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__label__cc | 0.598926 | 0.401074 | Home > News & Events > Industry & Advocacy News > Q&A with a Council Member: Tayari Jones
Q&A with a Council Member: Tayari Jones
We sat down with Authors Guild council member and author Tayari Jones to discuss her upcoming novel An American Marriage, how to balance writing and teaching, and what issues writers should be concerned about today in this Q&A originally published in the Fall 2017/Winter 2018 Authors Guild Bulletin. Interviewed by Isabel Howe.
To start, can you tell us about your next novel, An American Marriage, which will be published by Algonquin Books on February 6?
Jones: An American Marriage is a novel about a young couple who have been married for 18 months when the husband is wrongfully incarcerated. It’s not so much about incarceration; it’s about what happens after five years, when he’s released. He’s innocent; his lawyers get him out. How does he resume his life? He hasn’t spoken to his wife in two years. He sees her as the key to getting his life back. She sees herself as a person. What does it mean when someone pins all their hopes on you? What do we owe one another? How do we balance our own lives with our responsibilities to others?
In the news, the story always ends with them getting out, they’re walking out triumphantly, and you just assume all is well now. But relationships are complicated even when no one has been wrongfully incarcerated. What happens when she comes home one day and he’s on her couch?
Let’s dive into the business of being a professional writer: you do a fair amount of teaching, fellowships, judging contests and so on. These jobs are the bread and butter for a lot of writers.
Jones: I do it all. I’m an associate professor at Rutgers Univer-sity at Newark. I’m leaving soon to accept a fellowship at the Black Mountain Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. And I teach in the summer. I do lots of things, but I try to make all of my outside work writing-related. It’s the way I make a living, but it’s also how I remain a part of the community of writers. Writing is so solitary, but in all the other things I do, I meet more writers. Everything I do in my life causes me to meet another writer.
I judge a lot of contests, but I don’t judge them for the money. For one thing, judging contests does not pay very much money at all. I judge contests because I feel that it’s part of my citizenship as an author, to have my voice register. These prizes can introduce a new writer to the literary world. They can shape someone’s career. The question is, who has a hand in these things? I think we owe it to our peers, and our future peers, to participate in this type of work.
Are there parallels in your work as a teacher?
Jones: I think teaching is the same thing; you’re shaping the lives of young writers and bringing them along. Teaching is the thing I do the most. It’s my bread and butter, it’s where I get my benefits, it’s my life. It’s how I support myself. I’m very glad that I’m able to teach creative writing. It keeps my head in the game all the time. Teaching is almost like a refresher course for your own education.
When do you write? Is it possible to become too immersed in the business of being a professional writer?
Jones: I’m going to say yes and no. Yes, of course, having a job means there’s time you’re not writing, but that’s true with anything in your life. The world isn’t going to stop spinning for you to write your book. No matter who you are, no matter what situation you have, life beckons. It is challenging, sometimes, to find time to write. But I don’t have to have the whole day to write. If I can write for two or three hours in a day, I can make a lot of progress by the end of the week. Small, workable goals make progress. Even when I’m not writing, I’m thinking about my writing, so I feel like I’m writing all the time.
I think it’s a new thing, this idea that writers believe that doing anything other than writing is an imposition. Art has never been convenient for anyone. No one’s life is convenient. With artists, it seems like more of an outrage that your life is inconvenient. But it can be done.
When we tell people that they must write every day, it makes people who work, people who perform childcare, eldercare, people who have other responsibilities think, “Oh, I can never be a writer.” It makes people feel that writing is for a privileged class of people who, if they weren’t writing, would be eating bonbons. But we make the time.
Developing habits and carving out time is more important.
Jones: Slow but steady. A page a day is more than 300 pages in a year.
