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Bernie Sanders endorses Hillary Clinton
Watch the truly bizarre first trailer for the Cats movie
Tom Cruise promises that everything you see in this Top Gun: Maverick trailer is 'for real'
U.S. Navy 'destroyed' Iranian drone that came too close, Trump says
Toys 'R' Us is relaunching in the U.S. with new stores designed to be more 'fun and interactive'
Seattle’s NHL expansion team names Hall of Famer Ron Francis as general manager
Rep. Ilhan Omar reminds Lindsey Graham that he once called Trump a 'race-baiting bigot'
Hope Hicks told Michael Cohen to 'keep praying' as they hoped to keep hush money payments quiet, documents show
See More Speed Reads
More than a month after Hillary Clinton bagged enough delegates and superdelegates to clinch the Democratic nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) officially endorsed her during a joint rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on Tuesday. Though Sanders applauded his own campaign's wins in 22 states, he conceded that Clinton has "won the Democratic nominating process" and announced he will work to "make certain she will be the next president."
Sanders admit that he and Clinton "disagree on a number of issues," but he contended that's "what democracy is about" and also underscored that the campaigns have come together recently to produce "by far, the most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party." "This campaign is about the needs of the American people and addressing the very serious crises that we face," Sanders said. "And there is no doubt in my mind that, as we head into November, Hillary Clinton is far and away the best candidate to do that." Becca Stanek
Nothing can adequately prepare you for your first glimpse at the Cats movie.
Universal Pictures on Thursday debuted the highly-anticipated first footage from its upcoming musical adaptation after months of teases about Taylor Swift's attending of "cat school" and the film's supposedly revolutionary use of, as the filmmakers describe it, "digital fur technology." And, well, here it is.
I'm at a loss for words pic.twitter.com/0QblRxDk5k
— Chris Evangelista (@cevangelista413) July 18, 2019
From start to finish, the trailer is a wild ride that doesn't even attempt to ease viewers into how surreal literally every character in the film looks. That online reaction to the initially funky-looking CGI Genie in Aladdin and the extremely distressing new Sonic the Hedgehog don't even hold a candle.
Cats' cast includes, believe it or not, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, Ian McKellen, and Judie Dench, who discussed their experience making the film in a recent behind-the-scenes reel featuring such quotes as "they're people but they're cats ... there is nothing else like it." Indeed, there isn't. Take a deep breath and watch the trailer below. Brendan Morrow
This Christmas, you will believe. #CatsMovie pic.twitter.com/doKFWGAdpB
— Cats Movie (@catsmovie) July 18, 2019
Tom Cruise still has that need for speed, even three decades later.
At San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, Cruise made an unannounced appearance following a Terminator: Dark Fate panel to reveal the first trailer for the long-awaited Top: Gun Maverick, a follow-up to the 1986 original that's set for release next year. The footage, which dropped online shortly after its Comic-Con debut, shows off Cruise's return as Maverick and some seriously impressive-looking flying sequences.
Cruise, who in recent years has infamously done his own, increasingly insane stunts for the Mission: Impossible franchise, promised the Comic-Con audience similar authenticity in Maverick, saying, "Everything you see in this film, obviously, it's for real," Variety reports. "We're working with the Navy. All of the flying that you see in this picture, everything is real." He also described the movie as a "love letter to aviation."
Top Gun: Maverick will hit theaters on June 26, 2020, and Cruise said Thursday that after a 34 year wait, "I felt it was my responsibility for me to deliver for you." Watch the trailer below. Brendan Morrow
Watch the official trailer for #TopGun: Maverick starring @TomCruise. In theatres 2020. pic.twitter.com/WbXdWDR2nc
— Paramount Pictures (@ParamountPics) July 18, 2019
MCSN Craig Z. Rodarte/U.S. Navy via Getty Images
The U.S. Navy has "destroyed" an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump announced Thursday afternoon.
The U.S.S. Boxer was sailing in the strategic strait when the drone came within 1,000 yards of it and ignored "multiple calls to stand down," Trump told reporters. It then took "defensive action" and used electronic jamming to down the drone, Trump continued.
The attack comes after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Thursday claimed responsibility for seizing a foreign tanker that went missing this past weekend in the Strait of Hormuz, The Washington Post notes. It's the latest international incident in the waterway that connects the Persian Gulf with the rest of the world, and also comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Iran shot a U.S. drone in that area last month, but while America says it was in international airspace, Iran claimed it was flying in Iranian territory. Kathryn Krawczyk
Tim Boyle/Getty Images
Toys 'R' Us is getting a reboot.
The retailer, which closed all its locations in the U.S. in 2018 after the company filed for bankruptcy, is being relaunched by Tru Kids Brands with the opening of two new stores this year, CNN reports. One of the new locations will be in Houston, Texas, while the other will be in Paramus, New Jersey, and the company's aim is to open 10 new stores by the end of 2020, The Washington Post reports.
But Toys 'R' Us won't be coming back without some major changes, as Tru Kids Brands has reworked the stores' design so they're more "fun and interactive" as to "better fit within today's retail environment," CEO Richard Barry told the Post. The two new locations will be smaller — 6,500-square feet compared to about 40,000 square feet before — and they'll emphasize open areas for children to play in, the Post notes. The stores will also sell fewer toys than before, CNN reports. Previously, lenders had teased a "new and re-imagined" Toys 'R Us on the horizon.
Ahead of this relaunch, though, The Associated Press notes that it's unclear "how much support the new model will get from suppliers, who were burned by Toys 'R' Us' quick demise." The company in 2018 announced it would close all of its stores in the United States six months after filing for bankruptcy, resulting in the loss of more than 30,000 jobs, per The Washington Post.
For Toys 'R' Us kids in Texas and New Jersey, the new locations will open this fall. Brendan Morrow
SLAPSHOT IN SEATTLE
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
National Hockey League Hall of Famer and former Hartford Whaler Ron Francis was named the first general manager of Seattle's forthcoming expansion team on Thursday, The Seattle Times reports.
The team was approved by the NHL's Board of Governors in December, and will begin playing in the 2021-2022 season. Francis received a multi-year contract with Seattle, according to ESPN.
Francis played 23 seasons in the NHL, and is second only to Wayne Gretzky in all-time career assists. Following his retirement in 2004, Francis was hired to direct operations for the Carolina Hurricanes and was later named general manager. He was then president of hockey operations until 2018.
The new Seattle team is still unnamed, but Oak View Group, the new team's ownership group, registered 13 possible trademarks last year, including the Seattle Kraken, the Seattle Sockeyes, and the Seattle Evergreens. The name choice, which Francis will be able to give input on, is expected to be announced by the end of the year. To the dismay of few, the Whalers is not being considered.
The Seattle team, when it officially launches, will become the league's 32nd team, following the Las Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, who reached the Stanley Cup finals in their first season. Their entrance will cause a realignment of the league's divisions, with Seattle taking the Arizona Coyotes' place in the Pacific Division, and moving the Coyotes, who play in suburban Phoenix, to the Central Division. Together, the Central and Pacific Divisions make up the Western Conference, and the Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions make up the Eastern Conference.
Francis tweeted that he was looking forward to "build[ing] an excellent franchise that will bring back the Stanley Cup!" Steven Orlofsky
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has provided the most confusing explanation yet for President Trump's racist tweets.
Trump on Sunday sent tweets telling four Democratic congresswomen to "go back" to the countries they came from, inspiring his backers at a Wednesday rally to chant "send her back" after Trump attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). This sparked dozens of allegations that Trump is racist, which, as Graham oddly claimed in a Thursday tweet, apparently happens to every Republican president.
Something I have learned:
If you are a Republican nominee for President – or President – you will be accused of being a racist.
John Lewis compared John McCain’s campaign to being like that of George Wallace.
It comes with the territory unfortunately.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 18, 2019
Graham's statement not only doesn't defend past GOP nominees and presidents against labels of racism; it's downright coated in irony. As Omar quickly reminded the senator, he was the one calling Trump a "bigot" just a few years ago. Kathryn Krawczyk
“Donald Trump is a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.”
~ Sen. Lindsey Graham https://t.co/IqQaIbynHs https://t.co/z4aFtJRxdj
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) July 18, 2019
it's working
New court documents unsealed on Thursday detail President Donald Trump's 2016 team's conversations as Michael Cohen was arranging hush money payments to silence women alleging they had affairs with Trump.
In the documents, an FBI agent says that Trump's former attorney in the days after the Access Hollywood tape was released "exchanged a series of calls, text messages, and emails" with Stormy Daniels' attorney Keith Davidson, the National Enquirer's David Pecker and David Howard, Trump, and then-campaign secretary Hope Hicks, per BuzzFeed News' Zoe Tillman.
"Based on the timing of these calls, and the content of the text messages and emails, I believe that at least some of these communications concerned the need to prevent [Stephanie] Clifford from going public, particularly in the wake of the Access Hollywood story," the FBI agent says.
One portion of the document also describes a conversation on Nov. 5, in which Cohen texted Hicks noticing that a Wall Street Journal article about the National Enquirer paying to silence Karen McDougal, who also claimed she had an affair with Trump, was "getting little to no traction," per CBS News' Steven Portnoy. Hicks responded, "Same. Keep praying!! It's working!" Hicks claimed in a comment for that story, "We have no knowledge of any of this." The documents also show that Cohen texted Howard that "he's pissed," per HuffPost, seemingly referring to Trump.
Hicks has denied knowing about Daniels' allegations until November 2016, a claim she made during congressional testimony, ABC News reports.
Cohen is currently serving a three-year sentence after pleading guilty to campaign finance violations as prosecutors say he made the hush money payments at the direction of Trump, and the documents show Trump and Cohen communicating numerous times as Cohen was arranging the payments, CNN reports. Trump has denied knowing anything about the payments. Brendan Morrow
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Dave Sitek - Quotes
There are 19 quotes by Dave Sitek at 95quotes.com. Find your favorite quotations and top quotes by Dave Sitek from this hand-picked collection about music. Feel free to share these quotes and sayings on Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr & Twitter or any of your favorite social networking sites.
Being in L.A. has definitely given me the opportunity to experience how my music sounds in real life because I can drive around and listen to the mixes, which I couldn't do in New York. I get to feel how a song works in combination with a sunset and a drive through the mountains.
If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records, you had to reach far above the din of cynicism and modern living to get to that place, against all the odds. ---->>>
I want to make hand-held music, undiminished by the need to make everybody in the world listen at once. The goal is to ride into the sunset, stereo blasting, and all of what's got you worried will disappear in the rear view mirror! ---->>>
I believe in the power of song. Under the spell of the right song, passion is within reach, love is close by, and you are not alone!
I make music to bring the dead to life for a couple minutes and then let it go. ---->>>
I think I tried on the hardcore scene's outfits maybe once, and then I just figured I'd stick to Hawaiian shirts. ---->>>
My records don't go platinum or gold. I think they go cedar. ---->>>
There are so many people in the world with so many different perspectives. But ultimately, at the heart of it, they're people. ---->>>
Under the spell of the right song, passion is within reach... love is close by... and you are not alone! With such potency, music should be treated with care. The sound, the feel, the presentation... everything! It is a medicine. It is a teacher!
I think that there's something really powerful about the sun and its effect on the human psyche. I lived in a place with no windows for twelve years. ---->>>
If we can move together as a species, I think that there is a possibility that we can make the world a better place. ---->>>
I moved to L.A. after my landlord in Brooklyn tripled my rent. I spent months looking for other places to move to in New York, then one day I was in California eating a grapefruit, and I was like, 'This is what they taste like?' So I decided to move to L.A. and build a studio in my house. ---->>>
I spent more time at the library than anyone my age when I was a kid. ---->>>
I'm a behind-the-scenes guy. I've got a face for radio. ---->>>
Somewhere along the line, music became 'content'... It's my full intention to bring it back to music again! I believe in the power of song. ---->>>
I don't think that TV on the Radio is some dark mysterious band that no one can know about. We write music because it's an immediate form of communication. We're able to put on record what's happening in our times, and we want that message to be heard by the most amount of people. ---->>>
I work very closely with my publisher and just give them tons and tons of music, and then they link that with different songwriters and stuff. I'm basically a workaholic. So, I figured I might as well just start working outside. ---->>>
I'm not a big equipment guy; I think that people are a little bit shocked by that. I really don't care about gear in general. I care about people and their intentions to make music - it doesn't matter what equipment you have. ---->>>
Pop belonged to more musical people in earlier times, but we've sort of gotten away from that. Now it's software people. I kind of feel like reclaiming it is in order. ---->>>
Name: Dave Sitek
Occupation: Musician
David Andrew Sitek (born September 6, 1972) is an American musician, guitarist and record producer, best known for his work with his band TV on the Radio. He has also worked with bands such as Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars, Foals, Celebration, Little Dragon, and most recently Beady Eye, and produced free jazz-influenced remixes of songs by artists such as Beck and Nine Inch Nails, and has contributed a solo track to the Red Hot Organization Dark Was the Night charity compilation (wikipedia)
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Photographer Rose Smith Offers Glimpse into Vine City Through a Different Lens
ADW News
Inner City Urban: Vine City, a photographic exhibition by Rose Smith, is currently on display at the Auburn Avenue Research Library.
The exhibition, which showcases visuals, voices and perspectives from Vine City residents, captures a narrative of a community working to hold onto the valuable culture they’ve built up in the face of impending change. We spoke with Smith about the exhibition to get some perspective from her on what it was like to create this body of work. Please see the Q&A below.
What’s your connection to Vine City and why was it important to make this work?
My connection with the Westside began with the West End. My cousins resided in the West End during my years of middle and high school, while my immediate family resided in Cherokee County, a rural part of north Georgia. I’d visit my cousins quite often and spend time in their neighborhood. Within that period of time, I felt as if I had missed out on an aspect of the Black experience; the lifestyle of growing up in the inner city. My interest in documenting the surrounding area arose out of what I felt I lacked.
I came across Vine City and English Avenue while researching low-income neighborhoods in Atlanta, and noticed the short distance between it and the West End. I drove there to see how it looked. Within that moment, I parked my car and got out to walk around to take in the neighborhood. I immediately became intrigued and instead of choosing to photograph the West End, where my cousins grew up, I chose Vine City, based solely on what I felt at the time. This was in April of 2015.
It was important for me to make this work initially to see the relation and connection in how residents of inner-city communities viewed home versus how I viewed home. I was on the quest to find if we had similar perspectives, which I found to be true. At that particular time, I noticed the construction project for the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and became concerned with if the completion of the stadium would affect residents of the Westside. My mission for creating this body of work shifted to capturing the current culture and livelihood of Vine City, which is more so about the people in the midst of seeing if this area would experience gentrification like other areas of Atlanta.
What specific story were you hoping to convey about Vine City and the residents of the community?
My narrative of Vine City is one that expresses truth and authenticity of the people and their home, a community that the residents value and holds historical significance. As all of the neighborhoods within close proximity of downtown are transforming, my mission is to create archival footage of this community even if it experiences the smallest portion of gentrification. Through this body of work, my goal is to raise the conversation of realistic affordable housing.
Talk about your material choices. What is the significance of the wood panels?
Although I am a documentary photographer, the display of my work is conceptual. The materials chosen for this project are newsprint and particle board/wood panels. I chose these materials while thinking about street art, newspaper covers, and what houses or vacant buildings are boarded up with. I chose to print my photographs on newsprint after thinking of each photograph as a cover of a newspaper while also considering that newsprint was also a paper used in street art with wheat-pasting signage. I chose to wheat-paste the prints on the wood as a non-conventional and non-archival way to display the work, which signified the abandonment of this community.
At the time, I had interviewed a longtime resident who expressed to me that she felt as if the city had overlooked Vine City for years, and she feared that the new stadium would cause her to move. Her story was also a major factor in why I chose this display. With this being a non-archival process, the work will transform over time, which equates to Vine City transforming over time.
This work is a part of a larger “Inner City Urban” series. What makes the Vine City story different from that of the Germantown community of Philadelphia? When did you know that Vine City was a community you wanted to feature?
“Inner City Urban” is a working series including all of Atlanta’s inner-city communities that are changing due to the growth and development of Atlanta. It also includes inner-city communities across the nation that are experiencing gentrification as well as inner city communities that have a much stronger foundation and are not allowing their communities to be redeveloped.
Germantown Philadelphia is a story that I recently began towards the end of 2017. In the midst of being there for such a short period of time, I spoke to a few residents about their community and their involvement with local government.
One gentleman mentioned that a few government officials reside within their community. And many of the residents work closely with these officials to make sure the community’s needs are met quickly. Also, there aren’t any major construction projects happening in Germantown that will attract tourists or a certain demographic causing transformation.
Vine City along with other low-income neighborhoods in Atlanta have community-based organizations where they discuss the needs and wants of the community, but the only difference I noticed is that despite their needs, the local government in Atlanta makes moves without much warning unless it’s the use of eminent domain; which is a sign of injustice. Vine City was the first community I chose when I began my Inner City Urban series in 2015.
How do you envision your role as a photographer/documentarian at this particular moment of your career?
My role as a documentarian is quite significant. I agree with Nina Simone – “An artist’s role in society is to reflect the time; it is our duty.” Gentrification “urban redevelopment” is a social justice issue, and as it is happening on a national and global level, it’s important that I provide a voice for the people being affected so that we are able to hold our government accountable. This is supposed to be the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave,” but those words lose meaning when adequate housing is not provided, and the history we’ve established within our communities is erased and replaced with the unfamiliar.
How important was it to have the work on display at the Auburn Research Library?
My connection with the Auburn Research Library was made shortly after my work was installed for public engagement throughout downtown last year.
It was important for me to have this work exhibited at the library considering that it’s a library of African-American history and Atlanta’s African-American history. It was also important because of my topic and primary focus in relation to Atlanta’s African-American neighborhoods and the current news.
How long did it take you to complete the work, and do you have a favorite story or person from the work?
I completed this work within three years; however, I still find myself photographing Vine City and English Avenue quite often although I have moved on to photograph another neighborhood. It’s just something about its presence that’s unforgettable. One of my favorite photographs is actually not on display in this exhibit due to a limited number of pieces for the size of the space.
The title of my favorite photograph is Irwin Street. I interviewed and photographed a young man and his little cousin standing on the porch of their home. He didn’t live in Vine City but his grandmother and little cousin reside there. He visits quite often and brings over groceries while keeping his cousin entertained on the weekends. He expressed that this keeps him out of trouble. His story resonated with me because it made me think about the simple/smallest things are typically what impact our lives the most.
What is the lasting message or perspective you want viewers to take away from this work?
I’d like viewers to remember the faces of the people of Vine City and their neighborhood if it transforms while the city of Atlanta grows and transforms. I want people to think about their communities and what home means to them and what type of trauma would be caused if their communities were on the verge of redevelopment.
Inner City Urban: Vine City is on display from March 12 – April 29. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Smith will return to the library for a closing artist talk at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 29.
About Rose Smith: Rose Smith is a conceptual documentary photographer currently residing in Atlanta, Georgia. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Smith began her artistic practice at the age of 10 after discovering an interest in the medium of photography while watching her father create VHS tapes and make photographic documentary stills with Polaroids.
She received her BFA in Photography at the Savannah College of Art and Design where she studied and became inspired by the works of Gordon Parks, Roy DeCarava, Baldwin Lee, Lorna Simpson, and Carrie Mae Weems; all of whom created photographic narratives on the Black experience in the U.S.
Similar to them, Rose uses the medium of photography for activism to discuss social issues that reflect the present time and continue to affect people of color. She exhibits her commitment to photography by educating and expounding on topics that are often overlooked.
Tags: Rose Smith, Vine City
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Members vote to accept new terms and conditions but branch calls for more talks to protect low paid
November 9, 2013 Aberdeenshire UNISON Comments Off on Members vote to accept new terms and conditions but branch calls for more talks to protect low paid
Aberdeenshire UNISON members have accepted the new terms and conditions package proposed by the council, with two thirds of those who responded in the ballot voting to accept.
However, responses to UNISON’s consultation has shown a clear division between members who work 9-5, who stand to gain most from the proposals, and those who work unsocial hours and shift work, who stand to lose anything from £200 to £3000 a year. These are amongst the lowest paid in the workforce and many, such as homecarers, provide care services to the most vulnerable in our communities.
Inez Teece, Branch Secretary said, “We were able to negotiate a pay increase of £750 in total for our lowest paid workers, as well as the living wage which is already in place, and £250 for everyone else. Whilst many members were happy with this and will see a rise in their take home pay, others will see this eroded and more by the loss of unsocial hours payments, shift allowances and the mileage lump sum.
“We are particularly concerned, as a union, about the impact on our lowest paid, mainly women workers and at the bitter divide that this is creating between those who work 24/7 and 9 to 5 staff.
“Also while many have been looking forward to the buyout of shift allowances, others will find the big drop in their take home pay very difficult to manage in these austere times. Especially in one of the most expensive parts of the country in which to live.
“We will now go back to the council and raise these issues and seek that changes are made to prevent such losses for those who will lose the most. After all, the council has been working hard to find ways of attracting people to work for the council in these jobs and cutting take home pay will have the opposite effect.”
Previous Post:Members vote 94% to 6% to accept new Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme
Next Post:Branch will work in partnership with council Health and Safety team to address stress at work
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* Direction of Democrats * Money at Conventions * Peace Voices Squelched * 9-11 Families March
GWENDOLYN MINK
Author of the book “Welfare’s End,” Mink is currently writing a book about the Democratic Party, “Retreat from Democracy.” She said today: “For decades, the Democratic Party was hogtied from within by a powerful Dixiecrat faction. That faction has for the most part left the party, leaving behind a coherent, progressive Democratic electoral base. But at the very moment unionists, people of color, feminists, environmentalists, peace activists, lesbian and gay activists, and advocates for global justice formed the core of the party’s electoral base, the ‘New Democrat’ Clinton presidency turned the party against its base. NAFTA, the 1994 Crime Bill, welfare reform, and the Defense of Marriage Act are the signature accomplishments of a party at odds with its soul. It’s not clear whether a Kerry presidency will close the gap between the official party and the party’s core. What is clear is that if the Bush presidency is continued the democratic process will be so disrespected and distorted that programmatic debate may well be impossible.”
STEVEN WEISS
Weiss is communications director of the Center for Responsive Politics and editor of Capital Eye, which recently published the article “Conventional Wisdom: Increasing Number of Corporations Are Giving to Both Party Conventions.” Researchers found that each of the following companies has contributed more than $1 million to both the Democratic and the Republican conventions: Altria Group (Philip Morris), American International Group, AT&T, Bank of America, Ernst & Young, Fannie Mae, Metropolitan Life, Microsoft, Pfizer and Verizon.
MEREDITH O’BRIEN
Currently in Boston, O’Brien is author of a series of recent reports released by the Center for Public Integrity on conventions and the money involved in them. Among the reports she has authored: “It’s Their Party: DNC Demands Boost Cost of Convention, Paid for By Special Interests,” “The Party’s Parties: Lavish Parties Lead to Access at Nominating Convention” and “Wining and Dining the DNC: When Cities Vie to Host a Convention, It’s the Party Insiders Who Win.”
VINCENT LAVERY
Currently in Boston, Lavery is a delegate from Fresno, Calif. He had a “No War” sign taken from him by convention organizers as he entered the convention hall and was handed a Kerry sign. Lavery said today: “How ridiculous, it’s like we’re robots, we’re given signs to wave on cue. They take all signs people bring in. The convention is very controlled.”
DAVID POTORTI
(and via Adam Eidinger)
Currently in Boston, Potorti is co-director of September 11th Families For Peaceful Tomorrows. He lost his brother, Jim, at the World Trade Center. David is participating in a “Stonewalk,” as he and other peace activists walk from Boston to New York City (in time for the Republican convention) pulling a 1,400-pound granite memorial honoring the “Unknown Civilians Killed in War.” Potorti said today: “With public attention focused on both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions this summer, there is no better time for Americans to consider and to call for sensible, effective political policies which place a priority on principles of democracy and human rights. We need to recognize the human cost of war, and explore new directions for our nation, and our world, toward peaceful tomorrows for all.”
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Home » Events & media » Turnbull Takes Part in Reinvigorated Pacific Islands Forum
Turnbull Takes Part in Reinvigorated Pacific Islands Forum
Policy Fellow
IB 2018/20 Measuring Attendance Patterns at Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meetings
Much of the domestic commentary surrounding the 2018 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting (the Forum) in Nauru centered on the new Australian prime minister’s decision not to attend in person.
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Barring unforeseen circumstances – and these days perhaps one shouldn’t talk too soon – Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will fly to Samoa to attend the annual Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting. In fact, the prime minister will only arrive at the tail end of what these days is a week-long suite of meetings but he will be in Samoa for the core event, the Leaders’ Retreat, on Friday 8 September.
The retreat is in many senses the essence of the forum; it’s where leaders meet without officials for an unscripted and private discussion. It’s where much of the key business of the forum is done: where deals are struck and compromises made. And it’s where personal relationships count.
Australian prime ministerial attendance at the forum is a necessary, if not a sufficient, condition for maintaining healthy relations with a region that Australia says is important to it. This will be the prime minister’s second consecutive forum, which is a good, albeit short, track record. After a slow start, the government has recently showed signs of a more thoughtful and purposeful approach to its relations with the Pacific.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop’s recent speech in Suva was noteworthy in this regard, outlining a tripartite approach including closer cooperation on security issues, better people-to-people links and greater economic integration through easier access for Pacific Islanders to Australia’s labour market. The prime minister’s announcements at the forum on these fronts will bear close watching.
A new framework
It would be an exaggeration to say that the forum itself is experiencing a Golden Age, but there’s no doubt that fresh winds have been blowing through the organisation in recent years. This follows a major review of the forum in 2013, which resulted in a new Framework for Pacific Regionalism being adopted the following year.
The framework was aimed at injecting greater purpose and focus into Pacific regionalism, which was seen as having fallen prey to a technocratic agenda and to have led the forum astray from its founders’ original vision. In 2014, there was also the appointment of a new forum secretary general, PNG’s Dame Meg Taylor.
Spurred by the framework, and by increasingly assertive sub-regional agencies, Taylor’s tenure has seen the forum reinvigorate both its processes and its thinking about the region. That hasn’t necessarily always been comfortable for all forum members. For instance, the forum now gives greater access to private sector and civil society voices in its annual meeting cycle. One of the consequences of this has been to give greater prominence to issues such as the status of West Papua within Indonesia, something that a number of forum members (notably PNG and Fiji, as well as Australia and New Zealand) would prefer not be on the agenda. That said, on balance Taylor appears to have succeeded in broadening the forum’s accessibility and legitimacy across the region.
In a similar vein, last year both New Caledonia and French Polynesia were admitted as new members of the forum. This decision came as a surprise to many observers given that the forum has previously been restricted to independent and, with the partial exception of Vanuatu, Anglophone states; it brought the membership of the forum to 18.
The implications of including these two French territories in the forum are still working their way through the system. To cite just one example, some forum countries have been worried that commercially sensitive information about Pacific fisheries could leak to the EU via these territories. The full impact of the forum’s expanded membership is yet to play out.
Big ideas for the Pacific
What’s on the region’s agenda? The theme of this year’s forum is ‘The Blue Pacific’. This is part of an ambitious attempt to reshape thinking about the Pacific away from ideas about smallness, remoteness, vulnerability and aid dependence, and to reimagine the region instead as an “ocean continent”. Such ideas aren’t necessarily new but Taylor and the forum secretariat have been especially active in advocating these ideas and bringing this agenda into focus in the region and more broadly (for instance in helping to shape the UN Ocean Conference).
This is a welcome ambition and we should expect to hear more of it. Even so, much of the energy of Pacific diplomacy remains focussed on maximising aid flows and concessional financing. Even the forum secretariat’s own State of Pacific Regionalism Report 2017 acknowledges the Pacific’s, “unique vulnerabilities and dependencies”, a reminder of the enormous development challenges that face much of the region.
With the UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) to be held in Germany in November this year, climate change will of course remain very high on the agenda of forum leaders. Given current policy settings it’s inevitable that there will be some daylight between the positions of Australia and New Zealand on the one hand and that of the island countries on the other. The forum has regularly been accused of producing lowest common denominator outcomes on the question of climate change and of failing to lead on the issue internationally.
To read the entire article by James Batley, visit the AIIA website.
Tags: Pacific Islands Forum, Australia-Japan relations; Small Island States; Pacific Islands; Diplomacy
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In 2015, Ross wrote an op-ed for Time magazine about his city’s planned transition to renewables. “A town in the middle of a state that recently sported oil derricks on its license plates may not be where you’d expect to see leaders move to clean solar and wind generation,” he wrote. Lest readers get the wrong idea, he felt compelled to explain: “No, environmental zealots have not taken over City Council.”
From the end of 2004, worldwide renewable energy capacity grew at rates of 10–60% annually for many technologies. In 2015 global investment in renewables rose 5% to $285.9 billion, breaking the previous record of $278.5 billion in 2011. 2015 was also the first year that saw renewables, excluding large hydro, account for the majority of all new power capacity (134 GW, making up 53.6% of the total). Of the renewables total, wind accounted for 72 GW and solar photovoltaics 56 GW; both record-breaking numbers and sharply up from 2014 figures (49 GW and 45 GW respectively). In financial terms, solar made up 56% of total new investment and wind accounted for 38%.
Photovoltaics (PV) uses solar cells assembled into solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. It's a fast-growing technology doubling its worldwide installed capacity every couple of years. PV systems range from small, residential and commercial rooftop or building integrated installations, to large utility-scale photovoltaic power station. The predominant PV technology is crystalline silicon, while thin-film solar cell technology accounts for about 10 percent of global photovoltaic deployment. In recent years, PV technology has improved its electricity generating efficiency, reduced the installation cost per watt as well as its energy payback time, and has reached grid parity in at least 30 different markets by 2014.[115] Financial institutions are predicting a second solar "gold rush" in the near future.[116][117][118]
Solar power is produced by collecting sunlight and converting it into electricity. This is done by using solar panels, which are large flat panels made up of many individual solar cells. It is most often used in remote locations, although it is becoming more popular in urban areas as well. This page contains articles that explore advances in solar energy technology.
The first words of everyone calling us are “the wind is blowing here all the time”. People consistently overestimate how windy their place actually is. They forget about all the times the wind does not blow, and only remember the windy days. Such is human nature. Before even considering a small wind turbine you need to have a good idea of the annual average wind speed for your site. The gold standard is to install a data-logging anemometer (wind meter) at the same height and location as the proposed wind turbine, and let it run for 3 to 5 years. Truth is that it is usually much too expensive to do for small wind turbines, and while logging for 1 year could give you some idea and is the absolute minimum for worthwhile wind information, it is too short to be very reliable. For most of us, the more economical way to find out about the local average wind speed is by looking at a wind atlas, meteorological data, airport information and possibly the local vegetation (for windy spots the trees take on interesting shapes).
Adam Schultz, a senior policy analyst for the Oregon Department of Energy, says he’s more encouraged than ever about the prospects for renewables. Because the Pacific Northwest features large-scale hydropower plants built as part of the New Deal, energy already tends to be less expensive there than the U.S. average. But solar and wind power have “gotten cheaper over the last couple years to the point that I can’t even tell you what the costs are because costs have been dropping so rapidly,” Schultz says. “We have enough sunshine,” he says (presumably referring to the eastern part of the state), “so it’s just a matter of time.”
The first three are active solar systems, which use mechanical or electrical devices that convert the sun's heat or light to another form of usable energy. Passive solar buildings are designed and oriented to collect, store, and distribute the heat energy from sunlight to maintain the comfort of the occupants without the use of moving parts or electronics.
2010 was a record year for green energy investments. According to a report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, nearly US $243 billion was invested in wind farms, solar power, electric cars, and other alternative technologies worldwide, representing a 30 percent increase from 2009 and nearly five times the money invested in 2004. China had $51.1 billion investment in clean energy projects in 2010, by far the largest figure for any country.[155]
So how do wind turbines make electricity? Simply stated, a wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. View the wind turbine animation to see how a wind turbine works or take a look inside.
As of 2014, offshore wind power amounted to 8,771 megawatt of global installed capacity. Although offshore capacity doubled within three years (from 4,117 MW in 2011), it accounted for only 2.3% of the total wind power capacity. The United Kingdom is the undisputed leader of offshore power with half of the world's installed capacity ahead of Denmark, Germany, Belgium and China.
Index of solar energy articles List of concentrating solar thermal power companies List of photovoltaics companies List of photovoltaic power stations List of pioneering solar buildings List of rooftop photovoltaic installations List of solar car teams List of solar powered products List of solar thermal power stations People associated with solar power
It is hard to beat the advantages of solar: No moving parts. Warranties of 25 years are common for PV modules. No maintenance, other than the occasional hosing-off if you live in a dusty place. The installed price of a 6 kW wind turbine on a good height tower is about $50,000 (and we are not even counting the money you are going to sink into maintenance of that wind turbine). At the time of this writing, half that money will buy you about 7 kW of installed solar panels. In our not-so-sunny Ottawa location those solar modules will produce around 8,000 kWh of electrical energy per average year, and they will do that for 30 years or more.
The International Geothermal Association (IGA) has reported that 10,715 MW of geothermal power in 24 countries is online, which is expected to generate 67,246 GWh of electricity in 2010.[131] This represents a 20% increase in geothermal power online capacity since 2005. IGA projects this will grow to 18,500 MW by 2015, due to the large number of projects presently under consideration, often in areas previously assumed to have little exploitable resource.[131]
A recent UK Government document states that "projects are generally more likely to succeed if they have broad public support and the consent of local communities. This means giving communities both a say and a stake".[194] In countries such as Germany and Denmark many renewable projects are owned by communities, particularly through cooperative structures, and contribute significantly to overall levels of renewable energy deployment.[195][196]
Today that initiative, the Green Climate Fund, is an “empty shell,” Mr. Ban said in a recent phone interview. The lifelong diplomat — who recently assumed the presidency of the Global Green Growth Institute, an international organization based in Seoul, South Korea, that focuses on clean energy development — said he hoped to use the next chapter of his career to help poor countries meet their goals under the Paris agreement on climate change.
Based on REN21's 2017 report, renewables contributed 19.3% to humans' global energy consumption and 24.5% to their generation of electricity in 2015 and 2016, respectively. This energy consumption is divided as 8.9% coming from traditional biomass, 4.2% as heat energy (modern biomass, geothermal and solar heat), 3.9% hydro electricity and 2.2% is electricity from wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass. Worldwide investments in renewable technologies amounted to more than US$286 billion in 2015, with countries such as China and the United States heavily investing in wind, hydro, solar and biofuels.[5] Globally, there are an estimated 7.7 million jobs associated with the renewable energy industries, with solar photovoltaics being the largest renewable employer.[6] As of 2015 worldwide, more than half of all new electricity capacity installed was renewable.[7]
The locations with highest annual solar irradiance lie in the arid tropics and subtropics. Deserts lying in low latitudes usually have few clouds, and can receive sunshine for more than ten hours a day.[86][87] These hot deserts form the Global Sun Belt circling the world. This belt consists of extensive swathes of land in Northern Africa, Southern Africa, Southwest Asia, Middle East, and Australia, as well as the much smaller deserts of North and South America.[88] Africa's eastern Sahara Desert, also known as the Libyan Desert, has been observed to be the sunniest place on Earth according to NASA.[89][90]
The energy in the wind goes up with the cube of the wind speed. Double the wind speed and you have 2 * 2 * 2 = 8 times the energy! Sit back and let the full weight of that sink in for a moment: It means that even a small difference in annual average wind speed will make a BIG difference in how much your wind turbine will produce: Putting that turbine in a place that has just 10% more wind will net you 1.1 * 1.1 * 1.1 = 1.33 = a full 33% more energy!
Turbines used in wind farms for commercial production of electric power are usually three-bladed. These have low torque ripple, which contributes to good reliability. The blades are usually colored white for daytime visibility by aircraft and range in length from 20 to 80 meters (66 to 262 ft). The size and height of turbines increase year by year. Offshore wind turbines are built up to 8(MW) today and have a blade length up to 80 meters (260 ft). Usual tubular steel towers of multi megawatt turbines have a height of 70 m to 120 m and in extremes up to 160 m.
A subtype of Darrieus turbine with straight, as opposed to curved, blades. The cycloturbine variety has variable pitch to reduce the torque pulsation and is self-starting.[33] The advantages of variable pitch are: high starting torque; a wide, relatively flat torque curve; a higher coefficient of performance; more efficient operation in turbulent winds; and a lower blade speed ratio which lowers blade bending stresses. Straight, V, or curved blades may be used.[34]
The Solar updraft tower is a renewable-energy power plant for generating electricity from low temperature solar heat. Sunshine heats the air beneath a very wide greenhouse-like roofed collector structure surrounding the central base of a very tall chimney tower. The resulting convection causes a hot air updraft in the tower by the chimney effect. This airflow drives wind turbines placed in the chimney updraft or around the chimney base to produce electricity. Plans for scaled-up versions of demonstration models will allow significant power generation, and may allow development of other applications, such as water extraction or distillation, and agriculture or horticulture. A more advanced version of a similarly themed technology is the Vortex engine which aims to replace large physical chimneys with a vortex of air created by a shorter, less-expensive structure.
Wind power first appeared in Europe during the Middle Ages. The first historical records of their use in England date to the 11th or 12th centuries and there are reports of German crusaders taking their windmill-making skills to Syria around 1190.[6] By the 14th century, Dutch windmills were in use to drain areas of the Rhine delta. Advanced wind turbines were described by Croatian inventor Fausto Veranzio. In his book Machinae Novae (1595) he described vertical axis wind turbines with curved or V-shaped blades.
The generator, which is approximately 34% of the wind turbine cost, includes the electrical generator,[38][39] the control electronics, and most likely a gear box (e.g. planetary gear box),[40] adjustable-speed drive or continuously variable transmission[41] component for converting the low-speed incoming rotation to high-speed rotation suitable for generating electricity.
Renewable energy projects in many developing countries have demonstrated that renewable energy can directly contribute to poverty reduction by providing the energy needed for creating businesses and employment. Renewable energy technologies can also make indirect contributions to alleviating poverty by providing energy for cooking, space heating, and lighting. Renewable energy can also contribute to education, by providing electricity to schools.[140]
The conversion of sunlight into electricity is made possible with the special properties of semi-conducting materials. It can be harnessed through a range of ever-evolving technologies like solar heating, photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, solar architecture, molten salt power plants, and artificial photosynthesis. Learn more about solar solutions from IGS Solar.
In net metering the price of the electricity produced is the same as the price supplied to the consumer, and the consumer is billed on the difference between production and consumption. Net metering can usually be done with no changes to standard electricity meters, which accurately measure power in both directions and automatically report the difference, and because it allows homeowners and businesses to generate electricity at a different time from consumption, effectively using the grid as a giant storage battery. With net metering, deficits are billed each month while surpluses are rolled over to the following month. Best practices call for perpetual roll over of kWh credits.[97] Excess credits upon termination of service are either lost, or paid for at a rate ranging from wholesale to retail rate or above, as can be excess annual credits. In New Jersey, annual excess credits are paid at the wholesale rate, as are left over credits when a customer terminates service.[98]
We harness the earth’s most abundant resources – the strength of the wind, the heat of the sun and the force of water – to power the world’s biggest economies and the most remote communities. Combining onshore and offshore wind, hydro and innovative technologies, GE Renewable Energy has installed more than 400+ gigawatts capacity globally to make the world work better and cleaner.
Solar power panels that use nanotechnology, which can create circuits out of individual silicon molecules, may cost half as much as traditional photovoltaic cells, according to executives and investors involved in developing the products. Nanosolar has secured more than $100 million from investors to build a factory for nanotechnology thin-film solar panels. The company's plant has a planned production capacity of 430 megawatts peak power of solar cells per year. Commercial production started and first panels have been shipped[50] to customers in late 2007.[51]
Although many older thermoelectric power plants with once-through cooling or cooling ponds use more water than CSP, meaning that more water passes through their systems, most of the cooling water returns to the water body available for other uses, and they consume less water by evaporation. For instance, the median coal power plant in the US with once-through cooling uses 36,350 gal/MWhr, but only 250 gal/MWhr (less than one percent) is lost through evaporation.[139] Since the 1970s, the majority of US power plants have used recirculating systems such as cooling towers rather than once-through systems.[140]
A 1.5 (MW) wind turbine of a type frequently seen in the United States has a tower 80 meters (260 ft) high. The rotor assembly (blades and hub) weighs 22,000 kilograms (48,000 lb). The nacelle, which contains the generator, weighs 52,000 kilograms (115,000 lb). The concrete base for the tower is constructed using 26,000 kilograms (58,000 lb) reinforcing steel and contains 190 cubic meters (250 cu yd) of concrete. The base is 15 meters (50 ft) in diameter and 2.4 meters (8 ft) thick near the center.[43]
Any solar PV system that’s tied to the grid will use a bi-directional meter. When you use electricity from the grid, you’ll see your meter move forward. But when your solar PV system produces electricity, any excess will go back into the grid and your meter will move backward. This is called “net metering,” and the utility company will credit your bill for the excess electricity generated.
A wide range of concentrating technologies exists: among the best known are the parabolic trough, the compact linear Fresnel reflector, the Stirling dish and the solar power tower. Various techniques are used to track the sun and focus light. In all of these systems a working fluid is heated by the concentrated sunlight, and is then used for power generation or energy storage.[11] Thermal storage efficiently allows up to 24-hour electricity generation.[12]
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Reimbursement Committee
MIH Compendium
On Demand Education
Air Ambulances With Sky-High Charges
10 Jul 2019 1:16 PM | AIMHI Admin (Administrator)
Health Affairs source article | Comments courtesy of Matt Zavadsky
Interesting data report in this month’s Health Affairs.
Original and highlighted versions of the published study attached. Highlighted sections replicated below for your convenience.
Ge Bai, Arjun Chanmugam, Valerie Y. Suslow, and Gerard F. Anderson
https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05375
Charges for air ambulance services were 4.1–9.5 times higher than what Medicare paid for the same services in 2016. The median charge ratios (the charge divided by the Medicare rate) for the services increased by 46–61 percent in 2012–16. Air ambulance charges varied substantially across the US, and some of the largest providers had among the highest charges.
In 2017 two-thirds of air ambulance services with available billing information on network status for privately insured patients were out of network.4 In 2016 the national median charges for air ambulance services were 4.1–9.5 times the Medicare rates; in contrast, the national median charges for ground ambulance services were 2.8 times what Medicare paid (exhibit 1).
As shown in exhibits 1 and 2, the national median charges for initial fees and mileage rates for air ambulances for rotary-wing air ambulances were 5.3 and 7.3 times the Medicare rate, respectively, compared to 4.1 and 9.5 times that rate for fixed-wing air ambulances. In contrast, the national median charges for initial fees and mileage rates for ground ambulances were 1.7–2.8 times the Medicare rate.
Charges increased substantially over this time. The median charge increased by approximately 60 percent, from $24,000 to $39,000, for both types of air ambulances (appendix exhibit A2).6In the same period, the median charge ratios for the mileage rate increased for rotary (55 percent, from 4.7 to 7.3) and fixed wing (46 percent, from 6.5 to 9.5) (exhibit 4). The median ratios for the initial fee also increased, by 61 percent (from 3.3 to 5.3) for rotary and 46 percent (from 2.8 to 4.1) for fixed wing.
The high charges might be the result not of lack of entrants or limited supply, but of a market failure.
Encouraging the market entry of new air ambulance providers could spur competition and reduce charges, but since many incumbent providers possess underused capacity, the market may already be saturated.8 The high charges, therefore, might be the result not of lack of entrants or limited supply, but of a market failure. Patients lack control over which air ambulance provider transports them, nor can they check provider network status or conduct price comparisons in the midst of an emergency serious enough to require air ambulance service.
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HCA buys two dozen urgent-care centers from Fresenius Medical Care
4 Jul 2019 11:00 AM | AIMHI Admin (Administrator)
Modern Healthcare source article | Comments courtesy of Matt Zavadsky HCA has been investing heavily in the Urgent Care model – as referenced in the article, they acquired 24 of them back in October 2016, and they are part of our current ambulance transport alternatives program for a capitated payment agreement we have with a commercial payer.
They have been very willing to partner on data and outcome sharing, as well as making it easy for us to refer patients to them, both through our 9-1-1 Nurse Triage program, as well as part of a 9-1-1 response. HCA/CareNow have already reached out with interest in being part of ET3 models as a non-participating partner.
HCA Healthcare purchased 24 MedSpring urgent-care centers from Fresenius Medical Care, the investor-owned hospital chain announced Tuesday.
The urgent-care centers will operate under HCA's Medical City Healthcare division and be rebranded as CareNow Urgent Care. The acquisition adds eight centers to CareNow's 37 North Texas locations. In 2018, CareNow and Medical City Children's Urgent Care clinics served about 10% of the Dallas-Fort Worth population, with more than 770,000 patient visits, HCA said.
"Like many of our communities across the country, Austin, Dallas and Houston are experiencing significant growth, and increasingly people want to be able to access healthcare services closer to where they live and work," HCA CEO Sam Hazen said in prepared remarks. "The addition of these urgent-care centers will complement our already robust healthcare networks and help us provide more convenient access for our patients."
Medical City Healthcare has invested more than $1.7 billion over four years in access points, including CareNow urgent-care locations, infrastructure and new technology, HCA said.
With the addition, CareNow will operate 160 urgent-care centers across the country. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Investors have targeted urgent care and medical offices, particularly in rapidly growing markets, as the industry pushes for more convenient, affordable care.
The number of U.S. urgent-care centers swelled to 8,774 as of November 2018, up 8% from 8,125 in 2017, according to the Urgent Care Association's annual report. The number of Medicare and Medicaid patients seeking services at urgent-care centers continues to grow, accounting for nearly 27% of all visits in 2018.
"This acquisition creates more access to the quality healthcare services our community needs, when and where they need them," Erol Akdamar, president of Medical City Healthcare, said in prepared remarks.
HCA Healthcare reported net income of $3.79 billion on revenue of $46.68 billion in 2018, up from $2.22 billion in net income on revenue of $43.61 billion in 2017.
Same-facility inpatient admissions increased 2.5% during 2018 while same-facility outpatient surgeries rose 1.8%.
Outpatient revenue as a percentage of patient revenue remained relatively flat at 38.2%.
The gap between U.S. hospitals' outpatient and inpatient revenue continued to shrink in 2017, according to the American Hospital Association.
In Memory of Patrick Wells Smith
30 Jun 2019 7:02 AM | AIMHI Admin (Administrator)
AIMHI is deeply saddened to share the passing of longtime leader and friend Patrick Smith.
Patrick Wells Smith, age 65, passed away unexpectedly on June 21, 2019, at his home in Reno, Nev. He was well-known as a nationally-respected innovator and icon in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) industry. Most recently he was the President and CEO of REMSA (Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority) and Care Flight, based in Reno, from January 1990 through March 2013 and then President of SEMSA (Sierra Emergency Medical Services Authority) also based in Reno, from April 2013 to June 2018.
He was born on November 17, 1953 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to parents Ted Arvel Smith and Margaret Wells Smith. He was the second of three children. He attended Minnetonka High School, got his start as an EMT in 1973 as a college student in Minnesota, and soon began taking on supervisory roles for EMS agencies in Minnesota and Oregon. In 1980 he was hired as an assistant director of Metropolitan Ambulance Services Trust in Kansas City where he consulted to establish EMS systems in Fort Wayne, IN.; Pinellas County, FL; Fort Worth, TX; and Little Rock, AK. He worked as Vice President of Eastern Ambulance in Syracuse New York after that before moving to Reno.
He was well known for his innovation and leadership in EMS systems design and medical 911 communications systems. One of his most fascinating stories was his role as a first responder at the 1981 collapse of the walkway at the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City where he was one of the initial responders on site. It killed 114 people and injured 216. That experience inspired the ways he help REMSA to prepare for many crises in which the team needed to respond with speed and outstanding systems, but still compassion.
During his time at REMSA he created and fostered programs such as the special events coverage team, community and professional education teams, and the TEMS program which attaches specially-trained paramedics from REMSA to the SWAT teams of local law enforcement. He received numerous local and national awards, including the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for small businesses in 2008 where he was awarded the opportunity to meet the President of the United States.
He was proudest in his professional life when talking about his REMSA/Care Flight team. “It’s about the people,” he would often say. He was a proud and loving father and grandfather who passed on his devotion to Disney and instilled a deep loyalty to the Minnesota Vikings in his family.
He was very active at the leadership level volunteering in the American Ambulance Association, and also NAPUM, National Association of Public Utility Model, which was a group of EMS organizations across the nation, each with the unique structure of a Public Utility Model, which provided guaranteed quality of care, response times and coverage without tax subsidies. REMSA had been one of those PUMs since its creation in 1986.
He is survived by his five children: Michelle Bergren (Matt), Aaron Smith (Divya), Danielle Sanford (Michael), Theodore Smith (Hailey), and Allison Hahn (Mark), his seven grandchildren: Blake, Sage, Bode, Rishi, Rohan, Hadley, and Cole, his nephews Jason and Jeremy Smith, and the mother of his children and ex-wife, Linda Smith, who remained his good friend and co-parent/grandparent, as well as his many other friends and EMS and medical profession colleagues.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Diana Smith and his brother James Smith.
A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday July 2, from 4 to 7pm at 10379 Dixon Lane in Reno.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Truckee Meadows Community College to the Patrick Smith Memorial Scholarship, which will be for students who want to study to become an Emergency Medical Technician, or a Paramedic.
Please send donations to:
TMCC Foundation
7000 Dandini Blvd, RDMT 200
Reno, Nevada 89512-3999
You can also donate online at: https://www.tmcc.edu/foundation/support-tmcc/make-gift. In the “Leave a Comment” box just note your donation is for the Patrick Smith Memorial Scholarship.
Ohio Health System Launches EMS-Based Accountable Care Network
EMSWorld Source Article | Comments courtesy of Matt Zavadsky
Outstanding initiative by the folks in Ohio! The most recent NAEMT MIH-CP Survey revealed multiple EMS agencies in OH doing MIH-CP programs – coupling those proactive service lines with navigation of patients requesting episodic care through the 911 access point may demonstrate significant value!
John Erich
Responding to real time-critical emergencies isn’t a big part of EMS providers’ jobs. Most of what we do, truth be told, is provide access to the healthcare system, primarily through transport to an emergency department.
That gives EMS a unique ethical burden. Callers to 9-1-1 don’t have a choice of ambulance providers; rarely can the direly hurt or ill offer informed consent. This means EMS bears much of the responsibility for ensuring its care is appropriate. In turn, that has obviously large implications for the use of health systems’ finite resources.
While the latter hasn’t historically been their purview, emergency medical services are well positioned to shape stewardship of those limited dollars. At the junction of planned and unplanned care, hospital and out-of-hospital, EMS is optimally suited to reach patients early, establish directions for further care, and impact much that happens downstream.
Unpacking The Executive Order On Health Care Price Transparency And Quality
HealthAffairs Source Article | Comments courtesy of Matt Zavadsky
Nice summary from the Health Affairs on yesterday’s Executive Order… Much to unpack in the near future as the rules are proposed….
Katie Keith
On January [June] 24, 2019, President Donald Trump issued a highly anticipated executive order on health care price and quality transparency. The White House also posted a fact sheet alongside the order. The goal of the executive order is to help consumers know the prices and quality of a good or service and to make informed decisions about their health care. The executive order is consistent with recent rules to, for instance, require drug manufacturers to disclose list prices in their advertisements or require hospitals to publish list prices on their websites.
Generally speaking, the executive order directs an array of federal agencies to adopt rules, issue guidance, or develop reports with the goal of increasing the transparency of health care price and quality information.
Realignment of EMS Reimbursement Policy
24 Jun 2019 6:08 PM | AIMHI Admin (Administrator)
JAMA Network source article | Comments courtesy of Matt Zavadsky
Special thanks to Dr. Munjal, Dr. Margolis and Dr. Kellerman for this editorial in the JAMA Network!
Tip of the hat to Dr. Margolis for sharing this link!
New Hope for Patient-Centered Out-of-Hospital Care
Kevin G. Munjal, MD, MPH, MSCR1; Gregg S. Margolis, PhD, NRP2; Arthur L. Kellermann, MD, MPH3
doi:10.1001/jama.2019.7488
Substantial efforts have been made over the past decade to move the US health care system away from fee-for-service reimbursement toward alternative payment models, with the goals of expanding access, improving quality, and reducing medical costs. However, financing for emergency medical services (EMS) continues to incentivize transport to the emergency department (ED), regardless of the needs or desires of patients. In 2016, EMS agencies in the United States responded to an estimated 22.0 million 911 calls and transported an estimated 14.6 million patients to a hospital. Of those transports with complete billing information, 33% were billed to Medicare, 31% to private insurers, 20% to Medicaid, and 15% were self-pay.1
Experts have long called for realigning reimbursement policy to support a more patient-centered approach to out-of-hospital emergency care. On February 14, 2019, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announced the Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) model.2 This voluntary, 5-year payment model will allow EMS agencies to be reimbursed for handling 911 calls with dispositions other than transportation to an ED, including nurse triage, treatment by a qualified health care practitioner either on scene or via telehealth, or transporting patients to an urgent care center, or primary care physician office.
The decoupling of EMS assessment and treatment from ED transport is a major development for out-of-hospital care. This approach is consistent with a 2007 Institute of Medicine recommendation “to evaluate the reimbursement of emergency medical services” and follows the recent release of the EMS Agenda 2050 document, commissioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which articulated a future in which EMS is safe, reliable, efficient, equitable, innovative, and seamlessly integrated into health care.3 Together, these developments have the potential to promote significant innovation within the EMS community.
Moving Beyond Transport
EMS services are generally underfunded and have historically lacked financial motivation to invest in approaches that could help determine the most appropriate level of care. The CMMI announcement does not indicate an intended reduction in Medicare’s annual ambulance expenditures of $5.5 billion, but rather cites a projected $560 million in annual savings from reduced ED expenditures if 15.6% of Medicare ambulance transports could be managed outside a hospital ED.4
With the ET3 model, incentives are now better aligned for EMS to pursue new communications technologies, decision-support applications, and point-of-care laboratory testing that could enable more patient-centered care to help avoid transport. The ET3 model is also likely to promote new collaborations between EMS and various community resources, including federally qualified health centers, dialysis centers, and substance abuse treatment programs. Other partnerships, such as with traditional taxi services or app-based ride services, may develop and could give patients more affordable transportation options.
In rural and remote areas, EMS services could potentially manage an array of problems on scene with telehealth support, rather than transporting every patient (often requiring a lengthy ambulance ride) to a hospital ED. Likewise, patients receiving hospice care or palliative care may be treated more humanely in their home rather than in the hospital ED.
EMS systems participating in the ET3 model also may be able to expand their efforts to promote injury and disease prevention. Because EMS personnel already make “house calls” and regularly encounter vulnerable populations, they are ideally positioned to identify health hazards and connect patients to community-based resources such as home health, housing assistance, and food delivery programs.
Remaining Barriers
Despite the potential for the ET3 model to transform EMS, several issues must be addressed to ensure that the concept moves from demonstration project to established policy.
While the ET3 model is designed to unlock potential savings opportunities through reduced ED utilization, EMS agencies must ensure that patients who require ED care receive that service. It will, therefore, be important to demonstrate that EMS professionals can safely and consistently identify patients with nonemergency conditions. A 2009 meta-analysis of paramedic accuracy in determining medical necessity from 13 studies calculated negative predictive values of 91% for ambulance transport and 68% for ED evaluation.5 A more recent analysis involving 503 patients and 45 paramedics found a similar under-triage rate of 19.3%.6
With additional education, greater use of evidence-based algorithms, clinical decision support, and online medical control, it should be possible to improve paramedics’ decision-making. A study performed by Wake County EMS demonstrated that a validated clinical protocol avoided transport for 65.8% of 840 low-acuity falls among older adults and achieved a negative predictive value of 98% for a time-sensitive condition.7 This same group created another protocol that triaged 226 patients with minor behavioral health symptoms, such as substance use disorders and depression, to a specialty center, with only 5% requiring secondary transport from the specialty center to the ED.8
In another study, Houston EMS demonstrated safer decision-making using physicians via telehealth. Based on an analysis of 5570 patients treated by EMS in 2015, the project achieved a mean 44-minute reduction in EMS call time (from 83 to 39 minutes), and 75% of patients were safely transported by taxi (3751 patients) or treated on scene without transport (419 patients).9
Measuring and Ensuring Quality
Within the ET3 model, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services includes a 5% upside-only incentive based on as-yet unannounced quality metrics. This represents one of the first pay-for-performance initiatives for EMS and will hopefully help to ensure safety of the new initiative. Measures will be needed to assess 911 call handling, nurse triage, treat-and-release policies, alternative destination management, and telehealth. However, quality measurement in EMS remains underdeveloped. With the exception of a few well-funded disease-specific registries, it has proven difficult for EMS services to obtain data on patient outcomes.
EMS agencies will more likely succeed in the ET3 model if they can access and send electronic health information to other health care entities. This could serve to improve triage, treatment, and transport decisions, and could enable notification of the patient’s primary care physician, care manager, or both of the EMS encounter and needed follow-up.
States, Municipalities, and Other Payers
EMS is primarily state-regulated with substantial variation in system design and clinical protocols. As a result, the ET3 model may prove more feasible in some jurisdictions than others. In highly restrictive regulatory environments, this model may provide political impetus for reform. However, some hospitals and EDs may oppose giving EMS the flexibility to manage patients in less costly ways.
Medicare officials are encouraging multi-payer arrangements so that EMS agencies can service all patients in a region. While most patients will benefit from more coordinated, patient-centered out-of-hospital care, Medicaid beneficiaries have particularly high EMS utilization rates, thus giving state governments the greatest opportunity to benefit from reduced health care spending.
Local governments often operate local 911 centers, making them eligible to apply for ET3 model funding to support a medical triage function. Despite having substantial influence over the provision of EMS, many communities currently do little more than monitor EMS response times. The 5% quality incentive may encourage more meaningful priorities, such as improving patient experience and measuring clinical outcomes.
The ET3 program only applies to patients who access the 911 system, as opposed to directly contacting a health system call center. As a consequence, innovative programs that are virtually identical to the ET3 model will be ineligible for reimbursement despite having demonstrated substantial savings. A future refinement of the ET3 program might reimburse all EMS systems providing care, regardless of how the call for out-of-hospital emergency care is first placed.
Another concern is the potential for abuse of 911 services to secure convenient treatment at home, taxi vouchers to an ED or urgent care center, or quicker appointments. EMS systems will need to monitor call volumes to determine if the ET3 program incentivizes increased utilization of 911 for low-acuity conditions. If this proves to be problematic, additional measures may be required to deter misuse of the system. However, recognizing human behavior, some increase in call volume may need to be accepted, if offset by increased efficiency and therefore increased availability of 911 resources for life-threatening emergencies.
The recent CMMI announcement represents an important development for EMS. This is a first step toward the financial and delivery system reforms needed to allow out-of-hospital care systems to deliver higher-quality, patient-centered, coordinated health care that could lower costs. If CMMI and the EMS community can successfully address patient safety, quality, and local and state regulation and mitigate unintended consequences, the ET3 model experiment could help EMS realize its full potential.
Conservative legal expert calls surprise bill proposals unconstitutional
Modern Healthcare source article | Comments courtesy of Matt Zavadsky
Interesting perspective…
HARRIS MEYER
A prominent conservative legal expert is warning that congressional moves to regulate surprise out-of-network billing by physicians are unconstitutional and could be challenged in court.
In a new legal brief, Paul Clement, a former Republican solicitor general who led the unsuccessful effort to overturn the Affordable Care Act in 2012, said bipartisan congressional proposals to cap out-of-network rates would violate the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment as well as the First Amendment right to freely associate.
Other legal experts said Clement's arguments are dubious but could convince lawmakers to back off or water down legislation.
"These are extremely weak constitutional claims—the sorts of claims that, if accepted, would threaten the constitutionality of any kind of legislative price controls," said Nicholas Bagley, a health law professor at University of Michigan.
Nevertheless, Clement's brief may foreshadow a court challenge by provider groups or conservative legal groups if Congress passes legislation to protect consumers from surprise out-of-network bills and cap the rates insurers pay for out-of-network services.
The Senate health committee is planning to vote next week on a bipartisan bill that would cap payment for out-of-network care at a regional insurer's typical negotiated rate. House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders have offered a similar proposal.
With public outrage growing over surprise bills, President Donald Trump and lawmakers of both parties have called for protecting patients from these bills. "A very unpleasant surprise," Trump said last month. "So this must end."
Clement, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis who has argued nearly 100 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, said the proposed legislation "threatens to take property from healthcare providers without just compensation" and "threatens to infringe on providers' associational activity."
He argued that any legislation should at least ensure that out-of-network providers who treat patients during an emergency or at an in-network facility receive the prevailing market rate as soon as possible after providing the service. In addition, he said Congress also should require a baseball-style arbitration process as an alternative.
Clement's office did not respond to a question about whether he wrote the brief on behalf of a particular client.
Physician and hospital groups strongly oppose the Senate health committee's "benchmarked cap" proposal as well as proposals to require hospitals to bring all their physicians into their insurance networks.
Provider groups didn't immediately indicate whether they agreed with Clement's legal analysis or would sue to block legislation. But the American College of Emergency Physicians echoed his arguments.
"While we can't speak to the legal or constitutional implications of the benchmarking approach of the Senate (health committee) bill, we have very strong concerns about the damaging impact that capping out-of-network reimbursement at the median in-network rate would have on patient access to care," said Laura Wooster, the association's associate executive director for public affairs.
Clement wrote that capping or eliminating balance billing would rob providers of the negotiating leverage they have with health plans, forcing them to accept unreasonable network rates. Over time, he said, rates would decline and physician practices would become economically non-viable for both network and out-of-network providers.
But those arguments are unlikely to hold up in court, said Tim Jost, an emeritus health law professor at Washington and Lee University.
"It seems to me a real stretch to say that requiring providers to accept a median in-network rate would be a taking prohibited by the Constitution or a violation of freedom of association," he said. "Government action has to be pretty extreme to constitute a taking."
Still, Clement's arguments "may give cover to politicians who are otherwise opposed to addressing surprise medical billing," he added.
In Fight Against Surprise Medical Bills, Lawmakers Miss High Air Ambulance Costs
Kaiser Health News source article |Comments courtesy of Matt Zavadsky
This article was produced by Kaiser Health News and published in Governing Magazine…
BY KAISER HEALTH NEWS
In April 2018, 9-year-old Christian Bolling was hiking with his parents and sister in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, near their home in Roanoke. While climbing some boulders, he lost his footing and fell down a rocky 20-foot drop, fracturing both bones in his lower left leg, his wrist, both sides of his nose and his skull.
A rescue squad carried him out of the woods, and a helicopter flew him to a pediatric hospital trauma unit in Roanoke.
Most of Christian’s care was covered by his parents’ insurance. But one bill stood out. Med-Trans, the air ambulance company, was not part of the family’s health plan network and billed $36,000 for the 34-mile trip from the mountain to the hospital. It was greater than the cost of his two-day hospitalization, scans and cast combined.
“When you’re in that moment, you’re only thinking about the life of your child,” said Christian’s mother, Cynthia Bolling, an occupational therapist. “I know that I am being taken advantage of. It’s just wrong.”
The rising number of complaints about surprise medical bills is spurring efforts on Capitol Hill and at the White House to help consumers. Over and over again, the high cost associated with air ambulance service gives patients the biggest sticker shock — the subject has come up at nearly every Capitol Hill hearing and press conference on surprise medical bills.
Yet air ambulance costs are not addressed in any of the proposals introduced or circulating in Congress. Even a congressional decision last year to set up a panel that would study air ambulance billing hasn’t gotten off the ground.
“We’re doing a disservice to patients if we protect them from hospital bills but bankrupt them on the way there,” said James Gelfand, senior vice president for health policy for the ERISA Industry Committee, known as ERIC, a trade association for large employers.
The issue came up again Wednesday at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing where Rick Sherlock, president and CEO of the Association of Air Medical Services, the industry group for air ambulances, was among eight witnesses.
Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) sharply questioned Sherlock why costs for air ambulance services have risen by 300 percent in his state since 2006.
“I’m trying to get my hands around why this is costing so much and why so many of my constituents are being hit by surprise bills,” Luján said.
Sherlock said that reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid do not cover the cost of providing services, so charges to private patients must make up that difference.
Air ambulances serve more than 550,000 patients a year, according to industry data, and in many rural areas air ambulances are the only speedy way to get patients to trauma centers and burn units. As more than 100 rural hospitals have closed around the country since 2010, the need has increased for air services.
More than 80 million people can get to a Level 1 or 2 trauma center within an hour only if they’re flown by helicopter, according to Sherlock.
The service, though, comes at a cost. According to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office, two-thirds of the more than 34,000 air ambulance transports examined were not in the patients’ insurance networks. That can leave patients on the hook for the charges their insurers don’t cover, a practice known as “balance billing.”
In 2017, GAO found that the median price charged nationally by air ambulance providers was around $36,400 for helicopter rides and even higher for other aircraft. The total generally includes the costs for both the transportation and the medical care aboard the aircraft.
Additionally, the ongoing “Bill of the Month” investigative series by Kaiser Health News and NPR has received more than a dozen such bills, ranging from $28,000 to $97,000.
Cynthia Bolling said her insurance company paid about a third of Christian’s air ambulance bill and the family settled this week with Med Trans by agreeing to pay $4,400 out-of-pocket.
Reid Vogel, director of marketing and communications for Med Trans, said the company cannot talk about a private patient because of privacy rules. But he added that the company works with patients to find “equitable solutions” when their bills are not covered by insurance.
Since nearly three-quarters of flights are for patients insured by low-paying Medicare, Tricare and Medicaid, he said, “providers must shift costs to insured patients.”
Private insurers usually will pay only an amount close to what Medicare reimburses, which is around $6,500. That gives air ambulance companies an incentive to remain out-of-network, according to a 2017 GAO report.
“A representative from a large independent provider noted that being out of network with insurance is advantageous to the provider because a patient receiving a balance bill will ask for a higher payment from the insurance company, which often results in higher payment to the air ambulance provider than having a pre-negotiated payment rate with the insurer,” the GAO said.
In an interview, Sherlock, of the trade association, disputed the report’s findings, saying his members are actively trying to be in-network in more places, although he couldn’t provide any specific numbers.
“I think that everywhere they can, they’re incentivized to be in-network,” he said.
States are hampered in their efforts to ease the strain for residents.
The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, which was intended to encourage more competition, forbids states to regulate prices for any air carrier, which applies to air ambulances. What’s more, many large employers’ health insurance is not governed by states but regulated by the federal labor law, known as ERISA.
So a remedy likely has to come from Congress. And it’s proven to be a heavy lift.
For example, the committees that deal with regulation of the air industry — the Commerce Committee in the Senate and the Transportation Committee in the House — don’t make health policy or regulate health insurance.
Last year, some lawmakers sought to let states regulate air ambulances with a provision in the bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration.
But that measure was ultimately eliminated. Instead, the bill called for the creation of an advisory committee to study air ambulance prices and surprise bills.
“The air ambulance lobby did a very good job playing defense during FAA authorization,” said ERIC’s Gelfand.
The panel, which was supposed to be formed within 60 days of the law’s enactment date — Oct. 5 — still has not been created.
Representatives from the air ambulance industry don’t think congressional action is necessary, although they are calling for higher reimbursements from Medicare.
Chris Eastlee, vice president for government relations for the Association of Air Medical Services, said his group does not favor more congressional regulation of prices but would support mandatory disclosure of costs to the secretary of Health and Human Services. The organization argues that greater transparency will help companies negotiate more in-network contracts.
A fix for surprise bills supported by some researchers and advocates would require every provider within a medical facility to accept any insurance plan that contracts with that hospital. It might also help bring down air ambulance bills, said Loren Adler, associate director of USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy.
It would avoid the situation where someone picks an in-network hospital only to find out that a surgeon or anesthesiologist at that hospital doesn’t take their insurance. Air transport should also be included in the rule, he said.
“It’s the exact same situation as with the out-of-network emergency facility rates,” Adler said. “The same solutions should apply.”
Gelfand suggested also that the House Ways and Means Committee mandate that air ambulance companies seeking to participate in Medicare must charge in-network rates.
That would require only a small tweak of the legislative language, as he sees it. “Every proposal that includes something to address surprise bills for emergency care, all you have to do is add in the words ‘air ambulances,’” Gelfand said.
Right now, the closest any surprise billing proposal has come to addressing air ambulances is a draft legislative plan on medical costs from Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). They would require bills for air ambulance trips to be itemized to show both medical charges and the transportation charges so patients and health plans can understand them better.
Surprise billing proposals don't address ambulances
Axios Source Article | Comments Courtesy of Matt Zavadsky
Interesting – From Axios…
Caitlin Owens
None of Congress' proposals to rein in surprise medical bills address ambulances — which are expensive and often aren't covered by insurance.
Why it matters: More than half of ambulance rides, and two-thirds of air ambulance transports, aren't covered by private insurance. Patients are often billed more than $10,000 for what insurance won't cover.
What we're watching: Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone has said that the committee plans to address air ambulances in its final bill. But it's less clear what will happen with ground ambulances.
What they're saying: "Ground ambulances are arguably the screwiest market of any that comes up in this context," said Brooking's Loren Adler.
"Neither side has much incentive to contract because the insurer knows the ambulance has to pick up anyone who calls 911 and the ambulance doesn’t want to take less money from the insurer than they could get balance billing people," he added.
The other side: Air ambulances say that the government reimburses below the cost of the service. That means that they have to charge privately insured patients higher rates, but insurers often refuse to cover their services.
Final Rule On Health Reimbursement Arrangements Could Shake Up Markets
This is a very comprehensive, (i.e.: long) interpretation of the new HRA regulations.
Seems that these changes could have significant impact on both employers and employees.
On June 13, 2019, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury issued a new final rule to expand the use of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) by employers to fund premiums for their employees in the individual health insurance market. The final rule reverses prior federal guidance by allowing HRAs to be used to fund both premiums and out-of-pocket costs associated with individual health insurance coverage. The Departments also released new frequently asked questions, model attestations, and model notices.
The final rule is largely similar to the proposed rule, which received more than 500 comments from a stakeholders that include state regulators, insurers, and employers, brokers, and benefit advisors. The final rule’s major significant changes focus primarily on new “integration requirements” for HRAs. The rule also allows a new “excepted benefit HRA” option that employees can use to pay premiums for excepted benefits and short-term coverage. Individuals who gain access to an HRA or qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement are eligible for a special enrollment period in the individual market.
© 2019 Academy of International Mobile Healthcare Integration | www.aimhi.mobi | hello@aimhi.mobi
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Her ser du listen med Ginetta modeller. Vælg en model for at se alle årgangene.
Ginetta Cars
Ginetta Cars is a British specialist builder of racing and sports cars based in Garforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Ginetta G60-LT-P1
The Ginetta G60-LT-P1 is a non-hybrid Le Mans Prototype built by Ginetta for use in the LMP1 category for the FIA World Endurance Championship, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S
The Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S was a LMP1-class Le Mans prototype race car, built by Zytek Engineering following their partial merger with Ginetta.
The Ginetta G40 is a sports car which has been built by Ginetta Cars since 2010. It is available in two versions; a road-going version, named the G40R, and the race version, the G40, which is available in two specifications; one of which is the G40 Challenge, the other is the G40 Junior, which were designed for the Ginetta GT5 Challenge and the Ginetta Junior Championship respectively.
Ginetta Sagan
Ginetta Sagan (June 1, 1925 – August 25, 2000) was an Italian-born American human rights activist best known for her work with Amnesty International on behalf of prisoners of conscience.
The Ginetta G55 is a specialist sports car, which has been built by Ginetta Cars since 2011. It is built to the FIA GT3 regulations, and the cars are raced in a one-make series; the Ginetta GT Supercup.
The Ginetta G50 is a specialist GT4 class-developed racing car, designed by Ginetta Cars. A road version of the car was planned, but did not enter wide-scale production; instead, the smaller Ginetta G40 was launched.
Ginetta-Juno P3-15
The Ginetta-Juno P3-15, also known as the Ginetta-Juno P3 is a Le Mans Prototype LMP3 built to ACO Le Mans Prototype LMP3 regulations.
The G60 is a mid-engined sports car produced by British car manufacturer Ginetta Cars, based on the Ginetta F400, which itself was based on the Farbio GTS.
Ginetta GT4 Supercup
The Ginetta GT4 Supercup is a one-make racing, Sports car racing series based in the United Kingdom, using identical Ginetta G50 and G55 sports cars.
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What it Means to Create With Intention
By Brianne Hogan
I have a few responsibilities to uphold while I’m here on this planet, and one of them — I think the biggest one — is to help people live their lives more authentically. Like, I’m talking unabashedly authentic. Unapologetically authentic. This is how I live. At least, I really, really try to. Being authentic is kind of in my bones. It’s my North Star. When I know I’m not being true to myself, I literally feel sick. I feel like I’m living in a pile of mud, or to put it more bluntly, shit. I feel like shit. Maybe even I look like shit. Life feels heavy. I feel like something extreme and intense is raging inside of me, trying desperately to burst outta me like I’m that creepy girl from “The Exorcist.” I might feel scattered. Lost. Uneasy. Extra emotional (more so than usual). Something just feels off. Basically, I don’t feel like ME.
When I feel this grossness, I know it’s time for…a change. A shift. An overdue text message. It’s not something different and unLIKE me, but the opposite. I do what comes natural. What feels real and true. I get back to me. And in order to do this, I get clear on what that is, what that would feel and look like. And then…I fucking do it.
This has looked like…quitting more jobs than I can count. Going freelance. Turning down a book deal. Moving across the country. Breaking some hearts. Breaking my own heart.
All in the name of authentic living.
But here’s the thing: being real and true to you is a process. It’s self-awareness. It’s purging. It’s getting raw and real. It’s no bullshit. It’s owning your shit. It’s claiming what you want, wholeheartedly. It’s super duper vulnerable.
I think what must come before authenticity are a couple of things. The first: acceptance. Total self-acceptance of who you are and what you want, and acceptance of your sacred and shadow side. Like, deep shit. (Total self-acceptance, by the way, is always, always going to be a work-in-progress. So, like, let’s leave that one for another day.)
The other is, clarity. Clarity on…everything. What you want. What you like, what you don’t like. Clarity on who you are. What you like about yourself, what you don’t. What you want to own about your life’s story, what you want to let go of. With clarity — which by the way, can be just as challenging/confrontational as self-acceptance and is most definitely not easy to spot just so we’re, uh, clear — comes intention.
Ooh, intention. In my humble opinion everything starts with intention. From what we eat to how we communicate to our relationships to our creative projects to…
Because without intention, we are operating from autopilot. Knee-jerk reflexes. Old habits and patterning that probably don’t serve us any longer.
For example: you want to feel more healthy, but your go-to snacks are highly processed and not-that-great-for-you but they’re “easy” and “comfortable” and it’s what you know, so…Or…maybe you have this dying, all-encompassing urge to honour your beautiful creativity. You really want to make something that is so YOU. That is so perfectly aligned with your soul. But you’re still working at that desk job you hate…
How do you bust out of these ruts? With intention. How do you live life more authentically? With intention. How do you create soul-aligning work? With intention. But what does it mean to have an intention? And how do you know what yours is?
It goes back to your WHY.
Why do you want…the healthy body? The long-term relationship? The creative enterprise? Why, why, why.
And how do you find your WHY? By figuring out what your values are. By understanding that you want certain things because you believe they will bring you a certain ‘something something’ into your life. Mostly a feeling. Feelings that feel good. Feelings that feel like your best self. Your most true self.
My values/feelings are: Fulfillment. Connection. Community. Stability. Joy.
Speaking very broadly, these look like: Working from home. Communicating my needs and desires. Solid friends and family around me. Entrepreneurship. Freedom. Flexibility. A steady income. Animals. Love. Good food. Exercise.
When I got clear with my intention on my WHY with writing…I was booking more long-term gigs. I was writing stuff I cared about. Subjects that I loved. I enjoyed. I finally felt I had something to say. I felt purposeful. I also landed a book deal and an agent.
And now my WHY has put me on the path of a new project: my desire to create a writing workshop that focuses on “creating from intention.”
Maybe I buried the lede. But, yes, this is something I’m working on and hoping to bring to people sometime this year — a writing workshop and course that helps people create projects with intention. So that you can create from a place of authenticity. So that the work you’re creating feels and sounds like YOU. That you are sharing YOUR story. Your truth.
Because I think that’s what we’re all here to do. To live and share our truths/stories with one another. Your story is everyone’s story. You heal by healing. Speak and live the truth and we all feel free.
So in preparation of this new venture of mine, here’s a little exercise: Think of a creative project — or any project, any wish that you are desiring — and think of your WHY. Why do you want to create that meditation course? Write that children’s book? Don’t go general. Go deep. Get personal. What are your top five values in life? What feelings do you want to feel by creating this project? And WHY?
Your list and your why will look different from mine, of course. But we all have a list. We all have values. We all have a WHY. And when you know what that is…that fuels the fire. That brings the intention into focus.
And from there? You can start creating with your heart on fire.
xo Brie
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brianne hogan
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Of the millions of songs which have been recorded, only 30 songs can make it into The Lucy Museum of Musicians who deserve entry to Lucy's Museum of Musicians and at number 1 and therefore the best song ever recorded, we have Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N Roses (1988).
The outstanding Sweet Child O'Mine' ticks every box and is the perfect song, beginning with Slash, has a magnificent Slash solo in the middle and ends with the maestro with Axl Rose going on about his baby's blue eyes and pretty smile and throwing in a few 'woah oh, oh, oh's' before ending with even more Slash which goes to show that great love songs do not have to be mushy ballads and can contain arse kicking guitar solos. By Slash preferably.
The song ends as a different one to which it started although the rumour is that they didn't know how to end the song so they just chanted 'where do we go now' over and over again.
That the debut Guns N Roses album it came from, 'Appetite for Destruction' also contained 'Welcome to the Jungle' and 'Paradise City' and they left off for future albums 'November Rain" and 'Don't Cry' because they had already agreed to put "Sweet Child 'O Mine" on it as the ballad on the album meant that they were always going to be massive as long as they didn't implode in a drugs and drink frenzy first.
Something which did go bang was bass player Duff McKagan's pancreas which exploded due to too much alcohol and and it doesn't get much more rock and roll than your bodies internal organs rebelling and trying to blow themselves up but that was Guns N Roses, they were always drunk, mostly high but always brilliant and if nothing else they left us with the best song ever made since that first person pulled a vine tightly across a plank of wood and plucked it.
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Britannica.com
Iraq: Who’s to Blame?
Chet Meeks - April 2, 2007
The U.S. has now been in Iraq for more than four years. More than 3,000 American soldiers are dead. An October 11, 2006 article in the Washington Post reports that a group of public health researchers from Johns Hopkins University estimate that “655,000 more people have died in Iraq since coalition forces arrived in March 2003 than would have died if the invasion had not occurred.” Health Now reports that 92% of Iraqi children are suffering from mental health issues as a result of the American invasion: “the only thing they have on their minds are guns, bullets, death, and fear of the US occupation.”
As recent polls indicate, Americans are now largely opposed to the Iraq War, despite the President’s recent urging for patience. On the other hand, a full 43% still believe we did not make a mistake by invading. How did we get here, Americans seem to be asking themselves. Who’s to blame? We have blamed the President, as his low approval rating indicates. On counterpunch.org, Joshua Frank blames Hillary Clinton and other Democrats for failing to challenge the war resolution in 2003, and for doing very little to stop the war once they gained a majority in 2006. Liberals have also blamed Cheney and other neo-conservatives for hijacking the country, for ruining our global reputation Guantanamo style, and for throwing our own civil liberties in the toilet with the Patriot Act and with the warrantless wiretappings that violated the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978.
We have blamed the media for not being tough enough on the powers-that-be during the rush to war with Iraq (see David Brock’s mediawatch.org). Many now blame the Iraqi people themselves — for not wanting democracy badly enough, and not doing enough to secure their own country after we left it in shambles with our Rumsfeldian “shock and awe” campaign of terror.
There’s one group of people who seemed to have escaped any blame for this cataclysm: The American Citizenry.
It’s easy to blame the president — and I blame him, too, to be sure — but nothing George W. Bush has done has surprised me in the least since his “election” in 2000. I knew he would be a bad leader from the start. He was then, and is now, a stubborn person who, at one time, claimed not to concern himself with newspapers and polls and who seems impenetrable to the ideas of others when they conflict with his own. Yet this is the man who, after 9/11, had the highest approval rating of any president in the history of our Republic. America loved it when Bush cried on television about 9/11, the same day he was reading a child’s book upside down. [See final paragraph.]
It’s also easy to blame the neoconservatives, but neoconservatism did not come out of nowhere, and neocons had plenty of public support during the rush to war with Iraq. The basic idea behind neoconservative foreign policy — that America should preemptively attack any country that we feel threatens us, that we should change regimes at will, that we should intervene militarily anywhere in the world any time we want — had broad popular support from the Americans who now blame them (see Ron Suskind’s book, The One Percent Doctrine).
It’s easy to blame Hillary Clinton because, well, she’s Hillary Clinton. Along with many other Democrats in Congress, she was wrong to support the 2003 war resolution, and she is wrong now in refusing to apologize for her mistake. Still, her support for the 2003 war resolution cannot be separated from the fact that the American public was overwhelmingly in support of the war at that time. Clinton is a smart politician, and she knew in 2003 that to not support Bush’s quest for war would be political suicide.
How about the media? Conservatives think the media is too liberal. Liberals believe corporate interests trump the truth. To be sure, our mass media is not perfect. But people like myself who opposed the war from the beginning were not reading French newspapers; we were getting our news from the same place as every other American. While the media is not perfect and can be rightly blamed for going easy on Bush, I seem to remember plenty of interviews with Hans Blix and Mohamed Elbaradei in which both claimed that the inspections were working and that war was not necessary. I seem to remember Kofi Annan and many member-states of the European Union warning us that a pre-emptive attack would be illegal and would have catastrophic consequences. I seem to remember Scott Ritter, a former UN weapons inspector in Iraq, a US Marine, and a Republican, warning us nightly on CNN and elsewhere that there was no possible way Iraq could have reconstituted its weapons program after the sanctions of the 1990s. They were all right, and the American citizens who refused to listen to them were wrong.
America is the richest country on earth and in the history of humanity. Even our poorer citizens have more money than most people who inhabit the planet. According to Seymour Martin Lipset’s book, American Exceptionalism, 43% of Americans attend church service on a weekly basis, yet America ranks at the very bottom in voter participation per capita amongst democratic countries worldwide (see also the World Values Survey of 1980, 1990, and 1995). Americans go to church, but not to the voting booths. They may know who Anna Nicole Smith was, but less than half of college seniors know what the Ba’th Party is (see the Civil Literacy Report). Although I have no hard statistics to prove it, I seriously doubt most Americans can explain the differences between the Sunnis, the Shi’a, and the Wahhabiists (if you don’t know, read Scott Ritters brilliant essay).
When the president decided to go to war, 75% of the American public supported his decision, and a full 1/3 of the American public believed we should declare war even in the absence of UN support (see World Public Opinion for this and other polls). And most Americans are probably of the mind that things didn’t work out in Iraq because Iraqis don’t love freedom nearly as much as we do. Speaking of freedom, most Americans define freedom as the freedom to consume in whatever way they choose without any regard for the social consequences of their behavior: freedom means the freedom to drive an SUV, to consume most of the world’s resources at cheap costs, to pollute the environment however we wish, to live in expensive suburbs where one has little contact with others, and the freedom to watch as much television as possible.
During the rush to war with Iraq, nearly 70% of the American population believed that there was a direct connection between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. Nearly as many believed that there were Iraqis amongst the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. President Bush’s approval ratings were higher than any President’s, ever. Americans applauded when we renamed French fries “freedom fries.” These individuals viewed those of us who were protesting the war as unpatriotic, anti-American cowards who did not “support the troops.” They viewed the war the same way they view a Monday night football game: you have to be for one side, the “good guys,” and if you’re not rooting and waving your foam finger from the bleachers, you’re anti-American. After 9/11, American citizens were thirsty for revenge, and they didn’t seem to care whose blood was spilled.
Now that the war has become inconvenient, Americans are opposed to it. They don’t like Bush anymore. They like Cheney even less. They voted the Democrats in to office. But where was the American citizenry when it mattered? The American public had the power to stop this war, but they didn’t; they handed Bush a second term in 2004. I have a deep suspicion that the turn against the war has less to do with any deeply felt, well thought out opposition to the war itself, and far more to do with the boredom and short attention spans of a spoiled American citizenry who inherited the most powerful democracy on earth, and who allowed one village idiot to pillage it. Four years is a long time to pay attention.
Now that we’re in the midst of disaster, we can blame whomever we choose. But when Joe Q. Public wakes up in the morning and ponders who should be blamed for Iraq, he should look in a mirror.
(I am thankful to readers who have pointed out that the Congressional resolution authorizing the Iraq war occurred in 2002, not 2003. This is correct. The war resolution passed in 2002, and our invasion of Iraq ensued in March, 2003. A few readers have also pointed out that, in fact, George W. Bush was not holding “My Pet Goat” upside down on 9/11/01, while he sat inert in a Florida classroom for a full seven minutes after hearing the news about planes striking American cities. Bush was accused of holding another book, “America: A Patriotic Primer,” by Lynne Cheney, upside down, but these photos, it seems, were doctored as part of an anti-Bush urban legend. As a careful writer, I should have double checked this fact before maligning the President with it. In any case, it is the least offensive example of his incompetence. I could easily have cited dozens of other more significant and alarming failures by Bush — if that were the main theme of my essay. CM)
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Events: Doug Armstrong, Andrea-Teresa Arenas and Eloisa Gómez, just about sold out for Gail Honeyman
Thursday, May 31, 7:00 pm, at Boswell:
Douglas Armstrong, author of Life on the Sun
Douglas Armstrong, former reporter for The Milwaukee Journal and winner of the Council for Wisconsin Writers Anne Powers (now Edna Ferber) Award, was on the scene in the 1960s during the era of anti-war protests and the struggles for civil rights and women’s liberation. These turbulent times are the backdrop of his new series of dark humor mysteries, beginning with Life on the Sun.
Armstrong’s latest novel spans ten days of anger and confusion in that bygone era of love beads, tear gas, and manual typewriters. It’s July, 1967, and war is raging in Vietnam. Following a suspicious fire that’s killed a famous war protestor, three headstrong strangers – a rookie newspaper reporter, a veteran rewrite man, and the anti-war fugitive’s bereaved girlfriend – clash as the mystery of his murder unfolds in their revolving viewpoints.
The sometimes darkly comic novel, set against the eccentric inner workings of a metropolitan daily newspaper, is a remembrance of tumultuous times, when lives were disrupted or destroyed by war’s far-reaching consequences.
