German anatomist, Johann Georg Wirsung, discovered that the organ is connected to the duodenum with a small duct. Wirsung named it as the ‘duct of Wirsung’ in 1642. Later however, the name was changed into pancreatic duct.
5. In 1664, Dutch anatomist Regnier de Graaf took a quill of a wild duct and inserted the same into the duct he collected from a dog. When it pulled the quill out of the duct, he noticed a clear fluid. He examined the fluid and found that it was acidic by nature.
6. Today however, we know that juice of the organ is actually alkaline in nature because of the cells that line the pancreatic duct. These cells actually secret bicarbonate ions and make the juice alkaline.
Brief of the functions of pancreas
7. The actual function of the pancreas was not discovered until the 19th century. It was later understood that the pancreatic juices were designed for two functions.
8. The secretions from the pancreases enter the duodenum as digestive juices and help with the digestion of the food we consume.
9. The pancreas also produces hormones that passes into the blood. The blood then carries these hormones to different parts of the body where they perform some of the most vital functions of the body.
10. When the juices are passed into the duodenum, it is known as exocrine secretion and when the hormones are released into the blood, it is known as endocrine secretion.
Interesting Pancreas Facts: 11-20
Exocrine functions of the pancreas
11. By 19th century, some amazing advancements were made in the field of chemistry. It was then when it was understood that the pancreatic juices were meant for aiding the digestion process. However, the roles of hormones were yet unknown.
12. In 19th century the experts understood that the pancreatic juice consists of special agents that help to break down the large molecules of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
13. The then experts named these agents as ‘ferments’ however, later the ferments were renamed as ‘enzymes’.
14. It was understood that the ferments or the enzymes aided the digestive process that was already happening inside the stomach. The enzymes helped to break down the food particles into smaller molecules so that the intestines could easily absorb them.
15. It was understood that pancreatic amylase was responsible for breaking down carbohydrates into mono-saccharides and di-saccharides – simple sugars.
16. It was also understood that pancreatic lipase was responsible for breaking down fat into fatty acids and glycerol.
17. Finally, it was also found out that different types of proteolytic enzymes in the pancreatic juice were responsible for breaking down the proteins into small peptides and amino acids.
18. In 1840s, Claude Bernard – a French physiologist eventually managed to show that the pancreatic juices as well as bile coming from liver were both responsible for breaking down the fat content of the food we consume.
19. It was understood that the bile from the liver enters the duodenum where the bile duct and pancreatic duct merge together. Here the bile first uses detergent effect to convert fat into micelles – tiny particles.
20. When the fat is converted into micelles, the surface area of the fat particles increase. This is where the pancreatic lipase pitches in and breaks down the micelles into fatty acids and glycerol.
21. Since the pancreases provide digestive juices, it is highly possible that these juices can digest the pancreas itself. To prevent this from happening, the organ actually releases proteolytic enzymes which stay as pro-enzymes and prevent digestion of the pancreas. These enzymes remain inactive as digestive agents and are activated only when they reach the duodenum.
22. In the duodenum, the proteolytic enzymes interact with enterokinase – a different type of enzyme and are then activated where they start their digestive roles.
23. When put under microscope, it is observed that the pancreas is divided into smaller spherical units known as the acini (singular – acinus, which in Latin means ‘berry’). Acini are spherical in shape and the enzyme secreting cells are present in each acinus around a central space.
24. Interestingly enough, every single cell in an acinus is designed to produce all the digestive enzymes.
25. The enzymes produced by the cells enter the central part of the acini and pass into ducts which lead to the main secretory system. These ducts are very narrow. Gradually as the enzymes move forward, the move from larger to larger ducts to eventually enter the pancreatic duct.
26. The whole duct system is lined up by cells which are responsible for secreting bicarbonate ions and water. These bicarbonate ions and water are responsible for making the enzymes alkaline.
27. Depending upon the acidic content of the stomach, the pancreas releases the exact amount of alkaline juices that can exactly neutralize the acidic content.
28. With normal eating habits of a healthy adult, the pancreas release nearly a liter of pancreatic juices every single day!
Endocrine function of the pancreas
29. When it comes to endocrine functions of the pancreas, the main function of the organ is the production of two primary hormones – glucagon and insulin.
30. These two hormones are responsible for storing, releasing and utilizing the fuels for the process of metabolism. In other words, these hormones actually handle all nutrients that are derived from the proteins, fats and carbohydrates that we consume.
31. Interesting however, that’s not the only function of the glucagon and insulin. These two hormones are responsible for regulating blood sugar levels in the body. Insulin aids to lower the blood sugar level while glucagon increases the blood sugar level.
32. During the late 19th and early 20th century, several studies were conducted when it was found that the pancreas have small cell clumps that sit between the ducts and the acini. These cells are not connected to the ducts and are responsible for internal secretion of hormones inside the pancreas.
33. These cells are known as the ‘islets of Langerhans’ after their discoverer. It was understood that absence of secretion or poor secretion of a hormone named as insulin (from Latin word insula, which means an islet) by islets of Langerhans is the cause of diabetes in humans.
34. However, it was later found that the islets of Langerhans did not produce just insulin. They also produced what became known as the glucagon.
35. It became clear that the islets of Langerhans consist of two different types of cells – the beta cells that produce the insulin and the alpha cells that produce the glucagon.
36. The insulin and the glucagon work in opposite directions and are responsible for maintaining glucose storage balance and also maintains the release of glycogen (the form in which glucose is stored).
Other pancreas facts
37. People can be affected by pancreatic cancer. It is extremely notorious and is known to cause maximum number of deaths among all known cancer forms.
38. The reason for high mortality rate of pancreatic cancer is that it cannot be diagnosed in early stages of development. By the time it gets diagnosed, surgery no longer remains an option and leads to death.
39. Pancreas is broadly divided into three segments – the body, the head and the tail. It is a highly sensitive organ and is pale yellow in color.
40. The organ is not very big. It measures just 17.8 centimeters or 7 inches in length and 3.8 centimeters or 1.5 inches in width.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4
20 Interesting Large Intestine Facts
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Faylinn July 15, 2016 - 6:02 pm
I find it very interesting that it took all the way until the 19th century for medical experts to discover that the pancreas was for digesting food and producing hormones. However, the 1800s was a time of technical advancement and so doctors probably finally had access to the tools that they needed to fully research it. Yet, do you happen to know which methods were used to find out its purpose?
shaan November 3, 2017 - 7:58 am
this dumb stupid ***
Dorothea November 29, 2018 - 2:25 am
on god thats how im fillin bout this 100%
lalaloopsy March 22, 2018 - 2:04 am
this is bullshit
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Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominees Return for Walker Arts Center Members
Get into the award season spirit with three weeks of free films just for Walker Arts Center members. The annual presentation of the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominees showcases creativity and innovation in visual storytelling with the best of indie cinema. Now is the perfect time to buy a mewmbership to get ahead of films sure to heat up the awards race in the next few months. The 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards, hosted by actor Audrey Plaza, will be broadcast live exclusively on IFC cable channel at 2:00 pm PT / 5:00 pm ET on Saturday, February 8, 2020.
2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards
January 14–29, Walker Cinema, Free
Walker, Film Independent, & FilmNorth Members Only
Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart, 2019. Photo courtesy Annapurna Pictures.
Copresented with Film Independent and FilmNorth.
2020 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominees:
Lulu Wang’s The Farewell, 2019. L to R: “Jiang Yongbo, Aoi Mizuhara, Chen Han, Tzi Ma, Awkwafina, Li Xiang, Lu Hong, Zhao Shuzhen.” Courtesy of Big Beach. Photo courtesy A24.
Chinonye Chukwu’s Clemency, 2019. Photo courtesy NEON.
Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life, 2019. Photo courtesy Fox Searchlight.
Uncut Gems, Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie
A Hidden Life, Terrence Malick
The Farewell, Lulu Wang
Marriage Story, Noah Baumbach
Clemency, Chinonye Chukwu
Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie’s Uncut Gems, 2019. Photo courtesy A24.
Michael Angelo Covino’s The Climb, 2019. Photo courtesy Sony Picture Classics.
Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s The Mustang, 2019. Photo courtesy Focus Features.
Booksmart, Olivia Wilde
Diane, Kent Jones
The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Joe Talbot
See You Yesterday, Stefon Bristol
The Climb, Michael Angelo Covino
The Mustang, Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre
Stefon Bristol’s See You Yesterday, 2019. Photo courtesy Netflix.
Gabrielle Brady’s Island of the Hungry Ghosts, 2019. Photo courtesy Autlook Films.
Honeyland, Tamara Kotevska
Apollo 11, Todd Douglas Miller
American Factory, Julia Reichert
For Sama, Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts
Island of Hungry Ghosts, Gabrielle Brady
Todd Douglas Miller’s Apollo 11, 2019. Photo courtesy NEON.
Tamara Kotevska and Ljubo Stefanov’s Honeyland, 2019. Photo credit Ljubo Stefanov, courtesy NEON.
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Walker Art Center Presents a Dialogue and Retrospective, Julia Reichert: 50 Years in Film
Independent documentary filmmaker Julia Reichert has been asking defining questions about workers’ rights, gender roles, taboos, and social change in America since the early 1970s. The pioneering Emmy Award–winner and three-time Academy Award–nominee comes to the Walker Arts Center for a retrospective of her distinguished body of work, Julia Reichert: 50 Years in Film, Feb 1–29, 2020 (at the Walker’s Bentson Mediatheque). Reichert will be on-site February 28 and 29, 2020 to discuss her career and her two recent, widely celebrated documentaries, American Factory and 9 to 5: The Story of a Movement.
Julia Reichert. Image courtesy the artist.
Indiewire on Julia Reichert
Women and Hollywood on Julia Reichert
Double Feature: Growing Up Female and Union Maids
Julia Reichert’s Growing Up Female, 1971. Image courtesy the artist.
Growing Up Female Directed by Julia Reichert and Jim Klein
Thursday, February 20, 7 pm Free
“I wish every high school kid in America could see this film.” —Susan Sontag on Growing Up Female
Growing Up Female is the very first feature-length film of the modern women’s movement. Considered controversial and exhilarating on its release, the film examines female socialization through a personal look into the lives of six women, ages four to 35, and the forces that shape them—teachers, counselors, advertisements, music, and the institution of marriage. A time capsule of a generation’s feminist issues, sometimes intersecting with race and class, the film illuminates a complex system of institutions upholding internal and external oppression. Selected to the National Film Registry in 2011. 1971, DCP, 52 min.
Julia Reichert’s Union Maids, 1976. Image courtesy the artist.
Union Maids, Directed by Julia Reichert, Jim Klein, and Miles Mogulescu
Reichert interviews three “Union Maids” on their experiences as organizing women of the Labor movement. Fighting for humanitarian rights, these radical workers reflect on their lives filled with purpose and struggle. Frustrated by the privileged class’ participation in the women’s movement and caught up in race and gender discrimination within class warfare, their voices echo and contextualize many social justice issues today. 1976, DCP, 48 min.
Julia Reichert at her film editing table in 1973. Image courtesy the artist.
Seeing Red: Stories of American Communists, Directed by Julia Reichert and Jim Klein
Julia Reichert’s Seeing Red, 1983. Image courtesy the artist.
Friday, February 21, 7 pm; $10 ($8 Walker members, students, and seniors)
Reichert brings to light the forgotten history of Americans who joined the Communist Party and the high price many of them paid for their beliefs. Boldly countering traditional myths, the film presents engaging interviews and personal accounts that take on a new resonance in today’s charged political climate. 1983, DCP, 100 min.