The majority of writers do things other than write. It drives me crazy when I’m on a panel and someone asks, “Which of you are full-time writers?,” suggesting that those of us who have day jobs are unsuccessful. Or that people who have day jobs don’t believe in themselves enough to quit. This happened just last week at a writing event. I think it comes from some kind of made-for-TV understanding of what it is to be a writer or successful. I say you’re successful based on the quality of your writing, not on whether or not you have a job.
That question really comes up?
Jones: All the time! Quite often with the people who are “writing full-time,” it’s not because they’re supporting themselves from their books; it’s that something in their life supports them. Once I was on an all-woman panel and I was the only one that had a day job — but I also was the only one who wasn’t married. Everyone else was getting applauded for not having a day job, and I’m looking like the unsuccessful one who has to go earn her living. It was so frustrating. I wanted to say, I’m not married! That’s how these other people are “writing full-time.” It’s a question people ask all the time.
How will you spend your time at the Black Mountain Institute fellowship?
Jones: I’m so excited about this fellowship. I found out about it quite by accident. It’s a year-long residence at the University of Nevada’s Black Mountain Institute, which recently bought The Believer magazine. They have a new festival, The Believer Festival, so I’ll be involved in that. I’m researching a new novel. If faculty members want me to visit their classes, I will, but mostly I’ll be working on my next book.
I admire the work the Institute is doing. They have a special emphasis on international writers and widening the scope of literature. They have one fellow who’s a “sanctuary fellow” from another country, who’s been there for three years. I’m thrilled. I leave in two weeks.
Have you had a writer-mentor?
Jones: Oh, yes. I have been so lucky in mentors and I love to talk about my first mentor. I went to college young. I was only 16. I met a writer there, a teacher, Pearl Cleage. She’s a playwright and a novelist. I feel like she set my life in this direction. We’re still close to this day. It’s been 30 years. I just had lunch with her when I was at home in Atlanta and we’re going to launch my new novel there together.
She’s a working writer. When I met her, she was teaching part-time and had all these other jobs, kids, a husband. She modeled for me the way you make your artistic life your whole life, the way you allow it to reach out into so many different directions. It wasn’t an ivory tower model of what it was to be a writer. She was motivated by the joy of story and a sense of literary citizenship. She also ran a magazine at the time. She was my first mentor and her example stays with me to this day.
Is that a role you’ve played with younger writers?
Jones: I take my teaching and my mentorship very seriously. I often tell the students I advise at Rutgers that I don’t like to talk about the professional side of writing before they’ve written their first book. Your first book is your time to write innocently, not knowing what the market wants. I tell them, I’m your mentor now and your mentor forever. When you have your book completed, I promise I will talk to you about business, but for now let’s just talk about what’s on the page.
I love that. Knowing too much about the business side can really stress out young writers and even block them from writing.
Jones: No one has ever said, “Wow, thank you for telling me that bit about the business; I feel motivated!” People always feel anxious. I tell them they can come back, because they do need that.
What motivated you to join the Authors Guild? What are your goals as a Council member?
Jones: I joined the Guild in 2011. Judy Blume suggested that I join, and one does what Judy Blume wants you to do. As a member, I learned about so many resources. Part of what I want to do as a member of the Council is to work on recruitment, so other authors know about the Guild, what it does, and what it has to offer. I live right here in New York and I did not know. I think there are a lot of people who would be excited to join and belong. There’s power in numbers.
With so many of us writers having other employment, we forget that we’re also a united class of writers. I belong to organizations about being a teacher; I belong to three or four such organizations. Writing is so solitary, I often forget that I’m part of that class as well.
What other ideas do you have for the Authors Guild Council’s work?
Jones: I think each of us has something else we’re good at. For me, I’m such a people person and I’m plugged into a lot of different communities that may not be plugged into the Guild. I really want recruitment to be my wheelhouse, to make our group bigger, stronger, more diverse.
There are so many people who identify as writers and who are living as writers. In Mississippi, in Alabama, in Georgia, where I’m from. I would love to see us have more regional outreach.