Douglas Armstrong is the author of the prizewinning novel Even Sunflowers Cast Shadows, and his short fiction has appeared in a variety of magazines, including Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen. He serves on the board of the Whitefish Bay Library and school district, and is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, the Council for Wisconsin Writers, and the Milwaukee Press Club.
Tuesday, June 5, 6:00 pm, at MPL's Mitchell Street Branch, 906 W Historic Mitchell St:
Andrea-Teresa Arenas and Eloisa Gómez, author of Somos Latinas: Voices of Wisconsin Latina Activists
Arenas, director of the Somos Latinas Digital History Project, and Gómez, former vice president of the Latino Historical Society of Wisconsin, share the inspirational stories of twenty-five Latina agents of change. The powerful narratives of these activists, from outspoken demonstrators to collaborative community-builders to determined individuals working for change behind the scenes, provide proof of the long-standing legacy of Latina activism throughout Wisconsin.
Somos Latinas draws on activist interviews conducted as part of the Somos Latinas Digital History Project, housed at the Wisconsin Historical Society, and looks deep into the life and passion of each woman. Though Latinas have a rich history of community activism in the state and throughout the country, their stories often go uncelebrated. Somos Latinas is essential reading for scholars, historians, activists, and anyone curious about how everyday citizens can effect change in their communities.
Listen to Tess Arenas talk to Stephanie Lecci on a 2013 edition of Lake Effect about this project.
Andrea-Teresa Arenas, PhD, recently retired from her positions at UW–Madison as a Chican@ and Latin@ Studies Faculty Affiliate and the director of the Office of Service Learning and Community-Based Research in the College of Letters and Science. Eloisa Gómez is the director of the Milwaukee County UW–Extension Office. From 2008 to 2012, she was the vice president of the Latino Historical Society of Wisconsin, and she served on the Somos Latinas Advisory Committee from 2012 to 2015.
Wednesday, June 6, 7:00 pm reception, 7:30 pm talk, at Lynden Sculpture Garden, 2145 W Brown Deer Rd:
A ticketed event with Gail Honeyman, author of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Gail Honeyman's event at the Lynden Sculpture Garden is close to capacity and remaining tickets are going fast. Tickets are $22, $18 for Lynden members, and include an autographed paperback copy of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine as well as refreshments from MKE Localicious. Tickets available online, at lyndensculpturegarden.org/gailhoneyman, or by phone: (414) 446-8794.
From Jenny Colgan in The Guardian: "Long after your chance has gone to make it as a professional gymnast, ballerina or violinist, there is and always still the chance to write your book. And here comes a debut novel discovered through a writing competition, by an author in her 40s, which has sold for huge sums worldwide. It does happen.
"And what a joy it is. The central character of Eleanor feels instantly and insistently real, as if she had been patiently waiting in the wings for her cue all along."
To the British, the discovery of Gail Honeyman was akin to the joy of hearing Susan Boyle sing "I Dreamed a Dream" on Britain's Got Talent. The book went on to win the coveted Costa First Novel Award. It's also a selection of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club.
This Boswell bestseller list for the week ending May 26, 2018 brought to you by Andrew Sean Greer and Jennifer Egan visiting Boswell on June 15. Tickets now available.
Here's the Boswell's bestsellers for the week ending May 26, 2018
Hardcover Fiction:
1. Paris by the Book, by Liam Callanan
2. Robert's Rules, by J.F. Riordan
3. Gale Force, by Owen Laukkanen
4. The Outsider, by Stephen King
5. A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles
6. Warlight, by Michael Ondaatje
7. The Immortalists, by Chloe Benjamin
8. Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng
9. The Mars Room, by Rachel Kushner
10. Less, by Andrew Sean Greer (tickets for June 15 event here with Jennifer Egan here -- more below
Sorry! Stephen King is not coming back to Milwaukee for The Outsider. That was kind of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Of the new book, Amanda St. Amand in the St. Louis Post Dispatch writes: "What would it feel like to be so perfectly, completely implicated in the worst crime to ever befall a small town, and have perfectly, completely exonerating evidence you weren’t there? That’s the biggest question King explores in The Outsider as small-town cops and prosecutors are asked to believe the impossible — and find the impossible as well."
Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Rocket Men, by Robert Kurson
2. War in 140 Characters, by David Patrikarakos (at USM on Thu Sept 13, 7 pm)
3. Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah
4. Parisian Charm School, by Jamie Cat Callan
5. Restless Wave, by John McCain
6. Barracoon, by Zora Neale Hurston
7. Creative Confidence, by David Kelley
8. The Soul of America, by Jon Meacham
9. Facts and Fears, by James R. Clapper
10. See What Can Be Done, by Lorrie Moore
The political books keep coming. New to the list this week is James R. Clapper's Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence. Philip Ewing, reviewing the book on the NPR site, writes: "No wonder James Clapper always seemed so grouchy. The longtime spy baron became well-known during his stint as director of national intelligence for his profound scowl and sometimes-Zen-like terseness. Now, in his new memoir, Clapper tells why: It is the tale of how the world — at least from his perspective - fell apart."
Paperback Fiction:
1. Run, by Ann Patchett
2. Dragon Teeth, by Michael Crichton
3. Less, by Andrew Sean Greer (did we mention Greer is visiting?)
4. The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, by Arundhati Roy
5. Sing, Unburied, Sing, by Jesmyn Ward
6. Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel
7. Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders
8. Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee
9. All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr
10. The Thin Man, by Dashiell Hammett
Why anyone would buy a copy of Less when for just about the same price they can get the book and see Andrew Sean Greer is in conversation with Jennifer Egan is beyond me, but I know that this time of year there are people to see, trips to embark on, drinks to imbibe. Hey, you can drink afterwards. This is going to be an amazing event. Here's YA star Maggie Stiefvater (really!) reviewing the book on Goodreads: "I actually think I loved it because of what it believes. There's a line in the book — I had to fetch it to quote it exactly — that I think is what the book says on every page: 'Just for the record: happiness is not bullshit.'" We have plenty of people attending, but it strikes me that we should be sold out already! Ticket link here.
Paperback Nonfiction:
1. Just Mercy, by Bryan Stevenson
2. Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari
3. Lost Milwaukee, by Carl Swanson
4. The Color of Law, by Richard Rothstein
5. Guns, Germs, and Steel, by Jared Diamond
6. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes, by Dan Egan
7. Somos Latinas, edited by Andrea-Teresa Arenas and Eloisa Gómez (event at MPL Mitchell Street Branch, 6/5, 6 pm)
8. Evicted, by Matthew Desmond
9. Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann
10. Janesville, by Amy Goldstein
No, not every bookin he store is on the what to read after Evicted table, but it's noticeable that while Evicted didn't make this list, just about every book in our top ten is at least scheduled for the table (there's a lot of books, so we rotate). Just to say that aside from the regional stuff, issue books really drive this category, even when we're talking about things that could be in history or memoir. Not so many traditional bios, soft memoirs, or even paperbacks on the impulse table. It strikes me that event Killers of the Flower Moon is driven by the issues in the book, as much as the storytelling. The In-Store Lit Group is reading David Grann's history book on August 6.
Books for Kids:
1. The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
2. Here We Are, by Oliver Jeffers
3. The House that Once Was, by Julie Fogliano
4. If You Had a Jetpack, by Lisl Detlefsen, illustrations by Linzie Hunter
5. Endling: The Last, by Katherine Applegate
6. Anger Is a Gift, by Mark Oshiro
7. What a Wonderful World, by Bob Thiele
8. You Go First, by Erin Entrada Kelly
9. The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown
10. Baby Monkey Private Eye, by Brian Selznick
Here's my rec on If You Had a Jetpack: "What adventures two little animals have when they build jetpacks to fly around! Helping their principal, visiting Nana, playing Turbo Tag – the possibilities are endless. I like how both the conditional tense of the story and the emphasizing of adverbs play with the adorable illustrations (you’ve seen them on puzzles, stickers, and greeting cards) to give the story a sense of possibility. Both the text and the pictures have lots of funny asides to keep readers young and old occupied, and I can’t imagine a group of kids reading this story not having their own ideas about what they’d do with a jetpack."
And now it's time for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel TapBooks Page features.
Paula McLain's Love and Ruin, a novel based on Martha Gellhorn and her marriage to Hemingway, is reviewed by Jocelyn McClurg, originally from USA Today. She writes: "It can be weird, if titillating, to eavesdrop on imagined, intimate conversations between famous people, but McLain’s dialogue, is, as Hem might say, good and true. She captures the passion Gellhorn and Hemingway feel for each other, and the slow erosion of trust on both sides." We have some signed copies.
From Pamela Miller, originally from the Star Tribune, comes a profile of the Gopher State's Patricia Hampl, whose new memoir is The Art of the Wasted Day. She writes: "Patricia Hampl, a memoirist, poet and professor who is one of Minnesota’s most thoughtful writers, transports us far from such glum judgment in her latest memoir, a wise and beautiful ode to the imagination – from a child’s daydreams, to the unexpected revelations encountered in solitary travel, meditation and reading, to the flights of creativity taken by writers, artists and philosophers."
Randy Lewis in the Los Angeles Times talked to Robert Hilburn about his new biography, Paul Simon: The Life. On granting access: "There was this huge thing early on – in the second month, third month, fourth month. He said, 'If you’re going to London, here are some people you ought to talk to,' and he had a whole list of names. He had people he had his secretary send notes to saying I’m going to be calling them. But then he said, 'Now Kathy Chitty (his girlfriend during his early years living in England) is off limits.' And I thought, 'Here we go.'"
Book Club Mondays
When Boswell first opened, our goal was to have a book club meet on each Monday. I started the Lit group on the first Monday, Jason led the Science Fiction Book Club on the second Monday, and Anne organized the mystery group on the fourth Monday, which I think actually continued from the Shorewood Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop. And then for the third Monday, another group asked us to meet and agreed to be open to new members and Boswell promotion. We actually had a few other book clubs asked to meet on weekends and afternoons and signed them up.
One thing you learn is that not every program goes the way as planned. And one thing we realized over time was that if a Boswell person wasn't running the book club, it's not really our book club. It's hard to get the titles, hard to move the meeting if we're hosting a large event, and hard to get the people to buy the books from us. Sometimes the clubs would get so popular they'd outgrow the space. Live and learn.
We'd been contemplating a fourth Boswell club for years. And after contemplating a few other ideas, we decided to copy the model in a few other cities and have a bar book club. Cafe Hollander signed on. Irony #1: After we set this up, the longtime club meeting in the store moved to a weekend daytime model. Irony #2: Just after the first meeting, another beer book club asked to meet at Holland on the same time. We saw it as proof that we had a good idea.
Our New Books and Beer Book Club is at Cafe Hollander on the Third Monday of Each Month, at 7 pm. Here are our next three selections:
--Monday, June 18: Underground Airlines, by Ben H. Winters
--Monday, July 16: Meddling Kids, by Edgar Cantero
--Monday, August 20: Mister Monkey, by Francine Prose
While you are reading, here are our other upcoming book-club selections.
In-Store Lit Group, run by Daniel on the first Monday at Boswell at 7 pm
--Monday, June 4: The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, by Lisa See
--Monday, July 2: Sour Heart: Stories, by Jenny Zhang
--Monday, August 6: Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann
Science Fiction Book Club, run by Jason on the second Monday at Boswell at 7 pm
--Monday, June 11: Embers of War, by Gareth L. Powell
--Monday, July 9: Borne, by Jeff VanderMeer
--Monday, August 13: Spaceman of Bohemia, by Jaroslav Kalfar
Boswell Mystery Book Club, run by Anne on the fourth Monday at Boswell at 7 pm
--Monday, June 25: The Professionals, by Owen Laukkanen
--Monday, July 23: Open Grave, by Kjell Eriksson
--Monday, August 27: Death on Nantucket, by Francine Mathews (just announced!)
And for those who care about these things, both the Science Fiction Club and the Books and Beer Book Club have selections titled to the end of the year and beyond.
I should note that with our event programming ramped up from what was a modest beginning, we no longer schedule regular groups at the magazine table on weekday nights and weekend days. But if your group meets weekday days, it still might be possible, if another group isn't already meeting. We suggest that it be for groups of 12 or less. And it is possible to schedule one-off meetings for book selection, based on availability.
Here's one more book club piece of news. We have two book club events at area libraries on Tuesday, June 26. At 2 pm at the Frank L. Weyenberg Library in Mequon, and again at 6:30 at the Elm Grove Library, I will be giving a talk with an area librarian (Paulette Brooks in Elm Grove) about great book club choices. As part of that, we'll be featuring Kathleen Rooney, the author of one of our favorite book club selections, Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, who will talk about her book. We've done this before and it's a lot of fun!
We're trying to keep our book club page updated. You can find it here.
Events this week: Robert Kurson, Jamie Cat Callan, J.F Riordan, Owen Laukkanen in conversation with Nick Petrie
What's going on at Boswell this week?
Tuesday, May 22, 7:00 pm, at Boswell:
Robert Kurson, author of Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon
Robert Kurson, the Chicago-based University of Wisconsin-Madison grad and bestselling author of Shadow Divers, appears at Boswell with his latest riveting history, the lesser-known inside story of NASA’s boldest, riskiest mission: Apollo 8, mankind’s first journey to the moon. For this event, Kurson will be in conversation with technology specialist Dave Shapson, an area technology specialist who helped on the research for Rocket Men.
In early 1968, the Apollo program was on shaky footing. President Kennedy’s end-of-decade deadline to put a man on the moon was in jeopardy, and the Soviets were threatening to pull ahead in the space race. By August 1968, with its back against the wall, NASA decided to scrap its usual methodical approach and shoot for the heavens. With just four months to prepare, the agency would send the first men in history to the Moon.
From Meg Jones's profile in the Journal Sentinel: "While researching his book, Kurson had unprecedented access to all three astronauts and their families as well as key NASA officials who vividly shared their recollections from 50 years ago. Borman and Lovell are now 90 and Anders is 84. All three are still married to their wives, a rarity for 1960s astronauts."
In addition to Shadow Divers, Robert Kurson is the author of Pirate Hunters and Crashing Through. His award-winning stories have appeared in Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine, and Esquire, where he is a contributing editor.
Wednesday, May 23, 7:00 pm, at Boswell:
Jamie Cat Callan, author of Parisian Charm School: French Secrets for Cultivating Love, Joy, and That Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi
Jamie Cat Callan presents an engaging and practical guide to cultivating inner beauty and mystique. This is sure to be a delightful evening for anyone who is French, has French aspirations, or just wants to add a little bit of that certain je ne sais quoi to their lives. Cosponsored by Alliance Française de Milwaukee.
We all know that French women don’t get fat. But their famous joie de vivre comes from more than just body type. It’s from the old-fashioned art of keeping romance alive at any age. Filled with insights from Parisian women, this delightful guide shows readers how to cultivate charm in the age of Tinder and OKCupid and to find lasting romance and connection.
From first impressions, lively conversation (in person!), and cultivating social finesse to embracing femininity and communicating with grace and humor, this is age-old advice that’s more precious than ever in our disconnected world. For anyone who’s tired of texting with strangers who don’t write back, here’s an inspiring guide to a better way.
Jamie Cat Callan is the author of the bestselling books French Women Don’t Sleep Alone, Bonjour, Happiness! and Ooh La La! French Women’s Secrets to Feeling Beautiful Every Day. Her books have been published in 21 countries and have been featured in major magazines, including The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and Time.
J. F. Riordan, author of Robert’s Rules
Riordan returns with Robert’s Rules, the third installment of the award-winning North of the Tension Line series set on a remote island in the Great Lakes. Called a modern-day Jane Austen, Riordan creates wry, engaging tales and vivid characters that celebrate the well-lived life of the ordinary man and woman.
As the new Chairman of the Town Board, Fiona Campbell finds life has become a series of petty squabbles, complicated by her guardianship of the as-yet unidentified screaming goat. In desperation, she hires a newcomer, the compulsively orderly Oliver Robert, to keep her organized. As Roger’s fame as an idiosyncratic yoga practitioner spreads, and he and Elisabeth look for a new location to accommodate the growing crowds at their tiny coffee shop.
Meanwhile, Ferry Captain and poet Pali has an offer to leave the Island and wonders whether it is time to introduce his son, Ben, to the larger world. The Fire Chief is threatening to quit, and Fiona finds herself faced with an Island controversy and an unwanted set of new responsibilities. As Pete Landry prepares to leave for one of his regular journeys, Fiona begins to suspect his life may be more than it seems. His secrecy raises doubt about whether he can be trusted, and their breakup plunges her into grief. The reliable Jim, always nearby, is all too ready to offer comfort.
J.F. Riordan first moved to Wisconsin as a child. At the age of 14 she decided to become an opera singer, studied voice at the University of New Mexico and in Chicago and Milwaukee, and ultimately became a professional singer. Homesick after years of travel, she came home to the Midwest. She taught for three years before taking a position as a program officer for a foundation. She lives in exile from Washington Island with her husband and two dogs.
Friday, May 25, 7:00 pm, at Boswell:
Owen Laukkanen, author of Gale Force, in conversation with novelist Nick Petrie. This event is cosponsored by Crimespree Magazine.
Partners in crime (fiction) Owen Laukkanen and Milwaukee’s own Nick Petrie convene at Boswell for a conversation about Laukkanen’s newest novel, Gale Force, the beginning of a new series of seafaring action-adventure starring a dazzling new heroine. Laukkanen's latest was just named one of five mystery/thrillers to read for summer from Carole E. Barrowman.
McKenna Rhodes has never been able to get the sight of her father’s death out of her mind. A freak maritime accident has made her the captain of the salvage boat Gale Force, but it’s also made her cautious, sticking closer to the Alaska coastline. She and her crew are just scraping by when a freighter out of Yokohama founders two hundred miles out in a storm.
This is their last chance, but more is at stake than they know. Unlisted on any manifest, the Lion’s crew includes a man on the run carrying fifty million dollars in stolen Yakuza bearer bonds. And the storm rages on. If McKenna can’t find a way to prevail, everything she loves and maybe even her life itself will be lost. Filled with bravery, betrayal, sudden twists, and pure excitement, Gale Force is a spectacular new adventure from the fast-rising suspense star.
Vancouver author Owen Laukkanen comes from a family of fishermen and spent months and summers as a deckhand for his father and uncle. He is the author of six Stevens and Windermere novels, nominated for Barry Awards, an International Thriller Writers Award, and the Spinetingler Magazine Best Novel: New Voices Award.
Find out about the rest of the folks coming to Boswell on the upcoming events page.
Robert Kurson: Matt Ferguson
Owen Laukkanen: Berni Huber
Here are the Boswell bestsellers for the week ending May 19, 2018.
1. The House of Broken Angels, by Luis Alberto Urrea
3. Death Rides the Ferry, by Patricia Skalka
4. Last Stories, by William Trevor
7. The Overstory, by Richard Powers
8. You Think It I'll Say It, by Curtis Sittenfeld
9. The Female Persuasion, by Meg Wolitzer
10. Less, by Andrew Sean Greer (ticketed event 6/15. Info here)
Our good friend Dennis came back from Turkey to tell us that William Trevor is very popular there, or so the Istanbul booksellers say. His legacy is pretty strong in the United States too, where Last Stories, his posthumous collection, has a nice pop in sales this week. Maina Vaizey in The Arts Desk wrote: "This voices perhaps the underlying theme of these yearning lives, with fulfilment tantalisingly always just round the corner. Here are tales of compromise and melancholy and uncertainty, yet with moral and ethical considerations also shadowing decisions."
1. Beauty in the Broken Places, by Allison Pataki
2. Would You Do That to Your Mother, by Jeanne Bliss
3. Pick Three, by Randi Zuckerberg
4. A Year in the Wilderness, by Amy and Dave Freeman
5. How to Change Your Mind, by Michael Pollan
6. The Sociable City, by Jamin Creed Rowan
7. I'll Be Gone in the Dark, by Michelle McNamara
9. Phyllis Tickle, by Jon M. Sweeney
10. Barracoon, by Zora Neale Hurston
Out this week is Michael Pollan's latest, How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. From Kevin Canfield in The San Francisco Chronicle: "In How to Change Your Mind, Pollan explores the circuitous history of these often-misunderstood substances, and reports on the clinical trials that suggest psychedelics can help with depression, addiction and the angst that accompanies terminal illnesses. He does so in the breezy prose that has turned his previous books — these include The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Cooked, the inspiration for his winning Netflix docuseries of the same name — into bestsellers."
1. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, by Lisa See
2. The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead
4. The Magpie Murders, by Anthony Horowitz
5. Norse Mythology, by Neil Gaiman
6. Embers of War, by Gareth L. Powell
8. A Legacy of Spies, by John Le Carre
9. The Coincidence of Coconut Cake, by Amy E. Reichert (event 6/13 at Boswell with Karma Brown)
10. Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, by Kathleen Rooney (event 6/26 at Weyenberg Library 2 pm and Elm Grove Library 7 pm)
Book Club update! We've added a fourth Boswell-run book club on the third Monday of each month and it's meeting at Cafe Hollander. On Monday, May 21, Jen and attendees will be discussing The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. Two other book club picks make this week's top 10. The In-Store Lit Group will be discussing The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane on Monday, June 4 and the Science Fiction Book Club will be discussing Embers of War by Gareth Powell on Monday, June 11, 7 pm.
Paul Di Filippo talked up Powell's novel on Locus: "I knew readers were in for a great ride on the shoulders of a writer here to stay. And his new novel, the first in a trilogy, bears out all my forecast. It’s a smart, funny, tragic, galloping space opera that showcases Powell’s wit, affection for his characters, world-building skills and unpredictable narrative inventions."
1. The Divided City, by Alan Mallach
5. The Color of War, by Richard Rothstein
6. Inspiralized, by Ali Maffucci
7. Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance
9. Janesville, by Amy Goldstein
10. Not That Bad, by Roxane Gay
We had a table at the JFS luncheon featuring Matthew Desmond where we recommended books to read after Eviction. We actually featured 5 of the 10 books on this week's top ten: The Death and Life of the Great Lakes (signed paperbacks available), The Color of Water, Hillbilly Elegy, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Janesville, plus of course we also had Evicted on display, and we sold those books too, even though many attendees received a copy of the book as part of their ticket. Ben Austen's High Risers almost made the top 10 hardcovers, coming in at #12. We probably would have sold more, but we sold out!
2. The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate
3. If You Had a Jetpack, by Lisl Detlefsen
4. The Book of Beasts V3, by John Barrowman and Carole E. Barrowman
5. The Bone Quill V2, by John Barrowman and Carole E. Barrowman
6. The Hollow Earth V1, by John Barrowman and Carole E. Barrowman
7. The Rose Legacy, by Jessica Day George
8. Crenshaw, by Katherine Applegate
9. Tuesdays at the Castle V1, by Jessica Day George
10. Wishtree, by Katherine Applegate
We had two authors last week who did school visits in the Milwaukee area. Lisl Detlefsen talked about her second book, If You Had a Jetpack, while Jessica Day George was in town for the The Rose Legacy, the first book in a new middle-grade series. Kirkus Reviews offered this nice review of The Rose Legacy: "In this middle-grade fantasy, orphan Anthea is sent from Coronam to live with her uncle beyond the Wall, where she learns that not everything she was taught to believe is the truth."
Signed copies of both are available. Here's what's happening on the Journal Sentinel TapBooks page.
Featured on the front page are books to read this summer from the Journal Sentinel from Jim Higgins: "Whether you’re on the road or staying on the porch this summer, a book can be your traveling companion." Here are the editor's picks.
--Calypso, by David Sedaris (on sale 5/29)
--The Female Persuasion, by Meg Woliltzer
--The Monk of Mokha, by Dave Eggers
--Paris by the Book, by Liam Callanan
--Robin, by David Itzkoff
--See What Can Be Done, by Lorrie Moore
--Sharp, by Michelle Dean
Carole E. Barrowman suggest five great mystery/thrillers for summer reading.
--Mr. Flood's Last Resort, by Jess Kidd
--Paper Ghosts, by Julia Heaberlin
--Gale Force, by Owen Laukkanen (event at Boswell Fri 5/25, 7 pm)
--A Jar of Hearts, by Jennifer Hillier (on sale 6/12)
--The Line That Held Us, by David Joy (on sale 8/14)
Here's what Barrowman had to say about Gale Force: "Call me Ishmael! This is one of the most original thrillers out this summer. Captain McKenna Rhodes has inherited a business that’s leaking money. Her marine salvage company is going under unless she can get to the seas north of Alaska in time to salvage The Pacific Lion and earn the insurance fee. The freighter is packed with SUVs on its decks and a dangerous stowaway hiding in its hull."
Events this week (though two are already at capacity and two more are close to it): Allison Pataki, Amy and Dave Freeman, Jon M. Sweeney, Dan Egan, Patricia Skalka, Rhonda Leet, Robert K. Elder, Jamin Creed Rowan.
Please note that the following library events are full to capacity and are no longer taking reservations. If you have registered, please arrive by 15 minutes before start time to guarantee entry. Please note that it is likely that we will not be able to accommodate walk-ups at either event.
--Katherine Applegate for Endling: The Last on Tuesday, May 15 at the Greenfield Public Library. For more information, contact the Greenfield Public Library at (414) 321-9595. We hope to have signed copies after the event.
--Victoria Aveyard, author of War Storm, with special guests Brittany Cavallaro, and Lori M. Lee on Sunday, May 20 at Delafield Public Library. For more information, contact Books and Company at (262) 567-0106. Also please note that if you are attending, there are signing restrictions for this event.
Here's what else is going on.
Monday, May 14, 7:00 pm reception, 7:30 talk, at Lynden Sculpture Garden, 2145 W Brown Deer Rd in River Hills:
A ticketed event with Allison Pataki, author of Beauty in the Broken Places: A Memoir of Love, Faith, and Resilience
Please note, this event is now filled to capacity.
Please note that registration for this event is near capacity. If you are planning on attending, please register at lyndensculpturegarden.org/allisonpataki-2018 or call (414) 446-8794. Walk-ups may not be available for this event.
Milwaukee Reads presents Allison Pataki as a part of the Women’s Speaker Series at the Lynden Sculpture Garden, produced by Milwaukee Reads. Pataki, author of several historical novels including The Traitor's Wife and Sisi, now tells her own story, chronicling her husband's brush with death, his slow recovery, and how their relationship was affected by the experience.
From Allison Klein's Washington Post profile, reprinted in the Seattle Times: "Dave Levy leaned over and asked his wife (Pataki) if his eye looked strange. Pataki looked up. She watched as her 30-year-old husband had a stroke and lost consciousness while they were 35,000 feet in the air. The plane made an emergency landing in Fargo, North Dakota. Pataki spent the night in a hospital waiting area while doctors worked on her husband. She didn’t know if he’d ever wake up."
If you haven't been to the a Lynden Sculpture Garden event, know that the evening begins at 7 with a short reception Enjoy a glass of wine or light appetizers from MKE Localicious. The talk begins at 7:30. If it's not raining, you're welcome to walk the grounds. Tickets are $30, $25 for Lynden members, include a copy (autographed if you wish) of her new memoir, Beauty in the Broken Places, and are available at lyndensculpturegarden.org/AllisonPataki-2018 or by phone, at (414) 446-8794.
Monday, May 14, 7:00 pm, at Riverside Park Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E Park Place:
Amy and Dave Freeman, author of A Year in the Wilderness: Bearing Witness in the Boundary Waters
Amy and Dave Freeman are biking to DC from Ely, Minnesota in support of their new book and to continue to raise awareness of their efforts to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. They’re stopping in Milwaukee as they take their book and a petition of support over 1,750 miles across the country to the nation’s capital. Please note this event is pay what you can.
On September 23, 2015, Amy and Dave Freeman embarked on a yearlong adventure in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in support of the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters to protect the Boundary Waters from sulfide-ore copper mining. They shared their year in the wilderness in their blogs with hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens. This book tells the story of their adventure in northern Minnesota: loons whistling under a moonrise, ice booming as it forms and cracks, a moose and her calf swimming across a misty lake.
With the magic, urgent message that has rallied an international audience to the campaign to save the Boundary Waters, A Year in the Wilderness is a rousing cry of witness activism and a stunning tribute to this singularly beautiful region. This stop on their cross-country trip is being held at the Riverside Park Urban Ecology Center. Admission is pay what you can.
Amy and Dave Freeman's expeditions have taken them over 30,000 miles by canoe, kayak, and dogsled through some of the world's wildest places, from the Amazon to the Arctic. National Geographic named Amy and Dave Adventurers of the Year in 2014 and their images, videos, and articles have been published by the Chicago Tribune, National Geographic, and Minnesota Public Radio.
Wednesday, May 16, 7:00 pm, at at All Saints Cathedral, 818 E Juneau Ave in Milwaukee: Jon M. Sweeney, author of Phyllis Tickle: A Life
Sweeney, a locally-based independent scholar who is also the publisher of Paraclete Press, presents his newest work of biography, Phillis Tickle: A Life. Sweeney was in active conversation with Phyllis Tickle at the time of her death about co-authoring her biography and is the official biographer of Tickle’s estate. This event is sponsored by All Saints Cathedral.
The founding editor of the Religion Department at Publishers Weekly, Tickle’s work influenced the growth of spiritual writing and interfaith understanding during the 1990s. By the time of her death in 2015, Phyllis Tickle was one of the most beloved and respected figures in American religious life. Sweeney examines Tickle’s personal and professional roots, from her family, and life on The Farm in Lucy, Tennessee, to her academic career and move into book publishing.
Sweeney also looks at pivotal relationships with John Shelby Spong, Marcus Borg, and Brian McLaren, as well as her great influence on the increasing number who adopted fixed-hour prayer, the Episcopal Church as a whole, and the Emerging Church, for which she served as historian, forecaster, and champion. A look at her early, passionate advocacy for the LGBT community, lecture circuit controversies, and projects left unfinished completes the picture.
Jon M Sweeney is editor in chief and publisher of Paraclete Press and author/editor of more than 20 works of religious scholarship. His recent books include What I Am Living for: Lessons from the Life and Writings of Thomas Merton, Meister Eckhart's Book of the Heart: Meditations for the Restless Soul, and The Pope's Cat, a book for kids.
Patricia Skalka, author of Death Rides the Ferry
Patricia Skalka returns to Boswell for the latest installment in the mysterious Sheriff Dave Cubiak series, in which another Door County summer’s end is disturbed by a gruesome death, one that dredges the depth of Lake Michigan and draws up crimes from the past.
It’s a sparkling August day on Washington Island and the resonant notes of early classical music float on the breeze toward the sailboats and ferries that ply the waters of Death’s Door strait. After a forty-year absence, the Viola da Gamba Music Festival has returned to the picturesque isle on the tip of Wisconsin’s Door County peninsula. Sheriff Dave Cubiak enjoys a rare day off as tourists and a documentary film crew hover around the musicians.
The jubilant mood sours when an unidentified passenger is found dead on a ferry. Longtime residents recall with dismay the disastrous festival decades earlier, when another woman died and a valuable sixteenth-century instrument—the fabled yellow viol—vanished, never to be found. Cubiak follows a trail of murder, kidnapping, and false identity that leads back to the calamitous night of the twin tragedies. With the lives of those he holds most dear in peril, the sheriff pursues a ruthless killer into the stormy northern reaches of Lake Michigan.
Thursday, May 17, 7:00 pm, at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, 1111 E Brown Deer Rd in Bayside Dan Egan, author of The Death and Life of the Great Lakes
Please note that registration for this event is near capacity. If you are planning on attending, please register at (414) 352-2880, x0 today. Walk-ups may not be available for this event. This event is free with admission ($8) or membership to the Schlitz Audubon.
Dan Egan returns to Schlitz Audubon Nature Center for the paperback release of his compelling and nimble chronicle of the many man-made hazards threatening the world’s largest source of accessible fresh water. Boswell is cosponsor of this event.
The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is prize-winning reporter Dan Egan’s compulsively readable portrait of an ecological catastrophe happening right before our eyes, blending the epic story of the lakes with an examination of the perils they face and the ways we can restore and preserve them for generations to come.
The Death and Life of the Great Lakes was recently awarded the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for History. Egan’s book is also the current pick for the PBS NewsHour – New York Times book club. In addition, UW-Madison just named The Death and Life of the Great Lakes the Go Big Read title for incoming freshmen.
After-school storytime and activities with Rhonda Leet, author of Franny's Father Is a Feminist
DePere-based Leet appears at Boswell for an after-school afternoon of empowerment perfect for young feminists and parents alike, regardless of gender, with a sweet, straight-forward picture book that portrays the loving bond between a young girl and her father, who isn’t afraid of bucking gender norms to ensure that his daughter grows up smart, strong, and self-confident. We’ll have themed activity sheets before and after the event.
From Kirkus Reviews’ starred review: “Little readers learn what it means to be a feminist. As the title says, Franny’s father is a feminist. Feminists believe “that girls can do everything boys can do, and [that girls deserve] all the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities that” boys have. The book’s tone is informative rather than preachy, presenting feminism not as the only way to be but rather a sensible caregiving choice. An excellent primer on what feminism and allyship entail.”
Rhonda Leet grew up in Green Bay, and her passion for children’s books has grown from reading them to writing her debut picture book. A former educator, Rhonda believes all children deserve to thrive in the classroom and throughout their lives, regardless of their gender.
Robert K. Elder, author of The Mixtape of My Life: A Do-It-Yourself Music Memoir
Mix up your own musical memoir at Boswell with Chicago-based author Elder. No matter which musical generation you belong to, from doo-wop to Daft Punk, The Mixtape of My Life is an instant conversation starter and a great way to rediscover the special tunes that played during key moments of your life. Elder provides more than 200 questions and prompts to help readers chronicle their lives through music and explore their personal soundtrack.
Evoking memories, stories, and long-forgotten mix tapes, this guided journal includes questions like "What was the first record you owned?" and "What song did you later realize was smutty?" and provides room to draw a favorite album cover or create the perfect road trip playlist. With dozens of quirky illustrations throughout, The Mixtape of My Life can be a great tool for your next dinner party, or simply something any music lover can enjoy for themselves.
Listen to Elder talk to Amy Guth on WGN's Saturday Night Special.
Robert K. Elder is the author of seven books, including 2016's Hidden Hemingway. His work has appeared in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and Salon. He has worked for Sun-Times Media and Crain Communications, and is the founder of Odd Hours Media.
Saturday, May 19, 2:30 walk, 4:30 talk, at Boswell:
Jane’s Walk presents Jamin Creed Rowan, author of The Sociable City: An American Intellectual Tradition
Jane’s Walk, MSOE Scholar’s Honor Program, and Boswell present an informative afternoon stroll through the city with author Jamin Creed Rowan, Assistant Professor of English and American Studies at Brigham Young University, and MSOE Associate Professor Michael Carriere. Walkers meet at Boswell at 2:30 pm for a guided walking tour through the East Side that will return to Boswell for Rowan’s 4:30 talk.
Registration for the walk is requested, at eventbrite.com/e/45170056856. And find out more about Jane’s Walk Milwaukee at janeswalkmke.com.
The Sociable City chronicles how, as the city's physical and social landscapes evolved over the course of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, urban intellectuals developed new vocabularies, narratives, and representational forms to explore and advocate for the social configurations made possible by urban living. Jamin Creed Rowan aims to better understand why we have built and governed cities in the ways we have, and to imagine an urban future that will effectively preserve and facilitate the interpersonal associations and social networks that city dwellers need to live manageable, equitable, and fulfilling lives.
Read Tom Daykin's story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the Jane's Walk on the High Rise Bridge that previewed development plans below on the old Kneeland Properties.
And more about other Boswell upcoming events here.
--Allison Pataki and Dave Levy credit Beatrice Copeland
--Amy and Dave Freeman credit Nate Ptacek
--Dan Egan credit Sara Egan
--Robert K. Elder credit Greg Rothstein
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THE FLEXIBLE CITY International Symposium
University of Oxford - St. Anne's College, 56 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HS
Cities over the world face complex and rapidly evolving challenges. Ranging from climate, to poverty, economic downturns and demographic shifts, cities now need to confront an unprecedented array of issues. Addressing them requires ingenuity and versatility, whether in policymaking, investment decisions or everyday livelihoods. At the Oxford Programme for the Future of Cities, we seek to re-think the city, in theory and practice to confront these challenges.
Responding to these pressing demands, the two-day international symposium on ‘the Flexible City’ aims at investigating the future of urbanisation and of urban theory towards rethinking the city as a dynamic space that better responds to evolving circumstances and contemporary global challenges. Held at the University of Oxford on 24-25 October 2013, the event provides scholars, policymakers, investors, and the public at large with an opportunity to discuss the challenges for research of contemporary and future urbanisation. Gathering 35 urban innovators across academia, policy and business, the symposium is organised around the four main research streams of the Oxford Programme for the Future of Cities: City-to-City Learning, Emergent Governance, Infrastructure and Technology, and Everyday Urban Life. Along with these research themes, the event will also include a session on Financing the Future of Cities, a policy-academia dialogue roundtable on the Future of Urban Research, and two keynote lectures by Neil Brenner (Harvard University) and Matthew Gandy (University College London).
The conference is also preceded by an Early Career Scholars Workshop on 23 October 2013, where scholars at postdoctoral and junior faculty level will engage in open discussions about cutting edge work on the future of cities and the flexible responses to the challenges faced by urban dwellers worldwide.
http://www.futureofcities.ox.ac.uk/event/327
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Parks, Recreation & Tourism
The featured exhibit during the summer of 2019 is the Good Old Days exhibit. The exhibit features a display of household items, clothing, toys, photos, tools, and numerous other items that were used in Gloucester from the late 1800's to the mid-1900's.
Other Exhibits
Another popular exhibit at the Museum is the original oil painting of Civil War General W. B. Taliaferro reviewing the last general muster of the Gloucester Militia at Roaring Springs Plantation the 4th Saturday in May 1860. Painted by Robert E Goodier (1925-1999), the painting has been donated to the Gloucester Museum of History by his family. The artist’s daughter, Elizabeth G. Esrey of Middletown, Delaware and son, Winslow R. Goodier of Glen Allen, Virginia, agreed that the painting should be returned to Gloucester because of it’s historic significance to the County. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Goodier lived at Roaring Springs Plantation from 1992 until 2004.
The Museum also continues to display numerous permanent exhibits which include:
Antique Survey Equipment
Battle of the Hook
Celebration of African American History in Gloucester
Free School House
Gremer Doll Houses
The Hotel Botetourt
James D. Gardner
The Old Country Store
Warner Hall
Museum Exhibits on the Second Floor
The second floor of the Gloucester Museum of History is also open to the general public. The theme of the eight station exhibit is "Echoes From The Past, Six Periods of Gloucester History."
The exhibit traces Gloucester's rich history and varied contributions from 5 million years ago, when the area was covered by a warm tropical sea, to the Civil War, when it gave both a General to the Confederate Army and was home to James D. Gardner, who rose from oysterman to become the only recipient of a Congressional Medal of Honor from the area while serving in the Union Army.
Other exhibits include:
Archaeological findings from "Paradise" (home of the Lees)
Archaeological findings from the Fairfield Plantation
Bacon's Rebellion
Gloucester's participation in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War
Also continuing on display on the second floor is the exhibit "Threads: A Loving Legacy Unfolds." This exhibit highlights the creative handiwork of ladies from two families who helped shape the history of Gloucester County - the Sterlings and the Shacklefords. Pictures of each woman are included and stories of many of the pieces on display, some dating back to 1920. The display was created by cousins Hilda Anne Nolen Hodgson, Amy Williams Boykin, Heather Sterling Pearce and Mary Anne Sterling.
6539 Main Street Gloucester VA 23061
Closed Sundays and Holidays
Information on Other Regional Historical Attractions
Virtual Historic Marker Tour
Proceedings of the Gloucester Monument Association
More Cemeteries of Gloucester County Order Form (PDF)
Virginia GenWeb Genealogy Site for Gloucester County
Gloucester Genealogy Society of Virginia (GGSV)
Register & Pay
Daffodil Festival
Visit Gloucester
Office Building Two, 3rd Floor
Park Ordinances
Facility Evaluation Form (PDF)
Program Evaluation Form (PDF)
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Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci Tapped to Rewrite THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Sequel
by Adam Chitwood April 24, 2012
It’s commonplace nowadays for studios to get a jump on the sequel to big budget properties before the first film hits theaters, and Sony got a very good head start on the follow-up to The Amazing Spider-Man by setting James Vanderbilt to pen the sequel back in March of last year. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is already dated for May of 2014, and now it appears that the studio would like another pass on the script. So who do you get to pen a high priority, big-budget summer movie? Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, of course. Hit the jump for more.
Per Deadline, the screenwriting team of Kurtzman and Orci have been hired to rewrite Vanderbilt’s script for the sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man. Vanderbilt, whose past credits include Zodiac and The Rundown, was an inspired choice to pen the Marc Webb-helmed reboot, but I can’t really say the same for Kurtzman and Orci. Their credits include Transformers and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and they also penned Cowboys & Aliens and J.J. Abrams’s Star Trek.
They’re by no means terrible screenwriters, but given the pick of Vanderbilt I was hoping Sony would go for another interesting choice if they wanted another pass on The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Gary Ross penned the script for The Hunger Games and Lionsgate just tapped Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind scribe Charlie Kaufman to adapt a young adult series (seriously), proving that it’s possible to get someone known more for character work than action sequences to write a successful, “blockbuster” screenplay. The Kurtzman and Orci-penned drama People Like Us opens this summer, so maybe we’ll be pleasantly surprised by their ability to tackle intimate character drama.
Nevertheless, The Amazing Spider-Man isn’t even out yet so it’s still early days. It’s possible that another screenwriter might be brought on to do yet another pass. In the meantime, Spidey’s in the hands of Kurtzman and Orci.
Extended Iron Man TV Spot for THE AVENGERS Reveals New Footage; Plus…
Ray Stevenson Joins the Seventh Season of DEXTER
• Alex Kurtzman • Entertainment • James Vanderbilt • Movie • Roberto Orci • Sony Pictures • Spider-Man • The Amazing Spider-Man • The Amazing Spider-Man 2
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Economic sanctions» or the white-collar war
Written by voltairenet
Published in Specials
The United States and the European Union have launched an undeclared war against Syria, Iran and Russia – it is known by the alias «economic sanctions». This appalling tactic killed more than a million Iraqis during the 1990’s, without arousing any suspicion in Western public opinion. It is used today, patiently, against any state which refuses to be dominated by the unipolar world order.
In the past, conventional war strategy included the siege of a city or a state. It was used to isolate the enemy, to prevent him from using his resources, to submit him to famine, and finally to gain victory. In Europe, the Catholic church firmly condemned this tactic as criminal, in that it killed civilians first, and the military forces only afterwards.
Today, conventional wars include «economic sanctions», which are used for the same purpose. From 1990 to 2003, the sanctions levied against Iraq by the UN Security Council killed more than a million civilians. In fact, it was a war led by the bankers in the name of the institution whose purpose was supposedly to promote peace.
It is probable that several of the states which voted for these sanctions were not aware of their extent nor their consequences. What is certain is that when some members of the Security Council asked for the sanctions to be lifted, the United States and the United Kingdom opposed the motion, thereby assuming the responsibility for a million dead civlians.
After numerous international civil servants had been fired for their participation in the massacre of a million Iraqi civilians, the United Nations began to think about the manner in which they could make the sanctions more effective in terms of the objectives announced. In other words, to ensure that the sanctions would effect only the political and military sectors, and not civilians. There was talk of «targeted sanctions».However, despite much research on the subject, no-one has ever practised sanctions against a state which affected its leaders and not its population.
The effect of sanctions is linked to the interpretation that the governments make of the texts which define them. For example, most of the texts evoke sanctions on products which may be used both by civilians and the military, which leaves plenty of room for interpretation. A rifle may be forbidden for export to a certain state because it can be used for war as well as hunting. But a bottle of water can be drunk by a mother as well as a soldier. Consequently, the same texts – according to the political circumstances and the evolution of the government’s will – can lead to extremely different results.
The situation is all the more complicated in that the legal sanctions of the Security Council are augmented by the illegal sanctions of the United States and the European Union. Indeed, while some states or intergovernmental institutions can legally refuse commercial relations with other states, they can not establish unilateral sanctions without waging war.
The term «sanction» gives the impression that the state which is submitted to them has committed a crime, and that it has been tried before being found guilty. This is true for sanctions decreed by the Security Council, but not those decided unilaterally by the United States and the European Union. These are purely and simply acts of war.
After the war against the British in 1812, Washington created the Office of Foreign Assets Control, which is tasked with waging this white-collar war.
Currently, the main states which are victims of sanctions are not the targets of the United Nations, but exclusively those of the United States and the European Union. They are Syria, Iran and Russia. That is to say the three states which are fighting the jihadists supported by the Western powers.
Most of the sanctions that have been decreed are without direct links to the contemporary war against Syria. The sanctions aimed at Damascus are mainly linked to its support for the Lebanese Hezbollah, and to the asylum granted to the Palestinian Hamas (which has since joined the Muslim Brotherhood, and is now fighting against Syria). The sanctions against Iran were allegedly imposed against its military nuclear programme, even though it was closed down by the Ayatollah Khomeiny thirty years ago. They continue to be levied despite the signature of the 5+1 agreement, which was supposed to resolve this problem, which does not in fact exist. Those levied against Russia sanction the incorporation of Crimea after it had refused the Nazi coup d’état in Kiev, qualified as a «democratic revolution» by NATO.
The most rigourous sanctions currently levied are those affecting Syria. A report drawn up by the UN Office for the Coordinaton of Humanitarian Affairs in Syria, financed by the Swiss Confederation, and made public four months ago, observes that the US and European interpretation of the texts leads to the deprivation, for the majority of Syrians, of many medical care products and also food resources. A great number of medical products are forbidden, since they are considered to be of double usage, and it is impossible to pay for the importation of food via the international banking system.
Although the situation of the Syrian people is not as catastrophic as that of the Iraqis in the 1990’s, it is nonetheless a war waged by the United States and the European Union, by financial and economic means, exclusively against the population living under the protection of the Syrian Arab Republic – with intent to kill.
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Article, Health Systems Research, Europe & Eurasia, Immunization, NEWS, Publications, 2015
An International peer reviewed Journal Vaccine, published an article Costs of routine immunization services in Moldova: Findings of a facility-based costing study. Authored by experts from the Curatio International Foundation.
The study evaluates the total economic and unit costs of the immunization program in the Republic of Moldova as part of a multi-country study supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The study shows that the cost of fully immunizing a child in a middle-income country is much higher than previous estimates. The study findings could contribute to building a new evidence-base that will provide valuable inputs into the development of national and global policies, as well as contribute to better planning and management of the national immunization program in Moldova.
Visit ResearchGate to read and download the article.
An International peer reviewed Journal Vaccine, published an article Costs of routine immunization services in Moldova: Findings of a facility-based costing study. Authored by experts from the Curatio International Foundation. The study evaluates the total economic and unit costs of...
On November 5, the Committee on Health and Social Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia will host an introductory meeting on the project Embedding Rapid Reviews in Health Policy-Making. The project is jointly implemented by the “Curatio International Foundation” and…
General Overview The evidence-informed decision making in health still remains a major challenge. To strengthen institutional capacity in different countries around the globe the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) launched the new program to strengthen the capacity…
During October 17-19 the WHO Regional Office for Europe in collaboration with WHO headquarters, GFATM and USAID organised a workshop in Tbilisi to provide countries a platform for dialogue on sustainability and transition issues, and to further define regional and…
Chairman of the Health Care and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia Akaki Zoidze and Curatio International Foundation President George Gotsadze signed a memorandum of cooperation. The collaboration aims to support evidence usage by the parliament when dealing with the…
General Overview As a result of the constitutional amendments passed at the end of 2017, Georgia became a parliamentary republic. It increased the role of the legislature in policy development and supervision. As a result of these amendments, the Committee…
During October 8-12, 2018 Liverpool hosted the Fifth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research. Curatio International Foundation, as a secretariat of Health Systems Global, organzied the event for the second time in close collaboration with HSG’s partners. Over 2300 participants from…
On September 27-29, the fourth work meeting of a civil society was held in Kachreti. Representatives of a civil society, media, and academia convene under the framework of the joint project of Curatio International Foundation and Open Society Foundation. The…
Introduction and Overview Georgia is among the countries with low HIV/AIDS prevalence but with a high potential for the development of a widespread epidemic. From the early years of epidemic injecting drug use was the major route for HIV transmission, however,…
This webinar took place on July 17th, 2018. If you missed it or would like to listen to it again, you can watch the recording. The third in a series of LNCT webinars on vaccine procurement. Participants will get updated information…
This webinar took place on July 11th, 2018. If you missed it or would like to listen to it again, you can watch the recording. Are you involved with designing HPSR training programs? Do you create course content for HPSR training?…
Health Systems Global publishes the first ever annual report which captures HSG’s growth over the years. On behalf of the Secretariat, we are honored to share the results of our joint effort. Reading this document you will see the progress…
This webinar took place on July 2, 2018. However, if you missed the webinar or would like to listen to it again, you can watch the recording and download the slides. Participants will learn about existing vaccine forecasting and budgeting tools and best…
Introduction and Overview In June 2018 CIF initiated a new project with the financial support of The Global Fund. The overall goal of the CIF assignment is to support the Country Coordination Mechanism of Tajikistan (CCM) in assessing country preparedness…
Introduction and Overview Since May 2018 Curatio International Foundation implements a technical assistance for the Philippines to prepare Transition and Sustainability Plan for HIV program. The overall goal of the given assignment is to support the Department of Health and…
Curatio International Foundation, within the framework of the ongoing project: “Engaging civil society in decision-making and monitoring in Georgian healthcare sector” supports strengthening and consolidating civil society representatives interested in health care for advocacy on health issues. To this end,…
This webinar took place on June 22, 2018. However, if you missed the webinar or would like to listen to it again, you can watch the recording and download the slides. In 2016, HSG held the first webinar on gender, asking the question, “What…
The new paper identifies the health system barriers leading to low rates of utilization of mental health services among internally displaced people (IDP) with mental disorders. The paper was published in BMC Health Services Research authored by Adrianna Murphy, Ivdity…
Full Article is available on Eurasianet ” […] Last year, Giorgi Tsiklauri, 24, was diagnosed with leukemia at a hospital in Tbilisi and was about to undergo chemotherapy, but he decided to seek a second opinion in Turkey. As it…
This webinar took place on April 23, 2018. However, if you missed the session or want to listen to it again, you can watch the recording. Have you ever wondered what the journal editor’s viewpoint is on your article, or what…
This webinar took place on April 24, 2018. However, if you missed the session or want to listen to it again, you can watch the recording. Join the webinar organized by HSG Thematic Working Group Quality in Universal Health and Healthcare. During…
Curatio International Foundation, within the framework of the ongoing project: “Engaging civil society in decision-making and monitoring in Georgian healthcare sector” along with the Open Society Network supports strengthening and consolidating civil society representatives interested in health care for advocacy…
The Curatio International Foundation has fulfilled a Tuberculosis Community Systems Strengthening (TBCSS) Project in Georgia, funded by the Stop TB partnership in the frame of Challenge Facility for Civil Society (CFCS) round 7 program. The goal for the project was…
Curatio International Foundation publishes Georgia case study of primary health care system (PRIMASYS). The PRIMASYS case study covers key aspects of primary health care system, including policy development and implementation, financing, integration of primary health care into comprehensive health systems,…
This study represents the subsequent wave of Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Surveys (BBS) surveys undertaken among Female Sex Workers (FSW) since 2002. The current study was conducted in 2017 using the Time-Location Sampling technique and 350 FSWs was recruited in total in…
This webinar took place on March 14, 2018. However, if you missed the webinar or want to listen to it again, you can watch the recording and download the slides. How do we study ‘invisible’ concepts such as politics and power as they…
Introduction and Overview The project aims to strengthen CSOs working on Health Systems to participate in the decision-making process, to assume watchdog functions, monitor enforcement of policies and advocate for better health for all. The project is funded by Open Society…
A new paper discusses the economic and financial barriers to delivering mental health services in Georgia and assessing the opportunities for reform that can support the development of strategies for change. The article was published in BMC Health Services Research,…
The interview is based on the latest wave of the integrated Bio- behavioral surveillance survey conducted People Who Inject drugs (PWID) in 7 cities of Georgia. The research aims to measure the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis…
Bemoni Public Union together with Curatio International Foundation conducted a population size estimation study among injecting drug users in Georgia during 2016-2017. Also available: HIV risk and prevention behaviors among People Who Inject Drugs in six cities, Georgia, 2017 This…
Curatio International Foundation together with Bemoni Public Union has conducted HIV prevalence and risk behaviors survey among People Who Inject Drugs in Georgia. Also available: Population Size Estimation of People who Inject Drugs in Georgia 2016-2017 Current study represents the…
Step by Step Charts Infogram
The abstract has been submitted and accept for oral presentation at The Union 2017 – 48th Union World Conference on Lung Health, 11 – 14 October, 2017 Guadalajara, Mexico The study outlines different health system factors as long as some…
In the last week of October, 2017 Brisbane, Australia hosted International Conference for Realist Research Evaluation and Synthesis – Realist2017. Realist evaluation is complex sensitive approach and is useful for decision makers because rather responding the question “does the intervention…
Curatio International Foundation conducted secondary data analyses of Health Service Utilization and Expenditure survey (2 waves), conducted by Ministry of Labor Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, supported by WHO and The World Bank. We studied factors that impact utilization…
Introduction and Overview CIF in partnership with Queen Margaret University (UK), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK) and Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine (Belgium) is implementing a study “Designing and evaluating provider results-based financing for tuberculosis care in…
In February 2017, CIF director George Gotsadze talked with Forbes Georgia. The interview discusses the role of effective management in health systems and impact of innovations in the field. In the article George speaks about CIF experience serving as HSG Secretariat. Read more…
We attract interns from around the world, who are interested to have the first-hand experience in the real-life setting and to contribute to the research projects implemented by CIF. Master and PhD students from around the world are invited to apply…
Sustainability of national HIV and TB programs gains importance in light of recent changes in the global health landscape when external funders are redirecting resources to poorer states while phasing out from middle-income countries. Objectively evaluation of the country transition…
Curatio International Foundation together with the Partnership for Research and Action for Health organized a meeting at the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health on 26th of December, where two different study findings were represented. Studies aimed to…
Curatio International Foundation will be featured at Health Systems Research 4th Symposium to be held in Vancouver, Canada November 14 -18, 2016. CIF experts will discuss several important health system-related issues and share particular knowledge with a global audience. We…
As middle-income countries experience economic growth and increased government spending potential on healthcare, donors have begun decreasing their support under the assumption those countries have sufficient physical space to support and sustain their health programs. Countries in Eastern Europe and…
Health Policy and Planning published an article Privilege and inclusivity in shaping Global Health agendas. CIF director George Gotsadze co-authors the paper together with Kabir Sheikh, Sara Bennett and Fadi el Jardali. The article discusses lack of inclusivity in Global Health…
In recent years there has been a significant decrease in funding from international and bilateral donors, including The Global Fund (TGF) to support HIV and TB response in middle income countries across Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA). This raises…
Curatio International Foundation conducted an evaluation of UNICEF’s contribution to the reduction of under 5 mortality in five countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Serbia, and Uzbekistan. The evaluation covered 12 years from 2000 – 2012 and was performed in 2014-2015. UNICEF’s…
CIF researchers Ivdity Chikovani and Lela Sulaberidze participated in AIDS 2016 conference that was held in Durban, South Africa in July 2016. The conference assembled over 18,000 delegates from around the world. Scientists, policymakers, world leaders, and people living with…
Almost 100 experts were gathered together in Geneva in the end of June, to support transforming process from IHP+ to UHC 2030. The overall aim of UHC 2030 will be to support a movement for accelerated, equitable and sustainable progress…
The Curatio International Foundation has released the results of the fifth wave of the Pharmaceutical Price and Availability (PPA) study in Georgia. The study set out to generate further evidence regarding pharmaceutical prices and availability in the country through the…
In August 2014, Curatio International Foundation conducted an assessment of GAVI Alliance HSS support to Tajikstan to provide solid evidence of to what extent the support achieved its objectives and contributed to strengthen the health system of the country. The assessment…
After the conclusion of Gavi’s support period (2014) to the Albania, Curatio International Foundation conducted the evaluation study and assessed financial and programmatic sustainability through an in-depth analysis of Albania’s experiences and immunization programme performance before, during and after the…
Though preventive programs are focused on the high risk population, we face slightly but growing tendency of HIV/AIDs among general population.
Curatio International Foundation continues implementation of Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Surveys (BBS) among Key Affected Populations (KAP’s) with the aim to measure HIV prevalence among KAP’s, monitor risk behaviors among these groups and generate evidence for advocacy and policy-making. The current study…
On May 17-18 EPIC Immunization Costing hosts workshop Immunization Costing: what have we learned, can we do better? in Washington DC. CIF executive director George Gotsadze and Business Develop ment unit director Ketevan Goguadze are invited to attend the event. George Gotsadze…
Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Survey among Men who have Sex with Men in two major cities of Georgia, 2015 Curatio International Foundation continues implementation of Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Surveys (BBS) among Key Affected Populations (KAP’s) with the aim to measure HIV prevalence among…
Journal Health Affairs publishes a new Article EPIC Studies: Governments Finance, On Average, More Than 50 Percent Of Immunization Expenses, 2010–11 coauthored by CIF team member Keti Goguadze. Abstract: Governments in resource-poor settings have traditionally relied on external donor support…
We are glad to announce that Curatio International Foundation has been selected to be Round 7 Challenge Facility for Civil Society (CFCS) grantee under the Stop TB partnership financial support. TB Community Systems Strengthening (TBCSS) project in Georgia aims –…
Curatio International Foundation has started implementation of new research project with the aim to provide a more in-depth understanding of the factors associated with loss to follow-up among TB patients. The project is funded under the Joint TDR/EURO Small Grants…
The Summer internship program is now open! Master and PhD students from around the world are invited to apply and use the possibility to develop advanced research skills, meet leading experts in the field and become a coauthor of a…
Curatio International Foundation together with BEMONI PUBLIC UNION (BPU) represented BioBehavior Surveillance Survey results to the Members of Parliament of Georgia. The study was conducted in seven major cities of Georgia (Tbilisi, Gori, Telavi, Zugdidi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Rustavi) with…
საერთაშორისო ფონდი კურაციოს ინტერნატურის პროგრამაში მონაწილეობის შესაძლებლობა კიდევ უფრო მეტ ადგილობრივ სტუდენტს მიეცემა. ფონდის პრეზიდენტმა ქეთევან ჩხატარაშვილმა, თავისუფალი უნივერსიტეტის კანცლერმა ვატო ლეჟავამ და აგრარული უნივერსიტეტის რექტორმა ლაშა გოცირიძემ ხელი მოაწერეს თანამშრომლობის მემორანდუმს. მემორანდუმის ფარგლებში იგეგმება უნივერსიტეტებსა და საერთაშორისო ფონდ კურაციოს შორის…
Curatio International Foundation invites Master and PhD international students to apply on Winter Internship Program. Through the program, students have the possibility to develop advanced research skills, meet leading experts in the field and become a coauthor of a scientific…
On September 28-30, 2015 Regional High Level Dialogue took place in Tbilisi, Georgia on Successful Transition to Domestic Funding of HIV and TB Response in EECA. The 320 delegates from 31 countries have agreed to work together in creating and…
Findings of population size estimation study among Man who have Sex with Men (MSM) was presented to the 8th International Aids Association conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Vancouver, Canada in July, 2015. The study was conducted by…
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance published response to the “Final evaluation of Gavi support to Bosnia and Herzegovina” conducted by Curatio International Foundation. Gavi assess the final evaluation and the given recommendations as an important document for the transition country program…
The drivers of facility-based immunization performance and costs. An application to Moldova. This is the article an International peer reviewed Journal Vaccine published, Co-authored by experts from the Curatio International Foundation. The study was a part of a multi-country coting and…
Curatio International Foundation together with Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center and Association Tanadgoma has conducted the Behavior Surveillance Survey with biomarker component. The study report of Behavior Surveillance Survey with biomarker component among 210 prisoners will be…
In 2012-2014 Curatio International Foundation implemented the costing study that aimed to evaluate routine immunization program costs and financing as well as incremental costs and financing of a new vaccine introduction in the Republic of Moldova. The study was a…
An International peer reviewed Journal PLOS One has published an article Health Service Utilization for Mental, Behavioral and Emotional Problems among Conflict-Affected Population in Georgia: A Cross-Sectional Study, authored by experts from the Curatio International Foundation, and the London School of…
An International peer reviewed journal BMC Health Services Research publishes an article Healthcare utilization and expenditures for chronic and acute conditions in Georgia: Does benefit package design matter?, authored by experts from the Curatio International Foundation and London School of…
Curatio International Foundation Hosts Health Systems Global Secretariat in Tbilisi, Georgia. Health Systems Global (HSG) is the first international membership organization fully dedicated to promoting health systems research and related knowledge translation. HSG brings together researchers, policy-makers, funders, implementers, civil…
An International peer reviewed journal Health Policy and Planning has published an article An impact evaluation of medical insurance for poor in Georgia: preliminary results and policy implications, authored by Curatio International Foundation experts. The authors evaluated the impact of…
Policy Information Platform (PIP) expert consultation was held in Istanbul on 29-30 January, 2015. At the meeting methodological issues, roadmap for the PIP implementation and evaluation approaches were discussed. CIF director George Gotsadze and Research Unit director Ivdity Chikovani participated…
On January 29, at Courtyard Marriott Hotel was held a Civil Society Forum organized by Country Coordination Mechanism. The forum was part of country dialogue process regarding HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis issues. During the meeting, civil society representatives shared results of…
Alexander Krengel from Seattle, US is a Master of Public Health student at Drexel University. He is interested in global health systems and issues about implementation health systems around the world. Thats why he became a CIF intern and spent…
Curatio International Foundation celebrates its 20 years anniversary and prepares short movie describing the history of health care reforms in Georgia after collapse of Soviet Union. The story is retailed directly by the people involved in the process and organizations…
20 Years Anniversary brochure describes reforms that have significantly altered the landscape of health care in Georgia after collapse of the Soviet Union. The contents draw on important publications and oral narratives by those who have been initiators, implementers and witnesses to…
On September 19, Curatio International Foundation celebrated the 20th anniversary. Alongside with our work it turned 20 years from Georgian healthcare system reforming start up, after collapse of Soviet Union. CIF celebrated the anniversary together with the people who were…
Curatio International Foundation published results of the survey, representing expert evaluations of processes and changes taking place in the Georgian healthcare field. “Georgian Healthcare System Barometer” is based on evaluations of 98 experts and covers 6-month period – May-October, 2013….
In October 2013, the BlogTalkRadio program focusing on health hosted Katevan Chkhatarashvili, the President of Curatio International Foundation. Ketevan talks about her public health experience and CIF’s role in transition of Georgia’s health sector. New Health Internet Radio with Global…
Ana Petriashvili became the winner of Curatio International Foundation Fellowship program for 2013- 2014. As the winner of the previous year, she too is the Master program student of International Public Health Department of Tbilisi State Medical University. Ana is…
A conference titled ”Mental health and conflict in Georgia: turning research into practice” will be held on September 12, 2013 at the Sheraton Metekhi Palace, Tbilisi. The conference will present findings from the largest research project so far undertaken in…
Which Region Has The Fastest-Growing HIV/AIDS Epidemic In The World?- Giorgi Gotsadze, Director of Curatio International Foundation was asked to discuss this issue with Forbes. The discussion precedes many health-related discussions to take place in September at the Clinton Global…
On July 6, Sydney, Australia hosted the Private Sector in Health Symposium 2013. Three rounds of parallel sessions covered diverse range of issues, such as regulation, influencing quality of care, health financing and a focus on equity. Mr. George Gotsadze,…
Curatio International Foundation has published the article on Springer, Aids and Behavior Section. The article covers the findings of CIF’s recent study on Injection risk practices and risky sexual behaviors among injection drug users (IDUs) and their sexual partners particularly…
Article published on International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1660-4601 by Bayard Roberts, Ivdity Chikovani, Nino Makhashvili, Vikram Patel and Martin McKee There is very little evidence globally on tobacco use and nicotine dependence among civilian populations…
HIV prevalence and risk behaviors among key populations were studied in Georgia in 2012. The Biomarker Behavioral Surveillance Surveys (Bio-BSS) were carried out among People Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs) in six major cities, among Men who have Sex with Men…
On May 21, Curatio International Foundation together with fifteen Georgian Think Tanks signed an Ethical and Quality Standards Document. The document presents comprehensive standards to guide the work of Georgian think tanks and establishes principles to ensure that the think…
In the framework of its internship program, during the first months of 2012 winter, Curatio International Foundation hosted two interns Lucia Callizo from Macalester college in Minnesota and Laura Covarrubias from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Interns made…
Since the creation of the Global Fund, the world’s financing instrument in the fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria the role of private foundations has significantly increased in contributing to funding, participation in its governance and to the strategy of…
On December 25, Curatio International Foundation will award its 3rd winner of CIF Scholarship program 2012-2013. The Winner is Ana Kasradze, Master students of Public Health Management from Tbilisi State Medical University. The awards ceremony will take place at Tbilisi…
During the last two decades Government of Georgia initiated series of reforms introducing major changes in health financing policy and restructuring the health system to reverse the negative trends observed in equity, affordability and quality of essential health service for…
Grant Management Solutions 2 Awarded to MSH Partnership: Up to Five More Years of Technical Support to Grantees of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria Cambridge, MA, October 16, 2012– Management Sciences for Health (MSH) takes pride…
Curatio International Foundation has completed a study exploring ‘Price, Affordability and Availability of Medicines in Georgia’. The study was divided into three stages and carried out in 2009-2001. The key aim of the study is to improve affordability and availability…
Curatio International Foundation launches its internship program for 2012-2013 years and invites interns from around the world who are studying at masters or Ph.D. level and who are interested to have first-hand experience in the real-life setting and to contribute…
Curatio International Foundation named Ana Kasradze as the winner of its annual scholarship program. Ana is the master’s program student at the Tbilisi State University, Department of International Public Health. Ana is actively involved in annual conferences and study visits…
During January-July 2010 Curatio International Foundation in collaboration with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and other partners started exploring the effects of Global Fund HIV programmes on the roles of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and…
The deadline for submission documentations for CIF web site is approaching to deadline, June 15. Master program students of Public Health Management or BA with focus on Public Health management from accredited universities in Georgia are encouraged to participate in…
As the lead key informant to the policy brief on Medical Insurance for the Poor: impact on access and affordability of health services in Georgia says, the “health care in Georgia is currently affordable for very reach and very poor”….
Use of Multi-Method Rapid Evaluation to Assess Complex Non-Communicable Condition in Low Income Countries At Geneva Health Forum 2012 Curatio International Foundation presented a study preliminary findings which looks at evaluation of health systems performance in low-resource settings with regard…
Curatio International Foundation presented two posters at Copenhagen 2012 Conference- HIV in Europe. One of the posters presented results of Bio-Behavioural surveys among Injecting Drug Users in five cities of Georgia in 2008-2009 and specifically explored Low testing uptake and…
Curatio International Foundation has contributed to publishing the paper that explores the factors enabling and undermining civil society efforts to advocate for policy reforms relating to HIV/AIDS and illicit drugs in three countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Georgia,…
In August 2011, National Center for Biotechnology Information published CIF’s scientific paper on Unsafe injection and sexual risk behavior among injecting drug users in Georgia. The paper describes the prevalence and correlates of unsafe drug injecting and sexual behaviors among…
The key aim of the study is to improve affordability and availability of medicines for the population. Based on a three-year observation of pharmacies and different medicines in Georgia, Curatio International Foundation studied the practice in the pharmaceutical sector and…
The researcher of the Curatio International Foundation Natia Rukhadze presented the findings of Catastrophic Health Expenditure Analysis in Georgia at the “Seminar on Health Financing Reforms in Georgia” held in MoLHSA on October 26, 2011. The study was funded by…
Curatio International Foundation has contributed to the development of National Health Care Strategy 2011-2015: “Affordable and Quality Health Care”. Under the current strategy, the government intends to improve population health through a reduction of disease burden and mortality by 2015….
On October 26, 2011 the researcher of the Curatio International Foundation Natia Rukhadze presented the findings of Catastrophic Health Expenditure Analysis in Georgia at the “Seminar on Health Financing Reforms in Georgia” held in MoLHSA. The study was funded by…
By the end of summer 2011 Curatio International Foundation and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) developed the web resource which serves as a guideline for qualitative approaches in researching the health systems. Information of the web site…
The research article by CIF and international experts has been published in BMC International Health and Human Rights 2009. Article is a part of the supplement: The fallacy of coverage: uncovering disparities to improve immunization rates through evidence.The Canadian International…
Georgia is among the countries with low HIV/AIDS prevalence but with a high potential for the development of a widespread epidemic. However, over the past several years while transmission through injecting drug use is still the prevailing route for HIV…
In May, 2011 the winner of the CIF fellowship program was revealed. According to the decision of the experts committee the fellowship will be granted to Maia Khutsishvili, Master program student of the Tbilisi State Medical University. Over more than…
In December 2010 CIF wrapped up the second stage of the study exploring “Price, availability and affordability of medicines in Georgia”. The study aimed at increasing awareness of civil society and improved access to medicines for the population through strengthening…
Curatio International Foundation releases report on Customer Satisfaction Research on Corporate Health Insurance. The report was supported by International Health Budget Monitoring Initiative of the Open Society Institute. The research prepared by the three experts of CIF (Marine Egutia, Natia…
Only 1/4 of Intravenous Drug Users are getting tested for HIV, putting their wife’s and girlfriends and the rest of the Georgian population at risk for a widening epidemic Curatio International Foundation, a Georgian think tank, says “motivating IDUS to…
The research article prepared by the international experts and representatives of Curatio International Foundation was published in the international journal Globalization and Health web site. The article is available at US National Library of Medicine as well. The paper identifies…
Curatio International Foundation has provided Assessment of HIV/AIDS surveillance system pilot. The operations research of HIV/AIDS surveillance pilot in Georgia was conducted in the framework of the project “Establishment of evidence-base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening the HIV/AIDS surveillance…
Curatio International Foundation in collaboration with Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center and Public Union Bemoni and association Tanadgoma has carried out Behavior Surveillance Surveys with biomarker component among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs), Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs), and…
Throughout 2 weeks Curatio International Foundation will be hosting interns from Public Health School at John Hopkins University Sudit Ranade and Mollie Werlieb. Having the opportunity to undertake internship at Curatio International Foundation for the first ever time, students are…
High quality research evidence is one of the critical preconditions for employing the evidence by policy makers into policy making. However, high quality research evidence itself is not sufficient; it must be communicated in ways that make it compelling. On…
On January 28-30, Ms. Keti Goguadze and Ms. Ivdity Chikovani, Project Managers at Curatio International Foundation presented Spot lights of Georgia Health Information System Strengthening at 2010 Global Health Information Forum in Bangkok, Thailand. The Global Health Information Forum, hosted…
Through implementing the project: Strengthening Capacity of Civil Society for Promoting Research Evidence into Policy Development in Georgia, Curatio International Foundation aims to improve the skills of civil society representatives in developing policies that are a) evidence informed b) tailored…
Curatio International Foundation unveiled the most successful Public Health Management Student on its 15th Years anniversary marking event. On December 18, Curatio International Foundation granted the first student of the fellowship program established on the occasion of its 15th anniversary….
On December 16th Curatio International Foundation in partnership with UK-Georgia professional Network (UGPN) hosted policy club discussion on Mental Health policy issues. The meeting focused on development of recommendations for the improvement of the existing mental health service provision system…
Advent of the far reaching reforms era in Georgia surged a great demand in cross-sectoral collaboration between the government, civil society and the media to ensure production of high quality evidence and increased demand for evidence informed public policy formulation….
Curatio International Foundation in partnership with UK-Georgia professional Network (UGPN) conducted policy club discussion to increase awareness of the civil society organization regarding the Bill on Changes and Amendments to the Georgian Law on Drugs and Pharmaceutical Activities, which has…
Are you a successful last year bachelor student of healthcare/public health management? If yes, you are posed a golden opportunity to be granted the fellowship worth around 250 GEL monthly. From 2009 CIF will start awarding fellowships to the most…
Today, July 24th the CIF under the auspices of the USAID funded CoReform project hosted the award ceremony dedicated to the completion of the first stage of the training course on Classifications for Hospital, Ambulatory and Laboratory interventions. 30 Master…
HMN takes the initiative to publish HIS strategic plan produced by Curatio International Foundation on its website. The first baseline assessment of HIS was carried out in 2006 in East Georgia by Curatio International Foundation. It applied the HMN (Health…
More than 20 executives from leading local and international non-governmental organizations in public policy formulation have successfully completed training workshop on ”Evidence Informed Policy”, on July 31-August 3, 2009 in Ureki, Georgia. The training workshop in Ureki was the first…
Curatio International Foundation in collaboration with Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center and Public Union Bemoni has carried out Behavior Surveillance Surveys with biomarker component among intravenous drug users (IDUs). The activity covered 5 Georgian regions -Tbilisi, Batumi,…
The country case summary displayed on GHIN website was prepared as part of the academic consortium of the WHO Maximizing Positive Synergies between health systems and GHIs initiative. The study assesses the effects of the Global Fund funding on the…
Curatio International Foundation together with Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center and Association Tanadgoma carried out Behavior Surveillance Survey with biomarker component among CSWs. The survey targeted the capital Tbilisi and regional city Batumi, sampling 280 individuals. The…
In the framework of the Global Fund project “Establishment of evidence-base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening the HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country” Curatio International Foundation has launched 2 sentinel surveillance sites at STI clinics. In March 2009 two…
Curatio International Foundation is a member of Global HIV/AIDS Initiatives Network (GHIN). As a part of the WHO Maximizing Positive Synergies publication “Interactions between Global Health Initiatives and Health Systems: Evidence from countries” Georgia Case study “System-wide effects of the…
By the decision of the Global Fund 19-th board meeting Mr.George Gotsadze, the Director of Curatio International Foundation was appointed as a Permanent Member of the Technical Review Panel (TRP). On May 5-6, 2009 at the Global Fund 19-th board…
On April 28,2009 the research article on Household Catastrophic Health Expenditure-evidence from Georgia and its policy implications was published on the online scientific journal BMC Health Services Research. The research undertaken by the highly qualified experts of Curatio International Foundation…
On March 5, 2009 the CIF, in the framework of USAID funded CoReform project organized the workshop on Classifications for Hospital and Laboratory intervention. On March 5, 2009 the workshop on Classifications for Hospital, Ambulatory and Laboratory interventions was held….
On December 24, 2008 the first phase of the project “Establishment of evidence base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening of HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country” was closed by the National Conference. The event highlighted crowning achievements of the…
Trainings on Mental Health Financing conducted with the financial support of Adam Smith Foundation end successfully. 25 representatives from Mental Health NGOs, Association of psychiatrics, psychiatric coalition, ombudsmen office and media enjoyed an opportunity of gaining sound understanding of conceptual…
On March 31, 2008 a stakeholder workshop to introduce project goal and objectives, project components, main activities and project time-frame was held at the Hotel “Ambasadori”. The workshop was organized in the framework of the project “Establishment of evidence base…
Curatio International Foundation was contracted for consulting services in the following three areas of operation and grant management support:diagnostic and remedial action planning in Global Fund grant countries facing implementation challenges;governance and oversight processes for Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs); analysis…
On February 12, 2008 a stakeholder workshop to discuss an Integrated Model and Strategic Plan for the Health Information System development in Georgia was held at the Ministry of Labor Health and Social Affairs of Georgia (MoLHSA). The workshop was…
On January 23-24, 2008 a Regional Workshop entitled “Rotavirus and Diarrheal Disease Control” was held in Tbilisi, Georgia. The workshop with 50 participants was sponsored by PATH and hosted by Curatio International Foundation. The workshop brought together representatives from Eastern…
In 2007 two editions of the guideline were published within the framework of the project Strengthening Surveillance, IEC and Procurement Planning to address Avian Influenza in Georgia. The guidelines provide comprehensive recommendations addressed to the Georgian health system workers on…
Dr. George Gotsadze, Director of the Curatio International Foundation was invited to present findings at PATH about the human health story of the dissolution of Soviet Union, the political and socio-economic transition that has challenged a weak health care system,…
Natia Rukhadze, presented preliminary research findings of the study “Effects of GFATM on Georgia’s Health System Development” to the global stakeholders. The selected topic for the presentation was “Sustainability of GFATM program supported activities in Georgia”. The workshop, which was…
Dr. George Gotsadze has participated in the fifth Global NHA symposium hosted in Lund, Sweden. July 8-11, 2007 The Fifth Global NHA symposium was a two-day workshop, arranged by the Swedish Institute for Health Economics (IHE) in collaboration with the…
Yale University announced the selection of the leading Georgian health policy advisor, Ketevan Chkhatarashvili, the president of Curatio International Foundation, an organization which is a pioneer of health care reform throughout the Caucasus, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa, as…
Dr. George Gotsadze, Director of Curatio International Foundation, traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan during May 16-18, 2007. Dr. Gotsadze was invited within the frame of Primary Health Care (PHC) Strengthening Project in Azerbaijan to contribute to the introductory workshop on National…
CIF consultant, Ketevan Goguadze in April 1-7, 2007 traveled to Armenia. The major purpose of the visit was to provide technical support to the Armenian national working group in order to estimate the costs of the current immunization program; evaluate…
On February 23, 2007 the policy club has been organized within the framework of CoReform Project with the aim to discuss organizational arrangement of the Public Health at local level. It has brought together Deputy Ministers MOLHSA, representatives of Sector…
CIF consultant George Gotsadze was invited by the country office of UNAIDS Ukraine to support the reconstruction of the management component of the Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Control Project, financed with the loan proceeds from the World Bank. The project has…
The project was funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and implemented by Curatio International Foundation (CIF) in collaboration with National Health Management Center of Georgia (NHMC), Tbilisi State Medical University, Department of Public Health and Management of Georgia (DPHM), London School…
Development of Hospital Master Plan for Georgia project started in July 1998 and ended in January 1999. The project was funded by the World Bank through prime contract with Kaiser Permanente International (USA). Curatio International Foundation managed and administered all…
The Hospital Financing in Georgia Problems & Solutions project was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through prime contract with Abt. Associates Inc. The project aimed to evaluate financing of the hospital sector in Georgia in order…
Since the restoration of independence, reforming Georgia`s healthcare system was vital. The report looks at reforms implemented since early 90ies. It give a brief overview of heatlh situation in the Soviet union. Authors: David Gzirishvili, George Mataradze; 1998. Read the…
The overall goal of the assessment was to promote a development of the national policy on family planning in Georgia through provision of updated and reliable information about the family planning/reproductive health (FP/RH) in the country. A panel of experts…
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We are a charity that support people in our community who need help to resolve the problems that they are confronted with. Help us to help them by making a donation, here are a few suggestions you may like to consider:
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Susan was a highly vulnerable person with numerous health conditions including anxiety, depression, and skin conditions and numbness in hands and feet. Due to the severity of her anxiety which included panic attacks and hallucinations Susan was unable to leave her home and was receiving ongoing care and support at home from Support Workers, Social Workers and her Family and Friends with taking her medication, food preparation, money management and self-care needs.
Susan was referred to us by the Local Mental Health Team initially for help with a Personal Independence Payment Appeal following an unsuccessful application. Our Specialist Prescribing Advice Caseworker provided intensive support, with form filling, evidence gathering and making a submission to the Tribunal Service over a period of 13 months. This resulted in successful award of Personal Independence Payment.
During this time, the caseworker discovered that Susan was in financial difficulty and required support with two separate debt issues. The first for an unsecured debt with a Catalogue which had been passed over to a Debt Recovery Agency and the other for a more complex Business Energy Debt even though Susan had a pre-payment meter installed at the property. The caseworker dealt with the first debt placing a hold on the account, whilst making arrangements for a debt management plan. Further budgeting support and Welfare Benefits checks were also made.
Our Utilities Caseworker was engaged to help with the complex Business Energy Debt dispute. Susan had previous tried to resolve the matter herself with the aid of Social Workers, however, her correspondence was ignored. The Utilities Caseworker visited Susan at home, made arrangements for her to be placed on a lower water tariff with Welsh Water and registered her on the Priority Services Register whilst making other recommendations to reduce her energy costs. The Utilities caseworker found that there was no other meter at the premises in use other than the pre-payment meter, and that Susan had never paid for her energy use via a credit meter. He subsequently attempted on many occasions to resolve the matter via the telephone and written correspondence. He also invited a representative from the Energy supplier to attend the property to view the meter installed to no avail. The energy supplier continued to bill Susan for Business Energy usage and threatened to cut off the supply. This further exacerbated Susan’s Anxiety and Depression. A formal complaint was made on Susan’s behalf about the situation to the Energy Supplier but no response was received. Therefore, a formal complaint was made to the Ombudsman. The Energy Supplier did respond to this and agreed to send a representative to Susan’s home to confirm if the Business Energy Meter at the property or not. However, this was not followed through. Therefore the Utilities Caseworker escalated the matter to the National Citizens Advice Extra Help Unit who then raised the matter with Ofgem.
Following this intervention, the Energy Company apologised for causing upset to Susan and provided a cheque of £100 and a food hamper in compensation. A representative of the Company later met with our Energy Caseworker at Susan’s home to confirm that there was no Business Energy Meter at the address, and Susan was not liable for this debt. This case was resolved approximately 18 months after the issue was first raised and the Business Debt issue was a case of misadministration on the Energy Supplier’s part. Susan sent us a Thank you card and stated that she was “very grateful” for the help and support she received in all the issues our team helped to address saying that “our staff are a credit to us” and made a small donation to our charity out of appreciation for their hard work for which we are very thankful to Susan for.
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Thursday, October 31st, 2013
Kudos to Public Interest Projects for a great conference yesterday. “Breaking Out” was a thoughtful series of discussions about philanthropy in the 21st century.
One thing stuck in my craw, however. I appreciate the power of storytelling, and get that narrative is an important tool for engagement. The videos shown for the Girl Effect (an oldie but a goodie) and the trailer for the new documentary “A Place at the Table”, about hunger in America were compelling. They told a clear story, with a call to action, and were shot/animated and scored in a way that stirred the emotions. Their makers touted them as a useful tool for engaging broad audiences.
Part of the reason such narratives are so powerful is that they tap into mental models that have been shaped by a lifetime of consuming fictional narratives. Hollywood has taught us how to read stories, and those stories almost always have a happy ending. What’s more, movies purposely skip over the mundane details. The hero wakes up, then she’s at the office. You don’t see her hellish commute.
But here’s the thing. It’s in those mundane details that social change really happens. And more importantly, it’s where social change goes wrong, or just fails to happen. But narratives that draw on the instinctual grammar of fiction encourage us to see the world through a Hollywood lens – whether they intend to or not. Our mind fills in the blanks in the story, but does so hopefully, or with the best-case scenario. But often the scenario plays out differently. And there’s nothing more demoralizing than a story that falls flat. Look at what happened to #kony2012.
So I have to question the value of narrative and storytelling for social change, at least in the form of a three-minute video. Let’s have ground truth, in all its complexity, and not a fairy tale. I’m hopeful that the full version of “A Place at the Table” does this. And I’m looking forward to Jose Antonio Vargas’ “Documented.”
Have you seen examples of videos advancing social change that don’t draw on the Hollywood logic of happy endings, and are still powerfully motivating?
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: campaigns, culture, motivations for giving | No Comments »
Brad Smith hits it out of the park again with “The Brave New World of Good,” a very useful synthesis, reflection on, and pertinent critique of major trends in philanthropy and nonprofits such as open data, transparency, innovation, and markets. One phrase in particular stood out for me:
“Collection of data by government has a business model; it’s called tax dollars.”
It’s ironic that this timely piece came out during the latest government shutdown, because I would say that the business model is actually tax dollars and legitimacy – and the latter is in short supply these days.
Sadly, foundations have had a fair amount to do with the creation of the partisan echo chamber in which we find ourselves. It’s well-documented how a number of conservative private foundations funded the intellectual infrastructure of think tanks and policy experts that over time have moved the center of political discourse ever rightward. We’re at the point that a model of healthcare reform championed by the Heritage Foundation and implemented by a Republican governor is excoriated as a progressive overreach.
A further irony is that progressive funders are practically envious of the success that conservative foundations have had in shaping the policy discourse, not least because the tactics used are ones that progressive critics of foundation practices have championed for years: long-term, general-operating support of organizations explicitly working on policy and advocacy issues.
The success of one side has prompted a kind of intellectual arms race, with mirrored (but asymmetrical) infrastructures touting conservative and progressive ideas through relatively closed systems of think tanks, policy shops, and in the case of the conservative movement, talk radio and TV news.
Can funders instead support the emergence of a vibrant, active center that draws energy and attention away from the partisan battle consuming Washington and threatening the national and global economy? As Phil Buchanan helpfully points out, the National Purpose Initiative seeks to do just that. I applaud this effort and particularly its spirit.
One friendly suggestion: take a page from the success of progressive movements like LGBTQ rights and immigrant rights and embrace cultural-change strategies. Putting a human face on a cause, and making the “other” relatable on a personal level, is more important than ever. Our intellectual infrastructures – which again, I’m not pretending are anywhere near evenly matched – move us toward ever more bloodless forms of analysis and abstraction. And the filter bubbles in which most of us are enclosed, providing only information that shares views we already hold, reinforce this exclusion from each other. As Sally Kohn helpfully described at a recent TedNYC talk, “Absent unquestioned evidence to do otherwise, I would like to start to see a country where we all assume that we want what’s best for each other.” And this starts to happen through honest, authentic engagement with those who share views unlike our own.
This can happen usefully at a local level. An overwhelming number of foundations are local entities. Here is an opportunity to leverage the strengths of the sector in service of a less polarized political discourse. Remember that business model of collection of data by government: taxes and legitimacy. Where foundations can help build up the store of legitimacy of our political system by fostering an alternative civic culture, they should consider doing so.
How have you seen foundations play this role? What are models worth sharing?
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: common good, conflict/dispute resolution, culture, democracy, hard problems, local knowledge | No Comments »
Standard Time
At the Independent Sector conference last week, we had the privilege of seeing Wynton Marsalis speak and perform. I was excited for the latter, but came away floored by the former. His manner of speech and thought were so distinctive and insightful, it felt like an implicit reproach to the generalities in which big-tent conferences traffic.
All of Marsalis’ statements were grounded in a place and a time. To understand the origins of jazz, he explained how in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, English, French, Spanish, Creole, and African cultures converged in New Orleans to create the conditions for a new form of music. When introducing his talented backing band (piano and upright bass), he referred to them by name, age, and place. It matters that the pianist is 31 and from Milwaukee, and that the bassist is 19 and from Jamaica. Their generational and place-based experiences shape the music to which they’re exposed, the musicians with whom they can collaborate, and therefore how they play.