Arts & Entertainment Documentaries Eco/Earth/Conservation Education festivals Film Fine Arts Lifestyle Living/Travel Movies Museums & Exhibitions Short Films and Documentaries Social/Life Travel Travel & Tourism Uncategorized
‘Just Mercy’ Announced As Closing Night At Austin Film Festival, Marking The Return Of AFF Screenwriting Winner Andrew Lanham
Meg And Lawrence Kasdan To Return To AFF Conference And Welcome The World Premiere Of Documentary , Last Week At Ed’s’
The 26th annual Austin Film Festival (AFF) (October 24 – 31, 2019), the premier film festival recognizing writers’ and filmmakers’ contributions to film, television, theatre and new media, will proudly present Just Mercy as its Closing Night film on October 31, 2019 at 9:15pm at The Paramount Theatre. Attending with the film is screenwriter Andrew Lanham, UT Michener Graduate and 2016 AFF Screenwriter to watch. Lanham has also been recognized by AFF previously as 2010’s Drama Screenplay Competition winner for The Jumper of Maine. (You can view the full sof films here.)
Directed and co-written by Destin Daniel Cretton, Just Mercy tells the true story of attorney Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) and his fight to defend Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), a man wrongfully sentenced to death. The film made its World Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival in September and will be theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures, beginning December 25, 2019. Cast member Tim Blake Nelson will also attend with the screening, joining Lanham for a post-film Q&A.
“Authenticity is essential to capturing something so historic as this struggle for justice and humanity,” stated Casey Baron, Film Program Director. “It is an honor to welcome back a storyteller the Festival has watched grow and achieve over the past decade, with us to celebrate our Closing Night.”
Additionally, Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Big Chill, The Force Awakens) is set to return to AFF’s Conference for a conversation about the necessities for writing a successful screenplay. He and Meg Kasdan (Grand Canyon, Darling Companion) will co-present the World Premiere of Last Night at Ed’s alongside Kasdan, documenting the personal story of a beloved Hollywood establishment’s final days. The film will screen Saturday October 26, 2019 at 2 pm at the State Theatre, and Kasdan’s Conversation will take place Saturday October 26, 2019 at 4:45pm at the Central Presbyterian Church.
AFF will also be presenting Scandalous, an investigation into the sordid and larger-than-life history of the National Enquirer. Under the direction of Texas filmmaker Mark Landsman, the film dives into the infamous tabloid’s sensational coverage that captivated readers for decades. Scandalous screens October 27, 2019 at 5:30 pm at the Alamo Drafthouse Village.
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The 26th Annual Austin Film Festival To Open With The Us Premiere Of ‘The Obituary Of Tunde Johnson,’ And Announced Additional Titles Set To Screen At The Festival
Austin Film Festival banner
The 26th Annual Austin Film Festival (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing writers’ and filmmakers’ contributions to film, television, theatre and new media, announced its Opening Night feature, The Obituary of Tunde Johnson, taking place October 24, 2019. Director Ali LeRoi will present the film alongside screenwriter Stanley Kalu. The film is LeRoi’s feature directorial debut, and Kalu’s first produced feature screenplay. Kalu won The LAUNCH: Million Dollar Screenplay Competition in 2018, co-founded by Zachary Green and Jason Shuman. Along with receiving a $50,000 education grant and literary representation, Kalu’s film was produced by Green, Shuman and philanthropists Chuck and Marni Bond.
The Obituary of Tunde Johnson follows Tunde Johnson (portrayed by Steven Silver), a gay, black teenager trapped in a time loop that forces him to relive his own brutal murder at the hands of a police officer on duty. The film made its World Premiere at 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. LeRoi and Kalu will participate in a post-film Q&A following the screening and will also take part in programming as panelists at the AFF Writers Conference.
AFF also proudly announces an additional Marquee feature, Atlantics. Atlantics, a haunting romance set in Senegal, is the feature directorial debut of Mati Diop. The film was awarded the Sutherland Award at the BFI London Film Festival as well as the Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The film will screen Sunday October 27, 2019 at 2:30pm at the Alamo Drafthouse Village. Atlantics will premiere in theaters November 15, 2019 and on Netflix November 29, 2019.
The Festival’s shorts programming blocks include Wanted: Strong Woman, in which a woman finds a new passion, Black Goat, the story of a girl’s dark coming of age ritual, Robu, a young man’s journey through Japan to recover a special manga, and Digital Series Brothers from the Suburbs, a comedy centered on three black high schoolers. The Festival is also screening short films The Shabbos Goy, a comedy from Paul Feig, Laura Fischer’s Powderkeg Fuse incubator, Bye Bye Body, an introspective look at body positivity, and family drama Jane. Other mentionable shorts include the University of Texas filmmakers’ Femenina, which tells the story of a wrestler’s grappling with his own sexuality, and Super Sonic, a romance cultivated beyond one man’s hearing-impairment.
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Ninth Annual Napa Valley Film Festival Announces Film Line-Up
Festival to open with “Just Mercy,” close with World Premiere of “Verticals”
The ninth annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) has announced its film line-up, including Opening and Closing Night screenings. NVFF returns this fall with its five-day festival showcasing the year’s best new independent films, November 13-17. Organizers will showcase Napa Valley’s finest food and wine at all special events, including the Festival Gala, VIP receptions and Vintner Circle dinners, and will feature a lively series of filmmaker-chef collaborative demonstrations at the Monogram Appliances Demonstration Kitchen at the Oxbow Commons in downtown Napa. The seven screening venues located throughout the Valley include the Archer Hotel Napa, the historic Cameo Cinema, the CIA at Copia, Charles Krug Winery, Lincoln Theater, Native Sons, and the Uptown Theatre.
Napa Valley Film Festival Logo
“We are excited to release another eclectic selection of highly-curated comedies and dramas from established and emerging filmmakers,” said Napa Valley Film Festival CEO Tom Tardio. “These films consist of inspiring and compelling stories that will thoroughly engage and entertain our festival-goers. At the intersections of film, food, and wine, the festival continues to deliver tremendously unique and exclusive experiences that only a world-class destination such as Napa Valley can provide and only that NVFF can deliver.”
Sneak Preview Night, Opening Night and Closing Night
NVFF will kick off with their Sneak Preview Night on Tuesday, November 12 with a special presentation of 20th Century Fox’s Ford v Ferrari. The film is inspired by the remarkable true story of visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby and the fearless British driver Ken Miles. Directed by James Mangold, the film stars Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Remo Girone and Ray McKinnon.
The festival’s official Opening Night film on Wednesday, November 13 is Warner Bros.’ Just Mercy, a powerful and thought-provoking true story following young lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his history-making battle for justice. The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Michael B. Jordan, Brie Larson and Jamie Foxx.
Closing the festival on Sunday, November 17 is SOMMTV’s world premiere of Verticals, a series that showcases Napa Valley winemakers and the human condition through a bottle of wine. This premiere is also the launch of SOMMTV, the first food and wine dedicated streaming platform. The series is directed by Jason Wise.
Award Season Contenders
Clemency (Neon) – Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a toll on prison warden, Bernadine Williams. The emotional wedge in her marriage grows and memories of a recently botched execution plague her daily. As she prepares to end the life of another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to execute. Directed by Chinonye Chukwu and starring Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Wendell Price, Richard Schiff and Danielle Brooks.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Neon) – In 1760 France, Marianne is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young woman who has just left the convent. Marianne arrives under the guise of companionship with the reluctant bride-to-be, observing Héloïse by day and secretly painting her by firelight at night. As the two women orbit one another, intimacy and attraction grow as they share Héloïse’s first moments of freedom. Héloïse’s portrait soon becomes a collaborative act of and testament to their love. Directed by Céline Sciamma and starring Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel.
To The Stars (Samuel Goldwyn Films) – Iris, a bespectacled and reclusive teen living in a god-fearing Oklahoma town in the 1960s, endures the booze-induced antics of her mother and daily doses of bullying from her classmates. She finds solace in Maggie, the charismatic and enigmatic new girl at school, who hones in on Iris’s untapped potential and coaxes her out of her shell. When Maggie’s mysterious past can no longer be suppressed, the small community is thrown into a state of panic, leaving Maggie to take potentially drastic measures and inciting Iris to stand up for her friend and herself. Directed by Martha Stephens and starring Kara Hayward, Liana Liberato, Malin Akerman, Tony Hale, Shea Whigham and Adelaide Clemens.
Troop Zero (Amazon Studios) – In a tiny Georgia town in 1977, a motherless girl named Christmas Flint dreams of life beyond the confines of her trailer-park home and hopes to make contact with outer space. When Christmas learns that the winners of the annual Birdie Scout Jamboree talent contest will be included on a recording to be sent into space for posterity, she tries to join the local Scouts troop. When she is rejected by the snobbish group of girls and their uptight leader Miss Massey, Christmas rallies a group of elementary-school outliers to start their own chapter. Troop Zero is an endearing and magical tale of friendship and individuality. Directed by Bert & Bertie and starring Viola Davis, Mckenna Grace, Jim Gaffigan, Mike Epps, Charles Shotwell and Allison Janney.
Code & Response – 2018 was the worst year on record for natural disasters. Code & Response takes us into the heart of the aftermath of some of those disasters as we meet the first responders who are supported by innovative technology. Follow four coders from around the world (Japan, Puerto Rico, California, and Mexico) to learn about why they are getting involved, as well as how they are building technologies to help first responders save lives. Directed by Austin Peck.
Elsewhere – Bruno is still mourning his wife’s passing when his in-laws evict him from the home he and wife built together. Unwilling to let his beloved home fall into disrepair, Bruno sneaks back to the house and meets the new owner of the home, Marie. Determined to be the only person to make any changes to the house he built, Bruno poses as a local handyman and Marie hires him for renovations. As the two begin work on the house, Bruno is forced to face the reality that his wife is gone, and he learns to move on from his grief. Directed by Hernán Jiménez and starring Aden Young, Parker Posey, Ken Jeong, Beau Bridges and Jacki Weaver. World Premiere
From the Vine – Mark, a downtrodden CEO, is experiencing an ethical crisis at work. In an attempt to re-calibrate his moral compass, he travels back to his hometown in rural Italy. He finds newfound purpose by reviving his grandfather’s old vineyard, offering the small town of Acerenza a sustainable future and reconnecting with his family in the process. Combining magical realism and Italian neorealism, and set against the backdrop of Italian wine country, From the Vine is about returning to your roots and redefining your life when you’re at the bottom of the barrel. Directed by Sean Cisterna and starring Joe Pantoliano, Wendy Crewson, Marco Leonardi, Paula Brancati and Tony Cisterna.
Gay Chorus Deep South – In response to a wave of discriminatory anti-LGBTQ laws in Southern states, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus embarks on a tour of the American Deep South. The tour brings a message of music, love, and acceptance to communities and individuals confronting intolerance. What emerges is a less divided America, where the lines that separate us in faith, politics, and sexual identity are erased through the soaring power of music, humanity, and a little drag. Directed by David Charles Rodrigues.
I Want My MTV – A nostalgic and thrilling ride, I Want My MTV takes its audience back to the beginning, when the idea of a television channel devoted to only videos seemed destined for failure. The chronicling of this unique journey provides a peek into how a team of young executives were tasked with growing this seed of an idea, which would quickly flourish into a beloved and often controversial cultural juggernaut. Features commentary from Sting, Billy Idol, The Eurythmics, Jerry Cantrell, Pat Benatar, and more. Directed by Patrick Waldrop and Tyler Measom, and starring Sting, Billy Idol, Pat Benatar, Dee Snider, Norman Lear, The Eurythmics , Darryl McDaniel and Jerry Cantrell.
It All Begins with a Song: The Story of the Nashville Songwriter – It All Begins with a Song: The Story of the Nashville Songwriter is a celebration of one of music’s most important yet underrated forces: the songwriter. These songwriters have penned melodies and lyrics for some of the biggest stars in the music industry, yet few know their names. Pull back the curtain to reveal the process of creating a successful song and learn more about the origins of some of the world’s most iconic hits. Directed by Anthony ‘Chusy’ Haney-Jardine.