Over the decades, the Guild has addressed many hot-button issues in the publishing industry, such as photocopying, licensing, censorship, the rise of e-books and piracy. What do you see as a central issue today? What worries you, as a writer?
Jones: I always think about the question of access. I am very concerned about people who don’t live in New York, people who don’t have mentors and don’t know the way in. There are so many important stories being written by people who don’t know the way in. That has always bothered me. You cannot apply for or go for things you haven’t heard of.
When I was a little baby writer, I had never heard of so many things. I can’t remember how I found out about the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, but I went. Other people were talking about all kinds of opportunities that I’d never heard of. I went to my room and I cried into my hands, because I thought, how will I ever catch up? I’m not from the background that a lot of these people have. I have a story, but I don’t know how to do things.
You don’t even know where to look. I found out about so many things because I bought this book from PEN with grants and awards available to American writers. I would read it every day and circle things and apply for all manner of things. If I hadn’t stumbled upon that book — such a simple resource, that book.
When I was a young writer, back when people used to blog, I had a blog that was all about getting the word out. That was my whole reason for living, getting the word out to people who weren’t plugged in. There are so many stories; so many people have so much to say. There’s no one without a voice. We have to help amplify these voices. That, for me, is my ongoing issue.
The Internet doesn’t always help. There’s too much information out there and people can take false turns.
Jones: There are so many people scamming on writers who don’t know, who are just trying. I want to be a champion for the people who are outside. Save the young people; save the new people! Save the people who are not young in years but who are young in this career.
Tayari Jones is the author of the novels Leaving Atlanta, The Untelling, Silver Sparrow and An American Marriage, forthcoming from Algonquin Books in February 2018. She has written for The New York Times, Tin House, The Believer and Callaloo. Her awards and honors include the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Debut Fiction, a Lifetime Achievement Award in Fine Arts from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Radcliffe Institute.
Photo credit: Nina Subin | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2811 |
__label__cc | 0.523217 | 0.476783 | Boston Children's Hospital Essay
Analyze the market and competitive forces faced by Boston Children’s Hospital. What are BCH’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT)?
Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) offers a complete reach of health awareness administrations for youngsters with a global reach throughout every country of the world. It is also the supplier of-final resort for kids with uncommon sicknesses, for example, Wiskott Aldrich (blood infection) and Bubble Boy Syndrome (immunodeficiency) and has very specific doctors and costly gear accessible at all times. In 2011, U.S. News & World Report positioned BCH as the top pediatric doctor’s facility in the U.S., with more top-positioned fortes ...view middle of the document...
They realized that their costs were practically identical to other detached pediatric healing centers around the nation, and suspected that the expenses reported by pediatric wards inside full administration doctor’s facilities may be under-reported because of cross-subsidies from more lucrative grown-up divisions. They knew, notwithstanding, that BCH did cause higher expenses to satisfy its significant research and showing missions and to nurture a fundamentally more unpredictable and asset escalated patient populace.
BCH had been exploring different avenues regarding new repayment approaches and, in 2012, it turned into the first pediatric doctor’s facility to enter into an Alternative Quality Contract (AQC) with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. This three-year AQC indicated a movement from expense for-administration repayment to altered installments with extra compensations focused around investment funds produced and quality targets arrived at. The agreement determined no rate increase for 2012 and humble expanding beneath expansion for the rest of the understanding. Other open and private payers...
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__label__cc | 0.744841 | 0.255159 | Doing It For The Girls Commentary
“Doing It For The Girls” is an article that appears to be written in the last 2 years and is written in the point of view of a journalist working at a developed, Western-based, English speaking magazine company. This article is written about the stereotypes surrounding the typically male dominated field of nuclear engineering and the criticism that Katie Fish faces as a young, female nuclear engineer. The discourse used in this article is formal yet accessible, following the typical style of a magazine article that is catering to a wide readership. This article was made by either a reporter or a publicist for the EDF energy company in hopes of promoting jobs for women in male dominated ...view middle of the document...