Marsalis went on to describe jazz as a metaphor for democracy: players learn to collaborate around a common theme, improvising within a structure. Mastery comes not just from technical skill but from deep knowledge of history and diverse modes of expression that have come before and exist now.
What would it mean for foundations to operate as part of a jazz trio, in the Marsalis mode, with nonprofits and government? (All right, it should be a quartet that involves business.) Above all, good jazz players are skilled listeners. They know the qualities of their instrument, and how it blends with the other instruments. The drums don’t carry the melody. The trumpet doesn’t play rhythm. But everyone gets a solo – for a certain amount of time. The players look at each other and listen to each other to understand when it’s time for the solo to end and the song to continue.
Funders need to learn how to listen better to the other players in the social change quartet, and how to ground themselves in the strengths and limitations of their “instrument” – grantmaking, convening, advocacy, research, field-building, etc. The more they understand what their instrument is and isn’t good for, the more collaboratively, fluently, and beautifully they can play.
Innovation comes through a thorough grounding in tradition, so that when you repeat themes that have been heard many times before – the “standards” – you can bring a new flavor to them while recognizing the work that’s gone before. So when funders indulge in what I call “zombie philanthropic ideas that won’t die“, they should remember Wynton Marsalis and ask themselves – and their fellow players – “where have I heard that one before?” And a new song can be born….
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: common good, conflict/dispute resolution, democracy, funder-grantee relationship, metaphors, zombie ideas | 2 Comments »
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PETA continues to slander A&M with claims of withholding public records
The Cavalry Group Team 1 year ago No Comments
Read the original article by Asha Fuller at thebatt.com here.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has filed a second lawsuit against Texas A&M University in the most recent installment of a long-running campaign protesting the university’s use of dogs in its Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) medical research labs.
This second lawsuit, which accuses A&M of withholding public records, comes just one month after PETA filed its first lawsuit against the university for censoring its Facebook comments.
PETA’s campaign against the lab at A&M officially began in December 2016 with the public release of video footage of dogs inside the university’s labs. Since it began, PETA’s campaign has included protests at university events such as football games and graduations, advertising vehicles driven around campus and social media posts.
Kelly Brown, associate vice president of marketing and communications at A&M, defended the university’s use of a lab which tests on animals, saying it is required by the FDA.
“Testing on animals is required by the Federal Drug Administration before the drug can be tried by people,” Brown said. “A drug born out of research done at Texas A&M is currently in human clinical trials. While DMD occurs in both children and dogs, the disease is not as severe in dogs, which means dogs offer a unique opportunity to learn as much as possible, thereby helping all affected by DMD.”
According to Dr. Alka Chandna, PETA’s vice president of laboratory cases management, PETA first found out about the use of dogs in A&M’s research labs in 2013, after receiving video footage from an unnamed inside source. Chandna said the organization conducted research to find out what was happening in the labs before it began its campaign.
“[At first,] we did not go public because we had to do a certain amount of due diligence, and that included submitting a records request to Texas A&M to request information about the dog laboratory,” Chandna said.
Chandna said the university initially gave PETA thousands of pages of records about the dogs in the labs. After the release of the video, A&M released statements challenging the validity and relevance of the videos, prompting PETA to submit more records requests to the university. Chandna said many of the requests had been sent to the attorney general’s office and others were ignored. The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences could not be reached to comment.
PETA has filed lawsuits against other universities across the country, with the majority of the lawsuits being focused on withholding records.
Chandna said that, despite the protesting campaign, PETA holds no ill will towards the university.
“We have never said that A&M University is bad … We admire what they’re doing and we admire the campus. The campaign, whether it’s at A&M or any other campus, has never been against the university at large. It [is the experiments] at the university we are taking issue with,” Chandna said.
An animal rights activist threw an angler’s catch back into a lake.
Animal rights activists must pay $331,991 in restitution to California farm, court says
The Cavalry Group Team January 1, 2019
PA bill would ban pet stores from selling breeders’ dogs
The Cavalry Group Team February 2, 2019
The Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance Wants No Privately Owned Big Cats
Animal Rights Extremists Want to End Horse-Drawn Carriages in Downtown Frederick
Farmers, ranchers, sportsmen now oppose dog-racing ban
Tags: animal testing, lawsuits, PETA, research dogs, Texas A and M
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George Knightley Chetwode
Admiral SIR George Knightley Chetwode, K.C.B., C.B.E., Royal Navy (10 December, 1877 – 11 March, 1957) served in the Royal Navy.
2 Great War
3 Post-War
4 World War II
Chetwode was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in December, 1899.[1]
Chetwode was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1912.[2]
Chetwode was appointed to Royal Oak on 30 January, 1916, to be her executive officer upon commissioning. He remained in her through until July, 1917, having been promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1917.[3] It was decided to take advantage of his considerable experience in flotilla work, and he was appointed to Blenheim, additional, to serve as Captain (D) of the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla on 15 August, 1917. His tenure there was likely through the end of the war, as his next appointment occurred post-war.[4]
Chetwode was appointed to the British Naval Mission to Greece with the rank of Rear Admiral in the Royal Hellenic Navy on 1 June, 1919. He reverted to the Royal navy on 26 January, 1922.[5]
Chetwode was appointed in command of the battleship Queen Elizabeth in May, 1925, having recently returned from hospital.[6]
In March, 1926, Chetwode was appointed in command of the battleship Warspite.
On 4 August, 1927, he took passage from Corfu to Brindisi aboard the destroyer Wren.[7]
Chetwode was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 13 June, 1928.[8]
Chetwode was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 4 January, 1933.[9]
Chetwode was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 22 July, 1936 and was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 19 August.[10]
Chetwode was fined 40 pounds and 51/- in costs at Magistrate's Court in Portsmouth for an offence against the Rationing (General Provisions) Order 1942 for obtaining rationed food for household consumption otherwise than in accordance with the order. The First Sea Lord approved this notation in Chetwode's record.[11]
James R. P. Hawksley Captain of H.M.S. Ure
10 Apr, 1906[12] – 28 May, 1906[13] Succeeded by
James R. P. Hawksley
William E. Middleton Captain of H.M.S. Teazer
28 May, 1906[14] – 3 Aug, 1906[15] Succeeded by
John M. Casement Captain of H.M.S. Haughty
3 Aug, 1906[16] – 15 Jun, 1908[17] Succeeded by
Charles G. Robinson
Claude Seymour Captain of H.M.S. Earnest
15 Jun, 1908[18][19] – 1 Sep, 1909[20] Succeeded by
Richard F. White
Richard F. White Captain of H.M.S. Swale
1 Sep, 1909[21] – 2 Sep, 1910[22] Succeeded by
Edward O. Tudor
? Captain of H.M.S. Renard
2 Sep, 1910[23][24] – 28 Jun, 1912[25] Succeeded by
Leveson G. B. A. Campbell
New Command Captain of H.M.S. Firedrake
2 Sep, 1912[26] – 4 Jan, 1913[27] Succeeded by
Benjamin W. Barrow
F. Clifton Brown Captain (D), Fifth Destroyer Flotilla
15 Aug, 1917[28][29] Succeeded by
Kerrison Kiddle
Frederick C. Fisher Captain of H.M.S. Danae
21 Apr, 1922[30] – 28 Apr, 1923 Succeeded by
Francis M. Austin
Edward O. Cochrane Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence
11 Sep, 1923[31][32] – 15 May, 1925[33] Succeeded by
Kenneth G. B. Dewar
Frank F. Rose Captain of H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth
15 May, 1925[34] – Mar, 1926[35] Succeeded by
Humphrey T. Walwyn
Humphrey T. Walwyn Captain of H.M.S. Warspite
17 Mar, 1926[36] – Aug, 1927[37] Succeeded by
Thomas N. James
Eric J. A. Fullerton Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty
1 Oct, 1929[38][39] – 15 Jan, 1932[40] Succeeded by
Sidney J. Meyrick
Joseph C. W. Henley Rear-Admiral Commanding, First Cruiser Squadron
19 Mar, 1932[41] – 20 Jun, 1933[42] Succeeded by
John K. im Thurn
Henry W. Parker Admiral Commanding Reserves
5 Oct, 1933[43] – 14 Feb, 1936[44] Succeeded by
Henry J. S. Brownrigg
↑ Chetwode Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 390.
↑ The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 15.
↑ The Navy List. (July, 1909). p. 306.
↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 366.
↑ The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 743.
↑ The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 746.
↑ "Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 11 September, 1923. Issue 43443, col A, p. 20.
↑ "Naval, Military, and Air Force" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 16 September, 1929. Issue 45309, col C, p. 7.
Retrieved from "http://dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php?title=George_Knightley_Chetwode&oldid=249967"
Flag Officers
Flag Officers (UK)
Admirals (UK)
H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of July, 1891
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Pantech Breeze III flip featurephone now available at AT&T for $49.99
Unwired View Jul 19, 2011
Jul 19, 2011 Read Source
Aside from the HTC Status, AT&T had another phone launch today. And even if the price is identical to that of HTC’s Facebook-centric Android-powered smartphone, this is anything but a smartphone. In fact, it has to be aimed at those people who absolutely hate smartphones, or hate the idea of a phone doing anything more than calling and texting. But mostly calling. It has to be aimed at them, since who else would, for example, choose this over the Status, considering they both go for the same amount of dough?
The mystery device in question is the Pantech Breeze III, which is apparently also known as the breEZe. Get it? EZ.
Well, it should be that, because it’s not much else, now is it? The Pantech Breeze III is obviously the successor to last year’s Breeze II, which itself was the successor to the original Breeze from 2008. The Breeze III is a flip phone, a clamshell if you will. It has 3G support (3.6 Mbps HSDPA), a 2.2-inch 240×320 internal display, a 1.3-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, 80 MB of internal storage space expandable via microSD cards, 1000-entry phonebook, MP3 player, and a 920 mAh battery.
If you’re interested in picking one up, you’ll have to shell out $49.99 (after a $50 mail-in rebate), while agreeing to a new two-year contract. If that sounds good to you, head over to AT&T and do the deed.
Cheap Pantech breEZe II launched by AT&T
AT&T now offering low-end Pantech Breeze
SanDisk working on 128GB MicroSDHC cards?
BREW-based Pantech Pursuit II will be available at AT&T on July 17 for $49.99
Cheap LG Breeze is now available in Canada at Koodo Mobile
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1,000,000 Muslims Will March To DC On 9-11-13
A group calling themselves The American Muslim Political Action Committee (AMPAC) is planning a march to Washington DC. They are asking 1,000,000,000 Muslims to show up and march.
Guess when?
That's right, September 11, 2013.
The timing of the event is not only tasteless, to say the least, but raises questions and affirms the fears of many.
What are they thinking?
What are we thinking to even allow the event?
Not only are the Muslims planning to stand strong in DC on the anniversary of the worst massacre in American history perpetrated in the name of Islam, but the demands they are making on our government are unbelievable.
The organizer of the event is hardly a "peaceful" person.
The organizers are demanding the following of our government:
"We at AMPAC (American Political Action Committee) are planning an historic event for 9.11.13 where one million Muslims will march to Washington D.C. and demand that our civil rights be protected by our government.
We are demanding that laws be enacted protecting our 1st amendment . We are asking President Obama to fulfill his promise from his first campaign for Presidency of a transparent government. Lastly we are asking for the release of the 9/11 commission report to the American people."
The group seems to rationalize the date chosen for their march by claiming that the media has been lying to the American people with regard to the role Islam played in the 9/11 attacks:
"On 9.11.01 our country was forever changed by the horrific events in New York. The entire country was victimized by the acts done on that day. Muslim and non Muslim alike were traumatized but we as Muslims continue 12 years later to be victimized by being made the villains. To this day every media outlet and anti Islamic organization has committed slanderous and libel statements against us as Muslims and our religion of Islam.
There is not as more free and accepting nation in the world than the United States of America."
They continue:
Yet our Government either sits idly by and does nothing to protect our freedoms or it exacerbates the problem with its constant war on terrorism in Islamic countries, congressional hearings on Islam in America, and its changes to the NDAA law.
These lies told to the American population has made it impossible for us to do true Dawa. Why do we have to defend our religion while doing Dawa? Why can’t we just share the perfection of the Quran and the beauty of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SWS)"
Why do Muslims hate Jews? There are several reasons.
A recent article by Nonie Darwish, a former Muslim and author of the book, "The Devil We Don't Know" gives an historic overview of Mohammed's mission to launch the religion of Islam.
It is an in depth article which says, "At the heart of Islamic theology is the belief that world peace will be established only when Jews are wiped from the earth."
But why the hatred of Jews?
She says hating Jews is a way of life for Muslims---"To the average Muslim, routinely cursing Jews in mosques feels normal and even holy."
She says it goes back to the beginning of Islam. As Mohammad began his trek to create the religion of Islam, his original intent was to create a uniquely Abrabian religion, but he was rejected initially by his own people.
In his attempt to legitimize his new religion he attempted to link it to Judaism and Christianity. Being rejected in Mecca by his own, he moved on to Medina, an area where many Jews lived.
There he believed the Jews would accept him as their Messiah, thus lending credibility to his claims and his own tribe back in Mecca.
At first the Koran of Mecca, as it was known, contained a number of verses that were very complimentary toward the Jews. At first the Jews accepted him, not as Messiah, but simply as a person. However, when the Jews rejected Mohammad and his teaching, refusing to convert from Judaism, he flipped.
The Koran changed from "love" to "hate" toward the Jews. Not only was he angry over being rejected, but also envious of the prosperity the Jews were enjoying in the region.
Mohammad was a warrior and gained his wealth by fighting wars and advancing violence.
He never got over the rejection by the "people of the book"---the Jews.
In his final days---on his death bed, he entrusted Muslims to "kill Jews where ever they found them," making this his holy commandment.
There is much more. I encourage you to read her entire article.
Islam is clearly not a religion of peace.
Darwish says, "Islam's greatest enemy is the truth."
Truth is Christianity's greatest strength. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
He also said, 'You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free."
The conflict with Islam, however, is not merely cultural or even philosophical---it is spiritual.
Mohammad certainly knew the tenants of Christianity. He wanted to be the "Christ." He wanted to be God.
It's a familiar narrative.
This puts a different light, at least for me, on the demands being made in regard to the upcoming million Muslim march on Washington DC. On 9-11.
Be Vigilant. Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.
Anonymous 4:32 PM, August 20, 2013
They shouldn't be allowed to do this. They're lucky we even let them live here, but now they're pushing it too far.
However, they are here now whether we like it or not and these people are spiritually lost. They are our neighbors, fellow students and coworkers now. What an awesome opportunity to share the Good News with them, when they might have not heard it or even seen it in action before!
I don't like it anymore than you, but as believers we are not called to build our own personal kingdom's here on earth, this is not our true home, but we are to go out and make disciples of all men, living with a humble, compassionate and servants heart, denying ourselves and picking up our crosses daily. Putting others before ourselves.
They might march to D.C. on 9-11, but I believe on that day we as believers, should be on our knees with bowed hearts and heads to Almighty God, praying for wisdom and discernment on how to reach these people God also sent His Son to die for. Not one, He wishes to be lost. We have a great responsibility before us, and we will either bring honor and glory to our God or be seduced by the things and busyness of this world and let the opportunity pass us by, let the harvest die.
I read some TEA Party organization was joining in also . Their is a strong following in some libertarian circles that promote 9/11 was an inside deal .
Its a shame so many people think so terribly about this country .
Anonymous 11:04 AM, August 08, 2015
I'm a libertarian, and run in libertarian circles. I don't know anyone who thinks 9/11 was an inside deal.
Anonymous 10:28 PM, August 21, 2013
Freedom of religion is not only for Christians.
It's not for people who just wnat to cut the heads off other religions.
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Let me sum up the two previous posts to make the argument clear. The crucial observations come from an infrared satellite thermometer in radiative contact with the Earth + atmosphere, which selectively can measure the temperature of different frequencies. Reading of the infrared thermometer shows the following temperatures:
220 K for wave numbers 600 - 800 (attributed to the trace gas CO2 at the tropopause)
288 K for wave numbers 800 - 1200 (attributed to the Earth surface)
255 K for wave numbers below 600 (attributed to water vapor at 5km altitude).
From these temperature reading the above radiance spectrum is constructed using Planck's law
R(n) ~ T n^2
where R(n) is the radiance in W/m2 per unit of frequency, n is the frequency (~ wave number) and T the temperature (common for all frequencies).
The GHE is supposed to be the ditch in the radiance curve for wave numbers 600 - 800, which results from the drop in temperature from the reading of 288 K attributed to the Earth surface with a transparent atmosphere in the range 800 - 1200 of the atmospheric window, to the 220 K attributed to CO2 at the tropopause in the range 600 - 800 of absorption/emission of CO2.
Visibly, the drop in temperature from 288 to 220 K and the ditch in the spectrum in the range 600 - 800, is most substantial and hence the GHE must be most substantial, even if it is the effect of a trace gas. Right?
The key to the GHE is thus the reading by the infrared thermometer of a temperature of 220 K of the trace gas CO2. The thermometer could be the Nimbus 4 michelson interferometer first flown in 1970.
The thermometer reads the temperature of a radiating body from radiative equilibrium in the frequency range of the radiation of the body, and the thermometer can be designed to have a very narrow range allowing the selective reading of a specific frequency. The absorption/emission spectrum of CO2 has a very narrow spike at a wave number of 666 (wave length 15 micrometer) as seen in the following absorption spectrum:
Now, tuning the thermometer to the frequency of the CO2 spike makes it possible to read a temperature of atmospheric CO2 even if the concentration is very small, and increasing the sensitivity of the thermometer may compensate for any decrease of CO2.
In other words, even with a vanishingly small presence of CO2 in the atmosphere, a sufficiently sensitive thermometer would be able to report a temperature of 220 K in the range 600 - 800, as the evidence of a powerful GHE.
Evidently the Nimbus 4 thermometer was sensitive enough to report in 1970 the temperature of the atmospheric trace gas CO2 (390 ppm = 0.039%) to be 220 K in the troposphere.
This opened to the CO2 global warming alarm based on the argument that even if CO2 is a trace gas, it has the power of changing the climate of the Earth, with the evidence being the visible ditch in the radiance spectrum documented by the reading of the Nimbus 4 thermometer.
But the ditch in the radiance spectrum is constructed from a selective reading of the temperature of CO2 and may not represent reality, only the reading of a vanishingly small effect by a very sensitive thermometer.
The discovery of the GHE is thus directly connected to the use of the sensitive Nimbus 4 thermometer:
The major effect of atmospheric CO2 is evidenced by a very sensitive instrument, as if an elephant is discovered by a microscope!
PS Notice the connection with How to Fool Yourself with a Pyrgeometer. In both cases, it is the temperature which is measured and the radiance is computed. Recall that using an ideal blackbody as thermometer, allows the determination of the temperature of a body at distance without knowing the emissivity (=absorptivity) of the body: If the thermometer heats up then the body has a higher temperature, and if the thermometer cools then the body has a lower temperature. In other words, temperature can be measured at distance, but determining radiance requires emissivity which in general is unknown.
Etiketter: greenhouse effect, infrared thermometer, thermal imaging
harish dev 28 december 2017 08:49
Get this Non-Contact #infraredthermometer that delivers quick, easy, and accurate readings. Just point and shoot this Smart Sensor device for temperature readings.
2 in 1 Professional Infrared Thermometer
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LISS LLEWELLYN
HOME WORKS LISS LLEWELLYN CONTACT Search
Clare Leighton, Fishermen & Nets, (BPL 615), original woodblock
Clare Leighton was an English/American artist, writer and illustrator, best known for her wood engravings.
Clare Leighton was born in London on 12 April 1898, the daughter of Robert Leighton (1858-1934) and Marie Connor Leighton (1865-1941), both authors. Her early efforts at painting were encouraged by her parents and her uncle Jack Leighton, an artist and illustrator. In 1915, she began formal studies at the Brighton College of Art and later trained at the Slade School of Fine Art (1921-23), and the Central School of Arts and Crafts, where she studied wood engraving under Noel Rooke.
During the late 1920s and 1930s, Clare Leighton visited the United States on a number of lecture tours. In 1939, at the conclusion of a lengthy relationship with the radical journalist Henry Brailsford, she emigrated to the US and became a naturalised citizen in 1945. Over the course of a long and prolific career, she wrote and illustrated numerous books praising the virtues of the countryside and the people who worked the land. During the 1920s and 1930s, as the world around her became increasingly technological, industrial, and urban, Leighton portrayed rural working men and women. In the 1950s she created designs for Steuben Glass, Wedgwood plates, several stained glass windows for churches in New England and for the windows of Worcester Cathedral, Massachussetts (USA).
The best known of Clare Leighton’s books are The Farmer’s Year (1933) a calendar of English husbandry, Four Hedges – A Gardener’s Chronicle (1935)the development of a garden from a meadow she had bought in the Chilterns and Tempestuous Petticoat: The Story of an Invincible Edwardian (1948) describing her childhood and her bohemian mother. Books set in America and written after Clare’s emigration include Southern Harvest (1942) and Where Land meets Sea – the Tideline of Cape Cod (1953). Autobiographical text and illustrations are available in “Clare Leighton: the growth and shaping of an artist-writer”, published 2009.
Copyright @ 2016 Liss Llewellyn Fine Art. All rights reserved.
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MAIN PAGE > Journal "NB: Administrative Law and Administration Practice" > Contents of Issue № 03/2017
Contents of Issue № 03/2017
Liability in administrative and municipal law
Neganova E.N. - Directions of law-making in the sphere of administrative liability for the breach of the social constitutional right to housing pp. 1-6
DOI: 10.7256/2306-9945.2017.3.22997
Abstract: The research subject is the range of norms of housing law, contained in the Administrative Offences Code of the Russian Federation, aimed at the protection of citizens’ rights against bureaucratic arbitrariness in the sphere of the social constitutional right to housing. The author states that the current compositions of administrative offences on the federal level don’t guarantee proper protection of the realization of the social constitutional right to housing. This fact speaks for the insufficiency of housing law with regard to the necessary administrative sanctions. However, the provisions of the Administrative Offences Code, containing the description of the compositions of administrative offences in the sphere of housing law, are disorganized and chaotic. The author formulates scientific conclusions based on the collection, generalization and analysis of judicial decisions of the courts of different levels and the materials of prosecutor’s practice contained in the reports, newsletters and information letters of the prosecutors of the Russian Federation and other levels for 2005 – 2016. The author also uses the comparative-legal method to analyze the provisions of administrative and housing law. In order to eliminate the legislative gaps in housing law, it is necessary to formalize the right to improved housing and the registration of those needing housing, thus guaranteeing citizens’ constitutional rights to housing. The administrative offences compositions system in the sphere of the right to housing, contained in the Administrative Offences Code of the Russian Federation, should be structured in accordance with the general fundamentals of law and constitutional law.
Question at hand
Veretentseva I.V. - Problem aspects of administrative and jurisdictional activities of customs agencies in the sphere of protection of intellectual property rights pp. 7-17
Abstract: The research subject is the problem aspects of administrative and jurisdictional activities of customs agencies in the sphere of protection of intellectual property rights. The author defines and considers some problem issues caused by the performance of administrative jurisdiction by customs agencies in the mentioned sphere: connected with the proceedings on administrative cases in the sphere of intellectual property right (specified in article 7.12, part 1, and article 14.10 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Russian Federation) and with citizens’ appeals proceedings. The research methodology is based on the set of general scientific and specific research methods of cognition (the dialectical method, analysis, synthesis, analogy, deduction, the formal-logical and comparative-legal method). The scientific novelty of the study consists in the fact that the author reveals the problem aspects of administrative and jurisdictional activities of customs agencies in the sphere of the protection of intellectual property rights, and offers the possible variants to solve these issues in order to improve this sector of customs agencies’ activities and raise its effectiveness.
Theory and science of administrative and municipal law
Kolesnikov Y.A., Butko Y.B. - Classification of banks and banking sector segmentation: foreign and Russian experience of legal regulation pp. 18-28
Abstract: This article discusses the international experience in determining the concept of a bank. The authors give special attention to the classification of credit organizations in retrospective and international context, with a particular focus on the division of banks into investment and commercial institutions. The authors describe the existing worldwide trend of banking universalization. The authors analyze the admissibility of banking sector differentiation in connection with the realization of a multi-level banking system in the Russian Federation and the prospects and the influence of formalization of such distinction on law enforcement practice. The methodology of the research consists of general scientific methods of enquiry such as analysis, synthesis, analogy, induction, modelling, as well as the specific methods of legal science including the historical, comparative and prognostication methods. The scientific novelty of the research lies in determining the patterns of banking legal regulation development and the further assessment of a multi-level banking system feasibility. The main conclusion of the research consists in the admissibility of banking business differentiation in Russia, contrary to the prevailing opinion about the necessity of universalization.
Zatsepina E. - Regulatory functions of the Bank of Russia in the sphere of microfinance activities pp. 29-35
Abstract: The author studies the main regulatory functions of the Bank of Russia in the sphere of microfinance activities. The structural reform of microfinancing in Russia, which had consisted in the introduction of the institution of self-regulation in July 2016, actualized the issues of differentiation of regulatory functions of public authorities and organizations. The author characterizes the jurisdictional functions of the Bank of Russia in the sphere of microfinancing. Significant attention is given to the regulatory functions. The author defines the correlation between the concept of “control” and “supervision”. The research methodology is based on general scientific (analysis, synthesis, classification, description) and specific methods of cognition (formal-dogmatic, system-structural, and the method of legal interpretation). The scientific novelty of the study is determined by the amendments to the Federal law of 2 July 2010 “On microfinance activities and microfinance organizations”, particularly by the introduction of the institution of self-regulation in the sphere of microfinancing and endowing them with some functions of the Bank of Russian in the sphere of regulation of microcredit and microfinance organizations.
Management law
Bratanovskii S.N., Lisitskaya A.V. - Administrative and legal aspects of realization of the principles of state control over automobile transport in the Russian Federation pp. 36-56
Abstract: The research subject is the set of legal documents guaranteeing the implementation of principles of state control over automobile transport in the Russian Federation. The purpose of the research is to study the problems of the process of implementation and to develop administrative provisions, which can help solve these problems.The authors analyze the concept of the principles of state control and describe their scientific classification. The authors consider each of the principles and characterize them. Special attention is given to the principle of the priority of life and health of the participants of road traffic over the economic results. The research is based on the methods of system analysis, the comparative-legal, formal-legal and other methods approved by modern jurisprudence. The authors conclude that the proposed administrative-legal measures aimed at the increase the effectiveness of passenger and cargo carriage can be integrated in the current state programs subject to appropriate financing. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the analysis of administrative and legal problems of state control over automobile transport and in the elaboration of proposals about their elimination.
Administrative process and procedure
Sultanov K.A. - Issues of initiation of administrative investigation into an unidentified person pp. 57-63
Abstract: The research subject is the ussies of initiation of administrative investigation into an unidentified person. The research object is administrative investigation as a stage of administrative proceedings. The author studies the normative framework and draft laws regulating investigation into unidentified persons. Special attention is given to the procedure of initiation of administrative investigation in territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The author describes the cases when it is impossible to initiate investigation into an unidentified person. The author formulates particular recommendations for the formation of a unified law enforcement practice of administrative proceedings in territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The research methodology is determined by the set of the most commonly used research methods including analysis and synthesis of legislation about the topic under study, the formal-legal method, structural-logical exposition of the material, comparative-legal method. The author concludes about the illegitimacy of initiation of administrative investigation into an unidentified person in a similar way to criminal proceedings. The author specifies particular recommendations for the formation of single law-enforcement practice of administrative proceedings in territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the assessment of the current condition of legislation on administrative investigation. A special author’s contribution is the definition of ways of further improvement and the prospects of development of the procedure of initiation of investigation in particular persons. The practical significance of the study consists in elaboration of scientifically grounded proposals about elimination of violations of the procedure of imposition of administrative sanctions.
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10 Thoughts on… The Destiny Beta (Sony Playstation 4, Microsoft Xbox One)
Mark B. | August 6, 2014 | 10 Thoughts, Archive, Top Story | No Comments
When Bungie decided they were more or less tired of making Halo and opted to hand off the franchise to Microsoft so they could go do something else, it should probably come as no surprise that their next venture would be a futuristic FPS (though I was holding out for a Pathways into Darkness reboot personally). For those who have been looking askance at Destiny, assuming it to be another retread of the ground Halo paved, think again; Destiny certainly has its resemblances to Halo, but has just as much in common with Borderlands or Defiance in terms of lineage. It’s no secret that there’s a lot of hype behind this game, and Bungie has been going out of their way to keep that hype going, first with the closed Alpha they released about a month ago, and now with the closed-then-open Beta they just wrapped up for the game. We’ve spent some time with both the Alpha and the Beta, testing out various things, and with the Beta having just recently wrapped up we wanted to take some time to talk about what was on display, where it’s going and what it could mean for the game when it launches in September.
1.) One thing that’s been consistent between the Alpha and Beta is the startup; when you jump into the game you get to customize your first character (though you can go back and build more whenever you wish) before you’re taken to the story proper. The game offers three classes to choose from: Titans, which are your more standard combat tanks, Hunters, which act as scout/ranger type characters, and Warlocks, which are more space mages than anything else. You can also choose your race, between standard looking Humans, ethereal humanoid looking Awoken, and robotic Exo, though this doesn’t change your stats any and is entirely for your personal amusement. Each race also offers male and female options from the get go so no one is left out in the cold, as well as different modifications for appearance, such as face structure, hair, eye color and other little enhancements. When in combat you won’t be seeing these changes, but they’re visible when you’re in the Tower, so there’s still benefit to doing it, and if nothing else, it lets you make your characters your own.
2.) The Alpha more or less dumped you into the game with little to no information, but the Beta gives you a pretty good idea of what the plot is about at least. Destiny takes place in something of a post-apocalyptic future where the Earth has more or less been ruined by “The Darkness,” which is less Jackie Estacado and more hostile alien races who want to see the remnants of Earth society dead. As the game begins, a Ghost (robotic AI’s that act as helpers) finds you dead in the middle of a junk-filled field and brings you back to life. It appears, from his dialogue, that you’ve been dead for a long time, and he’s been searching for you, presumably, because of the capability you possess. The intro sequence itself acts as much as a tutorial as it does an introduction to the game world, but there’s a fairly good introduction to the plot in the Beta, as it fills in many of the blanks about why the world is the way it is and what your purpose in the world is. On a base level the plot isn’t anything amazing but it’s interesting, and it gives you an idea of what’s going on without spelling everything out, so you’ll want to come back to the final game when it launches.
3.) Having spent a good bit of time with both the Xbox One and PS4 versions of the Beta (mostly the PS4 version), assuming the final product matches up to the Beta content, players on either console should find Destiny to be a good example of what their console of choice is capable of. Visually, the game has an interesting aesthetic to it that feels somewhat like a cross between Brink, Mass Effect and Fallout 3, between the futuristic landscapes, the sterile menus and the bombed out outside world, and it works. The enemy and player models are interesting looking and the various combat special effects really pop, and while not everything is perfect (at least two of the running animations look like the character’s holding it in), the vast majority of the visuals look rather nice. For those who are wondering, the visual fidelity differences between the Xbox One and PS4 versions are generally minor; while there are extensive technical comparisons online in various places for those who are interested in specifics, I saw little significant difference between the Betas so far, so if the final version mirrors this, the game will look great for everyone. Aurally, the music is basically what you’d expect, IE a mix of orchestral score and electronic beats, and it all sounds good so far. The voice work is also pretty top notch; the obvious note is that Peter Dinklage does the voice work for the Ghost AI, but interestingly enough it’s the rest of the voice acting that shines, partly because the other voices are all generally fitting and well done, and partly because… well, Dinklage sounds kind of bored to be there, to be honest. That may change in the final release but so far it’s… not great, let’s say that. The effects are also kind of mixed; special sounds and enemy grunts are all top notch, but gunfire sounds a little muted, though not enough to be problematic or distracting. With a few tweaks the presentation should be exceptional, though even so, at this point what’s here isn’t bad.
4.) This being a first person shooter, you’ll almost certainly have an idea of what to do from the get-go when you’re given control of your Guardian and set loose upon the world. The sticks and triggers more or less do everything you’d expect, and the bumpers are relegated to tossing grenades and melee attacks. Most of the face button functions are as you’d expect as well, so jumping, ducking, reloading and so on are immediately obvious and readily accessible. The game takes a Borderlands sort of approach for its character layout, meaning that you have an inventory you can access at any time that allows you to change up your weapons and armor as you see fit, as well as improve skills relative to your experience level. Armor falls into four types, to cover your head, arms, torso and legs, and each can potentially have various improvements attached to it that give you added bonuses in battle. Weapons fall into one of three main types: Primary (your rifles and handguns), Special (shotguns, sniper rifles and oddities) and Heavy (rocket launchers and heavy machine guns), and you can carry several at once, though only one can be equipped to each slot at a time. This lets you have a gun for every occasion on your person, even if they’re not always equipped, and once equipped, swapping between them is as simple as pressing the top face button (to swap between Primary and Special) or holding it (to draw the Heavy), so you won’t have to fumble to get what you need.
5.) Where Destiny gets creative is in its more advanced systems. For one thing, when you level up you can buy skills relative to your chosen class that improve the functionality of your tools, modify your stats or give you powerful class-specific attacks. All classes have three primary stats: Armor, which governs defense, Recovery, which governs health regeneration, and Agility, which governs movement and jumping capability. You’ll also see other secondary classes pop up on your equipment, as well, such as Light (increases your damage level), Discipline (reduces cooldown timer for grenades) and more, which can improve your performance beyond your core stats. Perhaps most interesting of all, however, is the leveling system itself, as instead of unlocking more and more powerful buffs the higher you level up, you’ll unlock different modifications that can allow you to tune your character a specific way. The Beta only allowed players to level up to level eight, so you could really only get a taste of the categories available to you, but it’s apparent that there’s room for much depth, as you can customize your jumping ability, grenade effects, stat focus and more to build your character how you like. Further, each class has an available subclass that’s unlocked at level fifteen which offers new tools to play with; it looks like these classes are treated as separate classes rather than add-ons to existing classes, so you can have two different playstyles available to you with each class, and can customize your character as you see fit for whatever you need. It also bears noting here that some of the weaponry you find also has its own experience levels, and when they level up, you can buy new stats for these weapons, such as damage or capacity improvements, stat boosts and more, so with the right loadout you can become a serious death machine.
6.) The three classes offered didn’t show a lot of variance in the Beta, most likely due to the low level cap, but they had some minor differences on display that could potentially play into bigger differences later in the game. Titans, as one would expect, are primarily Armor focused and can take a pounding before they need to recover. Their melee attack revolves around punching dudes out, their primary grenades are flashbangs that damage the immediate area and cause stun effects on surrounding enemies, and they’re mainly your tank/assault class. Hunters are a lot more glassy, and are mostly focused on Agility to get them into good attack positions and get out before they’re decimated. Their melee attack is them knifing dudes, their primary grenades are Area of Effect incendiary grenades, and they’re mainly your scout/ranger class, meant to hit hard at a distance or strike quick and back off. The Warlock class is probably the most interesting one of the lot, so far, in that they’re mostly Recovery focused and can regenerate quickly, meaning they can pop out and hit hard, then drop back and regenerate before moving back in for more. Their melee attack, fittingly, is a sort of force-punch, their primary grenades create a vortex that deals AOE damage for a few seconds, and they’re mainly meant as a class that deals high damage with weirder effects associated than the other classes. How these skills are going to play out long-term remains to be seen, but by level eight it becomes apparent that each class has its own unique play style, if only slightly, and it’ll be interesting to see how much variance is there in the late game.
7.) At its core, Destiny essentially works as a sort of FPS MMO; you have a ship you can deploy from, be it to take on missions, jump into PVP, or replenish supplies and upgrade gear, and the game uses elements that will be familiar to fans of Borderlands and Defiance to build its world, albeit with its own twists. When jumping into missions, the Beta showed three major types: Story, which lets you play through the campaign and learn more about the game world, Strike, which are multiplayer co-op missions that involve specific targets and mission objectives, and Exploration, which are literally free-roam missions that let you take on mini-missions as you explore the zone. Story missions are immediately the most profitable, and allow you to jump in at the normal level or at a harder level if you want to risk a lot of death for big experience rewards, though after the first time around they pay out less overall. Exploration is more for grinding if you want to get a level or make some cash as missions are generally simple and pay out well enough and there’s plenty hidden in the world to find. Strike missions strike a balance, and require other players, so they’re the best to jump into with friends overall. When you’re playing through the game world normally you can respawn, should you die, a short distance away from where you were, and there will normally be people running about (if you’re online) who will help you out. In specific missions, however, there will eventually be Darkness Zones, which are instanced and require you to respawn at checkpoints should you die, so if you kick it halfway through the mission you might be starting over, more or less. In the Beta the checkpoints are fairly liberal, however, so this isn’t a huge concern.
8.) When you’re looking to change up your gear, set up fireteams (player groups) or just goof off, you’ll want to head to the Tower, which is your hub, more or less. Here is where you’ll find the various vendors you can talk to, who sell the goods your class can equip as needed, which you can buy with Glimmer, this game’s answer to money. There are other novelties here, like the ability to pick up Bounties (side objectives to perform in the game world), check your mail, translate unknown items called Engrams (unidentified items, more or less) or even just dance in the center of town if that’s your thing. Since you can break down unwanted items whenever you want, you’ll mostly find you don’t need to head to the Tower constantly unless you need to identify something or pick up an upgrade, but it’s a well-designed zone all in all, and you’ll find that it does its job well enough.
9.) There are a lot of random things that I honestly can’t even begin to do justice here that are only touched upon in the Beta, but let’s try to do a quick round-up of the little things that came up that don’t really have a home anywhere else. As noted, your character has an inventory that stores various weapons and armor you find, but you can also find other random items in the game world, such as Spinmetal and glass shards, that will presumably factor into item advancement in some way (how wasn’t addressed in the Beta). It’s also interesting to note that the game allows you to carry currency between characters, including Glimmer, Vanguard Marks (which you earn from Bounties) and Crucible Marks (which you earn through Crucible performances); if that carries to the final game it should be easier to level up secondary and tertiary characters, if nothing else. Speaking of the Crucible, this seems to be the place to go for those who want to engage in competitive multiplayer, so that’s an option for those who want it. The Beta really only had “Control,” AKA King of the Hill, on display, so it’s hard to know how satisfying this mode will be for those looking for competitive play (though with this being Bungie expectations are strong), but it wasn’t much of a focal point in the Beta, so until the final release there’s not much to say about it, honestly.
10.) At this point, Destiny is shaping up to be an interesting experience, and while there’s more than a little here that will be familiar to FPS fans thanks to the game’s pedigree and inspirations, if Bungie can develop the teased unique aspects shown in the Beta into something robust, this should be a must-play game for 2014. At its core, the game has more than a passing resemblance to Halo by way of Borderlands with some smatterings of MMO’s tossed in, which… isn’t a bad cross-breeding of concepts, to be honest. The semi-unique elements the game has simmering below the surface, however, such as the variable build options and the multiple classes and subclasses, could really help the game come into its own. The fact that the game seems to offer all of the core story content offline but offers several online co-op and competitive modes also makes it an attractive proposition for those who might have shied away from Titanfall‘s “always online” setup. How well Bungie manages to tie all of these elements remains to be seen, but so far, Destiny is shaping up to be something interesting, and we’ll see how well it works next month.
Pokémon Black and White: Which Starter is Right For You – Snivy, Tepig or Oshawott?
11 Comments | Mar 5, 2011
Review: Age of Empires: Mythologies (Nintendo DS)
Review: Bang Bang Racing (Microsoft Xbox 360)
Tabletop Review: RPG Background Loops MP3: Pharaoh’s Tomb
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Memories of childhood's slavery days
Burton, Annie L.
RECOLLECTIONS OF A HAPPY LIFE
The memory of my happy, care-free childhood days on the plantation, with my little white and black companions, is often with me. Neither master nor mistress nor neighbors had time to bestow a thought upon us, for the great Civil War was raging. That great event in American history was a matter wholly outside the realm of our childish interests. Of course we heard our elders discuss the various events of the great struggle, but it meant nothing to us.
On the plantation there were ten white children and fourteen colored children. Our days were spent roaming about from plantation to plantation, not knowing or caring what things were going on in the great world outside our little realm. Planting time and harvest time were happy days for us. How often at the harvest time the planters discovered cornstalks missing from the ends of the rows, and blamed the crows! We were called the "little fairy
devils." To the sweet potatoes and peanuts and sugar cane we also helped ourselves.
Those slaves that were not married served the food from the great house, and about half-past eleven they would send the older children with food to the workers in the fields. Of course, I followed, and before we got to the fields, we had eaten the food nearly all up. When the workers returned home they complained, and we were whipped.
The slaves got their allowance every Monday night of molasses, meat, corn meal, and a kind of flour called "dredgings" or "shorts." Perhaps this allowance would be gone before the next Monday night, in which case the slaves would steal hogs and chickens. Then would come the whipping-post. Master himself never whipped his slaves; this was left to the overseer.
We children had no supper, and only a little piece of bread or something of the kind in the morning. Our dishes consisted of one wooden bowl, and oyster shells were our spoons. This bowl served for about fifteen children, and often the dogs and the ducks and the peafowl had a dip in it. Sometimes we had buttermilk and bread in our bowl, sometimes greens or bones.
Our clothes were little homespun cotton slips,
with short sleeves. I never knew what shoes were until I got big enough to earn them myself.
If a slave man and woman wished to marry, a party would be arranged some Saturday night among the slaves. The marriage ceremony consisted of the pair jumping over a stick. If no children were born within a year or so, the wife was sold.
At New Year's, if there was any debt or mortgage on the plantation, the extra slaves were taken to Clayton and sold at the court house. In this way families were separated.
When they were getting recruits for the war, we were allowed to go to Clayton to see the soldiers.
I remember, at the beginning of the war, two colored men were hung in Clayton; one, Cæsar King, for killing a blood hound and biting off an overseer's ear; the other, Dabney Madison, for the murder of his master. Dabney Madison's master was really shot by a man named Houston, who was infatuated with Madison's mistress, and who had hired Madison to make the bullets for him. Houston escaped after the deed, and the blame fell on Dabney Madison, as he was the only slave of his master and mistress. The clothes of the two victims were hung on two pine trees, and no colored person would touch them. Since I have grown up, I have seen the
skeleton of one of these men in the office of a doctor in Clayton.
After the men were hung, the bones were put in an old deserted house. Somebody that cared for the bones used to put them in the sun in bright weather, and back in the house when it rained. Finally the bones disappeared, although the boxes that had contained them still remained.
At one time, when they were building barns on the plantation, one of the big boys got a little brandy and gave us children all a drink, enough to make us drunk. Four doctors were sent for, but nobody could tell what was the matter with us, except they thought we had eaten something poisonous. They wanted to give us some castor oil, but we refused to take it, because we though that the oil was made from the bones of the dead men we had seen. Finally, we told about the big white boy giving us the brandy, and the mystery was cleared up.
Young as I was then, I remember this conversation between master and mistress, on master's return from the gate one day, when he had received the latest news: "William, what is the news from the seat of war?" "A great battle was fought at Bull Run, and the Confederates won," he replied. "Oh, good, good," said mistress, "and what did Jeff Davis
say?" "Look out for the blockade. I do not know what the end may be soon," he answered. "What does Jeff Davis mean by that?" she asked. "Sarah Anne, I don't know, unless he means that the niggers will be free." "O, my God, what shall we do?" "I presume," he said, "we shall have to put our boys to work and hire help." "But," she said, "what will the niggers do if they are free? Why, they will starve if we don't keep them." "Oh, well," he said, "let them wander, if they will not stay with their owners. I don't doubt that many owners have been good to their slaves, and they would rather remain with their owners than wander about without home or country."
My mistress often told me that my father was a planter who owned a plantation about two miles from ours. He was a white man, born in Liverpool, England. He died in Lewisville, Alabama, in the year 1875.
I will venture to say that I only saw my father a dozen times, when I was about four years old; and those times I saw him only from a distance, as he was driving by the great house of our plantation. Whenever my mistress saw him going by, she would take me by the hand and run out upon the piazza, and exclaim, "Stop there, I say! Don't you want
to see and speak to and caress your darling child? She often speaks of you and wants to embrace her dear father. See what a bright and beautiful daughter she is, a perfect picture of yourself. Well, I declare, you are an affectionate father." I well remember that whenever my mistress would speak thus and upbraid him, he would whip up his horse and get out of sight and hearing as quickly as possible. My mistress's action was, of course, intended to humble and shame my father. I never spoke to him, and cannot remember that he ever noticed me, or in any way acknowledged me to be his child.
My mother and my mistress were children together, and grew up to be mothers together. My mother was the cook in my mistress's household. One morning when master had gone to Eufaula, my mother and my mistress got into an argument, the consequence of which was that my mother was whipped, for the first time in her life. Whereupon, my mother refused to do any more work, and ran away from the plantation. For three years we did not see her again.
Our plantation was one of several thousand acres, comprising large level fields, upland, and considerable forests of Southern pine. Cotton, corn, sweet potatoes, sugar cane, wheat, and rye were the principal
crops raised on the plantation. It was situated near the P--River, and about twenty-three miles from Clayton, Ala.
One day my master heard that the Yankees were coming our way, and he immediately made preparations to get his goods and valuables out of their reach. The big six-mule team was brought to the smoke-house door, and loaded with hams and provisions. After being loaded, the team was put in the care of two of the most trustworthy and valuable slaves that my master owned, and driven away. It was master's intention to have these things taken to a swamp, and there concealed in a pit that had recently been made for the purpose. But just before the team left the main road for the by-road that led to the swamp, the two slaves were surprised by the Yankees, who at once took possession of the provisions, and started the team toward Clayton, where the Yankees had headquarters. The road to Clayton ran past our plantation. One of the slave children happened to look up the road, and saw the Yankees coming, and gave warning. Whereupon, my master left unceremoniously for the woods, and remained concealed there for five days. The niggers had run away whenever they got a chance, but now it was master's and the other white folks' turn to run.
The Yankees rode up to the piazza of the great house and inquired who owned the plantation. They gave orders that nothing must be touched or taken away, as they intended to return shortly and take possession. My mistress and the slaves watched for their return day and night for more than a week, but the Yankees did not come back.
One morning in April, 1865, my master got the news that the Yankees had left Mobile Bay and crossed the Confederate lines, and that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed by President Lincoln. Mistress suggested that the slaves should not be told of their freedom; but master said he would tell them, because they would soon find it out, even if he did not tell them. Mistress, however, said she could keep my mother's three children, for my mother had now been gone so long.
All the slaves left the plantation upon the news of their freedom, except those who were feeble or sickly. With the help of these, the crops were gathered. My mistress and her daughters had to go to the kitchen and to the washtub. My little half-brother, Henry, and myself had to gather chips, and help all we could. My sister, Caroline, who was twelve years old, could help in the kitchen.
After the war, the Yankees took all the good mules
and horses from the plantation, and left their old army stock. We children chanced to come across one of the Yankees' old horses, that had "U. S." branded on him. We called him "Old Yank" and got him fattened up. One day in August, six of us children took "Old Yank" and went away back on the plantation for watermelons. Coming home, we thought we would make the old horse trot. When "Old Yank" commenced to trot, our big melons dropped off, but we couldn't stop the horse for some time. Finally, one of the big boys went back and got some more melons, and left us eating what we could find of the ones that had been dropped. Then all we six, with our melons, got on "Old Yank" and went home. We also used to hitch "Old Yank" into a wagon and get wood. But one sad day in the fall, the Yankees came back again, and gathered up their old stock, and took "Old Yank" away.
One day mistress sent me out to do some churning under a tree. I went to sleep and jerked the churn over on top of me, and consequently got a whipping.
My mother came for us at the end of the year 1865, and demanded that her children be given up to her. This, mistress refused to do, and threatened to set the dogs on my mother if she did not at once
leave the place. My mother went away, and remained with some of the neighbors until supper time. Then she got a boy to tell Caroline to come down to the fence. When she came, my mother told her to go back and get Henry and myself and bring us down to the gap in the fence as quick as she could. Then my mother took Henry in her arms, and my sister carried me on her back. We climbed fences and crossed fields, and after several hours came to a little hut which my mother had secured on a plantation. We had no more than reached the place, and made a little fire, when master's two sons rode up and demanded that the children be returned. My mother refused to give us up. Upon her offering to go with them to the Yankee headquarters to find out if it were really true that all negroes had been made free, the young men left, and troubled us no more.
The cabin that was now our home was made of logs. It had one door, and an opening in one wall, with an inside shutter, was the only window. The door was fastened with a latch. Our beds were some straw.
There were six in our little family; my mother, Caroline, Henry, two other children that my mother had brought with her upon her return, and myself.
The man on whose plantation this cabin stood,
hired my mother as cook, and gave us this little home. We children used to sell blueberries and plums that we picked. One day the man on whom we depended for our home and support, left. Then my mother did washing by the day, for whatever she could get. We were sent to get cold victuals from hotels and such places. A man wanting hands to pick cotton, my brother Henry and I were set to help in this work. We had to go to the cotton field very early every morning. For this work, we received forty cents for every hundred pounds of cotton we picked.
Caroline was hired out to take care of a baby.
In 1866, another man hired the plantation on which our hut stood, and we moved into Clayton, to a little house my mother secured there. A rich lady came to our house one day, looking for some one to take care of her little daughter. I was taken, and adopted into this family. This rich lady was Mrs. E. M. Williams, a music teacher, the wife of a lawyer. We called her "Mis' Mary."
Some rich people in Clayton who had owned slaves, opened the Methodist church on Sundays, and began the work of teaching the negroes. My new mistress sent me to Sunday school every Sunday morning, and I soon got so that I could read. Mis' Mary taught me every day at her knee. I soon could read
nicely, and went through Sterling's Second Reader, and then into McGuthrie's Third Reader. The first piece of poetry I recited in Sunday school was taught to me by Mis' Mary during the week. Mis' Mary's father-in-law, an ex-judge, of Clayton, Alabama, heard me recite it, and thought it was wonderful. It was this:
"I am glad to see you, little bird,
It was your sweet song I heard.
What was it I heard you say?
Give me crumbs to eat today?
Here are crumbs I brought for you.
Eat your dinner, eat away,
Come and see us every day."
After this Mis' Mary kept on with my studies, and taught me to write. As I grew older, she taught me to cook and how to do housework. During this time Mis' Mary had given my mother one dollar a month in return for my services; now as I grew up to young womanhood, I thought I would like a little money of my own. Accordingly, Mis' Mary began to pay me four dollars a month, besides giving me my board and clothes. For two summers she "let me out" while she was away, and I got five dollars a month.
While I was with Mis' Mary, I had my first sweetheart, one of the young fellows who attended Sunday
school with me. Mis' Mary, however, objected to the young man's coming to the house to call, because she did not think I was old enough to have a sweetheart.
I owe a great deal to Mis' Mary for her good training of me, in honesty, uprightness and truthfulness. She told me that when I went out into the world all white folks would not treat me as she had, but that I must not feel bad about it, but just do what I was employed to do, and if I wasn't satisfied, to go elsewhere; but always to carry an honest name.
One Sunday when my sweetheart walked to the gate with me, Mis' Mary met him and told him she thought I was too young for him, and that she was sending me to Sunday school to learn, not to catch a beau. It was a long while before he could see me again,--not until later in the season, in watermelon time, when Mis' Mary and my mother gave me permission to go to a watermelon party one Sunday afternoon. Mis' Mary did not know, however, that my sweetheart had planned to escort me. We met around the corner of the house, and after the party he left me at the same place. After that I saw him occasionally at barbecues and parties. I was permitted to go with him some evenings to church, but my mother always walked ahead or behind me and the young man.
We went together for four years. During that time, although I still called Mis' Mary's my home, I had been out to service in one or two families.
Finally, my mother and Mis' Mary consented to our marriage, and the wedding day was to be in May. The winter before that May, I went to service in the family of Dr. Drury in Eufaula. Just a week before I left Clayton I dreamed that my sweetheart died suddenly. The night before I was to leave, we were invited out to tea. He told me he had bought a nice piece of poplar wood, with which to make a table for our new home. When I told him my dream, he said, "Don't let that trouble you, there is nothing in dreams." But one month from that day he died, and his coffin was made from the piece of poplar wood he had bought for the table.
After his death, I remained in Clayton for two or three weeks with my people, and then went back to Eufaula, where I stayed two years.
My sweetheart's death made a profound impression on me, and I began to pray as best I could. Often I remained all night on my knees.
Going on an excursion to Macon, Georgia, one time, I liked the place so well that I did not go back to Eufaula. I got a place as cook in the family of an Episcopal clergyman, and remained with them
eight years, leaving when the family moved to New Orleans.
During these eight years, my mother died in Clayton, and I had to take the three smallest children into my care. My oldest sister was now married, and had a son.
I now went to live with a Mrs. Maria Campbell, a colored woman, who adopted me and gave me her name. Mrs. Campbell did washing and ironing for her living. While living with her, I went six months to Lewis' High School in Macon. Then I went to Atlanta, and obtained a place as first-class cook with Mr. E. N. Inman. But I always considered Mrs. Campbell's my home. I remained about a year with Mr. Inman, and received as wages ten dollars a month.
One day, when the family were visiting in Memphis, I chanced to pick up a newspaper, and read the advertisement of a Northern family for a cook to go to Boston. I went at once to the address given, and made agreement to take the place, but told the people that I could not leave my present position until Mr. Inman returned home. Mr. and Mrs. Inman did not want to let me go, but I made up my mind to go North. The Northern family whose service I was to enter had returned to Boston before I left, and
had made arrangements with a friend, Mr. Bullock, to see me safely started North.
After deciding to go North, I went to Macon, to make arrangements with Mrs. Campbell for the care of my two sisters who lived with her. One sister was now about thirteen and the other fifteen, both old enough to do a little for themselves. My brother was dead. He went to Brunswick in 1875, and died there of the yellow fever in 1876. One sister I brought in later years to Boston. I stayed in Macon two weeks, and was in Atlanta three or four days before leaving for the North.
About the 15th of June, 1879, I arrived at the Old Colony Station in Boston, and had my first glimpse of the country I had heard so much about. From Boston I went to Newtonville, where I was to work. The gentleman whose service I was to enter, Mr. E. N. Kimball, was waiting at the station for me, and drove me to his home on Warner Street. For a few days, until I got somewhat adjusted to my new circumstances, I had no work to do. On June 17th the family took me with them to Auburndale. But in spite of the kindness of Mrs. Kimball and the colored nurse, I grew very homesick for the South, and would often look in the direction of my old home and cry.
The washing, a kind of work I knew nothing about,
was given to me; but I could not do it, and it was finally given over to a hired woman. I had to do the ironing of the fancy clothing for Mrs. Kimball and the children.
About five or six weeks after my arrival, Mrs. Kimball and the children went to the White Mountains for the summer, and I had more leisure. Mrs. Kimball went up to the mountains every Saturday night, to stay with his family over Sunday; but he and his father-in-law were at home other nights, and I had to have dinner for them.
To keep away the homesickness and loneliness as much as possible, I made acquaintance with the hired girl across the street.
One morning I climbed up into the cherry tree that grew between Mr. Kimball's yard and the yard of his next-door neighbor, Mr. Roberts. I was thinking of the South, and as I picked the cherries, I sang a Southern song. Mr. Roberts, heard me, and gave me a dollar for the song.
By agreement, Mrs. Kimball was to give me three dollars and a half a week, instead of four, until the difference amounted to my fare from the South; after that, I was to have four dollars. I had, however, received but little money. In the fall, after the family came home, we had a little difficulty about my
wages, and I left and came into Boston. One of my Macon acquaintances had come North before me, and now had a position as cook in a house on Columbus Avenue. I looked this girl up. Then I went to a lodging-house for colored people on Kendall Street, and spent one night there. Mrs. Kimball had refused to give me a recommendation, because she wanted me to stay with her, and thought the lack of a recommendation would be an inducement. In the lodging-house I made acquaintance with a colored girl, who took me to an intelligence office. The man at the desk said he would give me a card to take to 24 Springfield Street, on receipt of fifty cents. I had never heard of an office of this kind, and asked a good many questions. After being assured that my money would be returned in case I did not accept the situation, I paid the fifty cents and started to find the address on the card. Being ignorant of the scheme of street numbering, I inquired of a woman whom I met, where No. 24 was. This woman asked me if I was looking for work, and when I told her I was, she said a friend of hers on Springfield Street wanted a servant immediately. Of course I went with this lady, and after a conference with the mistress of the house as to my ability, when I could begin work, what wages I should want, etc.,
I was engaged as cook at three dollars and a half a week.
From this place I proceeded to 24 Springfield Street, as directed, hoping that I would be refused, so that I might go back to the intelligence office and get my fifty cents. The lady at No. 24 who wanted a servant, said she didn't think I was large and strong enough, and guessed I wouldn't do. Then I went and got my fifty cents.
Having now obtained a situation, I sent to Mr. Kimball's for my trunk. I remained in my new place a year and a half. At the end of that time the family moved to Dorchester, and because I did not care to go out there, I left their service.
From this place, I went to Narragansett Pier to work as a chambermaid for the summer. In the fall, I came back to Boston and obtained a situation with a family, in Berwick Park. This family afterward moved to Jamaica Plain, and I went with them. With this family I remained seven years. They were very kind to me, gave me two or three weeks' vacation, without loss of pay.
In June, 1884, I went with them to their summer home in the Isles of Shoals, as housekeeper for some guests who were coming from Paris. On the 6th of July I received word that my sister Caroline had
died in June. This was a great blow to me. I remained with the Reeds until they closed their summer home, but I was not able to do much work after the news of my sister's death.
I wrote home to Georgia, to the white people who owned the house in which Caroline had lived, asking them to take care of her boy Lawrence until I should come in October. When we came back to Jamaica Plain in the fall, I was asked to decide what I should do in regard to this boy. Mrs. Reed wanted me to stay with her, and promised to help pay for the care of the boy in Georgia. Of course, she said, I could not expect to find positions if I had a child with me. As an inducement to remain in my present place and leave the boy in Georgia, I was promised provision for my future days, as long as I should live. It did not take me long to decide what I should do. The last time I had seen my sister, a little over a year before she died, she had said, when I was leaving, "I don't expect ever to see you again, but if I die I shall rest peacefully in my grave, because I know you will take care of my child."
I left Jamaica Plain and took a room on Village Street for the two or three weeks until my departure for the South. During this time, a lady came to the house to hire a girl for her home in Wellesley Hills.
The girl who was offered the place would not go. I volunteered to accept the position temporarily, and went at once to the beautiful farm. At the end of a week, a man and his wife had been engaged, and I was to leave the day after their arrival. These new servants, however, spoke very little English, and I had to stay through the next week until the new ones were broken in. After leaving there I started for Georgia, reaching there at the end of five days, at five o'clock.
I took a carriage and drove at once to the house where Lawrence was being taken care of. He was playing in the yard, and when he saw me leave the carriage he ran and threw his arms around my neck and cried for joy. I stayed a week in this house, looking after such things of my sister's as had not been already stored. One day I had a headache, and was lying down in the cook's room. Lawrence was in the dining-room with the cook's little girl, and the two got into a quarrel, in the course of which my nephew struck the cook's child. The cook, in her anger, chased the boy with a broom, and threatened to give him a good whipping at all costs. Hearing the noise, I came out into the yard, and when Lawrence saw me he ran to me for protection. I interceded for him, and promised he should get into no
more trouble. We went at once to a neighbor's house for the night. The next day I got a room in the yard of a house belonging to some white people. Here we stayed two weeks. The only return I was asked to make for the room was to weed the garden. Lawrence and I dug out some weeds and burned them, but came so near setting fire to the place that we were told we need not dig any more weeds, but that we might have the use of the room so long as we cared to stay.
In about a week and a half more we got together such things as we wanted to keep and take away with us.
The last time I saw my sister, I had persuaded her to open a bank account, and she had done so, and had made small deposits from time to time. When I came to look for the bankbook, I discovered that her lodger, one Mayfield, had taken it at her death, and nobody knew where it might be now. I found out that Mayfield had drawn thirty dollars from the account for my sister's burial, and also an unknown amount for himself. He had done nothing for the boy. I went down to the bank, and was told that Mayfield claimed to look after my sister's burial and her affairs. He had made one Reuben Bennett, who was no relation and had no interest in the matter,
administrator for Lawrence, until his coming of age. But Bennett had as yet done nothing for him. The book was in the bank, with some of the account still undrawn, how much I did not know. I next went to see a lawyer, to find out how much it would cost me to get this book. The lawyer said fifteen dollars. I said I would call again. In the meantime, I went to the court house, and when the case on trial was adjourned I went to the judge and stated my case. The judge, who was slightly acquainted with my sister and me, told me to have Reuben Bennett in court next morning at nine o'clock, and to bring Lawrence with me. When we had all assembled before the judge, he told Bennett to take Lawrence and go to the bank and get the money belonging to my sister. Bennett went and collected the money, some thirty-five dollars. The boy was then given into my care by the judge. For his kindness, the judge would accept no return. Happy at having obtained the money so easily, we went back to our room, and rested until our departure the next night for Jacksonville, Florida. I had decided to go to this place for the winter, on account of Lawrence, thinking the Northern winter would be too severe for him.
My youngest sister, who had come to Macon from
Atlanta a few days before my arrival, did not hear of Caroline's death until within a few days of our departure. This youngest sister decided to go to Florida with us for the winter.
Our trunks and baggage were taken to the station in a team. We had a goodly supply of food, given us by our friends and by the people whose hospitality we had shared during the latter part of our stay.
The next morning we got into Jacksonville. My idea was to get a place as chambermaid at Green Cove Springs, Florida, through the influence of the head waiter at a hotel there, whom I knew. After I got into Jacksonville I changed my plans. I did not see how I could move my things any farther, and we went to a hotel for colored people, hired a room for two dollars, and boarded ourselves on the food which had been given us in Macon. This food lasted about two weeks. Then I had to buy, and my money was going every day, and none coming in. I did not know what to do. One night the idea of keeping a restaurant came to me, and I decided to get a little home for the three of us, and then see what I could do in this line of business. After a long and hard search, I found a little house of two rooms where we could live, and the next day I found a place to start my restaurant. For house furnishings, we used at
first, to the best advantage we could, the things we had brought from Macon. Caroline's cookstove had been left with my foster-mother in Macon. After hiring the room for the restaurant, I sent for this stove, and it arrived in a few days. Then I went to a dealer in second-hand furniture and got such things as were actually needed for the house and the restaurant, on the condition that he would take them back at a discount when I got through with them.
Trade at the restaurant was very good, and we got along nicely. My sister got a position as nurse for fifteen dollars a month. One day the cook from a shipwrecked vessel came to my restaurant, and in return for his board and a bed in the place, agreed to do my cooking. After trade became good, I changed my residence to a house of four rooms, and put three cheap cots in each of two of the rooms, and let the cots at a dollar a week apiece to colored men who worked nearby in hotels. Lawrence and I did the chamber work at night, after the day's work in the restaurant.
I introduced "Boston baked beans" into my restaurant, much to the amusement of the people at first; but after they had once eaten them it was hard to meet the demand for beans.
Lawrence, who was now about eleven years old,
was a great help to me. He took out dinners to the cigarmakers in a factory nearby.
At the end of the season, about four months, it had grown so hot that we could stay in Jacksonville no longer. From my restaurant and my lodgers I cleared one hundred and seventy-five dollars, which I put into the Jacksonville bank. Then I took the furniture back to the dealer, who fulfilled his agreement.
My sister decided to go back to Atlanta when she got through with her place as nurse, which would not be for some weeks.
I took seventy-five dollars out of my bank account, and with Lawrence went to Fernandina. There we took train to Port Royal, S. C., then steamer to New York. From New York we went to Brooklyn for a few days. Then we went to Newport and stayed with a woman who kept a lodging-house. I decided to see what I could do in Newport by keeping a boarding and lodging-house. I hired a little house and agreed to pay nine dollars a month for it. I left Lawrence with some neighbors while I came to Boston and took some things out of storage. These things I moved into the little house. But I found, after paying one month's rent, that the house was not properly located for the business I wanted. I left, and with Lawrence went to Narragansett Pier. I got a place there as
"runner" for a laundry; that is, I was to go to the hotels and leave cards and solicit trade. Then Lawrence thought he would like to help by doing a little work. One night when I came back from the laundry, I missed him. Nobody had seen him. All night I searched for him, but did not find him. In the early morning I met him coming home. He said a man who kept a bowling alley had hired him at fifty cents a week to set up the pins, and it was in the bowling alley he had been all night. He said the man let him take a nap on his coat when he got sleepy. I went at once to see this man, and told him not to hire my nephew again. A lady who kept a hotel offered me two dollars a week for Lawrence's services in helping the cook and serving in the help's dining-room. When the season closed, the lady who hired Lawrence was very reluctant to let him go.
We went back to Newport to see the landlady from whom I had hired the house, and I paid such part of the rent as I could. Then I packed my things and started for Boston. On reaching there, I kept such of my things as I needed, and stored the rest, and took a furnished room. In about a week's time I went to see the husband of the lady for whom I had worked at Wellesley Hills just previous to my departure for the South. He had told me to let him know
when I returned to Boston. He said a man and his wife were at present employed at his farm, but he didn't know how long they would stay. Before another week had passed, this gentleman sent for me. He said his wife wanted me to go out to the farm, and that I could have Lawrence with me. The boy, he said, could help his wife with the poultry, and could have a chance to go to school. I was promised three dollars and a half a week, and no washing to do. I was told that the farm had been offered for sale, and of course it might change hands any day. I was promised, however, that I should lose nothing by the change.
Lawrence was very lonely at the farm, with no companions, and used to sit and cry.
The place was sold about ten weeks after I went there, and I came into Boston to look about for a restaurant, leaving Lawrence at the farm. When the home was broken up, the owners came to the Revere House, Boston. Barrels of apples, potatoes and other provisions were given to me.
I found a little restaurant near the Providence depot for sale. I made arrangements at once to buy the place for thirty-five dollars, and the next day I brought Lawrence and my things from Wellesley Hills. I paid two dollars a week rent for my little
restaurant, and did very well. The next spring I sold the place for fifty dollars, in time to get a place at the beach for the summer.
Lawrence got a position in a drug store, and kept it four years. Then he went to Hampton College, Hampton, Va. After finishing there, he came back and then went to the World's Fair in Chicago. After that he took a position on one of the Fall River line boats. At the outbreak of the Spanish War, he enlisted in Brooklyn as powderman on the battleship Texas. He was on the Texas when the first shot was fired. He was present at the decoration of the graves of the American soldiers in Havana, and also at the decoration of the battleship Maine after she was raised. After the war, he came to Brooklyn and got an honorable discharge. Then he served as valet to a rich New York man, who travelled a good deal. About the middle of last November (1906) Lawrence came to Boston to see me. He is now in Atlantic City, a waiter in the Royal Hotel.
In 1888, I was married, at 27 Pemberton Street, to Samuel H. Burton, by Dr. O. P. Gifford. After my marriage, Mr. Burton got a place in Braintree as valet to an old gentleman who was slightly demented, and he could not be satisfied until I joined
him. So I put our things into storage and went to Braintree. I remained there ten months, and then came back to Boston. Then I got a position as head matron in the help's dining-room in a hotel at Watch Hill, R. I. My husband was also there as waiter. At the end of the season we both came home, and rented a lodging-house, and lost money on it.
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A liability insurance policy is a contract that makes two primary promises: 1) to defend against a third party’s claims that a policyholder is legally liable for a plaintiff’s loss; and 2) to pay a judgment if the claim is valid and is covered by the policy. The policyholder pays premiums and immediately gets back peace of mind that if at some time in the future an accident occurs, the insurer will take care of it. A liability policy is like a marriage proposal by a sailor on leave to a virgin: a current promise to make future commitments if certain conditions come to pass.
When a policyholder gets sued and needs the protection of a liability policy, regulations require that “every insurer shall immediately accept [“Yes”] or deny the claim, in whole [“No”] or in part [“Maybe”].”[1] “Yes” is like getting married. “No” is like getting dumped. “Maybe” is like the soldier promising to respect the virgin in the morning.
The duty to defend is the liability insurer’s obligation to pay for a lawyer to manage the judicial process of resolving a third party plaintiff’s monetary claim against a policyholder.[2] It is like the process of a courtship that may or may not result in marriage during which a trusting relationship will or will not be forged.
The duty to indemnify is the insurer’s obligation to pay the plaintiff’s civil judgment against the policyholder. It is like the hard work of providing a home, putting food on the table, and raising the children.
These two primary duties differ from one another in tempo, breadth, and method of discharge. The duty to defend is triggered as soon as a plaintiff makes a claim that is potentially covered for indemnity, ends when the claim is resolved, and can be discharged only by the insurer hiring an ethical lawyer to shepherd the policyholder through the legal process of resolving a claim. In contrast, the duty to indemnify ripens only at the end of claim if the plaintiff’s lawsuit results in a judgment that is actually covered under all of the complex terms of the policy, and is discharged by the singular act of the insurer writing a check. The difference is like the sailor asking the virgin to surrender her virtue by 1) promising to return after the war; or 2) first taking vows and delivering his fortune to her.
A reservation of rights is warning by the insurer to the policyholder that the insurer accepts its duty to defend while deferring any decision whether it will deny its duty to indemnify. It is like the sailor demanding sex while refusing to break up with a mistress on the side.
An insurer that wrongfully fails to defend may lose control of its policyholder’s defense, control of settlement and the ability to enforce otherwise valuable contractual protections. It is like sticking the sailor with the bill for the reception after the wedding has been called off.
A disqualifying conflict of interest is an ethical dilemma for dependent counsel who is selected, directed, and paid by the insurer, but who owes fiduciary duties directly to the policyholder.[3] A reservation of rights always[4] creates disqualifying conflicts of interest for dependent counsel unless the reservation of rights has “nothing to do with”[5] the plaintiff’s liability dispute. “The insurer may not compel the insured to surrender control of the litigation.”[6] Since the insurer has made a promise to defend but is not licensed to practice law itself, dependent counsel’s “ethical conflict of interest warrant[s] payment for the insureds’ independent counsel.”[7] A disqualifying conflict justifies the bride-to-be in refusing pre-marital sex and breaking off the engagement because the sailor has a mistress.
A limited contractual duty to cooperate obligate the policyholder to appear and testify truthfully at deposition and trial, but no reported opinion has otherwise enforced this provision against a policyholder. In contrast, a policyholder may properly cooperate with a plaintiff to protect their shared interests to secure insurance coverage, notwithstanding their concurrent differences in a liability dispute. However, a policyholder and a plaintiff may not collude to falsely create liability or damages. It is like relations among those involved in a broken courtship becoming Machiavellian.
A plaintiff derives power from the right to narrow or expand the scope of claims by pleading into or out of coverage and to give truthful testimony that may impact coverage. A policyholder derives similar power from truthful testimony and from the initial right to manage one’s own defense. The attorney-client relationship is created and terminated by the agreement of the parties, including a client’s right to fire an attorney at any time with or without cause. Attorney duties owed to a client include the duty of full disclosure, undivided loyalty, strict confidentiality, and competent representation. As a result, dependent counsel is vulnerable to ethical challenges by a policyholder. Exercising this power is like the virgin demanding answers about the sailor’s dalliance with a mistress.
A policyholder who distrusts a reserving insurer or its lawyers may develop a written record of admissible evidence chronicling the behavior of both by requesting that each complete a questionnaire. It is like publishing compromising photographs of the sailor on leave.
[1] Code of Regs. § 2695.7(b) (ellipses omitted, text in parentheses added).
[2] “We summarize familiar principles pertaining to an insurers duty of defense. An insurer must defend its insured against claims that create a potential for indemnity under the policy. The duty to defend is broader than the duty to indemnify, and it may apply even in an action where no damages are ultimately awarded. Determination of the duty to defend depends, in the first instance, on a comparison between the allegations of the complaint and the terms of the policy. But the duty also exists where extrinsic facts known to the insurer suggest that the claim may be covered. Moreover, that the precise causes of action pled by the third party complaint may fall outside policy coverage does not excuse the duty to defend where, under the facts alleged, reasonably inferable, or otherwise known, the complaint could fairly be amended to state a covered liability. The defense duty arises upon tender of a potentially covered claim and lasts until the underlying lawsuit is concluded, or until it has been shown that there is no potential for coverage. When the duty, having arisen, is extinguished by a showing that no claim can in fact be covered, it is extinguished only prospectively and not retroactively. On the other hand, in an action wherein none of the claims is even potentially covered because it does not even possibly embrace any triggering harm of the specified sort within the policy period caused by an included occurrence, the insurer does not have a duty to defend. This freedom is implied in the policy’s language. It rests on the fact that the insurer has not been paid premiums by the insured for [such] a defense. . . . [T]he duty to defend is contractual. The insurer has not contracted to pay defense costs for claims that are not even potentially covered. From these premises, the following may be stated: If any facts stated or fairly inferable in the complaint, or otherwise known or discovered by the insurer, suggest a claim potentially covered by the policy, the insurers duty to defend arises and is not extinguished until the insurer negates all facts suggesting potential coverage. On the other hand, if, as a matter of law, neither the complaint nor the known extrinsic facts indicate any basis for potential coverage, the duty to defend does not arise in the first instance.” (Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. MV Transp. (2005) 36 Cal.4th 643, 654-55 (citations and quotation marks omitted).)
[3] “The mandatory rule of disqualification . . . – analogous to the biblical injunction against ‘serving two masters’ (Matthew 6:24) – is such a self-evident one that there are few published appellate decisions elaborating on it.” (Flatt v. Superior Court (1994) 9 Cal.4th 275, 286.)
[4] “[W]hen coverage is disputed, the interests of the insured and the insurer are always divergent.” (San Diego Navy Fed. Credit Union v. Cumis Ins. Society, Inc. (1984) 162 Cal.App.3d 358, 375 (Cumis).)
[5] “[W]hen the reservation of rights is based on coverage disputes that have nothing to do with the issues being litigated in the [plaintiff’s liability] action . . . there is no [disqualifying] conflict of interest.” (Long v. Century Indemnity Company (2008) 163 Cal.App.4th 1460, 1470.)
[6] Cumis, supra, 162 Cal.App.3d at 375.
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Evidence Based Care Journal
Rejection Rate 70.34%
Average time to first decision (days) 35.87
Pourghaznein, T., Manzari, Z., Heydari, A., Mousavi Bazaz, M. (2019). Basic Needs of Mothers with Children Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Studies. Evidence Based Care, 8(4), 14-25. doi: 10.22038/ebcj.2018.31975.1797
Tayebe Pourghaznein; Zahra Sadat Manzari; Abbas Heydari; Mojtaba Mousavi Bazaz. "Basic Needs of Mothers with Children Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Studies". Evidence Based Care, 8, 4, 2019, 14-25. doi: 10.22038/ebcj.2018.31975.1797
Pourghaznein, T., Manzari, Z., Heydari, A., Mousavi Bazaz, M. (2019). 'Basic Needs of Mothers with Children Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Studies', Evidence Based Care, 8(4), pp. 14-25. doi: 10.22038/ebcj.2018.31975.1797
Pourghaznein, T., Manzari, Z., Heydari, A., Mousavi Bazaz, M. Basic Needs of Mothers with Children Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Studies. Evidence Based Care, 2019; 8(4): 14-25. doi: 10.22038/ebcj.2018.31975.1797
Basic Needs of Mothers with Children Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Studies
Article 2, Volume 8, Issue 4, Winter 2019, Page 14-25 PDF (936.42 K)
Document Type: Systematic Review
DOI: 10.22038/ebcj.2018.31975.1797
Tayebe Pourghaznein 1; Zahra Sadat Manzari 2; Abbas Heydari 3; Mojtaba Mousavi Bazaz4
1PhD Student in Nursing, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2Assistant Professor, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3Professor, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4Associate professor, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Background: Mothers of children undergoing hemodialysis encounter severe changes in their daily lives. It is of utmost importance to raise the awareness of treatment teams about the needs of these specific groups of mothers and different problems they may experience. The reason is that it can help health care professionals to support the mothers to fulfill their roles as the primary caregivers of such children.
Aim: This study aimed to identify basic needs in mothers of children undergoing hemodialysis.
Method: This meta-synthesis review of qualitative studies investigating the needs and experience of mothers whose children had kidney disease and published from January 1997 to October 2017. The articles were searched in four databases, including Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, and ProQuest. The search process was accomplished using the keywords “chronic kidney disease,” “hemodialysis,” “children,” “mothers,” “parents,” “caregivers,” “needs,” “experiences,” “perspectives,” and “perceptions”. Finally, 7 articles were chosen out of 567 papers and theses. The MAXQDA software was used to facilitate data management.
Results: The systematic review of the qualitative studies revealed three main themes, including the need for child care management skills, the need to maintain family cohesion, and the need for emotional–psychological support.
Implications for Practice: Mothers of children under hemodialysis should be considered as nursing clients. Accordingly, a multidisciplinary team can empower mothers to take care of the children under hemodialysis and preserve family coherence, as well as supporting them emotionally and psychologically.
Care needs; Children; Chronic kidney disease; Hemodialysis; Mothers; Systematic review
Children undergoing hemodialysis have special needs that heavily demand health care provision and supervision (1). Examples of such needs include continuous monitoring and the invasive and time-consuming process of hemodialysis, which can also bring great challenges for their parents (2). In fact, parents of these children experience a great deal of stress due to the hazardous nature of kidney disease and uncertain future of their children (3). They try to contend with the burden of the treatment management of their sick children, as well as balancing their daily responsibilities and caregiving role (3, 4).
Studies on these issues indicated that mothers are the primary caregivers of children undergoing hemodialysis, and suffer from lower levels of life quality and higher degrees of psychosocial stress, compared to the fathers. These mothers dedicate themselves completely to caregiving, a decision that can bring about social isolation, pain, as well as health issues (1, 5). Such mothers may encounter severe changes in their daily lives as their children undergo hemodialysis (1). Given that they are responsible for attending hemodialysis sessions with their children and establish daily routines on the basis of the hemodialysis process, they are compelled to abandon their jobs and lose their social standing. Moreover, such mothers are troubled with concerns about dietary restrictions, and have limited participation in leisure activities and the schooling of their other children. As a results, the inability of these mothers to change the conditions related to hemodialysis has detrimental effects on their mental, emotional, and social status (1).
The psychosocial and economic effects on the caregivers of children undergoing hemodialysis compel treatment teams to care for caregivers as much as the children (6). However, health care services are often focused on the interventions targeting children rather than strategies that specifically concentrate on their parents (7). Despite an increase in the recognition of the fatigue, burnout, pressure, and other side effects stemming from caregiving for these children, maternal needs are often overlooked or unprioritized (8, 9). Identification of mothers’ values, needs, and attitudes is an essential step toward the development of care- and family-based policies (10). Furthermore, it is important for health care professionals to know about the basic needs and difficulties of the mothers (2), because it helps treatment teams to support mothers in their roles as care managers of children suffering from kidney disease (11).
The provision of necessary services to satisfy the basic needs of mothers can have profound and comprehensive effects on their well-being and their ability to effectively cope with their situations. These outcomes, in turn, can indirectly improve the medical and psychological outcomes of a sick child and the overall performance in families (8, 12, 13). Maternal priorities and concerns that have previously been undetermined can be directly ascertained using evidence derived from qualitative studies (10). Correspondingly, the present research identified the basic needs of mothers with children undergoing hemodialysis through a systematic review of previous qualitative studies and the recognition of common themes regarding mothers’ experiences.
This study was based on the framework of enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research (14). This framework provides 21 items grouped into five main domains, namely introduction, methods and methodology, literature search and selection, appraisal, and synthesis of findings. These domains were pursued in the current study as follows:
In the first and second domains, the purpose of the study was determined. The present research aimed to identify the basic needs of mothers with children undergoing hemodialysis through a systematic review of previous qualitative studies and the recognition of common themes regarding mothers’ experiences. The researchers then came to agreement on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This systematic review included studies, thesis, and dissertations that explored the experiences, attitudes, and needs of mothers with children undergoing hemodialysis. Additional inclusion criteria were the use of a qualitative approach, as well as publication in the English language and over the last 20 years.
The third domain was the literature search and article selection. Articles, thesis, and dissertations published from January 1997 to October 2017 were searched on four databases of Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, and ProQuest. Electronic search was performed using the keywords of “chronic kidney disease,” “hemodialysis,” “renal replacement therapy,” “long-term conditions,” “life-limiting conditions,” “children,” “mothers,” “parents,” “caregivers,” “needs,” “experiences,” “perspectives,” and “perceptions.” The Boolean operators “AND” and “OR” were used to fine-tune the search. The references indicated in the identified documents were also searched. In the first stage, all the articles whose titles or abstracts feature the keywords were included in the initial list. On the basis of the title and abstract review, some studies were eliminated because they were not aligned with the objectives of the current study. In the second stage, the full texts of the remaining articles were analyzed, and irrelevant studies were excluded (Figure 1). Finally, 7 papers were included out of 567 papers and theses.
In the fourth domain, the articles entered into the study were evaluated based on three dimensions of research team, research design, and data analysis (15). Based on the evaluation of studies report, no study was eliminated. Table 1 shows the characteristics of reviewed studies. Finally, the fifth domain entailed the synthesis of the findings using MAXQDA software. The results and conclusion sections were reviewed line by line and coded using the three-step thematic synthesis described by Thomas and Harden (16). Accordingly, steps one and two involved the precise review of the full texts as well as coding the themes, sub themes, and quotes presented in the articles by the first author. Subsequently, codes were classified based on the similarities and inter-relationships of the codes. Semantic units were extracted from all the articles, after which coding was conducted. The codes were then placed under the existing categories or used to form a new category, which led to the emergences of the descriptive themes. To ensure the extraction of all semantic units, the texts, initial codes, and descriptive themes were studied by two of the researchers (Z. M. and A. H.), and then there was an agreement among all the three reviewers.
In the first and second steps, the very close relationship with the findings of the main studies was maintained, and in the third step, analytical themes were created. Given that these steps are the most controversial ones in thematic synthesis, they were conducted independently by two of the researchers
CKD: chronic kidney disease
Figure 1. Literature search
Table 1. Characteristics of the included studies
Information needs (about their child’s CKD, regarding their child’s medication, their child’s diets, managing their own work and hobbies)
Emotional needs (the emotional support of their partner, family, friends, peers, and health professionals)
Practical support needs (to hand over care in transportation, in financial management, in school)
Focus group interviews
Thematic Analysis
The support needs of parents having a child with a chronic kidney disease: a focus group study
Absorption of clinical environment, medicalizing parenting, disrupting family norms, coping strategies and support structures
Needs to receive support from their health care providers, needs to have meetings and learn from other parents, and information needs
In-depth interview
Parental perspectives on caring for a child with chronic kidney disease: An in-depth interview study
Loss of freedom and control, struggle in seeking support, instability of circumstances, adapting for survival, burden of sole responsibility
Semi structured interviews
Parental perspectives on the financial impact of caring for a child with CKD
Mother’s life imprisoned by the hemodialysis machine
The mothers’ experiences in the pediatrics hemodialysis unit
Common stress factors of parents included financial and bureaucratic problems, growth and development of ill children, fluid-diet restriction and educational problems of children, lack of social support, and anxiety about losing their children at any moment Coping strategies of parents were to give their attention to the positive side of matters, to share their feelings with their spouse or other parents, to cry, or pray
Stress factors and coping strategies of parents with children treated by hemodialysis: A qualitative study
Trapped caregivers, adaptive caregivers, embedded caregivers
Prolonged observations.
mixed-method (interpretive ethnographic)
Meanings of maternal Caregiving: Children with end stage renal disease
The main themes identified in this study was “immersion in an ocean of psychological tension,” which suggests that the mothers of the children undergoing hemodialysis are overwhelmed by the numerous psychological pressures that they encounter during their children’s treatment. This theme was constituted by the subthemes “bewilderment between hope and despair,” “endless concerns,” “agony and sorrow,” and “a sense of being ignored”
hermeneutic phenomenology
]Iran
Immersion in an ocean of psychological tension: The voices of mothers with children undergoing hemodialysis
(T. P. and Z. M.). The extracted themes were then discussed and agreed upon by all the three reviewers. Table 2 provides an example of the coding process. The findings in the current study presented the quotations of participants or interpretations of authors.
Table 2. An example of the coding process
Analytical theme
Descriptive themes
Primary codes
Meaning units
Earning money and maintaining financial resources
Helping with securing parental employment
Father’s job loss
Disturbance in father’s job
Losing new job opportunities
Child disease prevents mother employment
Need to maintain the job
Decrease rank in work or working hours
My husband lost four jobs, because he have to take vacations so that he can take our son to hospital (20).
You have to undergo your job so that you can provide ongoing care (19).
Some felt they had to refuse new occupational opportunities, because they had to be highly focused on the child’s medical needs (17).
Employed mothers had to leave their job (1).
“It is my job that energizes me, it is the thing that I need (3).
Reduced working rank or less working hours, all of which are the result of childcare (18).
Inappropriate financial situation
Financial restraint
Request for financial support
Loss of funds
Most parents state that they live in economic crisis (20).
We faced a great backwardness in work and income level, and our income did not return to the better previous level and we still live with very limited wages (17).
Need for receiving direct and indirect financial supports from the government (17).
Consecutive periods of complete loss of financial resources, and low incomes and living below the poverty line (18).
Helping with providing housing close to hemodialysis center
Long distance between residence place and hemodialysis center
Imposing financial burden due to distance from the center
Renting house near the equipped center
Children should go to hospital several days per week, and there are only three centers for children dialysis in Netherlands in long distances (3).
Long distance between residence place and hemodialysis section incurs great financial burden on the family (21), Long distance from the hemodialysis department to the residence place imposes on households the costs of fuel, food, parking, parking, and other travel-related expenses (17).
Some mothers were forced to rent a house in the city with hemodialysis center with their sick child far away from the family (18).
The synthesis of the results revealed three main themes, namely, the need for child care management skills, the need to maintain family cohesion, and the need for emotional–psychological support. Table 3 indicates the structure of the extracted themes and their subthemes.