The Land of High Mountains – The Land of High Mountains is the inspiring true story of the only pediatric hospital in Haiti. In a country where one third of the population is under fourteen years of age and foreign NGOs consistently come and go, Saint Damien Pediatric Hospital has been providing life-saving healthcare to the most vulnerable families for over thirty years. This is a powerful account of the incredible people, both Haitian and foreign who, despite encountering every conceivable obstacle, are working together to create a brighter future for their patients and for Haiti. Directed by Will Agee and starring Liferne Forestal, Phadoul Amisial, Fr. Rick Frechette, Dr. Renee Alce, Dr. Jacqueline Gautier, Fr. Enzo Del Brocco, Veline , Gaelle , Lourdy , Pierre Nadine, Sainfleur Jean Israel, Marie Yolene, Vilaire Meralin and Christiana Liberis.
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound – Since the invention of sound in films, sound designers have been influencing the landscape of cinema. Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of sound design throughout cinematic history. Through interviews with legendary directors and some of the industry’s most-respected sound designers, we revisit film classics that helped shape the way we listen to and experience films today. Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound reveals the hidden impact of sound in cinema and how the auditory intake of a film holds so much power over an individual’s experience of storytelling. Directed by Midge Costin.
Martha: A Picture Story – In the 1970s, Martha Cooper was one of a handful of photographers documenting the first vivid images of graffiti appearing on New York City’s subway carriages. 20 years later, she discovers that her book Subway Art has become one of the most stolen books of all time – inspiring the spread of graffiti around the globe and making Martha an unexpected icon of the street art world. Now, at age 75, Martha must navigate her way through the vastly changed culture of the modern world. Directed by Selina Miles.
My Beautiful Stutter – After lifetimes of bullying, isolation, and failed fluency training, witness the incredible transformation of five kids who stutter when they enter a groundbreaking program through SAY, The Stuttering Association. Over the course of a year of events and workshops, these young people of wildly different backgrounds experience SAY’s revolutionary mantra: it’s okay to stutter. Directed by Ryan Gielen and starring Taro Alexander.
RUTH – Justice Ginsburg in Her Own Words – How does a person with three strikes against her rise to the highest court in the land, the U.S. Supreme Court? RUTH – Justice Ginsburg in Her Own Words tells the improbable story of how Ruth Bader Ginsburg became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. It also reveals both the public and private sides of a resilient, resourceful woman who has survived the hostility of the profoundly male universe of government and law to become a revered Justice and icon for gender equality and women’s rights. Directed by Freida Lee Mock and starring Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice Goodwin Liu, Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, Irin Carmon, Shana Knizhnik, Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy, M.E. Freeman, Lilly Ledbetter and Kathleen Peratis.
The Three Drinkers Do Scotch Whisky – Packed full of humour, personality, and flavour, The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky is a drinks-focussed travelogue, where three friends embark on a road trip through Scotland. From Dufftown and Islay to Elgin and Jura, they journey through breath-taking landscapes, visiting iconic distilleries and touching on Scottish culture, tourism and traditional dishes you can’t even pronounce. This is whisky for a new, global audience, from twenty-one to ninety-one. Directed by David Agrawal. World Premiere
OTHER FILM HIGHLIGHTS
Core Competitions (previously announced)
Narrative Competition
Bring Me an Avocado, Directed by Maria Mealla and starring Bernardo Peña, Sarah Burkhalter, Molly Ratermann, Candace Roberts.
Here Awhile, Directed by Tim True and starring Anna Camp, Steven Strait, and Joe Lo Truglio. World Premiere
Justine, Directed by Stephanie Turner and starring Glynn Turman, Darby Stanchfield, Josh Stamberg, Daisy Prescott, and Stephanie Turner.
Lucky Grandma, Directed by Sasie Sealy and starring Tsai Chin, Corey Ha, Michael Tow, Woody Fu, Yan Xi, Wai Ching Ho, and Clem Cheung.
The Nomads, Directed by Brandon Eric Kamin and starring Tika Sumpter and Tate Donovan.
Run This Town, Directed by Ricky Tollman and starring Ben Platt, Mena Massoud, Nina Dobrev, Damian Lewis, Jennifer Ehle, and Scott Speedman.
Standing Up, Falling Down, Directed by Matt Ratner and starring Billy Crystal, Ben Schwartz, Eloise Mumford, Grace Gummer, Caitlin McGee, David Castaneda, Debra Monk, and Jill Hennessy.
Stealing School, Directed by Li Dong and starring Celine Tsai, Jonathan Keltz, Michelle Monteith, Mpho Koaho, Darrin Baker, Jonathan Malen, Matthew Edison, and Vas Saranga. World Premiere
Documentary Competition
I Am Human, Directed by Taryn Southern and Elena Gaby.
Latter Day Jew, Directed by Aliza Rosen.
Motherload, Directed by Liz Canning.
The Pollinators, Directed by Peter Nelson.
The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion, Directed by Lisa Cortes and Farah X.
The Story of Plastic, Directed by Deia Schlosberg.
This Is My Home, Directed by Karl Nickoley.
Well Groomed, Directed by Rebecca Stern.
Come As You Are, Directed by Richard Wong.
Greener Grass, Directed by Dawn Luebbe and Jocelyn DeBoer.
Hosea, Directed by Ryan Daniel Dobson. World Premiere
Last Call, Directed by Gavin Michael Booth.
Only, Directed by Takashi Doscher.
Speed of Life, Directed by Liz Manashil.
Treasure Trouble, Directed by Dan Erickson.
The Way You Look Tonight, Directed by John Cerrito.
Culinary Cinema
Breaking Bread, Directed by Beth Elise Hawk.
Funke, Directed by Gab Taraboulsy.
Nose to Tail, Directed by Jesse Zigelstein.
Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy, Directed by Elizabeth Carroll.
Stage: The Culinary Internship, Directed by Abby Ainsworth.
A Taste of Sky, Directed by Michael Lei.
The festival will also feature Short Film Programs with:
17 Narrative Shorts
11 Documentary Shorts
The Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) is a five-day celebration that blends the art of film, food, and wine together. Discover the best new independent films of the year, savor exquisite cuisine paired with legendary wines, and create lasting memories found only in the Napa Valley. The Napa Valley Film Festival is presented by Cinema Napa Valley, a registered 501c3 non-profit organization headquartered in Napa, California. Cinema Napa Valley’s mission is to celebrate the cinematic arts and enrich the community by presenting an annual world-class festival and year-round education and outreach programs. The Napa Valley Film Festival takes place November 13-17, 2019. Visit napavalleyfilmfest.org for more information on passes and festival events.
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Leading Sponsors: AVMS, Charles Krug Winery, Colorzone, DoNapa, Monogram, Raymond Vineyards, Viking Cruises, Westin Verasa Napa
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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Women’s Initiative Events In New York And London Support Emerging Female Filmmakers
Academy Partners With E! Entertainment For New York Event With Laura Dern, Greta Gerwig, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy And Amy Pascal
Swarovski Returns As Global Partner Of “Action: The Academy Women’s Initiative”
Photo Credit: Lars Niki / Getty Images / AMPAS
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in partnership with E! Entertainment and Swarovski, hosted a luncheon in New York today (October 2), beginning the second year of its global initiative to support emerging female filmmakers with the presentation of an Academy Gold Fellowship for Women.
The luncheon at the Rainbow Room brought together women from all facets of the filmmaking community, including Annabelle Attanasio, Cynthia Erivo, Julie Hagerty, Alma Har’el, Laura Karpman, Barbara Kopple, Jodi Long, Jennifer Nettles, Katherine Oliver, Laura Poitras, Andrea Riseborough, Jane Rosenthal, Meg Ryan, Mary Stuart Masterson and Constance Wu. The afternoon featured an onstage conversation with writer-director Greta Gerwig and producer Amy Pascal, moderated by actress Laura Dern. Oscar®-winning documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, whose work highlights inequality and human rights abuses of women around the world, delivered the keynote presentation.
The Academy Gold Fellowship for Women, a $35,000 grant, was awarded to filmmaker Eliana Pipes. Pipes, an alumna of the inaugural class of the Academy Gold diversity internship enhancement program, is a graduate of Columbia University and has written her first feature film, a comedy entitled “Fauxricua.”
Constance Wu attends the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ Women’s Initiative New York luncheon, in partnership with E! Entertainment and with the support of Swarovski on October 02, 2019 in New York City. Credit: Lars Niki / Getty Images / AMPAS
The Academy Gold Fellowship for Women is a one-year fellowship designed for female filmmakers or executives. The fellowship combines direct financial support with personalized mentorship and networking opportunities, creating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an emerging female filmmaker or industry executive. The US recipient is selected from the alumnae of one of the Academy Foundation’s key educational initiatives: Academy Gold Talent Development and Inclusion program, Student Academy Awards and the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. The fellowship in the UK is awarded to an emerging female talent working on either their first or second feature film or short film.
(L-R) Dawn Hudson, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Greta Gerwig and Laura Dern attend the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ Women’s Initiative New York luncheon, in partnership with E! Entertainment and with the support of Swarovski on October 02, 2019 in New York City.
The Academy will also hold a similar luncheon in London on October 4. The London event will mark the third year the Academy and Swarovski have hosted a gathering of female filmmakers in the UK. As a global multi-year partner of the initiative, Swarovski’s support extends across both the New York and London events, as well as a luncheon in Paris earlier this year, and makes possible the Gold Fellowship grants presented. Northern Ireland-based filmmaker Aislinn Clarke will receive the Academy Gold Fellowship for Women. Clarke wrote and directed her first feature, a horror film entitled “The Devil’s Doorway,” last year.
The fellowship program is a global effort, part of Action: The Academy Women’s Initiative, designed to create opportunities for female filmmakers and executives to connect, share their stories and celebrate inclusion. To date five fellowships have been awarded.
Cynthia Erivo attends the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ Women’s Initiative New York luncheon, in partnership with E! Entertainment and with the support of Swarovski on October 02, 2019 in New York City.
Action: The Academy Women’s Initiative is intended to make Hollywood a more inclusive place by empowering women in the film community. The initiative includes the Academy Gold Fellowship for Women, Academy Directory, and global events designed to connect women across all corners of the filmmaking industry and enable them to share their stories and celebrate inclusion.
“In just two years, the Academy Women’s Initiative has granted five fellowships to aspiring female filmmakers in NY, LA, London and Paris,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “With the support of our partners E! Entertainment and Swarovski, we will continue to expand this program globally, empowering more women in film, and creating a more inclusive industry.”
“E! is proud to once again partner with the Academy for this powerful initiative that brings women together, celebrates inclusion, and supports female filmmakers,” said Jen Neal, General Manager, E! News, Live Events and Lifestyle Digital, NBCUniversal. “It is exciting to join so many creative, inspiring and courageous women at today’s event as we unite in our commitment to driving positive change.”
Swarovski has a long history of partnership with the Academy, having illuminated the Academy Awards® stage with more than 45 million crystals over the past twelve years. As part of Swarovski’s drive to promote women’s empowerment, it is proud to support the Academy in celebrating women in film and encouraging gender equality across the industry. Swarovski has played a supporting role in the entertainment industry for nearly 100 years, having collaborated with Hollywood’s finest costume and set designers, most recently for Rocketman and The Greatest Showman..
Nadja Swarovski commented: “Swarovski is delighted to partner with the Academy on the 2019 Gold Fellowship for Women as part its Action: The Academy Women’s Initiative. As a company we are committed to empowering women and to providing emerging creative talent with the support it needs to develop and thrive, so we are pleased to congratulate Eliana Pipes and Aislinn Clarke and we look forward to watching all the young Academy Gold Fellowship award winners share their work with the world.”