The title, “Doing It For The Girls” is located at the top left-hand side of the page in a large, bold serif font. This title emphasizes the target audiences as “The Girls” is slightly larger than “Doing It For” and this immediately catches the reader’s eye as the main focus of the article. Directly below the heading is the sub-heading which is in a smaller serif font. In both the heading and sub-heading, the “soft” font emphasizes the feminity of the article and the word “challenges” from the sub-heading is used as a way of addressing the inherent problem that some employers have a bias against women in the workplace. In the bottom left-hand corner, there is a smaller picture of Fish working with a pen and notebook and wearing stylish clothes. Her smile in both pictures illustrates that she is comfortable with her job and has overcome the “stereotypes surrounding nuclear energy” as a male oriented area of work. Towards the middle of the page, there is a large quote, “There are many more young people and women coming into the industry”. This supports the main idea of the article that youths and women must try and penetrate jobs and fields that are typically done by men. The article is formulated into 3 columns of paragraphs to make it more accessible to the reader and to follow the classic format of a magazine article. Finally, there is a small logo of EDF Energy in the bottom left-hand corner which asks readers to visit their website for “more information on nuclear energy”. The inclusion of a website demonstrates that this is a recent article as website promotion only recently started being a convention.
There are a few themes present in this article, all relating to Katie Fish such as the theme of feminism, stereotypes in the engineering field and nuclear engineering. In the large picture on the right-hand side of the page, Fish is seen to be wearing a bright pink jacket with a smart white-striped collared shirt and a notebook, pen and paper in her hand. The bright pink jacket, in addition to the soft fonts and flowery design on her shirt in the second picture, reinstates the theme of feminism throughout the article. The discourse in this article, yet formal, is accessible so as to appeal to a wide readership and is about females in the field of nuclear engineering. Also, the themes in this article are commonly debated and relatable. Next, Katie says, “most are surprised” when she tells people what her occupation is. This “surprise” enforces the theme that women are not seen as typically being engineers and rather as homemakers. In addition to this, the statistics and engineering jargon such as, “the safety of a series of fire barricades” aid to emphasize the theme of nuclear...
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Addressing barriers to growth for small businesses.
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is based on the broadly held view of leading experts that greater access to this combination of education, capital, and support services best addresses barriers to growth for small businesses.
10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) is guided by an advisory council on which Babson President Kerry Healey serves, and is co-chaired by Goldman Sachs chairman and CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein; Bloomberg L.P. founder, president, and CEO, and 108th Mayor of the City of New York Michael R. Bloomberg; Berkshire Hathaway chairman and CEO Warren Buffett; and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City’s Michael Porter. The National Urban League and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce also are represented on the council, among other groups.
Launched in 2009, the 10,000 Small Businesses program has graduated over 8,000 growth-minded small businesses nationwide. The program has rapidly grown to include 16 sites at community colleges throughout the United States, and the National Blended Learning Cohort, has reached its target of 150 small-business owners per cohort, graduating 300 businesses a year. The program has consistently delivered on its focus of helping small businesses grow their revenues and create jobs.
10,000 Small Businesses UK
After extensive research, Goldman Sachs also launched the 10,000 Small Businesses UK program, designed to provide high-quality, practical education and business support to leaders of high-growth small businesses and social enterprises across the United Kingdom. The program is designed by leading experts and is run in partnership with the Saïd Business School at Oxford University, the Aston Centre for Growth at Aston University, Leeds University Business School at University of Leeds, and the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School at Manchester Metropolitan University.
10,000 Women
In addition, 10,000 Women is a global initiative that fosters economic growth by providing women entrepreneurs with a business and management education, mentoring and networking, and access to capital. To date, the initiative has reached more than 10,000 women from 50 countries through a network of 90 academic and nonprofit partners, and still continues to build. There are initiatives presently being run in India, Kenya, Brazil, Egypt, and China.