Table 3. Structure of the extracted themes and sub-themes
Need for child care management skills
Disease and treatment process
Mieto & Bousso (2014), Medway & et al. (2015)
Medicinal regimen
Geense & et al. (2017)
Medway & et al. (2015), Cimete (2002), Geense & et al. (2017)
Awareness of services provided
Medway & et al. (2015), Nicholas (1999), Geense & et al. (2017)
Strategies on how to deal with children
Management of food restrictions in children
Medway & et al. (2015), Cimete (2002)
Management of mental problems in children
Medway & et al. (2015), Cimete (2002), Tong & et al. (2010)
Providing educational conditions for children
Geense & et al. (2017), Cimete (2002)
Need to maintain family cohesion
Maintaining mothers' physical and practical health
Allocating time for rest
Mieto & Bousso (2014), Cimete (2002), Medway & et al. (2015), Tong & et al. (2010)
Helping with household chores
Medway & et al. (2015), Geense & et al. (2017)
Helping with children’s transport
Mieto & Bousso (2014), Cimete (2002), Nicholas (1999)
Medway & et al. (2015), Tong & et al. (2010), Geense & et al. (2017)
Helping with child care
Geense & et al.(2017), Tong & et al (2010)
Helping with care for other children
Mieto & Bousso (2014), Cimete (2002)
Medway & et al. (2015)
Maintaining family relationships
Medway & et al. (2015), Nicholas (1999), Tong & et al. (2010)
Interactions with other family members
Medway & et al. (2015), Nicholas (1999)
Geense & et al. (2017), Cimete & et al. (2002)
Nicholas (1999), Tong & et al (2010)
Geense & et al. (2017), Nicholas (1999)
Need for emotional-psychological support
Support by family, relatives, and friends
Mieto & Bousso (2014), Cimete & et al. (2002), Medway & et al. (2015), Geense & et al. (2017)
Support by medical and health care staff
Mieto & Bousso (2014), Cimete & et al. (2002)
Interactions with peer groups
Medway & et al. (2015), Geense & et al.(2017)
Strategies to Manage Conflicting Roles
Geense & et al. (2017), Tong & et al. (2010)
Screening for Psychological Problems
Mieto & Bousso (2014) , Cimete & et al. (2002)
Medway & et al. (2015), Tong & et al. (2010)
1. The Need for Child Care Management Skills
This theme implies that the constraints stemming from the complex process of treatment and care pose a major challenge to mothers. Therefore, mothers need to develop skills related to child care management.
1.1. Information Needs
Five of the studies reported that the mothers expressed their need to gain increasingly specialized information (1, 3, 17-19). Despite the unreliability of online sources, mothers have to search the Internet for information because health care professionals do not provide complete explanations (3). In general, these studies identified the need for more information on kidney disease, as well as its treatment, medicinal regimens, diets, and the available services.
1.1.1. Disease and Treatment Process
Transparent information and sufficient knowledge about the disease and its treatment are important since they can reduce stress and anxiety in mothers (1, 19).
1.1.2. Medicinal Regimen
Geense et al. discussed the need for more information on the negative effects, different doses, and methods of medication. The mothers participating in the study asked for practical tips on how to administer medications to their children in an accurate and regular manner (3).
1.1.3. Diet
The mothers also required information and tips on managing their children’s diets, including reducing their protein, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, or liquid intake. In other words, mothers need to eliminate certain nutrients for normal child growth; accordingly, a good knowledge of alternative foods is important (3, 19).
1.1.4. Available Services
According to a study conducted by Medway et al., parents need a systematic method to ensure that they are aware of all the available services, including parking permission or child care funding (17). The participants in a study conducted by Tong et al. declared that information should be provided online or distributed by parent networks, clinical experts and health care professionals in the form of pamphlets or videos (19).
1.2. Strategies for Managing Children’s Problems
Mother–child conflicts, including observing diet and water restrictions, child mood disorders, and educational backwardness, and academic failure, contribute to the despondency of mothers. In this regard, the mothers participating in the evaluated studies identified the following needs:
1.2.1. Managing Food Restrictions for Children
Tong et al. indicated that diet management and limitations on liquid intake are extremely challenging. The participants added the following statements: “Maybe I call it chronic renal failure and you can cope with it, but the problem of food intake for a sick child is really big and troublesome.” Withholding water from children was one of the worst requirements described by the mothers (19). In a study performed by Cimete, the mothers expressed the bitter experience of setting restrictions on the consumption of liquids and some foods for their children (20).
1.2.2. Managing Psychological Problems in Children
According to Tong et al., mothers consider the management of mental health in children difficult, and they lack adequate support and information about disorders, such as depression and aggressiveness, in children suffering from chronic kidney disease (19). Physical constraints, growth retardation, and changes in the appearance of children distance them from their peers, which led to anxiety in children, and consequently in their parents (20).
1.2.3. Providing Education for Children
In the study by Cimete, 87% of the parents stated that their children’s conditions had negative effects on their education, a problem that is a source of great sorrow for the children and their mothers. One of the mothers expressed her expectations from a hospital as follows: “I do not think my child will die in the short term, so I want to be constructive and useful in her life. There should be an opportunity for my child to continue his education in this situation.” (20).
2. The Need to Maintain Family Cohesion
The incurable, invasive, and time-consuming process of hemodialysis can affect an entire family. In the reviewed studies, the mothers expressed different needs for maintaining family cohesion.
2.1. Maintaining the Physical and Functional Health of Mothers
Overwhelming care requirements, exhausting commutes, and other needs threaten the health of mothers. Some of the issues in this regard are explained below.
2.1.1. Allocating Time for Rest
Mieto and Bousso reported that the mothers allocated little time to their sleep and rest (1). Likewise, the mothers in the study by Cimete said “We don’t have any day to sleep comfortably anymore.” (20).
2.1.2. Helping with Household Chores
Hospital visits and in-home health care services mean that mothers cannot fulfill other family responsibilities, including cooking and cleaning (19, 21). The mothers declared that they need practical support in doing household chores; therefore, they can have more time for themselves, their spouses, family life, or their work (3).
2.1.3. Helping with Children’s Commutes
It cannot be ignored that establishing daily life routines on the basis of the hemodialysis process and accompanying children three times a week pose serious challenges for mothers and their families (1, 3, 17-20).
2.1.4. Helping with Child Care
In all the reviewed studies, the participants expressed their need for assistance in terms of taking care of their sick children. Geense et al. indicated that the mothers benefit from the social support provided by in-home nurses, who can, for example, administer injectable growth hormones to children whose parents are unable to do so (3).
2.1.5. Helping with Care for Other Children
One of the major concerns of the mothers was the short amount of time that they can dedicate to their other children (1, 19-21). One of the mothers in the study by Cimete shared the following statement: “I sometimes forget that I have another child.” (20).
2.2. Maintaining Family Relationships
Incurable diseases and the time-consuming process of treatment tremendously affect family relationships. According to the experiences of the mothers participating in the evaluated studies, the following measures are required.
2.2.1. Family Counseling
The problems that the sick children encountered, especially those at the onset of the disease, led to conflict and tension between the parents (17-20). In a study performed by Nicholas, one of the mothers revealed that her husband left them because he could not adapt himself to having a sick child (18).
2.2.2. Interacting with Other Family Members
The exhausting and time-consuming process of treatment, parental involvement, and financial problems can affect all aspects of family functioning. According to the findings of the studies conducted by Tong et al. (19) and Medway et al. (17), the participants were compelled to disregard entertaining activities, such as dining out, going on family holidays, and participating in extracurricular activities for their other children. These problems disrupted family relationships and triggered anxiety among the mothers.
2.3. Earning Money and Maintaining Financial Resources
Financial problems were taken into account as the leading source of the pressure regarding taking care of children with chronic kidney disease (17). The studies needed to address these problems are as follows:
2.3.1. Securing Parental Employment
Schedule managements on the basis of the hemodialysis process can lead to employment challenges among parents, particularly mothers, who serve as the main caregivers of sick children. The results of all the reviewed studies indicated that the parents were compelled to work fewer hours or even leave their occupational status although they needed their jobs.
2.3.2. Financial Support
Problems with parental employment, medical costs, and commutes can give rise to economic crises and the need for financial support for most families (3, 17, 21). In the study by Cimete, 29 out of the 31 participants stated that they were suffering from an economic crisis: “We sold all the furniture in our home.” (20). In the study by Nicholas, 22 out of 32 mothers described their financial problems as the complete loss of funds and moving into less expensive homes. Moreover, half of the mothers were living under the poverty line with minimum incomes (18).
2.3.3. Providing Housing Close to Hemodialysis Centers
The number of hemodialysis centers for children is limited, which makes families travel long distances to access such centers—an issue that can cause considerable tension and impose a huge financial burden on the families (3). As revealed by Medway et al., the participants living out of urban areas and away from hospitals had to deal with financial burdens originating from the costs of fuel, food, parking, car maintenance and repair, and travel (17).
3. Need for Emotional–Psychological Support
Mieto and Bousso argued that the well-being of mothers can be strengthened through interactions, including ones with medical staff, family members, and their children (1).
3.1. Support from Family Members, Relatives, and Friends
The mothers stated that they need support from their husbands, families, and friends (1, 3, 19, 20).
3.2. Support from Medical and Health Care Staff
Providing health services for mothers goes beyond meeting their health care needs. Maternal well-being can be strengthened through dialogues with treatment teams as such exchanges enable them to convey their mental needs better; therefore, they can provide comfort for their children (1, 19). Cimete (20) reported that only 5.4% of mothers could share their feelings and problems with nurses. One of subthemes emerged from a study conducted by Pourghaznein et al. was “neglecting maternal feelings by medical team”. Most of the participants expressed that their maternal emotions and feelings have been ignored by the members of medical teams. Moreover, mothers complained that they were overlooked when they described the conditions of their children. They also believed that their needs as mothers of children with an incurable disease were unsatisfied and excluded in the decision‑making process (21).
3.3. Interactions with Peer Groups
The mothers expressed their need for emotional support through interactions with their counterparts. They exhibited a liking for face-to-face communication with parents of other children suffering from chronic kidney disease (1, 3, 19). As declared by one of the mothers, “Having mutual understanding among parents is really good” (3). Note that the receipt of information and sharing of knowledge between mothers and their peers can be considered as a source of strength for these individuals (1).
3.4. Psychological Counseling
The mental problems of mothers and the management of interference in multiple roles necessitate psychological counseling. These consultations are necessary with two main objectives in mind.
3.4.1. Strategies for Managing Conflicting Roles
The mothers seek information from health care providers to enable themselves to balance child care and their other responsibilities. Accordingly, they can allocate more time to themselves and their hobbies. Such information can reduce their level of stress and allow them to relax (3, 18, 19).
3.4.2. Screening for Psychological Problems
Mothers can experience considerable mental, emotional, and social stress (1, 18-20). Therefore, the psychological disorders from which they suffer should be identified and controlled. For instance, a mother said “I think that mothers undoubtedly suffer from depression and this can badly damage children. Sometimes mental-psychological health problems are much worse than physical ones” in the study conducted by Tong et al. (19).
According to the findings of the current study, mothers of children with hemodialysis face various needs. They need to gain a lot of information about the disease and treatment process, drug regimen, diet, and available services. Moreover, the lack of ability to manage the constraints and psychological problems of a child with hemodialysis can put mother under stress. Complicated and time-consuming treatment procedures of such a child affects the physical and functional health of the mother, and constraints family relationships, which leads to the weak financial status of the family and may even result in family collapse. Therefore, the mothers need interventions for preserving family coherence. In addition, thematic synthesis of the available studies indicated that the mothers require emotional-psychological interventions. Mothers get stronger by interactions, which include interaction with medical staff, family members, friends, and peer groups. On the other hand, the interference of various roles and psychological problems in these mothers necessitates psychological consulting.
One of the needs extracted from the studies was the need for child care management skills. In most papers, the mothers required more specialized information regarding the disease, treatment process, drug regimen, and diet (1, 3, 17-19). They refrain from asking questions for the fear of disrupting their relationships with medical staff (19). Deficiencies in nursing performance in different countries were observed despite the frequent emphasis of nursing studies on the educational roles of nurses and the importance of care and family-centered policies, particularly those for chronic diseases. Medical teams are obligated to recognize the role of mothers as primary caregivers of sick children and realize that even minimal information is critical to them (22). Without stable relationships with medical staff, mothers can also suffer from lack of confidence in child care (23); if parents become uncertain about each aspect of care, they may fail to effectively maintain therapeutic regimens (24).
One of the other needs highlighted by the mothers is how to manage mental–psychological and educational problems (18-20). Mothers with children undergoing hemodialysis face frustrating experiences, such as convincing their children to comply with health, medical, or diet restrictions. Therefore, an essential requirement is to provide psychological counseling to enable mothers to describe their children’s problems and equip them with strategies on how to deal with these difficulties. The educational problems of children and their academic backwardness can also cause tremendous grief and sorrow for mothers and their children. In this regard, the mothers recommended the provision of educational facilities in hospitals (20).
Based on the results of the reviewed studies, endangering the physical and functional health of mother, confining family relationships, and weakening the financial status of the family necessitates preserving family coherence. The complex care for children undergoing hemodialysis threatens the physical well-being of mothers. Enabling mothers to perform their multiple roles, especially the maintenance of family cohesion, necessitates the implementation of measures designed to help them maintain physical. Some strategies suggested by the mothers are the involvement of informal caregivers in the management of disease, use of social nursing services at home, practical support for children’s commutes from transportation companies, and practical assistance for household chores (3).
Financial weakness of such families is one of the main effective factors on the collapse of families. The findings of the current study indicated that despite the discrepancies in the context of the evaluated studies (i.e., conducted in different countries and within various cultural and economic conditions), all of them identified the financial needs of mothers who have children suffering from chronic kidney disease. The heavy financial burdens experienced by the mothers come from the costs of treatment, frequent commutes to hospitals, and in most cases, travel to remote locations of hemodialysis centers. Travel to hemodialysis centers three days a week interfered with employment opportunities of the mothers and fathers, which in turn, destabilized the economic status of the families. In several studies, financial problems were introduced as the main pressure of having children with chronic kidney disease (7, 17, 19). Note that financial problems can affect all aspects of family functioning, including the physical and mental conditions of all family members, family cohesion, education, recreation, and leisure activities of healthy children (17-19). Furthermore, the medical outcomes of children whose parents occupy lower levels of the social and economic ladder can be adversely affected (25).
Results of all reviewed studies indicated that complex care procedure of children with hemodialysis in addition to their physical health condition threaten psychological and emotional health of their mother. In order to improve the mental–psychological well-being of mothers, it is suggested to screen for psychological problems, administer corresponding interventions, and conduct family counseling. As declared by Mieto and Bousso (1), the well-being of mothers can be reinforced through effective communication with medical staff and receipt of emotional support from them. The strategies proposed in the investigated studies were the provision of locations where mothers and families can talk about their emotional status and interact with parents of other children undergoing hemodialysis (1, 3, 19). Note that the receipt of information and sharing of knowledge between mothers and their peers can be considered a source of strength and emotional support for these individuals (1).
The influence of mothers on maintaining family cohesion is an undeniable fact; accordingly, attending to the needs of mothers can exert profound and comprehensive effects on the social and emotional health of families as the building blocks of society. It is recommended to take supportive measures in the care programs for children with hemodialysis on the basis of mothers’ needs.
Implications for Practice
Nurses are the members of the healthcare team that have the most frequent interactions with mothers of children undergoing hemodialysis treatment. Mothers attend 4-hour hemodialysis sessions three days a week, which can be a good opportunity to be provided with the emotional–psychological support and necessary information. Educational packages related to the disease and treatment process, diet, and pharmacological commands can be also prepared in response to the information needs of mothers. Nurses must know that mothers need attention with regard to their emotions and should be given opportunities to express their feelings about their child care. Furthermore, nurses are among front-line professionals that along with the other healthcare team members can provide services to assess physical, emotional–psychological, social, and economic needs of these mothers and their family. Therefore, nurses should provide interventions based on mother’s needs with the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team members, including nephrologists, clinical psychologists, social workers, nutritionists, and charitable foundations for special diseases.
This study was a part of a doctoral thesis funded by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. The researchers express their appreciation for the financial support of the university.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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Same sex marriage allowed in what states
That figure included "37 percent of Republicans, 64 percent of independents, and 76 percent of Democrats," as we reported last month. In February, the court answered, "segregating same-sex unions from opposite-sex unions cannot possibly be held rationally to advance or preserve" the governmental aim of encouraging "stable adult relationships for the good of the individual and of the community, especially its children. Supreme Court declined to decide the California challenge to Proposition 8, ruling on technical grounds that it did not have jurisdiction. In December the U. Before Friday's ruling, gay marriage had already been made legal in 37 states and the District of Columbia — by either legislative or voter action or by federal courts that overturned state' bans. Governor Andrew Cuomo immediately signed the legislation. See also marriage law. The order to allow same-sex marriages went into effect and Governor Christie announced that the state would drop its appeal, making same sex marriages legal in New Jersey.
Same-sex marriage around the world Countries with same-sex marriage1 country year effective 1Same-sex marriage is also legal in parts of Mexico, and marriages performed in those jurisdictions are recognized throughout the country. Governor Douglas vetoed the bill, but the veto was overridden by the legislature. Elsewhere, Bermuda legalized same-sex marriage in , but the following year it passed a bill that replaced such marriages with domestic partnerships. In a majority of Australians voted for same-sex marriage in a nonbinding referendum. For several months, House leaders had delayed the vote over concerns the bill might not have enough support. In parliamentary unitary systems, such as those of the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom, for example, legislatures and the executives derived from them were instrumental in the success or failure of such laws. The justices ruled in Obergefell v. The law went into effect Aug. The state soon began to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples, but these were quickly challenged and their legal status over the long term remained uncertain. I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard's and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. Religious and secular expectations of marriage and sexuality Over time the historical and traditional cultures originally recorded by the likes of Bachofen and Morgan slowly succumbed to the homogenization imposed by colonialism. Some county officials had issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples in previous years. In the s, he had supported same-sex marriage while campaigning for the Illinois Senate. In the Federal District Mexico City , separate from other Mexican jurisdictions, legalized same-sex marriage. Most Christian denominations opposed it, while the United Church of Christ , the United Church of Canada , and the Religious Society of Friends Quakers took a more favourable stand or allowed individual churches autonomy in the matter. But, as you know, courts have always been strategic. The issue of same-sex marriage frequently sparked emotional and political clashes between supporters and opponents. Since that time, many states have taken actions to clearly define marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman and others have allowed same-sex couples to marry. Voters upheld the law and it went into effect on Jan. Many Americans felt that the Hawaii court decision represented a serious threat to social stability, and in the U. In January the Supreme Court agreed to review a November decision of the Court of Appeals of the Sixth Circuit that had upheld state laws and constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage or the recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. Same-sex marriage around the world The table provides a list of countries that have legalized same-sex marriage, as well as selected countries that offer some other legal status for same-sex couples. The Supreme Court said that the right to marry is fundamental — and Kennedy wrote that under the 14th Amendment's protections, "couples of the same-sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty. In November , voters in Maine approved a ballot measure legalizing same-sex marriage. Obergefell continued, "the four words etched onto the front of the Supreme Court — 'equal justice under law' — apply to us, too. The earlier New Jersey Supreme Court decision had required the state to offer the same legal rights to same-sex couples that married, opposite sex couples had.
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4 thoughts on “Same sex marriage allowed in what states”
Guzshura says:
In the early 21st century, however, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism all spoke with more than one voice on this issue.
Nicage says:
Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. The law took effect 30 days after signing, making same-sex marriages available in New York in late July
Tauzilkree says:
Sexuality is but one of many areas where religious and civic authority interact; definitions of the purpose of marriage is another. The Maine Legislature passed and Governor Baldacci signed legislation in May allowing same sex marriage.
Vijind says:
On the same day, the Supreme Court decided a challenge to the federal DOMA law that limited over one thousand federal benefits to marriages defined as a relationship between a man and a woman.
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It will be available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and it will be the second Jurassic World game we're getting after the recently announced Jurassic World Alive mobile game. But with this announcement, I can't help but wonder if Goldblum is going to tell us to all to go out outside and get laid, like the last time he was in a Jurassic Park game .
Author: - March 14, 2018 0 Google Assistant shortcut app now installs on Lollipop, tablets
At the time, however, it had only been available in English. Google Assistant is now rolling out to iPads starting today and is now available in these languages, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish.
Author: - March 14, 2018 0 Apple opens WWDC 2018 registration: June 4-8 in San Jose
WWDC 2018 will be held at the McEnery Convention Center, the same location as past year. Tickets will go on sale for the latest iteration of Apple's annual event on March 22 at 10 a.m. This year, Apple will unveil iOS 12 and we could see the new Apple iPad Pro slates that feature an edge-to-edge display, the TrueDepth Camera and Face ID.
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Nasa's Curiosity rover detects methane in latest hint at life on Mars
Rogue Raspberry Pi used to hack NASA JPL
EPA Rolling Out New Coal-Friendly Rules
Controversial Trans Mountain pipeline approved, but will it get built?
New York Approves Driver’s Licenses For Illegal Immigrants
Strawberry Moon 2019: Best occasions to watch and an extraordinary review reward
Watch the sky: Here's when to view this year's Strawberry Moon
Australia approves controversial coal project
Star Trek logo spotted on Mars surface by NASA satellite
SpaceX launches rocket at Calif. Air Force base
Gulf Coast faces life-threatening rains as Barry moves inland
NASA's Hubble Telescope spots strange disk around massive Black Hole
Expect waves of rain and storms Saturday afternoon
Excessive Heat Warning issued for Thursday through Saturday
For Apollo 11's 50th anniversary, the Washington Monument becomes a rocket
Perth to have spectacular view of tomorrow morning’s partial lunar eclipse
The Mystery Of NASA’s Missing Moon Rocks
How & When To View The Partial Eclipse In Perth
Leading healthy lifestyle most effective way to prevent dementia
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Magnet Picks Up Cocaine Cowboys 2
By greenroomwire
Magnet Releasing announced on Thursday, February 7th, in conjunction with the 58th Berlin International Film Festival, the acquisition of world distribution rights to rakontur's Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustlin' With The Godmother - the sequel to the documentary Cocaine Cowboys, which was released by Magnolia Pictures in 2006. Magnet Releasing is a division of Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban's Magnolia Pictures which was established in September 2007.
Magnolia's Laird Adamson is handling sales of foreign territories for Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustlin' With The Godmother. The original Cocaine Cowboys sold in over 25 territories. Magnolia Home Entertainment also has DVD rights to the sequel.
rakontur expects to have the film completed by June.
Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustlin' With The Godmother begins in 1991 with Charles Cosby, who is selling ounces of cocaine on the inner-city streets of Oakland, California. His life is changed forever when he writes a fan letter to the "Cocaine Godmother" Griselda Blanco, an unforgettable crime figure immortalized in Cocaine Cowboys who is serving time at a nearby federal prison. Six months later, Cosby is a multi-millionaire, Blanco's lover, and the head of her $40 million a year cocaine business. Also known as "The Black Widow" for her propensity to permanently dispose of her men when she's done with them, Blanco will stop at nothing to ensure that Charles is faithful to her. Cosby soon learns that he's in way over his head.
www.magnetreleasing.com
www.rakontur.com
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Wedding dress of Lady Diana Spencer
Title: Wedding dress of Lady Diana Spencer
Subject: Diana, Princess of Wales, David Emanuel (fashion designer), Wedding dress of Sophie Rhys-Jones, White wedding, Wedding dress of Princess Elizabeth
Collection: 1980S Fashion, British Royal Attire, Diana, Princess of Wales, House of Windsor, Royal Wedding Dresses
David and Elizabeth Emanuel
Ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown
The wedding dress of Lady Diana Spencer was worn by Lady Diana Spencer at her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales, on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral. Diana wore an ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot (7.62 m) train, valued then at £9000.[1][2][3] It became one of the most famous dresses in the world,[4] and was considered one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history.[5]
Reception and influence 2
Further reading 5
The dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel and was described as a dress that "had to be something that was going to go down in history, but also something that Diana loved", and one which would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression".[6][7] Diana Spencer had personally selected the designers to make her wedding dress as she had been fond of a chiffon blouse which they designed for her formal photo session with Lord Snowdon.[8]
The woven silk taffeta was made by Stephen Walters of Suffolk.[4] In the making of the dress, the Emanuels consulted Maureen Baker, who had made the wedding dress of Princess Anne.[7] One observer wrote of the dress, "the dress was a crinoline, a symbol of sexuality and grandiosity, a meringue embroidered with pearls and sequins, its bodice frilled with lace".[2] It was also decorated with hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls. The lace used to trim Diana's wedding dress was apparently antique hand-made Carrickmacross lace. In contrast, that on the wedding dress of Kate Middleton in her marriage to Prince William, Diana's eldest son, incorporated motifs cut from machine-made lace appliquéd on to silk net.
The making of the dress posed difficulties, given that Diana had developed bulimia and had dropped from a size 14 to a size 10 in the run-up to the wedding; even the seamstress was concerned about her weight loss and that the dress would not fit as it should.[9] Due to the length of the train, Diana's father found it difficult to fit inside the glass coach to accompany his daughter to the cathedral.[10] Diana also had a spare wedding dress, which would have acted as a stand-in if Diana's dress was revealed before the big day. [11]
Reception and influence
After the wedding, few specifically wanted a dress in the same design, but large puffed sleeves, a full skirt and "soft touch fabrics" became popular requests.[12] Copies by other dressmakers were available "within hours" of the 1981 wedding.[13]
Even after the styles became dated, many considered it a "gold standard" in wedding dresses.[14] However, continued appreciation for the dress was not universal: one 2004 bridal magazine listed it as "too much dress, too little princess."[15] Nevertheless, in 2011, Elizabeth Emanuel noted that she still received requests for replicas of Diana's dress.
In his 2003 memoir, A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell wrote that Diana had wanted the dress to be part of the fashion collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.[16]
The dress has toured for many years with the exhibition "Diana: A Celebration", though generally it stays for only part of the exhibit. Althorp House, Northampton is the primary display location of the dress.[17]
In 2014, her dress transferred ownership from her brother to her sons, as Diana had requested that her belongings be handed back to her sons when they both turned 30.[18]
Engagement ring of Diana, Princess of Wales
Travolta dress
^ "On this day:1981: Charles and Diana marry".
^ a b Denney, Colleen (April 2005). Representing Diana, Princess of Wales: cultural memory and fairy tales revisited. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. p. 57.
^ "Princess Diana, Princess of Wales: Diana`s wedding – marriage". Princess-diana.com. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
^ a b Steele, Valerie (9 November 2010). The Berg Companion to Fashion. Berg Publishers. p. 218.
^ Johnson, Maureen. "Design of Lady Diana's wedding dress revealed". The Press-Courier (Oxnard CA). Associated Press. p. 11. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
^ Coward, Rosalind; Mandela, Nelson; McCorquodale, Sarah (1 July 2007). Diana: The Portrait: Anniversary Edition. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 25.
^ a b McDowell, Colin (1 July 2007). Diana style. Aurum.
^ Moore, Sally (October 1991). The Definitive Diana: An Intimate Look at the Princess of Wales from A to Z. Contemporary Books.
^ Paprocki, Sherry Beck (July 2009). Diana, Princess of Wales: Humanitarian. Infobase Publishing. p. 35.
^ Knight, Julian (22 March 2011). The Royal Wedding For Dummies. John Wiley and Sons. p. 68.
^ "Princess Diana's Spare Wedding Dress Revealed". Retrieved 30 July 2014.
^ Rodd, Debbie (June 1982). "Classic Wedding Ways".
^ "Kate's wedding dress recreated in just five hours". The Herald Sun. AFP. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
^ Nixon-Knight, Lynnell (January 2007). "Natural Evolution". Indianapolis Monthly. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
^ Armstrong, Colleen (Winter 2004). "Top 10 perks for 21st century brides". Cincinnati Wedding. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
^ Paul Burrell (3 June 2004). A Royal Duty. Penguin Adult. p. 250.
^ "Kensington Palace - FAQs". Historic Royal Palaces. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
^ "Princess Diana Wedding Dress Going Home". Hello Magazine. Retrieved 4 Dec 2014.
In 2006, the Emanuels wrote A Dress for Diana (ISBN 1-86205-749-4). It was reissued in March 2011 in anticipation of Kate Middleton's marriage to Prince William.
Diana: The Exhibition page about the wedding
Wedding dresses worn at British Royal weddings
Queen Victoria (1840)
Princess Victoria (1858)
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Princess Alexandra of Denmark (1863)
Princess Helena (1866)
Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll (1871)
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Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1882)
Princess Beatrice (1885)
Princess Mary of Teck (1893)
Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1923)
Wallis Warfield (1937)
Princess Elizabeth (1947)
Princess Margaret (1960)
Princess Anne (1973)
Lady Diana Spencer (1981)
Sarah Ferguson (1986)
Sophie Rhys-Jones (1999)
Camilla Parker Bowles (2005)
Catherine Middleton (2011)
1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997
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Home Salon Emoluments watch: Trump’s DC hotel spiked rates shortly after his inauguration
Emoluments watch: Trump’s DC hotel spiked rates shortly after his inauguration
The Washington D.C. hotel owned by the Trump family wasn’t supposed to be making money so soon after opening its doors in September, but its connection to the president and its proximity to the White House and Capitol Hill have given the property a healthy boost to its bottom line.
Trump International Hotel made $ 1.97 million in profit in the first four months of the year, up from an original forecast of a $ 2.1 million loss, beating expectations by nearly 200 percent, according to government data first reported by the Washington Post. Before Donald Trump won the presidential election last year, the Trump Organization estimated the hotel would lose money in 2017 as it invested in growing its start-up hotel and convention business.
The election of the hotel’s namesake may have played a key role in boosting sales.
The hotel has quickly become a popular convention space for right-leaning groups who view it as a safe space where they won’t be triggered by any of the city’s many liberal Democrats. Foreign diplomats, lobbyists, high-ranking U.S. officials and political fundraisers have booked rooms, lounge and dined at what’s increasingly looking like an extension of the White House.
Demand for rooms at Trump International Hotel has allowed the Trump Organization to jack-up prices for a one-night stay to an average of $ 653, well above what the business was estimated to charge last year. Its prices are more than $ 100 higher than what comparable luxury hotels like the Ritz-Carlton and Willard InterContinental are charging.
“The Trump International is, if not the, then one of the top rate-getters in the city,” Marc Magazine, an executive at the real estate firm Savills Studley told the Post, which cited data from the U.S. General Services Administration, the building’s public landlord, on Friday.
Critics, including government ethics experts and members of Congress, say the president’s refusal to divest from his family’s sprawling business has created a minefield of conflicts of interests. Profit from the hotel’s business with foreign government officials, they say, amounts to a violation of the constitutional emoluments clause which bars presidents from accepting gifts from foreign government officials.
The hotel’s management has pledged to donate proceeds from foreign officials to the U.S. Treasury, but at the same time, the Department of Justice (headed by Jeff Sessions, one of Trump’s earliest congressional supporters) has ruled the emoluments clause doesn’t apply to fair market commercial transitions.
Situated between the White House and Capitol Hill, Trump International Hotel is located in the converted 119-year-old Old Post Office Pavilion, a historic Romanesque building and clock tower owned by the federal government. The federal government collects $ 3 million in annual rent from the Trump Organization for the hotel.
Angelo Young.
Tags: After, emoluments, Inauguration, Rates, shortly, spiked, Trumps, WATCH, хотел
Cuccinelli bores his way into Trump’s inner circle
Trump’s Immigration Measures, Far From New, Follow Europe’s Example
Rand Paul angles to become Trump’s emissary to Iran
Poll shows Trump’s approval among GOP rises after ‘go back’ comments
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5 takeaways from Tech’s loss to Clemson | Virginia Tech Football Blog
Clemson played fast, strong and smart, and the Tigers didn’t make many mistakes in Lane Stadium in a 31-17 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday. The Hokies, who suffered their first loss, had chances but couldn’t put a complete football game together.
“It was just our night tonight,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.
Swinney was right. The Tigers played well, and there is a lot to take away from the top-15 matchup.
Here are five:
1. Clemson is not good, but great
The Tigers, last night, looked almost unbeatable. Even if Tech had converted on every chance it looked like an impossible feat to score on Clemson, and the Tigers seemed to score at their own will.
It seems inevitable that Alabama-Clemson Round 3 is coming our way in January. Alabama has been taking care of business, and Clemson is too. The Tigers are the first team in the history of the NCAA to win three games over top-15 opponents before October. That’s really, really impressive.
2. Clemson Quarterback Kelly Bryant has emerged as a star.
No one could stop the 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior quarterback, especially on the ground. Kelly finished with 94 yards rushing and 186 more through the air, but more importantly, he made the big plays when it mattered.
3. It’s not time for Tech fans to flip out.
I saw plenty of anger and frustration on Twitter among the Hokie faithful. While a loss is never fun, there are some things you have to keep in mind. First, Clemson is great, and it’s coming off of a national championship win. Two, Tech has its first full recruiting class under head coach Justin Fuente. These things take time, but Fuente has Tech on the right track. Dabo Swinney had some praise for the sophomore head coach after Saturday’s game.
“I almost hired Justin,” Swinney said. “I’m glad I didn’t because he would have only been here for a year and he would’ve been gone. He’s a heck of a coach and a good guy. He’s good for the business.”
4. Freshman wide receiver Sean Savoy has become a great second option.
With Cam Phillips locking down his spot, there wasn’t much depth after the senior wideout, which was a huge point of emphasis for the Tech coaching staff this season. Luckily for Tech, Savoy has looked great.
The freshman has 18 catches for nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns this year, as well as one on the ground. Savoy had his first two-touchdown game against the Tigers, and was a bright spot for Tech.
5. Virginia Tech will have another chance at Clemson.
If I had to guess, I’d say that Tech will have a shot to repeat as ACC Coastal champions, and get another whack at Clemson in December. The Hokies have a while to go, and quite a few more games before it can focus on a rematch, though.
Virginia Tech travels to Boston College next week. The kick is at 7:15 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2.
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Conference Hosting
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Workshop 1: Computerized Multistage Adaptive Testing
Presenters: Duanli Yan, ETS, Alina von Davier, ETS, Chris Han, GMAC
Pre-requisite: Basic understanding of item response theory and CAT.
This workshop provides a general overview of a multistage test (MST) design and its important concepts and processes. The MST design is described, why it is needed, and how it differs from other test designs, such as linear test and computer adaptive test (CAT) designs.
The focus of the workshop will be on MST theory and applications including alternative scoring and estimation methods, classification tests, routing and scoring, linking, test security, as well as a live demonstration of MST software MSTGen (Han, 2013). This workshop is based on the edited volume of Yan, von Davier, & Lewis (2014). The volume is structured to take the reader through all the operational aspects of the test, from the design to the post-administration analyzes. In particular, the chapters of Yan, Lewis, and von Davier; Lewis and Smith; Lee, Lewis, and von Davier; Haberman and von Davier; and Han and Kosinski are the basis for this workshop.
MSTGen (Han, 2013), a computer software tool for MST simulation studies, will be introduced by Han. MSTGen supports both conventional MST by routing mode and the new MST by shaping mode, and examples of both MST modes will be covered. The software is offered at no cost, and participants are encouraged to bring their own computers for a brief hands-on training.
Bios: Duanli Yan is a Manager of Data Analysis and Computational Research for Automated Scoring group in the Research & Development division at ETS. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers University. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychometrics from Fordham University. Dr. Yan has been the statistical coordinator for the EXADEP™ test, and the TOEIC® Institutional programs, a Development Scientist for innovative research applications and a Psychometrician for several operational programs. Dr. Yan was the 2011 recipient of the ETS Presidential Award. She is a co-editor for volume Computerized Multistage Testing: Theory and Applications. She is also a co-author for book Bayesian Networks in Educational Assessment. Dr. Yan has been an invited symposium organizer and presenter for many conferences such as those of the National Council of Measurement in Education (NCME), International Association for Computerized Adaptive Testing (IACAT), and International Psychometrics Society (IMPS).
Alina A. von Davier is a Research Director and leader of the Center for Advanced Psychometrics at ETS. She also is an Adjunct Professor at Fordham University. Her Ph.D. in mathematics was earned at the Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, Germany, and her M.S. in mathematics is from the University of Bucharest, Romania. At ETS, von Davier is responsible for developing a team of experts and a psychometric research agenda in support of next generation of assessment. She also is responsible for fostering research relationships between ETS and the psychometric field, nationally and internationally. She edited a volume on test equating, Statistical Models for Test Equating, Scaling, and Linking, which has been selected as the 2013 winner of the Division D Significant Contribution to Educational Measurement and Research Methodology award. She is a co-author of a book on the kernel method of test equating and was a guest co-editor for a special issue on population invariance of linking functions for Applied Psychological Measurement. She authored a book on testing causal hypotheses and numerous papers published in psychometric journals. Most recently, von Davier co-edited a volume on multi-stage testing. Prior to joining ETS, she worked in Germany at the Universities of Trier, Magdeburg, Kiel, and Jena, and at the ZUMA in Mannheim, and in Romania, at the Institute of Psychology of the Romanian Academy.
Kyung (Chris) T. Han is a Senior Psychometrician and Director at the Graduate Management Admission Council. Han received his doctorate in Research and Evaluation Methods from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He received the Alicia Cascallar Award for an Outstanding Paper by an Early Career Scholar in 2012 and the Jason Millman Promising Measurement Scholar Award in 2013 from the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME). He has presented and published numerous papers and book chapters on a variety of topics from item response theory, test validity, and test equating to adaptive testing. He also has developed several psychometric software programs including WinGen, IRTEQ, MSTGen, and SimulCAT, which are used widely in the measurement field.
Workshop 2: CAT simulations: How and Why to Perform These?
Presenters: Angela Verschoor, CITO, Theo Eggen, CITO
In this workshop, the goals and usefulness of simulations for constructing CATs will be discussed. The measurement characteristics of a CAT can be studied and set before publishing it. Information can be collected by simulation studies that use the available IRT calibrated item bank and the proposed target population. The performance of proposed selection algorithms and constraints can be studied. Customized software will be demonstrated and distributed. Participants will practice using the software for some examples. Participants are invited to bring their own laptops for practicing (Windows®).).
Bios: Theo J.H.M. Eggen is Senior Research Scientist at the Psychometric Research Center of Cito and full professor of psychometrics at the University of Twente in the Netherlands Consultancy and research on educational and psychometrical issues of test development are his main activities. His specializations are: item response theory, quality of tests, (inter)national assessment, and computerized adaptive testing. He has major experience as a consultant in educational measurement at Cito, at the university and internationally. He is author of research articles and chapters of textbooks. He is scientific director of the Research Center for Examinations and Certification (RCEC).
Angela Verschoor is Senior Researcher at CITO, the Netherlands. With a background in discrete optimization, her interest is the development and application of automated test assembly (ATA), optimal design and computerized adaptive testing (CAT). She has been responsible for the design of pretests for large-scale projects such as the Final Primary Education Test in the Netherlands. Other recent projects included the introduction of ATA and CAT in, amongst others, the Netherlands, Georgia, Russia, Kazakhstan, the Philippines and Switzerland.
Workshop 3: Introduction to Computerized Adaptive Testing
Presenters: Nathan Thompson, ASC
Pre-requisite: Basic understanding of item response theory.
This workshop provides an overview of the primary components and algorithms involved in CAT, including development of an item bank, calibrating with item response theory, starting rule, item selection rule, scoring method, and termination criterion. It will also provide a five-step process for evaluating the feasibility of CAT and developing a real CAT assessment, with a focus on validity documentation. The workshop is intended for researchers that are familiar with classical psychometrics and educational/psychological assessment but are new to CAT.
Bios: Nathan Thompson is the Vice President of Assessment Systems Corporation (ASC), a leading provider of technology and psychometric solutions to the testing and assessment industry. He oversees consulting and business development activities at ASC, but is primarily interested in the development of software tools that make test development more efficient and defensible. He has led the development of ASC’s CAT platform, FastTest, and developed a number of CAT assessments on that system. Dr. Thompson received a Ph.D. in Psychometric Methods from the University of Minnesota, with a minor in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
Workshop 4: Building and Delivering Online CAT Using Open-Source Concerto Platform
Presenter: Michal Kosinski, Stanford University
Pre-requisite: Pre-requisites: Basic understanding of Item Response Theory is assumed. If you are new to R, we strongly recommend reading and trying the examples in the first 10 chapters of an official introduction to R (http://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/R-intro.html). It is not a prerequisite, but it takes only 2 hours or so, and you will gain an extremely useful skill, useful well beyond developing online CAT.
Bring your laptops:
Laptops will not be supplied, so please bring your own and make sure that the conference’s Internet connection is properly configured. BEFORE the workshop please download and install R (http://cran.rstudio.com/) and R studio (http://www.rstudio.com/). We will be available 15 minutes before the workshop to help you with that if necessary.
During this hands-on workshop participants will learn how to build and deliver an online Computerized Adaptive Test using Concerto v4, an open-source R-based adaptive testing platform. We will start with an introduction to Concerto, build HTML-based item templates, import item content and parameters and combine it all into a fully-functional online test.
Bio: Michal Kosinski, one of Concerto’s authors, is the Deputy Director of The Psychometrics Centre at the University of Cambridge and the Leader of the e-Psychometrics Unit. He is additionally a Research Consultant at Microsoft® Research. He combines a solid psychological background with extensive skills in the areas of Machine Learning, data mining, and programming. His current research focuses on the digital environment and encompasses the relationship between digital footprint and psychological traits, crowd-sourcing platforms, auctioning platforms, and on-line psychometrics.
How Adaptive Is an Adaptive Test: Are All Adaptive Tests Adaptive?
On-the-Fly Constraint-Controlled Assembly Methods for Multistage Adaptive Testing for Cognitive Diagnosis
Evaluation of a New Method for Providing Full Review Opportunities in Computerized Adaptive Testing—Computerized Adaptive Testing With Salt
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Home Page Departments Training Ukrainian-German Conference RER0034
Lopatkin Roman Yu.
Position: Head of the Dept. of Research Center of Equipment for Education and Research; Member of Academic Council;
Roman Lopatkin was born in 1973, Sumy, Ukraine.
In 1989 he finished the school #2, Sumy, Ukraine. In 1994 he graduated from the Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A. S. Makarenko and got the speciality of the teacher of physics and IT. In 1997 he finished his post-graduate study at the Sumy State University.
Roman Lopatkin defended his PhD thesis in 1998, speciality - physics of a solid body 01.04.07.
From 1998 to 2005 he worked at the Sumy State University as a research worker, assistant, senior lecturer, associate professor.
In 2005 Roman Lopatkin got the status of an associate professor of the department of general and experimental physics.
Since 2005 he has been working at the Institute of Applied Physics as a head of Research Center of Equipment for Education and Research.
Почесна грамота Міністерства освіти (І ступінь) (2010), Подяка Президії НАН України (2013), Почесна грамота управління освіти (викладачі) (2016), Почесна грамота голови Сумської ОДА (2018), Почесна грамота Президії НАН України (2018),
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Mercy Mission
By Cora Buhlert
Sci-Fi | eBook
Cora Buhlert
Holly di Marco used to think that joining the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire was a good career move. However, she is beginning to doubt her judgment, for her rebel comrades treat her as nothing but a lowly mercenary, never to be entrusted with anything important. During a rescue mission to the planet of Caswallon, Holly is given the boring duty to guard some service tunnels, while her fellow rebels get to have all the fun once again. However, this dull job turns out to be a lot more exciting than expected when Holly runs into a traumatised young man and saves him from an Imperial death squad. The man Holly rescued turns out to be Ethan, Lord Summerton, only survivor of an aristocratic family with rebel sympathies. Saving his life brings Holly to the attention of the elected leaders of the rebellion. It also changes her own life irrevocably, for as they used to say on Old Earth, saving someone’s life means being responsible for him for the rest of your own.
Holly di Marco used to think that joining the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire was a good career move. However, she is beginning to doubt her judgment, for her rebel comrades treat her as nothing but a lowly mercenary, never to be entrusted with anything important. During a rescue mission to the planet of Caswallon, Holly is given the boring duty to guard some service tunnels, while her fellow rebels get to have all the fun once again. However, this dull job turns out to be a lot more exciting than expected when Holly runs into a traumatised young man and saves him from an Imperial death squad. The man Holly rescued turns out to be Ethan, Lord Summerton, only survivor of an aristocratic family with rebel sympathies. Saving his life brings Holly to the attention of the elected leader...
Cora Buhlert was born and bred in North Germany, where she still lives today — after time spent in London, Singapore, Rotterdam and Mississippi. Cora holds an MA degree in English from the University of Bremen and is currently working towards her PhD. Cora has been writing, since she was a teenager, and has published stories, articles and poetry in various international magazines. When she is not writing, she works as a translator and teacher. Visit her on the web at www.corabuhlert.com or follow her on Twitter under @CoraBuhlert.
Cora Buhlert was born and bred in North Germany, where she still lives today — after time spent in London, Singapore, Rotterdam and Mississippi. Cora holds an MA degree in English from the University of Bremen and is currently working towards her PhD. Cora has been writing, since she was a teenager, and has published stories, articles and poetry in various international magazines. When she is not ...
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PCB-Jan2016
January 2016 • The PCB Magazine 79 puBlisher: BARRY MATTIES barry@iconnect007.com sales: ANGELA ALExANDER (408) 489-8389; angela@iconnect007.com marKeting serVices: TOBEY MARSICOVETERE (916) 266-9160; tobey@iconnect007.com EDITORIAL: managing eDitor: PATRICIA GOLDMAN (724) 299-8633; patty@iconnect007.com technical eDitor: PETE STARKEY +44 (0) 1455 293333; pete@iconnect007.com MAGAZINE PRODUCTION CREW: proDuction manager: MIKE RADOGNA mike@iconnect007.com magaZine laYout: RON MEOGROSSI aD Design: MIKE RADOGNA, SHELLY STEIN, TOBEY MARSICOVETERE innoVatiVe technologY: BRYSON MATTIES coVer: GRAPHIC BY MIK38 DOLLAR PHOTO CLUB the pcB magazine® is published by Br publishing, inc., po Box 50, seaside, or 97138 ©2016 Br publishing, inc. does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for loss or dam- age caused by errors or omissions in the material contained within this publication, regardless of whether such errors or omissions are caused accidentally, from negligence or any other cause. January 2016, Volume 6, Number 1 • The PCB Magazine© is published monthly, by BR Publishing, Inc. a d V e r t i s e r i n d e x Coming Soon to The PCB Magazine: PCB007 Presents February: What's New in PCB Fabrication? March: Strategies for Increasing Profits April: Everything Engineering arlon electronic materials.......... 39 atg luther & maelzer gmbh..... 41 Burkle north america................ 33 cpca........................................ 55 Dibble leaders.......................... 51 Dis............................................ 19 electra polymers........................ 57 esi.............................................. 5 First eie..................................... 27 gardien..................................... 59 i-connect007............................ 80 insulectro.................................. 25 ipc........................................ 3, 75 isola............................................ 7 matrix usa................................ 11 mentor graphics....................... 23 mortech.................................... 49 mutracx.................................... 13 nano systems............................. 9 os-tech..................................... 53 panasonic.................................. 43 plasma etch............................... 21 prototron.................................. 45 rogers corporation................... 67 shengyi technology.................. 47 taiyo america............................ 29 thailand pcB expo.................... 63 the pcB list.......................... 2, 71 the right approach consulting... 65 Ventec....................................... 31 Viking test................................. 17
Feature Articles — Medical Electronics: Getting the Vitals
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Feature — Robots, Wearables and Implated Devices in the Age of Bionic Health
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Home Obuda University
www.uni-obuda.hu/en
Óbuda University, the legal successor of Budapest Tech – or rather its legal predecessors: Bánki Donát Polytechnic, Kandó Kálmán Polytechnic and the Technical College of Light Industry – was established on January 1, 2010.
The new university is characterized by fostering traditions and monitoring improvement and development. We are proud to announce ourselves as the legal successor to Royal Hungarian State Higher Vocational School, established in 1879 and afterwards renewed. The professors of the institution – such as Dániel Arany, Aladár Illés Edvi, Jenő Egerváry, Ödön Faragó, Géza Jalsoviczky, Ödön Lencz, Gusztáv Klemp, Lajos Petrik and many others – contributed significantly to the domestic development and the international reputation of the school.
The university is the intellectual heir of former Óbuda University, which was re-established 600 years ago on August 1, 1410. As the papal bull mentioned the re-establishment of Óbuda University:
’ … We determine and order the university to exist for good in the named town of Óbuda … with all permitted faculties, the university’s professors enjoy the privilege and freedom, which had been donated to the scientists and masters at Paris, Bologna, Oxford and Cologne Universities… by the Apostolic Holy See, the Roman Empire or any other body.
Our high level education is going on in various faculties and centers. These faculties are found in the most beautiful parts of Budapest and Székesfehérvár.
We have 6 faculties, 1 education center, and 3 doctoral schools. See on the right.
The mission of the university is to serve the economy through development and high-level knowledge transfer and innovation. The program of education is balanced to meet the demands of long-lasting basic knowledge, up-to-date professional and practical knowledge, and the application of these. The education process is built on the human relations and cooperative abilities of the students and professors. In this atmosphere students learn civic values naturally, and build them into their own scale of values.
Óbuda University is a dynamic and thriving institution located in Budapest, heart of Hungary, heart of Europe. For 132 years of existence, the educational excellence has remained paramount. The history of our institution is spanning over three centuries. Óbuda University was established as of 1 January 2010, as a legal successor of Budapest Tech – and its legal predecessors, namely Donát Bánki Technical College, Kálmán Kandó Technical College, and the Technical College of Light Industry. The fundamental mission of the University is to serve science and the future by transferring and developing knowledge at high standards and by research and innovation.
Óbuda University has an excellent conditions for world-class research and education, a multi-cultural flair in labs and lecture halls and active promotion of international partnerships. The university is a leading institution and an attractive, international place for study and research for many people. Óbuda University maintains wide international relations in 41 countries.. We keep contacts with 231 foreign higher education institutions and research institutes. We coordinate several student and academic exchange programs.
University offer the following programs in English:
Undergraduate programs with Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees:
Industrial Product Design Engineering
Graduate programs with Master of Science (MSc) degrees:
Doctoral Schools with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees:
Doctoral School of Applied Informatics and Applied Mathematics
Doctoral School of Materials Sciences and Technologies
Doctoral School of Safety and Security Sciences.
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Where It’s All About H.I.M.
Pastor Scott Velain is a Non-denominational licensed and ordained Pastor in the state of Ohio, licensed by the Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted to solemnize marriage. Pastor Velain was an elder and youth Pastor for about seven years in North Eastern Ohio before becoming an ordained Pastor. He was also a Christian performer for several years after that, and traveled from church to church to help spread the Gospel message, and began taking Pastoral classes in late 2011 before beginning to challenge the credibility of what we now know as today's modern day version of Christianity. As Scott began to take Pastoral classes he realized that in many cases.. in order to pass the tests that he was given.. he would have to lie in order to obtain a passing grade. Scott knew that he could not knowingly put his name on a document that wrongly proclaimed that Paul taught against the Law of God, nor could he condone or agree with the incorrect teaching that says that the first day of the week (Sunday) was Gods commanded 7th Day Sabbath.. nor could he condone or agree that his Messiah died on “Good Friday”, or that his birthday had anything to do with the divination of flying reindeer, and magical elves. Scott clearly knew that none of this was found anywhere in the scriptures, and in fact.. most of it was forbidden according to the scriptures. Scott knew full well that all four gospels.. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.. all agree that our Messiah died on “Passover Day” (also known as “Preparation Day” for the Feast of Unleavened Bread).. he knew that his Messiah was in the earth for three days and three nights just as he had prophesied that he would be: Mat 12:40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Scott also knew that his Messiah was raised from the dead on “First Fruits” just in time to wave the sheave offering before his Father to proclaim the “New Harvest”. Scott knew that his Messiah was indeed the first fruit of that “New Harvest” and he also knew that the man made, man created, man fabricated “Good Friday” that Catholicism and her daughter Protestant churches were proclaiming was nothing more than a man made, man created, man fabricated myth perpetuated to keep Gods people away from Gods commanded appointments. It was being forced to wrongly answer questions like these that forced Scott to removed himself from the traditional teachings of men, and to begin to study the truth of church history, and the truth of Gods word from a Hebraic view point. After years of study, prayer and supplication Scott realized that what Gods people were being taught by today's modern day denominational charters of men and their so called “Early Church Fathers”.. was a far cry from what was actually written in the Holy Sanctified Scriptures of his Father. After visiting several different denominational churches on his journey as a Youth Pastor, Christian singer, song writer, and musician.. Scott began to feel a conviction concerning the truth of Gods Word in comparison to what he was hearing from the (so called) wisdom of today’s pulpits. Scott's mother Carole was an avid bible scholar with many years of study behind her, and as a single mother with two children... her unbreakable faith and loyalty to God the Father was unshakable. Being a woman full of faith, and truth that was grounded in prayer, worship, and study... she was a great influence on her son. Knowing the truth.. she refused the man made, man created, man fabricated traditions, rituals and myths of things like the Catholic created first day of the week Sunday Sabbath, Christ-Mas, Good Friday, Easter, Advent, Lent, and other things not found anywhere in the Scripture, and although her young son did not always agree with such things.. as he grew older and wiser it was clear that she was right. As time marched on Scott's journey as a Christian performer lead him into the paths of several different denominational churches, and people began calling him “Pastor” and even though he would constantly try to correct them and tell them the he was not a “Pastor” the title kept haunting him until the day came that he began to get the message. After spending years wrestling with frustration and confusion Scott knew that his Father had not allowed over 5000 different denominational charters of men to teach over 5000 different doctrines. It was clear.. that the one true God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob had very little to do with these denominational charters of men.. and that all of this confusion was nothing more than the handy work of the little “g” god of “this world”. Once again.. it was evident that the lying pen of the scribes had made Gods true Word into a lie. Jer 8:8 "How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie. Jer 8:9 The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them? Jer 8:10 Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors, because from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. Jer 8:11 They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. Jer 8:12 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the LORD. Jer 8:13 When I would gather them, declares the LORD, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them." In early 2013 Scott asked his Father why he had allowed all of these false teachings, and these doctrines of demons to go forth, and why he did not do anything to stop them.. God answered him and said.. “I did do something.. I created you”. And so it was that Scott then knew how important it was for every Christian to stand and prepare for what was to come. Putting on the full armor of God, Scott was ready to do what ever his Father would ask him to do, and from that day forward his life was no longer his own.. and his path would no longer be the path the he would choose... but rather the path that his Father would choose for him. His mission was clear and his path had been laid out. Eph 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, Eph 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, Eph 4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. And so it is that in early 2013 Pastor Scott Velain became the founder of Holy Impact Ministries, and he not only teaches and preaches the truth of God's Word as it was originally written.. but he also works tirelessly to prepare downloadable video teachings, and PDF documents free of charge for those around the world who would hear them and read them. HolyImpactMinistries.com now reaches thousands of people around the world free of charge and advocates home bible studies and home churches instead of the denominational brick and mortar churches that are run by any one of over 5000 different denominational charters of men. Holy Impact Ministries teaches Christian's to study to show themselves approved, and to become as the Bereans were.. searching the scriptures for themselves and testing everything through the fire of prayer and supplication: Act 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. It should be more than evident that only a man who walks in the ways of his Father and has the indwelling of his Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit) is bound by the things of his Father, and just as our Messiah once proclaimed so many generations ago.. Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. Joh 12:50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me." There is only one way that we can know that we have come to know him.. and it’s not by simply saying a 60 second heart felt prayer down at the front of the aisle. That 60 second heart felt prayer is simply the first step of a journey that will take the rest of our lives to complete. 1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 1Jn 2:4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 1Jn 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 1Jn 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. And this is why Pastor Velain does not sell the Word of God on sets of DVD'S, books or movies.. but rather freely gives as he is given. And this is why he works so tirelessly to equip the saints for the work of ministry, and for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. For this indeed.. is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13) .
Pastor Scott Velain is a Non- denominational licensed and ordained Pastor in the state of Ohio, licensed by the Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted to solemnize marriage. Pastor Velain was an elder and youth Pastor for about seven years in North Eastern Ohio before becoming an ordained Pastor. He was also a Christian performer for several years after that, and traveled from church to church to help spread the Gospel message, and began taking Pastoral classes in late 2011 before beginning to challenge the credibility of what we now know as today's modern day version of Christianity. As Scott began to take Pastoral classes he realized that in many cases.. in order to pass the tests that he was given.. he would have to lie in order to obtain a passing grade. Scott knew that he could not knowingly put his name on a document that wrongly proclaimed that Paul taught against the Law of God, nor could he condone or agree with the incorrect teaching that says that the first day of the week (Sunday) was Gods commanded 7th Day Sabbath.. nor could he condone or agree that his Messiah died on “Good Friday”, or that his birthday had anything to do with the divination of flying reindeer, and magical elves. Scott clearly knew that none of this was found anywhere in the scriptures, and in fact.. most of it was forbidden according to the scriptures. Scott knew full well that all four gospels.. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.. all agree that our Messiah died on “Passover Day” (also known as “Preparation Day” for the Feast of Unleavened Bread).. he knew that his Messiah was in the earth for three days and three nights just as he had prophesied that he would be: Mat 12:40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Scott also knew that his Messiah was raised from the dead on “First Fruits” just in time to wave the sheave offering before his Father to proclaim the “New Harvest”. Scott knew that his Messiah was indeed the first fruit of that “New Harvest” and he also knew that the man made, man created, man fabricated “Good Friday” that Catholicism and her daughter Protestant churches were proclaiming was nothing more than a cheap trick to keep Gods people away from Gods commanded appointments. It was being forced to wrongly answer questions like these that forced Scott to removed himself from the traditional teachings of men, and to begin to study the truth of church history, and the truth of Gods word from a Hebraic view point. After years of study, prayer and supplication Scott realized that what Gods people were being taught by today's modern day denominational charters of men and their so called “Early Church Fathers”.. was a far cry from what was actually written in the Holy Sanctified Scriptures of his Father. After visiting several different denominational churches on his journey as a Youth Pastor, Christian singer, song writer, and musician.. Scott began to feel a conviction concerning the truth of Gods Word in comparison to what he was hearing from the (so called) wisdom of today’s pulpits. Scott's mother Carole was an avid bible scholar with many years of study behind her, and as a single mother with two children... her unbreakable faith and loyalty to God the Father was unshakable. Being a woman full of faith, and truth that was grounded in prayer, worship, and study... she was a great influence on her son. Knowing the truth.. she refused the man made, man created, man fabricated traditions, rituals and myths of things like the Catholic created first day of the week Sunday Sabbath, Christ-Mas, Good Friday, Easter, Advent, Lent, and other things not found anywhere in the Scripture, and although her young son did not always agree with such things.. as he grew older and wiser it was clear that she was right. As time marched on Scott's journey as a Christian performer lead him into the paths of several different denominational churches, and people began calling him “Pastor” and even though he would constantly try to correct them and tell them the he was not a “Pastor” the title kept haunting him until the day came that he began to get the message. After spending years wrestling with frustration and confusion Scott knew that his Father had not allowed over 5000 different denominational charters of men to teach over 5000 different doctrines. It was clear.. that the one true God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob had very little to do with these denominational charters of men.. and that all of this confusion was nothing more than the handy work of the little “g” god of “this world”. Jer 8:8 "How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie. Jer 8:9 The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them? Jer 8:10 Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors, because from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. Jer 8:11 They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. Jer 8:12 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the LORD. Jer 8:13 When I would gather them, declares the LORD, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them." In early 2013 Scott asked his Father why he had allowed all of these false teachings, and these doctrines of demons to go forth, and why he did not do anything to stop them.. God answered him and said.. “I did do something.. I created you”. And so it was that Scott then knew how important it was for every Christian to stand and prepare for what was to come. Putting on the full armor of God, Scott was ready to do what ever his Father would ask him to do, and from that day forward his life was no longer his own.. and his path would no longer be the path the he would choose... but rather the path that his Father would choose for him. His mission was clear and his path had been laid out. Eph 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, Eph 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, Eph 4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. And so it is that in early 2013 Pastor Scott Velain became the founder of Holy Impact Ministries, and he not only teaches and preaches the truth of God's Word as it was originally written.. but he also works tirelessly to prepare downloadable video teachings, and PDF documents free of charge for those around the world who would hear them and read them. HolyImpactMinistries.com now reaches thousands of people around the world free of charge and advocates home bible studies and home churches instead of the denominational brick and mortar churches that are run by any one of over 5000 different denominational charters of men. Holy Impact Ministries teaches Christian's to study to show themselves approved, and to become as the Bereans were.. searching the scriptures for themselves and testing everything through the fire of prayer and supplication: Act 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. It should be more than evident that only a man who walks in the ways of his Father and has the indwelling of his Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit) is bound by the things of his Father, and just as our Messiah once proclaimed so many generations ago.. Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. Joh 12:50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me." There is only one way that we can know that we have come to know him.. and it’s not by simply saying a 60 second heart felt prayer down at the front of the aisle. That 60 second heart felt prayer is simply the first step of a journey that will take the rest of our lives to complete. 1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 1Jn 2:4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 1Jn 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 1Jn 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. And this is why Pastor Velain does not sell the Word of God on sets of DVD'S, books or movies.. but rather freely gives as he is given. And this is why he works so tirelessly to equip the saints for the work of ministry, and for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. For this indeed.. is the whole duty of man.
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Ex-ambassador to Ethiopia sentenced to one year in jail for sexual violence
Former Korean ambassador to Ethiopia Kim Moon-hwan / Yonhap
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced a former South Korean ambassador to Ethiopia to one year in prison Wednesday on charges of using his position to have sex with a subordinate employee and sexually harassing two others.
Kim Moon-hwan, a career diplomat who served as ambassador to Ethiopia from 2014-2017, was immediately put in jail following the verdict. The court also ordered him to take 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment course and banned him from taking jobs at agencies dealing with children and youths for three years.
"Even though he, as chief of mission, was in a position responsible for protecting overseas citizens and raising the country's status in the host nation, he used this position to sexually assault or have sex with victims," the court said.
Kim was charged with having sex with the subordinate employee and sexually harassing two other women.
Kim denied the charges, claiming that the sex was consensual and that even though he patted the two volunteers on the hand and the shoulder as a gesture of encouragement, the contact was not sexual at all. (Yonhap)
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Portrait of Director Juozas Vaičkus
Author: Arbitblatas Neemija, 1908 - 1999
Dimensions: 67.5x57 cm.
Signature: Arbitblatas. 1930 (in the top-left corner of the painting).
The portrait of Juozas Vaičkus (1930), a theatre director, painted by Blatas marks the period in Blatas’ oeuvre when he used restraint and monochrome colours. Ilona Mažeikienė, a researcher of Blatas’ creative work, wrote: ‘In 1926–1939, although living in Paris, Blatas stayed in touch with Lithuania. Each year he visited his parents. His efforts to open a private art gallery on Independence Square in Kaunas were crowned with success in autumn 1932. This was the first such gallery and both local and foreign artists were exhibited in the gallery.[i] Under these circumstances it does not come as a surprise that Blatas painted the theatre director and the well-known nurturer of theatre culture in Kaunas. The greatest and most valuable achievement of Vaičkus was the establishment of the State Theatre in Kaunas in 1920 together with the pupils and stage director Kastantas Glinskis. The theatre continues to this day. It can be said that the establishment of the State Theatre is the end of one stage in the history of Lithuanian folk (amateur) theatre (Petras Bielskis) and the arrival of the professional theatre.’[ii] The portrait by Blatas captures a psychological image of the theatre director. Contemporaries remember Vaičkus as a proud, always stylish person and an exceptionally talented teacher, who revived the Lithuanian theatre. It is no coincidence that back in 1940 Stasys Šilingas wrote the following about Vaičkus’ contribution to Lithuanian culture: ‘He was a man of broad spirit, standing next to Žemkalnis – Vydūnas – Tadas Daugirdas – Rucevičius – Strazdas along with numerous, already forgotten, unknown theatre “soldiers” who sowed the seeds of their own – Lithuanian – art across Lithuania, and everywhere – in America, Germany, Russia – where there was a Lithuanian.
Reference: Description of the "Meetings" exhibition. - M. K.Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, Kaunas.
Exhibitions: Exhibition of dr. J. Gumbis art collection “Meetings”, 2015 July 3 – September 6, M. K.Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, Kaunas.
Published: "Outcrops of Lithuanian Art 16th–21th Centuries", Vilnius Exhibition of the Fine Arts Collection of Edmundas Armoška, Vilnius: Lithuanian Art Museum, 2008 Kat. No. III, 74, P. 109. History of Lithuanian Art in 20th century 1900-1940, Volume II. Vilnius, TSR Academy of Sciences, Institute of History, 1983. Nr. 75, P. 129; "Collection. Lithuanian Collectors' Association magazine". Vilnius, No. 3, 1996, P. 15.
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Suzy P. Dailey
Services for Suzy P. Dailey, 78, of Broaddus, will be at 4 p.m. today in the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel in San Augustine. Interment will follow in the Levi Crow Cemetery in San Augustine County. Mrs. Dailey was born Nov. 19, 1940, in Port Arthur and died July 13, 2019, in Broaddus. Visitation will be from 3-4 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Terry Alexander Graham
Services for Terry Alexander Graham, 54, of San Augustine, will be at 1 p.m. today in the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel in San Augustine. Interment will follow in Rosevine Cemetery. Mr. Graham was born July 22, 1964, in San Augustine and died July 10, 2019, in San Augustine.
Violet Little
Services for Violet Little, 100, of Lufkin, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in the Fielder Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Mrs. Little was born April 22, 1919, in Lufkin and died July 12, 2019, in Lufkin.
Jane Diane (Lyons) Timon
Services for Jane Diane (Lyons) Timon, 75, of Apple Springs, are pending with Carroway Funeral Home. Mrs. Timon died July 13, 2019, in Lufkin.
Frances Little Whitten
Services for Frances Little Whitten, 89, of Nacogdoches, are pending with Gipson Funeral Home. Mrs. Whitten was born Dec. 24, 1929, and died July 10, 2019, in a Nacogdoches nursing facility.
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Living Well on Global News Working to put the "care" back in health care
Halifax clinic working to put the ‘care’ back in health care
By Jennifer GrudicVideo Journalist Global News
Halifax’s Living Well Integrative Health Center has been nationally recognized for their innovative approach to collaborative care, and yet they still struggle to receive funding and support from the Nova Scotia government.
Five years ago, Dr. Maria Patriquin set out to create a different sort of healthcare clinic to Halifax – one where you could go to get a flu shot, undergo music therapy and discuss your diet all under one roof.
“We were the first formal, private integrated health care centre that was established in Nova Scotia, in the Maritimes actually,” Patriquin said.
“We have a large variety of practitioners that are here, and a larger scope of practice by virtue of that.”
READ MORE: No budget, no timeline for Nova Scotia’s new collaborative care clinics
The Living Well Integrative Health Center is a unique blend of western and naturopathic medicine. They pride themselves on taking a “patient first” approach to healthcare by getting to the root causes of illness.
“We all need to deal with dollars, cents, realities and pragmatics. But if we negate to see what is the human component, then we’re not providing care. And I actually think that care that is compassionate is cost saving,” Patriquin said.
“Medicine changes, but it’s really not as compelling as people’s individual stories.”
READ MORE: Nova Scotia doctor calls family doctor shortage a ‘crisis’
Despite being dubbed a success story by the College of Physicians of Canada, however, the centre fails to receive the same sort of praise from the province.
“On a local level, although there is some recognition, that it’s important, and it fits those criteria, I would say that there are disincentives to this set up,” she said.
“Even a small incentive grant for collaborative care, I don’t actually technically meet the criteria for this year.”
Patriquin said if the province is serious about moving towards a collaborative care model, they should look into finding ways to better support private healthcare centres.
“In speaking conceptually, everybody is buying into [collaborative care], however, change is difficult. Knowing how to translate change into practise is important,” she said.
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KATY HIGH SCHOOL
Colton Asheim is a 3 year Varsity letterman of the Katy High School Baseball team. This year, Colton was awarded the responsibility of team captain of the Katy Tigers Varsity Baseball team, and they succeeded in making the playoffs.
In 2012, Colton played his part as a defensive back for the Katy Varsity football team. This same year the Katy football team won the 5A Division II State Championship.
Along with his athletic accomplishments, Colton has received numerous awards and accolades. Colton was the 2013 recipient of the John Beauchamp Memorial Scholarship. In addition, he was a finalist for the Touchdown Club of Houston’s Scholar Athlete of the year, All-District Academic, a recipient of the Certificate of Merit for Citizenship in 2012 and Achievement in 2013, and received the 2013 UIL Scholar Award.
Colton is an active member of PALS, Young Life and the Best Buddies program; where he spends time mentoring less fortunate children.
Colton graduated with highest honors from Katy High School and was a member of the National Honor Society. He will be attending Texas A&M University in the Fall of 2013, majoring in Biomedical Engineering and hopes to ultimately attend Medical School becoming a Doctor of Radiology or Orthopedics.
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Time has no divisions
I wonder how many diaries will be started tomorrow, and how many will outlive the month? In my experience of reading them, the most diligent diarists don't tend to write much on new year's day, as though they felt that the date itself was already too overburdened with significance. (This blog, by the way, waited until 17 January 2009 to get going.) Here is a brief selection of those that did bother to write something on the first day of the year. Happy new year everyone.
'Waking this morning out of my sleep on a sudden, I did with my elbow hit my wife a great blow over her face and nose, which waked her with pain, at which I was sorry, and to sleep again.' - Samuel Pepys, 1 January 1662
'We were kept awake last night by New Year Bells. At first I thought they were ringing for a victory.' - Virginia Woolf, 1 January 1915 (her first diary entry).
'I felt the "blues" I'd missed last night enfold me like a mist, helped no doubt by an article in an American magazine the Atkinsons sent in, speaking of war as inevitable after 1951, and hinting at atomic bombs being puerile when compared to the germ bombs Russia was concentrating on. All my fears and conjectures of before this last one rushed over me.' - Nella Last, 1 January 1950
'It is the first time in my life that this day has been a national holiday. The only papers were evening ones! It is little short of scandalous.' - Kenneth Williams, 1 January 1974
'New Year's Day. These are my New Year's resolutions:
1. I will revise for my 'O' Levels at least two hours a night. 2. I will stop using my mother's Buff-Puff to clean the bath. 3. I will buy a suede brush for my coat. 4. I will stop thinking erotic thoughts during school hours. 5. I will oil my bike once a week. 6. I will try to like Bert Baxter once again. 7. I will pay my library fines (88 pence) and rejoin the library. 8. I will get my mother and father together again. 9. I will cancel the Beano.' - Adrian Mole, 1 January 1983
'Through a chink in the bedroom curtains my unenthusiastic eye caught an early-morning glimpse of the New Year: it looked battleship-grey. As I reluctantly swung out of bed I noticed my feet - never something on which I like to dwell. They appeared to be crumbling, sandstone monuments, the soles criss-crossed with ancient, indecipherable runes, which probably hold the secrets of eighty years of living and partly living - of happiness and fears, of distresses, of rather embarrassing successes and expected failures.' - Alec Guinness, 1 January 1995
Mundane quote for the day: 'Time has no divisions to mark its passage, there is never a thunderstorm of blare of trumpets to announce the beginning of a new month or year. Even when a new century begins it is only we mortals who ring bells and fire off pistols.' - Thomas Mann, The Magic Mountain
Millennium resolutions
At the end of 1999, the Daily Mirror published a nationwide survey of New Year's resolutions by teenagers. The top 10 resolutions for the next millennium were:
1. Watch less television.
2. Exercise every day.
3. Become a pop star.
4. Drink more water.
5. Get drunk more often.
6. Study harder.
7. Buy fewer CDs.
8. Ask parents for less.
9. Keep secrets better.
10. Enjoy life more.
I hope these now late 20-somethings managed to keep their 21st-century resolutions.
The Christmas cookbook nativity
A slightly longer version of my piece in Monday's Guardian.
Unlike the celebrity memoir, the cookbook aimed at the Christmas market seems to be remarkably recession-resistant: last Christmas, Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute Meals became the fastest selling non-fiction book ever, and books by Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Lorraine Pascale and others are among the bestsellers so far this year. A pagan Rip van Winkle, just waking up after a 2000 year sleep, would feel quite at home, observing a celebration taking place around the winter solstice organised around feasting, with little evidence of the intervening two millennia of Christianity. The kitchen has replaced the church as the focal point of Christmas: it is where we are supposed to unleash our creative, sociable, better selves.
The Christmas cookbook nativity goes like this. In the autumn of 1995, a visionary woman emerged out of the culinary wilderness, and her name was Delia. She had written a book, with a TV series attached, called Delia’s Winter Collection. And although this book created great anguish across the land, for it produced a terrible cranberry famine, it did help to slay a 95-year-old tyrant called the Net Book Agreement, which was cruelly forcing all books to be sold at the full price. Suddenly a small number of titles could be sold at huge discounts and millions came to our modern shrine, the supermarket, to pay homage to a new-born phenomenon: the hardback bestseller. Between 1960 and 1995, Elizabeth David's most successful book, French Provincial Cooking, sold just under 250,000 copies; by the end of 1995, Delia’s Winter Collection had sold a million.
Wise men began to spread the good tidings. In his 1999 book Living on Thin Air, Charles Leadbeater saw the cookery book boom as a paradigm of the new economy, “a worldwide upgrade of the software which runs our kitchens”, introducing us to food from around the world in a way that proved that “globalization is good for our palates”. While a chocolate cake could only be eaten once, Leadbeater pointed out, the same chocolate cake recipe could be endlessly replicated without anyone being worse off - just like the new weightless, knowledge economy which would be driven by ideas, information and networking.
People don’t talk so much about the new economy now: its vision of an endless expansion of knowhow and opportunity in which everyone would benefit has not yet materialised. And Delianomics didn’t explain the relationship between our obsession with cookery and our continuing culinary illiteracy: a new generation of amateur chefs with Smeg Ovens and River Cafe Cook Books was also sustaining the biggest market for ready meals in Europe. But the celebrity cookbook is still thriving, probably because people buy it for reasons more complicated than just following the recipes. These books are often given as presents and, as the sociologist Marcel Mauss pointed out in his classic 1925 work, The Gift, the ritual of gift-giving is a tangled web of mutual obligation, duty and status-seeking which doesn’t necessarily follow conventional economic rules.
Leadbeater called the exchange of cookbooks at Christmas “an annual, global knowledge transfer on a vast scale”. In retrospect, it seems to be the product not so much of a democratic exchange of information and skills as a heavily centralised and constrained market. Television programmes have become commercial opportunities to spawn books and merchandise, and the big chains can afford to offer such large discounts that small, independent booksellers are forced to buy celebrity cookbooks from supermarkets because it is cheaper than buying them wholesale. The books themselves are packaged not just as collections of recipes but as fetishised objects: food photography, in which meals are made to look delicious with the aid of hairspray and cigarette smoke, is now an art form and industry in its own right. These books may teach us how to cook, but they also promise to satisfy more nebulous cravings and desires.
Not that there is anything new about that. Before the 1970s, it was difficult to purchase Elizabeth David’s more “exotic” ingredients (like anchovies or aubergines) outside of Soho delicatessens or the food shops off Tottenham Court Road. For the middle classes, David’s sensuous descriptions of continental foodstuffs had a partly vicarious appeal, evoking fond memories of the foreign holidays they were beginning to take in places like Tuscany and Provence. The best food writing is, like David’s, an artful combination of precision and sensuality. And the cookery book may be selling us desires, but, should we ever get round to following the recipes, they are satisfiable ones. The new economy may be an insubstantial memory, but meals can be tweaked to take account of straitened circumstances and, however long our age of austerity lasts, we are unlikely to go hungry.
A poem by Chris Green called 'Christmas Tree Lots':
Christmas trees lined like war refugees,
a fallen army made to stand in their greens.
Cut down at the foot, on their last leg,
they pull themselves up, arms raised.
We drop them like wood;
tied, they are driven through the streets,
dragged through the door, cornered
in a room, given a single blanket,
only water to drink, surrounded by joy.
Forced to wear a gaudy gold star,
to surrender their pride,
they do their best to look alive.
The Great Snow
In his unfinished story ‘The Great Snow’ the English nature writer Richard Jefferies, best known for his post-apocalyptic novel After London (1885), describes a London that has been entirely buried by a mammoth snowfall. The dome of St Paul's just about pokes out above the snow drifts; polar bears plod along the frozen Thames. A demagogic preacher addresses the remaining population:
'Where now is your mighty city that defied Nature and despised the conquering elements – where now is your pride when so simple and contemptible an agent as a few flakes of snow can utterly destroy it? Where are your steam-engines, your telegraphs and your printing-presses – all powerless and against what – only a little snow!'
Mundane quote for the day: ‘Soon the success or failure of Christmas will be rung up on the high-street tills. If we have spent more than last year we shall be succeeding as a nation. Supermarkets must look as though the Goths and Vandals have swept into them and the young shelf-fillers will see where they broke through their lines.’ - Ronald Blythe
A mediated dampness
Cold, windy, wet and miserable here in Liverpool, and everywhere else, not like it said in the brochure and on the Christmas cards. This little passage from Adam Nicolson's book Perch Hill: A New Life (1999) sums it all up really:
'The whole of Sussex looked as if it had been in bed with 'flu for a week. Its skin was ill and a sort of blackness had entered the picture, as if it had been over-inked. No modern descriptions of winter ever put this clodden, damp mulishness at the centre of things. People always talk about ice and frost and glitter and hardness and crispness and freshness and brightness and sparkle and brilliance and tingle. It's all nonsense. England is at sea and has sea-weather, a mediated dampness. That winter it entered our souls.'
Cognitive aliens
Last week I introduced and led another Conversation Dinner at the School of Life in London and was again touched and surprised at the capacity of a sample of strangers - admittedly a self-selecting sample - to conduct a pleasant, informed conversation with each other. All the more so as I've been toying with the sobering thought lately how often we are simply cognitive aliens who talk different languages to each other while happening by accident to live on the same planet and look vaguely alike. 'Cognitive alien' is the term used by the Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget to describe children up to (I think) the age of seven. Piaget argues that there is no point trying to converse with a young child in the way that we would with an older child or adult: they are simply aliens who inhabit an entirely different mental universe to us. It's not their fault they won't do as they're told; their brains are just wired differently.
The only problem with this theory is that I often think it is also true about adults: they might as well be speaking in tongues for all the sense they make to each other. There seems to be an assumption in current affairs TV and radio that talk and discussion are a public good in themselves, but I wonder how much good the debate about Europe, the economy, the public and private sector and so on actually does, given that it simply seems to entrench people even further in their own versions of reality. Any author will be familiar with this feeling: people just get the wrong end of the stick about what you have written, or maybe you have failed to make it clear - but the tone and voice underlying your words (and sometimes even, although this is usually the least important thing, the content) has simply bounced off them as if you were two surly magnets repelling each other. 'A joke isn’t a joke if it has to be explained, let alone justified,' Christopher Hitchens wrote in Vanity Fair in 1994, 'and the same goes for many sorts of allusion, nuance, and affect – the invisible bits of writing and conversation that actually make it possible.' More often, what you have written is simply ignored: the writer Gilbert Adair, who died last week, liked to refer to himself as 'unread Adair'.
Still we remain what David Attenborough, in the last episode of Life on Earth, called the 'compulsive communicators'. It's just something we do and can't help doing, and sometimes our misunderstandings and misreadings of each other can be creative, funny and life-enhancing. So thanks to everyone who came to the Conversation Dinner for reminding me that, however hard it is, we shouldn't give up on trying to converse with other.
Mundane quote for the day: Habit, n. A shackle for the free. - Ambrose Bierce
Posted by Joe Moran at 13:44 1 comment:
Höger Day
In October 1961, in part of a post-Suez spirit of Europhilia that led to the first serious discussions about a channel tunnel, the minister of transport Ernest Marples announced a public inquiry to explore the feasibility of shifting to driving on the right. Soon there was a precedent that showed it was possible for a country to make the switch.
Nazism had ironed out some of the differences in continental practice, Austria and Czechoslovakia having switched to right-side driving when they were invaded in 1938. So after the war, there was only one mainland European country still driving on the left: Sweden. As the number of vehicles crossing its frontiers rose in the postwar era, Sweden began to worry that it was the only country left driving on the left, particularly since it had frontiers with two right-hand driving countries, Finland and Norway. Almost all Swedes bought cars with steering wheels on the left.
In 1955, the Swedish government held a plebiscite on the issue. 'Leftists' and 'rightists' waged a fierce propaganda war, at the end of which 82 per cent voted to keep left. But the two main parties ignored this thumping majority and in 1963 cut a deal to force the change through. In a project masterminded by Lars Skiöld, director of the Right-Hand Traffic Commission, Sweden would switch to the right at 5am on Sunday 3 September 1967, the so-called Dagen-H or Höger Day (Right Day). A joke doing the rounds before Höger Day was that the Swedes, being confirmed social gradualists, would make bicycles switch to driving on the left first, then cars, then buses, trams and lorries.
What happened instead resembled a Situationist artwork, a poetic transformation of daily life. The changeover was preceded by a ban on all but essential traffic, while new traffic signs were uncovered and old ones covered up. Despite the early hour and the ban on traffic, traffic jams developed as tourists and TV cameramen swarmed on to the road to witness the change. At 4.50am all the traffic on Sweden's 60,000 miles of road was moved over to the right side, and ten minutes later it started moving. Within two days of the changeover, the police registered 13,000 cases of relapsing to the left side, and 58 per cent of drivers admitting doing so in the first week. Despite a big increase in head-on collisions, though, the overall accident rate was actually lower than normal. During the first year, road deaths dropped by 17 per cent – before returning to their previous levels.
Why, if Sweden had managed the seemingly impossible, could Britain not do the same? A big problem was that Britain had a much bigger bus population than Sweden, and ministry of transport studies showed that the conversion of buses to have entrances on the right-hand side would have been the costliest aspect of the operation. The issue rumbled on and, after Britain joined the Common Market in 1973, some Europhobes were worried that the Economic Commission for Europe would press for uniformity. But by the end of that decade, the costs - in new road signs, road layouts, right-hand drive cars and buses - were too high to contemplate a change. Driving on the left side of the road has become so ingrained that the suicidally absent-minded motorist who drives the wrong way down a British motorway today – a fairly common occurrence in the 1960s – usually makes the evening news.
Anarchy in the UK?
It is exactly 35 years since the Sex Pistols appeared on the live teatime magazine programme, Today, on 1 December 1976, to promote their first single, ‘Anarchy in the UK’ – a mere two-minute segment of the show in which the presenter Bill Grundy invited the group to ‘say something outrageous’ and they responded with some rude words. The tabloids played their required role in publicising a band clearly seeking notoriety, introducing the Sex Pistols to the nation as part of ‘the new “punk rock” cult’ which ‘specialise[s] in songs that preach destruction’ (Daily Mail, 2 December 1976). Thames Television broadcast an immediate, full apology on screen twice later that day, while Grundy was quickly suspended and his career never recovered.
Historians of punk have tended to see this moment, combined with the release of ‘Anarchy in the UK’ at the end of November, as a pivotal event. In his book England’s Dreaming, Jon Savage argues that the song’s ‘ringing phrases … were powerful enough to insert the idea of anarchy, like a homoeopathic remedy, into a society that was already becoming polarized’. But punk’s success in ‘inserting’ these ideas into society may be exaggerated. ‘Anarchy in the UK’ sold 1800 copies on the day after the band’s appearance on Today but by Christmas it had only reached number 28. The number one record was ‘When a Child is Born’ by the easy-listening singer Johnny Mathis, with ‘Under the Moon of Love’ by Showaddywaddy (a rock’n’roll revivalist band discovered on New Faces) at number two. The atmosphere of moral panic around punk soon abated, reignited briefly during the Jubilee summer of 1977 when the Sex Pistols’ song ‘God Save the Queen’ improbably described the Callaghan government as a ‘fascist regime’. But the cultural work had begun to incorporate punk safely into the mainstream. An issue of Woman’s Own in October 1977 carried an article, ‘Punks and Mothers’, which showed photographs of smiling punks with their mothers accompanying a text which stressed their benignity: ‘It’s not as rocky horror as it appears … punks as it happens are non-political … Johnny Rotten is as a big a household name as Hughie Green.’
George Harrison day by day
Ten years ago today, George Harrison died. I thought I'd commemorate this by collating just a few of the many rather charming quotidian references to Harrison in Michael Palin's diaries.
Saturday, September 6th 1980
George is mending an electric hedge-cutter which cut through its own flex. As George tinkers in homely fashion with his garden equipment ('I was an electrical apprentice,' he assured me. 'For three weeks.') the boys and I swim in the buff in his swimming pool, surrounded by lifelike voyeuristic models of monks and nuns.
Saturday, January 9th 1982
Call George in Henley at nine o'clock. After a few rather terse exchanges he says 'You're obviously not a Dallas fan, then' and I realise I've interrupted a favourite viewing.
Sunday, June 16th 1985
George H calls from Australia. He's in a Sydney hotel room (it's 2.30) and for some reason announces himself as Jane Asher. He sounds at first rather sleepy and, as the call goes on, rather drunk. I'm reminded of GC's inexplicable midnight calls, except there is no invective here, just a rather sad GH reflecting on the joys of chewing 'Nicorette' gum, and anxious to tell me that he's given up smoking, and drugs, and his only vice is Carlton Lager, three of which he's just consumed. He wants to know if I will come to China with him and his acupuncturist next year.
Enter your pin please
Reading Clive James's new book A Point of View, an anthology of his ten-minute talks on Radio 4 from a few years ago, I found this passage:
'People really do define themselves by their jobs, even when their job is humble. That's why the lady behind one of the many counters of the department store proclaims her ownership of the goods you wish to purchase from her. ('I've only got it in these two colours at the moment but I should have the complete range in again by Saturday morning.') At the supermarket, the person on the cash desk will ask you to enter your pin number even after you have already begun to enter it. ('Can you enter your pin number for me?') The person is really telling you that he or she is an indispensable part of the process. We should try not to smile knowingly: in the same position we would do it too. And in any kind of cooperative venture, to make light of somebody's job is the quickest way of making an enemy.'
Work defines us. 'Why do half the things we do,' asked Thomas Traherne, 'when one could sit under a tree?' But sitting under a tree would soon get boring, wouldn't it? Thoreau said we should not calculate our wealth by how much we earn or own, but by how much free time we have left over when our basic needs have been met. Bob Diamond, the CEO of Barclays, seems to have this Thoreauvian idea of work, because he refers to his large salary as 'compensation', as though it were keeping him from more important stuff he could be getting on with. But Thoreau always seemed to me to be pretty confident, if not overconfident, about finding things to do with his free time.
I have been on a research fellowship this year so I haven't been doing any of my normal teaching or admin. In September, although I was officially on leave, I kept being interrupted by knocks on the door by people who didn't know I wasn't officially supposed to be here. But people twigged soon enough: the knocks became more spread out, the phone stopped ringing, emails became less insistent. Much office conversation is spontaneous and accidental, and people don't stop by unless they need to. An MIT study conducted in the 1970s found that office workers are four times more likely to talk if they are sat six rather than 60 feet apart, and that people seated more than 75 feet apart hardly speak at all. We like to imagine we are in some way indispensable; in fact everything goes fine, if not better, in our absence. It is salutary to get this little inkling of a semi-posthumous existence when our jobs will go on without us.