Swarovski creates a more sparkling world and delivers a diverse portfolio of unmatched quality, craftsmanship, and creativity. Founded in 1895 in Austria, the company designs, manufactures and sells the world’s highest quality crystal, genuine gemstones, Swarovski Created Diamonds and zirconia, finished products such as jewelry and accessories, as well as interior design and lighting solutions. The Swarovski Crystal Business is run by the fifth generation of family members and has a global reach with approximately 3,000 stores in around 170 countries, more than 29,000 employees, and revenue of about 2.7 billion euros in 2018.
E! is the only global, multi-platform brand for all things pop culture. The network is currently available to 91 million cable and satellite subscribers in the U.S and 161 countries globally. E! programming includes popular series “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “Very Cavallari,” “Total Divas,” “Total Bellas,” “Botched,” and “Dating #NoFilter;” topical series “Nightly Pop,” and the return of the “E! True Hollywood Story.” “E! News” airs nightly on the network and is the leading multi-platform publisher delivering breaking entertainment news and pop culture coverage 24/7 across EOnline.com and all digital and social media. The brand’s robust digital programming slate includes “E! News’ The Rundown,” “Face Forward” and “What The Fashion” on Snapchat. E!’s “Live from the Red Carpet” signature events keep fans connected to their favorite stars on pop culture’s biggest nights and E! is also home to the “E! People’s Choice Awards,” the only award show for the people, by the people. E! is a network of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Lifestyle Group, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. For more corporate information, visit www.nbcuniversal.com.
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Tom Hanks to be Recipient of the 2020 Cecil B. deMille Award at The 77th Golden Globes Awards
September 24, 2019– The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced that eight-time Golden Globe winner and 15-time nominee, Tom Hanks, will be honored with the coveted Cecil B. deMille Award at the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards. The highly-acclaimed star of such legendary films such as Big, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, and the upcoming release of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood will accept the honor at Hollywood’s Party of the Year® on Sunday, January 5, 2020 airing LIVE coast-to-coast from 5-8 p.m. PT/8-11 p.m. ET on NBC.
Tom Hanks the star of Columbia Pictures’ “Captain Phillips.” Photo Credit: AUSTIN HARGRAVE
“The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is proud to bestow the 2020 Cecil B. deMille Award to Tom Hanks,” said HFPA President Lorenzo Soria. “For more than three decades, he’s captivated audiences with rich and playful characters that we’ve grown to love and admire. As compelling as he is on the silver screen, he’s equally so behind the camera as a writer, producer, and director. We’re honored to include Mr. Hanks with such luminaries as Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Martin Scorsese, and Barbra Streisand to name a few.”
Chosen by the HFPA Board of Directors, the Cecil B. deMille Award is given annually to a talented individual who has made a lasting impact on the film industry. Honorees over the decades include Jeff Bridges, Robert De Niro, Audrey Hepburn, Harrison Ford, Jodie Foster, Sophia Loren, Sidney Poitier, Steven Spielberg, Denzel Washington, Robin Williams, and many more.
Hanks’ complex and moving performances have earned him the honor of being one of only two actors in history to win back-to-back Best Actor Academy Awards®, he won his first Oscar® in 1994 for his moving portrayal of AIDS-stricken lawyer Andrew Beckett in Jonathan Demme’s Philadelphia. The following year, he took home his second Oscar for his unforgettable performance in the title role of Robert Zemeckis’ Forrest Gump. He also won the Golden Globe Award for both films, as well as a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® for the latter.
In 2013, Hanks was seen starring in Golden Globe-nominated film Captain Phillips, for which he received Golden Globe, SAG, and BAFTA nominations as well as in AFI’s Movie of the Year Saving Mr. Banks with Emma Thompson. Hanks was most recently seen alongside Streep in Spielberg’s Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated film The Post, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe and won Best Actor with the National Board of Review. He will next be seen portraying Mr. Fred Rodgers in the upcoming biopic A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Additional upcoming projects include the WWII drama Greyhound, which he also wrote, the post-apocalyptic BIOS and Paul Greengrass’ pre-Civil War drama News of the World.
His other feature credits include the Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski film Cloud Atlas; Stephen Daldry’s Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close; the animated adventure The Polar Express, which he also executive produced and which reunited him with director Robert Zemeckis; the Coen brothers’ The Ladykillers; Spielberg’s The Terminal and Catch Me If You Can; Sam Mendes’ Road to Perdition; Frank Darabont’s The Green Mile; Nora Ephron’s You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle; Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own; Ron Howard’s Apollo 13; The Da Vinci Code; Angels & Demons; Splash; Hologram for a King; Inferno;Sully; and the computer-animated blockbusters Cars, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4.
In 1996, Hanks made his successful feature film writing and directing debut with That Thing You Do!, in which he also starred. More recently, he wrote, produced, directed and starred in Larry Crowne, with Julia Roberts. Hanks and Playtone produced 2002’s smash hit romantic comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding, with his wife Rita Wilson. Other producing credits include Where the Wild Things Are, The Polar Express, The Ant Bully, Charlie Wilson’s War, Mamma Mia!, The Great Buck Howard, Starter for 10, and the HBO series Big Love, Band of Brothers, The Pacific and From the Earth to the Moon.
In 2002, Hanks received the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award.
He was later honored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center with the Chaplin Award in 2009. In 2014, Hanks received a Kennedy Center Honor.
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Orlando Security Guard Companies Find Increase Business
The city of Orlando and in fact the entire country needs time to come to terms with what happened at the Pulse Nightclub only a short time ago. The 49 people that lost their lives are permanently etched in the nation’s consciousness as are the 53 that were wounded. What we can learn from such a terrible tragedy will unfold as time passes. Of course, we all need to mourn but just as importantly, we need to be sure we are protecting the life and liberty of America’s citizens.
The New York Times reported just after the attack that gay clubs were seen as more than just meeting places by the people that frequented them. One survivor said in fact, they were a “safe zone” for a group of our citizens that can still feel marginalized by society. What the Orlando Private Security Guard industry can learn from statements like this is clear, even at these initial stages after what was the worst American mass shooting in history.
We can do our part and join other caring individuals like Melissa Etheridge who has written a song about the horror of turning these safe zones into unimaginable crimes scenes. By keeping the standards high for the Orlando bodyguards we supply to area businesses and clubs, we hope to be part of a larger network of deterrents that will hopefully prevent one of these tragedies from ever happening again.
Vigilance is Important
Vigilance is important when it comes to the persons our industry hires. The best security guards in general and Orlando bodyguards specifically are licensed and insured but they also understand the most effective ways to patrol special events, clubs, or any area where there might be a potential for any kind of criminal activity.
The best Orlando Security Guards servicing the community will know how to analyze the property that needs to be protected and which solution is the most cost-effective and secure. In some cases, an on-site security officer is the right choice, while in others remote monitoring is the correct path to take. Monitoring real-time surveillance video can give you the kind of blanket coverage that increases your overall security.
Of course, you need to have the best camera angles and it’s important to make sure you use wireless or wired systems depending on your needs. It’s also important to consider the kind of coverage that you want to get. That’s the reason most experts in the field including Orlando Fire Watch professionals state that having a camera at each entrance and exit is a good idea so you’ll have a legal record of everyone who enters and exits any building. Outdoor nighttime cameras that are installed should have an adequate light source or be equipped with infrared capabilities.
Area Theme Parks
Orlando Private Security Guards have been taking notice of the responses from area theme parks like Universal Parks and Resorts and Walt Disney World and how they have been beefing up their security details in the wake of the tragic event at Pulse. One of the most important factors, whether you’re hiring security specialists or Orlando Bodyguards, is compliance with Florida Statutes 493. A class D security license is one of the prerequisites for entering the security field. There are a few telltale signs that mark the best of these courses as the ones producing the best graduates.
The entire course should be around 40 hours long so important subjects like terrorism awareness and emergency procedures are covered. The courses that are offered by credible Orlando Security Services should also offer important instruction on the use of force and First Aid training.
Prevent Future Tragedies
Unfortunately, the New York Times has also reported the gunman boasted about links to groups like Al Qaeda and Hezbollah well before the attack at Pulse. Worst yet are the reports the killer went to the nightclub just hours before the shooting took place. These facts leave everyone in the United States and beyond wondering what can be done to prevent future tragedies like this from happening.
Both Orlando Fire Watch and Orlando security guards performing essential services understand their place in prevention is in recognizing the threats before the crimes are committed. A big part of staying proactive is being in compliance as Orlando bodyguards with Florida statutes 493. That means understanding the safe operation of the firearm as a security professional and the principles of marksmanship, loading and unloading a weapon as well as the 4-step draw. The Statewide Firearms “G” Course is a prerequisite for those working in the security industry in Florida so they can be in accordance with Florida Administrative Code legal guidelines 5n-1.
Diligence needs to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind after what happened in Orlando. With that said, there’s an important place for Orlando Security Guard Companies to include a variety of options that cover businesses, events, and individuals in the wake of the attacks on the Pulse Nightclub. They feature a variety of highly trained Orlando Bodyguards to Orlando Fire Watch specialists who understand the importance of watching your business while alarms are being installed.
The industry hopes to do its part and follow in the brave footsteps of Pulse owner, Barbara Poma, who recently said there would be a future for the club. Contact one of the top security guard companies in Florida, Fast Guard Service headquartered in Miami, FL.
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Doggone
After the crowds that prayed for a miracle cure from bits of a dead nun comes a new source of hope; the underside of a Polish dog.
There might be a new religion in this. What would Jack say?
Hat tipped to Kev
Yet more cuts
More grim news about adult education has just dropped into my inbox from the Campaigning Alliance for Lifelong Learning (CALL). There will be £240 million of "efficiency savings" (what a disgusting euphemism that is) taken from the FE adult education budget in 2010/2011.
And how about this gem:
Funding has been shifted away from education provided in response to adult learner demands towards employer responsive training.
In plain English this means that you will not be allowed to learn what you want, only what employers want you to learn (in reality, what the government thinks that employers want you to learn). This is an unequivocal restatement of the abandonment of the historic mission of adult education, its roots in the labour movement and the working class autodidact tradition, and the idea of a continuing, liberal, life-enhancing education. Instead, learning is only permitted to be about work, and not even about what you need to improve your working life (like knowledge of legal employment rights) or change your career. No, it is only supposed to provide what employers want you to know so that you are more useful to them.
I get a combined sense of weary resignation and intense anger when I read this stuff. However, it was this article by Robert Skidelsky that put the whole dismal affair into perspective. The article deals with the failure of Keynes' prediction that there would come a time that we would have sufficient to live a good life, aspire to possess no more and the working week would drop to around 15 hours. Of course, Skidelsky doesn't mention that the reason why we continue to work longer is less to do with the social aspects of work or the continuing desire for more goodies, but because we bloody have to unless you hit it lucky with the chance of early retirement (phew!). However, Keynes also had a pessimism about a leisure society, one not shared by all his contemporaries.
He writes: "It is a fearful problem for the ordinary person, with no special talents, to occupy himself, especially if he no longer has roots in the soil or in custom or in the beloved conventions of a traditional economy."
This horribly snobbish sentiment does have a grain of truth lurking in it that a leisure society needs leisure activities, and not just the mind numbing ones that I am about to open and switch on. Skidelsky, with a similar scant regard for popular pleasures, wrings his hands in Buntingesque misery at our collective failure:
Finding the means to nourish the fading "associations or duties or ties" that are so essential for individuals to flourish is the unsolved problem of the developed world...