10,000 Small Businesses
Goldman Sachs Graduates Outperform U.S. Revenue Growth and Job Creation
A Progress Report on Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (pdf)
Open Enrollment Programs
Customized Entrepreneurship Programs
Babson Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Platform
Babson Insight | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2816 |
__label__wiki | 0.955314 | 0.955314 | Even with new players, they're the same old Brewers--injured a lot
PETER SCHMUCKTHE BALTIMORE SUN
The Milwaukee Brewers came into the 1991 season with new hope and enough new players to justify their claim to contention in the wide-open American League East, but it has been the same old sad story.
The Brewers have been baseball's most injury-prone team over the past 3 1/2 seasons, and they have done nothing this year to ease the crowding in the training room.
Barely a week into the season, newcomer Candy Maldonado suffered a fractured foot and was laid up for much of the first half. Since then, seven more players have missed at least 20 games because of injuries, and Robin Yount will soon bring the total number of 20-game injured to nine.
Yount had seemed immune to the Brew Flu until complications from a kidney stone forced him onto the disabled list recently. In his first 17 major-league seasons, he had played an average of 144 games. But now he's just the new guy at sick call.
The list of players who have lost significant time (20 games or more) due to injuries includes starting pitchers Teddy Higuera, Ron Robinson, Bill Wegman and Mark Knudson, reliever Edwin Nunez, outfielders Maldonado and Darryl Hamilton and infielder Gary Sheffield. No wonder the Brewers entered yesterday's game 14 games under .500 and 15 1/2 games out of contention in the league's weaker division.
But Brewers fans have grown accustomed to the club's fragile constitution. From 1988-90, the team lost 2,393 player-days to injury, or the equivalent of 15 individual seasons. That means that the Brewers played at about 80 percent of full roster strength for three straight seasons and still managed to play close to .500 ball (242-244).
Team officials have looked high and low for some logical explanation for the annual Brewers breakdown, but there is no common thread. The club incorporated a new exercise program this year in the hope that it would have some preventive effect, but the situation has not improved.
"We never had the 25-man roster we projected to have before the start of the season," manager Tom Trebelhorn said. "We haven't had Higuera and Robinson [who were expected to be the top two starters] all year, but nobody's going to feel sorry for us. That's the way it is."
The San Diego Padres have some very demanding fans, judging from the noise coming out of the stands at San Diego/Jack Murphy Stadium when outfielder Tony Gwynn comes to the plate. No, they aren't paying a long-distance tribute to hometown hero Moose Milligan. Those are boos for the slumping Gwynn, who entered yesterday's game in a 10-for-55 tailspin.
"I may not like it," Gwynn said recently, "but their reaction doesn't surprise me. No one is immune to being booed. I'm not going to lose my sanity over it. I've come to expect a lot of different things that happen here."
It is a bit unusual for the home crowd to boo a perennial league batting champion, though California Angels fans were hard on seven-time batting champ Rod Carew at one point during the 1980 season. But that was after a well-publicized anti-fan diatribe by Carew at a particularly tense point in baseball's troubled labor history.
Gwynn, who still leads National League hitters with a .337 average didn't say boo to anyone, but he is hearing them
nonetheless.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra has made a positive first impression on new (to him, at least) manager Jim Fregosi.
"I hadn't seen him that much before the accident," Fregosi said, "but I've since been amazed at how many quality at-bats he gives you in tough situations. He finds a way to get it done."
Ex-Orioles on parade: Maybe this isn't saying much, but if they held an election today, outfielder Steve Finley would be the Houston Astros MVP and right-hander Pete Harnisch would run a close second.
Finley has been the club's most consistent hitter, his average peaking at .301 last week before settling back into the .290s. He also leads the Astros in extra bases and entered yesterday's game with 18 steals.
He likely would have been a platoon player if he had stayed in Baltimore this year, but he has proved effective against left-handed pitching, batting .276 through Thursday.