Absorption in daily activities, even if they are as meaningless as the emptying of an in-tray, is a way of giving our lives rhythm and pattern, and the idea that there is something better we could be doing with our time is perhaps a comforting delusion. 'Rigid, the skeleton of habit alone upholds the human frame', reflects Mrs Dalloway. 'All the more … must one repay in daily life to servants, yes, to dogs and canaries …'
According to Clive James, the most tragic line in Shakespeare is 'Othello's occupation's gone.'
Mundane quote for the day: 'Our life becomes divided between "work" time and "free" time. Both are part of that grand illusion, the Spectacle. Within the society of Spectacle all time is spectacular time. Sometimes we are the commodity and sometimes the consumer. In our "free" time we buy back what we made during our "work" time. "Work" time and "free" time serve each other.' - Guy Debord
A single oak tree
I’ve posted before about the work of the painter Stephen Taylor, who spent three years in a field in West Bergholt, East Anglia painting the same oak tree in different lights, seasons and weathers. Now he has collected much of this work in a book entitled Oak: One Tree, Three Years, Fifty Painters (Princeton Architectural Press). ‘The branches from the lower part of the trunk had been pollarded (cut back), so its upper part seemed to float,’ writes Taylor, explaining how he chose the tree. ‘From the field in winter, it had a dramatic, clear structure against the sky. In summer, it was a magnet for birds, and as the sun crossed the sky it reflected sunlight in such a way that you did not see its shaded side, making the tree look quite flat. The whole thing lit up like a colour-changing emblem.’
As the series progresses you see the tree losing and regaining its leaves, developing a film of snow and being populated by crows, and the colour of the surrounding field changing dramatically as the crops are rotated. Taylor started painting the oak in June 2003 – looking for a ‘still point of the turning world’ after the death of his parents and a close friend - and finished in August 2006, sitting in a crop of rape when the seed pods were a garish green.
Taylor’s oak is, he estimates, 250 years old. There is something about the sturdiness of the oak that appeals to the English imagination. Ironically, as Richard Mabey reminds us in his book Beechcombings, much of this dates back to the birth of scientific forestry in the late seventeenth century. In Sylva: A Discourse of Forest Trees, published in 1664 to encourage tree-planting to provide timber for the navy’s warships, John Evelyn was probably the first to use the phrase ‘hearts of oak,’ which David Garrick later reworked for his 1759 sea shanty, now the Royal Navy’s official marching tune: ‘Hearts of oak are our ships / Hearts of oak are our men.’
As he points out, Taylor was painting just a few miles from Constable Country. Interestingly, Constable gave his famous painting of a cart and horse standing in a millpond the title, ‘Noon’. It was someone else who named it ‘The Haywain’. Artists, aware of the changing light, are far more sensitive to the time of day than ordinary people are: Monet’s Rouen cathedral series, which Taylor’s oak series has echoes of, are meant to show it at different times of the day and year.
John Mollon, professor of neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, has described Taylor’s work as ‘parsing nature’. I wish I could notice the day as it passes as lovingly and perceptively as Taylor does in these paintings. My days hurry by in a homogeneous haze of fluorescent strip lighting and computer screen glow.
Quiet pleas
I wrote this for the Guardian a few years ago:
On 11 November 1937, an ex-serviceman, Stanley Storey, interrupted the two minutes’ silence at the Cenotaph. Breaking through the crowd and running into the road, he screamed “All this hypocrisy!” and something else that sounded like “Preparing for war!” Half a dozen policemen gave chase and, just yards from the Prime Minister, clambered on top of him and muffled his cries.
It turned out that Storey was an escapee from a mental asylum. But his shattering of the two minutes’ silence struck a chord. The Daily Mirror argued that the silence was now “a silence of shared impotence … what is the use of paying homage when every day we drift nearer and nearer to another war?” According to a 1938 Mass-Observation survey, 43 per cent of people were against continuing the tradition of the silence.
Nearly seventy years later, however, the silence remains unbroken. The British Legion, which has long campaigned for its observance on Armistice Day proper as well as Remembrance Sunday, is organising a big event this Saturday on the same scale as the Cenotaph service: an hour-long ceremony in Trafalgar Square which will culminate in the two minutes’ silence, followed by an RAF flypast, the Last Post and the scattering of poppies in the fountains.
The ebbing and flowing of observation of the silence has always mirrored political anxieties. In 1919, with much of Europe in revolutionary turmoil, it seemed like a good idea to have a secular ritual that could unite the people without demanding too much of them. “Capital and Labour were as one for two minutes,” the Times wrote approvingly of what was then called the Great Silence, “and the eloquence of the agitator was stayed by an impelling force.” The government moved the silence to Remembrance Sunday after World War II because it felt that commemorating the exact time of the 1918 Armistice was disrespectful to the dead of the more recent war. The revival of the silence on Armistice Day dates from 1996, following a two-year-long, rather bullying crusade by the tabloids to get the BBC and high street stores to observe it. The crusade began as a backlash against John Major’s ill-advised plans to “celebrate” the anniversary of the D-Day landings with spam-fritter frying competitions.
But the two minutes’ silence is more than simply a vehicle for the righteous anger of tabloid editors – partly because it hauntingly confirms John Cage’s observation that “there is no such thing as silence”. Jonty Semper’s CD, Kenotaphion, collects together recordings of the silences held at the Cenotaph since 1929. In each case the chimes of Big Ben are followed not by silence but by ambient noise: birdsong, distant traffic, shuffling feet, babies crying, the rustling of leaves. This is why the BBC lobbied hard in the 1920s to broadcast the silence from the Cenotaph. It knew that simply shutting down the airwaves for two minutes would not have the same impact as this resonant near-silence. The silence was a paradoxical by-product of mass society: a temporary stilling of the chaos of urban life which required all the accoutrements of modernity, like radio time signals and newspaper propaganda campaigns, to make it work.
Collective silence is now the default option to commemorate events of very different import, from the Indonesian Tsunami to the death of ex-footballers. No one is sure what these silences are for. So we have arguments about “silence inflation” - whether to raise the bar to three minutes for large-scale disasters – or wonder if it is more appropriate to clap than stand there silently. We seem to want silence to carry a freight of meaning that it can never bear, and to prescribe what effect it should have in a way that is likely to lessen its impact. The two minutes’ silence on Armistice Day, initially intended as a one-off, became a national tradition precisely because its meanings were so unstable and various. As one journalist wrote in 1919, it was an opportunity to unite in “thanksgiving, rejoicing, pity, life-long pride and grief”. The silence works by maintaining a delicate balance between public coercion and private reflection. All it requires of us is that we are silent.
Britain in a Day
Today, Saturday 12 November, the directors Ridley Scott and Morgan Matthews have invited Britons to capture their day on video camera and to upload their clips to a dedicated YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/britaininaday
The resulting archive will be edited into a film that will be shown in cinemas and on BBC2 next year.
It follows Life in a Day, a similarly crowdsourced film about a single day – Saturday 24 July 2010 - lived all over the world. They received 85,326 clips from 198 countries, from Burkina Faso to French Polynesia. The film, which was shown on TV a few weeks ago, opens with the sound of a thousand concurrent breaths. Highlights include the Mexicans who produce a time-lapse film of the life of a pizza, from the dough being kneaded to the empty plate being washed up, and the man who takes viewers on a tour of Roanoke, Virginia, stopping to appraise his favourite lifts.
There is of course an Ur-text for these films and other similar projects: their inspiration is the Mass Observation Day Surveys, the first of which was on Friday 12 March 1937. Volunteers were asked simply to describe what happened to them on the 12th day of each month, however mundane. On 12 March, in Liverpool, a young office worker accidentally knocked down an elderly woman on his bike, and a labourer told him off for not ringing his bell. He went out at lunchtime to buy a hat for his wedding, and then ate at a Lyons Corner House with a friend. In a Birmingham suburb, a housewife was awakened from a strange dream about the author Aldous Huxley by her five-year-old son singing nursery rhymes. She waited for a man to call to read the gas meter, before going out to return some library books. In Northumberland, an accountant rose at 7.50am and decided to postpone shaving because he was going to a dance in the evening. At lunchtime he withdrew some money from the bank. On the evening train home, he noticed his fellow passengers had made little circles in the steamed-up windows with their coat sleeves so they could look out, which reminded him off ‘wiping the bloom off a plum’.
As the Belgian situationist philosopher Raoul Vaneigem once wrote: ‘There are more truths in twenty-four hours of a man’s life than in all the philosophies.’ One problem: I don’t have a video camera. Enjoy filming, the rest of you.
Mundane quote for the day: ‘The early editions of the evening papers had startled London with enormous headlines: “Remarkable story from Woking.”’ – H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds
Under the office
I’ve posted before about Jonathan Gathorne-Hardy’s wonderful book, The Office, a novel-cum-essay published in 1970 which is really more like a prose poem about those ‘minute rhythms like the slow breathing of the IN Tray, emptying and filling, filling and emptying’. Jonathan wrote to me to tell me that he has now written a play, Under the Office, based on this earlier book, which is to be performed at the Stahl Theatre at Oundle School between 24 and 26 November. It’s a bit far for me to go but if any quotidianist is reading this and in that area …
Office life is never news because, however unfulfilling it might be, it seems unproblematic and apolitical. Office politics are not real politics; they are petty, gossipy, personal, unchangeable. Office life is invisible to anyone who isn’t a part of it. According to the sociologist Ulrich Beck, the dynamics of modern, deregulated economies are increasingly hidden in this way: ‘The place of the visible character of work, concentrated in factory halls and tall buildings, is taken by an invisible organization of the firm.’ City-centre offices might serve as the company’s brand statement, with their high-rise towers, mirror-glass walls and welcoming atria. But the essential drudgery takes place where land and labour are cheap: in anonymous, shed-like buildings in out-of-town office parks, surrounded by parking lots and security barriers, without even a logo outside identifying the company.
Since this kind of mundane existence is how many people fill their days, it is odd that we reflect so little on its history and politics. With a few exceptions, like C. Wright Mills and David Lockwood in the 1950s, sociologists have steered clear of office life, preferring to focus on more obvious forms of social inequality. It has mainly been left to creative writers to cover this terra incognita. In Joshua Ferris’s novel, Then We Came to the End, rituals like ‘the great unsung pastime of American corporate life, the wadded paper toss’ continually subvert the managerial insistence that our working lives be creative and meaningful.
After World War II, William H. Whyte noted the rise of a management style that sought moral legitimacy through its emphasis on the employee’s ‘personality’ and ‘soul’. Whyte’s ‘organization man’ was suspicious of authoritarian leadership and viewed the group as the appropriate space for negotiating and resolving problems. But as Whyte noted perceptively, ‘if every member simply wants to do what the group wants to do, then the group is not going to do anything’. He invented a term, ‘groupthink’, to describe the forms of irrational collective psychology that developed in office cultures in which the overriding aim was consensus.
By the early 1980s, human-relations management had mutated into an evangelical new concept: corporate culture. In their book In Search of Excellence (1982), Tom Peters and Robert Waterman argued that the best companies had strong cultures, in which all employees felt part of the firm and bought into a common ideal. This book, the first management text to make the New York Times bestseller list, appeared at an opportune moment – in the middle of a recession in America, when the Japanese work model of company songs and other rituals of belonging seemed to be the future. Britain was also going through a recession at this time, as well as supposedly suffering from the more chronic ‘British disease’ of mediocre management and demotivated workers. Fostering a strong corporate culture, particularly by urging workers to have a positive, can-do attitude, soon became a ruling motif in transatlantic business life.
But the decline of formal office hierarchies comes at the cost of uncertainty about where work begins and ends. The academic Andrew Ross, who spent several months in a trendy, Manhattan media firm in the late 1990s, calls it ‘no-collar’ work. Its first-name etiquette and dress-down culture tend to blur the distinctions between the office and our social lives, reframing work as an ‘existential challenge’ and enlisting ‘employees’ freest thoughts and impulses in the services of salaried time’.
Mundane quote for the day: ‘An unreasonable world, sacrificing bird-song and tranquil dusk and high-golden noons to selling junk – yet it rules us. And life is there. The office is filled with thrills of love and distrust and ambition.’ - Sinclair Lewis, The Job
M25 at 25
A slightly longer version of an article by me in Saturday's Guardian:
The M25 is 25 today. On 29 October 1986, Margaret Thatcher cut the ribbon across an eight-mile section of the London Orbital near Watford, the final and crucial bit that closed the circle. If there are any official commemorations of this anniversary, I have missed them; a birthday party for the most hated road in the country would perhaps not be well attended. Our antipathy to the M25 reveals much about shifting attitudes to roads over the last half century. In its thrilling early days, the motorway system was known by its epic cross-country routes (the M1 being called, with some fanfare, “the London-Yorkshire motorway”) but it is now the M25, mentioned daily on traffic reports as a vortex from which none can escape, that best sums up the public mood. The motorways that once carried hopes of uniting the nation now evoke images of eternal circularity, encapsulated in those mythical tales of foreign tourists (or, in some versions, confused pensioners or naïve northerners) who drive round the M25 for days in the mistaken belief that it is the M1.
But perhaps the anniversary should be celebrated, if only as a reminder of how distant the year 1986 now seems. For one thing, the M25 was opened by a prime minister prepared to attend a road opening and celebrate it as “a showpiece of British engineering skills, planning, design and construction”. In response to those who were arguing that the road was already congested, Thatcher said: “I can’t stand those who carp and criticise when they ought to be congratulating Britain on a magnificent achievement and beating the drum for Britain all over the world.” The M25’s popularity, she argued, was a sign of its success, and criticisms of it put her in mind of an old saying that “nobody shops at Sainsbury’s because of the queues”.
The prime minister was not alone in this attitude: the inauguration of the M25 was the last major road opening to generate real public excitement. The queues at both ends of the final section were much longer than usual because drivers were itching to be the first to complete an orbit. When the Guardian’s Terry Coleman drove along it shortly after the cones had been removed, he saw crowds waving from the bridges just as they had done when the M1 opened in 1959. His main complaint was that, at just three lanes, the M25 was not big or bold enough. It was also “absurdly too far out from the centre, which must be obvious even to those bicycling protectors of disused allotments, and the like who ensured by their protests that it should not be closer in”. The M25, Coleman argued, summed up “the mangy poverty of our present expectations”.
The completion of the M25 now seems to symbolise the high water mark of Thatcherism. It was accompanied by that mid-1980s phenomenon, a huge surge in house prices, all the way round its perimeter. Property prices in west Kent, in towns like Sidcup and Sevenoaks, rose by a quarter in 1986, exceptional even for the south-east equity bonanza of the period. The M25 also opened just two days after Big Bang, which ended restrictive practices in the City and ushered in a frantic era of takeovers and salary hikes. Some of these high-flying City traders quickly realised that the M25’s 117-mile circuit could serve as an illegal racetrack. They would meet up at a service station in the early hours of a weekend morning and race round the Orbital in their Porsches and Ferraris, the Dartford tunnel serving as an impromptu pitstop. The story of these Cannonball runs was uncovered by a young reporter for The Times, called Boris Johnson.
It all seems so eighties, a vanished world of red braces and mobile phones the size of bricks. But the M25 is still here and, even if nobody loves it, it hasn’t taught us much. The coalition government has made the same connection as Thatcher did between roads and entrepreneurialism, and recently declared an end to the “war on the motorist” by raising motorway speed limits. City traders no longer use the M25 as a racetrack, but the mood of braggadocio that inspired those midnight runs survives in certain quarters, undented by recent events. 1986 seems so long ago; and yet so little has changed.
The art of walking
I’ve just finished reading The Lost Art of Walking: The History, Science, Philosophy, Literature, Theory and Practice of Pedestrianism by Geoff Nicholson. Along with accounts of many other eccentric pedestrians, Nicholson tells the story of Captain Robert Barclay Allardice (1779-1854), who took part in a number of bizarre pedestrian contests, one of which was set him by ‘an unnamed Duke’ who bet a thousand guineas that he could find a man to walk the ten miles from Piccadilly to Hounslow within 3 hours, taking 3 steps forwards and 1 step back. In 1809, Barclay himself bet someone else a thousand guineas that he could walk a mile in each of a thousand consecutive hours. He began on 1 June on Newmarket Heath, walking a single mile, every hour once an hour, on a set course in Newmarket in Suffolk. It only takes about twenty minutes to walk a mile, so there must have been a lot of hanging around. An enormous crowd gathered to cheer him on as he completed the feat on 12 July.
Nicholson suggests that the longest ever uninterrupted walk was probably taken by the adventurer Sebastian Snow (1929-2001) who walked 8700 miles from Tierra del Fuego to the Panama canal in 19 months. ‘By some transcendental process,’ Snow wrote in his book The Rucksack Man, ‘I seemed to take on the characteristics of a Shire [horse], my head lowered, resolute, I just plunked one foot in front of t’other, mentally munching nothingness.’ He had intended to walk all the way to Alaska but got bored.
Nicholson does not mention another epic walk, made by the comedian Ronnie Barker, as recounted in his autobiography, Dancing in the Moonlight. As a young man he worked unhappily as a hospital porter until, desperate to get into acting, he joined a touring mime company in 1950. After a few weeks of ‘misery and despair’, the tour collapsed in Cornwall without enough money for train tickets, and Barker had to walk all the way back home to Oxford.
Another great pedestrianist was Phyllis Pearsall (1906–1996), the founder of the London A-Z. (Nicholson once wrote a novel, Bleeding London, in which a character tries to walk every street in London using the A-Z.) Here is the account in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography:
Back in London in 1935 Phyllis Pearsall made a living painting portraits, but she was disillusioned by the pretentiousness of the art world and ready to take on a new challenge, and when she got lost one evening in the streets of London and subsequently realized that the most recent street map of London dated from 1919 she decided to produce her own. Starting with the Ordnance Survey sheets she walked the streets of London for eighteen hours a day, compiling a 23,000 card alphabetical index of streets, which she kept in shoeboxes under her bed, and produced the first London A–Z Street Atlas in 1936.
What the ODNB doesn’t mention, but which I read somewhere, is that Pearsall then took 250 copies of the A–Z in a wheelbarrow to W.H. Smith’s, and they bought them from her.
Mundane quote for the day: ‘Walk some night on a suburban street and pass house after house on both sides of the same street each with the lamplight of the living-room shining golden, and inside the little blue square of the television, each living family riveting its attention on probably one show; nobody talking; silence in the yards; dogs barking at you because you pass on human feet instead of wheels.’ – Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums, cited in Nicholson, The Lost Art of Walking
Motorway rambles
Classic literature is full of warnings about the the vanity of human wishes and the transience of life and fame. ‘Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives, Live register’d upon our brazen tombs, And then grace us in the disgrace of death,’ as Shakespeare writes in Love’s Labour’s Lost. The paths of glory lead but to the grave, and so on. As Macaulay wrote rather beautifully of the puritans: ‘Their palaces were houses not made with hands; their diadems crowns of glory which should never fade away.’
Mind you, that was before they discovered lamination. I wonder if Shelley would have felt differently about Ozymandias if he’d been immortalised in a non-biodegradable table mat. Which is all a roundabout way of saying that it was very nice of the photographer Edward Chell to send me some of the table mats from his recent photographic exhibition, ‘Gran Turismo’, at the Little Chef, Ings, on the A591 into Windermere, some of which incorporated quotes from On Roads. Chell has another solo exhibition, Viewing Stations, investigating the landscape of the motorway verge, in London in November. You can find out more here: http://www.edwardchell.com/. Chell is also co-editing a book, In The Company of Ghosts; the Poetics of the Motorway, to be published by erbacce-press next spring.
I note that, in his new memoir, Alan Partridge writes that one of the programme ideas he unsuccessfully pitched to the BBC, co-devised with Bill Oddie, was Motorway Rambles: walking the hard shoulders of British trunk roads with special permission from the Transport Police. Chell is one of several people – others include the vicar John Davies, who wrote a rather excellent book a few years ago about walking the M62 - demonstrating that this is not in fact a remotely Partridgesque activity but a worthwhile and enlightening one.
Mundane quote for the day: ‘The question should be, then, not how we break through the sludge of habit to rediscover the hidden strangeness of things, but how we ever managed to convince ourselves that anything was not a dissemination of intelligence. Boredom is the amazing achievement, not wonder. Our senses can catch only a narrow portion of the spectrum: the cosmic rays, rainbows above or below the range of visible light, or tectonic groans of the earth all elude us. What the moralists have said about the universe, science since Faraday has proved to be empirically true: We are immersed in a sea of intelligence that we cannot fully understand or even sense.’ – John Durham Peters
An ecstasy of concrete
A few blogposts ago I quoted from a letter written by Dennis Potter while the Hammersmith flyover was appearing outside his window. I’ve since discovered a contemporaneous piece by him in the Daily Herald, ‘Flyover in my eyes’, from 18 November 1961, in which he is rather more positive about this new piece of architecture. ‘Our second baby was born one warm night in July …’ he writes, ‘while a grotesque new machine was dropping concrete girders into position with all the gentility of a front-row Rugby forward bearing down on a tiny full-back.’ The Potters lived ‘on the top floor of a block of flats on a bloodshot-eye level to the thing.’ The Hammersmith flyover was ‘a beautiful thing, a cross between a Roman aqueduct and a Hollywood epic, soaring over earth-bound streets in an ecstasy of concrete, cable and sheer bravado.’
Mundane quote for the day: ‘Science owes more to the steam engine than the steam engine owes to science; without the dyer’s art there would be no chemistry; metallurgy is mining theorized.’ – Clifford Geertz
Seen from the window
In his autobiographical essay, ‘Seen from the window,’ Henri Lefebvre describes looking from the balcony of his apartment in central Paris on to a busy intersection over a period of several hours. After a while he starts to notice patterns in the apparently chaotic street scene: the rhythm of the changing traffic lights, the synchronised movements of vehicles and pedestrians, the contrast between feverish activity and moments of relative calm. In order to notice such patterns, Lefebvre suggests, you need the patience to watch mundane events unfolding in time:
The characteristic features are really temporal and rhythmical, not visual. To extricate the rhythms requires attentiveness and a certain amount of time. Otherwise it only serves as a glance to enter into the murmurs, noises and cries … Over there, the one walking in the street is immersed into the multiplicity of noises, rumours, rhythms … But from the window noises are distinguishable, fluxes separate themselves, rhythms answer each other.
I’ve been looking out of the window more often than usual lately. I am on a research fellowship this year so am not teaching, and my office at work is directly above a terrace where students and members of staff walk and sometimes chat between classes. I used to see people gossiping, laughing, exchanging cigarettes and lighters, and blowing their smoke into the air: that international, wordless language that breaks down the inevitable awkwardness between people who are not quite strangers and not quite friends. Now, because the terrace constitutes part of the building and is covered by the smoking ban, the smokers have been banished to the steps below the Anglican cathedral, where they sit on their own looking, at least from a distance, pensive and disconsolate. Now, instead of cigarettes, a hundred mobile phones flip open as soon as the students come out of lectures. You could write an MA thesis about the anthropological significance of the facial and hand gestures that people adopt when they are talking on their phones. The person on the other end of the line can’t see you, you know! And of all the windows in all the world, these little gestures, tics, glances and snatched conversations came to be seen by me out of mine.
Mundane quote for the day: ‘I think the carrot infinitely more fascinating than the geranium. The carrot has mystery. Flowers are essentially tarts. Prostitutes for the bees.’ - Bruce Robinson, Withnail and I
I’ve always been interested in the resilience of ordinary life, the way our basic routines survive even in the midst of a crisis, or regroup after a catastrophe. The governor of the Bank of England announced this week that we are living through the worst economic crisis in living memory. Everyone tutted and turned over to the Great British Bake Off. At the fringe meetings of the Conservative Party Conference, the hot issue was the smoking ban in public places. I cannot decide if this evasive attitude is healthy or not. It reminds me of the IMF crisis at the end of 1976, when ordinary life in Britain carried on against a background of talk of imminent chaos. There was a great deal of excitement, for example, about an ostrich glove puppet called Emu, worked by the entertainer Rod Hull, who had just achieved national fame by attacking Michael Parkinson on his chat show. Emu’s children’s television programme was attracting eleven million viewers and the Observer suggested that ‘the whole nation … has gone Emu crazy’. There was even greater interest in the appearance of the newsreader Angela Rippon’s bare legs on the Morecambe and Wise Christmas show, the details of which were leaked to the press in the days before broadcast. ‘The excitement surrounding Ms Rippon’s perfectly agreeable legs convinced me that everybody had gone mad,’ wrote the jazz musician and critic George Melly. ‘Angela Rippon had – wait for it – legs! Did people really imagine she hadn’t? … She reads the news very well, clearly and crisply, but the secret is out. Under that tidy desk is a pair of legs!’
It is now normal to read these popular entertainments as a kind of wilful distraction from political events. But perhaps these trivial preoccupations point to a more complex account of late 1976 than the media rhetoric of crisis suggested. The mid-1970s ‘crisis’ was experienced most keenly by opinion-forming elites. The early and influential converts to monetarism – mostly in The Times and the Financial Times - tended to talk up the possibility of impending national disaster, and to remind readers of the dire predictions about Britain’s future in American right-wing media like the Wall Street Journal and CBS News, which had more than one eye on US domestic politics in seeking to present the UK as a cautionary tale. These moments of banality in daily life in the run-up to Christmas 1976 suggest that not all Britons were convinced by these apocalyptic narratives.
In early 1977 a Gallup international survey revealed that Britons believed themselves to be among the happiest people in the world. In 1978 the Washington Post’s London correspondent, Bernard Nossiter, argued in Britain: A Future That Works that the ‘voices of doom … the scribes and prophets of disaster’ had been wrong about the UK, that its levels of state spending and taxation were normal by European standards and the overall postwar trend of rising affluence, which had doubled living standards since the war, would survive the world recession. ‘Is it possible,’ he asked, ‘that the whole episode is a case of hypochondria?’
Mundane quote for the day: ‘”I see the news is bad again.” The banal phrase punctuates my memories of the late 1930s. I remember an adolescent anger that people would not name the things that were happening: the invasion of Austria; the cession of the Sudetenland; the invasions of Czechoslovakia and Albania – all packaged as “the news”.’ - Raymond Williams
The modern English style
Some cobbled together words occasioned by the return of Strictly Come Dancing to our screens.
As the historian Ross McKibbin reveals in his book Classes and Cultures, ballroom dancing has long been a political minefield. The Official Board of Ballroom Dancing, established in 1929, was specifically formed to stamp out the ‘freakish’ steps of jazz-inspired crazes like the Charleston and the Varsity Drag, which threatened to ‘turn the ballroom into a bear garden’. The OBBC sanctioned only four official dances – waltz, foxtrot, quickstep and tango – and rigorously policed any illegal steps, lifts and sidekicks. Victor Silvester’s seminal textbook, Modern Ballroom Dancing (1927), claims that the basic principles of ballroom are ‘as permanent as the law of gravity’.
This ‘modern English style’ was an attempt to stem the inexorable invasion of imported American music and dance. One dance teacher lamented ‘the admission of jazz music and dubious steps into decent places’, insisting that they originated ‘in low negro haunts and had au fond a prurient significance’. The ruling bodies were terrified that dancing might be seen as sublimated sex, and indeed the churches often condemned the dance halls for their vulgarity and immorality. So the dancers’ feet had to be parallel, their hips straight and their knees kept together.
The social research organisation, Mass Observation, thought these rigid rules threatened the whole future of social democracy. The ballroom was creating supine, apathetic citizens by pointing them ‘away from social feeling and activity and towards a world of personal superstition and magic’. Mass Observation even calculated that people who went to dancehalls were 12% less likely to vote than average (an uninformative statistic, since under-25s were the most likely to go dancing and, then as now, the least likely to vote). The regimented ranks of ballroom dancers were sleepwalking to ‘the paradise-drug of the American dance-tune’ with ‘the same surrender of personal decision as that of uniformed Nazis’. Mass-Observation claimed in 1939 that anti-fascists broke up a demonstration by Walter Mosley’s black shirts by ‘doing the Lambeth Walk’, and they suggested that the communal, improvised nature of this dance could teach us ‘something about the future of democracy’. The Lambeth Walk was frowned on by the dancing professionals, along with other communal dances like the Conga and the Hokey-Cokey.
But even Mass Observation conceded the startling contrast between the ‘mechanized barbarity’ of dancehall music and the wordless decorousness of the dancers’ movements. In order to request a dance, a young man would simply touch a potential partner lightly on her elbow, and they would move silently on to the floor. It was quite normal for partners to dance for hours without speaking to each other, before going their separate ways. The ballroom was a world of conscious artifice and unspoken courtesies, as pointlessly beautiful as the laws of cricket. Its rules were simultaneously hierarchical and egalitarian. Dance steps were rigorously policed, but every local palais had learner nights where the most physically inept could be taught the same basic moves.
The modern English style was one of Britain’s last imperialist successes, spreading unopposed throughout Europe, America and the Empire. In his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela writes about spending endless hours of his student days in the early 1940s practising foxtrots and waltzes to a crackly phonograph record, encouraged by his idol, Victor Silvester.
Mundane quote for the day: 'You are always alone with the oddness of modern consumption. Walking under the white lights of Sainsbury’s you find out just who you are. The reams of cartons, the pyramids of tins: there they stand on the miles of shelves, the story of how we live now. Cereal boxes look out at you with their breakfast-ready smiles, containing flakes of bran, handfuls of oats, which come from fields mentioned in the Domesday Book.' – Andrew O’Hagan
I have finally got round to filling in my tax return, an annual ritual some way below dental scaling in my list of things to look forward to. This means I am not as virtuous as my dad, who generally fills it in as soon as he can, in April (the swot) but more virtuous than those poor, benighted souls who miss the 31 October paper deadline and are banished to the online wilderness, suffering the shame of being chivvied along in television adverts by the likes of Moira Stewart and Adam Hart-Davis. Why do they leave it so late? They should know that there is nothing certain in life except death, taxes and quiet disappointment. The Rosetta stone, I read from Neil MacGregor’s History of the World in 100 Objects, is ‘mostly bureaucratic jargon about tax concessions’. In Biblical times I believe taxes were known as tributes, and it somehow helps to think of myself as paying tribute, offering up a ritual sacrifice to HM Revenue and Customs by sorting through through my receipts and bank statements and trying to figure out why on earth a company I have never heard of paid me £25 18 months ago.
I always used to like the way a single person, with the title of Inspector of Taxes or somesuch, used to write to you in person and command you to let him know all about your taxable income and capital gains. He sounded like someone with the anonymous, unchallengeable authority of the Wizard of Oz or Big Chief I Spy, although like Big Chief I Spy, I imagine he got one of his redskins to do his filing. Nowadays HMRC have dispensed with this formulation, and make no attempt to keep up the charming pretence that a single person can be arsed to check though my calculations about my freelance writing. Anyway, I have rendered unto Caesar, in my case the HMRC Area Manager, and await the dreaded bill in the post.
In a recent post, I speculated that the to-do list was of recent vintage. But Nicola Shulman writes in Graven with Diamonds, her recent biography of the Henrician poet Thomas Wyatt, that ‘Thomas Cromwell had a habit of writing down his “remembrances”, that is to say, to-do lists for the business of the moment.’ The mea culpa is on my to-do list.
Mundane quote for the day: ‘Life isn’t Hollywood, it’s Cricklewood.’ – Eric Morecambe
Pylon appreciation
The industrial sublime is an awkward, unloved genre. There is the odd Victorian poem about steam power or bridge builders, but most people know the drill from those chaps in the 1930s who got lyrical about electricity pylons, of all things.
Pylons have been in the news again this week as the shortlist of designs in a competition to create new versions for the 21st century went on display at the Victoria & Albert museum. Pylons also featured on the One Show, with Professor Valentine Cunningham, an expert on the literature of the 1930s, reading from Stephen Spender’s 1933 poem ‘The Pylons,’ an ambivalent response to ‘those pillars/Bare like nude giant girls that have no secret,’ whose ‘quick perspective of the future’ dwarfed ‘our emerald country by its trek’. The presenter of the piece, the former England spin bowler Phil Tufnell, mentioned the Pylon Appreciation Society and the website Pylon of the Month, but fortunately with only the contractually obligated degree of archness.
This is from Rob Young’s book Electric Eden:
In 1928 Britain’s first electricity pylon was erected just outside Edinburgh. The steel structure was skeletal and vaguely anthropomorphic, with six arms to carry the three-phase cables across large tracts of terrain. Most of today’s pylons are variations on the original design by Sir Reginald Bloomfield, the architect responsible for remodelling London’s Regent Street as a curving neoclassical terrace. Blomfield was a fervent horticulturalist whose 1892 book The Formal Garden in England had reintroduced the idea of gardening as stiff upper-lip horticulture; among other opinions, he claimed to despise the ornamental fancies of William Morris’s organic tapestries. In 1953 a new crop of National Grid power stations was rolled out (including the one at Bankside in London, now Tate Modern), and the electrification of Britain was accelerated with the imposition of a “supergrid”, carried by the newly designed PL1 pylons that are still the dominant model fifty years later. Britain’s open fields and moors had become parade grounds for an army of steel wicker men.
Interesting fact from yesterday’s Guardian: Pam Ayres’s father was a linesman for the Southern Electricity Board, a Berkshire version of Glen Campbell’s Wichita Lineman. There is a buried romance to the life of the linesman, just as there is in the design of pylons, which may have to be the subject of a future blog post …
Trains of thought
This piece by me was in the Guardian on Monday.
Whenever I travel on a Virgin train, I always book a seat in the Quiet Zone. I am not quite sure why, because the prominently displayed notices seem to have little impact on the use of mobile phones and other noisy devices. But the transport minister, Norman Baker, and a number of MPs representing suburban London constituencies now want to see these zones more widely applied, and have asked Transport for London to consider putting quiet carriages on the Tube and overground trains. They cite the American example of Boston’s commuter train lines, on which passengers are not allowed to use phones or talk loudly in the rush hour.
The train carriage has always brought people together in an awkward mix of tolerance and irritation. Its forerunner, the stagecoach, was a garrulous mini-community by comparison. In 1818, William Hazlitt remarked that “you will hear more good things on the outside of a stage-coach from London to Oxford, than if you were to pass a twelvemonth with the Undergraduates or Heads of Colleges of that famous university”. When the railway carriage arrived in the 1830s, its greater comfort encouraged musing and window gazing, and made solitary, silent activities like reading and sewing possible. By 1862, the Railway Traveller’s Handy Book was complaining: “Generally speaking, the occupants of a railway carriage perform the whole of the journey in silence … This is most unnatural and unreasonable … Why should an Englishman ever be like a ghost, in not speaking until he is spoken to?”
When the earliest, brick-like mobile phones appeared in the late 1980s, this etiquette began to change. What might have been seen only two decades ago as unBritish self-display – having an uninhibited conversation in public - is now grudgingly accepted, without some of us ever quite getting used to it. It is not just that train passengers disagree about the nature and value of silence, but that mobile phones occupy the user and repulse strangers more comprehensively than books or newspapers. In doing so they have subtly altered the already fragile social dynamic of the train carriage, making us seem ever more absent to each other. In A Book of Silence, the author Sara Maitland argues that our ambivalence about silence stems from two conflicting contemporary ideas: first, “that we feel ourselves to be happy and fulfilled only when we are interacting with other people”, and second, “the equally popular mythology that stresses individual autonomy and personal ‘rights’.” Some of the occupants of a train carriage want to be left alone to get on with work; for others, such “work” involves noisily conversing with other people.
The expectation that other people should be silent seems to be an arbitrary, changeable affair. Actors increasingly complain of mobile phones putting them off in mid-soliloquy, but theatre audiences were not always expected to be quiet. In his recent history of celebrity, Fred Inglis traces this convention of sitting in reverential silence back to the actor-manager David Garrick, who in the mid-eighteenth century “taught the London audiences, bit by bit, to suppress their chatter, their zoo noises and bursts of ribald song, their bombardments of fruit onto the stage”. Perhaps today’s noisier theatregoers are simply returning to a pre-modern, natural state. Maitland sees the interruption of silence as an artificial affliction of modernity, but I am not so sure. Certain environments have certainly become noisier: libraries now seem actively to encourage conversation and clatter. But many things are quieter than they used to be: you no longer hear the incessant hammering of the typing pool, and today’s warehouses and factories are places of cathedral-like calm compared to a generation ago.
I share Maitland’s love of silence, although not enough to challenge anyone disturbing me in a quiet zone. But I cannot decide if the desire for it is natural or unnatural in our herd-loving, compulsively communicative race. When I was a student, I happily wrote essays in crowded common rooms; now I cannot write if there is so much as a creaky floorboard in the room above me. It is amazing how much noise you can get used to, and then how much silence you can become accustomed to demanding. So I am not surprised that the quiet zone of a train carriage is such an area of conflict: for I am never so estranged from my fellow citizens as when, in the middle of their never-ending noise, I feel the need for silence.
When I was in London working in archives recently, I stayed in a house in which the flatscreen, home cinema-style television was so hi-tech that I could not work out how to use it – in fact, I couldn’t even switch it on - so I ended up listening to a lot of radio 4 and watching Match of the Day live on iPlayer. It’s ironic, at least in the broadranging, Alanis Morissette sense of the word, that I am writing a book about television and do not know how to use the latest television receivers. But I don’t suppose I am alone in my ignorance: at the last count, I believe there were 28,000 people with black and white television licences. One of them is, or was, the former MP Chris Mullin, as his recently published memoirs reveal. Mullin was questioned by the Daily Telegraph, which revealed the scandal of MP’s expenses, about his £47 black-and-white TV licence. He had owned the set for more than 30 years, long before he entered Parliament. ‘The Telegraph reports that I claimed for a black-and-white TV licence, which has been the subject of much amusement among colleagues, many of whom dwell in the world of plasma screens’, he wrote at the height of the expenses scandal. After deciding to resign from parliament, he still could not resist composing a speech announcing his candicacy for Speaker of the House of Commons: ‘In passing I might deny any intention to install a black-and-white TV set in Speaker’s house.’
This reminds me of a bit in the late Gordon Burn’s book Best and Edwards: Football, Fame and Oblivion where George Best is marooned in his white-tiled modernist house in Bramhall: ‘The papers got very excited by the fact that he could lie in bed and open and close the curtains, dim the lights and open the garage doors at the flick of a switch. He could flick another switch and the television could disappear up the Scandinavian-style chimney … The remote for the gadgets went on the blink, with the TV yo-yo-ing up and down the chimney and the curtains opening and closing of their own volition …’
I am also reminded of an episode of the American sitcom Cheers in which the bar regular, Norm, is transfixed by a bank of big screen, satellite-linked TVs on the wall. ‘Well Normie,’ says his friend Cliff, ‘this is the information age. We can get up-to-the-minute stock prices, medical breakthroughs, political upheavals from all around the world. Of course, we’d have to turn off the cartoons first.’
Mundane quote for the day: ‘Arthur Koestler's satire of academic conferences, The Call Girls (1973), included an extreme leftwing French professor whose secret comfort was to lock his door and retire to bed to read The Three Musketeers while eating chocolate truffles. I sometimes thought of him when I indulged in my own curious vice, which was to watch Blind Date when working out on the rowing machine. This prototype for many far worse versions of humiliation television took my mind off the hamster-wheel boredom of static, indoor exercise. In fact its true awfulness and the glimpses of young macho-macha life in this country proved utterly gripping. The girls were often the crueller, when putting down their artificially selected partners, and it was hard not to feel sorry for the inarticulate and pathetically boastful young males. They could not see how things had changed and how they had become potentially redundant in the brave new world of mass communication to which they had exposed their own pitiful inadequacies.’ - Anthony Beevor
Motorwayed out
My friend rang me from the Hoylake branch of Oxfam yesterday to ask if I wanted a copy of the Shell Book of Roads for £4. Reader, I passed. I’m motorwayed out. As John Updike wrote about writing about marriage, it is a subject which 'if I have not exhausted it, it has exhausted me'.
However, I did like this bit from Humphrey Carpenter’s biography of Dennis Potter which reveals that Potter began his writing career in a west London flat in 1961, while the Hammersmith flyover was being built outside. ‘I live on the top floor of a block of flats on a bloodshot-eye level to the thing,’ he wrote to a friend. ‘Only a few yards of exhaust-laden air separates us from The Start of a New Age, as Transport Minister Marples threateningly called the thing … For months and months they have been building [it] – pneumatic drills, monstrous creaking cranes, shouting foremen, acetylene burners, bulldozers, portable radios, and all the other things which more than justify a tea-break.
‘I spent a little time leaning out of the window, in a vain attempt to foment a strike, when our second baby was born in July, but she came into the world while a grotesque new machine was dropping concrete girders into position with all the gentility of a front-row rugby forward bearing down on a tiny full-back.’
Which reminds me ... Neal Ascherson argued in the Observer in June 1962 that the Hammersmith flyover had transformed the atsmosphere at Royal Ascot. ‘Once, in a vast tribal corroboree, Society congregated at Ascot in house parties for the four days of racing, renting mansions and entertaining splendidly in the evenings,’ he wrote. Now communications between London and the racecourse had become ‘fatally efficient: one of the last inducements to stay overnight at Ascot vanished with the construction of the local by-pass and the Hammersmith flyover, which allows the tired racegoer a chance of getting home to London in the evening at a reasonable hour.’
Mundane quote for the day: ‘Bankers’ genes were Wall St. genes, especially in the big cities. If the banks were conservative just now [1955], it was because bankers still awoke in the middle of the night, trembling and sweaty with thoughts of the Crash. But in time a new generation would take over: ambitious, overcompetitive young men to whom 1929 wuold be merely a date on a page; such men would sever the roots of memory as if with an ax, not realizing that those tendrils were also the rudder cables.’ – Michael M. Thomas, The Ropespinner Conspiracy, 1987
Archive fever
I’ve been down in London looking at archives: leafing through old copies of the TV Times and the Orkney Herald in the soon-to-be-defunct British Newspaper Library at Colindale; scrolling through the Radio Times on microfilm in Humanities 2 at the British library at St Pancras; looking at government files about the mounting of television masts in the National Archives at Kew. It’s a living.
In her book, Dust, the historian Carolyn Steedman uses a term borrowed from Jacques Derrida to describe the sensation that scholars sometimes feel when visiting archives: ‘Archive Fever’. Since the nineteenth century, she writes, a visit to an archive has been regarded as ‘a foundational and paradigmatic activity of historians’. She quotes the French Romanticist Jules Michelet’s phrase about the ‘dust of the dead’ which he believed he inhaled while in the archive. Archives really are dirty and dusty as the elderly paper disintegrates – at Colindale you can see bits of old newspaper all over the floor by the reading desks. I hope the cleaners are appropriately remunerated. When reading Michelet for the first time, Steedman understood ‘history-writing in generic terms, as a form of magical realism, with the historian’s contribution not the mountains that move, the girls that fly, the rivers that run backwards, but the everyday and fantastic act of making the dead walk and talk … Then there is romance in another meaning, in an earlier sense, as in chivalric romance, as in the sense of the quest: endurance of all kinds of trial and tribulation, in pursuit of some goal or grail.’ Agreed: I mean the National Archives at Kew are such a long way away, almost right at the end of the District Line, for goodness sake.
Steedman is sceptical about this ‘cult of the archive’ because it suggests some material, graspable world which once existed but can be recaptured, when actually an archive contains only the most fragmentary record of what happened in the past. Archive Fever, Steedman writes, is a kind of desire: ‘the desire to recover moments of inception: to find and possess all sorts of beginnings’. The archive inspires ‘a Freudian romance, of finding all the lost things and names, whatever they may be: things gone astray, mislaid, forgotten, wasted.’ In fact, she argues, ‘nothing starts in the Archive, nothing, ever at all, though things certainly end up there. You find nothing in the Archive but stories caught half way through: the middle of things; discontinuities.’
And yet … the lovely, efficient way the files arrive by magic in your own little locker half an hour after you have ordered them by computer. The gentle sound of thousands of fingers tapping on laptop keyboards. The race against time to get through one last file before they kick you out at the absurdly early hour of 4.45. I have suffered from my own mild form of archive fever. And then I look at my notes and realise that most of the stuff I’m interested in – ‘the stupid little tragedies of those clipped and limited lives’ (H.G. Wells) – doesn’t end up in archives. And the fever vanishes as quickly as it arrived.
Mundane quote for the day: ‘Tonight, the long-awaited leaders’ debate. The bland leading the bland. After about 30 minutes I found myself losing consciousness and went upstairs to watch a BBC2 documentary about the men who scratch a living on the huge garbage dump in Lagos. Uplifting, moving, humbling. Not a trace of self-pity. Their dignity, wit, optimism, sense of solidarity and community causing them to soar above their awful circumstances, putting to shame those of us leading what, to the scavengers of Lagos, must be lives of unimaginable comfort, wallowing in our tabloid-induced misery.’ - Chris Mullin, Thursday 15 April 2010, Decline & Fall: Diaries 2005-2010.
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Sharknado 2
You knew it was coming, how could it not be coming? From the moment Sharknado ended, we all knew that Sharknado 2: The Second One was coming. What the real trick is is how SyFy was able to muster the same if not bigger flurry of hype as the original. Forget the live "Sound of Music" with Carrie Underwood, this is real event television.
It still has the same plot, a tornado made of sharks, only this time it hits New York City. Ian Ziering is our almost indestructible action hero versus an army of wind propelled sharks. It's madness as only The Asylum can deliver. From the opening that rifts on Airplane! (with Robert Hays!) and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" the guest stars come fast and furious. It's almost as much fun figuring out who's who as it is to watch this campy cool classic.
Everybody wants to be in the Sharknado sequel, from Judd Hirsch and Kelly Osborne to the looking their age Mark McGrath and Downtown Julie Brown. There's Andy Dick, Wil Wheaton, the crew of "The Today Show," Biz Markie, Perez Hilton, and even the Naked Cowboy. The entire movie is like the window gag on "Batman" '66, who's going to show up next? Jared from Subway is also in there, probably because there's Subway advertising everywhere.
There's also Vivica A. Fox, who seems to be standing in for the one-handed and ragged Tara Reid who just doesn't seem up to the sequel. Speaking of folks not aging well and unrecognizable, Kari Wuhrer, Robert Klein, and Billy Ray Cyrus are also in here. There are also multiple references to other movies like 1941, Army of Darkness, and Cloverfield. Most of all, written by Thunder Levin who wrote the original, the flick never loses its sense of humor about itself.
SyFy has fun with it as well, promoting live Tweeting of the movie, keeping a running body count, and when they could have saturated this with commercials made breaks swift and painless. Sharknado 3 is planned for next year with SyFy thinking it will be a yearly event, as long as it doesn't jump the shark, that is. This is mindless fun, jump in!
Posted by Unknown at Thursday, July 31, 2014
Labels: 1941, airplane, asylum, batman, cloverfield, mtv, robert hays, sequel, sharknado, subway, syfy, tara reid, thunder levin, twilight zone
San Diego Comic-Con Catch-Up
Yeah, I realize it's all over, and no one's really talking about this year's San Diego Comic-Con any more, but I've been busy, and haven't been able to chime in. So consider this your official wrap-up.
We learned new details about the upcoming season of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." including what role Lucy Lawless will play, and who the next big bad will be. Details are here at Biff Bam Pop!. On the "Agent Carter" front, Avengers fans will be pleased as Edwin Jarvis will be in the show, in his youthful prime, hopefully kicking ass and cleaning up. Sorry, butler joke, couldn't help it.
Other Marvel news included the official announcement the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel and animated series, an entertaining Avengers: Age of Ultron panel seen here, and a movie poster and details on the Ant-Man movie. Apparently we will have some kind of Wasp-ish character, and surprisingly, Yellowjacket, who's not Hank Pym, is the villain of the piece.
On the other side of the street at DC Comics, we finally got our first look at Wonder Woman from Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, for a full view, Biff Bam Pop! has it here. There was lots of TV news about "Constantine" and "Gotham," but the real stuff was all about Green Arrow and the Flash. Con goers got to see the pilot for the CW's "The Flash" which I reviewed here, and Ras Al Ghul was announced as the big bad on this season of "Arrow." And that's not even mentioning date night with Felicity or former movie Superman Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer. It's gonna be good.
Other news at the Comic-Con included Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah being in the Godzilla sequel, a King Kong prequel called Skull Island, and the trailer for the new season of "The Walking Dead." It was a good con, shame I missed it.
Posted by Unknown at Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Labels: agents of shield, ant-man, arrow, avengers, biff bam pop, brandon routh, comic-con, flash, godzilla, guardians of the galaxy, king kong, ras al ghul, san diego, walking dead, wonder woman
Currently airing on FX, "The Strain" is based on three novels by horror and fantasy writer/director Guillermo del Toro and crime author Chuck Hogan. Del Toro should be pleased as he originally envisioned the story as a TV series and so far it works well. His concept successfully blends the unusually diverse genres of biological terror and vampire horror with the usual del Toro spin.
My first thought when hearing del Toro was coming to the small screen was that TV would be too small for him. I was wrong. Downsizing the environment has only made the big horror that much more terrifying. The first two episodes have already aired and they were so tense and tight, I think in the future this might be a huge hit for binge watching. Each time the credits rolled, I wanted more.
I also have to give FX props for not structuring this series as an ongoing TV series, but as a close-ended story. For more on "The Strain," check out Biff Bam Pop!'s Marie Gilbert's reviews of the books here and here, and her recaps of episodes one and two. Check them out.
Labels: biff bam pop, book to film, chuck hogan, fx, guillermo del toro, horror, marie gilbert, the strain, vampires
The film opens August 1st.
Posted by Unknown at Monday, July 21, 2014
Labels: comics to film, guardians of the galaxy, previews
RIP James Garner
Actor James Garner passed away last night, he was 86. Whether you knew him as Bret Maverick or Jim Rockford, from The Notebook, or dozens of other roles, he will be missed.
The award-winning actor was one of the few who had successful careers in both film and television. He was in The Great Escape, The Americanization of Emily, Tank, The Children's Hour, Support Your Local Sheriff, and Murphy's Romance for which he was nominated for an Oscar, just to name a few.
My favorite roles of Garner's were both geeky and intellectual. I really dug that he played the wizard Shazam in a recent DC Comics animated feature, but my favorite flick of his, a great movie, and in my opinion, his best performance was in 36 Hours. Seek it out, it's worth it.
James Garner will be missed. We've lost another Hollywood legend, one of the good guys.
Posted by Unknown at Sunday, July 20, 2014
Labels: 36 hours, dc comics, film, hollywood, james garner, obit, oscars, shazam, television
The Make Mine Magic Podcast
Many of you know that I do a weekly podcast with my buddy Ray Cornwall, that is also featured at Biff Bam Pop!, called The GAR! Podcast. It's a nerd exploration of a nerd world, completely unrehearsed, and we end up talking about anything under the sun, but usually it includes comics, wrestling, French fries, Prince, and "Breaking Bad."
But did you know I also do a podcast with The Bride as well? Every week we take on one or more topics dealing with one of our favorite obsessions - Disney! Sometimes we're talking about attractions at the parks, movies coming out, travel advice, or favorite characters. As long as it's Disney, it's fair game.
Recent episodes include topics like the American Idol Experience, Disney Villains, more villains, and Figment! You can find The Make Mine Magic Podcast here, and it's also on iTunes and Facebook. You can contact Jennifer on Twitter here, and me here. Enjoy, and Make Mine Magic!
Labels: american idol, breaking bad, disney, french fry diary, gar, make mine magic, podcast, prince, ray cornwall, twitter, villains
Nothing Lasts Forever ~ You may or may not have heard of this obscure 1984 film with Bill Murray. Shot in black and white and shelved by MGM, it was never officially released in theaters or to video retail. Directed by fellow "Saturday Night Live" alum Tom Schiller (remember the brilliant Schiller's Reel?), it has remained unseen for decades but is now, possibly only temporarily available on YouTube.
Ostensibly a Bill Murray vehicle, it stars the immediately post-Gremlins Zach Galligan as a young man, Adam, who returns to New York from Europe with dreams of becoming an artist. The trouble is that America has been through hard times and some things have changed. A transit strike has put the Port Authority in control of New York City in an almost fascist state. Artists are frowned upon and Adam is put to work at the Holland Tunnel for a wacky boss played by Dan Aykroyd.
With me so far? 'Cause it's about to get weird, and yes, weirder than it already is. After Adam is kind to a beggar, the kindness is returned when the man reveals that there is a secret underground of bums that really control the world. After a truly disturbing purification process, during which we go from black and white temporarily to pseudo sepia colorization color, the masters of the world give Adam a mission - to bring art to the moon where he will meet his soulmate.
Adam goes back up to black and white NYC where no one believes him. And then he gets on a bus to the moon, where a young, pre-arrogant, and not-as-grumpy Bill Murray is his possibly sinister sky host. Look quick or you'll miss Larry 'Bud' Melman. Once on the moon, we're in pseudo-color again. But even on the moon things are not as they seem.
This New York City is like a cross between Fellini Paris and Hell here, and in that way, the black and white is used to good effect, very German Expressionist, with just a touch of Val Lewton and David Lynch. The tour of the NY art scene is both surreal and far too real, imagine Andy Warhol in 1920s Germany, bizarre. There are many bits lifted from old movies that may have had something to do with its non-release, rights problems, perhaps?
Zach Galligan, as in Gremlins, does a great It's a Wonderful Life Jimmy Stewart, perhaps much more naive. Lauren Tom, who this writer knows from voice acting in the DC Comics Animated Universe, is his lovely lunar soulmate. The amazingly named Apollonia Van Ravenstein is also quite good. Also look for Eddie Fisher, Imogene Coco, Sam Jaffe, and Mort Sahl.
Perhaps the reason Nothing Lasts Forever was not released was its pre-Tim Burton oddity or its painfully non-mainstreamness. Maybe the studio didn't know what it was - scifi, drama, comedy, period piece, musical? Even I'm not sure. It certainly is intriguing and worth a look while you can. Check it out.
Labels: andy warhol, bill murray, black and white, dan aykroyd, david lynch, gremlins, jimmy stewart, larry bud melman, new york, saturday night live, tim burton, val lewton, zach galligan
The Soulless Z-Day
For more about The Soulless, see Marie Gilbert's interviews with writer/director Chris Eilenstine at Biff Bam Pop! here and here.
Posted by Unknown at Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Labels: christopher eilenstine, film, marie gilbert, the soulless, zombies
Tommy Ramone 1949-2014
Labels: 1970s, music, new wave, obit, punk rock, ramones
Pop Gear ~ Known in the United States as Go Go Mania, Pop Gear was an attempt to fill the yearning for British Invasion acts on the big screen in early 1965. Released between A Hard Day's Night and Help!, this flick presented a plethora of Brit bands and performers, and even opened with the Beatles performing "She Loves You" (there's one for the trivia buffs, the Fab Four's second filmwasn't really Help!).
Also on tap for performances were the Animals, the Spencer Davis Group, the Nashville Teens, Peter and Gordon, Billie Davis, and Herman's Hermits, among others too obscure to mention. The whole shindig was emceed by the now notorious Jimmy Savile, deejay and then host of "Top of the Pops." Years later, after his death, hundreds of charges of child sexual abuse and rape would emerge, soiling his reputation for the ages.
Pop Gear was what was known as a revue film, simply a series of performances by different acts, introduced by Sir Jimmy. Highlights included Eric Burdon and the Animals doing "House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits doing "I'm Into Something Good," the Nashville Teens doing "Tobacco Road," and watching little Stevie Winwood rock and roll with the Spencer Davis Group.
Throw in some odd dance numbers, out of place crooner Matt Munro, and more newsreel footage of the Beatles, and that's the movie. Worth watching for nostalgia and some of the great bits mentioned above.
Posted by Unknown at Friday, July 11, 2014
Labels: 1960s, animals, beatles, british invasion, herman's hermits, jimmy savile, music, steve winwood, top of the pops, uk
Words in My Head by Zhäriya' Amani
Zhäriya' Amani's book of poetry, Words in My Head, is now live from Mad Writer Publishing. Zhäriya' Amani is a very talented tenth grader who has been writing for three years. She's been published in Stars in Our Heart: Symbols by Word Poetry Movement, and is a resident of Camden NJ. The book, Words in My Head, is a compilation of eighteen select pieces from the poet. Cover design by Kahlil Weston and Eric Jackson. It can be purchased at Amazon here.
A launch party for the book will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Camden NJ on Saturday, July 12th, from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM. Come out and show your support! $10 for admission and food, $15 for admission, food, and an autographed book. There will be food, drinks, great music, raffles, special performances, a sneak-peak, and plenty of copies there to buy. Come out and meet this bright young talent!
Labels: amazon, book, eric jackson, kahlil weston, launch, poetry, south jersey, zhariya amani
Lost Hits of the New Wave #32
"Rock Me Tonite" by Billy Squier
Here we have another example of a rocker trying to climb on board the New Wave sound and ride it to a top charting hit. Billy Squier was always a hard rocker, probably best known for his hit "The Stroke" with its unique use of certain synth drumbeats. In his day, he was a rock god, notably opening for both Queen and Pat Benatar for two of the greatest concerts of my high school days.
I first got into him with his early AOR hit "The Big Beat" (you might not know it, but trust me, if you're a hip hop fan, you've heard it sampled hundreds of times), and rode along happily when "The Stroke" carried through to two hit albums with a string of hits from each. He was even one of those artists savvy enough to record a holiday song so he'd get played at least once a year. Then came "Rock Me Tonite," and it was all over.
Previously Billy had done only performance videos, him and the band on stage rocking out, now he decided to make a more traditional -or as luck would have it- a more bizarre video, to go along with his more pop new wave sound. The video featured Billy dancing and prancing in a pink Flashdance shirt and sliding through silk sheets. His dance, his affectations, and his gestures could at best be described as 'flamboyant.'
Here, take a peek…
Yeah. You get the idea. And that was the end of Billy Squier's rock career. Surprisingly, the song was his biggest charting hit, but the video, directed by Kenny Ortega, the mastermind behind Disney's High School Musical, succeeded in crashing Squier's career and causing many to question his sexuality.
Billy Squier continues to record and to perform today, including a stint with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band. He does a lot of blues, jazz, and charity work, and on occasion, he does still rock. Just don't rock him tonite…
Labels: 1970s, 1980s, billy squier, christmas, flashdance, high school, high school musical, kenny ortega, music video, new wave, ringo starr, rock music
Quickies 7-7-2014
The Black Knight Returns ~ This low budget superhero flick comes from Tomcat Films, the same folks who brought us Thunderstorm. Yeah, I know, I'm a masochist to watch this. This was pretty bad, it was no Thunderstorm, mind you, but pretty bad. It's about on par with the 1966 "Batman" TV series (without the humor or sensibility) crossed with the terrible Marvel movies of the 1970s. The problem? It's 2014. Pass.
Quick ~ At first glance, it's Speed, on a motorcycle, made in South Korea. Based on those three things, I thought this would just be derivative drivel, but I was sooo wrong. I was pleasantly surprised by the opening sequence that reminded me very much of the beginning of Akira. The terrific score only helped to pull me in. This fast furious and fun flick has a motorcycle messenger racing to destinations before the bomb in his helmet explodes, and it rocks.
Nazis at the Center of the Earth ~ Only from The Asylum could something so bizarre originate, well, there or Troma. Scientists in Antarctica finds Nazis living underground. Yep, it's just like Pellucidar or Skartaris, only instead of dinosaurs, it's got high tech Nazis. It's got Josef Mengele, robo-Hitler, and did I mention it stars Jake Busey as, wait for it, a scientist? Twisted fun, Asylum style.
World Without End ~ This 1956 scifi B-movie used footage and sets from 1951's Flight to Mars, and at first seems to be a precursor in plot and theme to both The Time Machine and Planet of the Apes (and its sequel Beneath… for that matter) but it soon falls apart into an uninteresting cross between a town meeting and a frontier western. Worth watching for the 1950s scifi nostalgia.
Labels: 1950s, akira, batman, edgar rice burroughs, jake busey, korea, low budget, marvel comics, nazis, planet of the apes, science fiction, time machine, warlord
This is an Oscar nominated and winning film. Let me be clear, Gravity is a B-grade scifi thriller that got very lucky. It breaks tradition. It has stars, it has special effects, a high caliber for cinematography and direction, so it gets a pass. I truly wonder if the names George Clooney, Sandra Bullock, and Ed Harris were not involved, would the art film snob crowd that usually haunt the Oscar movies even be interested?
Astronauts are on a Space Shuttle mission to repair the Hubble Telescope when debris from a destroyed Russian satellite scrag the mission and the shuttle. Untethered and lost, two of them, Kowalski (Clooney) and Stone (Bullock), try to get to the International Space Station after the debris hit. Only a preliminary knowledge of gravity and physics is needed to know how truly and totally screwed they are.
Kowalski is the voice of reason and experience in contrast to Stone's inexperience and panic. Their audio interaction when we really can't see facial expression is testament to these two actors' superior ability. These are two professionals, two artists in the field. Once separated, with only Clooney's voice, he proves what real acting is. Bullock substantially carries the film solo after that. No Oscars, Academy? Really?
Those awards went to director Alfonzo Cuaron, and to the cinematography and visual effects folks. It won the most Oscars that year and similarly swept the BAFTAs, the Critics Choice Awards, and the Golden Globes, while still being basically a 1970s scifi thriller with a good pedrigree. The visuals are stunning, and I can imagine it might have been dizzying in 3-D, or simply on the big screen.
I dug Gravity a lot. Despite its space trappings and apparent scientific inaccuracies, it explores the truly horrific themes of loneliness and helplessness in a very real way. Highly recommended.
Labels: 3d, alfonzo cuaron, awards, baftas, ed harris, george clooney, golden globe, oscars, sandra bullock
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Confusion, frustration surround the gender non-conforming
July 17, 2018 Alexandra
By Alexandra Sansone
Dennis Jara knew his son wouldn’t be an average boy. From the time he was 2, Dempsey would proudly venture around in colorful dresses, playing with dolls and wearing pants on his head to mimic long hair.
Identifying as gender non-conforming hasn’t received the most positive reactions, even with doctors. One year ago, Jara was taking his now 6-year-old son for his annual check-up. When responding to their doctor’s confused stare at Dempsey’s feminine clothing, Jara informed her of his son’s gender non-conformity, only to be told, “It’s just a phase.”
“I could kind of just see in her reaction to it and the way she was talking to me, I could tell that she didn’t agree with it,” Jara said.
“For me, that’s very discouraging that a pediatrician would say something like that without really knowing anything about it instead of asking a little more about it to understand it a little better.”
The lack of information on gender identity is not uncommon among medical professionals. Details on how a doctor should address a gender non-conforming patient are minimal at best, and license renewal classes wholly omit the information.
Organizations like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) provide guidelines for medical professionals. These guidelines, however, are not enforced for doctors in each area of medicine. Doctors must do their own research if they plan to be educated on the technicalities and sensitivities of gender identity.
Seven-year-old Cooper Solomon organizes his dolls, each named after a drag queen from “Rupaul’s Drag Race”. (Photo by Brianna Naderpour)
Solomon applies a silver glitter lipgloss at his personal makeup counter. (Photo by Alexandra Sansone)
After noticing and researching the feminine preferences her son Cooper expressed, along with the spiked suicide rates among LGBTQ youth, Jennifer Solomon launched a chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) in South Miami.
Within the group, she works to provide support and education to confused and concerned parents.
“I always say I would rather have a gay kid, a transgender kid, a gender non-conforming kid than a dead kid,” Solomon said.
Gender identity in children manifests itself around age two. Children who express gender identity and face rejection can suffer lasting impacts.
Pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Alejandro Diaz said a lack of gender education has led some doctors to believe that gender is a choice.
“Some practitioners give wrong advice to parents about the way to handle this situation,” Diaz said. “Later [this] is going to increase the risk of depression and suicidal ideation in these kids.”
One key discrepancy within the gender spectrum is the difference between gender and sex. The terms are often conflated, but gender refers to categorizations based on social and cultural practices, like playing sports and wearing makeup. Sex refers to the categorizations based on genitalia.
“Gender is not binary. It is a social construct,” Psychotherapist Noemi Marquez said. “It’s important for parents to understand that. Science is showing us that we are not born one or the other; there are many variations.”
For a child whose gender differs from what they were assigned at birth, procedures like hormone therapy are common, but not every child who is gender non-conforming is going to be transgender later in life. The current best practice, according to Diaz and Marquez, is to allow the child freedom of expression.
Diaz said gender training is necessary for all areas of medicine. He said the gender non-conforming population in the United States is close to .5 percent, and recent studies have shown that 3 percent of children/adolescents consider themselves gender non-conforming.
“Studies have shown that when a child is allowed to express his/her/its gender the way they feel it, they have less anxiety…lower risk of depression and other psychological issues later in life,” Diaz said.
“This condition is so common that every health professional needs to have knowledge about it.”
If gender nonconformity is identified early in life and the child chooses to start some type of transition, such as male-to-female, treatments are available.
Many parents lack knowledge of how to address variations on the gender spectrum when it comes to their children. Turning to their pediatrician should be an option but often doesn’t result in acquiring accurate information.
“When you are taking that oath to serve people and to look out for the best interest of a human life, that [information on gender non-conformity] should be included in the curriculum when they study medicine,” Jara said.
Maya Adam, a medical professor at Stanford University, has written a free online course addressing health across the gender spectrum. The curriculum works to help those looking to better understand and support someone they know. This course also stresses the importance of parents accepting their child.
“Kids, especially young kids, just want to be accepted by their parents,” Marquez said. “So when the adults around them are rejecting, they start to think, ‘Oh, wow, something is wrong with me,’ and curb their behaviors as much as they can.”
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The Monarchist League on Facebook
Ironically, for all the talk of the internet isolating people it
also has great usefulness in bringing people together. The
Monarchist League of Canada has various social media
accounts, of course, but some may not know that the
League's many branches maintain at least a Facebook
presence. I have taken the time to list them below:
Halifax - SW Nova Scotia
Northumberland and NE Nova Scotia
Barrie-Huronia - Ontario
University of Toronto - Ontario
Waterloo-Wellington - Ontario
South Saskatchewan
Lethbridge and Medicine Hat - Alberta
Victoria - British Columbia
I find it encouraging that most of these pages have a healthy
number of members and are active. Even better, each page
has avoided that common pitfall of redundancy. They all have
a little bit of individuality to what is posted rather than being carbon copies of the League's main page.
Rencontrez Les Monarchistes Du Quebec
This is the second of two French language videos that was recently produced by the Monarchist League of Canada.
Monarchist League of Canada Interview with Historian Jacques Monet on the Monarchy's Significance to Quebec
This is the first of two French language videos produced by
the Monarchist League of Canada. Jacques Monet is a well-
known historian, archivist and educator. He has also
received a Gold Badge from the League for his services in
educating the public about the Canadian Crown.
The Monarchist League's YouTube page has been steadily
growing over the last year which is good to see.
The Monarchs of Canada: A Timeline
Monarchs have ruled Canada since before Canada was a recognizable entity. This article is an overview of Canada's monarchs which is, as I will explain in a second, by necessity incomplete. Note that below if both the king and the queen are listed it means they ruled as co-sovereigns. Also note that I am defining 'Canada' as the geographic area of the current country. Finally, note that I have used the dates for the reign of each monarch rather than birth-death.
Pre-Contact North America
It is often overlooked that many of the aboriginal tribes that inhabit Canada at one time had hereditary chiefs. In fact some still do on a formal or informal basis. However, with 600+ recognized nations and fragmentary records from pre-contact civilizations it is nearly impossible to include a complete overview of native kingship in the context of this article. In the future I will attempt an article outlining a history of Canada's hereditary chiefs. Sufficed to say at present that hereditary and elected kingship has a long history in Canada.
Our French Monarchs (1534-1763)
The French Crown ruled over the parts of Canada now comprising of the Provinces of Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, & Nova Scotia. Two French dynasties ruled Canada before the colony was ceded to the British in 1763.
Francis I (1534–1547)
House of Valois
Henry II (1547–1559)
Francis II (1559–1560)
Charles IX (1560–1574)
Henry III (1574–1589)
Henry IV (1589–1610)
House of Bourbon
Louis XIII (1610–1643)
Louis XIV (1643–1715)
Louis XV (1715–1763)
Our English/British Monarchs (1497-1931)
The English Crown ruled parts of what would become the provinces of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and northern Ontario. It would gain areas ruled by the French Crown in 1763.
Until 1707 it is correct to refer to the English Crown. After March 6th of that year England and Scotland united into a single kingdom called Great Britain.
Henry VII (1497–1509)
House of Tudor
Henry VIII (1409–1547)
Edward VI (1547–1553)
Philip II of Spain
(Co-sovereign)
House of Habsburg
Elizabeth I (1558–1603)
James I (1603–1625)
House of Stuart
Charles I (1625–1649)
Charles II (1670–1685)
James II (1685–1688)
House of Orange-Nassau
Mary II of England (Co-sovereign)
Anne (1702–1714)
-Kingdom of Great Britain established, 1707
George I (1714–1727)
House of Hanover
George II (1727–1760)
George III (1760–1820)
George IV (1820–1830)
William IV (1830–1837)
Victoria (1837–1901)
-Dominion of Canada established, 1867
Edward VII (1901–1910)
House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
George V (1910–1931 as British sovereign)
Our Canadian Monarchs (1931-Present)
The Canadian Crown became separate from the British Crown in 1931 due to the Statute of Westminster. More than 3/4th of the intervening period has been reigned over by a single sovereign.
George V (1931–1936 as Canadian sovereign)
House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (until 1917)
House of Windsor (after 1917)
Edward VIII (1936)
George VI (1936–1952)
Elizabeth II (1952-Present)
Well I hope you enjoyed this timeline as much as I enjoyed putting it together.
Quebec Separatism And The Monarchy: An Observation
Republicans like to claim that the monarchy is a divisive symbol in Quebec but thus far this has not been demonstrated by the evidence. We have had a decidedly pro-monarchy government for a while now. During the same period we have witnessed the weakening of the separatist movement. Now, if the claims of republicans were based in reality you would expect separatism to be inflamed and growing but its not. The current government certainly hasn't hid its intention to put the monarchy back in its location of central importance, so what gives?
Separatists themselves point out it isn't the monarchy they are against; they are against remaining in Canada. Why? Because they feel Quebec culture is distinct and only having a separate country can safeguard that distinctiveness. Interestingly, the monarch was until fairly recently considered to serve a similar purpose in Quebec. For many years the sovereign was the only official in the state that could be counted on to deal with French Canadians in a consistently respectful manner (Canada's Aboriginals have a similar history in this regard). This role as 'protector of minorities', while still present, is over-shadowed by Canadian society finally showing some maturity on this matter.
An additional point is that Quebec society remains divided over language and culture. In such a situation an institution that can bridge the gap both linguistically (the royal family is bilingual) and culturally (the House of Windsor is part French and the institution of monarchy itself had a long history in Quebec from before the conquest) is appreciated.
Quebec has had a long and positive relationship with the Canadian Crown that cannot be easily erased (two of the Queen's rare forays into politics were Her Majesty's support for Meech Lake and her expressed regret that Quebec was not in agreement over repatriation). In fact, given how the separatist movement has been strongest when the federal government was ambivalent towards (or actively removing) the monarchy you can make the opposite argument: it was efforts to denegate the monarchy that has helped sustain separatism. Afterall, if the monarchy is seen as a protector of minorities, as it has been, and you ignore it and seek to downplay its importance people will rightly seek other means to protect themselves.
This line of reasoning does have an issue or two. One issue being 'correlation does not equal causation'. However, its still more of an argument than republicans seem willing to make.
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West End theatres in London
There are over three dozen foremost theatres, most are in the West End. West End theatres are commercial ventures that host comedy and serious drama. The subsidized or non-commercial theatre includes the National Theatre, which is based at the South Bank; the Royal Shakespeare Company which is based in Stratford, but presents seasons in London; The Globe, a modern reconstruction of the home of Shakespeare’s troupe; The Royal Court Theatre which specialises in new drama; the Old Vic; and the Adelphi Theatre.
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, situated on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The current structure is the fourth on the site. The theatre has dedicated in comedy and musical theatre, today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals. The theatre was Grade II listed for historical preservation on 1 December 1987.
Built-in 1806 opposite Adam Street by merchant John Scott (who had made his fate from a washing-blue) as the Sans Pareil to platform his daughter’s theatrical talents, the theatre was given a novel pretense and redecorated in 1814.
In its early years, the theatre was known for melodrama, called Adelphi Screamers. Many stories by Charles Dickens were also adapted for the stage here, including John Baldwin Buckstone’s The Christening, a comic burletta
The Adelphi has the distinction, according to the research of Philip Bolton, of being the first house to stage an adaptation a work by Charles Dickens, the piece being J. B. Buckstone’s “The Christening,” a comic burletta (farce) which opened on 13 October 1834, based on “The Bloomsbury Christening,” which would eventually be published in the first volume of Sketches by Boz.
West End London
The Adelphi was modernized and redecorated in 1875 and enlarged again in 1887. Its rollicking past was the subject matter of dramatist E. L. Blanchard’s “History of the Adelphi Theatre” in The Era Almanack for 1877; Blanchard himself produced seven plays there amid 1874 and 1877. The present building is actually the fourth on that site, and therefore is different from the building described by Charles Dickens in Ch. 31 of The Pickwick Papers (1836).
England Trains – Information on getting and reading your train ticket, the high speed, and regional train system; a link of train schedules.
More Info On- Adelphi Theatre, London Attractions, London Travel Guide, Merseyside
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In order to manage radio spectrum in the country, the State Commission for Radio Frequencies (SCFR) was established under the Cabinet of Ministers in accordance with the decree of the President of Azerbaijan dated August15, 1996.
The Commission is headed by Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sharifov.
Radio frequencies are allocated by the SCFR according to 1.3 paragraph of the Decision #22 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated February 1, 2007 on approval of the “Rules on allocation, registration, use of radio frequencies and determining payment”.Based on the decision of the Commission, frequency nominals used for civilian purposes, are allocated to frequency waves identified in the table on the allocation of frequency waves for joint use.Accounting and registration of frequency nominals allocated by the Commission for civilian purposes, and registration of radio electronic facilities used in the same frequencies, are conducted by the State Administration of Radio Frequencies (SARF) of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies.
For this purpose, main obligations of SARF are as follows:
Planning of use of radio electronic facilities on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, definition of operating frequencies and call signals for these means and their registration in accordance with the decisions of the SCFR;
State control over compliance with rules for purchasing, designing, construction (installation) and operation of radio electronic facilities and high-frequency devices on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as compliance with parameters of radio radiation of these facilities and devices with existing norms and state standards.
Control over supply electrical equipment, machinery, apparatus and appliances auxiliary devices for radio noise suppression;
Identification of illegal use of radio electronic facilities, revealing illegal operating radio, TV broadcasts and taking measures against them.
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Confident Sri lanka ready for Singapore challenge
Published : 8:29 am May 12, 2017 | No comments so far | |
By Pathum Sri Wijeratne in South Korea
Sri Lanka will face their moment of truth when they confront Singapore in the 10th Asian Youth Netball Championship semi-final encounter in Jeonju, South Korea today (12).
The first semi-final between Sri Lanka and Singapore will commence at 11.30 a.m (Sri Lanka time) while the second semi-final between Malaysia and Hong Kong will start at 1.30 p.m (Sri Lanka time).
In addition, the play-off matches to decide the lower ranking positions of the tournament between Thailand vs Chinese Taipei, India vs Maldives and Pakistan vs South Korea will also be worked off today.
Malaysia will enter the semi-finals as the only unbeaten side in the tournament having won all four matches in the preliminary round while Sri Lanka, Singapore and Hong Kong have lost one game each.
Sri Lanka of course had a poor start to their campaign as they suffered a shock 48-53 defeat at the hands of Thailand in the opening fixture of the tournament.
However, the reigning champions recovered magnificently and went on to record three back-to-back victories over Pakistan (93-6), Maldives (86-14) and Hong Kong (60-45) respectively.
As a result, Sri Lanka were able to secure the top spot in Group ‘A’ with six points and having accumulated a total of 218 goals while conceding only 136 goals to their rivals.
Sri Lanka will be banking heavily on their star player Kaveena Rajapaksa who has emerged as the most successful goal scorer of the tournament.
In addition, Sachini Rodrigo and Nilum Hapuarachchi have also contributed a great deal towards the success of the Sri Lankan team.
However, Sri Lanka will be forced to take the field without one of their key players, Hansima Dissanayake who is on the injured list. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Skipper Nadee Fernando expressed her confidence of entering the final and also hope to play the important semi-final fixture with a different game plan. Sri Lanka Coach Tamara Liyanage believed that Singapore will have a slight advantage with their height but said that her players are determined to win the game and to reach the final.
Liyanage further noted that fitness will be key factor and the side that takes the lead during the first quarter will have the advantage.
SL in Group ‘C’ for Asian netball
Sri Lanka embarrassed in South Korea
Sri Lanka record resounding win over Pakistan
Japan beat Hong Kong to secure Olympics ticket in Asia qualifier
Asian Men’s Volleyball Tourney Sri Lanka down Malaysia 3-0
Sri Lanka U20 outfit to defend title in HK
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Home » East & Central Africa
The Chinese Company Eradicating Malaria in Africa
July 4, 2019 · by Jacob Kushner · in East & Central Africa, Kenya, Solutions Journalism, The Atlantic
Chinese scientist Tu Youyou discovered the antimalarial compound artemisinin. HAN HAIDAN
MOMBASA, Kenya—In 2007, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said it was committed to eradicating malaria across the globe. By then, it was late to the game.
That year, Chinese scientists working with a Chinese philanthropist and his company, New South, had already begun eradicating malaria from the small African nation of Comoros. Now they’re setting their sights on a more ambitious location: Kenya, the East African nation of nearly 50 million people.
As Western donors garner headlines for funding expensive, experimental malaria interventions, Chinese researchers are undertaking a far more tested approach. Read the full story at The Atlantic.
The British Empire’s Homophobia Lives On in Former Colonies
May 24, 2019 · by Jacob Kushner · in East & Central Africa, Kenya, The Atlantic
Activists argue it is homophobia, not homosexuality, that has been imported from the West.
Same-sex relationships are not new to Africa. A century ago, it was not uncommon for a woman of the Igbo tribe in present-day Nigeria to marry another woman and cohabit. Similar women-to-women marriages have been documented in at least 30 different tribes across the African continent. Men of the Maale tribe in Ethiopia would sometimes have sex with other men.
But when Britain colonized large swaths of Africa in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it imposed penal codes that punished actions “against the order of nature”—code for homosexual acts—with up to 14 years in prison. These would become the first anti-gay laws on the continent, laws that are now being targeted by African LGBTQ-rights activists who argue that homophobia, not homosexuality, was an import from the West.
That effort suffered a setback this week, as Kenya’s High Court unanimously ruled that the country’s own British-era penal code against unnatural acts, adopted into law at Kenya’s 1963 independence, does not violate the country’s 2010 constitution.
Read the full article at The Atlantic.
Kenya Could be the Next Country to Strike Down a Colonial-Era Law Against Homosexuality
May 23, 2019 · by Jacob Kushner · in East & Central Africa, Kenya, WNYC The Takeaway
Cynthia is a lesbian activist and refugee from Burundi. She fled to Kenya after authorities found out she was gay. There she lived in hiding while hoping for resettlement abroad. Photo: Jake Naughton
The law in question is a colonial-era ban on “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” is part of the penal code in dozens of former British colonies. Many of them are former British colonies with the exact same law on the books.
The activists who brought the case contend that the law is used to exploit and extort, and that it is used to justify discrimination against LGBT people. Opponents have said they will consider alternative measures if the law is overturned, including, potentially a referendum.
Joining The Takeaway to explain what’s at stake is Jacob Kushner, a freelance journalist based in East Africa. Listen to the full interview at WNYC’s The Takeaway. Produced by Beenish Ahmed.
When Traditional Reporting Isn’t Enough (argument)
April 24, 2019 · by Jacob Kushner · in East & Central Africa, Overseas Press Club of America, Solutions Journalism
“Solutions journalism” is built around understanding not just what’s failing, but also what is working–and why. Too often we report singularly on problems without taking the time to explain when viable solutions to them exist. Solutions journalism doesn’t argue against covering abuses of power, conflict or corruption. It merely asserts that unless we also shed light on potential solutions to those problems, we haven’t quite finished the job.
Read my piece on the importance of Solutions Journalism in international reporting in Dateline, the magazine of the Overseas Press Club of America. Learn more at SolutionsJournalism.org
Nowhere Left to Go
March 21, 2019 · by Jacob Kushner · in East & Central Africa, Harper's, Kenya, Uganda
From conversations with a twenty-eight-year-old Kenyan refugee named Lucas. Since 2017 he has been living in Kampala, Uganda, where he fled after escaping from Kenyan police, who had kidnapped him for being gay. After Uganda passed what became known as the “kill the gays” bill, which was signed into law in 2014, hundreds of LGBT Ugandans began fleeing across the border to Kenya, where they lived in hiding while applying for asylum—but a few Kenyans, like Lucas, fled in the other direction.
Homosexuality is illegal in both countries. When the British colonized East Africa, they introduced penal codes criminalizing acts that were “against the order of nature,” which included homosexuality. Those codes remained on the books in countries like Kenya and Uganda even after they received independence. On May 24, Kenya’s High Court is expected to rule on whether those penal codes violate the nation’s new, progressive constitution.
Like Kenya, Uganda is conservative when it comes to gay rights. “In these countries, religion is really impacting on a lot of things. We have the Islam and the Christianity, which outlaw these acts,” says Lucas. “Uganda, I knew that there’s a law there, too. But I didn’t know the extent to which it’s really deeply rooted, to the citizens there.”
Born in Nyanza province in Western Kenya, close to the Ugandan border, Lucas corresponded from Kampala, where he was moving between different apartments and friends’ houses, about his life as an undocumented refugee and his attempts to apply for resettlement abroad.
Read the Oral History at Harper’s Magazine.
Gay-Rights Activists Hoping for a Legal Victory in Kenya
March 3, 2019 · by Jacob Kushner · in East & Central Africa, Kenya, Solutions Journalism, The New Yorker
Njeri Gateru, at right, and other L.G.B.T. activists watch as Kenya’s High Court postpones a ruling on decriminalizing homosexuality, on February 22nd.Photograph by Simon Maina / AFP / Getty
On a recent Friday, gay and lesbian couples, dressed in matching outfits, posed for photos outside of a Nairobi courthouse, in anticipation of a decision that they hoped would decriminalize gay sex in Kenya.
The country’s penal code punishes acts “against the order of nature”—usually interpreted as sex between men—with up to fourteen years in prison. It also prescribes up to five years in prison for “gross indecency with another male person,” which is often interpreted as other, undefined sexual acts between men. Worldwide, at least seventy nations—more than a third of all countries—still outlaw homosexuality, and it remains illegal in more than thirty of the fifty-four African countries.
After Kenya’s independence, these codes appear to have gone largely unenforced. For decades, homosexuality wasn’t widely talked about, Njeri Gateru, the director of the National Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission, one of the gay-rights groups litigating the case, told me. In the nineteen-nineties, when she was growing up in northeastern Kenya, “there was no name for a gay person,” she said. “There was also no name for a heterosexual. There was no separation. Nobody was speaking about it at all—there weren’t even the words for it.”
By the late two-thousands, religious leaders across East Africa had begun publicly denouncing homosexuality—sometimes with the encouragement of American missionaries. According to a Pew survey in 2013, ninety per cent of Kenyan respondents said that society should not accept homosexuality. Since homosexuality remains illegal under the penal code, family members and neighbors sometimes report suspected homosexuals to the police. The Kenyan government claims that, between 2010 and 2014, nearly six hundred people were criminally investigated under the unnatural-offenses penal code.
In 2016, L.G.B.T. activists looking for a way to curb discrimination began targeting the laws that criminalized homosexuality. Changing a society’s values would take generations, they reasoned, but striking down an unjust law could be accomplished in just a few years.
Read the full story at The New Yorker.
The rural Ugandan town where gay people are coming out
December 6, 2018 · by Jacob Kushner · in Christian Science Monitor, East & Central Africa, Uganda
Jake Naughton
A surprising turnaround for LGBT Africans in a most unlikely place
Since 2009, Uganda has made international headlines as one of the world’s most dangerous places to be gay or transgender. That year legislators and religious leaders first championed an anti-homosexuality bill to criminalize gay sex and marriages, even if they take place abroad, and obligate Ugandans to report them. “Aggravated homosexuality,” including repeated offenses, was to be punished with death – later amended to life in prison.
And yet, today many rural LGBT Ugandans are finding ways to fit into traditional family and community structures – and without always having to entirely hide their identities, either. Rural Ugandan towns might be the last place you’d expect to see LGBT acceptance. Cities are often assumed to be more tolerant, where strength in numbers allows people to advocate together.
But in places like Mbale, where neighbors all know one another, prejudice is often no match for personal relationships. By adapting to, rather than rebuking, traditions and societal norms, some rural LGBT Africans are achieving a level of tolerance that just a few years ago seemed unthinkable.
Read the full feature story at The Christian Science Monitor. Photos by Jake Naughton.
America Is Still Fighting a War on Marijuana—In Congo.
May 23, 2018 · by Jacob Kushner · in Columbia Global Reports, Congo, East & Central Africa
North Kivu, DR Congo | A woman going through a terraced tea field. Farmers in places like Congo who see cannabis as a profitable, stable crop must grow it at their peril. | Photo MONUSCO / Abel Kavanagh
Some of eastern Congo’s small-scale farmers are benefiting from a surprising—and illegal—crop.
Cannabis has become a major source of income for tens of thousands of farmers in Congo’s unstable east. It isn’t hard to see the appeal. “Cannabis (is) a robust plant which is easy to grow, requires little labor outside of harvesting and drying, yields several harvests per year, and can be harvested as early as six months from sowing,” writes Ann Laudati, a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who has interviewed more than 100 cannabis farmers in eastern Congo. “They’re making a living off it,” said Laudati. “They’re not getting rich, but they’re surviving.”
Congo isn’t alone. “The highest levels of cannabis production in the world take place on the African continent,” according to the UN. In 2005, Africa produced an estimated one-fourth of all global cannabis. In 2005, seventeen African countries reported that cannabis use was on the rise, including Congo. Be it by land or by sea, the drug also makes its way outside Congo’s porous borders. Quite possibly it’s what’s being smoked by western expats and humanitarians in African cities as far away as Nairobi.
But there’s one major factor limiting the crop’s proliferation: Cannabis is illegal in Congo, as it is in almost every African country. Since 2011, there have been more cannabis seizures in Africa than anywhere else in the world. Africa’s crackdown on cannabis reflects an international narrative that blames cannabis for all manner of the continent’s ills–the product of a century of European and U.S. pressure meant to stop it. According to the RAND Corporation, “in no Western country is a user at much risk of being criminally penalized for using marijuana. “ At a time when the United States is rapidly decriminalizing marijuana at home, it continues to endorse a narrative that demonizes the drug abroad.