Well one of the solutions was the joy of learning - skills, crafts, art, literature, history, philosophy, language, music, dance, drama, the list goes on and on. It was called adult education, and, you know what is happening now, we are killing it.
Revolutionary criminality
It is good to know that the forces of the state who actively protected us from, er, "leftwing bookshops" have such a firm grip on reality.
Taking a leak
One of the topics I used to teach in my last job was a short course on clear thinking. It was about how political arguments are constructed and how we fall prey to rhetorical tricks and false logic. I used a variety of examples, mainly drawn from contemporary campaigns, the media and, especially, from conspiracy theories. One of the most common of these is a process that concentrates all attention on a single small item and thereby exaggerates its significance. The item can be real, misinterpreted and/or taken out of context, or even downright fictitious. However, the use of this single, small point is then extended to question a conceptual whole. By fixating on a piece of minutiae, it is possible to distract someone from the mass of evidence pointing the other way.
This way of thinking is central to a whole range of conspiracy theories, and admirably suited to the mindset of obsessives, but one of the most common places you can run across it is if you study miscarriages of justice. One piece of evidence, such as a dodgy forensic test or, more frequently, a confession under duress (and note how one confession outweighs hundreds of denials even after it has been withdrawn) is used to obscure overwhelming evidence of innocence.
As a result of this interest of mine, my news feeds in recent days have been flooded with items about the hacked emails from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia. The story even became a dismal item on Channel 4 News, whose news values seem to plummet daily, and was given the usual irritating John Humphries treatment on Radio 4's Today Programme. If you want to follow some of the debate there are two horrendously long threads at Real Climate.
I was going to write something as a non-scientist about the construction of the argument when I saw the perfect post and knew I couldn't do better. So go over to Carbon Fixated where all is revealed, Newtongate: the final nail in the coffin of Renaissance and Enlightenment ‘thinking’. The next blockbuster for Dan Brown perhaps?
I like history. I teach history. Like Shuggy, who knows far more about schools than I do, I think that changes to the primary curriculum, in History as elsewhere, are constructed from a particular strand of modern lunacy. I should be cheering Andrew Martin to the rafters. But then he starts his article with this:
Presumably Balls, who is highly educated, knows that the importation of a value word like "understanding" is a tactic associated with totalitarian regimes.
Hmm ... prison camps, yes; genocide, certainly; sworn obedience to a single leader, indeed. Understanding? Not too sure about that one myself.
Swinton were the first and last club to play Oldham at the Watersheddings ground. I was at the last match. I wasn't here.
Good souls
Back in May Nick Cohen wrote a piece about seeing a performance of David Harrower's new translation of Bertold Brecht's play, The Good Soul of Szechuan, at the Young Vic. His line was that Brecht was "a communist writer, not a writer who happened to support communism", a political propagandist, and the play was there simply to say, "individual morality will only be possible when the collective morality of communism comes".
This week I saw the same translation beautifully performed in rep in the more humble surroundings of Manchester's Library Theatre. And did I see the play differently! I suppose you could read it the way Nick Cohen did, but I found that, rather than being didactic, the play was discursive, layered and complex. It is set amongst the underclass of an unjust society and the destructive effects of poverty were played out to the full and condemned. Yet this was a very un-heroic proletariat. The play, like so much Brecht, was about survival, this time amongst a 'low life' that clearly fascinated him.
The drama centres around the question of whether a bad society creates bad people or bad people create a bad society. It is about the possibility or impossibility of altruism. I found no conclusion. There is much more besides, with a range of existential dilemmas presenting themselves to the characters. Certainly the propagandist element was present, though only briefly and unconvincingly. At times virtue was punished and vice rewarded, at others it was reversed. And who were the three Gods who could find good only in the poor, never in the rich, but could still find only one virtuous person on earth? Whoever they were, they couldn't solve the conundrum so they made their excuses and left, abandoning humanity. There was no resolution. We were offered ambiguity rather than certainty.
That Brecht had been an apologist for Stalinism is well known, that he was a brute who insisted on being buried in a steel coffin with a stiletto through his heart is equally known. Neither are appealing. But his art stands, and did for me on Tuesday, because he asked questions, rather than provided answers, and used drama as a vehicle for depicting and discussing human imperfection. My answers were probably not the ones that he would have given.
I really can't make up my mind as to whether Brecht was too good a playwright to be a good Stalinist or too bad a Stalinist to be a bad playwright. And just as I was thinking that his picture of humanity was too bleak, I came back from the interval to find that someone had stolen my programme. Last word to Brecht I suggest.
The Dark Ages
Richard Williams writes:
Is modern rugby union really such a terrible game, or is that just the way England make it look? ... Everybody knows that something is wrong, but nobody seems to know how to put it right.
There is a solution. It is called Rugby League.
I've had it with Chavez now.
Understanding inequality
I have the sort of mind that likes organisation and categorisation, something that can bring clarity to arguments. This is the strength of a striking, though not original, essay on inequality by Göran Therborn, whose title certainly doesn't undersell its significance, The Killing Fields of Inequality.
His argument is that inequality is not an engine of growth, nor a natural feature of human societies, but a construct that is utterly dysfunctional, "destructive of human lives and of human societies" - "it is something that violates a moral norm of equality among human beings". Yes, ultimately his argument rests on a moral stance and, to my mind, this is welcome. Utility without ethics is the politics of, using Nye Bevan's cruel description of Hugh Gaitskell, the "desiccated calculating machine". Therborn uses a raft of utilitarian arguments, but there is no mistaking that he is writing about the real lives of real people and is angry.
The usefulness of his approach is that he differentiates between a number of arguments that are often conflated and confused. So, for example he deals with the distinction to be made between difference and inequality. The most important is that inequality can be abolished and, of course, the whole thrust of the essay is that it should be.
He divides inequality into three different types - vital inequality of life and health; existential inequality based on discrimination and status; and material inequality of wealth and resources, both in access to opportunities and in rewards. All are the product of clearly defined processes:
Inequality can be produced in four basic ways. First there is distantiation – some people are running ahead and/or others falling behind. Secondly there is the mechanism of exclusion – through which a barrier is erected making it impossible, or at least more difficult, for certain categories of people to access a good life. Thirdly, the institutions of hierarchy mean that societies and organisations are constituted as ladders, with some people perched on top and others below. Finally, there is exploitation, in which the riches of the rich derive from the toil and the subjection of the poor and the disadvantaged.
You can read the full article if you want to see how he elaborates on these themes and on the strategies involved in countering the effects of these processes. I would just like to make a few observations.
Firstly, he is attempting to show that the different types of inequality, such as inequality of opportunity and outcome, are not mutually exclusive phenomena that conflict, but are contingent upon each other and the products of the same processes. Secondly, I would extend that approach to argue that the often assumed choice between equality and liberty is a false one. The liberty of all is predicated on equality, something that was clearer to 19th Century libertarians than it appears to be to some of their 21st Century descendants. And finally, countering the insane rhetoric of the American right about Obama as "a socialist at the head of a gangster regime", he makes a telling point about social democracy:
...the recurrent success of the Nordic welfare states on a world capitalist list (with Finland on rung 6 and oil-rich Norway on 16 among 131 countries) certainly means that generous, relatively egalitarian welfare states should not be seen as utopias or protected enclaves, but as highly competitive participants in the world market. In other words, even within the parameters of global capitalism there are many degrees of freedom for radical social alternatives. And the literally lethal effects of inequality make searching for them imperative.
A responsibility to protect
Andrew Anthony, in a long and, at times, horrifying piece, recounts the experiences of Somaly Lun, a Cambodian survivor of the Khmer Rouge. It is worth reading in full. In particular I was struck by this,
In the midst of this revolutionary dystopia, one of the most difficult ideas for the teenager to accept was the thought that the world had abandoned Cambodia. "I kept thinking all the time, 'Why does no one come and rescue us?' We'd look up in the sky for the sign of a plane. Any little sound of gunfire got us excited – Somebody must have come! But it was just them killing somebody who had escaped, otherwise they wouldn't waste their bullets."
In the end it was the Vietnamese invasion and occupation that stopped the genocide. Tied up in Cold War politics, it was an action supported by many on the left who were to oppose subsequent Western interventions, whilst the Khmer Rouge continued to hold Cambodia's seat in the United Nations. Liberations are messy and imperfect, but after reading Somaly Lun's recollections of seeing her ten-year-old brother burned alive for taking a sweet potato who can doubt their necessity?
Greece leads the world
At least that is what Anthony Barnett and Mary Kaldor think in their gushing panegyric for the latest Papandreou to head the government of Greece. I thought their praise a little overdone until I read this,
We have direct experience of one small part of the learning process that lies behind Papandreou’s strategy. We have worked with many others in the ‘Symi Symposium’ that Papandreou initiated 12 years ago. Named after the Aegean island on which the first seminar was held, these informal workshops began as a joint initiative of the Andreas Papandreou and Olaf Palme institutes, as a way of exchanging views on the future of the left. Every year since then Papandreou has hosted these gatherings on a different Mediterranean island, bringing together leading global academics, activists and policy makers to debate how to achieve a better world.
Ah. I would be falling over myself to please anyone who would whisk me away to a Greek island every year to talk about what I like to talk about.
Cynicism aside, you have to wish success for a country that deserves better than what has been served up by successive governments. Welcome too is any attempt to lift European social democracy out of Third Way capitulation to the powerful, especially in the context of the twin assault of financial and ecological crises. I just wonder about how much we should place our hopes in an enlightened technocratic elite rather than the long hard work of building up social movements.
Freeloading
I have only been to two poetry readings in my life and both were by the same poet. Does this make me a groupie or a stalker even? More hopefully, a comrade and a friend.
The reading at Manchester University was so much grander than the one in Hull. Hull does cosy and bars, Manchester has theatres and plush, quality restaurants. Even without pre-lubrication in historic pubs, George read beautifully the complex beauty of his work. This time he was not alone. I was really taken by the Irish poet Vona Groake who shared the billing. Her latest collection aptly takes its name from the spray thrown up from the prow of a boat. As she read, each phrase was like time-lapse photography, a shimmering droplet rose and was let fall, a pause before the next glistened in view, crystallising thoughts, and then you glance down to the deck and, to your surprise and delight, there is a small pool of water, reflecting all around you.
Then the exquisite led on to the powerful, her translation and interpretation of the 18th Century Irish keen of a woman for her murdered husband, Lament for Art O'Leary. To my shame I had never heard of this before, though it is regarded as a great classic of Irish literature. As a document, it is a voice of an 18th Century woman, heard too seldom, and illustrative of the suppression of the Catholics of Ireland under English rule and the power of petty officials. As a work of art it is a wail of anguish, of anger and of desire - of thwarted passion and revenge. Rhythmically declaimed, it brought tears.
I am getting a taste for this, maybe I will go to more. Though the invitation to the free meal where I can brush against the skirts of fame will not be there and I will have to pay to get in. Now back to reading the lament.
Incomunicado
I am just back from a weekend away where there was no Internet and no signal for a mobile phone, cut off with only with a few friends from the Over the Hill Club (don't ask). The ten mile hikes are now replaced by gentle strolls and the alcohol consumption is down as age creeps up.
This time we were in Staithes, a North Yorkshire coastal village where the Arctic wind from the North Sea seems unrelenting. In November it is bleak with steep hills to climb and beautiful enough in a bleak and hilly way. The village itself is different, claustrophobic, wedged between two cliffs and divided by a ravine. In contrast to the wide sweep of the North York Moors it has the feel of the close fishing communities that lived there. And, since the end of the 19th Century it had played a role in the visual arts, hosting the Staithes Group or Northern Impressionists, the most notable of whom was Laura Knight. Now, inevitably, the village is dominated by holiday lets, though some life remains. It is the story of coastal communities as tourism develops and we rush to the sea for relaxation, which is exactly what I was doing this weekend.