Harnisch remains one of the top pitchers in the National League, though his 6-7 won-lost record reflects the low-priced Houston offensive attack.
Strange stat of the week: Harnisch has held opposing hitters to a batting average this year, which ranks him among the league leaders in that department, but opposing pitchers are batting a combined .214. Figure that out.
Is it possible that Harnisch is letting down a bit when he gets to the ninth spot in the order?
"I never thought about it until now," said Harnisch, after giving up two straight RBI hits to Ken Hill on Wednesday night, "but maybe I better start thinking about it."
More Milwaukee maladies: Sheffield continues to resist the notion that surgery is the only answer to his chronic wrist soreness, but the numbers seem to indicate that he cannot play through the injury.
Sheffield entered the weekend with 10 hits in his previous 90 at-bats (.111). He has no homers and seven RBI since he first injured his left wrist in late May.
"It's about the same, no better, no worse," he said. "I really can't say what's going to happen. I keep trying to work at it."
The surprising St. Louis Cardinals aren't really so surprising. They're just doing a great job of beating the teams they are
supposed to beat. The club is a combined 17-6 against the Astros and Phillies -- the two worst teams in the league.
Former Baltimore Oriole Storm Davis wasn't exactly thrilled when was exiled to the bullpen May 24, but it has turned out to be the right move for him and the team.
Davis was 2-7 with a 5.30 ERA as a starter, which left him only a couple of options -- move to middle relief or move back to Baltimore, where those numbers wouldn't stand out. The Royals moved him to the bullpen and have not been sorry.
In 23 games, he has worked 36 1/3 innings and given up four earned runs, which works out to a 1.01 ERA. In the process, he has dropped his overall ERA to 3.57 and regained a measure of confidence.
"I think he enjoys what he's doing now," pitching coach Pat Dobson said. "He's a lot more aggressive. He's attacking hitters and not walking anybody."
Davis has even regained his sense of humor.
"Being a good setup man is like being a good ball boy at Wimbledon," he said recently. "Just keep the ball out of play."
Things are starting to fall in place for the Royals, though they will need a minor miracle to climb past all six teams ahead of them in the AL West standings. Only nine games separate the penthouse from the outhouse, however, so anything is possible.
The Royals entered the weekend on a roll. Before losing to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night, they had won eight of their previous 10 to pull within two games of .500. The starting rotation appears to be back on track and the club has gotten a big offensive lift from newcomer Todd Benzinger.
Benzinger was batting .187 with one home run and 11 RBI when the Cincinnati Reds traded him to the Royals on July 12. In 15 games since, he's batting .317 with two homers and 15 RBI.
"I can't imagine being more comfortable at the plate than I feel now," said Benzinger, who might yet fulfill the lofty expectations placed on him when he broke in with the Boston Red Sox.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were 0-33 in games they trailed entering the ninth inning when Mitch Webster brought them from behind with a home run in Tuesday night's 6-5 victory over the Phillies.
The Brew flu
Here is a list of the nine Milwaukee Brewers players who have missed 20 games due to injury this year:
Ted Higuera.. .. .. .. ..Rotator cuff
Ron Robinson.. .. .. .. Elbow surgery
Candy Maldonado.. .. ..Fractured foot
Gary Sheffield.. ..Wrist and shoulder
Mark Knudson.. .. ..Shoulder soreness
Bill Wegman.. .. .. .. .Elbow surgery
Edwin Nunez.. .. .. .. ..Back surgery
Darryl Hamilton.. .. .. .. ..Shoulder
Robin Yount.. .. .. .. Kidney stones*
*Yount will have missed 20 straight games by the time he completes minimum time on disabled list. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2818 |
__label__wiki | 0.92253 | 0.92253 | 'Pounder' Leach will make impact in Ravens' running game
When the Ravens agreed to a three-year contract with fullback Vonta Leach on Sunday, it was an indication of the team's offensive plans.