Uganda Attempts to Shut Down Controversial Silicon Valley-Funded Schools
February 15, 2018 · by Jacob Kushner · in Columbia Global Reports, East & Central Africa, Kenya, Uganda
School children in Malindi, Kenya, February 2018. Photo by Ian Ingalula, Creative Commons.
Bridge International Academies was conceived in 2007 to be the McDonald’s of global education, promising to better educate poor students using Nooks and standardized curriculums for as little as $6 to $7 a month. Using tablets and standardized curriculums in each country, Bridge operates more than 520 schools, teaching some 100,000 students in Uganda, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and India. It’s currently expanding in Asia with dreams of reaching an ambitious 10 million students across the world by 2025.
But Some African parents may be uneasy about the idea of a western-conceived company disrupting something they hold so dear: control over their children’s education. Bridge threatens to globalize—or perhaps, to westernize—the sector on which many Africans bank their families’ futures.
Read the full story at Columbia Global Reports.
Will LGBT Ugandans Ever Be Free? Inside the Fight for a Queer Country
November 18, 2017 · by Jacob Kushner · in East & Central Africa, Kenya, Playboy, Uganda
Photos by Jake Naughton
Just a few years ago, Uganda, a calm East African nation of 41 million people, became known as the most antigay country in the world. Homophobic American evangelicals teamed up with Ugandan politicians and religious figures to warn against the impending global gay agenda. To keep the gays at bay, they claimed, Uganda needed stricter punishments. Fourteen years in prison—the maximum penalty for acts of homosexuality—was not enough. Under the 2014 Anti-Homosexuality Act, the original draft of which proposed the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” sodomizers and anyone caught harboring them could be locked up for life. Although the legislation was overturned after only six months, the anti-LGBTQ sentiments that arose alongside it linger on.
Living in Kampala, the nation’s capital and home to 1.5 million people, turned into a nightmare for gay, lesbian and transgender Ugandans, some of whom were beaten and stripped in the streets, chased by angry mobs or jailed.
But you wouldn’t guess that from the relaxed atmosphere at Cayenne on Kampala’s north side. Few people seem to notice the transgender woman dancing by the pool, and if they do, they don’t seem to care.
Dressed in knee-length shorts and a loose light blue polo, Javan is tall and has a face that’s hard to read, punctuated by a small stud on the left side of her nose. She moves her elbows and shoulders like most men but her hips like most women. When the DJ plays “What’s Luv,” I start singing the Ashanti part of the chorus, and Javan sings the Fat Joe part. When I ask her how she knows the lyrics, she replies, “My dad loves old school.”
Javan is just 20 years old—young enough to think of Fat Joe as old school. She belongs to a generation of queer Ugandans barely old enough to remember when the antigay fever first erupted here, in 2009. Earlier in the week when I’d suggested we go to Arrival Lounge, a popular gay bar in town, she rolled her eyes. “Arrival? It’s fake. The vibes aren’t good.” She told me to meet her at Cayenne instead.
To be queer in Uganda today is to experience a jarring dissonance. By night you may feel safe dancing in a bar with your friends, but by day you may be attacked by a mob, as Javan was last year. It was shortly after that attack, in February 2016, that she joined hundreds of other LGBTQ Ugandans fleeing across the border to Kenya to escape their neighbors, their families and the police.
But just six months after arriving in Kenya, Javan made an unlikely decision: She chose to come back. No matter that her father had all but disowned her, ceasing to pay her university fees and refusing to see her. Javan returned to prove herself as a woman to her fellow Ugandans, her family and above all her father.
Read Javan’s story in the November/December 2017 issue of Playboy or at Playboy.com. Photography by Jake Naughton.
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Grammy nomination announcement postponed until Friday
Shereita Grizzle
Beenie Man salutes as he holds his Grammy Award for the album Art and Life.
Artistes who submitted albums for next year’s Grammy awards will have to wait until Friday to hear if their projects were nominated as the announcements were postponed.
The nominees were supposed to have been revealed Wednesday, but have been delayed due to the memorial service for former president George H.W. Bush.
A press release issued by the Recording Academy on Monday divulged the latest news surrounding the awards.
Select categories will be announced live on CBS This Morning and on Apple Music at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Friday.
All 84 categories will be revealed on the Recording Academy's website, and also by press release and over the Recording Academy's social media platforms by 8:45 a.m. ET.
Bush died in his Houston home on Friday night at the age of 94. President Donald Trump has declared Wednesday a day of mourning for the former president.
He will be remembered at a memorial service at the National Cathedral at 11 a.m. President Donald Trump has designated Wednesday as a national day of mourning.
The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market both said their markets will be closed on Wednesday.
The annual Grammy Awards is set to air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 10, 2019.
Next year will be the first in which the number of nominations for the big "general field" categories, including Record of the Year, will be increased from five to eight.
At the time of the announcement, the Recording Academy said its decision to increase the number of nominations was in an effort to open up the playing field to more diverse voices.
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Emulator for Generating Heterogeneous Interference Signals in the Korean RFID/USN Frequency Band
Sangjoon Lee, Hyungoo Yoon, Kyung-Jin Baik, Byung-Jun Jang
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J Electromagn Eng Sci > Volume 18(4); 2018 > Article
Lee, Yoon, Baik, and Jang: Emulator for Generating Heterogeneous Interference Signals in the Korean RFID/USN Frequency Band
Journal of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science 2018;18(4):254-260.
Published online: October 31, 2018
Sangjoon Lee1, Hyungoo Yoon2, Kyung-Jin Baik1, Byung-Jun Jang1,*
1Department of Electrical Engineering, Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea
2Department of Computer and Electronic Engineering, Myongji College, Seoul, Korea
*Corresponding Author: Byung-Jun Jang (e-mail: bjjang@kookmin.ac.kr)
Received May 21, 2018 Accepted August 14, 2018 Accepted August 22, 2018
In this study, we suggest an emulator for generating multiple heterogeneous interference signals in the Korean radio frequency identification/ ubiquitous sensor network (RFID/USN) frequency band. The proposed emulator uses only one universal software radio peripheral to generate multiple heterogeneous interference signals more economically. Moreover, the physical and media access control parameters can be adjusted in real time using the LabVIEW program, thereby making it possible to create various time-varying interference environments easily. As an example showing the capability of the proposed emulator, multiple interference signals consisting of a frequency-hopping RFID signal and two LoRa signals with different spreading factors were generated. The generated signals were confirmed in both frequency and time domains. From the experimental results, we verified that our emulator could successfully generate multiple heterogeneous interference signals with different frequency and time domain characteristics.
Keywords: Emulator, Frequency Interference, LoRa, RFID, RFID/USN Band, Software-Defined Radio (SDR)
Recently, various wireless communication devices and services that use an unlicensed frequency band, including smartphones, tablets, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, among others, have been deployed exponentially. However, because the frequency resources of the unlicensed band are limited, wireless devices operating in it may experience various interferences with each other [1, 2].
As frequency interference between wireless devices suppresses the smooth provision of these services, examining how to allocate frequency channels to each service and to manage their coexistence efficiently is necessary. Specifically, quantitative studies on the influence of frequency interference between different wireless devices should be conducted [3].
The analysis method of frequency interference is categorized into two types, namely, software and hardware method, depending on whether real hardware devices exist or not. Various hardware methods for analyzing frequency interference problems are reported in [4–6]. In [4], real wireless hardware is used to emulate the interference environment. However, when real hardware device is used, changing the physical (PHY) and media access control (MAC) layer parameters is difficult because they are generally embedded inside the modem chip. A signal generator also can be used to emulate interfering signals [5]. Although a signal generator is highly controllable, it is expensive and makes adjusting the various physical and MAC layer parameters difficult. Therefore, we propose a method to develop a versatile frequency interference emulator using a software-defined radio (SDR) and the LabVIEW program in [6]. It can effectively adjust various space, frequency, and time domain parameters. However, because [6] uses an identical physical and MAC scheme, this emulator can implement only a single homogeneous wireless network. Therefore, developing an emulator to simulate heterogeneous interference environments remains challenging. Fortunately, Liu et al. [3] proposed a new method to emulate heterogeneous interference signals using the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) scheme. However, the authors only showed the emulation results of Bluetooth interference signals using a complex field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based test-bed. Moreover, implementing a MAC protocol is easy because Bluetooth uses a relatively simple frequency-hopping multiple-access scheme without carrier sensing. Various studies are still needed to make a versatile heterogeneous frequency emulator both in various frequency bands and MAC protocols. Specifically, an emulator than can easily use a commercial universal software radio peripheral (USRP) as the SDR equipment is needed.
In this study, we propose an emulator for generating multiple heterogeneous interference signals in the Korean radio frequency identification/ubiquitous sensor network (RFID/USN) frequency band (917–923.5 MHz). In this frequency band, various wireless devices, such as wireless LAN (WLAN), wireless PAN (WPAN), Z-wave, RFID, and LoRa, coexist. Therefore, reducing hardware complexity by the use of a single radio is necessary. Our emulator can effectively combine the OFDM scheme in [3] and our method in [6]; therefore, multiple heterogeneous networks can be emulated using only a single SDR board. As an example of performance verification of the proposed emulator, we generated heterogeneous interference signals consisting of a frequency-hopping RFID signal and two LoRa networks with different spreading factors in different frequency channels. To show the applicability and versatility of the proposed emulator, we used a commercial USRP as the SDR equipment provided by National Instrument and the LabVIEW program as the USRP-driving software.
II. Heterogeneous Interference Scenario
1. Korean RFID/USN Frequency Band
Today, various wireless devices can be found in the Korean RFID/USN frequency band. First, ultra-high frequency (UHF) passive RFID can be found. The RFID system consists of a reader and a tag. A reader sends the carrier to a tag. The reader then receives a backscattered signal from the tag, which is powered by a continuous wave from the reader. Unlike in other wireless communication systems, interference occurs when a reader transmits a command signal that interferes with the tag reception procedure of another reader. To prevent RFID interference to another wireless device, the six frequency channels of #2 (917.3 MHz), #5 (917.9 MHz), #8 (918.5 MHz), #12 (919.1 MHz), #14 (919.7 MHz), and #16 (920.3 MHz) are allocated for the dense RFID mode with a 600 kHz interval [7].
Second, LoRa network signals are available. LoRa is the proprietary standard for IoT. It uses six spreading factors (SF7 to SF12) to adapt the data rate and coverage tradeoff. A higher spreading factor enables a longer coverage at the expense of a lower data rate, and vice versa. The LoRa data rate is between 300 bps and 50 kbps depending on the spreading factor and the channel bandwidth. Korea has eight LoRa channels, from #25 (921.9 MHz) to #32 (923.3 MHz), with a 200 kHz interval [8].
Third, the Z-wave using the ITU-T Recommendation G.9959 Standard can be deployed for home network systems, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, and security systems. The Korean RFID/USN frequency band has three Z-wave channels, namely, #20 (920.9 MHz), #24 (921.7 MHz), and #31 (923.1 MHz), with a 400 kHz frequency bandwidth.
Finally, there are emerging WLAN (Wi-Fi) and WPAN (ZigBee) standards operating on the sub-GHz frequency band. For example, the IEEE 802.11ah WLAN signal uses up to a 4 MHz bandwidth, and the IEEE 802.15.4 WPAN signal uses a 1 MHz bandwidth. As these WLAN and WPAN signals have wideband characteristics, LoRa can be a victim. The detailed channel allocations in the Korean RFID/USN frequency band are shown in Fig. 1.
2. Interference Scenario
As multiple wireless devices with different standards exist in the Koran RFID/USN frequency band, various interference phenomena can occur. For example, a high-power RFID device may interfere with a sub-GHz Wi-Fi device. A LoRa device can also interfere with a Wi-Fi signal at the same time. As a worst case, a sub-GHz Wi-Fi device with a 4 MHz bandwidth may be affected by RFID, LoRa, and Z-wave simultaneously, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Generally, an interference environment consists of interferers, a victim, and a channel. In a victim receiver, multiple interference signals on the channel are received with the victim’s transmitted signal. In the frequency aspect, interference between wireless devices occurs when the transmitter uses an identical frequency channel of the interferer. Moreover, interference occurs when the transmitter and interference signals transmit signal at the same time and exist in a nearby space where they can affect each other. Therefore, when modeling interference environments, adjusting the parameters freely in the frequency, time, and space domains, respectively, is necessary.
III. Configuration of the Proposed Emulator
The Korean RFID/USN band has multiple heterogeneous interferers. Generally, a high-frequency signal may be generated with a signal generator. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 3(a), n signal sources are needed, with one signal source per interferer, to generate n interferers. However, as the number of interferer increases, the system becomes more complex. Fortunately, developing a homogeneous multi-interference environment using an SDR device with a MAC signal generating capability is possible [6]. In [6], multiple nodes comprising a homogeneous network can share the time channel using an appropriate MAC protocol.
However, using the method of [6] is difficult because multiple heterogeneous interferers have separate MAC protocols. In the current paper, we adapt the method of Liu et al. [3] using the OFDM modulation scheme. Owing to the OFDM technology having multiple subcarriers, the proposed emulator can emulate various narrowband signals in the Korean RFID/USN bands. As shown in Fig. 3(b), it is an economical and realistic approach.
1. Physical Layer Modeling
As shown in Fig. 4, the physical layer of the proposed emulator uses the OFDM modulator scheme.
Interference signals are realized by a finite length of OFDM symbol and subcarrier. First, the total bandwidth of the Korean RFID/USN frequency band is divided into each sub-carriers similar to the OFDM scheme.
If a 1024-point iFFT is used, it will offer 170.7 μs Δt long and 5.8 kHz wide Δf, which are considerably smaller than the packet length and resolution bandwidth, respectively, of the RFID and LoRa waveforms. Second, multiple subcarriers can be combined to construct the operating channel bandwidth of the specific node. For example, if the operating bandwidth of node #1 is the same as the bandwidth of the three successive subcarriers, three subcarriers will be allocated to node #1. Similarly, five subcarriers are allocated to node 2 with a narrow channel bandwidth. As shown in Fig. 4(a), if the channel bandwidth of a specific signal is an integer multiple of the subcarrier, that signal can be generated by adjusting the number of subcarriers. In addition, the signal duration time can be adjusted by the multiple numbers of OFDM symbols. Finally, the received signal power can be specified by modifying the magnitude of the subcarriers given by a complex number expressed by n + jn. Therefore, the magnitude of a signal can be adjusted by controlling the n value as shown in Fig. 4(a). The actual values of n are calculated by considering the transmitting power of the interferer and path loss to a victim receiver. All of these parameters in the PHY layer are controlled through the LabVIEW program and the USRP. Fig. 4(b) shows the signal waveform designed by Fig. 4(a) in the time, frequency, and amplitude domains.
2. MAC Layer Modeling
In a wireless network, nodes send and/or receive data in a manner specified by its MAC protocol. In addition, the MAC protocols define the retransmission methods to prevent data loss that may occur during transmission.
Generally, the transmitter retransmits its previously transmitted data if it does not receive an ACK signal from the receiver within a certain time.
For example, let us consider the uplink timing diagram of the LoRa network in Fig. 5. A LoRa network consists of one gateway and n end devices (EDs). As the LoRa standard adopts ALOHA as a wireless access scheme, the start time of the uplink transmission of the nth ED, τedn, is a random value. LoRa also uses the RX1 or the RX2 time slot for downlink transmission [9, 10].
The RX1 opens RECEIVE_DELAY1 seconds after the end of the uplink modulation, and the RX2 opens RECEIVE_ DELAY2 seconds. Whereas the RX1 uses the same frequency channel as the uplink and the data rate is a function of the data rate used for the uplink, the RX2 uses a fixed configurable frequency and a data rate.
Similar to LoRa networks, RFID readers and tags also use ACK messages for their reliable data transmission.
The configuration of the proposed emulator is shown in Fig. 6. The emulator consists of a personal computer (PC) for running LabVIEW and a USRP-2922 SDR device device for signal generation. Various interference signals were created by adjusting the parameter values set in the LabVIEW program (Table 1). The signals were sent to the USRP over the Gbps Ethernet cable and emitted to that frequency band. The radiated interference signal was confirmed by a spectrum analyzer.
IV. Implementation Results
To verify the capability of the proposed emulator, we constructed an actual heterogeneous interference environment. We again used the previous example in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the RFID reader (interferer #1) was set to hop on the frequency channels 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, and 17 every 0.4 seconds, and two LoRa devices (interferer #2 and interferer #3) were established with different data rates on channels 26 (922.5 MHz) and 28 (922.1 MHz). Each of the three interference sources had different operating channels, operating modes, and driving times, respectively.
Table 2 presents the parameter settings for interference power according to distance for the scenario in Fig. 2. Pint.Tx,n is the power of the interference signal generated by the nth interferer, and Pint.Rx,n is the interference power received by the victim RX via path dn. After selecting the interferers and the interference power, setting the parameters for the PHY and MAC layers of the interferers is necessary. The PHY and MAC layer parameters for each interferer were set through the LabVIEW program on a PC. The interference signal was up-converted to the RFID/USN band through the USRP-2922 [11, 12].
Fig. 7 shows the power spectral density (PSD) of a heterogeneous multi-interfering signal transmitted through the USRP-2922. We measured the PSD using a N9010A spectrum analyzer from Agilent Technologies.
Furthermore, the PSD was obtained using the max-hold function on the instrument. The results of the PSD measurements confirmed that three interfering signals occurred on the specified channel. The RFID reader generated a narrow band signal on channel 17. The RFID reader hopped six channels and displaced only one channel because of the max-hold function of the instrument. The LoRa devices generated signals with a bandwidth of 125 kHz on both channels 26 and 28, which use the modulation schemes of chirp spreading spectrum as the LoRa standard.
To generate chirp signals using the OFDM, the first step is to select two successive subcarriers for generating a narrowband signal. Then, by sequentially increasing the position of the subcarriers, an up-chirp signal can be generated. Similarly, sequentially decreasing their position can generate a down-chirp signal. In addition, by adjusting the increasing position of the subcarrier, chirp signals of various intervals can be generated (Fig. 8).
Fig. 8 also illustrates the spectrogram of the interference signals on each channel. The RFID reader hops on a six-frequency channel every 0.4 seconds. The LoRa signals modulated by the chirp spreading spectrum are generated as different spreading factors on channels 26 and 28, respectively. The upper part of Fig. 8 shows the various interference signals in the frequency domain by the max-hold function of the spectrum analyzer. The lower part of the spectrogram presents the generated signals in the time-frequency domain. This spectrogram was generated by post-processing the received signal using the MATLAB.
Fig. 9 shows the timing diagram example of the LoRa data and ACK data. This timing diagram is a LoRa network signal generated on channel 28, and it was obtained using the zero span function of the signal analyzer. In Fig. 9, treceive_delay depends on the length of the LoRa packet and data. The active time duration, tactive, has various values, such as tactive,1, tactive,2, and tactive,3, given in Fig. 4(a). The inactive time duration, tinactive, is usually a random value caused by the random access schemes of RFID and LoRa, slotted ALOHA, and ALOHA, respectively.
We suggested an emulator for generating heterogeneous multi-interference signals to conduct various frequency interference experiments. The proposed emulator uses only one USRP to generate multiple heterogeneous interference signals economically. Moreover, the physical and MAC parameters can be adjusted in real time using the LabVIEW program, thereby making it possible to create various time-varying interference environments easily.
Channel allocation in the Korean RFID/USN frequency band (917–923.5 MHz).
Interference scenario of the Korean RFID/USN band.
Emulation for the interference environment: (a) the interference signal generator using multiple signal generators and (b) the interference signal emulator using only one signal generator with a heterogeneous signal generation function.
Concept of the heterogeneous interference emulator: (a) the matrix form and (b) the signal generation for the matrix form.
Example of a LoRa uplink timing diagram for a confirmed data message in a class A feature.
Configuration of the verification experiment for the proposed emulator.
PSD of the multiple interference signals (Max hold).
Spectrogram of the interference signals (RFID and LoRa) on each channel.
Interference signal of the LoRa network on channel 28 (time domain).
Parameters for Fig. 6 (frequency domain)
Total BW (MHz) 6
Nsub (FFT size) 1024
Δf (kHz) 5.8
Nsub.,RFID 1
Nsub.,LoRa 22
BWLoRa (kHz) 127.6
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2. H. Yoon, and BJ. Jang, "Performance degradation of WPAN system due to UHF RFID interference," In: Proceedings of 2013 European Microwave Conference (EuMC); Nuremberg, Germany. 2013; pp 120–123.
3. W. Liu, E. De Poorter, J. Hoebeke, E. Tanghe, W. Joseph, P. Willemen, M. Mehari, X. Jiao, and I. Moerman, "Assessing the coexistence of heterogeneous wireless technologies with an SDR-based signal emulator: a case study of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth," IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 1755–1766, 2017.
4. L. Angrisani, M. Bertocco, D. Fortin, and A. Sona, "Experimental study of coexistence issues between IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.15.4 wireless networks," IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, vol. 57, no. 8, pp. 1514–1523, 2008.
5. N. Shahin, NJ. LaSorte, SA. Rajab, and HH. Refai, "802.11 g channel characterization utilizing LabVIEW and NIUSRP," In: Proceedings of 2013 IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference (I2-MTC); Minneapolis, MN. 2013; pp 753–756.
6. H. Yoon, J. Um, JS. Park, and BJ. Jang, "SDR-based frequency interference emulator in the space-time domain and its application," Journal of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 58–62, 2018.
7. DY. Kim, H. Yoon, BJ. Jang, and JG. Yook, "Effects of reader-to-reader interference on the UHF RFID interrogation range," IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 56, no. 7, pp. 2337–2346, 2008.
8. H. Yoon, J. Um, and BJ. Jang, "Performance analysis of a LoRa device on duty cycle local regulation of Korean RFID/USN frequency band," Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 113–119, 2017.
9. LoRa Alliance, LoRaWAN specifications, 2015;https://www.lora-alliance.org/.
10. "SX1272/3/6/7/8: LoRa modem design guide: low energy consumption design," Semtech Corporation, Camarillo, CA: Tech Rep SX1272/3/6/7/8. 2013.
11. A. Marwanto, MA. Sarijari, N. Fisal, SKS. Yusof, and RA. Rashid, "Experimental study of OFDM implementation utilizing GNU Radio and USRP-SDR," In: Proceedings of 2009 IEEE 9th Malaysia International Conference on Communications (MICC); Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2009; pp 132–135.
12. JS. Park, H. Yoon, and BJ. Jang, "SDR-based frequency interference analysis test-bed considering time domain characteristic of interferer," In: Proceedings of 2016 18th International Conference on Advanced Communication Technology (ICACT); Pyeongchang, Korea. 2016; pp 517–521.
Sangjoon Lee received his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea, in 2017. He is currently working toward his M.S. degree in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Kookmin University. His current research interests are in the areas of local positioning, radar signal processing, frequency interference modeling and spectrum engineering, and software-defined radio.
Kyung-Jin Baik received her B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea, in 2017. She is currently working toward her M.S. degree in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Kookmin University. Her current research interests are in the areas of local positioning, radar signal processing, motion recognition, and machine learning.
Hyungoo Yoon received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electronics engineering from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, in 1995, 1997, and 2002, respectively. From 2002 to 2004, he worked at Hyundai Electronics in Incheon, where he developed code-division multiple access base stations. Since 2004, he has been a professor at the Department of Electronic Engineering at Myongji College, Seoul, Korea. His main research interests include radio resource management, interference mitigation techniques, multiple-input multiple-output systems, and spectrum engineering.
Byung-Jun Jang received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electronic engineering from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, in 1990, 1992, and 1997, respectively. From 1995 to 1999, he worked for LG Electronics in Seoul, where he developed code-division multiple access and digitally enhanced cordless telecommunication RF modules. From 1999 to 2005, he was with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Daejeon, Korea, where he performed research in the fields of satellite RF components and monolithic microwave integrated circuits. In 2005, he joined Kookmin University, Seoul, where he is currently with the Department of Electrical Engineering. His current research interests are in the areas of RF circuit design, radio frequency identification system design, wireless power transfer system design, frequency interference modeling and spectrum engineering, and wireless sensor design.
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DAVID SEIDLER ON THE KING’S SPEECH
Dear Movie Goers,
I watched The King’s Speech (2011) and was touched by the relationship between King George VI (played by Colin Firth) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and speech therapist (played by Geoffrey Rush). It won four Oscars, including Best Original Screenplay by David Seidler.
Oscar-winning screenwriter, David Seidler, paid a visit at the Great American PitchFest. I tuned into his writing process and behind the scenes.
David described The King’s Speech as someone who refused his destiny and took life into his own hands. The movie explored duty and bravery.
He encouraged, “When the first check comes in, don’t spend it. Don’t buy the fancy car, put the kids in private school, take the vacation. Put it in the bank.”
David shared…
The truth of your story and the truth of characters is important.
When you discover that resonance within you, you hit the resonance within an audience.
Once you reach critical mass, everything happens!
When he watched The King’s Speech for the first time, he cried because his voice was heard.
He enjoys relationships against an epic background.
He used the templates of Rocky and My Dinner with Andre for The King’s Speech.
When you write a script, find your rhythm because it’s a song. It’s your song!
Great believer of catharsis.
Take projects with a resonance.
You must know the end of your script before you start.
Know the industry. You must make money first. If you create art, then great.
Don’t need to be linear story but must have a beginning, middle and ending.
He enjoys writing a treatment first because he knows where he is going (even if that treatment isn’t seen by anyone else.)
There were around 200 rewrites on The King’s Speech.
When you write from an energy field, the story writes itself. You become more of a stenographer.
You don’t want to write yourself out and be depleted the next day.
Ernest Hemingway once said, “I had learned already never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.”
Thank you Oscar-winner screenwriter David Seidler for encouragement behind the scenes and refilling my well.
May you find your rhythm, voice, song. May you tap into that energy field of resonance. May you speak and write your truth.
With appreciation,
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Category Archives for Civil Rights & Inequality
From Angela Davis to Ayanna Pressley, Black women leaders rallied in DC in defense of Omar—and called on Democrats do the same.
By Rebecca Pierce/The NATION
On April 30, over 100 Black women activists gathered in Washington, DC, to support Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar in the face of Islamophobic incitement from the Trump White House. Rallying under the banner “Black Women In Defense of Ilhan,” organizers included Angela Davis, Barbara Ransby, Black Lives Matter co-founders, and participants from around the country. Together they called for Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats to censure President Trump for tweeting out a video of the 9/11 attacks, complete with flaming images of the Twin Towers, falsely accusing Omar of minimizing the attacks. The tweet was the latest incident in a cycle of incitement against Omar and spurred a spike in death threats targeting her.
Throughout the last few months, Omar has come repeatedly under fire for her comments criticizing America’s pro-Israel policies and the role of AIPAC in pushing US support of the occupation. She has also become a scapegoat for right wing commentators who have sought to turn her into a symbol of left-wing antisemitism, at a time when white nationalist violence against both Jewish and Muslim places of worship is on the rise.
|Donald Trump Isn’t Playing Games With Ilhan Omar—He’s Inciting Violence
Elie Mystal
The protest came as a moment of Black women’s unity in the face of Islamophobic misogynoir, with speakers such as Representative Ayanna Pressley contextualizing the attacks on Omar as part of a longstanding pattern of silencing of Black women’s voices. Speaking at the event, Omar described the attacks on herself as part of a broader context of white supremacy, including anti-Jewish violence like the attack on the Poway Synagogue, saying “We collectively must make sure that we are dismantling all systems of oppression.”
Ahead of the rally Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors, who helped organize the event but was unable to attend, spoke to The Nation about the critical significance of Black women showing up to support Ilhan Omar.
Rebecca Pierce: What are the goals you set out to accomplish with this event, and why were these demands so important?
Patrisse Cullors: I think one of the first things is that people need to understand that part of the mission of the Black Lives Matter Global Network is to protect Black women and girls, and that at the height of BLM we were labeled as terrorists and very few people came to our aid. Rep. Ilhan is an elected official, she was voted in. She has been treated terribly the entire time she has been in office by the right, and I think it is important that Black women stand up for her—and visibly stand up for her.
RP: Why do you think Ilhan is such a target not only for the far-right, but also some Democrats?
PC: It’s simple. She’s Black, she’s Muslim, she’s hijab-wearing. That is literally the image of fear that Trump has invoked in order to win over his base. She is a scapegoat for him and the right wing. I also think the Democratic Party doesn’t know what to do with her. They don’t know how to protect her, and they aren’t being the fierce advocates that we need them to be.
RP: One reason Ilhan has come under attack is her support for Palestinian rights, how does this fit into a larger context of attacks on Black leaders in solidarity with Palestine?
PC: I think there is a long history of Black people being in solidarity with Palestinian people. This isn’t in a vacuum. Rep. Ilhan’s support or my support or Marc Lamont Hill’s support or Angela Davis’s support [is part of] a long legacy of Black people and Palestinian people fighting for each other and being in solidarity with one another. And so, I think that the minute that Ilhan was open and transparent and not afraid to talk on behalf of Palestine, she really became a target of the right.
RP: Why is it so important to defend Palestine solidarity in Black organizing?
aPC: The first time I went to Palestine was in the winter of 2015 right after the Ferguson Uprising, and I was invited by the Dream Defenders delegation. I had studied a lot about Palestinian rights, I was not new to the issue of the Occupation, but nothing prepares you for that level of violence. For that level of, honestly, dissonance. Dissonance from Zionists in America. So, when I sat and had conversations with Palestinian people, especially Palestinian elders, one of the first things they said is “Black people and Palestinian people have a natural alliance.” I think part of that history, whether it was Malcolm X or other Black leaders that were thinking about self-determination, these are some of the themes that are at the intersections of Palestine and Black American people.
RP: Do you think that these kinds of coalitions are a threat to the status quo?
PC: Everybody knew you don’t talk about Palestine, especially in social justice spaces. That if you agreed with that you kind of kept it to yourself. I would say in the last five-to-seven years we have seen a significant shift when it comes to the cultural conversation about Palestine and Israel and that more and more young people, more and more white Jews, more and more folks of color are having a much more honest conversation about the occupation. That we don’t want our tax dollars going to Israel’s Apartheid country. So, we are in a position now, a cultural shift position, and I think Ilhan is in some ways the messenger of that.
RP: What do the attacks on Ilhan say about the fight against white supremacy in this moment where there is a threat not only on Black and brown people but also Jewish communities and other minorities?
PC: Ilhan has become the latest representation around how the right wing is establishing what is white nationalism. And I think for our movement, protecting Ilhan means we are fighting against white supremacy. We actually have to be better at that, at protecting her as a symbol really, at protecting the rights of Jewish people, at protecting the rights of communities of color, of women, of trans folks, of queer folks. This is that moment where we have the opportunity to really fight hard for everybody.
Rebecca PierceRebecca Pierce is a writer, activist, and documentary filmmaker. Her journalism has been featured in +972, Jewish Currents, The Jewish Daily Forward, The Nation, Mondoweiss, and Electronic Intifada.
Posted by gmsalaam
May 3, 2019 in Civil Rights & Inequality , Politics , Youth Corner
By Dan Balz and
Michael Scherer /Washington Post
In the early hours of election night on Tuesday, a consensus began to take hold that the vaunted Democratic blue wave that had been talked about all year was failing to materialize. Now, with a handful of races still to be called, it’s clear that an anti-President Trump force hit the country with considerable, if uneven, strength.
Democrats appear poised to pick up between 35 and 40 seats in the House, once the last races are tallied, according to strategists in both parties. That would represent the biggest Democratic gain in the House since the post-Watergate election of 1974, when the party picked up 49 seats three months after Richard M. Nixon resigned the presidency.
Republicans will gain seats in the Senate, but with races in Florida and Arizona still to be called, their pre-election majority of 51 seats will end up as low as 52 or as high as 54. Meanwhile, Democrats gained seven governorships, recouping in part losses sustained in 2010 and 2014, and picked up hundreds of state legislative seats, where they had suffered a virtual wipeout in the previous two midterm elections.
The Democrats’ gains this week are still far short of what Republicans accomplished in their historic victories of 1994 and 2010. But they would eclipse the number of seats Democrats gained in 2006, the last time the party recaptured control of the House, as well as the 26-seat gain in 1982, when the national unemployment rate was at 10 percent. This year, the election took place with the unemployment rate at just 3.7 percent.
Day by day, the outlook for Democrats in the House has improved. At the offices of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, already high spirits have been rising all week as more races fell into the party’s column. One joke that has been making the rounds there goes like this: “This is actually turning out to be more of a Hanukkah than a Christmas election,” meaning day after day of gifts, rather than just one.
This was always an election that would test the strength of the economy, which favored the president’s party, vs. the president’s low approval ratings, which, along with the record of past midterm elections, pointed to Democratic gains. In the end, history and presidential approval combined to give Democrats control of the House by what appears to be a comfortable margin.
The Democratic wave hit hardest in suburban districts, many of them traditional Republican territory, where college-educated voters — particularly women — dissatisfied with the president backed Democratic challengers. Ronald Brownstein of the Atlantic and CNN, who has closely tracked these changes over many elections, noted in a post-election article that, before the election, two-thirds of Republicans represented congressional districts where the percentage of the population with college degrees was below the national average. After the election, he estimated, more than three-quarters of GOP House members now will represent such districts.
Democrats flipped about two-thirds of the competitive districts won by both Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Barack Obama in 2012 or by Clinton in 2016 and Mitt Romney in 2012. They also picked up one-third of districts won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012. In districts where both Trump and Romney had won in the previous two elections, Democrats gained about a quarter of the competitive seats.
Also striking in House races was the number of narrow victory margins — on both sides. About 20 Democrats won or are leading in races where the margin is fewer than five percentage points, while about two dozen Republicans who won or are leading are in races with similarly small margins.
That indicates that the outcome in 2018 could have been substantially better for Democrats or significantly worse, had the political winds been blowing differently. It also foreshadows another fiercely contested election for the House in 2020.
The final outcome in the Senate races this year will also have a bearing on 2020. The difference between a majority of 54 seats or 52 seats would have a sizable impact on the odds of Democrats being able to win control two years from now.
Republicans expect to defend 22 seats up for election, compared with only 12 seats held by Democrats. These include the Colorado seat of Sen. Cory Gardner (R), the Maine seat of Sen. Susan Collins (R) and the Arizona seat now held by Sen. Jon Kyl (R). Senate Republicans Joni Ernst of Iowa and Thom Tillis of North Carolina are likely to face competitive races. Democrat Doug Jones of Alabama, who won a special election last year, also will face a serious challenge to hold his seat.
Beyond the tally of victories and defeats, the 2018 election was notable for the ways in which it deepened many of the divisions and shifts in allegiance that are changing the political landscape across the country. That carries implications for politics in 2020 and beyond.
Democratic strategists have been cheered by exit polls that show the underlying national demographic trends that drove their gains, particularly in the border states of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Voters under the age of 29 voted for Democrats over Republicans by 67 percent to 32 percent, a margin which beats the previous record in the 2008 presidential election. Latino voters matched their national 11 percent vote share from the higher-turnout 2016 election, with Democrats winning 69 percent of the Latino vote nationwide, slightly more than the 66 percent share when Trump was elected. Asian voters, who make up about 3 percent of the voting population, sided with Democrats by a margin of 77 percent to 23 percent.
“The emerging electorate, the one which will dominate U.S. politics for the next generation or two, supported Democrats in record numbers,” said Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist. “Democrats not only won the 2018 election handily, but won it in a way which should worry Republicans about 2020.”
Said Republican pollster Whit Ayres: “To me, the big story is that the 2018 midterm election reinforced and accelerated the patterns we saw in 2016. You had smaller, overwhelmingly white, rural counties become more deeply entrenched in the Republican Party, and suburban counties, particularly those with high proportions of well-educated voters, going exactly the opposite direction.”
New returns have been raising Republican concerns in western states. Chuck Coughlin, a Republican adviser to former Arizona governor Jan Brewer (R), said it was clear that Trump’s approach to immigration in the final weeks of the campaign did not have the nuance required for a state like Arizona, where immigrants play a central role in the economy.
“One thing is for certain, that the caravan rhetoric doesn’t resonate in this state as well as it resonates in the Midwest,” Coughlin said. “We have done a lot of research, and we have consistently shown that border security is a big issue, but the immigration reform side of that question is integral to the future of the state.”
Republicans in the state, however, have been hemmed in by Trump’s support among Republican primary voters, which forced Rep. Martha McSally, the Republican nominee for Senate, to tack to the right, particularly on immigration. “She didn’t ever modulate,” said Coughlin. “She didn’t create any separation.” Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, the Democratic Senate nominee, now has a narrow lead in that race.
In neighboring Colorado, Democrats won every statewide race, picked up a House seat, took control of the state Senate, and swept most down-ballot races as well. “We are not Ohio, Michigan or the Midwest. The college-educated suburban voter — they don’t like Trump because of his behavior,” said Dick Wadhams, the former chairman of the state GOP.
In Nevada, Democrats picked up a Senate seat and the governorship and held on to two competitive House districts, in a sign of a continued shift left in what has been a closely contested state in most recent elections.
Democrats fell short in two other evolving Sun Belt states. In Texas, Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rouke lost the Senate race to incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz but managed to win 48 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, Democrats picked up two suburban congressional districts.
In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams trails Republican Brian Kemp in the gubernatorial race, but the changing dynamics of voting patterns there worry some Republicans for future elections.
“When you have someone like Stacey Abrams carrying a major Atlanta suburban county like Gwinnett, like Hillary Clinton did, then the formula for Republican victories in Georgia has been completely upended,” Ayres said.
Other results point in a different direction, however, which offers some encouragement to Republicans beyond adding to their narrow Senate majority.
Ohio appears to be moving steadily away from the Democrats, largely because of cultural issues. Since 1994, Republicans have won nearly nine of every 10 statewide contests. The GOP’s victory in the open gubernatorial race on Tuesday was the latest blow for the Democrats, though Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown held his seat.
Democrats also failed to pick up the governorship in Iowa, though they gained two House seats. They struggled to make inroads in House races in Republican strongholds such as Kentucky, North Carolina and Nebraska.
Florida remains a top concern heading into the 2020 elections, when the state will probably play a crucial role in any path for Trump to win a second term. Contrary to the Latino vote elsewhere in the country, the Cuban, Puerto Rican and Central American populations in the Sunshine State split more evenly, as Gov. Rick Scott (R) mounted an aggressive outreach effort.
“The Democrats underestimated just how much Hispanic support Republicans were able to capitalize on in Florida,” said Fernand Amandi, a Democratic pollster in Miami. “It’s about the margins.”
Of the 15 percent of voters in the state who were Latino, Scott was able to win 45 percent, according to exit polls, including a slight majority of Latino men. The Republican gubernatorial candidate, former congressman Ron DeSantis, was able to win 44 percent of Latino voters.
November 14, 2018 in Civil Rights & Inequality , Global World News , Politics
The 2020 Census at Risk and What’s at Stake
By Jim Tankersley & Emily Baumgaertner New York Times
WASHINGTON — The United States census is so much more than just a head count. It is a snapshot of America that determines how congressional seats are apportioned, how state and federal dollars are distributed, where businesses choose to ship products and where they build new stores. To do all that properly, the count needs to be accurate.
The Commerce Department’s decision to restore a citizenship question to the census beginning in 2020 is prompting concerns about curtailing participation and possibly undercounting people living in the United States, particularly immigrants and minority groups who are expressing discomfort with answering questions from census workers.
Wilbur Ross, the commerce secretary, acknowledged concerns about decreased response rates in a memorandum released on Monday night. But he said asking about citizenship would enhance the results by helping calculate the percentage of the population eligible to vote.
An undercount of the population would have far-reaching implications. It could skew the data that are used to determine how many congressional representatives each state gets and their representation in state legislatures and local government bodies. It would shape how billions of dollars a year are allocated, including for schools and hospitals. It would undermine the integrity of a wide variety of economic data and other statistics that businesses, researchers and policymakers depend on to make decisions, including the numbers that underpin the forecasts for Social Security beneficiaries.
Here are several of the commercial, political and research efforts that depend on accurate
census data:
Divvying up seats in Congress, state legislatures and more
The Constitution requires the government to enumerate the number of people living in the United States every 10 years, and to use that data to apportion the seats in Congress among the states. The calculation is based on total resident population — which means citizens and noncitizens alike — and it generally shifts power between the states once a decade, in line with population and migration trends.
States including Texas, Florida, Colorado and Oregon are projected to gain seats after the 2020 numbers are in. Illinois, Ohio, New York and West Virginia are among the states expected to lose seats. An undercount could shift those projections.
Lawmakers also use census data to draw congressional district boundaries within states, an often-controversial process that can help decide partisan control of the House. Census data also underpin state legislative districts and local boundaries like City Councils and school boards.
Handing out federal and state dollars
The federal government bases a large amount of its spending decisions on census data. Researchers concluded last year that in the 2015 fiscal year, 132 government programs used information from the census to determine how to allocate more than $675 billion, much of it for programs that serve lower-income families, including Head Start, Medicare, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Pell grants for college and reduced-price school lunch programs. Highway spending is also apportioned according to census data.
Influencing business decisions
To sell products and services, companies large and small need good information on the location of potential customers and how much money they might have to spend. The census provides the highest-quality and most consistent information on such items, and businesses have come to depend on it to make critical choices.
Census data help companies decide where to locate distribution centers to best serve their customers, where to expand or locate new stores and where they have the best chance of seeing a high return on investment. That is why business groups have been particularly concerned about the integrity of that data.
“The 2020 census is used to help construct many other data products produced by the federal government,” said Michael R. Strain, an economist at the American Enterprise Institute who writes frequently on the importance of census data for policymakers and the private sector.
“Some of those products are heavily used by businesses when determining where to open new stores and expand operations, or even what items to put on their shelves. This affects retail businesses, for sure, but businesses in many other sectors as well,” he added.
Planning for various health and wellness programs
Low response rates from any one demographic group would undermine the validity of various population-wide statistics and program planning.
Scientists use census data to understand the distribution of diseases and health concerns such as cancer and obesity across the United States population, including drilling down to race and ethnicity to identify health patterns across demographics. Public health officials then use the data to target their interventions in at-risk communities. Inaccurate census data could lead public health officials to invest in solving a problem that does not exist — or worse, to overlook one that does.
“It’s getting harder to conduct the census, due to a variety of factors, including increasing cultural & linguistic diversity, and distrust of the government,” said Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, an economist who directs the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University. “The addition of the citizenship question will make the enumerators’ jobs even harder by heightening privacy concerns and reducing participation among immigrants, who may fear the information will be used to harm them or their families.”
Gaming out Social Security
An undercount in the census could also impact forecasts about Social Security payouts, which are already increasing as a share of the federal government’s revenue.
When Congress plans for the costs of the country’s Social Security needs, lawmakers rely upon demographic projection about the population’s future: the number of children expected to be born, the number of people expected to die, and the number of people expected to immigrate. If baseline data regarding the current population are inaccurate, future projections could be skewed, causing financial challenges down the line.
September 9, 2018 in Civil Rights & Inequality , News , Politics
‘People Who Are Different Are Not the Problem in America’
By James Lankford & Tim Scott/Politics-THE ATLANTIC
Two members of the U.S. Senate urge Americans to honor the legacy
of the Martin Luther King Jr. by engaging with others of different backgrounds.
This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day carries additional significance, as it marks the 50th anniversary of his tragic death. In April of 1968, King was killed in Memphis, Tennessee, at the hands of a ruthless murderer who was filled with hate and racism.One of the reasons we, as Americans and citizens around the world, remember King’s legacy is his call to freedom and racial unity through love and engagement for all people—a message he still shares with the world a half-century later. Love is the consistent theme throughout many of his writings and remarks: “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend,” or “I have decided to stick with love … Hate is too great a burden to bear,” or “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that”.
Perhaps the words King wrote to fellow ministers while he was in the Birmingham Jail in 1963 are the most impactful: “Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”
King’s words still ring, but his work is not complete. Americans have come a long way since the 1960s, but the dream is not yet fully realized.After the 2016 police shootings in Dallas, Minnesota, and Louisiana, we challenged our constituents and people everywhere we went with a simple question, “Have you or your family ever invited a person or a family of another race to your home for dinner?” We called it “Solution Sundays.”Sunday is a slower, yet significant day, for most Americans. So, we challenged each family to give one Sunday lunch or dinner for building relationships across race and ethnicity, to literally be part of the solution in America. Any other day of the week would work as well; the goal is for people to engage on a personal level in their own homes, to break down walls, to listen, and to build trust across communities. It is harder to stereotype people that you know.
When is the last time you or your family had dinner in your home with a person or family of another race?
We are convinced that we will never get all the issues about race on the table, until we get our feet under the same table and talk like friends. At its core, racial divisions are a heart issue, not a skin-color issue. Our children need to see their parents developing friendships around the dinner table with people who look different, so that the next generation can be different.
The same goes for civil discourse in America. The love and respect that King spoke about do not require absolute uniformity or watered-down viewpoints. They require respect for cultures and views that are different, and an understanding that people who are different are not the problem in America; they are our brothers and sisters in humanity.
Sadly, our cultural discourse often looks like hate trying to drive out hate, rather than allowing light and love to drive out hate.
Our national leaders should model this truth rather than just reflect the culture. Just take a glance at social media and cable news, and you’ll see disrespectful shouting and shaming that descends on our country and our children like a cold rain. In fact, you can test that theory by posting this op-ed to your social media account, and you will probably see what we’re talking about within minutes. This sort of rhetoric threatens our ability to weave together multiple communities together to form a single nation; it loses sight of the fact that all people are made in the image of God and have worth and human dignity.
After two centuries, we are making progress on race, but we seem to be rapidly losing our “melting pot” of ideas, respect, and acceptance. A trend has emerged that encourages people to listen only to people who are the same or share their values, philosophy, and ideas, then dismiss or belittle anyone who is different or disagrees, even if they only disagree on a few issues. A good burn is the new goal, rather than a good word. We still need the reminder that “love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”
Let this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day be a time where we, as Americans, honor his memory and legacy by engaging neighbors who are different. If the national pendulum is ever going to swing, it will require role models in every community who don’t just call out for respectful engagement, but live it.
January 15, 2018 in Civil Rights & Inequality
Worried about Russian Collusion? Gerrymandering & Voter Suppression are worst threats
From Electoralgeographies.web
Gerrymandering / Congressional Redistricting
Manipulating congressional districts through gerrymandering has become a pervasive problem in the United States since its utilization by Elbridge Gerry in 1812. The point of gerrymandering is to cram “all of [your opponents’] supporters into a small number of districts. This method allows the legislature to spread its own supporters over a larger number of districts” (Ingraham, 2014b).
The graph above shows data on 8 states’ gerrymander index scores. It is clear that these data, in general, indicate that states are becoming more gerrymandered over time.
North Carolina and Maryland are regarded as the most gerrymandered states in the United States. North Carolina’s 12th district is one of the worst in the nation, stretching over 77 miles from Winston-Salem to Charlotte in a snake-like pattern. (below)
There are certainly regional and demographic factors at play in the more recent gerrymandering efforts, such as those that we saw in 2010. Republicans gained a majority of House seats and state legislatures that year, and as a result were in charge of districting after the 2010 census. Redistricting’s original intent (after the census every 10 years) was to provide fair representation for people in different states as their populations increased or decreased, but it has largely become a political tool dominated by whomever controls the state’s legislature.
From the graph below, you can see that the South, and the East Coast in general, is becoming more gerrymandered than the rest of the United States. The darker reds represent states that are more gerrymandered on the index score, and the lighter colored states represent those that are less gerrymandered.
Gerrymandering the Electoral College?
Republican victories and the subsequent Congressional districts established by Republicans in 2010 gave the party momentum to propose legislation regarding alterations to the electoral college. Their goal is to set up a congressional district system in their respective states, which would ultimately determine the outcome of the Presidential election through dividing electors amongst state districts.
Nebraska and Maine already have a congressional district system in place, and Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Virginia are all considering legislation (Henderson & Haines, 2013). Systems such as this in Ohio and Virginia, key swing states during the 2012 Presidential election, would have indicated a victory for Mitt Romney (Berman, 2012). But such law, if implemented, would also change presidential campaign strategies, and would generate and eliminate different battle-grounds.
Voter Suppression Laws 2014
Similar to gerrymandering, voter suppression laws are a way for political parties to gain an advantage through manipulation. The 2014 midterms witnessed minority populations in the South, and other parts of the country being targeted by such legislation. A major issue at hand were voter ID laws. Many states introduced newly established ones this cycle. 11 states had new voter ID laws, which excludes states where these laws will be implemented in future elections-such as NC.
21 states featured new voting laws more generally which included elimination of same day registration, elimination of out-of-precinct voting, limitation of early voting days, and longer wait times for criminals to regain their voting rights.
Research indicates that affected states “tend to have large black and Hispanic voter populations” (The Economist 2014). As an example, 1/3 of North Carolina’s African American voters utilized same day registration in 2012, a privilege which was eliminated in the state this cycle. The portion of the Voting Rights Act which was struck down by the Supreme Court in a 2013 decision may be to blame for some of the problems in the South. Southern states are largely dominated by Republicans, and are no longer required to receive federal approval before changing legislation.
October 10, 2017 in Civil Rights & Inequality
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NBC OLYMPICS PARTNERS WITH INTERSECTION TO DELIVER CUSTOM CONTENT OF THE PYEONGCHANG OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Winter Olympics Content to be Featured Across New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia
Content Includes Olympic Highlights, Medal Counts, Nightly Broadcast Previews, Schedules and More
STAMFORD, CONN. – February 6, 2018 – NBC Olympics, a division of the NBC Sports Group, has partnered with Intersection, a smart cities technology and media company, to feature exclusive PyeongChang Olympics content across thousands of digital screens in New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia during its production of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games, which take place in PyeongChang, South Korea, from February 8 – February 25.
The custom content, specifically created for Intersection’s urban network of digital screens, will keep people up-to-date on the PyeongChang Olympics beginning Feb. 9 and continuing until the conclusion of the Games on Feb. 25. The program will feature morning highlights, primetime previews, an Opening Ceremony teaser, medal counts, real-time alerts, athlete profiles and more, spanning thousands of screens across the LinkNYC network in New York City; digital urban panels and platform displays in the Chicago Transit Authority; and digital bus shelters, urban panels and platform displays throughout SEPTA, PATCO and the streets of Philadelphia.
“Whether walking the streets of New York, riding the Chicago L, or waiting in Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station, Olympics fans in these three cities will be surrounded by the excitement of the Winter Games,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “Emerging media platforms like the LinkNYC network in New York City represent another way for NBCUniversal to reassemble the television audience by extending the reach of our Olympic coverage, content and promotion to spaces where the American audience now consumes media.”
“Our content partnership reflects a new approach to storytelling in cities using one of the most inspiring and unifying global events,” said Ari Buchalter, CEO of Intersection. “With thousands of digital screens across our cities and transit hubs, our partnership allows us to bring NBC’s coverage of the Winter Games to fans in entirely new ways, and create unique content and advertising experiences for consumers.”
About NBC Olympics
A division of the NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage. It is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history.
For more information on NBC Olympics’ coverage of the PyeongChang Olympics, please visit: http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/
About Intersection
Intersection is at the forefront of the smart cities revolution, improving the experience of public places through technology that provides connectivity, information, and engaging content and experiences. With award-winning products like LinkNYC, the largest and fastest free public Wi-Fi network in the world, Intersection connects the digital and physical worlds, enhancing people’s journeys through their cities and offering brands the opportunity to drive more relevant and engaging advertising, rooted in real-world context. Intersection partners with cities, transit systems, airports, and real estate developments around the globe, as well as advertisers seeking to reach audiences on a global, national, or local scale. Learn more at www.intersection.com.
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Furniture start-up MYCS relies on Oracle NetSuite for expanding business abroad
Berlin-based Start-up MYCS has been Using NetSuite from the Start to Grow Internationally
MUNICH, GERMANY—January 23, 2019—MYCS, a Berlin-based start-up for customisable furniture, has quickly and easily expanded its business to France, Switzerland and the UK. Oracle NetSuite has enabled MYCS to take advantage of the cloud to gain a single view into key business metrics across its entire operations, streamline business processes and rapidly set up local operations in new markets.
Established in 2014, MYCS provides a 3D online configurator that allows customers to adapt the size, material, colour and features of a piece of furniture to their own ideas. To support strong demand and ensure the best possible customer experience, MYCS wanted a cloud-based IT system that could automate manual tasks, help it manage complex sales and warehouse processes and scale to support its international expansion. After careful evaluation of different IT systems, MYCS selected NetSuite.
“We wanted professional process management that could scale and grow the business and facilitate expansion into other countries,” explained Nico Gronwald, Operations Manager & ERP Product Owner, MYCS. “NetSuite provides us with the means to control processes remotely. I am master of my own system. Even for users without any IT knowledge, NetSuite offers simple administration.”
With NetSuite, MYCS has been able to take advantage of localised solutions, ranging from country-specific reporting and audits to the automatic adjustment of currencies and the adaptation of regional tax regulations, to quickly and easily expand into new countries. In addition, by taking advantage of a cloud ERP solution, MYCS has had the flexibility to easily relocate warehouse operations and adapt its product portfolio to local requirements. In the long term, MYCS has further plans to expand into other European countries.
“In recent years, MYCS has grown and expanded strongly, but right from the start, it was looking for a cloud-based solution that offered a high degree of automation and simple administration,” said Hartmut Hamann, Sales Director, Oracle NetSuite, Germany. “By building and scaling its business on one platform, MYCS has been able to reduce IT complexity, drive efficiencies across its business and ensure a smooth customer experience. We are pleased that MYCS continues to rely on NetSuite as it continues to grow and expand internationally.”
About MYCS
MYCS, founded in 2014, is a Berlin-based start-up for customisable furniture, via a website, customers can use a 3D online configurator to adapt the size, material, colour and equipment of a piece of furniture to their own ideas. During the last years, the company has grown strongly and has now branch offices in France, Switzerland and UK. For more information, please visit https://de.mycs.com/
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This Day in History – February 18 – Hijinx, Humor, and Insight
18 February 2019 by Gary Jenneke
NewsWhistle is pleased to feature Gary Jenneke’s “This Day In History” column.
You can read the original at Gary’s THIS DAY IN HISTORY blog — or scroll down to enjoy Gary’s unique look at life’s comings and goings.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY… FEBRUARY 18
1814 – Battle of Montereau.
This took place during the War of the Sixth Coalition. (This was the best name they could come up with?) The battle pitted the French army led by Napoleon Bonaparte against an allied force of Austrians and Württembergs. (What are Württembergs you ask? We’ll deal with that later. )The allies were threatening Paris when Napoleon rushed onto the scene. He defeated them at a place called Montereau and sent them scurrying back to Austria, cementing his reputation as a military genius. At the site of the original battle there is now a Napoleonic theme park.
Now as far as the Württembergs, another quiz. They were:
Swabian Germans who spoke a High German dialect.
A small, sausage-like people who subsisted almost entirely on rutabagas and bratwurst.
Bavarian Catholics who thought Napoleon was the anti-Christ.
Illegitimate descendants of Herman the German.
1922 – Capper-Volstead Act.
This was a law that allowed farmers and agriculture producers to form cooperatives to sell and markets their goods. It was named after its sponsors, Senator Arthur Capper of Kansas and Representative Andrew Volstead of Minnesota. It basically exempted cooperatives from anti-trust laws.
Not to be confused with the Volstead Act, which prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages, and opened the doors for organized crime. The honorable Representative from Minnesota had some good ideas, and some bad ideas.
1954 – First Church of Scientology opens.
Incorporated in 1953 under Ron Hubbard, Scientology opened its first church in Los Angeles. It has since gone on to become a worldwide religious movement.
One day in the early 1970s, my friend Steve and I were in downtown Minneapolis. We were both marginally employed, so we had a weekday afternoon off to see a movie. That mission accomplished, we were walking down Hennepin Avenue when two quite attractive young women approached us. Bright-eyed, effusive, smiling seductively, they were an effective lure. After chatting a short bit, they inquired whether we would be willing to take a survey. I don’t know what Steve was thinking, but I was sort of hoping “survey” was code for something more exciting.
We followed them into a building and took an elevator to an upper floor. They immediately separated us, with Steve being ushered into one room and I another. The girls disappeared and I was left alone with two middle-aged men. Their manner was friendly and insistent, and the “survey” was an inquisition into my life. The questions were designed to make me realize there was a void in my existence, a void that could be filled with their spirituality. They were good at what they were doing and someone weak or floundering in life could easily have become their prey. At that juncture in my life however, I was fully in control of who I was.
I was polite at first but when they ignored my rejections I simply stood up and said this was over. There was a brief moment of anxiety as I wondered if the door was locked, for the whole experience did have the feeling of entrapment. Steve made his escape about the same time and back out on Hennepin Avenue, we laughed about it as we deposited the pamphlets on Scientology into a trash can. And that was my brief glimpse into the religion, cult, sect, or whatever you want to call it.
Birthdays:
1853 – August Belmont, Jr.
Financier and thoroughbred racehorse owner. Belmont financed the construction of the original New York subway and was the breeder of the famous racehorse Man o’War. Although sixty-four years old when America entered WWI, Belmont volunteered his services. Commissioned a major, he served in France. Man o’War was born while he was overseas and his wife named the horse in honor of him. Unsure when the war would end and he could return, Belmont disbanded his stable and sold Man o’War before the famous horse had ever run a race.
He built Belmont Racetrack, still in operation, and named it after his father. Belmont died at age seventy-one, and his wife, obviously much younger, outlived him by fifty-five years.
There’s fun arguments over the greatest racehorse ever, Man o’War or Secretariat. My entry into the discussion would be Seabiscuit.
1892 – Wendell Willkie.
1940 Republican presidential candidate. After Roosevelt defeated him, Willkie shifted his views and supported many of FDR’s policies. During the war he acted as the President’s personal representative in traveling to Britain, the Middle East, China, and Russia. He wrote a book advocating an international peacekeeping force after the war. Willkie was also an early supporter of civil rights.
From The New Yorker: “In the 1940 campaign, he blasted Roosevelt for his foot-dragging in fighting discrimination against African-Americans and promised, if elected, to ban segregation in the military and civil service, as well as in education and housing. He also supported legislation to crack down on lynching and ban the poll tax, used to prevent blacks in the South from voting.”
Willkie sought the nomination again in 1944 but due to the Republican Party’s shift to the right, his more liberal policies were rejected. He did not support the eventual nominee, Thomas Dewey, in the general election. Willkie died of a heart attack at age 52.
I never knew anything about him other than his loss to FDR. Impressive man, the kind our country could use again today.
1906 – Hans Asperger.
German pediatrician known for his studies on mental disorders in children. An early pioneer in the study of autism, Asperger’s Syndrome is named after him. His work was mostly unnoticed in his lifetime and only discovered later. Also discovered later was his collaboration with the Third Reich in sending disabled children to be euthanized. After the war, Asperger continued his research and became chair of the pediatrics department at the University of Vienna. He died in 1980 unrecognized for either the good or the evil he did.
I imagine it might be easier to do human research when there aren’t pesky obstacles like ethics standing in the way.
Answer to quiz: A. Swabian Germans. Don’t be too upset if you missed it. I’ve never heard of Swabia before either.
ABOUT GARY JENNEKE
At various junctures of his life, Gary has been an indifferent grade school student, poor high school student, good Navy radioman, one-time hippie, passable college student, inveterate traveler, dedicated writer, miscast accountant (except for one interesting stint at a Communist café), part-time screenwriting teacher, semi-proud veteran, unsuccessful retiree and new blogger.
You can reach him at gary@newswhistle.com.
The above information was sourced from the following sites and newspapers:
OnThisDay.com
NewYorkTimes.com
We’d also like to thank the following photographers and videographers for the use of their images:
* Lead-In Image – Everett Historical / Shutterstock.com – “’Wendell L. Willkie Notification Ceremony, in Elwood, Indiana, August 17, 1940. This ceremony dated from the 19th century, when Presidential candidates did not attend nominating conventions, but were.'”
* August Belmont, Jr. (video) – Keeneland / YouTube.com
* Wendell Willkie (speech) – BJ82 / YouTube.com
* Wendell Willkie discussion (video clip) – The Film Archives / YouTube.com
* Outro (Man-In-Museum Cartoon) – SkyPics Studio / Shutterstock.com
OTHER DAYS IN HISTORY …
* December 2
* December 11
* January 3
* January 10
* February 1
* February 10
* March 2
* March 12
* April 2
* April 11
* May 2
* May 10
* June 1
* June 10
* July 2
* July 13
* August 3
* August 10
* September 2
* September 11
* October 1
* October 10
* November 3
* November 10
* Stay tuned for more!
Section: News | Tags: August Belmont Jr., Battle of Montereau, Belmont Racetrack, FDR, gary jenneke, Hans Asperger, history, humor, Man o'War, Napoleon Bonaparte, Scientology, this day in history, War of the Sixth Coalition, Wendell Willkie, Württembergs
Recent News Features
This Day in History – July 18th – Hijinx, Humor, and Insight
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Guglielmo Marconi University
Marconi University is a world-class university engaged in significant international research and innovation. The University looks beyond the traditional academic learning setting, promoting the use of innovative learning methodologies by merging advanced technological solutions with traditional activities like lectures, workshops and seminars.
Marconi’s mission is to provide innovative and affordable high-quality degree programs and learning opportunities to both domestic and international students alike, utilizing the latest technologies and responding to students’ needs in their pursuit of academic, personal, and professional integrity.
When you pursue a degree with Marconi University, not only will you have access to the latest online learning technologies, but to university-standard teaching, facilities and support.
Our active partnerships with local, national and international institutions contribute to a sustainable common aim of placing and advancing students within the workforce.
The School of Applied Sciences and Technologies is a leader in preparing students for the rapidly increasing job opportunities currently available in the emerging technology sectors. The School identifies itself with a focus on fundamental sciences and scientific knowledge application. The wide range of courses, programs and curricula offered are continuously updated according to current developments in Science, Information Technology and Computer Science. The School strives to continuously provide a dynamic environment that seeks to foster academic innovations and excellence in teaching, learning and research. The School’s primary research focus is on studies involving the application of physical and mathematical techniques to fundamental investigations and emerging areas within the physical and life sciences.
Rome is one of the most-visited cities in the world, 3rd most visited in the European Union, and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. The city is one of Europe’s and the world’s most successful city "brands", both in terms of reputation and assets. Its historic centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Rome, Italy’s capital, is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city with nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture on display. Ancient ruins such as the Forum and the Colosseum evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. Vatican City, headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, has St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, which house masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes.
Rome Offical web site
http://www.turismoroma.it/?lang=en
http://www.italia.it/en/discover-italy/lazio/rome.html?no_cache=1&h=rome
The MTSR Conference 2019 will take place at,
Università degli Studi Guglielmo Marconi
Via Plinio, 44, 00193 Roma RM https://goo.gl/maps/2aSZg7hrQCPeU2Ao9
Via Plinio, 34, 00193 Roma RM
https://goo.gl/maps/X9Sq71JQQG5LXmE99
The Workshops will be held at,
There are two main airports in Rome: Rome Fiumicino (international airport) and Rome Ciampino (low cost airport). Both are located outside the city, about 45 min away from the city centre.
Please note that participants have the following options for their transfers from /to the airport:
-From Fiumicino
Take the sitbusshuttle (https://www.sitbusshuttle.com/en/bus-stops/#fiumicino) alight at via Crescenzio, 28 walk to
TimeTable Fiumicino-Roma: https://www.sitbusshuttle.com/sbs/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/20180528-SitBusShuttle-Orari-Fiumicino-to-Rome.pdf
TimeTable Roma-Fiumicino: https://www.sitbusshuttle.com/sbs/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/20180528-SitBusShuttle-Orari-Rome-to-Fiumicino.pdf
-From Ciampino
Take the sitbusshuttle (https://www.sitbusshuttle.com/en/bus-stops/#ciampino ) to Roma Termini Station and follow the same directions as in From Roma Termini Station.
TimeTable Roma-Ciampino: https://www.sitbusshuttle.com/sbs/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171124-SitBusShuttle-Orari-Ciampino-to-Rome.pdf
TimeTable Ciampino-Roma: https://www.sitbusshuttle.com/sbs/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/20170920-SitBusShuttle-Orari-Rome-to-Ciampino.pdf
- From Fiumicino take the Leonardo Express train to Roma Termini
- From Ciampino take a bus "Ciampino Airlink" to the Ciampino train station, from where there are trains to Roma Termini
Participants may get an airport taxi from the airport. Service is generally very good, but at times one may have to wait and prices may vary depending on the time of arrival.
From Roma Termini Station
- Take the underground Line A
- Get out at the Lepanto Station
- walk to the university venue
Arriving here By plane, train or car: all roads lead to Rome
Rome Restaurants
https://www.google.com/maps/search/restaurants+roma+via+plinio/@41.9074228,12.4612798,15.96z
http://www.italia.it/en/home.html
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Smithsonian Premieres Documentary Film about Rescue of Vietnamese Refugees on Veterans Day
Editor . November 6, 2010 . 1 Comment
The Lucky Few, a documentary about the USS Kirk’s heroic rescue of more than 30,000 North Vietnamese in the tumultuous days of 1975 following the fall of Saigon, will premiere at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. The film is free and open to the public in the museum’s Baird Auditorium.
Produced by the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, the one-hour film tells the story of a rescue that was not televised as the helicopters landing on the roof of the American Embassy in Saigon were—yet this rescue involved tens of thousands of people.
“Reaching the U.S. Navy ships waiting offshore was critical to thousands of refugees fleeing their homeland,” said the film’s producer, Jan Herman, the Navy Medical Department’s senior historian.
The USS Kirk was a small ship, and because its deck was unable to accommodate the many Huey helicopters crammed with men, women and children, the refugees were often dropped from the hovering helicopters into the waiting arms of sailors. Crew members transformed the Kirk into a humanitarian assistance ship that gave food, medical care and shelter from the blazing sun. The film documents how the ship escorted 30,000 refugees to new lives—many settling permanently in the United States.
The Lucky Few will be introduced by Richard Kurin, Under Secretary for History, Art and Culture at the Smithsonian, and Rear Adm. Karen Flaherty, deputy surgeon general of the Navy. Joining them for the Q-and-A session after the showing will be Capt. Paul Jacobs, former commander of the USS Kirk, and several members of his crew as well as former refugees who eventually settled in the United States.
The little-known rescue operation was detailed this past summer in a three-part series on NPR titled “Forgotten Ship: A Daring Rescue as Saigon Fell,” produced after a long investigation and interviews with more than 20 American and Vietnamese eyewitnesses.
www.si.edu
Category: Natural History
Canadian Museum of Nature Re Opening May 22nd
New York State Museum Scientists to Study Glacial Lakes in Esopus Valley
Arizona Museum of Natural History announces Groundbreaking for Mesa Grande Welcoming Center
Thai Nguyen-Khoa says:
“..a documentary about the USS Kirk’s heroic rescue of more than 30,000 North Vietnamese in the tumultuous days of 1975 following the fall of Saigon”
South Vietnamese NOT North Vietnamese. They are people from South VN who were escaping the North Vietnamese closing in around Saigon, some of the refugees might have been escapees from the 1954 exodus from North Vietnam
« Museo Amparo Presents Annette Messager
Phillips Collection Presents Antony Gormley Lecture »
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The Tikvah Center for Law & Jewish Civilization is accepting applications for its new Tikvah Scholar in Residence Programdirected at outstanding graduates and young scholars interested in spending a year of research, writing and learning in the company of some of the most gifted and creative scholars in the field of Law and Jewish Civilization. The Mission Statement of The Tikvah Center at NYU may be found .
Applications are typically considered from candidates at the following levels, but others are welcome to apply:
(1) Post-Doctoral Students, from NYU or visiting from another institution (Tikvah Scholars).
(2) Students currently writing a doctorate, at NYU or another institution in a field related to the Mission Statement of the Tikvah Center (Visiting Doctoral Tikvah Scholars); and
(3) JD students enrolled at or applying to NYU School of Law, who may be a Scholar for one, or more, years of their JD program (JD Tikvah Scholars).
Scholars will join the intellectual community at the Tikvah Center as integral members. This includes:
The Tikvah Workshop : Each Tikvah Scholar-in-Residence will be expected to attend a bi-weekly workshop in which the research of the Tikvah Fellows, members of the Skirball Judaic Studies faculty at NYU, and invited guests will be presented and discussed.
Academic Seminars: Tikvah Scholars will be expected to participate in one core seminar presented by Center directors Professor Moshe Halbertal and Professor Joseph Weiler. Scholars will also have the ability to audit any courses offered within the auspices of the Tikvah Center itself, NYU Law School or the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies.
Intellectual Advisor-Mentor: Each Scholar-in-Residence will be individually mentored by one of the Tikvah Fellows (see bios of the 2010-11 fellows below) or Directors of the Tikvah Center (also see bios below) or another NYU Faculty member.
A Writing Project: Each Scholar will be expected to engage in a writing project commensurate with his or her experience and interests—this could include an academic paper, an essay for publication in a serious journal of ideas, or a major section of a book or dissertation.
For full-time Scholars, the duration of the Scholar in Residence Program is 8 months (September through April) and carries an annual stipend.
Application requirements and criteria are as follows:
The ‘Post-Doctoral Tikvah Scholar’ shall be an individual who has already completed his or her doctoral degree. Applicants must provide a proposal for a writing project totaling approximately 800 words and consistent with the mission of the Tikvah Center. Applicants must indicate four out of the ten Tikvah Fellows who shall be in residence for the upcoming academic year with whom they would wish to work, based on similar areas of research and interest. Applicants must submit a CV and transcripts from all educational institutions from which a degree was awarded. Finally, applicants must submit a digital copy of their dissertation if it is available in such a format.
The ‘Visiting Doctoral Tikvah Scholar’ shall be an individual currently pursuing a doctoral degree. Those selected will be required to use their time with the Center to further work on their dissertation. Applicants must provide an outline of how their research – submitted in the form of a proposal for a writing project totaling approximately 800 words and consistent with the mission of the Tikvah Center – will contribute to their dissertation. Applicants must indicate four out of the ten Tikvah Fellows who shall be in residence for the upcoming academic year with whom they would wish to work, based on similar areas of research and interest. We request that applicants do not contact NYU faculty for sponsorship. Applicants must submit a CV and transcripts from all educational institutions from which a degree was awarded. Finally, we ask that applicants submit, if available, any existing chapters of their dissertation for review.
NYU School of Law JD Students will not be required to apply. This group is evaluated and invited on primarily the basis of applications to the JD Program at the Law School and/or performance at the Law School. Interested students should submit their CV, transcripts from any educational institutes from which a degree was awarded, explanation of why they are interested in the program, and a statement of their short and long-term career goals. Potential scholars must also provide a proposal for a writing project totaling approximately 800 words and consistent with the mission of the Tikvah Center, and indicate four out of the ten Tikvah Fellows who shall be in residence for the upcoming academic year with whom they would wish to work, based on similar areas of research and interest.
For further information and application procedures please email Tikvah@nyu.edu
Among the Tikvah Fellows in Academic Year 2010-2011:
Gary Anderson (Joint Fellow with The Straus Institute)
Gabriella Blum (Berkowitz Fellow)
Elisheva Carlebach
Robert Chazan
Perry Dane
Rabbi Tully Harcsztark
Maoz Kahana
Yair Lorberbaum
Ephraim Shoham-Steiner
Michael Walzer (Joint Fellow with The Straus Institute)
The Directors of the Tikvah Center are:
Moshe Halbertal, who is the Gruss Professor at NYU School of Law and a professor of Jewish thought and philosophy at Hebrew University. He received his Ph.D. from Hebrew University in 1989, and from 1988-92 he was a fellow at the Society of Fellows at Harvard University. Moshe Halbertal has also served as a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, and at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
J.H.H. Weiler, who is University Professor, & Joseph Straus Professor of law at NYU School of Law. He serves, too, as Director of The Straus Institute for the Advanced Study of Law & Justice. He was previously Professor of Law at the Michigan Law School and then the Manley Hudson Professor of Law and the Jean Monnet Chair at Harvard Law School.
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home > review > archive > Rebel Strike
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Rebel Strike
game: Rebel Strike
publisher: LucasArts
date posted: 12:00 AM Sat Nov 1st, 2003
last revision: 12:00 AM Sat Nov 1st, 2003
By Matt James
It has been a couple days since Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike hit shelves and in those days I have spent a lot of time with the game. I have probably spent more time with this game then any other in the last six months. Yet after all that gameplay, hours of debating Rebel Strike with fellow Gamesfirst! staffer Jeremy Kauffman, and several minutes of staring blank faced at this computer monitor, debating with myself, I am still unsure of how I feel about this game. Maybe that is because Rebel strike is so many things. At least it tries to be many things. I think there in lies the problem. There are parts of this game that are absolutely beautiful. I am not just talking about the graphics or the music; I am talking about the whole sum. The story, the gameplay, the set-up, all of its parts are just beautiful. There are mediocre places, wherein trying to give us more they give us less. No big deal right? This happens with most, if not all, games. Then there is the worst of Rebel Strike. There are parts of this game that are so bad that I can hardly reconcile the notion that they could be part of the same experience as those parts of the game that leave me in awe. This game contains some of the worst that videogames have to offer. There are parts of this game that have zero gaming value. I mean none whatsoever. So I am left confused, conflicted, and down right flabbergasted. It would be so much easier if it were three games, or even two.
I have such an affinity for the Rogue Squadron series that I was ready to give it five stars before I had even unwrapped it. I had played bits of it already and was frothing by the time it was finally released. I was leery of the new out-of-ship elements that they added, but that all melted away as I held it in my hands for the first time and gazed upon the cover art. Reading the back of the jacket, it would seem that Rebel Strike contained everything you could ask for,multiplayer gaming (not just your average versus games but the entire Rogue Leader game available for cooperative play), Game Boy Advance connectivity (Nintendo's favorite thing at the moment, no matter if it's justified or not), all sorts of new vehicles, and the ability to climb out of the cockpit as Luke, Han, and more. Factor 5 and Lucas Arts seemed to have gone all out on this one.
Having said what I have so far I feel as if I have front loaded this review with a bit of negativity. For that reason I want to start out by talking about the truly brilliant parts of Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike. The multiplayer portion is a five star game all the way. Ironically, the best part of Rebel Strike is really Rogue Leader (Rogue Squadron II). They have taken the entire game and transformed it into one of the coolest co-op experiences thus far. The complete lack of a multiplayer mode was one of my few quibbles with the otherwise near perfect Rogue Leader. Not only did they fix that problem, they took it up a notch. It is cool to beat down your friends every now and again in a good versus battle, but nothing compares to beating the computer down along side your friend. I can hardly convey just how much I appreciate that they did this. It is only too bad that they didn't make the Rebel Strike levels co-op as well.
That is only the beginning of the multiplayer experience. There are four versus game types: Dogfight (one on one), Rampage (destroy everything), Tag and Defend (capture the base), and Special (which includes races). Each mode offers a variety of options. You can use a personal profile, pick between different ships, pick different weapons, and much more. That is just the first of your options, you can pick from a large number of scenarios, whether or not you want wingmen, power-ups, and/or additional AI attackers,not to mention the usual options such as time limit, the number of kills to win a match, and so on. I don't want to brag but I played through each of the multiplayer levels and never lost a match (OK I guess I did want to brag).
It is in the multiplayer modes (except co-op) that the Game Boy Advance connectivity comes in. Each player can have a regular controller and a GBA. With the GBA you control your wingmen without alerting the other player of your actions. To me it seemed a little silly. First off, the game is so fast paced who has the time to look at the other player's screen to see where he is sending his wingmen? Secondly, does it matter to your overall strategy that much? Third, and most importantly, how do you take your hands off the controller long enough to grab the GBA and select an action. On the other hand it is there if you want it, and there is no harm in that.
The multiplayer portion of the game offers a well-rounded gaming experience. It is full of variety and special features and all of it is done very well. It really is like an entire game in and of itself.
The single player half of the games is truly a mixed bag. There really is the equivalent of three types of gameplay in this part of the game. First are the classic Rogue Squadronesque dogfight levels. These are all done pretty well and are by far the best part of the single player experience. Still it lacks something. It doesn't fill the player with the awe that Rogue Leader did. I chock this up to a number of things. The fact that this is the third game, the fact that these missions are not a closely tied to the movies, and the fact that the action is constantly broken up by cut scenes. It is hard to match the thrill that one receives from playing Luke in the trenches of the first Death Star or Lando flying into the second Death Star. But even the more original levels in Rogue Leader where far more inspired than the new ones offered up here. As for the cut scenes, they are pretty, but there is such thing as too much. Just as the game is starting to develop a mood it is interrupted by a long period of inaction. There are some levels that feel as if they are divided equally between cut scene time and gameplay. It is just too much and it keeps the player from even getting really engrossed in the skirmishes. On the other hand, there is a great diversity to Rebel Strike that Rogue Leader lacked. You can expect different types of missions and lots of new vehicles including the AT-ST (Chicken Walkers for the less geeky), speeder bikes, ships from the prequels, and tauntauns (I know, not technically a vehicle). The speeder bike levels are fast and furious. The tauntauns are well?kinda goofy looking. Not too mention, every time I look at one I can't forget the disgusted look on Han's face due to the smell as he shoves Luke inside one of them Tauntaun guts, yuck! But hey it's still got to be better than riding around inside the R2D2 costume.
Then there are the levels where you are forced to play part in the ship and part on foot. Some places this works and some it does not. Mostly it depends on how much time you actually have to spend out of your vehicle,the more time on foot, the less fun. It really isn't bad and graphically it looks real nice but it is all pretty basic and usually the ground stuff just interrupts the flow of the vehicle battle. These first two parts of the single player game I would have to give four stars. It is good but far from the perfect (or near perfect) that five stars suggests.
The last part of the single player game I would give a single star. That is only because it mostly works (in other words, it didn't make my Gamecube blow up). These are the levels that contain no piloting at all. How can this be? This is supposed to be Rogue Squadron. There are a sea of titles out there for all shades of Star Wars fans. The Jedi Knight series is for the swashbucklers, Knights of the Old Republic is for the RPG fans, Galaxies for the MMORPG fans, and Rogue Squadron was best of the vehicle based games. If they would have just left it at that it would have been great, but they have over extended themselves. I am all for trying something new but this betrays the spirit of the game. Furthermore, it is done poorly. Imagine the original Pitfall with better, but still not impressive, graphics and a lightsaber. It is just lame. It lacks any value, and it literally makes me angry. I have to stop and play through this crap to get on with the game? Unbelievable! Even if this was just a bonus feature it would lack value but as a part of the game it seriously detracts from it. Just wait until you finally get to the end of this abhorrent level and on one of the last jumps before the finish the camera lags and Luke jumps smack into an invisible wall. Then you play all the way through the level again, screaming and cursing, and finish it only to find that the next level is more of the same. I just don't know what they were thinking. The only thing that comes close to redeeming this part of the game is the little sneak previews of what Star Wars would look like on DVD. Damn gorgeous!
What is a reviewer to do with this menagerie of gameplay? I took five stars, four stars, and one star and added them up: Ten. Divided that by three and it equals three point three three three and on into infinity. But I really do like this game. So I round up a bit (a bunch), and come up with 4 stars. Is it worth picking up? For me, definitely. For you, maybe not. Can you put up with a little garbage along with true greatness? If you are a Rogue Squadron fan I think the answer is yes. The co-op mode is worth it alone. If are willing to put up with a couple of levels of Luke Skywalker as The Prince of Persia than I respect you. I am right there with you, and may the Force be with you!
Super Ghouls n' Ghosts Review (review) (11/17/02)
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Category Archives: Attorney fees
Attorney fees, Litigation, ORS 20.080
In ORS 20.080 Cases, the Plaintiff’s Attorney Fees Can Quickly Outstrip Damages
In ORS 20.080 cases, the plaintiff’s attorney fees can quickly outstrip damages. Kristin Olson’s article, “An Overlooked Attorney Fee Statute in Oregon”, published by Insurance Thought Leadership, explores ORS 20.080 cases and how to strategize appropriately so that you do not become liable for attorney fees in cases with small damages amounts. The following is from Kristin’s article:
Companies doing business in Oregon should be aware of ORS 20.080, which can provide for attorney fees in cases seeking damages of $10,000 or less. That statute provides that prevailing plaintiffs may be awarded attorney fees. It is important to be aware that, in ORS 20.080 cases seeking compensatory damages of $10,000 or less, the attorney fees can quickly approach or outstrip the compensatory damages.
This article will explore three key questions that clients generally have when defending against an ORS 20.080 case: 1) How does the plaintiff receive attorney fees?; 2) Do courts require plaintiffs to strictly comply with ORS 20.080?; and 3) How can defendants escape attorney fees in ORS 20.080 cases?
1. How Does the Plaintiff Receive Attorney Fees Under ORS 20.080?
Generally, a plaintiff has a claim for attorney fees under ORS 20.080 if the plaintiff: gives the defendant notice of a claim for $10,000 or less at least 30 days before the plaintiff files a lawsuit; provides enough documentation for the defendant to generally value the claim; and was awarded more at trial or arbitration than the defendant offered before the plaintiff filed the lawsuit.
ORS 20.080 provides that:
“(1) In any action for damages for an injury or wrong to the person or property, or both, of another where the amount pleaded is $10,000 or less, and the plaintiff prevails in the action, there shall be taxed and allowed to the plaintiff, at trial and on appeal, a reasonable amount to be fixed by the court as attorney fees for the prosecution of the action, if the court finds that written demand for the payment of such claim was made on the defendant, and on the defendant’s insurer, if known to the plaintiff, not less than 30 days before the commencement of the action or the filing of a formal complaint under ORS 46.465, or not more than 30 days after the transfer of the action under ORS 46.461. However, no attorney fees shall be allowed to the plaintiff if the court finds that the defendant tendered to the plaintiff, prior to the commencement of the action or the filing of a formal complaint under ORS 46.465, or not more than 30 days after the transfer of the action under ORS 46.461, an amount not less than the damages awarded to the plaintiff.
“(2) If the defendant pleads a counterclaim, not to exceed $10,000, and the defendant prevails in the action, there shall be taxed and allowed to the defendant, at trial and on appeal, a reasonable amount to be fixed by the court as attorney fees for the prosecution of the counterclaim.
“(3) A written demand for the payment of damages under this section must include the following information, if the information is in the plaintiff’s possession or reasonably available to the plaintiff at the time the demand is made:
“(a) In an action for an injury or wrong to a person, a copy of medical records and bills for medical treatment adequate to reasonably inform the person receiving the written demand of the nature and scope of the injury claimed; or
“(b) In an action for damage to property, documentation of the repair of the property, a written estimate for the repair of the property or a written estimate of the difference in the value of the property before the damage and the value of the property after the damage.
“(4) If after making a demand under this section, and before commencing an action, a plaintiff acquires any additional information described in subsection (3) of this section that was not provided with the demand, the plaintiff must provide that information to the defendant, and to the defendant’s insurer, if known to the plaintiff, as soon as possible after the information becomes available to the plaintiff.
“(5) A plaintiff may not recover attorney fees under this section if the plaintiff does not comply with the requirements of subsections (3) and (4) of this section.
“(6) The provisions of this section do not apply to any action based on contract.”
2. Do Courts Require Plaintiffs to Strictly Comply With ORS 20.080?
The short answer is no. Although ORS 20.080 requires that plaintiffs make their demands in writing to the defendant AND the defendant’s insurer, if known, courts generally do not require plaintiffs to strictly comply with this portion of the statute. Under Schwartzkopf v. Shannon the Cannon’s Window & Other Works, Inc., 166 Or App 466, 471, 998 P2d 244 (2000), a person may act as an agent for the defendant (and therefore may be considered “the defendant”) for purposes of ORS 20.080 if that person has authority to defend or settle a claim for the defendant. Under Schwartzkopf, trial court judges have allowed plaintiff’s lawyers to provide notice to the defendant’s insurer without providing notice to the defendant, even though the plain language of ORS 20.080 requires that the plaintiff provide notice to both. In these kinds of cases, the insurer has usually already engaged in some kind of negotiations for the defendant or has gathered facts for and on behalf of the defendant, giving the plaintiff evidence of agency. Therefore, under ORS 20.080 and Schwartzkopf, if the insurer is the only person who receives a demand, practically and generally speaking, the insurer should treat that demand as sufficient notice as long as it was made at least 30 days before plaintiff filed the lawsuit.
Courts do generally require plaintiffs to send any additional written information that the demand would include, such as additional medical bills, to the defendant (or the defendant’s insurer) as soon as possible if the plaintiff obtains such information after the plaintiff has made her written 20.080 demand and before she has filed the lawsuit.
However, in the initial written demand, courts generally give plaintiffs leeway and, as long as the plaintiff has provided the defendant with enough documentation to generally value the claim, the plaintiff generally does not have to strictly comply with the statute and provide all of the documentation “reasonably available at to the plaintiff at the time.” For example, if you are provided with an ORS 20.080 notice from a plaintiff’s lawyer that includes most of the medical records and bills but does not include copies of the x-rays, a trial judge will generally hold that the plaintiff’s lawyer substantially complied with ORS 20.080 and that the claim may proceed.
3. How Can Defendants Escape Attorney Fees in ORS 20.080 Cases?
The only way the defendant can escape attorney fees in ORS 20.080 cases is if the defendant makes an offer to the plaintiff before the lawsuit is filed that is more than the damages ultimately awarded to the plaintiff. In other words, if the plaintiff recovers $5,000, but the defendant offered $3,000 before the lawsuit was filed, the plaintiff gets her attorney fees. If the plaintiff recovers $5,000, but the defendant offered $8,000 before the lawsuit was filed, the plaintiff does not receive her attorney fees.
If the lawsuit is filed and the defendant has a counterclaim of up to $10,000 and the defendant prevails in the lawsuit, the defendant gets its reasonable attorney fees. What is “reasonable” is decided by the court.
In Oregon, it is important to notify your attorney right away after receipt of an ORS 20.080 letter to ensure that you strategize appropriately. Although it may seem unpalatable, generally the best strategy is for defendant to make its best offer first, to minimize the risk of an award in excess of the offer and exposure to attorney fees. Many times, lawyers don’t receive cases until the lawsuit is filed and, in ORS 20.080 cases, that is usually too late; the plaintiff’s attorney fee claim is already in play.
attorney feesOregonOregon litigation
Attorney fees, ORS 20.080
ORS 20.080–An overlooked attorney fee statute in Oregon
February 13, 2013 olsonbrooksby
Companies doing business in Oregon should be aware of ORS 20.080, which can provide for attorney fees in cases seeking damages of $10,000 or less. That statute provides that prevailing plaintiffs may be awarded attorney fees under specified conditions described below. Therefore, in cases seeking compensatory damages of $10,000 or less, attorney fees can quickly approach or even outstrip the compensatory damages under ORS 20.080.