The world gone mad one
Fat people are more likely to become criminals, and their very fatness may help shape their criminality. That's the conclusion reached by Professor Gregory N Price in a study called Obesity and Crime: Is There a Relationship? published in the journal Economics Letters.
The world gone mad two
This Friday Sky1 HD and world-renowned psychic medium Derek Acorah will attempt to make contact with Michael Jackson in two special shows, Michael Jackson: The Live Seance and Michael Jackson: The Search For His Spirit.
Prisons and the vote
Norm discusses the disenfranchisement of prisoners and wonders why those who advocate giving inmates the vote seem to rarely put forward a clear case. Leaving aside the notions that prisoners are still human beings and citizens and that there is often an arbitrary division between custodial and non-custodial sentences, I would make two observations in support of the enfranchisement of offenders drawn from my experience working in a lifelong learning department that provided higher education in prisons.
The first is that prisoners are directly and intimately affected by decisions of the state and thus should have a say in their own representation. This is not just as a result of penal policy either.
For example, in 1997 the new Labour government introduced a very welcome funded fee remission scheme for low income students in part-time higher education. The money was managed by the universities' hardship funds and allowed the allocation of fee support to offender learning in prisons. Then, for some unknown reason, the government switched the allocation of funding from universities to local authorities. This created the usual short-term muddle out of a perfectly good system, but it also had another consequence. Prisoners do not have a local authority to apply to for support. Thus a, possibly unintended, effect of the change was the ending of inmates' access to some educational programmes. Prisoners are not a fashionable cause and, crucially, they are not voters. It makes it easy to overlook their needs.
Secondly, and more importantly, there is the issue of prison as something other than a system of retribution. Giving rights to prisoners may have wider social benefits.
Our experience in Hull was that those who were involved in our courses had a far lower rate of re-offending than the national average. Academically, many were amongst our highest achievers, but I think there is more to it than that. One thing that engagement in education did was aid in a process of social re-integration. Social exclusion and political exclusion walk hand-in-hand. The exercise of political rights is one small part of citizenship, of inclusion. It is that very social inclusion that is a key element in preventing recidivism.
These utilitarian points aside, I also liked the impassioned speech given at last year's presentation night by the person who accepted the awards on behalf of our students who were otherwise detained. He said that, "whether we liked it or not, prisoners were part of our community". They are and I see no reason why they should be excluded from the rights and duties of citizenship whilst deprived of their liberty.
At least the row on the unutterably stupid government decision not to fund institutions for teaching students who are studying for a qualification at an equivalent or lower level (ELQ) to one they hold already is not going away judging by this report (see here, here, here, here, and here for just some of my previous posts on this).
The article is about the absurdity of being unable to retrain if life takes a different path, but the focus is still on taking 'second degrees'. Anyone concerned with lifelong learning would know that the worst damage was done to the university adult education sector as a whole and short courses in particular.
Perversely, the people losing out often had no qualifications at all. The reason is simple. If around 20%-30% of students become unfundable as they have previous qualifications, then programmes and departments are seen as non-viable without them, so they close or downsize, leaving the remaining 70%-80% of students with little or nothing. As Ian Ground wrote, it marks the loss of the great civic mission (pdf) of universities.
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Theories Discussion →
The stove →
Why did they leave
Author Topic: Why did they leave (Read 3694 times)
Hello. A stove accident as introduced by C. Williams is my favorite. Why? Because it explains a lot that other theories can not explain. I think we all agree that the most mystery starts at the tent. A stove accident explains why they cut the tent from inside and left. It further explains why they left the area orderly and not in such a hurry as it is proved by the footsteps. And of course it explains why there are no other traces, because smoke does not make any. Beyond this the stove theory is plain and simple. Most of the other theories are (my opinion) a little bit too constructed.
OK, there are two thinks that do not fit. First: The report says the stove was not assembled. This could be explained by assuming the stove was disassembled and then the accident happened. I think this makes sense, because when the stove is assembled, the smoke leaves the tent through its designed exit. A stove that is disassembled too early could lead to an accident when the fire ignites again because somebody opens the entrance of the tent.
But what is hard to believe is that they left the tent and stand around the tent and are not able to reach inside to get the clothes and shoes. They could have cut the rest of the tent, pull snow on the stove to dissolve it and so on. Or using the skis around the tent to reach into it. The only thing I can imagine is that they overestimated their strength. That they thought it is more safe to go to the near wood, make a fire and wait till the stove runs out. Would be a great mistake indeed. But not impossible. Also people that are experienced make mistakes.
What is your opinion? Could a stove accident be the impulse that has led to the tragedy?
SteveCalley
Re: Why did they leave
Wondering if they burned mostly wood.
Some facts regarding stove accidents in general:
Using a stove inside a tent is always a risk. Alone in the UK there are some hundred accidents with a stove in a tent each year. Round about 50 accidents lead to serious injuries or even dead. One of the risk factors is using damp wood.
The stove was self constructed and surely not on the security level that modern stoves for tents have. This increases the risk for an accident. Further I guess they collected wood for the stove that was not 100% dry. Even if they carried wood (or some other material) to burn in the stove, there is a risk that it gets wet during the journey.
So I think there was a real risk for a stove accident. But the most accidents with a stove inside a tent happen within the tent, and the hikers were able to escape. This means in a normal situation they have escaped the danger. But not in this special case, they all died (one of the few facts that is definitely true). They main problem that I have is why they left the area. Hard to imagine they left in underwear because of a little smoke.
But... there is no explanation for all facts in the whole time since the accident happened that is logical. For me this means either foul play (e.g. somebody has changed the facts) or the hikers did something illogical. I tend to say they did something illogical, and in this special case they left the tent area to look for shelter in the near wood.
I think a stove accident is the theory with the fewest weaknesses.
Quote from: hanno on April 01, 2018, 03:29:26 PM
No, it is absolutely excluded.
1. There is a fact that the iron stove was not used - it has been packed with untouched fire wood. It is possible to read in criminal case.
2. Even if the iron stove used, pieces of coal and ashes traces from which well remain long time would be found in it (or about tent). They should be found on snow (or on an ice crust- old snow).
3. Even if the iron stove used, in tent it is impossible to create conditions for a poisoning therefore that it is well aired as the canvas with holes from the got smallest pieces of coal very much promotes it. The Dyatlov team would not began to sit in such atmosphere, and simply would air tent, or has got out of tent, but anywhere is not has left, because in the street there would be good air and a wind.
4. Even if the iron stove has given a lot of carbonic oxide and they have choked, people would find in tent, instead of is so far from it.
I think, what it is already enough these arguments?
No. It is impossible. Because I have written in the previous message
Where is it written that the stove was packed with untouched fire wood? I can only find that the stove is not assembled and lies in the center of the tent. Can you please tell me case file and page where I can find it?
I cannot remember where it is stated, but I believe there to be ONE unburnt log stored within the heater itself for travel.
Quote from: hanno on April 03, 2018, 10:49:57 AM
Probably you can read only that that on this site is published in criminal case materials. However it not a unique source of the information on incident of Dyatlov in 1959. I have a possibility to receive the information directly from participants of search. Some times we talked to Michael Sharavin who has found tent on February, 26th 1959 on Mountain. Data on fire wood filled in the furnace are received directly from it. And some times at various times and in different places.
Probably it is in book Donnie Eichar ”Dead Mountain“ ( https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/24484434 ) “ When we together with Yury Yudin and Donnie make the information to his book, about it there was a conversation with Michael Sharavin. Whether there is this information in the book I can to tell, because now at me it is not present.
At several forums in Russian wrote about it much also.
Probably to give the reference to some video interview with Michael Sharavin it is not meaningful. They long, in Russian and there it is a lot of turns of speech which are difficult for understanding and transfer.
CalzagheChick
DPI Novice
Consider this: The heavy canvas of the tent would absorb any smoke/fume/burning odors quite well. Even if the tent was out in the open air for a couple of weeks, I believe an odor would have been detectable to those examining the cloth forensically. Especially a seamstress? The diaries indicate that the boys all promised no cigarette smoking for the entire trip which makes this whole stove theory even more unlikely in my opinion.
If there was a malfunction with a smoking stove, the material of the tent would have SOME evidence of such, at least for SOMEONE to notice throughout the investigation.
Marchesk
Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on April 03, 2018, 08:30:01 PM
Williams says it was left outside the tent after using the stove because Igor didn't want to carry any extra weight.
Hello. A stove accident as introduced by C. Williams is my favorite. Why? Because it explains a lot that other theories can not explain.
Agreed. His explanation explains events better than any other theory. And we know there was a stove, unlike the Mansi, KGB, explosion, avalanche, mushrooms, infrasound, etc. All those theories suffer from the one big problem that there is no direct evidence for their existence in this case.
It makes so much sense of why they would cut the tent the way they did, were individually dressed the way they were, and left the way they did. At least on his version of events. I like that he narrated both the discovery of the tent and the events that night, even though it's fictionalized. It nicely ties together what we do know.
« Last Edit: May 03, 2018, 05:22:16 AM by Marchesk »
Per Inge Oestmoen
In short, no.
In this case, a stove accident could not lead to the tragedy.
1. The portable oven they had, was not used this fateful night. This means it is proven impossible that the stove could create an accident.
2. Even if the oven had been used, it would be highly unlikely because people who leave a tent because a stove accident do not flee long distances. The nine who would soon perish did moreover not flee the tent, there was nothing that indicated any panic or disorientation. The tracks indicate that they left in an orderly manner. This makes perfectly sense if they were forced at gunpoint to leave the tent in the cold with insufficient clothing and no gloves, by determined attackers who calculated that their victims would soon freeze to death so that there would be no direct evidence of homicide.
The modern-day forensic expert Natalia Sakharova has questioned whether it is sufficiently documented that the tent was cut from the inside. There is also a possibility that a knife was first driven into the tent and then cut from the inside. But that is speculation so far. Even if the tent was cut from the inside, that does not mean that the Dyatlov group members did the cutting. In fact, their knives were found in the tent - and all these knives were in their sheaths. Why is it taken for granted that if the tent was indeed cut from the inside, the Dyatlov group must have done it themselves?
Quote from: Per Inge Oestmoen on May 03, 2018, 06:10:23 AM
Is it possible for the stove to have been disassembled after use, and the wood to have been reduced to embers, with the exception of one piece they didn't use? The smoke would have been the result of a draft from opening the tent when one of them went out to take a leak and then returned, causing the embers to be fanned into smoking, and blowing out their candles. The darkened tent quickly fills with smoke. Zina and at least one other has a nosebleed as a result, leading them to cut the tent in an attempt to vent, and then exit when that fails.
2. Even if the oven had been used, it would be highly unlikely because people who leave a tent because a stove accident do not flee long distances.
Unless they couldn't vent the tent in a timely fashion, leading to concern about being exposed to the wind poorly dressed, and decided to build a fire and look for shelter elsewhere for the night.
Quote from: Marchesk on May 03, 2018, 06:43:15 AM
1. How likely is it that people who leave a tent because of smoke formation and ventilation difficulties decide to go far from the tent, and does it seem probable that any adult person could believe that such action would increase their chances of survival in winter conditions? There simply is no ground for assuming that there was any smoke in the tent that could force the nine to leave their tent. There is still less reason to believe that people who had smoke in their tent would choose to move more than a kilometer away in the cold, instead of working to remedy the situation in the tent. If there had been smoke, nothing would have prevented the trekkers from staying to solve the problem right there.
2. Zinaida bled from the nose during the last night of her life, she evidently had blood in her face when her body was found.