It was a statement.
The Ravens want to return to old-school football, where they grind a team with their defense and pound it into submission with a strong running game. Few players like collisions the way Leach does.
He's the Ravens' new crash test dummy.
"Fullbacks are like dinosaurs," running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery said. "So when you get a chance to get a legitimate one, you've got to grab them. They are just not out there. This year, we must have looked at hundreds of them. They are no longer coming out of college football because of the Wildcat and spread offenses.
"We got what we consider a Raven; he is a pounder," Montgomery said of Leach. "As far as I'm concerned, he's like a lineman blocking for Ray Rice."
Signing Leach shows the Ravens have come full circle in their offensive approach. In the past two seasons, they got away from coach John Harbaugh's run-oriented roots and became infatuated with the strong arm of quarterback Joe Flacco.
The Ravens, though, never seemed comfortable with that style. They didn't know when to keep up the fast pace or slow it down. And when it came to securing a lead in the fourth quarter with a strong running game or getting the big yard in short-yardage situations, the Ravens had no punch.
Now, they have a home-run hitter in the 6-foot, 250-pound Leach.
"I'm very excited, and [I] watched what he did for Arian Foster," said Rice, the Ravens' star running back. "He is an amazing back, and he lays the wood on people. I can't wait to follow him. He is all about business and all about hard work."
And unlike former Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain, Leach, 29, won't complain about his rushing attempts. McClain made two Pro Bowl appearances during his four years in Baltimore but wanted the ball after last season, when he had only 28 carries for 85 yards.
The Ravens, though, had their own issues to settle. They thought McClain was a great hybrid fullback-running back, but those fullback collisions took a toll on him. He could stalemate with a lot of defensive players, but after tough, physical games, he often had neck, shoulder or leg injuries.
Leach can move players. He is the stereotypical thumper. If he can't meet a linebacker standing in the hole, he goes after one on a search-and-destroy mission.
"Coming off a Pro Bowl season and solid football play the previous three years, we're excited having a guy of this caliber," Montgomery said. "No. 1, he sees himself as a fullback. He doesn't have the run skills of Le'Ron, but we will still give him the ball and opportunities. He has had a few catches, but we're not going to ask him to catch a lot of passes. But we will ask him to pancake people."
The Ravens have had thumpers before in Sam Gash, Ovie Mughelli, Alan Ricard and Lorenzo Neal. Neal came to Baltimore during Harbaugh's and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron's first season.
Back then, Neal ran onto the field, imitating the Juggernaut character in the X-Men. Three years ago, the Ravens powered up by using an unbalanced line and inserting an offensive lineman at tight end.
This is a good year for the Ravens to go back to old-school football. They have a lot of young receivers and tight ends and an offensive line that had trouble protecting Flacco last season.
The Ravens want to improve on last year's running game, which fell from the top five in 2008 and 2009 to 14th. They know they need to be able to take advantage of first-half leads against the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots with a strong second-half running game.
Leach puts them closer to fulfilling that goal. He is a blue-collar player who survived in the NFL as an undrafted rookie before bouncing around among several teams and eventually becoming the best fullback in the game during the past five seasons in Houston.
Leached cleared the way for Foster's league-leading 1,616 yards rushing last season. He was pursued by the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and New York Giants before coming to the Ravens.
"Hitting is part of what I do," Leach said. "It's the mentality of a fullback. You're going to go in there [and] hit somebody every single time, every single play. It's going to be like a car crash."
That kind of talk excites Rice.
"Everyone knows his reputation. I said I can probably trip and get 5 yards running behind him," Rice said, laughing.
mike.preston@baltsun.com
Text FOOTBALL to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun Ravens text alerts
Le'Ron McClain | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2819 |
__label__cc | 0.515967 | 0.484033 | ‘A bigger plan’: Oklahoma youth pastor clings to God and Scripture after tragic loss
Home » Feature » ‘A bigger plan’: Oklahoma ...