Whether the plaintiff “prevails” depends on a number of factors. Under the statute, the plaintiff must make a demand to the defendant AND the defendant’s insurer, if known to the plaintiff, for payment in writing no less than 30 days before filing a lawsuit. The written demand must include (if applicable and if the information is reasonably available to the plaintiff at the time): the medical records and bills, documentation of the repair of the property, an estimate for the repair of the property, and/or an estimate of the difference in value of the property before the damage and the value of the property after the damage.
If, after the plaintiff has made her written 20.080 demand and before she has filed the lawsuit, she obtains any additional written information that the demand would include, such as additional medical bills, she must send those documents to the defendant and the defendant’s insurer as soon as possible.
The only way the defendant can escape attorney fees in such cases is if the defendant offers the plaintiff more than the damages ultimately awarded to the plaintiff before the lawsuit is filed. In other words, if the plaintiff recovers $5,000, but the defendant offered $3,000 before the lawsuit was filed, the plaintiff still gets her attorney fees.
It is important to notify your attorney right away after receipt of an ORS 20.080 letter to ensure that you strategize appropriately. Although it may seem unpalatable, generally the best strategy is for defendant to make their best offer first, to minimize the risk of an award in excess of the offer and exposure to attorney fees. Many times, lawyers don’t receive cases until the lawsuit is filed and, in ORS 20.080 cases, that is usually too late.
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Amazon Appstore Launches in Europe; Now Available in the U.K., Germany, France, Italy and Spain
Amazon Appstore rollout across the EU is the latest in a series of additions that make Amazon the most complete end-to-end platform for developers looking to build, market and monetize their apps and games
SEATTLE & LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 30, 2012-- (NASDAQ: AMZN) – Amazon.com, Inc. today announced the launch of its Amazon Appstore in the U.K., Germany, France, Italy and Spain, giving European customers access to Amazon’s broad selection of quality Android apps with the convenience of shopping on Amazon from their Android phones and tablets. Customers can get the Amazon Appstore for their Android phones and tablets by visiting www.amazon.com/getappstore.
Amazon’s Appstore offers a great selection of games and apps, including local favorites like “Jamie Oliver’s 20 Minute Meals” and “Skyscanner,” established bestsellers like “Fruit Ninja” and “Cut the Rope,” and new apps from top-tier brands like Rovio and Glu Mobile. In addition to localized content and a localized mobile store for each specific country, European customers will have access to popular Amazon Appstore features like the “Free App of the Day,” which offers a paid app for free every day. Today’s Free App of the Day is the ad-free version of “Angry Birds.” All Free Apps of the Day are specially-selected for the Free App of the Day program. Apps and games purchased from Amazon can be used across a customer’s Android devices, enabling them to buy an app or game once and enjoy it everywhere.
The Amazon Appstore also includes popular Amazon features like personalized recommendations, Customer Reviews and 1-Click payments. In order to ensure that customers have the best possible experience with the apps they purchase, apps are Amazon-tested and backed by Amazon’s world-class customer support.
“Customers in the U.S. have purchased millions of apps, games, in-app items and subscriptions since the store launched last year, and we’ve received great feedback about discovery features like Free App of the Day. We evaluate and test games and apps before making them available in the Appstore so we ensure customers have a great experience with the games and apps they purchase,” said Jim Adkins, Vice President of Amazon Appstore. “Amazon has spent years developing innovative features that help customers find and discover the products that are right for them and have applied that know-how to the Amazon Appstore. We’re delighted to extend that experience to our European customers.”
Amazon continues to roll out services and features that make it the most complete end-to-end solution for developers wanting to build, market and monetize their apps and games. Developers can build their apps and games using Amazon Web Service's industry-leading infrastructure platform. For important audience engagement features like Leaderboards, Achievements and Syncing game state between devices, developers can use Amazon’s new GameCircle services. To gain exposure to tens of millions of customers, developers can list their apps in the Amazon Appstore and take advantage of awareness-building programs like Free App of the Day. And, to monetize their apps and games, developers can use Amazon’s industry-leading e-commerce and payment capabilities like In-App Purchasing and Subscriptions.
“Amazon's Free App of the Day program is really unique,” said Peter Vesterbacka, Rovio Mighty Eagle and CMO. “Over the past year we have offered Amazon customers some of our best-selling premium games like “Angry Birds Rio” and “Angry Birds Seasons” for free, and the response has been truly overwhelming. We are pleased to offer Amazon customers another one of our most popular premium titles, “Angry Birds,” for free today.”
“Amazon customers are very important to us, and “Cut the Rope” and “Cut the Rope: Experiments” have been in the top of the charts on Amazon Appstore in the U.S. We are focused on delivering great gaming experiences to our users all over the world, and are looking forward to reaching more “Cut the Rope” fans as Amazon launches its store in Europe,” said Misha Lyalin, CEO, ZeptoLab.
“At Glu we’ve always been an early adopter of Amazon services for both building and selling our mobile games. For example, “Frontline Commando” was one of the first games on the Amazon Appstore to offer IAP and subscriptions. This game also leverages Amazon’s S3 and Sync services,” said Niccolo de Masi, Chief Executive Officer of Glu Mobile. “Amazon offers us exposure to its large customer base and we will continue to use the Amazon platform in our efforts to grow our business.”
“We are big fans of Amazon Appstore and have seen tremendous growth in our business since we started releasing our apps on the Amazon platform,” said Suli Ali, CEO of TinyCo. “We have been extremely successful with Amazon’s In-App Purchasing. It was easy to implement, and we have generated significantly more revenue per customer than with any other platform. Since we have had such success with Amazon, when GameCircle was introduced, it was a no-brainer, we added it to our apps right away.”
In Germany, France and Italy, customers will find “App-Shop” available today; in Spain, customers will find “Tienda Apps;” and U.K. customers will find the “Amazon Appstore for Android.”
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon’s developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon’s own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. The new latest generation Kindle is the lightest, most compact Kindle ever and features the same 6-inch, most advanced electronic ink display that reads like real paper even in bright sunlight. Kindle Touch is a new addition to the Kindle family with an easy-to-use touch screen that makes it easier than ever to turn pages, search, shop, and take notes – still with all the benefits of the most advanced electronic ink display. Kindle Touch 3G is the top of the line e-reader and offers the same new design and features of Kindle Touch, with the unparalleled added convenience of free 3G. Kindle Fire is the Kindle for movies, TV shows, music, books, magazines, apps, games and web browsing with all the content, free storage in the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync, Amazon Silk (Amazon’s new revolutionary cloud-accelerated web browser), vibrant color touch screen, and powerful dual-core processor.
Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, and www.amazon.es. As used herein, “Amazon.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
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About stuart kawamoto
Meanwhile lets just say that we are proud stuart kawamoto contributed a whooping 22 entries.
Entries by stuart kawamoto
October 24, 2018 in 2018, AACC Guests, Industry Guests /by stuart kawamoto
Winner of the John W. Campbell Best New Writer Award, the Young Adult Library Services Association Alex Award and a Science Fiction Goodreads Choice Award Finalist slot. Wesley Chu is best known for his works, The Tao Trilogy, The Time Trilogy, The IO series, and the Lives of TAO have been translated internationally, namely German, […]
Writer, editor narrator, and translator; S. Qiouyi Lu is a literary powerhouse whose work has appeared in Uncanny, and their poetry has appeared in Liminality. http://s.qiouyi.lu/ AACC Panel Time Location WRITING THE FUTURE: Asian Americans in Science Fiction 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM LP1, GLENDALE BALLROOM 1-3 For the complete AACC Schedule click here.
Michaela Dietz is an actress, singer and voice actress whose professional career started in 2005. She is known for playing the role of Riff on the PBS children’s television series Barney & Friends, the voice of Amethyst on the Cartoon Network television series Steven Universe and as the voice of Danelda on the Cartoon Network […]
Jennifer Paz is currently known for her role in Steven Universe and As Told by Ginger. The talented actress has also received multiple awards for her theatrical role as “Kim” in Miss Saigon, “Mei-Li” in a pre-Broadway workshop of Flower Drum Song, “Evita”, and “Sacagawea”. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0668568/ AACC Panel Time Location STEVEN UNIVERSE: The Most Asian […]
Grace Rolek is best known for her work on Steven Universe, Lou and Lou: Safety Patrol , Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children , Whisper of the Heart, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and Charlie Brown. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1728847/ AACC Panel Time Location STEVEN UNIVERSE: The Most Asian American Show on TV 5:45 PM – 7:00 […]
The New York-native Jake Choi is an Asian American actor, best known for his roles in Single Parents, Front Cover, Younger. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4007865/ AACC Panel Time Location FALL TV PREVIEW: Asian Americans on TV 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM LP1, GLENDALE BALLROOM 1-3 For the complete AACC Schedule click here.
Victor Cook is an American television director, writer, and producer. Cook is perhaps best known for producing and developing for television the animated television series The Spectacular Spider-Man along with Greg Weisman. Victor Cook was director and supervising producer of Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens, a CGI made-for-TV movie that was scheduled for a late […]
Daniel Chong (born November 19, 1978) is an American artist best known as the creator of the Cartoon Network show We Bare Bears. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Chong_(animator)ong_(animator) AACC Panel Time Location LIFE IN COLORS: Asian Americans in Animation 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM LP1, GLENDALE BALLROOM 1-3 For the complete AACC Schedule click here.
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In the wake of recent tragedies at some of our nation's schools, matters of school safety and compliance are constantly weighing on the minds of school employees, administrators, boards of education, and many others who interact with our schools and students on a regular basis. Porzio's School Safety and Compliance team have been developed in response to concerns about the likelihood and impact of violence on a safe learning environment for students and school employees.
The knowledge and experience of the School Safety and Compliance team at Porzio Compliance Services are unmatched in the State of New Jersey. Our team works with clients to assess physical and information security, and ensure compliance on a local, state, and federal level by leveraging the unparalleled experience of our team, including:
David Hespe, former Commissioner of Education and former First Assistant Attorney General
Elizabeth Shea, former Assistant Commissioner of Human Services and former head of the Division of Developmental Disabilities
James Mottola, former Special Agent in charge of the Newark Field Office of the United States Secret Service
As a wholly owned subsidiary company, Porzio Compliance Services is backed by the power of one of New Jersey's major law firms, Porzio, Bromberg & Newman. Porzio has a deep history of working with educational institutions and schools boards to navigate complex situations. Lead by Vito A. Gagliardi, Jr., and Kerri Wright, the combination of law firm and consulting company working together allows us to work directly with clients to the assess current procedures and protocols of any educational institution and to recommend customized best practices that best meet the safety and compliance needs for each individual client.
School Safety and Compliance services through Porzio Compliance Services include:
Physical assessments of school and district buildings, perimeters, and outside areas
Compliance assessments for protocols, procedures, and employee training
Assessments for data privacy and information security
Written reports and optional in-person presentations of findings
Detailed recommendations and action items
Onsite or hosted training of teachers, building employees, administrators, or others
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Home :: Instructions
Regulations operation of foreign cultural establishments in Viet Nam
VGP – The Government has issued Decree No. 126/2018/ND-CP stipulating the establishment and operation of the Viet Nam-based foreign cultural establishments.
In terms of the operational principles, foreign cultural establishments in Viet Nam will only be allowed to operate when they receive certificates of registration and permits. The branches of foreign cultural establishments in Viet Nam can only operate when they attain certificates.
All the operations of foreign cultural establishments in Viet Nam or their branches in Viet Nam must be in line with the contents inscribed in the certificates of registration, permits and certificates.
During the process of operation, foreign cultural establishments in Viet Nam shall have to abide by the Vietnamese law and respect Viet Nam’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, customs and habits. They must not allow any organizations or individuals to use their names or infrastructure to oppose the State of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam or to harm the legitimate interests of other countries.
In case of operating in other relevant domains, foreign cultural establishments in Viet Nam shall have to comply with the provisions of Vietnamese law in such domains. All acts of violation of Vietnamese law in the course of operation of foreign cultural establishments in Viet Nam will be handled in accordance with Viet Nam’s current laws provisions.
Foreign cultural establishments in Viet Nam are allowed to set up their branches when they have been operating in Viet Nam for at least two years and have abided by the law and current regulations of Viet Nam.
Branches of the Viet Nam-based foreign cultural establishments do not have a legal status. They are subject to the management and administration of foreign cultural establishments in Viet Nam, while operating under the authorization of foreign cultural establishments in Viet Nam.
Foreign cultural establishments and their branches in Viet Nam shall be suspended for a definite period of time pursuant to the decisions of the Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism when they commit one of the following acts: acts of fraud found in seeking establishment and operation licenses, violations of the law on culture (subject to administrative sanctions at the level of suspension), and other cases (as prescribed by law).
Foreign cultural establishments and branches shall be allowed to resume operation after they successfully address the violations that have led to their suspension.
By Vien Nhu
Management on imports, use of scrap enhanced
Bac Ninh urban general planning scheme to be adjusted
National Committee on e-Government set up
PM signs directive on strengthening management of drugs
Gov’t demands strict supervision of Facebook’s misinformation fixing
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Home / Culture / Arts / V&A ‘Making it: Careers in Art and Design’: Shape Your Future
V&A ‘Making it: Careers in Art and Design’: Shape Your Future
By Ally Faughnan on November 23, 2018
Are you interested in a career in art and design? The Victoria and Albert Museum is hosting their annual ‘Making it: Careers in Art and Design’ festival on 24 November, to engage 16 to 24-year-olds and help them explore their career options and opportunities.
Creatives from a range of industries are coming together to give talks, workshops, demonstrations and displays throughout the day. Wanted to have a go at fashion illustration? Author and illustrator Stuart McKenzie will be running workshops all day. Considering becoming a fine artist? Rosemary Cronin will be giving a talk on the different ways to set up your own art practice. There is really something for everyone, with the programme including insights into the fashion industry, photography, architecture, curating, journalism and more.
There is also the opportunity to gain 1-2-1 advice from professionals in several industries and people are welcomed to bring their portfolio or CV along for feedback. Talks on how to choose a career, being a freelancer and turning your idea into business could give you the tips and information you need to start shaping your future.
The festival has been devised in association with CreateVoice, the V&A’s young people collective. From choosing speakers to finalising marketing strategies and design ideas, this event was made by young people for young people.
We spoke with Nicole Jones, the Assistant Programme Manager for Young People at the V&A.
How do CreateVoice help to shape the festival?
We have worked with CreateVoice (the V&A’s youth collective) over the last six months on all elements of the festival. They have suggested speakers, highlighted key issues we should address, helped to create the visual identity of the event and will be supporting at the event itself. Because of their input, it really feels like we are building a festival that is relevant to young people who are interested in a creative career today.
Why should people come along to ‘Making it: Careers in Art and Design’?
It is important to be informed when you are deciding on what sort of career you might like to have, and you just don’t know what you don’t know. ‘Making it’ covers such a wide range of topics so whether you know exactly what you want to do, or are still figuring it out, there will be something here for you.
What are you most looking forward to at the event?
I’m really excited about the way the creative industries are evolving and changing, so talks like The Interactive Entertainment Sector and Product and Digital Design are top of my list!
‘Making it: Careers in Art and Design’ will be held on Saturday 24 November 2018, 11:00-17:00 in the Sackler Centre, V&A South Kensington. Find out more here: https://www.vam.ac.uk/event/XVnD9mkY/making-it-careers-in-art-and-design-16-24-years-nov-2018.
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Queen Of Jeans
If You're Not Afraid, I'm Not Afraid
Wednesday, July 10, 2019 - 17:42
Topshelf Records
It’s a scary time to be vulnerable. It’s much easier to ignore the news and binge watch Netflix or mute keywords on Twitter than it is to stand up for what’s right and tell your story, but that’s exactly what Miriam Devora, vocalist of Philadelphia’s indefinable Queen of Jeans, has done on their outstanding new album, 'If you’re not afraid, I’m not afraid,' out August 23 on Topshelf Records.
It’s an unconventional choice to pick the first track on your album as its lead single, but when that track is anything like what Queen of Jeans have done with “Get Lost”. It’s an introduction to Miri’s vulnerability and courage that’s on display all over If you’re not afraid, I’m not afraid; as her mother’s health began deteriorating, she found herself wrapped up in anxiety, watching helplessly and withdrawing from the world around her.
“Writing this song was a necessary cathartic exercise, a kind of self check-in,” Miri explains. “In a way, I was trying to coach myself into recognizing that it was alright for me to feel that way. It was an exercise in abandoning the inherent social ideas that if you aren’t fun and outgoing, you’re a bore or a drag. That if you aren’t strong and well put together all of the time, you’re not dependable.”
“Get Lost became my personal anthem during a time when I needed some sort of reassurance that I wasn’t a waste. It helped me process a very real and isolating experience of grief, and turn it into a positive and somewhat humorous interpretation of self-care. Life is messy, and happiness is not always guaranteed. Sometimes allowing yourself to recognize what you perceive to be your shortcomings and owning them can set you free from emotional prison.”
The video for “Get Lost” features a seemingly-minimal performance from Miri and her bandmates––guitarist Mattie Glass and drummer Patrick Wall––that quickly turns into a fired up release of tension right along with the song. It’s got all the signature quirks that make Queen of Jeans a genre of their own, and was brilliantly directed and edited by Bob Sweeney.
A little less than two weeks before Queen of Jeans went into the studio to record, Miri’s mom passed away. Simultaneously, following the election in 2016, it was the first time as an adult that she ever really felt afraid to be herself in her own country. “I found myself in fear not only of losing my mom to her illness, but of losing my space within society as a queer woman, and watching space get taken away from so many others.”
If you’re not afraid, I’m not afraid is a reaction to all of those emotions, stirred up from these events as Miri tried to navigate her relationships with her partner, friends and family without the guidance of her mom or a stable grip on what was and continues to happen in this country.
Despite all of it, though, Miri was able to open up on this record in a way that feels more like an act of bravery than anything else. The entire process was a significantly different experience for the young songwriter, and it shows. If you’re not afraid, I’m not afraid is an impactful collection of songs that stand for something real; Queen of Jeans’ invitation to the listener to embrace their own stories, no matter how scary it may seem.
“My hope is that openly sharing my story and expressing myself through my vulnerabilities will help others that might feel lost right now, and that it might also help them find the strength in themselves to listen to and embrace their own stories, while also opening up and finding common ground with those around them.”
If it weren’t for the fact that both Miri and Mattie were each the tokenized female (and queer) members of their respective bands, Queen of Jeans may have never existed. Their mutual frustration became the glue that bonded them together and gave them a chance to finally create the kind of music they wanted to make. And after months of “casually online-dating drummers,” they found their unicorn in Patrick Wall, who brings a unique pop rhythm to their stylistically-varied sound.
On If you're not afraid, I'm not afraid, Queen of Jeans paired with prominent producer Will Yip to enter into a new sonic era. It marks a decided turn to more tightly knit songwriting that emphasizes Queen of Jeans's most alluring strengths. Vocals shine through as the sun through clouds, drenching twangy, western-reminiscent guitar in evocative light, illuminating the album's vast and serene crockpot soundscapes. If you're not afraid, I'm not afraid demonstrates Queen of Jeans's deliberate evolution into its own incomparable entity.
Miss June - Bad Luck Party
HR - Give Thanks
The Paranoyds - Carnage Bargain
Mean Jeans - Gigantic Sike
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Wealthy Is Relative
I live in San Francisco where there is currently a culture war in full swing between those who have been labeled economically “wealthy” and “privileged” and those who have been labeled economically challenged. This has come about due to quickly escalating housing prices, neighborhood demographic changes, and other factors.
My more left or progressive friends, many of whom relate to the economically challenged category, decry the changes to our city and often assign the blame directly on those they have labeled wealthy and privileged. On some level this rings true, but today I had an experience that made me rethink all of that.
Today I was chatting with a friend who works with incredibly poor people including those in third-world countries where poverty is beyond what most in the U.S. can even fathom. Against the backdrop of that conversation, I saw things in a new light.
I walked around in my neighborhood today and bumped into many friends who place themselves squarely in the economically challenged category, many of whom are rather vocal in their opposition to the local tech industry’s influence and other people they see as wealthy and changing the city they love. Then I noticed a few things.
These friends were all carrying iPhones or the latest Android phones. Many were carrying laptops. Most were dressed rather well. A few had in their hands lattes and other costlier coffee drinks. One mentioned buying tickets to a show and spending $90 for each on them. One had just come from his $25 haircut. Another had just booked a cruise with a friend. None of this appeared to represent anything approaching poverty or anything remotely close to economically challenged.
In many (most?) parts of the world, these people would be considered incredibly wealthy and privileged. And relatively, they are. People in impoverished countries would be shocked that my friends are calling others wealthy when they themselves appear to be quite wealthy too when looked at through the lens of deep and entrenched poverty.
I say this to give the local conversation some perspective. Yes, I know the issues are complex. Yes, I know each side has an argument to be made. Yes, I know that those of us in countries with robust economies and opportunities will always be seen as wealthy as compared to many others. But still, I think it’s worth noting that in the grand view of the world’s population, most of my friends in San Francisco would be seen as wealthy, even the most left and progressive of friends.. Maybe this observation will cause all of us, myself included, to look at the disparities in wealth and how that changes neighborhoods and cities from a broader perspective, accepting that such shifts are far more complex than simply pointing fingers at who we perceive as wealthy.
February 16, 2014 Race Bannon Money and Finance, Personal Musings and News
2 Comments on “Wealthy Is Relative”
This does bring up some interesting points about who the culprits are or could be considered to be. Is the growing wealth disparity across the Bay Area an effect of the engineers and other people paid well by the tech companies? Is it the fault of employees that choose to live in SF for the increasing gentrification of the neighborhoods they’re moving into?
Or are these problems caused by the corporations that leech money both from the local economies and from the disadvantaged populations in developing nations across the global south? Is it Google’s fault for not providing housing and support for their employees to live in communities not traditionally marginalized and economically deprived? How much culpability is due for the fact that the tech giants generate pay discrepancies between employees and external / outsourced service workers such that their employees are pushing their contracted service workers (their tech support, their janitorial staff, their food service workers) into homelessness?
How much of the source of the problems, the causes, the crux of the world economy, is at the top? How much could be solved if Apple had to pay their full taxes? How easy would it be to solve the problem of gentrification if service workers made sufficient wages to not be on razor margins between paychecks?
Richard Libby
Economics is known as the “dismal science” in part because many of the dynamics it studies fall under what are known as “zero sum games”: I win; you lose. Micro-economists studying individual behaviors will tell you that economic success is measured chiefly in relative and not absolute terms, and therefore constitutes one such zero sum game. For example, the great rise in standards of living due to technology seems to mean less to us as a positive thing than the negative thing which is the outsized gain achieved among the top 1%. Following the media coverage of the various Occupy protests a few years back and the current coverage of protests against tech workers in SF is enough to give good evidence these micro-economists have an accurate description of human behavior.
I met a fellow who recently moved to the West Coast, whose wife took a position at Google, and on her first day was on the receiving end of those protests. Did they deserve this kind of welcome? In their view, their willingness to pay what passes for a market rate for rental housing in San Francisco seems a willing exercise of free agency as is supposed to be a core American freedom. Their new neighbors see the decline in quality of what they have already established as a San Francisco lifestyle when the costs of their own housing as a result go up.
The real culprit in all of this is the inability of many people to see beyond their own narrow selfish interests. Not all human activity counts as a zero sum game. Google makes its search engine available to all of us for free. I can honestly say Google has been a positive influence in my life, not only personally but professionally, as the ability to gather current information immediately on the job has allowed me to do better work consistently for most of the past decade.
We’ve all learned in this country to drive on the right side of the road, in spite of all the short cuts that that deprives us of using. We can get along in our San Francisco neighborhoods if we are willing to try and do so.
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Home SAUDI ARABIA
Saudis celebrate issuance of driving licenses to women
The Ministry of Interior has created a specific website (www.sdlp.sa) for Saudis and expats to register for the issuance and replacement of licenses. “Dear sister, you need to register in Abshir to benefit from all services,” says the portal asking users to apply online through Abhsir for the replacement or issuance of licenses.
A handout photo made available by Center for International Communication (CIC) of the Saudi Ministry of Information shows a Saudi woman preparing for a driving exam at the General Department of Traffic in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia issued driving licenses to 10 Saudi women on Monday. — EPA
Saudi Gazette report
JEDDAH — Many Saudis celebrated the historic day when Saudi Arabia began issuing its first driving licenses to women on Monday.
“Ten Saudi women made history on Monday when they were issued driving licenses,” said the Information Ministry’s Center for International Communication (CIC).
“Expectations are that next week an additional 2,000 women will join the ranks of licensed drivers in the Kingdom.”
The video of the first Saudi woman Ahlam Al-Thenayan receiving her driving license at the General Directorate of Traffic went viral on social media.
Esraa Al-Batti expressed joy on Twitter and said it was “an indescribable feeling of happiness.”
Hanadi Alsunaid said she’s “looking forward to drive in her own country and go to work by herself, thanking the leadership for continuously empowering women.”
Wafa Mohammed Humaid enthusiastically shared her new ID calling it a historic day and is waiting for the next historic moment when women start to drive in the Kingdom.
Rema Jawdat said it was an exceptional day for her receiving her driving license and posted, “Finally, it’s a dream come true.”
Commenting on the number one trending news on Twitter, media personality and writer Nawal Al-Jabr told Saudi Gazette that she plans to enroll in a driving school and learn how to drive.
“The royal decree allowing women to drive aims at reinforcing the Saudi woman’s status and position in society and enabling her to be an independent and productive citizen enjoying all her rights,” said Al-Jabr, a full-time working manager who lives with her husband and son.
Fatima Al-Zahrani, a medical student, said, “I’ve been driving for almost eight years now in Canada or whenever I travel to other countries and I like the independence and the ability to explore. Although there are some benefits to having a driver especially after an overnight shift, not everyone can afford to have a driver.”
Writer and analyst Dr. Abdulmajeed Al-Jallal said, “Finally, Saudi women’s dreams have come true and turned into a wonderful reality during the era of King Salman. I congratulate the women and the future looks bright for them!”
In a poll of some 350 respondents about their plans for driving, around 37 percent said they are eager to join a driving school to learn driving while others said they either have an international driving license or don’t wish to drive.
The Ministry of Interior has created a specific website (www.sdlp.sa) for Saudis and expats to register for the issuance and replacement of licenses.
“Dear sister, you need to register in Abshir to benefit from all services,” says the portal asking users to apply online through Abhsir for the replacement or issuance of licenses.
Morocco King praises King Salman’s efforts to serve pilgrims
Cordon Bleu takes 30 of tomorrow’s Saudi chefs under its wings
KSA consumer sentiment stays positive
More in SAUDI ARABIA
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On Friday, 21 October 2016, many internet users could not reach marquee internet destinations like Amazon Web Services, Twitter, Spotify, Netflix, Slack, PayPal, and many others. Why not? Dyn, a large Domain Name Service (DNS) provider, was under attack.
At roughly 7:00am North American...
Years ago I was involved in trying to figure out how to use an in-house system to replace two cobbled-together commercial products. I know, I know, everyone thinks it's supposed to go the other way, but in this case, the in-house-developed system was far superior. It was already serving a...
Over the years, I’ve been involved in a number of technical due diligence exercises. They’ve ranged from assessing an organisation’s information technology where the primary product or service was not technology related, all the way to examining companies where the main product or service was...
Keep Stakeholders Engaged
Years ago, very shortly after I’d taken over management of a new team, there was to be a demonstration of a new set of features that my team had developed. The demonstration was for the heads of the business areas that would be using those new features. The...
See all posts.
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Behold the Triviology champions! The “trivia season” culminates each February, when we celebrate the anniversary of ShanRock’s Triviology at the Clash of The Trivia Titans (defending champions: It’s Raining Mennonites). Here are the winners for the 2018-19 season:
2/26/18: Awkward Group Text
3/5/18: Awkward Group Text
4/2/18: Irvington Gentlemen’s Militia
4/30/18: Irvington Gentlemen’s Militia
5/21/18: Gary Oldmanteau
5/28/18: Gnat Orgy
6/11/18: Analwyn A, Bego
7/2/18: Married … to Other People
8/13/18: Bea Arthur’s Dick in a Box
9/3/18: Freud’s Hot Mom
9/10/18: Four Score and Seven Beers Ago
10/1/18: Awkward Group Text
10/8/18: Any Port in the Stormy Daniels
10/15/18: I Like Alfredo
10/22/18: Irvington Gentlemen’s Militia
10/29/18: 15th Staff Infection
11/5/18: Interfaith Penis Alliance
11/12/18: Awkward Group Text
12/24/18: No trivia in honor of Lemmy Kilmister’s birthday
12/31/18: Eggs
1/28/19: The Vaccinated Croupiers
2/27/18: GTs
3/6/18: Drunken Regrets
3/13/18: Yer a Quizzard, Harry
3/20/18: Matthew McConaugHey Arnold
3/27/18: Drunken Regrets
4/3/18: Matthew McConaugHey Arnold
4/10/18: Lizard in a Trench Coat (1st-time winners!)
4/24/18: The Yelp of Porta Potties
5/22/18: Lowered Expectations
6/5/18: Betamax and the VHS Raiders
7/31/18: Perfect Strangers With Candy
8/7/18: How’d You Like Dem Elbows
8/14/18: Vermouth the Bell Tolls
8/21/18: Elbows of Fury
9/11/18: Fast & the Furriest
9/18/18: Two Is the Magic Number
10/2/18: Matthew McConaugHey Arnold
10/9/18: Drunken Regrets
10/16/18: Matthew McConaugHey Arnold
10/30/18: Mother of Pearl Necklace
11/13/18: Drunken Regrets
12/11/18: Here for the Beer
12/25/18: No trivia in honor of Justin Trudeau’s 47th birthday
1/1/19: Happy New Year!
1/8/19: Elbows of Fury
1/15/19: Dude, Where’s My Paycheck?
1/29/19: Divine Secrets of the MMR Sisterhood
2/5/19: Designated Survivors: Better than Rick Perry
2/12/19: Wet Denim
2/27/18: It’s Raining Mennonites
3/6/18: The Bourne Colonoscopy
3/13/18: Credenza, I Hardly Knew Her
4/3/18: The Moody Twos
4/17/18: Let’s Get Quizzical
5/1/18: Linda Is a Whore
5/8/18: The Latecomers
5/29/18: Suckers for Good Dick-shun
6/5/18: It’s Raining Mennonites
6/12/18: Cthulu Reed
7/3/18: Eggs!
7/17/18: There’s No I in Meet
7/24/18: At Least We Came
7/31/18: Castle Everett
8/7/18: At Least We Came
8/14/18: Moist Towelettes
8/28/18: The Shrugs
9/18/18: OuchOuch You’re on My Hair
9/25/18: The Ritualinguists
10/2/18: Nothing Gross or Political
10/16/18: The Weasel Nots
10/23/18: Tequila Titties
11/6/18: Low Energy Miracle Workers
11/13/18: At Least We Came
11/20/18: Bea Arthur’s Dick in a Box
11/27/18: Tomorrow’s Cum Sock
12/4/18: Goodtime Gang (in a tiebreaker!)
12/11/18: The Fun Bunch
12/18/18: Do You Know What I Know?
12/25/18: An evening of trivia silence mark the two-year anniversary of George Michael’s death
1/1/19: Happy New Year! (And happy centennial of the birth of JD Salinger!)
1/8/19: NMN
1/15/19: Nash Bridges
1/29/19: Rolling Stones Gather No Indictment
2/5/19: Rolling Stones Gather No Indictment
2/12/19: Jason Mrazberry Beret (a new team name, but a three-peat!)
2/27/18: OG Kushner
3/6/18: Powerpuff Girls Gone Wild
3/13/18: Jungle Rats
3/20/18: Sloppy Seconds
3/27/18: The B Team
4/10/18: Good Mouthfeel
4/17/18: The Taint Team
4/24/18: Sherpas
5/1/18: Sherpas
5/15/18: The Retired TJ Club
5/22/18: Crowded Mouth…feel
5/29/18: Foot in Mouthfell
6/5/18: Married to Other People
6/19/18: Junior Space Force
6/26/18: The Three Amigos (1st-time players!)
7/3/18: Get Your Slushies Now!
7/17/18: Abandoned at the Bar
7/24/18: The Hong Kong Bong Dong RIPPERS!
7/31/18: Cocaine Mitch
8/7/18: Ostrich Coattails
8/14/18: Pete and the Repeats (1st-time winners!)
8/21/18: Bears, Beers, Battlestar Galactica
8/28/18: Awkward Moments
9/4/18: Appetite for Deduction
9/11/18: Kaepernick 451
9/18/18: Cosmic Love
9/25/18: Fire Machetes
10/2/18: We Got Nothing
10/9/18: Big Breakfast
10/16/19: Devil’s Triangle
10/23/18: Frisky Trivia Foxtrot
10/30/18: Invasion of Privacy
11/6/18: Vote Yes on No
11/13/18: Final Recount
11/20/18: Naked Crisco Moonrock (1st-time players!)
11/27/18: Damn Christmas Music
12/4/18: Married … to Other People
12/11/18: Willocalypse
12/18/18: Fuck Appendixes
12/25/18: No trivia in honor of the birthday of the Lord baby Jesus, lyin’ there in your ghost manger, just lookin’ at your Baby Einstein developmental videos, learnin’ ’bout shapes and colors
1/1/19: Happy New Year! (And happy birthday, Dana Andrews!)
1/8/19: Willocalypse
1/15/19: Helen Keller’s TV
1/22/19: Butt$
1/29/19: Fuck January—Back to Drinking!
2/5/19: Rick Perry: Designated Survivor, a.k.a. Year of the Pig
2/12/19: Cool Sluts (1st-time players!)
PETER’S BAR & GRILL
2/28/18: Betty White Chicks
3/7/18: Ponies with Axes
3/14/18: Ponies with Axes
3/28/18: Quiz Quiztofferson
4/4/18: 6 Good Pinkies
4/11/18: Knuckleheads
5/2/18: Still … Where Did the Trivia Come From?
5/16/18: Still … Where Did the Trivia Come From?
5/30/18: Bat Penatar
6/6/18: Dee Dee Cleavage
6/13/18: I’m with Stupid
6/27/18: Butterwhiskers
7/4/18: No trivia due to patriotism
7/11/18: Powerpuff Girls Gone Wild
8/1/18: The Very Unstable Geniuses
8/8/18: I’m with Stupid
8/22/18: Let the Ponies Win
9/19/18: Oyster Smiling
9/26/18: Blame Canada
10/3/18: I’m with Stupid
10/10/18: I’m with Stupid
10/17/18: Knuckleheads
10/24/18: I’m with Stooped
10/31/18: Too Scary!
11/7/18: Five Finger Death Punch
12/5/18: Still, Where Did the Trivia Come From?
12/12/18: Matthew McConagHey Arnold
1/2/18: Matthew McConagHey Arnold
1/23/19: Eating Our Feelings
2/6/19: The Distempers
2/13/19: Hot Ham Water
2/28/18: Lard Lads
3/7/18: Biscuit Meniscus
3/21/18: The Team With the Old Lady Head in a Bubble as a Mascot
3/28/18: Son of Sushi
4/4/18: Son of Sushi II: The Returns of Son of Sushi (in a dramatic tiebreaker!)
4/11/18: Son of Sushi 3-D
4/18/18: Shut the Fuck Up, Jeff!
4/25/18: Return of the Vinyl Butt Sweats
5/2/18: No trivia do to UP end-of-semester pub crawl
5/9/18: Be Best
5/16/18: Call Me By Your Name: Sushi
5/23/18: Mad Chemistry
6/6/18: Hard and Motivated
6/13/18: New Level of Hatred (in a dramatic tiebreaker!)
6/20/18: Mad Chemistry (in another dramatic tiebreaker!)
6/27/18: Shut the Fuck Up, Jeff! (a tiebreaker again–what is going on??)
7/4/18: No trivia due to fireworks
7/11/18: Team Krush (featuring Little Orphan Stevie!)
7/18/18: The Never-Ending Saga of the Vinyl Butt Sweats
7/25/18: Mad Chemistry (in a dramatic tiebreaker!)
8/1/18: Mad Chemistry (in a TRULY INSANE tiebreaker!)
8/8/18: Lil Baby Cousin
8/15/18: Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires
8/29/18: Michael’s Groupies with Benefits
9/5/18: Scarf Ace
9/12/18: Crazy Rich Sushis
9/19/18: G.L.O.T. pronounced GLO
10/3/18: Shut the Fuck Up, Jeff!
10/10/18: Burnside Couch Triplet
10/17/18: Shut the Fuck Up, Jeff!
10/24/18: ¡Cállate Cabajo, Jeff!
10/31/18: Still Workin’ on It
11/7/18: Mad Chemistry
11/14/18: Depravity’s Rainbow
11/21/18: Scasi Jeff Memesou
11/28/18: Ferme Ta Gueulle, Jeff!
12/5/18: Smuggling Peas and Cutting Glass
12/12/18: UP Pub Crawl
12/19/18: Abdominal Snowman
12/26/18: The Dutin Raspberries
1/2/18: Shut the Fuck Up, Jeff!
1/16/19: Bridget Jone’s Dairy Queen
2/6/19: Mad Chemistry
3/1/18: Montavillains
3/15/18: Pajamas & Toast
3/22/18: Montavillains
4/12/18: Interfaith Penis Alliance
5/3/18: Interfaith Penis Alliance
6/7/19: Darth Brooks
6/28/18: Bell Biv Defoe
7/5/18: Hoarse Horse Whores
7/12/18: Fourth Place Ponies
7/26/18: Fighting Mongooses
8/2/18: Fighting Mongooses (OMG, a four-way tiebreaker!)
8/9/18: Fighting Mongooses
8/16/18: Rand Paul’s Drag Race
8/30/18: Married to Other People
9/13/18: Darth Brooks
9/20/18: Quiz Quizstofferson (all in full beards!)
10/4/18: To Peas or Not to Peas
10/11/18: Darth Brooks
10/18/18: Interfaith Penis Alliance
11/1/18: Montavillains
11/22/18: No trivia on Thanksgiving
11/29/18: Montavillains
12/20/18: Expeditious Burrito Procurement
1/17/19: Slow Children at Play
1/31/19: A Salt with a Deadly Peppa
ZACH’S SHACK
3/8/18: Charismatic Megafauna
3/15/18: Hollywoo! Stars and Celebs
3/22/18: Dumb Ducks
3/29/18: 10th Avenue Freezeout (an impressive victorious one-brain team!)
4/5/18: Hollywoo! Stars and Celebs
4/19/18: Barbara Bush Just Got Laid
4/26/18: Netflix & Benadryl
5/3/18: Teen Wolf–Swoon!
5/10/18: Ronald McDonald’s Curvy Sex Whistle
5/17/18: Big Boppin Booties
5/31/18: 2.71828182845904…
6/7/18: Home Office
6/21/18: The Space Force
7/19/18: Mother Knows Best
7/26/18: Home Office
8/9/18: ZachsA/Cgofundme.com
8/16/18: Stephen Hawking’s Dance Party (1st-time winners!)
8/23/18: Red Squirrels
9/6/18: Lingon Berry Pancakes (1st-time players!)
9/27/18: Gritty Gritty Bang Bang
10/4/18: Sexy Teenagers
10/11/18: Zana Banana
10/18/18: Tunnel Snakes
10/25/18: Hollywoo! Stars and Celebs
11/1/18: Hollywoo! Stars and Celebs
11/15/18: Beautiful Day Boys
11/22/18: Danksgiving
11/29/18: Binge Thinkers
12/6/18: Three Musketeers (1st-time winners!)
12/20/18: Beautiful Day Boy
12/27/18: Reduce Reuse Rihanna
1/3/18: Street Legal
1/24/19: Cheetah Puppies
2/7/19: There Is No I in Stupid
EAST BURN on Thursdays
3/1/18: Kurt Russell ‘n Jimmies
3/4/18 (Oscar Quiz): Loose Stuhlbargs
3/8/18: Assholes and Elbows
3/15/18: Periodic Table Dancers
3/29/18: Llama Sweater
4/26/18: Assholes and Elbows
5/17/18: Well-Meaning White People #allies #wokeAF
5/24/18: The Power! It’s Out!
7/5/18: Llama Sweater
8/2/18: Periodic Table Dancers
8/23/18: Hurray for Everything
9/6/18: The Burt Digglers (1st-time winners!)
9/20/18: Tequila Mockingbird
10/4/18: Periodic Table Dancers
10/11/18: Spermicane Michael
10/18/18: Assholes and Elbows
11/8/18: The Chancers
11/15/18: It’s Raining Mennonites
11/22/18: Thankful for Trivia
11/29/18: Squee and the Boof Bros
12/6/18: The Lumber Jills (1st-time winners!)
12/13/18: Dick the Halls
12/20/18: Merry Jizzmas
12/27/18: Blue Alive
1/3/18: Periodic Assholes and Elbows
1/10/19: Popeye the Sailor Moon
1/17/19: Periodic Assholes
1/31/19: It’s a Trap!
2/14/19: Depeche a la Mode
EAST BURN on Sundays
1/6/19: EGGS
1/20/19: I Have Emotional Motion Sickness
1/27/19: Bud for Bud
2/3/19: No trivia due to the annual human sacrifice of the virgin Connie Swail to Tom Brady to appease the PAGANs … or something like that
2/10/19: EGGS
THEME NIGHTS AT SPARE ROOM (last Sunday of each month)
5/27/18 (Just for Fun—The Office!): Alfredo Joe’s Cafe
6/24/18 (Festivus for the Rest of Us—Seinfeld): The Moops
7/22/18 (Bluth for Family of the Year—Arrested Development): We Just Blue Ourselves
8/26/18 (The Gryzzl Quizzl—Parks & Rec): We All Fell in the Pit
9/23/18 (Rick and Morty): The Morty Street Lokos
10/21/18 (My Favorite Murder): Diane Downs Surrugacy Senter
11/25/18 (Broad City): Slim Pug
12/30/18 (Harry Potter): Quizengamut
1/27/19 (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia): The Boy Souls
RETIRED VENUES…
THE HUTCH
2/28/18: Reunited and It Feels So Good
3/7/18: Lone Firs
3/14/18: Fuck Geeks Who Drink (in a dramatic tiebreaker!)
3/21/18: Knuckleheads (1st win!)
3/28/18: Stabble Geniuses (1st win!)
VELO CULT
4/18/18: Trivia Newton John
5/2/18: Mike and Molly
5/16/18: I’m With Stupid Winners
For last year’s winners, see the Hall of Fame 2017.
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» SF/F Commentary » GS Mumbles: Salman Rushdie, Doctor Who, and China Mieville
GS Mumbles: Salman Rushdie, Doctor Who, and China Mieville
Shaun Duke 1 Comment
(GS Mumbles — or Grad School Mumbles — is the second of my new seasonal columns in which I talk about things I’m working on as a grad student, often in relation to geeky things.)
I suspect this post is going to be an attempt to make a silly connection between a favorite TV show in the geek community and one of the great literary figures of our time.
In his novel, Shame, Salman Rushdie’s autobiographical narrator interrupts the narrative to tell us that the novel is quite clearly not about the things we think it’s about. The scene goes as follows:
The country in this story is not Pakistan, or not quite. There are two countries, real and fictional, occupying the same space, or almost the same space. My story, my fictional country exist, like myself, at a slight angle to reality. I have found this off-centering to be necessary; but its value is, of course, open to debate. My view is that I am not writing only about Pakistan.
I have not given the country a name. And Q. is not really Quetta at all. But I don’t want to be precious about this: when I arrive at he big city, I shall call it Karachi. And it will contain a “Defense.” (23-24)
In discussing this passage in class, I was consumed by the image provided by the following scene from “The Stolen Earth” (Doctor Who):
I wouldn’t say that being “one second out of sync with the rest of the universe” is an adequate explanation for the Rushdie passage, but it does provide a way of thinking about this line: “The country in this story is not Pakistan, or not quite.” Shame is, perhaps, about an out of sync representation of a place, one which at once seems like the proper thing, but is also something else entirely by the nature of representation itself. To write fictionally about a country as Rushdie does in Shame, you also take away the possibility of writing about that country.
Of course, Rushdie might be up to something a little more clever, which is perhaps why I didn’t bring up the “out of sync” comment in class. If I had been smart enough to think of it then, I might have brought up China Mieville’s The City and the City, which more accurately captures this idea of a representation which is two places compacted (almost) into the same place in the form of a literary reference. But even that comparison is an unfair one.
I think the crucial part of the scene is where Rushdie says, “My view is that I am not writing only about Pakistan.” It similarly connects to J. M. Coetzee’s Waiting for the Barbarians, though in less abstract or dislocated terms. Coetzee’s novel could very well be about any number of different former colonies, as all the references are ambiguous enough to point in multiple directions. Shame is not necessarily so ambiguous, though the antihistoricity of the text suggests that the fictional Pakistan and the real Pakistan are, if not separate in concrete terms, then certainly held apart by a blurred boundary — the boundary that normally is embodied by the fictional allegory in the strictest of separations. You’d have to think of Shame as an anti-historical novel — that is, a novel which actively fights the idea of the empirical truth of a real place in a narrative which challenges, at every step, the nature of reality and truth itself.
In other words, there is no Pakistan, only the imaginary shared “idea” of “nation” the people who call themselves “Pakistanis” have bought into, just as those who call themselves “Americans” have bought into the idea of a stable thing called “The United States of America.” There’s no point pretending something is when the conditions of its existence are always already compromised by the near-fictionality of the imagined community (this is Benedict Anderson’s concept, which, if reduced, reads something like: the nation is neither real nor fake, but the imagined or dream-like entity people accept as a nation — i.e., we make the nation by believing it exists).
Does anyone have any thoughts here? Whether about Rushdie, Mieville, Coetzee, or nationalism? The comments are yours…
SF/F Commentary Literature Rants
‹ Weekly Roundup: The Skiffy and Fanty Show / Duke and Zink Do America
Video Found: “Danny and Annie” (Absolutely Beautiful) ›
On Legitimacy, Academia, and the Hugos (or, Someone Needs to Take a Class)
On the Raging Child of Science Fiction Neo-Snobbery
No, Repetition Does Not Mean Science Fiction is Stagnating…Per Se
The Purpose of Science Fiction (and, Technically, Fantasy)
The Taxonomy of Genre: Science Fiction as Supergenre
One thought on “GS Mumbles: Salman Rushdie, Doctor Who, and China Mieville”
Damian Trasler - February 20, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Aside from my general urge to fetch Mr Rushdie a smack upside his head and tell him to get over himself, I do have something to share. If he's writing about Pakistan in particular, why not write about Pakistan? And if he's writing about a society in general, that includes but is not specific to Pakistan, then why not use an entirely fictional country? If you set your fictional country too closely to a real one, people will spend their time nitpicking about the differences and miss the point of the story.
On a side note, China Mieville's "The City" made my head hurt. Very clever stuff, but I have no idea how you figure out a novel like that and then write it. Very impressive.
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cold cave - You & me & infinity [EP] - heartworm
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You & Me & Infinity is the new EP by Cold Cave available digitally and on 10” picture disc vinyl. Cold Cave continues to perfect their own brand of dark synth pop that manages to sound retro and futuristic at the same time. Four romantic existential anthems for the disenchanted daydreamers, including the glimmering pop tune Glory. This new EP was mixed by Chris Coady (Beach House / Slowdive) and mastered by Bob Weston. It is released by Eisold's own label Heartworm Press.
Cold Cave began in 2007 as the creative rebirth of acclaimed Musician and Writer Wesley Eisold. Cutting his teeth in legendary hardcore punk and noise bands American Nightmare and Some Girls, Eisold's body of work has truly effected a generation of listeners. Through constant cross-pollination Eisold has gained mass appeal, influencing underground and popular culture with his ever evolving artistic vision.
With an already prolific number of releases, Cold Cave has become a name synonymous with the contemporary resurgence of Darkwave and Synth-Pop. Propelling Cold Cave to perform at world class museums The Getty and The Guggenheim, with Nine Inch Nails at the Hollywood Bowl and the O2 Arena, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Echo & The Bunnymen, and Sonic Youth. He has worked in collaboration with Fashion Designers Rick Owens and Alexandre Plokhov, and Conceptual Artist Doug Aitken for his Station-to-Station Film and Concert Series. He has performed at Coachella Music Festival and Matt Groening’s curated All Tomorrow’s Parties. He has given poetry readings at Columbia University, the Strand Bookstore and The Last Bookstore as well as released his writing and books by Genesis P-Orridge and Richard Brautigan on his Heartworm Imprint. Cold Cave even performed at the wedding of legendary Skateboarder Tony Hawk,
Eisold was born without his left hand, making his foray into electronic music and singing, the obvious path, situating him as a voice of adversity for the outsider. Cold Cave craft melodic synthscapes with jackhammer beats, songs celebrating the contradictory beauty of the human condition. The songs have an immediacy that belies thought-provoking titles like "The Laurels of Erotomania”, “People Are Poison” and "The Trees Grew Emotions And Died". In this way they mark that transitional moment when synthesizer music went from a subversive device for sound collagists to a serious commercial force. They are cerebral and savage, yet sweet and seductive.
A reluctant god of nihilism and despair, his baritone is as rich and resonating as that of Morrissey, Nick Cave, or David Bowie, juxtaposed with the prophetic musings of his collaborator Amy Lee, stylistically they are heirs to the noir of The Velvet Underground, Joy Divison, The Cure, and Depeche Mode, with the ideals of artistic minimalism reminiscent of the avant-garde. Marked by a pitch black aesthetic - there is a light of hope in their brand of goth new wave.
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Pop Morality: Jean Grey Edition
(Warning: We’re about to get a little nerdy. Well, nerdier. That Cabin in the Woods thread was pretty nerdy.)
One of my favorite bits of Marvel Comics arcana is the fact that Jean Grey—also known as a genocidaire by the name of the Dark Phoenix—was originally allowed to live.
Wait. Let’s back up a little.
So, Jean Grey: Originally kind of a nothingburger of a X-Man—a love interest for Cyclops and a damsel in distress much of the rest of the time—Jean Grey was imbued with a huge amount of power in the late-1970s after tapping into the “Phoenix Force.” Like, world-ending power, if she went a little crazy. Which she did! At the end of Uncanny X-Men #135 she consumed a sun—killing billions of sentient lifeforms in the process—and destroyed a spaceship full of aliens (the Shi’ar) friendly to the X-Men. These events came to a head a couple of issues later, as recounted in the new book Marvel Comics: The Untold Story:
In the pages of #136, ready to ship, Dark Phoenix returned to earth, and fought the X-Men, until Jean Grey returned to her senses—just in time for Lilandra and the Shi’ar to summon them so that Grey would stand trial for her crimes. In #137, Xavier demanded a “duel of honor,” and the X-Men battled the Shi’ar’s Imperial Guard on the moon. The X-Men lost, and Jean Grey was given a kind of partial lobotomy, preventing her from accessing the Phoenix force ever again. Depowered and slightly meek, she returned to earth with the rest of the X-Men.
The X-Men #137 was a double-sized issue, one of Marvel’s first big-splash publications since its decision to focus on the hard-core fans in the direct market, where advance orders had already reached a tremendous one hundred thousand. But the story’s resolution, Shooter told Salicrup, wasn’t good enough. “Having a character destroy an inhabited world with billions of people, wipe out a starship and then—well, you know, having the powers removed and being let go on Earth . . . it seems to me that that’s the same as capturing Hitler alive at the end of World War II, taking the German army away from him and letting him go to live on Long Island.”
Jean Grey had to pay for her crimes, insisted Shooter. She had to die.
Now, to me, Shooter’s decision is a no-brainer. I’ve thought that ever since I originally heard this story. But it’s extremely interesting that the original author, Chris Claremont, thought she deserved a slap on the wrist for the murder of billions:
Claremont acknowledged that Shooter’s mandates had improved the story, even if he felt that the long-term result—Jean Grey’s death—was the wrong one. “Unfortunately,” he said diplomatically, “you come to a situation where different attitudes and different books reflect the different moral and philosophical attitudes of the different writers and artists.”
What ended up being one of the most profoundly moving pieces of comics lore* almost didn’t happen—and it only did because Shooter forced Claremont to make the more moral choice.
*Trust me: This was a big deal. Like “Chris Claremont getting death threats” big deal.
Previous post: More ‘Cabin in the Woods’
Next post: Free Advice: Libya Response Edition (Updated)
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Slackjaw Records
New Cowboy Dave album now available
Hard-swingin’ honky-tonk is a descriptor many country artists might shy away from in the current music landscape, but with its sophomore release, “Driven Man,” Cowboy Dave Wilson and his group of Rocky Mountain all-stars embrace the term with an exclamation mark.
The six-song EP, released on Slackjaw Records, is a raw display of pure swinging grit that begins to bridge the gap between Wilson’s more traditional debut release, “Saddle Up, Pal,” and the debauchery that he previously cranked out as the frontman for cowpunk group FortyTwenty.
A true walking-bass honky-tonker, “Dive of Dives,” kicks off the new recording with a line that sets the tone for the whole album: “Stale cigarettes and day old beer // Lord, tell me what I’m doing here.”
“We were actually finishing up the arrangement for this one as we were setting up in the studio,” Wilson said, “but I really think it gave the album that pure honky-tonk country song that it needed. It’s really about pondering why we have this unshakeable attraction to playing music all over the place.”
The first verse speaks to heading south to play music in Texas, a state that has become a regular tour stop for the Colorado group, including multiple recent shows at the famed Continental Club in Austin, where the group has had the opportunity to fill in for the legendary Dale Watson on his regular night.
In an effort to produce a “live and non-manufactured” feel, Wilson brought the touring band to Silo Sound Studios in Denver, recording the bulk of the album in one day with Emmy-nominated producer Greg Kincheloe and engineer Todd Divel.
Musicians on the album include Denver veterans Glenn Taylor (pedal steel), Scott Johnson (upright bass and vocals), Adam Stern (electric and acoustic guitars) and Andy Walters (drums), as well as additional Nebraskans Sam Packard (fiddle) and Tony Robertson (electric guitar).
“Ragged but Right” is a tip of the hat to the late George Jones, who recorded the traditional song in 1957. The group’s arrangement gives the classic tune somewhat of a western swing feel, featuring sweeping fiddle and pedal steel solos.
The album’s title track, “Driven Man,” is held together by a classic truck-driving beat, and discusses a person’s need to keep on moving on. Penned by Wilson in 2011, the song has become a staple at the group’s live shows. “Honky-Tonk Me” was originally recorded by Wilson on FortyTwenty’s “Lowdown and Dirty” album in 2003. Eleven years later, Wilson’s solo group has helped evolve the song into a more upbeat, harder-swingin’ honky-tonk piece, breathing new life into this old favorite.
Drawing on the true life story of his mother-in-law’s desire for Wilson to move the family to Western Nebraska, “Maggie’s Mom” features heavy fiddle over a train beat, as Wilson somewhat ironically confirms that he’s “not cut out to be a railroad man.” The album’s final track, “What A Shame,” was written by Johnson and boasts a driving rock-a-billy feel, led by Johnson on the slapping upright bass.
The group will support the six-song EP with extensive touring, primarily throughout the Midwest and South.
Copyright © 2019 Slackjaw Records. All rights reserved.
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Home Attractions Golden Temple of Dabulla
Dambulla has been a popular place among the Buddhist as well as Hindu pilgrimages ever since the 1st Century BC. It is a cave temple located on top of a rock mountain (elevation 1118 ft) and has a great deal of Buddhist monuments and statues. UNESCO declared the Cave Temple of Dambulla a World Heritage Site by in 1991.
Dambulla is the Sri Lanka’s Largest Rock Cave Temple protecting the world’s images of Budhdha and paintings of thousands of years of age. The temple was constructed in the time of King Valagamba (103 BC and 89-77 BC), who lived in these caves for 12 years hiding from the Indian invaders. After getting his throne back, the King built the caves into a Buddhist temple. The caves built by him were named as Devarajalena, Maharajalena and the Paccimalena. Later on many other Kings including King Vijayabahu, King Keerthi Sri Nissankamalla, made additions and renovations to the temple. It is said that the King Keerthi Sri Nissankamalla (1187-1196 AD) added many Buddha images being and gold plated seventy three Buddha statues inside the caves.
The temple has 5 caves and around 157 statues of Buddha, including a 15 meters long reclining Buddha. In addition, the caves are decorated with colored paintings and frescoes on the walls the rock ceilings which are present till today.
Cave No 1 – The Devaraja Lena – The Cave of ‘ Lord of the Gods’
Devarajalena Vihara is the first Cave temple. It has the large resting statue of Buddha representing the final passing away of the Lord. These Buddha images have been built after the King Valagamba constructed the temple. However, the paintings are believed to be belonging to a later period of time added during the renovations to the temple. Interestingly the cave has a statue of the God Vishnu, representing the Hindus. It is believed that this statue has been added during the time of King Vatta Gamini Abhaya ‘s rein (89-77 BC).
Cave No 2- The Maharaja Lena – The Cave of ‘ Great Kings’
The cave No 2 is the Maha Raja Vihara Lena or the Cave Temple of the Great Kings. It is also the largest of the caves. There are about 60 statues in this cave, among them you can find the statues of the King Valagamba and King Nissankamalla as well. The wooden statue of the King Valagamba can be found near the entrance. Statues of Buddha are depicted in various postures and have different mudras. Apart from the statues, this cave has a small stupa inside the cave surrounded by 11 Buddha statues. In addition to the Buddha statues and the Kings’ statues, you will find images of Gods as well. And the paintings on the walls and the ceiling depict the important events of the Buddhist culture and history.
One of the other important aspects of this cave is the Makara Torana (Dragon Arch), which is constructed above the statue of the King Nissankamalla. Not to mention the water dripping from the ceiling which has never stopped. It is said that the water is dripping continuously in the same manner and it has not stopped even in droughts. And there is a bowl placed to collect the water dropping from the rock.
Cave No 3- The Maha Alut Viharaya – The Cave of ‘ Great New Temple’
This cave has been constructed by the King Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747-1782 AD) who was a ruler in Kandy. This cave is the second largest of the collection and has two doorways with Dragon arches above each. It also has statues of Buddha including a 30 ft long reclining Buddha image. In addition, there are about 50 more Buddha statues in this cave and a status of the King who built the cave. The cave paintings have been influenced by the Kandyan style of artwork as it has been constructed by a Kandyan King.
Cave No 4- The Paccima Viharaya – The Cave of ‘ Western Temple’
This Cave temple also has a small stupa and a statue of a seating Buddha with a Dragon Arch above the image. The walls and the ceiling contain a large number of frescos. Among the God statues of this cave, there are God Vishnu and Saman.
Cave No 5- The Devana Alut Viharaya – The Cave of ‘ Second New Temple’
The Devana Alut Viharaya is the last as well as the newest addition to the caves of the Dambulla temple. It also has a large reclining statue of Buddha and 11 standing and seated images of Buddha. One of the differences in this cave is that all the statues are made of brick and plaster while the statues of the other caves are mostly carved on rock.
Dambulla temple is a must stop in the local as well as foreign tourist who is interested in the religion and culture of the island.
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St. Joseph’s Mission in Beausejour
St. Joseph’s Mission in Libau
St. Joseph’s Church was first established in Beausejour in 1924. A group of Polish people around the area wanted to have a church in town. Up to then, they were gathering in private residences or the little red schoolhouse in town. Priests from Winnipeg would conduct services. The first service was conducted by Rev. Paleszewski of St. Mary’s PNCC in Winnipeg. Later they would be conducted by Rev. Sobaszek and Rev. Latas.
The original organizers of the parish were Michael Sokolski, Joseph Pirozek and Marion Myslicki. A number of people dedicated to building the church canvassed the community and collected $650, which they gave to the organizers and the project was underway. A plot of land on the south side of Park Avenue West was donated by Mr. Pirozek, and with the efforts of many volunteers the church was constructed in 1928. This building served the parish until 1976 when the land and church were sold due to the extent of repairs necessary for the old building. The parish then purchased the Elim Baptist Church building on 345 Park Avenue where services were held by Fr. Malinowski, Fr. Cwieka, and presently Fr. Tadeusz Czelen.
The dedication service of the new church was held on September 11, 1977, officiated by Bishop Nieminski, along with the parish priests from all the Polish National Catholic Churches in Manitoba: Fr. Malinowski (Beausejour) Fr. Cwieka (Winnipeg), Fr. Lapinski (Brandon), Fr. Galas of Mikado SK, and Pastor Kliever from the Elim Baptist Church.
The Parish continues today with descendents and relatives of the founders remaining active members. Services are held on the third Sunday of each month.
If you ever happen to be in the area, please come join us !
May 24, 2015 – Cemetery Prayers and blessing of the graves.
Annual Parish Dinner.
Monthly Newsletter JULY 2018
CEMETERY ANNOUNCEMENT
Archives Select Month July 2019 (1) April 2019 (1)
Need Driving Directions? Click here
StMarysPNCC © (2019)
Proudly Designed by Netstudio.
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What Yield Curve Inversion Is Telling Us
Posted by StockBuz on May 12, 2019 at 3:44pm in Macro and Money
The US yield curve has (almost) inverted, and this has been making headlines for the last couple of months now. This should come as no surprise, as the yield curve is perhaps the most reliable recession indicator out there. But what does an inverted yield curve tell us about future returns? Our analysis shows that while asset class returns in general are somewhat subdued between the first date on which the yield curve inverts and the start of the recession, the inversion of the yield curve is not followed by extraordinary deviations in returns.
Before moving over to the results of our analysis, we would like to dwell briefly on the definition of the yield curve, and the combination of maturities in particular. In most empirical research, the yield curve is either defined by the differential between the 10-year and 3-month US Treasury yield (10Y-3M), or the 10-year and 2-year US Treasury yield (10Y-2Y). The reasons for preferring one over the other depends on many things, including data availability – the 3-month US Treasury yield has a much longer history; the degree to which you want to capture short-term versus long-term views on GDP growth and inflation, which is likely to be better reflected in the 2-year yield; and/or forecasting accuracy and timeliness, a point we will get back to later. As noticed by the New York Fed in its study ‘The Yield Curve as a Leading Indicator: Some Practical Issues (2006): “Spreads based on any of the rates mentioned are highly correlated with one another and may be used to predict recessions.” Hence, we will look at both the 10Y-3M and 10Y-2Y inverted yield curves, also because this leads to at least one interesting observation.
Inversions and recessions
As mentioned, the yield curve qualifies as one of the best, if not the best, recession forecasters. For the 10Y-2Y yield curve, we have reliable data covering the last five US recessions, all of which were accurately forecasted well in advance, as shown in the right panel in the table above. The lag between the first ‘inversion date’ and the start of the recession, as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), averages 21 months, ranging from 11 months until the 1981 recession to 34 months until the 2001 recession. The results for the 10Y-3M yield curve, as shown in the left panel in the table above, are highly comparable, with an average lead time of 19 months until the next recession. The data further reveals that prior to the last five recessions, the 10Y-2Y yield curve inverted before the 10M-3M yield curve on each occasion. From this angle, the 10Y-2Y yield curve should be the preferred recession indicator, as it ‘detects’ the next recession first.
The available data history for the 10Y-3M yield curve is longer, covering the last seven recessions. We find that the 10Y-3M yield curve correctly predicts these two additional recessions (1970, 1973) as well. However, it also seems to have given a false signal. On 12 January 1966, the 10Y-3M yield curve inverted for six days, but the next recession did not start until January 1970, or four years later. Obviously, the time horizon for which to assign forecasting power is arbitrary, but four years is considerably longer than in other cases. In addition, between early 1967 and December 1968, the 10Y-3M yield curve did not invert once, suggesting that we are looking at a separate period of yield curve inversion. Unfortunately, we can’t compare these inversions with the 10Y-2Y yield curve, due to a lack of data. Therefore, we will focus on the last five recessions, for which we have data on both the 10Y-3M and 10Y-2Y yield curve, for the remainder of this analysis.
Inversions and asset class returns
So, what does yield curve inversion tell us about (future) asset class returns? The table above shows the average and median annual returns on most major asset classes, US stocks, global stocks, commodities, gold, US Treasuries and US corporates, as well as US real GDP growth for both yield curves. The returns are calculated as the index change between the first negative reading of the yield curve leading up to a recession, and the first day of that same recession. In short, it calculates the performance between the inversion date and the start of the recession. The last row of the table shows the average annual return for the full sample period, from August 1978 until 1 January 2008. As can be derived from the table, this period was an exceptionally strong period for both stocks and bonds, with average annual returns above their longer-term history.
We will now summarize our main findings. First, while there are differences between the returns calculated using the 10Y-3M and 10Y-2Y yield curve, the results are highly comparable. Choosing either yield curve does not lead to different conclusions. Second, while variation in returns is substantial, they are far from extreme. For example, the average and median annual return on all asset classes is positive. No asset class shows severe and structural weakness after inversion, with only gold realizing a negative return in three out of the five inversion periods. But, as the table shows, gold returns are pretty erratic in any case. At the same time, none of the asset classes – again apart from gold – realized an extraordinarily high average return either. Having said that, for all asset classes the average annual return between yield curve inversion and recession was lower than for the full sample, except for commodities.
The deviation from the full sample average return is relatively large for US corporate bonds. For both yield curves, the average annual return after inversion was significantly below 3%, against a full sample return of 8.9%. This observation fits the perception that credits tend to struggle late cycle, as short-term interest rates are lifted by the Federal Reserve and leverage tends to rise. Global stock performance also trails between yield curve inversion and recessions: the average annual return is less than half than the full sample return. This can be explained by the defensive nature of US stock markets, and the fact that most other regions are highly dependent on the US economy, given their ‘openness’. It is a well-known maxim that when the US sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold.
Lastly, with a 7% return, commodities are the only asset class which realized a much better return than the full sample average (2.8%) after yield curve inversion. This fits the characterization of commodities as ‘being late cycle.’ As final demand increases during economic expansion, so too does the demand for commodities. Hence, since raw materials are needed to produce goods now, the forward-looking aspect is likely to be of lesser importance than it is for equities and bonds.
A word on growth
Before moving over to the final part of this analysis, a quick word on growth. As is shown in the final column of the table above, average real GDP growth between yield curve inversion and the start of the recession is very close to, and even slightly above, the average of the full sample. This implies there is no such thing as a gradual cooling of the economy before slipping into recession. This helps explain why forecasting recessions is incredibly hard. Just ask the IMF, which has not been able to predict even half of the recessions just months before they started.
Has the yield curve inverted?
The yield curve, be it either the rate difference between the 10-year Treasury yield and the 3-month or 2-year yield, has a strong track record in predicting recessions. But has it inverted? Out of the last five recessions, the 10Y-2Y yield curve was always the first to signal a recession. This time, however, the 10Y-3M yield curve briefly inverted in late March, while the 10Y-2Y yield curve did not. While one should refrain from arguing that ‘this time is different’ as much as possible, the fact that the 10Y-3M curve inverted first makes this case different by definition. Quantitative easing followed by quantitative tightening (balance sheet reduction) could perhaps explain this divergent sequence, providing a potential argument why this yield curve inversion ‘doesn’t count’. But there were compelling reasons (a savings glut, structural budget surpluses) before to explain why yield curve inversions should not precede a recession. When looking at both yield curves and their forecasting history, it’s simply impossible to say if a recession signal has been given.
Still, as we believe it is possible to establish that we are in the later stages of the economic cycle, it could prove prudent to become somewhat less enthusiastic about the return prospects of corporate bonds (as reflected in our multi-asset portfolios) and be a bit more optimistic about those of commodities. To be continued…...
Courtesy of jeroenbloklandblog
Tags: yield curve, recession, rates
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Southern Company Subsidiary Sells Energy Center for $650M
Southern Power, a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider and subsidiary of Southern Company, announced that it has entered an agreement to sell the Mankato Energy Center to Xcel Energy for $650 million.
Mankato, a natural gas combined-cycle generation facility, will have a maximum capacity of approximately 760 megawatts upon completion of an ongoing expansion project. The completion of the sale, subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions, is expected to be mid-2019.
"The Mankato Energy Center is a valuable part of the local community and the regional energy infrastructure," said Southern Power President and CEO Mark Lantrip. "This transaction is a great opportunity to deliver value for the benefit of Southern Company shareholders."
Proceeds from this transaction will be used to strengthen the balance sheet of Southern Company and position Southern Power to continue providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable wholesale energy to its customers across the U.S, including the expansion of one of the nation's largest carbon-free renewable energy portfolios.
Barclays is serving as the financial advisor and Baker Botts is serving as primary legal counsel to Southern Power.
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Trimspa X32 Review (UPDATED 2019) – Is It Safe?
1. Trimspa X32 Overview
2. Trimspa X32 Ingredients
3. The Science Behind Trimspa X32
4. Word on the Street about Trimspa X32
5. Is Trimspa X32 Worth a Try?
6. Trimspa X32 FAQ
7. So What Really Works?
Trimspa X32 is a dietary supplement designed to help users stimulate their metabolism and lose weight. The product is an herbal supplement that claims to suppress natural appetite resulting in lost weight.
In the past, Trimspa has been linked to some nasty side effects from chest pains to death—while this issue has been remedied, it seems that there are still some red flags associated with the Trimspa brand. We’ve taken a closer look the Trimspa formula to find out whether or not it's a safe tool for weight loss or something that should be avoided at all costs.
Want to learn more about the best diet pills on the market? Click here to see our experts’ recommendations.
Trimspa X32 Overview
Trimspa X32 is a novel appetite suppressant made from the South African herb, hoodia gordonii, along with other herbs that work together to curb your appetite and indirectly reduce your overall caloric intake.
The product is made by the company Abbott Laboratories and was initially marketed by the company, Goen Technologies.
Trimspa X32 is probably best known from a few years back. Anna Nicole Smith was the spokesperson for the product, and the regularly ran on television. Trimspa was fairly popular for a while, before one of the key ingredients, ephedra, was banned by the FDA. The company filed for bankruptcy back in 2019 and has since made a new formula comprised of all-legal substances in compliance with the FDA ruling. The early version of the supplement was linked to some health issues, as well as a handful of deaths.
The owners of the brand have revamped the formula to keep consumers safe, moving the main ingredients from caffeine and ephedra to a collection of herbs and green tea.
The product contains an ingredient known as hoodia gordonii, an herb used by the hunters of South Africa. The herb helps stave off hunger and thirst, a real asset for hunters trekking through dry, unforgiving terrain. The product still relies on caffeine for the metabolism-boosting aspects of the formula.
According to the makers of Trimspa X32, users are advised to take four capsules per day. Two capsules in the morning, one around lunch time, and one in the evening. Each dose should be taken with eight ounces of water.
Read more about the diet pills designed to help you lose weight safely—click the link for the inside scoop.
Trimspa X32 Ingredients
According to the official packaging, Trimspa X32 contains a collection of herbs, plus green tea and dietary fiber. The whole purpose of this product is to stave off hunger pangs, so you won’t feel inclined to eat throughout the day. Here is a look at the product and how it promises to help you cut back on calories with minimal effort.
Cocoa Extract
Hoodia Gordonii is a succulent plant native to South Africa. This ingredient has been used by tribesmen for centuries, as it suppresses both hunger and thirst. Essential for enduring long periods without food or water.
While it seems to have been around for quite some time, hoodia gordonii has not been extensively used outside of this traditional context. Users are advised to drink plenty of water, as they may experience an absence of thirst with use.
Green Tea – Green tea is rich in antioxidants—good for immune health and fighting inflammation, as well as caffeine and L-theanine. As a result, green tea is thought to help boost the metabolism and promote a focused energy when consumed.
Cocoa Extract – Cocoa extract is rich in antioxidants, which work to counteract free radicals in the body. The ingredient also contains B vitamins and amino acids, including tryptophan, which is used to make serotonin. Serotonin plays a role in improving mood and sleep and may help suppress the appetite.
Vanadium is a colorful mineral used to help the body maintain healthy blood sugar levels. The ingredient is thought to act like insulin and may be used to treat anemia and improve athletic performance.
Glucosamine is used in this formula to prevent fat warehousing. The idea is, the ingredient is used to block insulin production and stimulate weight loss. Unfortunately, these claims do not seem to be substantiated.
Glucomannan is a fiber supplement and appetite suppressant. Glucomannan is the key ingredient in Japanese Shirataki noodles–those low-calorie noodles. Users need to drink plenty of water, as this ingredient can create an intestinal blockage and gum up your digestive system.
Find out about the best tools for weight loss–our expert-picked pills, shakes, and complete diets right here.
The Science Behind Trimspa X32
The British Journal of Health has found that people taking glucomannan, along with a psyllium husk supplement lost approximately 10 pounds in 16 weeks, without making any other lifestyle changes.
What we liked about this product, though, was the fact that it was a useful tool for helping people with limited diets meet their protein requirements. But, there’s a trade-off–users need to be careful that they are drinking water when using this product. Hoodia Gordonii staves off both hunger and thirst, and if you're not careful, you may become dehydrated.
Learn more about the best diet pills we’ve reviewed this year. Click here to see what our experts have to say.
Word on the Street about Trimspa X32
Trimspa X32 does have some positive reviews posted on the Amazon page and elsewhere. There were several accounts from users who said that they did, in fact, lose some weight. But, many users said this product made them feel jittery all day. This is in part, due to the caffeine content, but may be caused by the hoodia plant, which was initially taken to help South African hunters hunt successfully under challenging conditions.
Reviews seem to be mixed, but we can’t help but wonder if this product is a safe solution for people who want to lose weight. The caffeine content might not hurt everyone who consumes this product for weight loss, but there were enough who said this product made them feel ill, that left us feeling concerned about consumer safety.
According to some reviewers, the pills are quite large—especially given that the recommended dosage is 5 per day. Users who had tried the original formula reported that that version worked better—but, ephedra, the key ingredient has been shown to have some negative side effects—a few people have even died after use.
Finally, many of the negative reviews claimed that this product just wasn’t very effective. Several people said that the product didn’t do much to curb their appetite or lose weight. Some reviews we’ve seen have mentioned that this product consists of something like 40% caffeine—and as a result, may cause issues like insomnia, anxiety, or headaches.
Click here to learn more about the best diet pills on the market.
Is Trimspa X32 Worth a Try?
Trimspa X32 may be unsafe for dieters trying to lose weight. The product contains caffeine and the hoodia gordonii plant—both of which may cause users to feel jittery, nervous, or experience chest pain. The key ingredient, hoodia gordonii, hasn’t been widely studied in the US, but there’s enough evidence showing that the plant might not be the healthiest way to achieve weight loss goals.
The succulent plant’s main benefit is to curb appetite—and its original use was to help hunters avoid hunger pangs during times that food was scarce. During our research, we found some users who had tried the herb on its own experienced a decreased interest in eating that lasted several days. And according to a study by UCLA, hoodia gordonii turns off the body’s natural thirst signals as well.
With that in mind, we cannot recommend that our readers try Trimspa X32. While the brand has switched gears by ditching ephedra for something more natural, anything that messes with your body’s ability to feel hunger or thirst can be dangerous. Users run the risk of becoming dehydrated or not getting enough calories to support the body’s systems.
In all, hoodia gordonii has been in use for thousands of years, but it seems its role in the modern diet might not be appropriate.
Our top ten list of all-natural weight loss supplements. Click the link to see which ones made the cut.
Trimspa X32 FAQs
Hoodia Gordonii is one of the key elements in this blend. Traditionally, this succulent has been used as an appetite and thirst suppressant by African hunters facing long stretches without food or water.
Is Trimspa X32 similar to the original Trimspa?
Both supplements are appetite suppressants, but the original Trimspa was made with a now-banned supplement known as ephedra.
Where can I buy Trimspa X32, and how much does it cost?
Users may order the product directly from the Trimspa website. A bottle containing 70 pills will cost $29.95. While this may sound like a good deal, one bottle will last you just over two weeks, as the recommended dose is four pills per day. Shoppers can save by purchasing three or six bottles at a time.
Is this product also on Amazon?
No. The product page is still listed on Amazon, as are the customer reviews. However, it looks like the e-commerce retailer hasn't offered this item for a while.
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Apess, William (1798-1839)
Wendy Hayden
Voices of Democracy: The U. S. Oratory Project
Department of Communication,
2130 Skinner Building,
University of Maryland,
The following editorial note is provided by the editor.
Reproduced here is the version of the Eulogy on King Philip that appears in On Our Own Ground: The Complete Writings of William Apess, A Pequot, edited by Barry O’Connell (Amherst, Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Press, 1992), 277-310. This is the standard text that is now cited by all scholars working on Apess.
O’Connell explains in his “Textual Afterward” that the Eulogy appeared in two editions, in 1836 and 1837. The second version was considerably shortened, and he believes it reflects the version of the speech that Apess gave on the second occasion of its delivery (26 January 1836). O’Connell was able to compare the two versions in the two copies owned by the American Antiquarian Society, and so he is able to say with authority that “Apess’s revisions were more in the nature of condensation than any alteration of meaning and tone” (313). O’Connell, therefore, does not feel it necessary to indicate what was excised in the 1837 edition, although he points out that for interested scholars, libraries may be able to obtain a rare facsimile edition that marks these changes: Eulogy on King Philip, Lincoln Dexter, editor (Brookline, Massachusetts: Dexter, 1985) (313, 326).
O’Connell tells us that he has corrected obvious misspellings and typographical errors in the text, modernized and simplified Apess’s punctuation, and altered the spelling of some words to conform to contemporary American usage (313). All these changes seem helpful for contemporary students, who will also be assisted by O’Connell’s excellent footnotes, reproduced here.
O’Connell’s usage has also established the dominant spelling of Apess’s last name, which appears as “Apes” on some of his publications. O’Connell favors “Apess” because it is the spelling given on Apess’s last two publications, and therefore may be regarded as his “final word” on the spelling he preferred. O’Connell also believes that “Apess” assists in pronouncing the name correctly as it would be in Algonquian. (O’Connell explains his reasoning on this matter in a footnote, “Introduction,” xiv.)
The following are the textual notes provided by the editor. The location of these notes are indicated by paragraph number and the preceding few words.
6 men;: Philip’s father was the Pokanoket sachem Massasoit who, as the rest of the Eulogy makes clear, became the Pilgrims’ crucial ally.
7 1611),: Apess’s own notes will appear throughout this text within parentheses. He seems to have confused Thomas Hunt’s 1614 capture of about twenty Indians for sale as slaves with the exploits of Edward Harlow. Whereas Hunt tried unsuccessfully to sell his captives in Spain, Harlow commanded an expedition in 1611 to kidnap Indians for the purpose of making them guides for the English. Among those Harlow captured was Epenow (Epenuel), a sachem from Martha’s Vineyard. Epenow spent three years with Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the commander of the Plymouth fort in England who had an interest in colonizing New England. He told Gorges stories of fabulous gold miners. In 1614 Gorges sent an expedition back to find mines, only to Epenow leap overboard as the ship approached the island. Epenow’s countrymen assisted him by showering the boat with a barrage of arrows, wounding the captain and a number of his crew. From Neal Salisbury, Manitou and Providence: Indians, Europeans, and the Making of New England, 1500 1643 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1982), 95.
9 men): Iyanough of Cummaquid was one of the sachems who were counted as allies of the Plymouth Colony until Miles Standish lashed out against a “conspiracy” of Massachusett leaders in 1623, killing seven. From Salisbury, Manitou and Providence, 130-34.
10 (O.S.): Old Style. Dates were ten days earlier than they would be currently.
10 Pilgrims.: Samoset, an Abenaki whose people had experience trading with the English, and Squanto, a well-traveled captive who had been taken to England at one time, arranged for the March 1621 meeting between the Pokanoket and the English that resulted in a treaty. The treaty, in addition to symbolizing the mutual good will between the Pokanoket and the colonizers, freed Squanto to live with the English, whom he served as an interpreter, guide, and diplomat. From Salisbury, Manitou and Providence, 114-16.
11 live.: Thomas Weston, a non Separatist London merchant, formed a second colony in 1622 at Wessagusset, north of the Plymouth colony, consisting of sixty single men, most of whom had arrived earlier at Plymouth without adequate provisions. Ibid., 125.
11 Wittumumet,: Wituwament, a Massachusett sachem, was lured into in English home and killed with his own knife as part of Standish’s preventive attacks to frustrate the Massachusett “conspiracy.” Ibid., 130.
12 dead.: A Massachusett who led a band of fifty to sixty followers. Ibid., 184.
13 whatever.”: Captain Thomas Dermer led expeditions to New England on behalf of Ferdinando Gorges in 1619 and 1620. The incident Dermer recounted occurred in the summer of 1620 when an English crew coasting along Massachusetts Bay invited some Pokanokets onto the ship and then murdered them.
14 so.: This passage refers to Squanto, who plotted against Massasoit but was protected by the Pilgrims, who needed his aid.
16 suspicion.: Alexander was the eldest son of Massasoit and Philip’s brother. Apess’s account captures what seems actually to have occurred.
16 Mather,: This is Increase Mather, Cotton Mather’s father. Both wrote virulently against Indians, but it was Increase Mather who wrote most at length on King Philip’s War.
17 men.: Tisquantum was another name for Squanto. Coubantant was a sachem at Nemasket who had kidnapped Squanto and another of Plymouth’s Indian advisers in August 1621.
18 Essex.: This is Mascononomo, and the “Pilgrims” he is welcoming were actually the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, whose governor was John Winthrop.
20 1622;: Apess, as he makes clear later in the speech, takes December 22 as the day the Pilgrims landed and stepped on Plymouth Rock. They in fact arrived in Massachusetts in December 1620. The landing at the rock is a piece of later mythology, which grew up alongside a celebration of the Founding Fathers. These twin icons in Euro American culture each found an early and supreme articulator in Daniel Webster. Apess is, very consciously, I think, echoing and disputing Webster’s reverential reading both of the “Fathers” and of the Pilgrims. The relevant speeches, among the best known cultural expressions in Apess’s day, are Webster’s “First Settlement of’ New England” delivered at Plymouth on December 22, 1 820, and his “Adams and Jefferson” delivered in Faneuil Hall, Boston, on August 2, 1826, the year the two men died on July 4 -an irresistibly evocative coincidence.
23 Indians.: Mob violence, both in rural and urban areas, increased dramatically in the 1830s in the United States, reaching its peak in the summer of 1835. Anti-abolitionist mobs have been the most noticed but there were also nativist mobs attacking Catholics. anti Mormon mobs, vigilantes lynching gamblers and others, and workingmen’s mobs. Anti abolition and anti Negro mobs were particularly common and nowhere more so than in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
23 defend.: Canonicus was a sachem of the Narragansett who, with his nephew, Miantonomi, led the Narragansett so well that they were able to make tributary, without going to war, most of the Indian groups of the region from Narragansett Bay nearly to Boston.
41 World: His “comers from the New World” may only be a slip of the pen, referring as he is to the Europeans, who are conventionally, of course, from the “Old” World, having “discovered” the “New” This is, however, so like Apess’s wit and his delight in inverting the conventions of language through which Europeans validated their presence and their dominance in the Americas that it may be entirely deliberate–for the Europeans were of course from a new world from the perspective of Native Americans.
41 rights.: I have not been able to identify this poem.
45 Pocasset,: The battle began July 18, 1675. It started when fifteen Englishmen were killed in ambush in woods so thick that there was fear the English would shoot one another.
49 Hill.: Opposite present day Sunderland, Massachusetts.
52 Rowlandson,: Mary Rowlandson was captured, along with three of her children, by a group of Philip’s allies in an attack that destroyed her home village of Lancaster, Massachusetts. She was ransomed after six months of living with Indian war parties. Her Narrative of her captivity, published in 1682, became almost instantly popular and inaugurated one of the most important genres in American literature. Apess has read the Narrative carefully because, despite speaking “with bitterness sometimes of the Indians,” she does present a human and even fond portrait of Philip, one from which we can get a glimpse of the very considerable man to whom Apess pays tribute.
53 battle.: Benjamin Church was the most successful of the leaders of the forces of the United Colonies against Philip. His sympathy with the Indians, his close knowledge of them, and his careful wooing of groups who were either unfriendly to Philip of otherwise uncertain about the war enabled him, as Apess rightly argues, to succeed where most of the other English commanders failed -in part because of their disdain for the Indians and a refusal to consider their ways.
54 others;: At the end of the Pequot War of 1637 the English sold a number of Pequots, men, women, and children, into slavery in Bermuda as part of their determination to wipe out the culture so they would never again be at risk of being challenged by it. The Pequots on Bermuda, though long out of touch with their New England brethren, have maintained a somewhat distinctive cultural identity to the present.
58 34th verse,: “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do.'”
58 60th verse,: “Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’; and when he said this, he fell asleep.”
63 Gookin,: Daniel Gookin was an early attendant among the Indians and of their history. His Historical Collections of the Indians in New England was published in 1792.
70 Logan,: Logan’s speech, made after having his home and family destroyed by the English in 1774, was often quoted in this period as follows: “I appeal to any white to say, if ever he entered Logan’s cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites that my countrymen pointed as they passed and said, ‘Logan is the friend of the white men.’ I had even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Col. Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, murdered all the relations of Logan; not even sparing my women and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it. I have killed many. I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country, I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan–Not one!”
Library of Congress Classification
Algonquian
Philip, Sachem of the Wampanoags, d. 1676. Subheadings: Indians, Treatment of–Massachusetts, King Philip’s War, 1675-1676, Wampanoag Indians–Biography.
E83.67
VOD Associate Editor
Gaines, Robert N.
Created TEI header and xml conformant file. Validated on 25 March 2006 in XMetal 3.1.3 against teixlite.dtd (version 2004-07-16)
Hayden, Wendy
compiled electronic text
proofread edited electronic text
additional formatting
Stillion Southard, Belinda
formatted footnotes into editorial notes; completed bibliographic information
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USD falls in WBI semis
April 2nd, 2013 Sydney Mook Sports, Women's Basketball comments
The University of South Dakota women’s basketball season came to a close on the evening of March 28 at the DakotaDome.
The team ended its season with a loss to McNeese State in the semifinals of the Women’s Basketball Invitational, falling 71-63 after blowing a 12-point lead over the Cowgirls. The loss gave the team a 19-16 overall record to end the season.
The team comes away with four postseason wins in their first year as a Division-I team and also finished third in the regular season of the Summit League. The team had previously been ranked sixth in Summit League preseason polls, but the team’s resilience throughout the season is one reason senior Alexis Yackley said they did as well as they did.
“One thing myself and Tempestt kind of hung our hats on was being tough and resilient and never being afraid to go into any game,” Yackley said. “That’s kind of what we tried to exude in practice and on the court in games to everybody. I may not be the tallest, strongest, fastest or most athletic, but I can always play the hardest. I think our team kind of exuded that.”
Four seniors, including Yackley, Sam Mehr, Pam January and Tempestt Wilson played their final game in a USD uniform. Head coach Amy Williams credited the foursome for pushing the team every day, whether it was a game day or a simple mid-week practice.
“You can’t even measure where the seniors have left this program,” Williams said. “They have completely poured their hearts and souls into what it means to be apart of Coyote women’s basketball. We try to tell our underclassmen about how appreciative they should be to this group of seniors for what they’ve gone through to pave the way for our program.”