But Zina had much more serious trouble than just a nosebleed, as is clear from the autopsy report:
"dark red abrasion on the right frontal eminence"
"dark red abrasion on the upper eyelids"
"brown red graze on the bridge and tip of the nose"
"numerous abrasions on the left cheekbone"
"bruised skin on the right side of the face"
"brown-red abrasion on the back of both hands in the area of metacarpal phalangeal and inter-phalangeal joints"
"wound with jagged edges and missing skin on the back of the right hand at the base of the third finger"
"a long bright red bruise 29x6 cm in the lumbar region on the right side of the torso. The bruise looks like left from a baton"
These injuries were of course not caused by smoke, and frankly speaking it is extremely unlikely that they could have been the result of her stumbling around in the snow either.
If there had been smoke, nothing would have prevented the trekkers from staying to solve the problem right there.
The weather while standing outside the tent trying to deal with the smoke would be what prevented them from staying long enough. They had to decide whether the tent was usable before they started suffering hypothermia, or find shelter elsewhere. They weren't properly dressed, and they were exposed to the wind on the side of a mountain.
There is still less reason to believe that people who had smoke in their tent would choose to move more than a kilometer away in the cold,
The mile away is where the tree line was. There's no in between spot. You stay at the tent or go to the trees.
There simply is no ground for assuming that there was any smoke in the tent that could force the nine to leave their tent.
It all depends on whether the stove was used that night to heat up the tent and their food/drink, and then disassembled, possibly because of the wind on the slope. I've seen discrepancies in what condition the stove was found in. If it had unused wood, then it wasn't used. But if it had embers, then it most likely was. So which was it?
One problem we have to deal with in these sort of cases is that some of the evidence is ambigious or contradictory. Depends on who remembers seeing what. Unless the stove was photographed or it's condition was carefully documented, we're going off the search team's memory. Did the investigators bother to examine it? If so, did they report what was inside the stove?
The big advantage of the stove theory is that we know for a fact it was inside the tent, and that smoke is very hard on humans in a confined area.
But Zina had much more serious trouble than just a nosebleed
Right, but did she acquire the rest of those injuries gathering firewood, digging out the snow den, and trying to return to the tent?
1. The temperature in the area at the night of February 1 was no more than -13 to -18, according to weather reports from the time. There also was moderate wind and thus little wind chill effect. For these reasons, hypothermia would not set in before many minutes. The students would have time to wait for the smoke to disappear while they were ventilating the tent. There is nothing that would have prevented them from doing that.
It seems very unlikely that smoke in the tent could force them to go a mile and seek shelter when they could just open the entrance and let the smoke out. A smoke scenario simply would hardly necessitate a long absence from the tent. Most importantly, the students were insufficiently dressed for a night in the winter and would not have left the tent without a very compelling reason. And it is quite a stretch to believe that smoke from the tent could be such a reason.
2. We have to consider the injuries. Are these injuries the kinds of injury one is likely to get by gathering wood and digging in the snow?
3. All the members of the Dyatlov group - every single one - had suffered various forms and degrees of injury consistent with a human attack with evil intent. It simply is not conceivable that the pattern of injuries found could have been caused by walking around and digging in the snow or collecting firewood.
It's pretty absurd to think that 9 people chose to chance it a mile off into the woods without shoes or proper clothing to certain death than to stay with their shelter. They had needles and thread with them as evidenced by the scuffle between Lyudmila and another member when Zina said, "Plenty of sewing for all of us." Had they damaged their tent (and I no longer believe they did), they'd more certainly have stayed with it and worked all night to mend the slits or holes with a needle and thread rather than chase after the Siberian winter and go at it one on one with mother nature.
Quote from: CalzagheChick on June 03, 2018, 03:10:15 PM
I fully agree with everything you said there.
There was no reason why they would damage their tent, and there is no proof that they did.
Also, there is no reason why they would voluntarily leave their tent improperly dressed and flee a mile away in the Siberian winter.
The stove was unpacked but in the 'stowed' position. The log that was said to be transported with them was taken out of the stove and was found at the far back/right of the tent. I believe they were going to make a fire. Just add kindling.
« Last Edit: June 04, 2018, 01:02:24 PM by Loose}{Cannon »
Blkdahlia
Is it possible the stove was not set up because the person who set up the tent scene did not know how to set it up?
And once again I ask the same question. Was the tent scene staged?
Again. I wouldnt have thought a stove incident would have caused all the subsequent actions. And it must have been a very extraordinary event to cause the group to abandon their refuge.
Quote from: Blkdahlia on August 14, 2018, 02:19:37 PM
You know I'm going to be honest here... I've never really thought of this possibility. It actually is a very valid point.
But who would want to set up the tent scene ? What would be their purpose ?
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By Lorry Kikta | April 15, 2019
I have to admit that I was completely against the idea of a Hellboy reboot when it was originally announced. As far as I was concerned, Guillermo Del Toro was the only person who could touch that film, and Ron Perlman was the only one who could wear the filed-down horns. As more announcements were made, my initial disgust for the idea turned into curiosity. I did love David Harbour in Stranger Things and Hellboy would be awesome if it had an R rating, considering the comics definitely leaned in that direction. So, faced with a choice of movie to see today, I succumbed to my morbid curiosity and went to go see Neil Marshall and Andrew Cosby’s interpretation of the classic Dark Horse comic book.
This version of Hellboy doesn’t feature Liz Sherman and Abe Sapien. Instead, Hellboy’s sidekicks are Major Ben Daimo (Daniel Dae Kim) and Alice Monaghan (Sasha Lane). Daimo’s character is pretty faithful to the comics, although his backstory is not discussed in its entirety. Alice Monaghan and Gruagach’s storyline is explored but not as in depth as it is in the comics. There is a very cool cameo that I won’t divulge, but anyone who read the comics will find it hilarious.
“…Nimue the Blood Queen returning from a living death to bring about ‘The New Eden'”
Insofar as a movie that stands alone from its source material, the new interpretation of Hellboy is a bit too proud of the fact that it has an “R” rating. Everyone is so excited by the fact that they can say “fuck,” they say it every five seconds. That doesn’t personally bother me insofar as being inappropriate or anything like that, but it’s just a little worthy of an eye-roll. I also feel like this film was made as an answer to the R-rated comic hijinks of Deadpool. There are far more jokes in this film than Del Toro’s and on some level that’s fine. There are some pretty great one-liners such as when Hellboy is rejecting Nimue, The Blood Queen (Milla Jovovich), he says “It’s not going to work because I’m a Capricorn and you’re fucking nuts!”
However, much of the film felt rushed through, and there were too many obvious cuts and dumb inserts of heavy music signaling the fact that shit’s about to go down. To be completely fair there is a ton of action, and in my opinion, too much. I feel like there could have been more than a few seconds of explanation of the backstory of the characters. It seems that there are about two minutes of exposition before yet another brutal attack goes down. That said, the ultra-violent battle scenes stoked the genre lover in me. I just think the comics have such good story arcs that could have been utilized in the film.
“…there are some key details Hellboy doesn’t know about himself that makes the whole mission a little more complicated…”
The overall plot is about Nimue the Blood Queen returning from a living death to bring about “The New Eden” which is essentially a breeding ground for monsters and demons where all humans die of a particularly gruesome plague. Hellboy and The Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.) need to stop this from happening, but of course, there are some key details Hellboy doesn’t know about himself that makes the whole mission a little more complicated, and there’s more than the lion’s share of bloodshed along the way.
I have no complaints about the acting in this film, mainly because Ian McShane can do no wrong in my opinion and I liked his portrayal of Professor Broom just as much as John Hurt’s, even though they’re very different. I have also loved Daniel Dae Kim since Lost so seeing him as Major Daimo was very exciting for me. Of course, David Harbour is good, if not a little goofy. Basically, the film is really cool in some aspects but definitely a little cringe-worthy in others. I think that if you are going to see this film, seeing it in the theater is a good idea because the makeup and special effects are incredible. With that, I’ll say I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either, as many other critics did (15% on Rotten Tomatoes…oof). It’s perfectly entertaining, it’s just not going to win any Oscars, but it doesn’t need to, it’s a summer movie for fans of the comic and adults who still feel like kids. If that’s you, go see it!
Hellboy (2019) Directed by Neil Marshall. Written by Andrew Cosby. Based on the comic by Mike Mignola. Starring David Harbour, Ian McShane, Daniel Dae Kim, Sasha Lane, Milla Jovovich, Allistaire Petri, Brian Gleeson, Mark Stanley, Sophie Okonedo, Markos Rounthwaite, Thomas Haden Church.
5.5 out of 10 stars
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VistaGen Announces Positive Preclinical Data Supporting AV-101's Potential For Treating Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia In Patients With Parkinson's Disease, Without The Psychological Side Effects And Safety Concerns Of Amantadine
ACCESSWIRE June 20, 2019
Significant reduction of levodopa-induced dyskinesia by AV-101 observed in "gold standard" MPTP non-human primate model of Parkinson's disease, while maintaining antiparkinsonian activity of levodopa and without causing amantadine-like adverse effects
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2019 / VistaGen Therapeutics (VTGN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing new generation medicines for central nervous system (CNS) diseases and disorders with high unmet need, today announced positive results of recent preclinical studies of the effects of AV-101, its oral NMDA receptor glycine site antagonist, in a widely-used MPTP non-human primate model for reproducing motor complications of Parkinson's disease (PD), including dyskinesia (sudden uncontrolled movements) observed in PD patients treated with levodopa. In the MPTP primate model, AV-101's antidyskinetic effects were similar to those generally observed with amantadine therapy, but AV-101 did not cause adverse effects experienced with amantadine.
The MPTP primate model used in this study is the "gold standard" for animal modeling of PD and has been used extensively to study both antiparkinsonian therapies and levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). MPTP is a neurotoxin that kills dopaminergic neurons in the striatum, producing motor symptoms similar to those of PD. In this study, AV-101's efficacy against LID was measured through behavioral scores on a dyskinesia scale, and a Parkinsonian disability scale was used to measure levodopa antiparkinsonian efficacy. This study demonstrated that AV-101 significantly (p = 0.01) reduced LID without affecting the timing, extent, or duration of the therapeutic benefits of levodopa. This new preclinical study was conducted by Dr. Thérèse Di Paolo, Professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy at Laval University and among the world's leading researchers focused on Parkinson's disease and LID, pursuant to VistaGen's research agreement with CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center in Québec, Canada. Summary results of the study will be presented at an upcoming scientific conference.
"The antidyskinetic activity of AV-101 that we measured compares favorably with our observation with amantadine in parkinsonian monkeys," said Dr. Di Paolo. "Better than amantadine, with its known side effects (in humans with Parkinson's disease and in parkinsonian monkeys), we observed no adverse effects with AV-101."
A pivotal pathological hallmark of PD is a loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra. Loss of dopamine neurons is thought to be due to neurotoxicity associated with misfolding of proteins and is associated with increased signaling of glutamate, the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Increased glutamate activity is involved with aberrant neuronal signaling and excitotoxic death of neurons.
"The NMDA receptor plays a major role in glutamatergic signaling and has been shown to be a therapeutic target for LID," said H. Ralph Snodgrass, Ph.D., VistaGen's Chief Scientific Officer. "AV-101's active metabolite, 7-Cl-KYNA, is a potent and selective NMDA receptor glycine site antagonist with neuroprotective properties. These recent results confirm our prior antidyskinesia study in this MPTP monkey model. We believe these preclinical data and AV-101's positive safety profile in all clinical studies to date support AV-101's potential to treat LID, while both maintaining the antiparkinsonian benefits of levodopa and without causing hallucinations or other serious side effects that may be associated with current amantadine-based therapy for LID," added Dr. Snodgrass.