Williams said she looks forward to the next few seasons as they continue to develop the program into something a little more each season. She hopes to set the bar and raise expectations each season as USD learns the ropes of what it means to be a D-I school.
“I hope that the first thing that happens is that the expectations are raised,” Williams said. “I would like for our program to continue to work to raise the bar. I’m hoping it will make all of our returning players hungry to continue to raise the bar and just continue that postseason trend.”
Despite the loss of pivotal seniors, several underclassmen gained valuable experience after logging major minutes throughout the season. Yackley said USD has a bright future with such experienced youth on its roster.
“We had 10 people, and played in five postseason games,” Yackley said. “A lot of the freshmen got a lot of playing time because they had to in certain cases. That can only help for the future.”
The seniors expressed gratitude to all of the Coyote fans who supported them throughout their four years of play and said though they were disappointed with the end result, they were glad to have their season end in front of the home crowd.
“We would have liked to win (against SDSU) but we’re excited we got to extend our careers for a little longer, win two road games and then get one last chance to play in front of Coyote fans and our parents. Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way, but we had a great run,” Yackley said.
Sydney Mook
Sydney Mook is the video editor for the Volante. She is a senior double majoring in Media and Journalism and Political Science. Sydney has interned for South Dakota Public Broadcasting and for the Army ROTC, Cadet Summer Training program.
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Magen Chan, a first-year IOR, teaches a speech 101 class Monday. Logan Rahn | Volante
Graduate assistants balance work, classes
October 18th, 2017 Lauren Soulek Campus, Student Life comments
There are about 450 graduate assistants currently teaching on campus. Learning to balance their student and assistant responsibilities helps them prepare for post-graduation.
Ranjit Koodali, the dean of graduate education, said there are four types of GAs.
Koodali said the biggest benefit students receive from being a graduate assistant is the stipend.
“The South Dakota Board of Regents, they set a minimum standard that all public institutions have to comply,” he said. “It is up to the departments or schools or colleges to give a higher stipend.”
The minimum stipend set by SDBOR in this fiscal year is $3,763 per semester, but some grants allow for students to receive higher stipends, Koodali said.
“For example, typically in a doctoral program, Ph.D., and materials chemistry, students receive $24,000 annually for 12 months,” he said. “There are grants in which students receive as high as $34,000. So the stipends vary from the minimum to as high as $34,000 annually.”
Another benefit of being a graduate assistant, Koodali said, is the reduced tuition. They still have to pay the full fees, however.
“If one is a resident of South Dakota, you pay 53 percent of the resident tuition fees, if one is a non-resident, you pay 63 percent of the resident tuition fees,” Koodali said.
Koodali said graduate assistants also have the benefit of getting hands-on teaching experience, conducting research with faculty and learning new knowledge or skills in their disciplines.
“So collectively, the stipend, the reduced tuition and that work experience be it in a teaching setting, research, clinical or administrative setting, are the three benefits that I think graduate students have during their studies,” he said.
Magen Chan, a first-year graduate student IOR, is studying communication studies. She said in addition to the tuition reduction and stipend, she’s enjoyed the teaching experience.
“It’s great, of course, since I’m an international student, I think teaching speech classes will help my communication skills especially,” Chan said.
Chan teaches two Speech 101 courses.
“I’m learning a lot because speech 101 is a really basic course that we took in freshman (year)… so it’s like refreshing memories and communication skills for sure,” Chan said.
Types of assistantships
The first type is graduate teaching assistants, GTAs. Koodali said there are roughly 50 of them across multiple departments on campus.
A subclass of those are the graduate teaching assistants who are called instructors of record, IORs. Koodali said they’re given full freedom to develop a course under the mentorship of faculty.
The next type of assistants are graduate clinical assistants. Koodali said the two largest groups of assistants are the graduate research assistants, GRAs, and the graduate administrative assistants, GAAs.
“We do have a breakdown of the graduate assistantships in each department, and it varies depending on the size of the graduate programs,” Koodali said. “Some have certificates and masters, some have master specialists and doctoral programs, some have only masters program, and so the number of students vary depending on the size of the graduate programs.”
A balancing act
Graduate assistants are also full-time students. Mominul Islam, a second-year graduate student GAA studying computer science, said it’s tough to balance it all, but “doable.”
“Sometimes when I have more homework assignments and midterms, quizzes and all this stuff, in that time probably I have some work, but they’ll be flexible to work with them,” Islam said. “I just tell them, ‘Hey I have a exam, I have a quiz or I have an online test, so can I just reschedule my schedule’ and they give us those flexibilities.”
Islam works for USD’s Information Technology Services, ITS.
Chan said she uses her office hours as much as possible to help balance her schedule.
“I prepare my teaching the day before and during the weekend and I use a lot of office hours,” Chan said. “Before class I will come back and after class I will come back to office as well and just use any time to try to work on my own homework and prepare the class.”
Cheyenne Marco, an IOR, is in the fourth year of her Ph.D. program and studying English with an emphasis in creative writing.
“For me, it’s really about sitting down and knowing that okay, from 9:30 to 12:15, I’m going to be teaching,” Marco said. “From 12:15 to 3:15 I’m going to be in my office and I’m going to be working either on grading papers or I’m going to be talking to students, or maybe I use that time to catch up with colleagues. Then after that, it’s very rigorous scheduling that I’m going to spend an hour working on my coursework, I’m going to spend an hour working on lesson plans, an hour working on my dissertation and just kind of making sure that I’m checking off boxes throughout the day.”
Islam said having the discipline to manage his time as a graduate assistant will help him in the future. Islam will finish school this December and his goal is to work for IT in big companies.
“I mean, you always find a way or always find a good schedule so you can manage it or you can use your time as best you can because you have to study or you have to work,” Islam said.
Marco, who’s graduating in May of 2019, said she plans to continue teaching.
“I’ve had such great support here at USD, it’s helped me kind of recognize the tools that it takes to be a great teacher while I’m here at USD,” Marco said. “And how to talk about my experience and how I can use that on a resume to get the job that I want.”
Chan said she’s not sure what she wants to do after graduation yet.
“No plan is the plan,” Chan said. “I think it just depends on these next two years, how I do in my job and my studies.”
Marco said the graduate program does a lot to instill responsibility in graduate students.
“Recognizing that you’re not just responsible for yourself as a scholar, but you’re responsible for other students as well, that you’re kind of responsible for furthering the field,” Marco said. “You do that in a classroom and you do that by inspiring the next generation. So for me it’s really about teaching and really getting to kind of help guide students in their love for the profession.”
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Today's concert flashback is from 19 years ago today. I pulled it off of a pole the week of the show, and have had it ever since. Anyone remember Digits and Peaches? Firehose just started playing shows again (for the first time since 1994) in the past few weeks. They formed out of the ashes of of The Minutemen in 1986. This flyer is from their show at The Flood Zone on April 13th, 1993 with Jettison Charlie & Crackerbash. Below the flyer is a review I found online of the show, as well as the video for the song Blaze, off Mr. Machinery Operator, the album they were supporting at this show.
Jettison Charlie are local Richmond, have been around for upwards of six years, and appear on the verge of taking a decisive step forward. They've had a change in bass personnel and haven't lost a step, while putting a different kind of punch behind their songs. This was their first gig at the Zone, which has the best sound in Richmond (although that's not saying much), and I was excited to see them LOUD. They were, and they were also spot on. They ripped through a fiercely tight 45 minute set or so, mixing the heavy with the lilting. To make a lame attempt at comparison (and to compare them with a band few humans have heard), they do a lot of the same fussing with dynamics of tempo and volume that Hassan Chop! do, but a lot more seamlessly and with fewer jaunts into the odd. They also are fond of starts and stops. One guitar, somewhat metal-ish bass, and crisp, busy drums. They're doing a bunch of shows up and down the coast of East end of this month/beginning of next month in places like Balt, NY, Brooklyn, Portchester, Hartford, Boston, etc. Go see them. They're good.
Crackerbash were a surprise--I had expected Helios Creed, who had done support on either side of this gig, but in the end I'm sure HC wouldn't have been as enjoyable. Crackerbash are from Portland and have an album coming out on Empty Records. The lead singer looks like Joe Strummer with dyed blond eyebrows and a snootful of crank in his brain. The drummer weighs about 300 pounds and is active enough to make me ashamed that i don't thrash myself around as much as he does. Anyhow, the music seems deceptively simple but rocks really hard, mostly due to the guitar, which squeals and skronks its way through the whole set. The bass is left to carry the melodies, strummed in chords. The whole band has an abundance of energy and really infects a crowd. By the end, folks were well enamored of Crackerbash. The final song was done with Watt joining in on bass--I'd feel like the coolest guy on the planet if I was playing guitar and looked over to see Watt thunking away with me on bass.
I was hoping that the new material from the Hose would be better live than it sounded on record. I must now entirely blame J Mascis for fucking up Mr Machinery Operator, because it's the same old Hose. The new stuff is harder and a shade less funkdriven, but I like that stuff better. They showed a lot of chutzpa to play some of their quieter material, though, for a crowd that wanted to push and sweat.
During the set, Mike or somebody in front put a beer bottle down on a monitor. I guess it fell over or something, because the stage volume sound guy rushed over in the middle of a song to retrieve it and mop up. Watt lambasted him for doing too much coke, and nearly pushed him off stage into the crowd. He continued to yell at the guy the whole set. They did all the fave standards--Chemical Wire, Brave Captain, Honey Please, Slack Motherfucker, Revolution, etc. During Revolution, a fracas ensued between a man and a woman. The man was being overly slamhappy (I guess--the crowd seemed kind of tame to me), and she was talking to him about it. He pushed her away, I guess, because when he turned around again she popped him one right on the jaw. fIREHOSE only saw the guy pushing back, and gave him grief for hitting a girl. Oi. Oh, also, Watt kept getting shocked by the mike throughout the set, so they chose this opportunity to just quit.
If you're disappointed by the new album, go see them live. You'll feel better about yourself, and the world too. In fact, you'll probably go right out and donate to charity.
Labels: ad, music, The Flood Zone
Cool, I went to that show. I have the same flyer with George Hurley's autograph on the back.
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How mobile technology is empowering displaced youth learners
Roland Kalamo lives and studies at Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. The Congolese university student and youth community activist is pursuing a degree in Applied Arts. “It is human behaviour to think that everyone is just like you and that we all are the same,” he says. “Yet, the similarities we have as humans are not applicable in all the fields.” Roland’s words kicked off the Mobile Learning Week Symposium’s on how technology can provide continuity of education for displaced learners.
Roland says that while refugee learners face numerous obstacles, they also carry the potential to transform educational practices. “A normal citizen learns to fit into society,” he says. “But a refugee brings change to a society.” For Roland, who studies with Jesuit World Learning’s online diploma program, education provides him with skills and knowledge, and empowers him as a community leader. It has brought him to think differently about his role in his community. Roland says he has learned to listen to people who do not agree with him or his ideas and seek to find common ground. While pursuing his diploma, he founded an organization with other refugees called Movement of Youth for Peace and Change, which teaches youth at Kakuma about human rights, peace building and conflict resolution through training in arts like cinema and music, language, journalism and sports.
After his own experience with mobile learning, Roland is inspired to empower other young people to understand that they are part of the solutions to their own problems. Rosalind Hudnell, President of sponsoring organization Intel Foundation, addressed his words in her plenary address. “Roland is right. A refugee is not just a refugee. A refugee is a student, a teacher, and a social transformer,” she said.
Mobile solutions to address the challenges of displaced people
Although there are multiple obstacles such as connectivity facing refugee learners like Roland, mobile learning provides them with an opportunity to invest in their own lives and potential, gaining some control over their futures. “When a refugee is using mobile learning, they enjoy the same rights as a normal citizen and no matter the circumstances,” Roland says. “If they’re alive and have access to internet, nothing will stop them from learning.”
The program of Mobile Learning Week is designed to present diverse initiatives and facilitate discussion and collaboration between actors across different sectors of society. Participants, whether national ministers of education or leaders at a grassroots NGO, will return to their countries with plans and solutions toward successfully integrating mobile technologies to aid education in crises.
Mobile Learning Week exhibited two UNHCR tents used by refugee families, one assembled with a living kit to manifest the living and learning conditions of those displaced, and another with live demonstrations of mobile-learning solutions designed to work in unstable conditions or without internet connectivity.
Interactive Workshops, from a solar-powered digital audio player for teacher education in South Sudan, to smartphone games for Syrian refugee children, demonstrated how mobile solutions are able to meet the unique challenges of displaced people.
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hide You are viewing an archived web page, collected at the request of University of Alberta using Archive-It. This page was captured on 16:48:02 Dec 08, 2010, and is part of the HCF Alberta Online Encyclopedia collection. The information on this web page may be out of date. See All versions of this archived page. Enable QA View Missing URLs Skip over navigation
Blue Quills Residential School
When French Catholic missionaries first arrived in Western Canada, they brought with them the belief that the Aboriginal people of the region would benefit from Western education, a belief supported by the Treaties enacted between the First Nations and the Canadian government. In fact, Western civilization was regarded by the Oblates as superior in almost every way, and most priests held tightly to the conviction that cultural assimilation was essential to the spiritual salvation of all Aboriginal People.
By the beginning of the 20th century, attendance at school was made mandatory for all Aboriginal children between the ages of seven and fifteen. Today, the various players in the residential schooling system—the churches, the government and Aboriginal peoples—are engaged in an active examination and assessment of the impact that residential schooling has had on the spiritual health of Canada’s First Nations communities. They were frequently removed from their homes under the belief that cultural isolation was necessary to successfully assimilate them into Western society.
In Alberta, the Oblates operated the Blue Quills Indian Residential School first, at Lac La Biche in 1862, and then at Saddle Lake in 1898. By 1931, there were 20 Indian Residential schools in Alberta and the Blue Quill School was relocated five kilometres west of St. Paul. Of those 20 schools Blue Quills holds a unique place in Canadian history. Classes, from kindergarten to grade eight, were taught by the Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate and the Grey Nuns.
In 1969, the partnership between the applicable churches and the Canadian government in Aboriginal education officially ended. The government undertook rapid measures to close the remaining residential schools in Canada. When they attempted to close Blue Quills in 1971, the Department of Indian Affairs encountered protests from the local First Nations people. In a landmark decision, control of the school was turned over to the Blue Quills Native Education Council and became the first Canadian residential school administered by Aboriginal people. The move paved the way for other changes relating to Aboriginal self-government, and in 1973 the federal government transferred administrative control of Aboriginal education to band councils. Blue Quills is now a First Nations college that operates on the principles of Nehiyaw Mamtonecihkan (Indian thought) and Moniyaw Mamtonecihkan (white academic thought). Students enroll in a variety of programs including high school upgrading, computer technology, arts, leadership and a variety of trade programs.
In 1986, over a century after the first students entered Blue Quills, the last Canadian residential school still in operation closed its doors.
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The Royal British Legion is a body incorporated by Royal Charter rather than under the Companies Act.
The Charter sets out the Legion's objectives and powers. It also details how the organisation is to be structured, organised, managed and run.
The first Charter was granted to the British Legion, as it was known then, in 1925 by King George V.
That first Charter has been changed by various Supplemental Charters to develop alongside the needs of the serving and ex-Service community, and the evolving structure of The Royal British Legion.
Motions for amendments to the Charter can be put forward by the Legion's members and are debated at Annual Conference.
View The Royal Charter.
There are many ways you can give to The Royal British Legion. From a one-off donation or giving a gift in memory - there's something for everyone.
We're at the heart of a national network helping our Armed Forces. We provide lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.
The Legion was formed on 15 May 1921, bringing together four organisations of ex-servicemen that had established themselves after the First World War.
We remember all who serve, have served and their families, not just those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice.
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Unity key to fighting Israeli government’s racism
Ahmad Tibi, right, is the leader of the Arab Movement for Change (Ta'al). (Reuters)
Palestinians living in Israel have always had some power to change things, but they have never fully used it. It is about time they took their rights more seriously.
Last week, we saw another Israeli leader, Likud’s Yoav Galant, turn to the racist right, embracing apartheid discrimination and denying the inalienable rights of Palestinians to statehood without even a protest from Israel’s “democratic” leadership.
Anti-Palestinian hate is a fact of life in Israel. The Palestinian population there should wake up and recognize that, together, they can make a difference.
There are more than 1.8 million Palestinian citizens of Israel, making up about 20 percent of the country’s 8.8 million population. When they do vote, they constitute the third-largest voting bloc in the country. One fifth of the population may not sound like much, but it is significant if every Palestinian living in Israel who has the right to vote actually voted. They could become a powerful foundation to trigger real change in Israel.
It won’t be easy. Anti-Palestinian feeling is ingrained in almost every level of Israeli Jewish society. But the hatred that represents today’s Israel is not the character that is at the heart of Judaism.
These Palestinians might become the vanguard of a new revolution to change Israel and turn it into a real democracy, while also championing the rights of those who live under Israeli occupation in the West Bank and oppression in the Gaza Strip, as well as in the diaspora.
Steps have already been taken to unify the Palestinians living in Israel, and all they need to do is be smarter, strategize more cleverly and work the system.
Palestinian citizens of Israel face many challenges and are targeted by more than 65 laws that dilute their rights in the so-called Israeli democracy. Each year brings new discriminatory legislation, such as the “nation-state” law that denigrates non-Jews and reinforces apartheid practices.
Israelis also face growing challenges. The population is aging in an overcrowded country that has been described as racing toward “disaster.” Palestinians have a higher birthrate than Jews in Israel, but the Jewish-focused leadership has been addressing that by suppressing the Palestinian population while funding and nurturing the Jewish population.
The Arab Joint List was formed in response to an effort to undermine the voting power of the Palestinian community. When Israel was founded, it established a law that required political parties to receive at least 1 percent of the votes cast to qualify for a seat in the Knesset. But, with the Palestinian population in Israel growing at a faster rate than that of Jews, the percentage threshold was steadily increased. In 2014, it went from 2 percent to 3.25 percent.
After forming the Arab Joint List in 2015, the four major Palestinian political parties won 13 seats in the Knesset, Israel’s legislature, making it the third largest bloc behind the Likud (30 seats) and the Zionist Union (24 seats). But it now looks as if the Palestinians’ leadership in Israel is splintering as the country moves closer to elections in April.
The Joint List is being fractured as rivals battle for the leadership. Ahmad Tibi, who I believe comes closest to understanding the power of the vote, has been drifting away from a unified Palestinian voter coalition. In November, he kept his party, Ta’al, away from a caucus called by the Joint List’s three other groups, Hadash, the United Arab List, and Balad. Since then, working relations have worsened.
It is so bad that Palestinian writer Odeh Bisharat wrote in a column in Haaretz recently that the “unity” has been officially shattered. But I’m not so pessimistic. Political rivalries always surface among powerful movements, but the allure of power achievable only through unity is also a very powerful force. Tibi and his fellow political leaders must know that they cannot lead anything if the unity fractures. All they will be doing is allowing Israel’s government to become even more racist, even more discriminatory and even stronger.
The answer to the rising racism in Israel is not disunity, but a unified Palestinian vote within the country that stands together and aims to end the growing discrimination and achieve equality.
Ray Hanania is an award-winning former Chicago City Hall political reporter. Twitter: @RayHanania
Faisal Faeq
Higher Saudi fuel prices are a small price to pay for reform
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Chilean and American Chamber honors Governor Wolf
Leslie Richards, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, accepted the Friend of Chile Award on behalf of Governor Tom Wolf, who was unable to attend the ceremony.
The Chilean and American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia held its 20th Annual Friend of Chile Awards Luncheon on Friday.
Chilean and American Chamber honors Governor...
By John N. McGuire
Governor Tom Wolf is a leader who values the strong trade relationship between the Philadelphia area and Chile. Now, his commitment to furthering this bond has earned him a special recognition.
On Friday, Nov. 17, Wolf was awarded the Friend of Chile Award by the Chilean and American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia at the 20th Annual Friend of Chile Awards Luncheon. The ceremony was held at the Union League of Philadelphia.
The chamber also honored Robert Palaima, President of Delaware River Stevedores, with the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Governor Wolf was recognized for his dedication to enhancing the Port of Philadelphia, a major hub of trade between Chile and the U.S. Last year, Wolf announced a $300 million investment toward the port as part of a comprehensive Capital Investment Program. According to the chamber, this investment will improve and expand the port’s infrastructure and facilities, strengthening the Philadelphia area’s trade relationship with Chile while creating growth opportunities and thousands of jobs in the process.
Leslie Richards, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, accepted the Friend of Chile Award on behalf of Governor Wolf, who was unable to attend the ceremony. She spoke of Wolf's commitment to the state’s transportation systems and economy.
“He and I both recognize that our ports are a critical part of our transportation network that fuels economic growth for all of us here in the commonwealth,” Richards said.
Along with improving infrastructure, the investment into the Port of Philadelphia addresses warehousing and equipment needs, Richards said, adding that the project is expected to double container capacity at the port.
“One of the biggest increases in the Port of Philadelphia cargo has been from Chile, especially in fruit cargo,” Richards said. “We look forward to continuous success in this industry.”
The Port of Philadelphia project will continue through 2020, Richards noted.
Juan Gabriel Valdés, Ambassador of Chile to the United States, also spoke at the ceremony. He affirmed that the implementation of Wolf’s policies regarding the Port of Philadelphia will have a positive impact on Chile's trade partnership with the U.S.
Palaima received the chamber's Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to ensuring the success of the Ports of Philadelphia, Camden and Wilmington, including his role in negotiating labor agreements to foster competition among the ports. He has played a pivotal role in retaining key commodities for the Port of Philadelphia, including steel, automobiles and Chilean fruit.
In addition to his work leading Delaware River Stevedores, Palaima serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Chilean and American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Maritime Society and Board of Managers of the Seamen's Church Institute, among other groups.
Past honorees at the annual luncheon include former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, former Delaware Governor Jack Markell and President of the New Jersey Senate Stephen M. Sweeney.
LESLIE RICHARDS
JUAN GABRIEL VALDés
Chilean and American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia
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Mazie Hirono, the only immigrant serving in the U.S. Senate, is a force to be reckoned with
Photo showing the then representative of the House, Mazie Hirono, at a campaign event in Honolulu, on August 11, 2012. Source: AP.
In a country where the immigrant feels threatened and unprotected on a daily basis, the story of Mazie Hirono is an example that the United States is still a place where fulfilled dreams are the real wealth.
Mazie Hirono, the only immigrant serving in...
Few have paid attention to the smiling senator with Asian features who fervently participates in every debate.
It wasn’t until June 2017 that her speech on the floor of the Senate put the focus of the cameras on her history.
"We are all one diagnosis away from having a serious illness," said Mazie Hirono (Koori, Japan, 1947), a senator from the state of Hawaii. "Lots of us believe that getting a serious illness is something that happens to other people. I was one of them."
Making public her recent diagnosis of kidney cancer, Sen. Hirono put on the table the importance of saving Obamacare.
"(The diagnosis) is a moment everyone dreads. Thankfully, I have health insurance," she added. "I was able to sit down with my doctors and decide how I would fight my cancer, and not how I would pay for treatment."
Since then, the story of this politician has made headlines, as an immigrant first in many things.
Hirono is the first woman to be elected senator in Hawaii, the first American woman of Asian origin to reach the Senate, the first member of the Senate born in Japan, and the first to be a Buddhist (even though she considers herself non-practicing).
Born in Fukushima Prefecture, her mother was an American citizen and her maternal grandfather had immigrated to Hawaii to work in the sugarcane plantations.
After a torturous marriage in Japan, her mother decided to immigrate with her children to Hawaii, and offer them a better life away from her native island, as recalled by MidWeek in 2007.
A childhood of deprivation and a working mother allowed her, little by little, to train and study while working to help her family. After graduating from the University of Hawaii at Manoa as a psychologist, she then left the island to attend law school at Georgetown University, and returned to Honolulu in 1978 to practice as a lawyer, reported Medium.
At a time when female representation in politics was virtually non-existent, Hirono was elected in 1980 as representative of the 12th District as a Democratic candidate. During three redistricting processes, Hirono was elected to districts 20, 32 and 22, serving as a representative in the Chamber of Hawaii and passing more than 120 laws. In 1994, she left her seat to become governor of the island, winning with 65 percent of the vote and being reelected in 1998.
Despite being a favorite of the population, Hirono lost the governorship in 2002 to the mayor of Maui, Republican Linda Lingle.
Returning to the House race, Hirono won the seat for the 2nd District with 61 percent of the votes in 2006 and was re-elected for the next two terms.
Her work was that of "more actions and fewer words", marking a strong position in support of abortion, medical care and protection of the environment.
In May 2011, Hirono announced her candidacy for the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Daniel Akaka after his retirement, winning the primary in August, and defeating her former opponent, Linda Lingle.
Hirono thus became the first female senator from Hawaii, and the first immigrant to reach the floor of the Senate.
Her positions have been clear in terms of gun control (she received an F rating from the National Rifle Association), constantly voting in favor of strengthening control measures, and regarding the right to access to healthcare, especially after her cancer diagnosis in 2017.
Today, she has decided to speak clearly about her opposition to Trump’s management, emphasizing her personal trajectory.
"Immigrants come here and leave everything they know behind," she said in an interview with TIME magazine. "We have a sense of the opportunities that this country provides. We do not take those for granted."
"Our country is made up of groups of immigrants who came hoping for a better life. They created America. It's a sad thing to have so many people not remember that, including Trump. His people came from another country, not to mention that his wife is an immigrant."
immigrant senator
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Internet - International - Panafrica - Development - Telecommunications - Technology
Africa-Europe underwater cable: West Africa to get high speed internet
Monday 14 June 2010 / by Christelle Gerand
France Telecom and a consortium of 20 members of the telecommunications industry, Saturday, signed an agreement to build an underwater cable between Europe and South Africa. The fiber optic cable is expected to provide broadband internet access to 19 African countries by 2012.
West Africa will be plugged into a 17 000 km fiber optic cable that is to link 23 countries from France to South Africa in 2012. Though the construction approval has been signed and the cable built, "deep-sea exploration for implantation in (both) unprotected and authorized zones will take a year and a half," says Didier Duriez, Director of International and Backbone Network, with France Telecom-Orange. "The cable laying will last one year after which it will be connected to the already existing cable system," he adds.
The ACE system (Africa Coast to Europe) will be the first under-water cable to serve 23 African and European countries. Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe and Sierra Leone are among the first to be connected to this under-water cable. Other countries include South Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Spain, France, Gabon, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal. Landlocked Mali and Niger will be connected via a terrestrial cable.
Didier Duriez admits that although this might "not directly change the lives of low income earners", African operators will be able to offer their services at a "lower cost."
Lower prices expected
The $700 million (587 million euros) investment, out of which France Telecom-Orange is to shoulder 250 million, will eventually see the lowering of broadband access rates. "The cost depends mainly on domestic connectivity. The international segment accounts for only 20-25%. In this area, however, prices will certainly be lowered: the lowering of the unit cost will eventually be set at 50% in the least," said Didier Duriez.
Equatorial Guinea is the only country where the state itself took part in the investment program. Funding in the other countries is indirect as most governments own substantial shares in telecommunications companies.
While the cable could see a throughput of up to 5 terabytes, "the quality will depend on the country’s infrastructure" says Didier Duriez. And for the cable to function at its best, wireless infrastructure must be developed.
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The God I Know
Yesterday, I said that we need to cut Job's friends a little bit of slack - they're just speaking from what they know about God. They're not trying to have a limited theology. They're not trying to get it "wrong." They simply know what they know. They've experienced what they've experienced. They've been taught what they've been taught.
And if you read the way that Job handles this, it's a good lesson for all of us.
Job never really tells his friends how wrong they are. He doesn't tell them that what they're saying is not true. In fact, Job even says some things that seem very close to what his friends are saying - all of the men present understand the contractual, covenantal nature of God and the way that human faithfulness is correlated with His pleasure. That much is not up for debate.
But what we see in Job's dialogue is an attempt to introduce to his friends a grander idea of God. He doesn't say they are wrong, but he certainly calls out their theology as limited. Every time he gets the chance, he claims that God is greater than what they can even imagine. In other words, You're not wrong, friends, but there is so much more to God.
He does this in a bit of an interesting way, by referring to his own character to show God's, to get his friends out of their contractual mindset. To them, there is only one very limited way to be faithful, and it is to act out the law according to their own interpretation of it. But Job shows how the law is more encompassing than even they know, how his life is a testimony to keeping God's commands in ways that they never could imagine in their narrow definitions.
And if Job's nature is broader, yet still firmly rooted in the law, then God's nature must also be greater than they could ever imagine.
God, Job testifies, is not one-for-one; He is One-for-all.
I love this theological debate that takes place between these friends. In our modern minds, we see that they are all just trying to be "right," but what's really going on is that these guys are sitting around trying to figure out their theologies. What do I believe about God? What do I know about Him? What have I experienced? What can I say about Him that is true and that resonates with my experience?
The thing we have to keep in mind is that this is not a scenario in which one of them is right and the rest are wrong; they're all right! It's just that they've all had their own experiences of God, and that's all they've got to draw on. And I think what we read as frustration in Job's voice as the dialogue continues is right on - it's frustration. But it's also grief. Is this all that his friends really know about God?
We're so tempted to judge each other. We're so tempted to say that the other person is wrong, that they've got God wrong, that they just don't understand. Maybe they don't. Maybe they don't understand who God really is, but if that's true, it's because they haven't had the experience of Him that we've had. It's not our place to judge. It's not our place to condemn.
What we have to do - what we have to get better at as Christians in a broken world - is saying, "Yes, but...." Yes, that is true about God, but there's so much more. Yes, you're right, but you're not exhaustive. Yes, that's part of Him, but that's not all of Him. Yes, I see what you're saying, but let me tell you what I also know. Job does this pretty well, if we're paying attention.
We...need to get better at it.
Job's Friends
When we read Job's story, there's something in us that wants to look down at his friends. Here they are, sitting with a guy who has lost essentially everything in the world (but not sitting too close because his skin disease makes him unclean), and all they can do is tell him all kinds of things that are not particularly comforting at the moment. All they can do is tell him that he clearly has God all wrong.
All we can do is read their words and think that they are the ones who have God all wrong.
We shake our heads, wag our fingers, and proclaim in a loud voice how wrong they have it, without realizing the irony of the situation - here we are boldly proclaiming that those who are boldly proclaiming we have it wrong...are wrong.
Now, God is going to step in at some point and explain it all to them. He's going to put them in their place. He's going to show them where their theology is hollow, and it may look like God is therefore proving us right. See? we say. They were wrong.
But they weren't as wrong as we'd want them to be, and honestly, we can't really fault them for it.
What Job's friends had right was the law of God. They understood the contractual nature of the law, that tit leads to tat. That one thing leads to another. That in response to all things, there is a response to all things, and that God plays by His own rules. They knew the covenant, as well, and that's what they were basing their advice on. Job just needed to get in the game of covenant, contractual living. This was likely the God that Job's friends had been taught. It was likely the only God they had ever encountered.
In this way, they are much like the Pharisees in the New Testament. They've invested their lives in the law; it's what they know best. It's how they conceive of God. It's how they come in contact with Him. And it's not as wrong as we'd want it to be - there are some very logical explanations for why someone would have a law-based theology, especially in times before the witness of Christ.
What they don't seem to have encountered in quite the same way is the goodness of God, the kind of goodness expressed by grace and mercy. They seem to have dug into the Ark of the Covenant and pulled out the stone tablets, but neglected entirely the throne of mercy that sits over the law. Likely, they simply haven't experienced God's goodness or, if they have, they haven't incorporated it into their theology of Him.
In other words, when we look at Job's friends, we're looking at people who are doing the best they can with the theology they have. Just like we're all trying to do.
It's a powerful lesson for us, particularly because in today's faith, we are still surrounded by Job's friends. Except now, they're our friends. They're our family. They're sitting in our pews. They're living in our neighborhoods. We are surrounded by persons who are doing the best they can with the theology they have.
It's not that they're wrong. Not at all! Or at least, they're not as wrong as we'd want them to be. It's just that they haven't experienced the vast goodness of God in ways that would help to expand their theology. It's just that they don't know beyond what they know. And how could they?
This is precisely why we can't be so quick to judge Job's friends...or ours. Nobody tries to be unfaithful to the Gospel (at least, not many, and the ones who do are easy to spot). Nobody wants to get God wrong. Nobody wants to have a limited idea of who He is. No, the greater our experience of God, the greater our experience of life. Given the choice, none of us wants to live in a box, and none of us wants a God who fits in one, either.
But there are countless persons among us, even faithful persons, even Bible-reading, God-fearing, neighbor-loving persons who simply don't have a theology big enough to incorporate things like grace and mercy and the goodness of God. That doesn't mean we should judge them for that. That doesn't mean we should condemn them for it.
They're doing the best they can. Just like we all are. We're all just doing the best we can.
And if we think they're wrong, well, let's show them a better way. Let's introduce them to a bigger theology. Let's make room in their contract for grace. Let's show them where mercy lives. I love the way that Job responds to his friends - let's be more like that.
If you're not sure what that looks like, stay tuned. We'll look at a little bit of that tomorrow.
Curse God
I've just finished the book of Job in my daily Bible study, and here's what I love about Job: it's one of those books that brings us right up to the line, but doesn't cross it. A lot of the dialogue centers around whether Job will curse God or not, and he ends up doing just about everything but.
It's a little too close for most of us. We wouldn't go as far as Job goes in his blunt honesty, but I think that's kind of the point - we can go that far. We can be real with God. Job is. And yet, he doesn't sin in being so.
We struggle, in our postmodern world in which just about everything is offensive and crosses some sort of line, to understand what it means to be raw-ly emotional and responsive to the world without "cursing" it (read: offending it). We read the way that Job calls God out, and we think that surely, he has offended the Lord somehow. Surely, God is not going to put up with this.
But look at what's happening here - for all Job's ranting and raving, for all his lamenting, for all the ways that he's pointing out what he believes is wrong here (and for the record, sometimes, he does seem to think that it is God who is wrong), what he's actually doing throughout his entire testimony...is affirming who God is.
And that's exactly what God expected him to do. That's exactly what God told the tempter that Job would do. You do whatever you want to Job, and he will continue to testify to who I am.
See, when Job says This is not what I expect from you, God, what he's actually saying is what he does expect from God. When he says this isn't just, he's saying that the God that he knows is just. When he says this isn't grounded in truth, he's saying that the God that he knows is truth. When he says that this is not what he anticipates God to truly be like, he's making a statement that he knows who God is.
And he's right.
This is what Job is trying to show us - when you know who God is, when you worship Him, pray to him, obey Him, and live your life for Him - then it's absolutely okay for you to put your feet down firmly on that understanding. When God has shown Himself clearly and demonstrated His own character and faithfulness, it's okay for you to demand from Him that He be who He claims to be, who He says He is, who He promises He is.
Notice that throughout the entire testimony of Job, the man never once says, God is not who He says He is. What he always says is, This is not who God says He is. It's not a sense of entitlement that God should be treating Job somehow differently; he's calling God to account on the basis of God's own testimony about Himself. He's very clearly saying, I know who God is, and this is not Him. And he's calling on the God he knows to step and be the God he's sure of.
He's trusting God to do just that.
To us, it looks really close to cursing God. To our postmodern minds, it seems very much that he's tempting fate here, pressing the line, testing the waters. He's pretty close, we think, to God just giving up on him and pushing him away. If Job didn't deserve all that happened to him before now, just let him keep speaking for a few more chapters, and we're sure that he'll get there.
But what's actually going on here, even in all his anger, even in all his grief, even in all his lament, even in all his protest, is that Job is praising God. He's making a bold, repeated, adamant testimony to who God is, even if that doesn't seem to be what God is acting like at this particular moment. He's banking his life on his theology that says that God is good and that God is still good. He's holding onto that promise, and he won't let go.
Even if his raw, scaly, diseased hands fail him.
Lesser Gods
Recently, I was reading an article in a Bible-related periodical, and the author indicated something to the effect that it was always in God's plan to give the non-Israel nations in the Old Testament over to lesser gods, with the intention of pulling them back into Himself later. That way, they would know the supremacy of His deity.
It sounds good on paper, but theologically, there's a lot here to make us cringe.
Specifically, it should strike us right away that God never claims to be the greatest God; He claims to be the only God. So the idea that God would have been planning to utilize "lesser gods" from the beginning, that He has them in His employ for His purposes, is very troubling.
This is complicated a bit because throughout the Old Testament, God never seems to question the legitimacy of other gods. He questions their power. He calls them worthless. He says they're idols. He says they're not very good gods, but He never quite says they are not gods at all. So neither can we quite say that these other gods are not gods.
But it gets to the heart of this whole thing: what is a god?
We can't say that these other gods are gods in the same way that God is God. That, as we just introduced, creates a theological problem. It offers a pantheon of gods where our God says He is the only. It creates sub-gods interrelated with the Triune Godhead, and that doesn't work with the testimony of the Scriptures. It doesn't make sense with what God says about Himself very clearly.
What we can say is that there is a very clear paradigm for referring to things as gods that are not gods, but only because we have made them so. We do this all the time, particularly in the church. We talk about how easy it is for the idol of money to become our god. Or television. Or beauty. Or social standing. Or whatever it is. We call these things gods, but we would never think that up in the heavens, in the grand expanse of the cosmos, sits God, our God, money, television, beauty, social standing, etc. running the world. That's insane.
When we talk about other "gods," I think this is what we're talking about - we're talking about ideas and image and idols that the nations have set up for themselves and called them gods. God, our God, points out that they are worthless, but He doesn't say they're not gods. To the people, they are very much gods, and it's in God's interest to acknowledge them as such.
That seems strange. Why should God acknowledge as gods things that are clearly not? Because what He's actually doing is acknowledging the peoples' God-hunger. Their God-longing. If He dismisses their gods out-of-hand, He risks alienating them from that thing inside of themselves that's actually searching for Him. But if He acknowledges what they're doing, He says, essentially, yes! Yes, you are looking for gods because you are a God-hungry people.
Then He can step in and say, "But here's where those gods of yours fail you. And where I never will."
Going back to the original article that prompted this discussion, I think it's true that God always planned to use the peoples' God-hunger to bring them back to Himself, even those outside of the nation of Israel. All men were created in the image of God, and there's something in every soul that is searching for Him.
But I think that the way that the article put it says something very, very different from this to the average reader - it suggests a legitimacy to the gods that God never gives them. It suggests some kind of elevated status that God doesn't actually affirm. God does not employ "lesser gods" in His work. He can't, for He repeatedly says unequivocally that He is the only God. We must be very careful not to suggest anything otherwise.
Posted by Aidan at 8:23 AM 1 comment:
Purpose: Thing
You have probably figured out by now where this whole thing is going today, but for the sake of those who need to hear their own story reflected in this discussion, we're going there anyway. Sometimes, what God makes clear to you is not your people or your place, but your thing.
There's something you do that God has created you to do, and that's what you ought to be doing.
We often think that this is the thing that we can't imagine not doing - the way a writer thinks about writing in the morning, a musician doesn't go far from her instrument, a contractor almost always carries his tools. That's certainly one indicator that you've found your thing.
But there are others, too. Sometimes, you find your thing because it's the thing you do naturally that others don't seem to understand. It's the thing you do that others run away from. It's the thing you do that makes people look at you and ask how - or why - you'd even do such a thing.
Take, for example, police officers. They do what they do because they have a heart for protecting others. Firefighters have a passion for fighting fires. Doctors have a passion for healing. Nurses have a passion for caring. There are persons in this world who are just built for holding screaming babies, and they volunteer their time in NICU units, holding drug-addicted infants (who, I assure you, scream for hours on end).
So when we talk about persons whose purpose lies in the things they do, we're talking about two groups - we're talking about those extremely gifted in something who can't imagine doing anything else and we're talking about those who mysteriously thrive in places where others would fall apart quickly.
Regardless of how this call is uncovered, however, the truth is still the same: when you do what you do, you find your people and you find your place.
Writers find audiences. Accountants find fund-holders. Teachers find students. Police officers and firefighters find communities. These are their people because this is what they do.
They get up in the morning, put on their work clothes, and go to the place where they do it. They go t their offices, their classrooms, their studies, their squad cars, their firehouses. These are their places because this is where they do what they do.
In the biblical witness, we see this in judges, in prophets, and in apostles. They can't help but do what they do. Judges are called to lead Israel in battle. Israel is their people because this is the nation they lead; the edge of the Promised Land is their place because that's where they are. Prophets speak God's word. They can do nothing less. Jeremiah said even if he tried not to, God's word was "shut up in my bones like a burning fire. I am weary of holding it in. Indeed, I cannot." The apostles spread the Gospel. They couldn't help themselves; it's what they were called to do. (The exception here is apostles like Paul and Peter, who were not only given a thing, but also a people - the Gentiles and the Jews.)
So once again, all it takes it one word for all three questions to be answered. One word. That's it. And then, you just have to move. In this case, go do your thing. Go do that thing you do, that God-given thing that you do.
Purpose: Place
In the same way that God might only reveal to what people He has called you, leaving the rest of the details to fill themselves in as you go, so, too, He might tell you only the place to which you are called. And once again, the details will fill themselves in along the way.
But you have to be willing to move.
This idea is a large part of the Old Testament testimony - it's Israel's entire journey, from the time that God first called Abram and promised him countless descendants in the land in which he was living to the day that He parted the Red Sea and started leading Israel to the Promised Land to the moment He called Ezra and Nehemiah back to begin rebuilding a ravaged Jerusalem. God's people have always been about a place, and it is no different for many of them today.
Today, this idea is likely to conjure up images of missionaries, those who have clearly experienced a call to a certain land. It's how they end up in places like Kenya or Ecuador or Papua New Guinea. We can't imagine that anyone would just pick up and go to a place like that unless it was the place to which God called them. And that's true. But this idea is not limited to such grand migrations.
It can be as simple as the pastor who knows he is called to a little country church. Or the volunteer whose best work is done on the streets. Or the couple for whom it's clear that "home" is a certain city, like San Francisco or Las Vegas. It can even be as simple as the student who knows God has called her to one university over another.
I often run into that one myself. Sometimes, I wonder what in the world I am doing as a seminarian. I look around at my peers, and I'm not sure how I fit in. But then I'll go to an on-campus class and feel so at home that I start to have this undeniable sense that this is my place. This is exactly where God wants me to be. And since this is my place, I open my eyes anew and see that these are my people. And since this is my place and these are my people, this is my thing. At least, for now.
The same is true for anyone who is called to a place. When you get to where you're going, you find the answers to your other burning questions.
The pastor who is called to a little country church finds his congregation when he gets there. They are his people, not necessarily because he would have chosen them, but because this is his place. It's his place and their place, so they are his people. The woman whose best work is done on the streets is a woman whose people are street people. I mean, this isn't rocket science. A couple who finds themselves called to San Francisco may discover that their people are the LGBT community; a couple who calls Las Vegas home may be peopled with prostitutes. Forgive the stereotypes for a minute, but you see what I'm saying - when God calls you to a place, the people you find there are your people.
And whatever you do for them there, that's your thing. The pastor may not have ever owned a dog, let alone a chicken. He may not have cared for a cactus, let alone a garden. But in the country, he may find himself doing just this. Why? Because there's a certain economy in the country that runs on eggs and zucchini. (Just kidding. A pastor never has to grow his own zucchini - he gets plenty as it is.) A woman who works on the streets may have zero practical nursing experience, but out here, she bandages wounds. Why? Because there are plenty of wounds and no nurses.
Once again, we find that purpose doesn't have to give all the answers before you go. It starts with just one word. It can start with a people, as we saw yesterday, or it can start with a place. When you go on God's word, the rest of the questions tend to sort themselves out. You go to your place and there, you find your people. Because it's their place, too. And you find your thing. Because it's clear what they need.
So the best thing you can do if you know where God is calling you, is to go. Just go. See what you discover when you get there.
And do good.
Purpose: People
When we talk about what it is that God has called us to in our lives, there are really three possible broad answers: people, places, or things. It's very rare that God would give us the answer to all three before we move, which is why most of us never end up moving at all. We want to know everything, but God usually only gives us something.
But moving on something opens up everything.
For example, if you are one of those persons that God has called to a certain people, you probably know it. Maybe you have a heart for prisoners. Maybe you have a heart for the sick and dying. Maybe you have a heart for the naked and homeless. Maybe you have a heart for the abused and abandoned. I just had a friend this morning tell me that he thinks middle school students are the most absolutely awesome human beings on earth. Great! Then you know the people to whom God has called you.
A lot of us at this point would likely sit back, saying, "Okay. I know the people to whom God has called me, but where do I find these people and what on earth do I do with them?" We wait until God has answered these questions, and as a result, we end up never moving.
What we have to be willing to do is to go. You don't have to know where, exactly, God is sending you. That will all work itself out. And there are some very practical ways to get going just knowing what people God has called you to love.
If you've been called to prisoners, where do you think you might find them? In a prison, of course! That's your place. You might say, oh, no, I don't know that for sure, but if those are your people, then that is your place. There are no two ways about it. If the sick are your people, then the hospital is your place. If the dying are your people, it's hospice. These are your places not because you're completely enamored with them as destinations, but because you love the people there.
And when you love the people in your places, you come quickly to know what your thing is. It's a natural byproduct of being there with them and figuring out what it is that they need. If your people are abandoned children and your place is deep within the foster care system, then your thing is being present. It's being there. It's going to basketball games and school lunches and birthday parties. It's showing up when you're expected and sometimes, even when you're not. It's doing all the little things that these kids ought to be able to rely on but can't in the people who are "supposed" to love them - because you love them. They're your people, so this is your thing.
If your people are the poor, then your thing is being a resource. It's being a valuable wealth of information, contact, and love. That's what they need from you. This doesn't mean you have to be their financing. Or their mortgage payment. Or anything like that. That's not it at all. It means that you bring the wealth of who you are and serve as a resource for those who are without resources in the world. It means sometimes, you're a ride for the person without a car. It means sometimes, you're the companion for the lonely. It means you're the one who sees who society often looks right past. If the poor are your people, this is your thing. It just naturally is so.
Most of us wait until we know everything before we're ready to move, but there are those of you right now who know who your people are. You know who God has called you to love. And you know what? That's absolutely enough to move on.
Go to your people, and you'll find your place. Find your people, and you'll find your thing. Your heart for them will tell you what they need, so then, go and do that.
That's purpose.
In Pursuit of Purpose
Most of us spend our lives in pursuit of purpose, trying to figure out exactly what it was that God had in mind when He created us. What are we meant to be? What are we supposed to do? Who are we supposed to love? Where are we supposed to live? Our lives are summed up in the same 5 W's and an H that we ask about almost everything - Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
At some point, God begins to answer these questions for us, as our lives are steered in one direction or the other. One thing becomes very clear to us, and we're pretty sure this is it - God is finally going to tell us what it is that He has dreamed for us from the very moment He knit us together in our mother's womb.
And then, nothing. Silence. Dead end.
That's hard for us. We're a people who want a plan. Like, a whole plan. We want to know all of the details. We want to know how it all comes together. We want to know everything that's going to happen before we make a move, but that's not the testimony of God, and that's not the testimony of His people.
One of the things I'm learning, the more I grow into my own God-given purpose and the more I explore the world around me, is that so many of the lingering questions that we have are answered when we act on the first "Go!"
Abram had a good sense of the presence of God. After all, it seems the two were fairly good friends. So his friend calls him to go to the mountain, and he goes, even though he has some lingering questions about how this is all going to go down. When he gets there, he finds not only the presence of God, but the provision and the promise of the Lord, as well.
We laud Abram for his faith, but the truth is that he was in the same boat as the rest of us - he only had the answer to one question. He only had one word to move on. He only knew one thing for sure; the rest was kind of up in the air.
But he moved. And in moving, he discovered what else it was that he needed to know.
The question we have to ask ourselves is if we, too, would be willing to move. Are we a people willing to go on just one word? Are we a people who trust in God so much that we're willing to go to the mountain and discover what else He might have for us, even when we don't know what that might be? Are we?
If we wish to discover our God-given purpose, we must be.
I think our pursuit of purpose begins with one simple answer. One categorical affirmative that sets our whole journey in motion. And I think that categorical affirmative falls into one of three groups: people, place, or thing. That's where our adventure starts.
And it's where our lingering questions are answered.
Stay tuned this week as we walk boldly into the unknown, toward God-given purpose - presence, provision, and promise - through the people, places, and things to which we have been called.
Interpretation of the Heart
This week, we've seen how easy it is for some of these subtle differences to sneak in and completely change the way that we read and understand the Scriptures. It ought to pierce our conscience how easy it is for the heart of the Scriptures to change when we do these sorts of things. And I think it all started when we twisted the question of what the Scriptures have to say to what the Scriptures have to say to me, as though the whole of the Christian faith centers on our own personal experience of it.
Just a friendly reminder: God is bigger than you.
The overwhelming majority of Christian history is a testimony to men and women, clergy and laity, monks and mechanics all trying to figure out what the Bible says. They've tried to put it back in its own context, taking it to the streets of Jerusalem, the deserts of Sinai, the shores of the Jordan River to figure out what God was saying to His people and what it all meant. The overwhelming majority of Christian history has wondered what it was that Paul's audience would have heard when he spoke in Acts 17, how Elijah would have spoken under the threat of Jezebel's thumb, how Abraham and the Lord negotiated their relationship from the promise to the promised land. We've been trying to figure out how God spoke, what He said, what He meant. We've been trying to figure it out because we've known that the Scriptures reveal something about God, but they also reveal something about us. They tell us who God is, and they tell us who we are.
No longer. Those are just not the questions that contemporary Christians are asking, at least not in the mainstream. Not in the majority of our pews. Today, Christians are asking how God speaks to them, what He says to them, and how faith best becomes meaningful by understanding or practice. For today's Christian, our starting point has become our telling the Scriptures who we are and then trying to figure out what that means for them.
I cannot overstate how dangerous this is, not to mention scary!
This kind of modern theology has given us permission to dismiss large portions of the Scriptures as not being "relevant" to us. We pick and choose which words make sense for our lives and toss the rest, claiming that God spoke them, perhaps, but for another audience. Do you realize that the most-read version of the Scriptures today is not the NIV or the KJV? It's the "All-About-Me." It's our own version, our own translation, whittled and worn down to just that handful of passages that seems to fit with what we already embrace and expect in our lives.
It's brought us to a place where we sit in the same pews, but we're no longer reading the same Scriptures. We look at each other, listen to someone quote some eloquent word of God, and we say, "That's not in my Bible." And it's not. Because we've edited it out. It may be the word of God, but it's not the word of God to us, so we've trashed it.
And then we spend most of our lives trying to construct a meaningful faith out of what we have left. Let me just say this without apology: if your faith is only meaningful because you've made it so, then your God is not big enough.
There's not one word in all of the Scriptures that says that anything that God does in all the world depends upon your interpretation of it. There's not one breath that God utters that says, "Gosh, this will be so perfect if they just choose to make it so." Your life is meaningful, your faith is meaningful, because God made it so. Because God Himself is meaning.
It's meaningful because God created it. It's meaningful because God is present in it. It's meaningful because God invested in it by sending His Son to walk the earth and by sending His Son to carry the Cross. It's meaningful because on one Sunday morning, there was an empty tomb. It's meaningful because God is sufficiently big to make it meaningful, not because you've come up with some interpretation of it all that "makes sense" to you. Not because you've formed and fashioned a faith that matters.
Faith has always mattered, not because of those who believe but because of the One they have believed in. And if that's news to you, it's time to pick up a full version of the Scriptures and read the parts you're prone to skip.
Sorry to sound harsh, but it has to be said. We've come to a place in our faith where we have convinced ourselves that it's up to us to interpret the Scriptures, but that has absolutely never been the case. Unlike every other writing in all of existence, the Scriptures interpret us. We don't bring our hearts to the Bible; the Bible brings our hearts to us.
So we have to get back to an honest, faithful reading. We have to get back to asking the right questions, which are not what these Scriptures mean to me, but what these Scriptures mean for me. We have to stop asking how the word of God fits in with who we are and start seeking to discover how the word of God exposes who we are. And it reminds us who He is -
So much more and so much greater than we give Him credit for.
This week, we're talking about ways that the Bible would be different if it were written today from our modern theology, and here's one that has become so popular that most of us probably don't even recognize it any more for the distortion that it is:
Love your neighbor as yourself has somehow become a modern commandment to simply love yourself.
We've so picked apart this verse, so twisted and turned it, that we think it means that we cannot love others if we do not first love ourselves, and therefore, our primary task in life is to learn to love ourselves.
Forget that He said As I have loved you, you must love one another.
No, forget all that. Forget that Jesus also teaches the Golden Rule, that we should do unto others what we would want them to do unto us, which is about being considerate, thoughtful, honoring, and not at all about figuring out what it is that we want from the world and then putting it out there, as though Christ were teaching some form of karma. (He's not.)
Forget that Paul teaches us, in beautiful language, what love really is - it is patient, it is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it keeps no record of wrongs, etc. - without ever once saying that love considers itself or that it comes from a place of tremendous self-adoration. Forget that John said, We love because He first loved us.
Forget it! For many a modern Christian, this depth of the theology of love matters not. What we hear is, Love your neighbor as yourself, and what we take away from that is that we must first learn to love ourselves.
It's just not so. That's not at all what Jesus said, not at all what His audience would have heard. What they would have heard is that this is the second command, and it is predicated on the first - that we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And so loving our neighbor is not about loving ourselves; it's about loving our God.
That's what we have to figure out first. Figure out how to love God, and you will know how to love your neighbor.
You will know how to love your neighbor because you will see in him, and in you, the very image of the God that you love. You will see in your neighbor the image of your beloved God, and you will not be able to help yourself. You will see your neighbor's strength, grace, dignity, mercy, the very reflection of the living God who formed man in His own image with His own hand and endowed him with His own holy breath. And you will see in yourself (this is where "yourself" comes in) the image of the Lover. You will know that you've been created in His own love, to be love in this world.
Figure out how to love God, and you will not have to learn to love yourself; you won't be able to help it. You will look in the mirror and see the image of God in you, and you will know yourself as beloved of Him and in the same breath, in the image of His love. Figure out how to love God, and you will not have to learn to love your neighbor; you won't be able to help it.
That's what all this means. That's what all of this has always meant, what God intended it to mean. This second greatest commandment is not predicated on itself, that God would have commanded you to love yourself. That's not it at all. It's predicated on the first, that you should love God.
Love God, and you will love your neighbor.
Love yourself, and you will likely love neither.
The Jew
By the way, while we're talking about ways that Jesus would be different if we wrote the Gospels today, let's just go ahead and say that He wouldn't be a Jew.
He'd probably be, you know, "spiritual, but not religious."
That's because most persons these days, including a good number of Christians, think that religion is not important to Jesus. They think that He doesn't much care how exactly you worship (and in some cases, who exactly you worship), as long as you get your worship on in some way, somehow. They say that Jesus was perhaps a messianic figure, but not necessarily a religious one.
And..they're wrong.
Jesus was a Jew, and His Jewish heritage was very important to Him. That's why He spent so much of His time arguing with the Pharisees, who were so sure that they were getting it right when they were, in fact, getting it so wrong. It's why He invested so much of His energies in setting them straight, and right out in public, too! He wanted the people to know what religion was really supposed to look like.
If religion hadn't mattered to Jesus, He wouldn't have bothered. If He'd come to overthrow religion, He wouldn't have wasted His time. He would have just shaken His head and said, "You silly people with your silly little religions," and walked away.
But that's not what He did. He spent His time trying to make sure that the people truly understood what religion was, particularly what His religion was.
And He drew on the Scriptures of the Jewish people to make His points. He didn't quote Buddha. Or Gandhi. Or Zoroaster. He didn't draw on the myths of the religions of persons outside of the Jewish faith. He didn't strike yoga poses or stand up shrines of Hindu gods. Sorry, but that's just the truth - Jesus drew on His Jewish faith for all that He did.
Which means He wasn't spiritual; He was religious.
And so, too, did He intend for us to be. Because not only did Jesus spend so much of His time trying to show how religion was supposed to work, trying to teach the people what it really looked like to be faithfully religious, so, too, did He spend a great deal of His energies instituting a new religious way.
Remember that whole Cross thing?
That whole Cross thing was about instituting a Christian faith. It was about making a new religious people, not just from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles. The whole point of the Gospels was to teach us what it means to be Christian - to be Christ-like. The whole point of the Cross was to show us a new way.
If any old way would do, He wouldn't have taken the road to Calvary.
But He did. Our Jewish Jesus took the way of the Cross to show us what it means to be Christian. Not so that we would be spiritual, but so that we would become religious.
Clearing the Temple
As I started to think about how Bible stories might change if they were written today (as in the case of Abel killing Cain), I was struck also by the scene of Jesus clearing the Temple in the Gospels. If you'll remember, Jesus goes into the Temple and finds a bunch of merchants there selling sacrifices and other Temple goods, and He goes wholly holy on them and starts turning over tables and throwing them out.
I don't think most of us believe any more in a Jesus who would do such a thing. Our Jesus has become, for lack of a better word, "too nice."
And our theology has become too weak.
See, most Christians today believe that if Jesus had gone into the Temple and found something He didn't like, He should have just left and gone and found another Temple. (An impossibility, we must add, since in the time of Jesus, there was only one Temple. He was, after all, a Jew.) Maybe He should have started a House Temple. Maybe He could have written an open letter or had a nice sit-down with some of the elders, you know, in private. There are a lot of other options for handling what He didn't like, we say. He didn't have to start turning over tables.
And, we'd add, there might be some very good reasons why sacrifices ought to be sold in the Temple. Maybe someone lost their entire crop and needed some firstfruits to bring to God. Maybe all of their sheep wandered off. Maybe their lambs were killed by wolves. Maybe their wine had burst out of its wineskins or their grains had gone moldy on the journey to the Temple. Maybe it just wasn't convenient for them to carry a sacrifice such a long way, so it was better that they just bring some money and buy something at the Temple.
There are all kinds of reasons why having merchants in the Temple is convenient. And Jesus doesn't really want us to have an inconvenient faith. So we re-write the Gospels and declare that our Jesus wouldn't do such a thing.
But the problem remains: He did.
We can sit around all day and claim that He wouldn't, but the fact remains that He did. And that's the trouble that our theology gets us into. We have so re-written the story of God, the story of Jesus, that it doesn't look much like the Story He's given us any more. We simply edit out or wash over scenes that don't seem to fit with the way that we think our God would act, but we neglect to address the fact that our God did act that way. And does.
And He has to. I don't want a Jesus who doesn't clear the Temple. I don't want a Jesus who just walks away. I want a Jesus who sticks around. I want a Jesus so concerned with holiness that He's willing to cause a bit of a ruckus.
I don't want a Jesus who thinks that faith should be convenient; I want a Jesus - I need a Jesus - who dies on a most inconvenient Cross.
I think the Gospels would look a lot different if we wrote them today, based on our common conception of Jesus, but I think we would be missing so much. So very much. We might miss even the Christ Himself if we're not careful.
Most of us are familiar with the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4, where Adam and Eve's son Cain kills his brother Abel because his sacrifice was accepted by God when Cain's own sacrifice was rejected.
As I was thinking about this story the other day, I wondered if we have not, in Western Christianity, turned it a bit on its head. Certainly, there are Christians all around the world who are suffering every day, who are killed, because of their worship for God. Certainly, Cain still kills Abel. But I wonder this about contemporary Western Christianity:
Would Abel today kill Cain?
I was thinking about this because I was thinking about how easy it is for Christians in America to go after each other. We're the ones who have it right, we think. Our doctrine is right. Our social stance is right. Our service is right. Our music is right. God surely accepts us and is pleased with the way that we do church. Then we look across the aisle, across the street, across town, and we snivel at the Christians who are doing it differently than us.
Surely, God doesn't accept them.
So we speak with hatred, vehemently. We speak with condemnation, and it comes so easily to us that it's honestly scary for me. We spend more of our time condemning others for worshiping wrong than we do actually worshiping ourselves. And we say that it's all in good faith, that it's what God's called us to do.
We look up and we hate our brothers and sisters. We hate them so much that as soon as we look up, we turn away. How can they live such disgusting lives? How can they do such disgusting things? The grace of God, which has rescued us in our misery, does not go that far - or perhaps it shouldn't go that far - and we'd be far better off in our worship that is pleasing if we would simply do away with worship that is displeasing.
And all of a sudden, Abel kills Cain.
I don't get it. I really don't get it. I don't understand how it happened in the first place, when Cain killed Abel just for getting it right, but I really don't understand how it happens again and again and again, where we, as Christians, are so comfortable, so confident, killing Cain for getting it wrong.
How can a people marked by grace refuse to extend grace beyond themselves?
How can we keep quarreling over all of these little things? Were it not for the grains that Cain grew, Abel's livestock would not have been healthy, a sacrifice pleasing to the Lord. Were it not for the things that our brothers and sisters offer to God, our own sacrifice would be thin and sickly. There's no way we're doing this on our own; we need each other.
Cain killed Abel, and indeed, he still does. And now, Abel kills Cain, and it seems he won't stop. Where does the bloodshed end? When will it stop?
When I become my brother's keeper, and I know, too, that he is mine.
On Vulnerability
Relationship is an exercise in mutual vulnerability. It has to be. It is this idea that to be in relationship, to truly be in relationship, a man must both be known and also know. Without both, he only sets himself up for the pain of betrayal.
For example, say that you have a friend who cares deeply for you, but you know very little about her. The more you share your life with her, the more it becomes apparent that she has a deep, profound need for worry in her life. And caring about you fills that need for her. Suddenly, you start choosing your words carefully, pulling back from intimacy, because it becomes quite obvious that what she desires is not a relationship with you but something persistent to worry about. If the vulnerability had been reciprocal, you would have known this need of hers before you shared your life, and the relationship could have been structured differently so as to be human-centered, not issue-centered, where you could both be honored and respected.
Or say that there is a man who keeps working his way into your affairs. You think it is out of his deep, true concern for you, and so you share more and more and invite him deeper in. As time goes by, it becomes apparent that he doesn't as much care for you as he bases his own self-worth on being "in the know" - on having details about persons and things that he can use to demonstrate his own social connectedness and, in his mind, importance. If the vulnerability had been reciprocal, you would have known his insecurity from the very beginning and been able to structure the relationship in such a way that it was fulfilling for both of you, not just him.
Our deepest wounds come from these kinds of encounters, and I am sure that as you read these two very generalized descriptions, you are thinking of persons in your own life who seemed to desire relationship with you, but because of their own issues that they were not vulnerable with in return, you have come to feel used in some way. Deceived. Betrayed.
It's a terrible feeling.
Now, hear me when I say this because it is important: none of this is meant to be a judgment on those persons who have used, deceived, betrayed, and hurt us. It can't be. Because every single one of us has these kinds of issues in our own life. Every single one of us is just as prone to this kind of use, deception, betrayal, and hurt. It's why we have to be vulnerable with one another - vulnerable enough not only to say, "This is what I struggle with," but also to say, "And this is how that may hurt you."
But I say all that to say this - there is one relationship in which we can be truly vulnerable because the other has already been completely vulnerable with us - our relationship with God.
We so often talk about how Jesus came down in order to become our perfect, atoning sacrifice. About how nothing less than the perfect Son of God would be acceptable for the redemption of our sins. About how it was necessary for Jesus to assume the flesh in order to redeem the flesh. And all of that is true.
But it's also true that God came in human form to be vulnerable with us, to show us His truest self and to demonstrate that He's not going to use, deceive, betray or hurt us. Throughout His entire ministry, Jesus did not demand, but always accepted, men's offerings. He received them graciously and never turned them back against the man. He didn't use them for gossip or for soothing the raw places in His own soul.
Rather, He showed, at every turn, how He treasured whatever it was that He was given, how He honored the offerings of men. He showed how He wove in the stories of others with His own holy threads, and there is not one person in all of Scripture who would turn to a friend and say, "I just feel so betrayed by Him. I can't believe He would do that to me!"
He came to show us that He would never do that to us. He doesn't need to. And we can be sure of this, since He has shown us the very real depths of who He is. He has been vulnerable with us.
Therefore, we can be vulnerable with Him.
And we must be. For all real relationship depends upon this: that we be vulnerable with one another, that we be who we are and understand who the other is. That we both know and be known.
Christ shows us well how this is done, this beautiful Christ who knows us to the depth of our being and reveals to us the depth of His.
Psalm 23 (continued)
Yesterday, we worked our way through this psalm right up to the heart of the valley of the shadow of death, where the psalmist can be seen making a distinct turn toward the Lord (as evidenced by a shift in pronouns between the first part of this chapter and the second). So having turned to the Lord, what does he find?
Your rod and your staff give me courage. Is this the biblical version of "walk softly and carry a big stick"? We often think of the rod and the staff as being disciplinary in nature, but that's not at all what the Old Testament shepherd would have used them for. The rod was used for protection - it often had a pointy barb on the end of it that was used for injuring and deterring predators. You'll remember that David once bragged about the way that he defended his flock from an approaching bear - it's the same idea here. The Lord's rod protects us from approaching danger.
The staff was used not to correct the sheep, but to contain them. Whenever shearing season rolled around, the shepherd would gently place his staff around the sheep's neck to hold it near enough for shearing, providing a comfort that his hands could not when he needed both of them for the work. He would also use the staff to hold the sheep closer when it was tempted to stray a bit too far.
Imagine a life where you are protected and held. Where you don't have to worry about approaching danger because the Lord stands ready to defend you. Where you feel His gentle hold on you and know that even though you are free to wander a bit and to explore this pasture, He will not let you go too far. He holds you close enough that not only are you safe, but you're secure. That's the kind of security that gives you courage, and it's exactly what Psalm 23 promises.
You prepare a banquet for me while my enemies watch. Most of us might say that if the Lord was truly a good God, we wouldn't have any enemies to watch us feast at His table. He'd just vanquish them all. But most of us also know that that's not how the Lord works. We have enemies in this world. Some are human, but far many of them are not. So try to imagine this Psalmic scene. You're in battle. You're engaged with your enemies. You're fighting tooth and nail. And God spreads a tablecloth and starts laying out a magnificent feast. He pulls out a chair and invites you to sit, ties a bib around your neck and hands you a knife and fork while arrows continue to fly all around you. That's the kind of confidence the Lord wants us to have in Him - the confidence to sit and feast while the war wages on. And there's nothing your enemies can do about it. They can hurl all the stones and arrows they want, fire all the bullets they've got, but you're sitting at the Lord's table, feasting, and they're powerless to ruin the meal. Imagine that for a minute, just imagine it. That's the kind of confidence that Psalm 23 promises.
You anoint my head with oil. Anointing is a practice that most of us don't have a lot of experience with in our modern world. We've kind of gotten away from it. But what it is, at its core, is a pretty big investment. It takes a lot of time and a lot of resources to anoint someone. Look at everything that went into Aaron's anointing in Exodus 29. Or look at the woman in John's gospel that Jesus says was anointing Him (preparing Him for the tomb). The disciples balked at the lavishness of her action, at the expense of the perfume poured out, at the extravagance of the display that she made. Anointing isn't cheap, and it's not easy. And it's always connected to a call - for Aaron, to the priesthood; for Jesus, to the Cross. Imagine what it means, then, for the Lord to anoint you. For Him to stand face-to-face with you and pour out an expensive gift upon your head. It's not just oil; it's purpose. It's calling. That's the promise of Psalm 23.
This is the incredible beauty of Psalm 23. Not only does it tell us that we have everything we need, but it tells us exactly what it is that we have. We have a shepherd. We have a place. We have rest. We have confidence. We have shadows, but we walk right through them and turn to Him. We have protection. We have security. We have enemies, but we have a table right in the midst of them. We have purpose, a call and an anointing.
Why should we want?
Psalm 23 is, to me, one of the most beautiful of all the Scriptures because it is also one of the most whole. Most of us know the first line by heart - The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want - but it's the rest of the psalm that fills out this first statement.
And unless we know what the rest of the psalm promises, we may be tempted to roll our eyes, for who among us has not, from time to time, wanted?
But every verse of this psalm is written to remind us what we already have, right down to this very first phrase that we know so well - The Lord is my Shepherd.
It doesn't make much sense to most of us, since we know so little about shepherding in our modern culture. It sounds almost like an insult, that we would be dumb as sheep and in need of a shepherd at all. But the shepherd is the one who took care of all of the details. He's the one who figured out which pastures were best for grazing. He's the one who knew where the best little nooks of water were. He's the one who looked out for predators and thieves. Imagine a life where you didn't have to worry about the details, where it just wasn't up to you. That's the kind of life Psalm 23 promises.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. Most of us don't think much about this, either. Who has time to lie down? And if we do have the time, why can't it be on a nice beach somewhere? You know what you find in pastures? Patties. Watch. your. step. But the beauty of this statement plays off the last - this pasture that you're in is not just the place where you graze, but the place where you find rest. With the Lord as your shepherd, you can do whatever it is that you were born to do - you can graze a little, rest a little, and not have to worry about anything. The land doesn't work you; you work the land. And when you're ready for a bit of a break, it's safe to rest. Imagine a life where it's safe for you to rest. That's the kind of life Psalm 23 promises.
He leads me beside still waters. Again with the still waters! Seriously, can't they be waves crashing on a nice beach somewhere? But still waters don't mean perfectly still; they mean perfectly moving. (Perfectly still waters breed algae and pond scum, which is not the image that we should get from this Psalm.) It means waters that are not being rushed and are not rushing, but are gently flowing from one place to another. And that's good news! See, you can tell a lot about the weather by the waters - you can tell when storms are coming, when droughts are near, when floods are coming. But still waters tell you that none of this is happening; everything's okay. Imagine a life where you didn't have to worry about storms brewing, where you weren't always looking around trying to figure out what happens next. That's the life of still waters. They'd warn you if anything was coming, but it's not, so don't worry about it. That's the kind of life Psalm 23 promises.
And then something incredible happens, something most of us read right by - it's the valley of the shadow of death. I know, I know - we're familiar with this verse, but read it in its full context and look at the glorious thing that happens here: this is where the psalmist turns to God. This is where we turn once again toward God.
Prior to this little sentence, this psalm has spoken in the third person about God - The Lord is my shepherd; He makes me lie down; He leads me beside. But here....here, references to God become second person, as though God is nearer, as though God is one being spoken to. For you are with me; Your rod and your staff....; You prepare.
Stop for a minute and think about that. Really think about that. Imagine what it would be like to live the kind of life that turns to God, even in the darkness. To live the kind of life that even death can't stop. To have the power to keep moving, even in the valleys, to never stop walking, putting one foot in front of the other, even in the shadows. It's okay that there are dark valleys; it's here that we turn our eyes to the heavens.
There's more to say about Psalm 23, a whole second half of the chapter to work through, but at the risk of letting this one run a bit too long and to let the truth of the valley of the shadows sit with you for a little bit, we'll hold off on that second half until tomorrow.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Most often when we, as Christians, quote this verse, we are attempting to draw on either strength (confidence) or courage. Then, inevitably, we run up against something that is stronger than us or our courage wanes, and we wonder, can I not only not do all things, but can I not do anything? Where is this Christ who strengthens me?
But that is what happens, as we've been seeing for the past several days, when we read Scripture out of context and try to figure it means whatever it seems like it might mean (or maybe whatever we need it to mean). Put back into context, it's clear in Philippians that Paul is not talking about confidence or courage.
He's talking about contentment.
Broaden verse 13 out into its wider context, and we see that Paul is talking in three contexts: poverty or prosperity (a social context), full or hungry (a physical context), too much or too little (a psychological context). He's hitting the big three of our existence as human beings, and what's more, he's not making value judgments about which is the better state to live in.
Rather, he's saying that either state is okay with him, as long as Christ is present.
Nor does he muddy the discussion by implanting his own personal experience/reaction of the situation. He doesn't say when he was happy in fullness or desperate in hunger, when he was satisfied with too much or scared with too little. He doesn't include what for us would seem to be a natural human reaction; he's letting these states stand on their own, simply as they are. Poverty and prosperity. Fullness and hunger. Too much and too little. No editorializing; these things just are what they are.
And they're out of Paul's control. Poverty and prosperity doesn't depend much on him. He can work as hard as he can possibly work, but if the market for tents happens to be down, then he's not going to have much to show for his work. If there's a big camp meeting coming up, business might be booming. Full or hungry doesn't depend much on him. Even Jesus walked by a fig tree hungry and found no fruit on it. Sometimes, the crops are just thin for the pickin'. Sometimes, the meat spoils. These things happen. Too much or too little doesn't much depend on him. Sometimes, he looks around and his life is overflowing; sometimes, it feels empty. That's just how life is. (Don't we know it?)
Yet Paul says, I have learned to be content. No matter what it is, I have learned to be content. (And notice, mind you, that whatever it is, it is never simply "enough" - it's always too much or too little, more or less.)
To understand how deeply this vein of contentment runs through this verse, we have to go to the Greek and to this little word that we translate as "do" - I can do all things.... It doesn't mean "do" as in "perform." Rather, its three most common meanings are: "to be well," "to be of service," and "to be serviceable."
Which means that when Paul says he can "do" all things, what he means is that he can be well through all things, he can be of service to Christ through all things, and he can be serviceable in Christ through all things (he can grow in Christ through all things).
So what we're talking about here is not really doing, but being.
Being well. Being of service. Being serviceable.
Being content.
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God - those whom He has called according to His plan.
We know that, but what about when things, uhm, don't seem to be working out for good? What about when things don't come together, don't fall into place, don't work out?
Or what about when they do?
When we read this verse in the way written above, we set ourselves up for a deep theological difficulty that is double-edged. First, we expect that things ought to just work out. All on their own. You know, the way things do.
But the testimony of the Bible, and of creation itself, is not that things just work themselves out. It's not that things just come together. Genesis 1 - everything is formless and void. It didn't just come together to create the heavens and the earth; it had to be acted upon. Exodus 19-20 - Israel doesn't just figure out how to live together as a holy community; they have to be instructed how to do so. Turn to the Gospels - there are 4,000 and 5,000 (and actually, more) hungry persons who are not suddenly feasting and full; they have to be fed.
Things don't just happen. Problems don't just disappear. Questions aren't just answered. Someone or something has to act in order for something to happen.
Imagine, though, if they did. Imagine if the universe just fell into place, if community was easy, if hunger simply sated. Now, let me ask you a tough question: if things just happen, what do you need God for?
That's the hidden danger of this reading of the verse. If things just work themselves together for good, if pieces just fall into place all on their own, if good just happens, what in the world do you need God for? Absolutely nothing. It doesn't require Him. And if it doesn't require Him, why would you choose Him?
But go back to the testimony of the Scriptures and of creation itself, and it's clear that things do not just happen. Life doesn't just come together. Good doesn't simply work out.
Genesis 1 - God had to shape the formless and void. By His own hand, He formed the universe. Exodus 19-20 - God had to tell Israel how to live as a holy community. By His own hand, He carved the commandments on two stone tablets. In the Gospels, Jesus had to feed the hungry. By His own hand, He broke the bread.
And that means that all things don't just work together (as we all well know from living this broken life) - God works all things together. Good requires God.
And that means that we don't trust in Romans 8:28; we have to trust in God. For we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, whom He has called according to His purpose.
Oh, the fruit of the Spirit's not an apple. The fruit of the Spirit's not an apple. If you want to be an apple, you might as well hear it - you can't be the fruit of the Spirit.
Indeed, this is the passage that tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But what about when you find yourself in need of just a little bite of this fruit, but the Spirit's orchard seems to be woefully empty?
Then, we should say, you are browsing in the wrong orchard.
The Spirit is an interesting character because He never does anything on His own turf; throughout the history of God's people, the Spirit always does things on our turf. That means that when we go browsing in the Spirit's orchard, we're simply fooling ourselves. He grows His fruit in our orchard.
And that means that if there's no fruit to be found, then we are the ones who have failed to sufficiently cultivate it.
Look at some of the things that the Spirit has done in the Scriptures. In Acts, the Spirit enables the apostles to speak in new tongues. In the Old Testament, the Spirit enables David to slay the giant, Goliath. In Judges, the Spirit strengthens Samson one more time to bring down the pillars and crush the Philistines. But the apostles still had to speak. David had to take one faithful step into the valley. Samson had to put his hands on the pillars.
The Spirit didn't just do the work; He enabled God's persons to do it through power and faith.
It's the same for us. The Spirit isn't just growing fruit in random places; He's enabling us to cultivate it in our own lives. And that means that we have to take responsibility for our own orchards.
It means that we have to make sure that we're providing enough water, living water - that we're living in Christ's love in such a way that it nourishes our soul and what we're trying to grow here. It means that we have to take the pruning shears in our hands and be willing to cut off anything that isn't producing good fruit. We have to cut off impatience, misery, defeatedness, harshness, impulsiveness - anything that isn't the fruit of the Spirit has got to go, in order to make room for what we're growing. It means that every now and then, we need to walk through and sample our own garden, get used to the taste of the things that we're growing. That way, we don't only know what joy looks like; we know what it tastes like. It becomes a real and vibrant experience for us.
And then when we need it, we know that it's there - plump, full, tender, and ripe. Ready for picking.
And you know what else? If one day, we have a fruit that doesn't seem so ripe, we can trust in the wisdom of God's incredible creation and leave our orchard to the mysteries of cross-pollination, which spreads across crops and helps them all to grow.
So if our patience runs a little raw sometimes, that's okay - our goodness may be able to help encourage it. If our gentleness is just a little harsh, that's okay - our peace may offer it what it needs. If we have even one crop that is nourished and well, then our orchard is sound because one thing feeds off another, and this is even more true when the winds blow hard and the bees sting - because these are the very things that move pollen from one place to another.
The fruit of the Spirit's not an apple. But it's just as sweet. We must only be willing to cultivate it in our own orchards, for that is where the Spirit has always done His work.
Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The eternal God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn't grow tired or become weary. His understanding is beyond reach. He gives strength to those who grow tired and increases the strength of those who are weak. Even young people grow tired and become weary, and young men will stumble and fall. Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in the Lord will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won't become weary. They will walk and won't grow tired.
What does it even mean to "wait with hope"? For most of us, I think this means something like that we wait with crossed fingers and bated breath, that we hold our hearts in tender limbo, expecting, wanting, but not yet exactly counting our chickens. For most of us, I think that this means that we stand as still as we can, trying not to upset the balance of anything because we're not sure which way the universe (a.k.a. God) is leaning, and we don't want to accidentally tip things in the wrong direction.
But this verse in Isaiah tells us what it actually means to "wait with hope" - it means to keep moving in a God-ward direction with whatever strength you have.
This means that sometimes, you soar. And soaring is a bit of a different thing than so often easily comes to mind. You see, the magic of soaring for the eagle (or for any bird) is in the hollowness of his wings. It's his emptiness that enables the wind to carry him. So let me ask you this: have you ever felt empty? Are you feeling empty right now? Then, this is the time for you to soar.
When you soar, all you have to do is open your wings and let the holy wind of God do the rest. Let His breath carry you. Let it take you where He needs you to go. There are several characters in the Bible who soared - Elijah soared when he was too worn out even to feed himself; God sent ravens to feed him. Jonah soared when he was weary and miserable from his journey away from, then toward, Nineveh; God sprung up a plant to shade him from the hot sun. David soared when he was running from his enemies and exhausted; God sheltered him in caves and protected him from his enemies. These men were totally drained, but they never stopped moving in a God-ward direction. And it was God who brought them there.
Waiting with hope means sometimes, you run. Running is what happens when you've got all the fire and fervor in the world, when whatever God's got for you takes such firm hold of you that you can't help but go all-out in pursuit of it. But running, though it's authentically passionate, is not necessarily easy. It tends to make you weary. It makes you weary because not everyone can keep up with your pace. Your energy leads you faster and further than your world is often willing to go with you, and weary doesn't just mean tired or worn out; it means discouraged. Fed up. Disappointed.
That's what I love about this promise in this verse - if you've got all the fire, God says run with it; He will not let you be discouraged. This is Ezra/Nehemiah, as they sought to rebuild the Temple and the holy city of Jerusalem. This is Daniel, as he pressed for special treatment in Babylon according to his God's wisdom. This is Paul and Peter, who repeatedly found themselves in prison for preaching the word, only to step out of the jail and right back into the public square. They ran with all their fire, and they refused to grow weary.
So when you are empty, you soar, and when you are full, you run. But sometimes, you're neither empty nor full - you just are. And so here, you wait with hope by simply walking...walking in a God-ward direction. Walking is tough because for most of us, it feels like wandering. We don't really know what we're doing. We don't really know where we're going. We're just trying to faithfully put one foot in front of the other and do something, go somewhere. It's prone to make us tired, but we're not talking here about just a physical tiredness; we're talking about an existential tiredness - a.k.a. boredom.
But God says you won't get bored when you're walking Godward. (And honestly, how could you?) He is making sure that our energies stay up, that we don't become either drained or distracted. This is the story of steadfastness, and we could look at nearly any of the prophets as an example. We could look at Israel on her journey through the wilderness. We could look at Jesus on the shores of Galilee. Just faithful walking.
It's so tempting to think that our faith fails us when we feel like we're in a holding pattern, when we're sure we're just waiting on God to do something and then, it doesn't seem that He does. But this verse reminds us that waiting is not just standing there. It's not just sitting on our duffs, holding out hope. It's taking our hope in our hands and moving, however it is that we are able to move - either soaring on the wind of God in our emptiness, running with the fire and fervor of holy passion, or faithfully putting one foot in front of the other. This is what it means to wait with hope.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord - plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Oh, how we love the assurances that this verse seems to give us. But if you're anything like me, you spend a fairly good amount of time looking at where your life is and thinking, "This...does not seem planned." It doesn't seem like the way things ought to be. This doesn't look like a life that God put in this particular order, and if He did, then He must be some kind of sadistic God or I must have done something completely horrible to deserve...this.
Right? Let's just be honest about it. Because we've all been there.
But this verse isn't really about you. It's not about me. It's not about our individual lives or the way that our day today looks. This verse is about us. It's about God's people as a whole, not necessarily God's persons.
Because the original Hebrew word here for "you" is plural. For I know the plans I have for ya'll....
And that's actually pretty consistent, since God has always been a God of His people. Essentially everything that we see in Scriptures has a communal thread running through it, even though our modern Christianity has made it the religion of the individual. The story of God makes so little room for such a reading; it's about God's people, God's community.
God saves Joseph from a well, but it's not about Joseph at all - it's about Israel. Just chapters later, we see the nation of Israel come to Egypt. Joseph's brothers come to him. He saves them all - the people rescued because of what seemed to be God's saving of one man. Moses used to pitch a tent just outside the camp, where God would come to meet with him. God says this is no good and commissions a bigger tent so that He can come and live among all of His people. Paul addresses his letters to churches, even when he greets individuals occasionally by name. The heart of the letters is for the people of God, with side notes for the persons.
See, you're not just trapped in your own life, stuck trying to make sense of things, stuck trying to figure out how all of this could possibly be planned. You're part of a bigger plan. You're part of God's plan for His people, and that's amazing. Because as cool as it would be to have a God who has our lives all planned out, it's far cooler still to have a God who has our lives in His plan.
And you know? Broadening out our vision to see this bigger plan actually reveals to us that it's only in the plan for God's people that God's persons can have what this verse (and the next one) promise anyway.
This passage promises peace. But how can you have peace in your life if those around you are still living in strife? Their struggle will flow over into your life, and a world without peace can infringe upon yours and rob you of it. But if all God's people have peace, no one has any need to shake yours.
This passage promises hope. But how you can you have hope if the world around you is full of despair? Their darkness will creep into your light. But if all of God's people have hope, no one has any need to dampen yours.
This passage promises home. But how can it be home if you're there all alone? You will have a place, but it won't feel like anything because there's no one there to hold or to hold you. We need each other. But if all God's people are there together, if home is God's plan for all of us, then all of a sudden, it feels like a real place. Like a real belonging. Like, well...like home.
It's hard for us to wrap our minds around the idea that God's plan might not be individually ours, at least not in this promise, but it's so much better if it's not. It's so much better if we're part of the bigger plan, for only when God's people have the promise do God's persons get to live it.
Any honest look at the hallmark verses of Christian faith has to start with John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." We think that this verse hinges on "so loved" or on "only Son" or perhaps on "shall not perish," maybe even "eternal life." But the power and the truth of this verse hinges on this one little word:
"Believes."
Belief, particularly as it pertains to Christian belief, is something we don't understand very well. It's because we're living in a world that has diminished belief to a simple, one-time profession of faith. "Oh yes, I believe...just in case this whole thing goes south and I need a way out of Hell." We pray the prayer, but we go on sinning, just as Paul told us not to do.
See, the problem is that belief is not an intellectual practice. It's not just agreeing in our minds that something is, or may be, true. It's not being willing to say, "Yes, I can buy into that" or "That seems plausible." Belief is an experience, and it is necessarily transformative. It engages us, and then it changes us.
Think about the evidences of belief in the Gospels. The people were constantly hounding Jesus to show them another sign. Perform another miracle. Do something else for them. They needed to experience first-hand His power. They needed to be witnesses before they could ever be believers. Even at the Cross, the Roman soldiers were not convinced there was anything special about this Jesus. Until, that is, they saw how He died. Then, all of a sudden, they're sure He is the Son of God. You have to experience Jesus before you can believe in Him. You can't just think He kind of, sort of, or even really sounds good. That's never been enough.
And then, you have to be changed by Him. James says plainly that faith without works is dead. Paul says that we have not been saved (believed in Him) just so that we can go on sinning. That's not how any of this works.
But what if you can't believe? What if you just can't believe? There is a story in the Gospels of this happening - a man comes to Jesus. He experiences Jesus. He wants to be changed, wants to believe all of this, but he cries out - I believe, help my unbelief! Who among us doesn't have these moments?
This is the haunting of John 3:17, the verse that puts 3:16 in context. Verse 17 condemns the man who does not believe, who does not truly believe - that is, who is not changed by his experience of Jesus.
The kind of unbelief that we see in the Gospel story just cited - that's not what verse 17 is talking about. It's not talking about those of us who are earnestly trying to believe, who are engaged with the Gospel, who are open to being changed. It's talking more about the thief on the cross, the one who refuses to believe.
There are two thieves with Jesus when He is crucified - one on His left, one on His right. And one cries out about Him being the Son of God and begs for mercy. He is changed by his experience of Jesus. The other thief tells him to shut up and stop bothering the guy. He is not changed by his experience of Jesus. It is this kind of unbelief that is condemned, the kind that can look Jesus right in the eye and decide He's not worth changing for. It's the idea that not all who cry, "Lord, Lord" will be received in Heaven - not all who know what His name is know what His name means. They have not been changed by Him.
Which brings us back to belief - not some intellectual exercise, not some measly, simple, just-in-case prayer, but a life-changing experience of Jesus. The question of John 3:16 is not whether God so loves His world; we know that He does. It's not whether there is eternal life; we know that there is. It's not whether there is a Son, sent to save; we know this is true.
The question of John 3:16 hinges on this one little word. The question is: do you believe? Truly believe?
Empty Faith
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