About Parkinson's Disease
PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, affecting approximately one million people in the U.S. and ten million people worldwide, according to the Parkinson's Foundation. Although there is no "one-size-fits-all" description of PD, PD is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that occurs when brain cells that make dopamine, a chemical that coordinates movement, stop working or die, resulting in progressive deterioration of voluntary motor control. Classic PD motor symptoms include muscular rigidity, resting tremor, and postural and gait impairment. Typically, PD patients present with a combination of motor and non-motor symptoms. Non-motor symptoms may include cognitive impairment, sleep disorders, pain and fatigue. There is currently no medication to slow, delay, stop or cure PD, and currently available treatments are symptomatic. Treatment of motor symptoms with oral levodopa, introduced about 50 years ago, remains the gold standard treatment.
About Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia
LID is a disorder that affects people with PD who are treated with the current standard of care, oral levodopa, for an extended period of time. Oral levodopa remains the most effective therapy for motor symptoms of PD. However, after continuous long-term use (longer than five years), many PD patients experience LID. Although clinical manifestations of LID are heterogenous, LID is commonly associated with abnormal involuntary movements, including chorea and dystonia. These motor complications tend to become more severe as PD progresses and as the duration of levodopa treatment is extended, until the impact of LID may compromise the advantage of treatment with levodopa. PD treatment with levodopa is routinely delayed due to concerns over LID. Once LID develops, levodopa-treated PD patients may be faced with a choice between immobility due to untreated and uncontrolled PD, or mobility with the associated LID.
About AV-101
AV-101 (4-Cl-KYN) belongs to a new generation of investigational medicines in neuropsychiatry and neurology known as NMDA glutamate receptor modulators. The NMDA receptor is a pivotal receptor in the brain and abnormal NMDA function is associated with multiple CNS diseases and disorders, including chronic neuropathic pain, epilepsy, major depressive disorder, LID and many others. AV-101 is an oral prodrug of 7-Cl-KYNA which binds uniquely at the glycine site of the NMDA receptor and has potential to be a new at-home treatment for multiple CNS indications with high unmet need. The FDA has granted Fast Track designation for development of AV-101 as both a potential adjunctive treatment for MDD and as a non-opioid treatment for neuropathic pain.
About VistaGen
VistaGen Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing new generation medicines for CNS diseases and disorders with high unmet need. VistaGen's pipeline includes three clinical-stage CNS drug candidates, AV-101, PH10 and PH94B. For more information, please visit www.vistagen.com and connect with VistaGen on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
This release contains various statements concerning VistaGen's future expectations, plans and prospects, including without limitation, our expectations regarding development and commercialization of our drug candidates, including AV-101 for treatment of LID in patients with PD receiving levodopa therapy, all of which constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees of future performance and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Among these risks is the possibility that (i) we may encounter unexpected adverse events in patients during our clinical development of any product candidate, including AV-101, that cause us to discontinue further development, (ii) we may not be able to successfully demonstrate the safety and efficacy of AV-101 or any of our other product candidates at each stage of clinical development, (iii) success in preclinical studies or in early-stage clinical trials may not be repeated or observed in ongoing or future studies, and ongoing or future preclinical and clinical results may not support further development of, or be sufficient to gain regulatory approval to market our drug candidates, including AV-101, (iv) decisions or actions of regulatory agencies may negatively affect the progress of, and our ability to proceed with, further clinical studies or to obtain marketing approval for our drug candidates, (v) we may not be able to obtain or maintain adequate intellectual property protection and other forms of marketing and data exclusivity for our product candidates, (vi) we may not have access to or be able to secure substantial additional capital to support our operations, including our ongoing clinical development activities, and (vii) we may encounter technical and other unexpected hurdles in the manufacturing and development of any of our product candidates. Certain other risks are more fully discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Our SEC filings are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent our views only as of the issuance of this release and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. We explicitly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Mark A. McPartland
VistaGen Therapeutics Inc.
Email: IR@vistagen.com
Valter Pinto / Allison Soss
KCSA Strategic Communications
Phone: +1 (212) 896-1254/+1 (212) 896-1267
Email: VistaGen@KCSA.com
Caitlin Kasunich / Lisa Lipson
SOURCE: VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc.
https://www.accesswire.com/549343/VistaGen-Announces-Positive-Preclinical-Data-Supporting-AV-101s-Potential-For-Treating-Levodopa-Induced-Dyskinesia-In-Patients-With-Parkinsons-Disease-Without-The-Psychological-Side-Effects-And-Safety-Concerns-Of-Amantadine
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P2QM.F - Eloro Resources Ltd.
Frankfurt - Frankfurt Delayed Price. Currency in EUR
+0.0080 (+3.23%)
At close: 5:43PM CET
Bid 0.2560 x 10000000
Ask 0.2760 x 10000000
52 Week Range 0.0815 - 0.2640
Avg. Volume 614
Market Cap 10.571M
PE Ratio (TTM) N/A
EPS (TTM) -0.0240
Earnings Date N/A
1y Target Est N/A
Eloro Resources Ltd. Executes Definitive Option Agreement to Acquire the Iska Iska Polymetallic Property, Potosi Department, Southern Bolivia
Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: ELO; FSE: P2Q) (“Eloro”, or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the signing of the Definitive Option Agreement on the Iska Iska polymetallic epithermal project, in the Potosí Department, southern Bolivia by Minera Tupiza S.R.L., Eloro’s wholly-owned Bolivian subsidiary. “We are very pleased to complete the signing of the Definitive Agreement granting Eloro Resources Ltd. the option to acquire a 99% interest in the highly prospective Iska Iska polymetallic property,” stated Tom Larsen, Eloro’s President and CEO.
Eloro Resources Provides San Markito Silver/Gold Zone Update
Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: ELO; FSE: P2QM) (“Eloro” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce that community elections in Pallasca, Ancash Department, Peru have been completed where a new President was elected. Eloro looks forward to working with the new President and the community in order to implement its plan to bring employment and benefits to the community in connection with the exploration of the San Markito Silver/Gold Zone. The La Victoria Gold/Silver Project in north central Peru is one of the largest concession packages in the Northern Peru Mineralized Belt, which hosts such stalwart operations as Yanacocha, owned by Newmont and Buenaventura; Lagunas Norte, owned by Barrick Gold and La Arena, owned by Pan American Silver.
Eloro Resources Closes Final Tranche of its Previously Announced $500,000 Financing
Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: ELO; FSE: P2Q) (“Eloro” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce that it has closed the final tranche of a previously announced (see Eloro news release dated October 22, 2019) non-brokered private placement (the “Private Placement”) for gross proceeds of $194,607, pursuant to the offering of 2,000,000 units of Eloro at a price of $0.25 per unit (“Units”) for total aggregate proceeds of $500,000. A total of 778,430 Units were issued to investors, including a director and senior officers of Eloro, in connection with the closing of the Private Placement. Each of the 778,430 Units issued consists of one common share (“Common Share”) and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”).
Eloro Resources Announces First Closing of its Previously Announced Financing
Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: ELO; FSE: P2Q) (“Eloro” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche of a previously announced (see Eloro news release dated October 22, 2019) non-brokered private placement (the “Private Placement”) for gross proceeds of $305,393, pursuant to the offering of up to 2,000,000 units of Eloro at a price of $0.25 per unit (“Units”) for total aggregate proceeds of up to $500,000. A total of 1,221,570 Units were issued to investors, including an insider and a director/senior officer of Eloro, in connection with the first closing of the Private Placement.
Eloro Resources Announces Financing
FSE: P2Q) (“Eloro” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce that it is proceeding with a non-brokered private placement (the “Private Placement”) of up to 2,000,000 units of Eloro at a price of $0.25 per unit (“Units”) for proceeds of up to $500,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share (“Common Share”) and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.50 per share for a term of 18 months following the closing of the Private Placement.
Eloro Resources Granted Option to Acquire the Iska Iska Polymetallic Property, Potosi Department, Southern Bolivia
TORONTO, Oct. 08, 2019 -- Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: ELO; FSE: P2Q) (“Eloro”, or the “Company”) is pleased to announce it has signed a Letter of Intent (the “Agreement”) with.
Eloro Resources Provides Update on Status of Proposed Drilling on the Prospective San Markito Mineralized Zone at the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project, Ancash, Peru
FSE: P2Q) (“Eloro” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing process to bring the San Markito Zone into an exploration and discovery focus. On May 19, 2019, a meeting was held with the residents of the community of Pallasca, Pallasca District, Ancash Department, Peru, where the San Markito target is located, at which representatives from Eloro and the Peruvian Ministry of Mines gave presentations about the economic benefits of mineral exploration and mining. The Huandoval mayor also spoke passionately about the positive economic impact in his district during Eloro’s 2017-18 drilling campaign. Eloro’s in-country technical team was on hand at the meeting to explain aspects of the program in the context of its water usage and minimal environmental impact.
Mineralogy Studies Show Free Gold, Free Silver, Sulphide Gold and Silver, and Alloy Gold and Silver at the La Victoria Gold Silver Project, Ancash, Peru
FSE: P2Q) (“ELO” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce results of detailed mineral determination studies from representative rock samples collected from three mineralized sectors at the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project. The studies confirm free gold, free silver, sulphide gold and silver, and alloy gold and silver occur in a complex suite of sulphide mineralization at La Victoria, as suggested from drill data (see Press Release March 10, 2019).
Eloro Resources Intersects 0.62 g/t Gold over 59.9m in Reanalysis of 2017-2018 La Victoria Drilling Results
TORONTO, March 11, 2019 -- Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: ELO; FSE: P2Q) (“Eloro” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce drill results from the La Victoria Project diamond.
Eloro Announces Change to its Board of Directors
FSE: P2Q) (“Eloro”, or the “Company”) announces the resignation of Mr. Philip Garratt as a director of the Company effective immediately. The Company would like to express its thanks to Mr. Garratt for his contributions to the board of directors throughout his tenure and wishes him success in all of his future endeavours. Eloro is an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Peru and Quebec.
Eloro Resources Retains Venture Liquidity Providers Inc. as Market Maker
FSE: P2Q) (“Eloro” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has retained Venture Liquidity Providers Inc. (“VLP”) to provide market-making services. The market making service will be undertaken by VLP through a registered broker, W.D. Latimer Co. Ltd. in compliance with TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”) policies. VLP will buy and sell shares of Eloro on the TSXV for the purpose of maintaining an orderly trading market or providing liquidity in the Company’s shares.
Eloro Resources Ltd. Wins Business of the Year Award from the Peruvian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce
FSE: P2Q) (“Eloro” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce that the Corporation has won the ‘Business of the Year’ award from the Peruvian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce (”PCCC”). Eloro was chosen to receive the award with unanimous agreement of the PCCC selection committee, recognizing “Eloro Resources Ltd. as the “Business of the Year” for their commitment to Peru’s economic development through a long-term presence with mining exploration and engaging in social responsible activities. As winner of the Business of the Year award, Eloro Resources Ltd. joins the Consulate of Peru in Toronto, winner of the Government Institution of the Year award, and Mrs. Patricia Fortier, winner of the Special Recognition award.
Eloro Resources Completes Financing
FSE: P2Q) (“Eloro” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce it has completed a previously announced non-brokered private placement (the “Private Placement”), of 750,000 units of Eloro at a price of $0.40 per unit (“Units”) for gross proceeds of $300,000. Each Unit consists of one Common Share and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.60 per share for a term of 18 months, expiring July 31, 2021.
Eloro Resources Increases Financing
FSE: P2Q) (“Eloro” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce that further to its release date November 30, 2018, it is proceeding with an increased non-brokered private placement (the “Private Placement”) of up to 750,000 units of Eloro at a price of $0.40 per unit (“Units”) for proceeds of up to $300,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share (“Common Share”) and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.60 per share for a term of 18 months following the closing of the Private Placement.
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