By Emily Howsden
JENKS—After a morning that seemed normal or like any other, on Dec. 29, 2017, Jenks, First Youth Pastor Drew Wright’s life changed forever. His wife, Shannon, was eight months pregnant with their son, Asa. She went to spend time with her mom and unexpectedly became unconscious. The day took a turn for the worse.
Drew and his wife, Shannon, on their wedding day in 2013.
Shannon was rushed to the hospital where doctors delivered Asa by an emergency caesarean section procedure. As Drew was rushed upstairs to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to be with Asa, he was told he needed to go back downstairs to be with his wife.
“Walking back down with the nurse was probably one of the hardest, most pain-filled times I’ve ever walked through in my life,” Wright said. Shannon had died.
Wright spent the next five days in the NICU with his son, Asa. The outcome for Asa wasn’t good, considering the trauma he had experienced due to lack of oxygen, among other things.
On Jan. 3, Asa joined his mom. “We got to spend five days with him, but his eternal purpose was to be with his mom.
“After walking down that road, my prayer has been that ‘God, if I have to walk this road, it’s that nobody else ever has to walk down this road,’ and go through what I’m doing right now, living the story I’m living,” said Wright.
At this difficult time in his life, Wright explained that while God has not provided him with a reason or a “why this had to happen,” He has been there every step of the way.
“He’s given moments of hope and moments of joy that aren’t circumstantial because He is joy and He is love. He defines what is good in this world. So I just cling to those truths.”
Wright explained how, through this process, the Holy Spirit has used him in ways that he says he didn’t ask for and surely would not have planned on his own.
Wright, center, holds Asa as family, staff from Jenks, First and friends surround them in prayer during Asa’s stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
One of those ways is by reaching out to other families that were in the NICU at the same time as Asa. Wright explained that, while he offered to pray over families and their own situations, it was God who continued to move in him and silence the voice in his head saying “Nobody expects you to do this.”
As the story of Shannon and Asa spread across the internet, believers and non-believers across the country and world reached out to Wright in support.
“The impact of this has been something that I’ve never wanted, because more than anything I want my family, but God has an eternal purpose in all of this. He’s doing something bigger than my life would have orchestrated or done on its own. His thoughts are above our thoughts, His ways are above our ways,” Wright said.
Wright’s own view of eternity and the Kingdom of Heaven has even changed. He said, “Knowing that my wife is not only in heaven but she’s getting to be a mom in the most perfect place that she could be a mom—that God in His sovereignty knew that I needed that time with my boy, but that ultimately He was going to take Asa to be with His mom—that’s a unique perspective of eternity that most people don’t understand.”
Through the loss of his wife and son, Wright mentioned how important the reaction of his church family at Jenks, First has been. “All of these things they preach in every ministry in our church, as someone on staff you think ‘They’re making a difference,’ and with me walking through this, I’ve watched, and I’ve felt them make a difference,” Wright said.
The story of Shannon and Asa is one that Wright hopes will further the Kingdom’s reach here on earth. “I want people to see Jesus for who He really is, that Jesus is real. It’s not just this storybook or this fairytale that Christians believe in. I want lost people to see that faith is so vital to everything that I’m walking through right now.”
Wright said when people question his faith due to this tragedy in his life, he turns to John 6 where people have turned away from Jesus, and Jesus looks to Peter and asks what about you? To which Peter replies, “To whom else do we go?”
“I’m also clinging to Romans 8:28 that says ‘For God works all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.’ I know that He is going to work this for good. I don’t know exactly what that is going to look like, but I know He’s got a bigger plan than I ever could have.”
Author: Emily Howsden
Emily Howsden is the Digital Content Coordinator and a staff writer for the Baptist Messenger.
View more articles by Emily Howsden.
Rite of passage: Purposeful play Jul 18, 2017
Rite of Passage: Flat Walker Jul 10, 2019
Conventional Thinking: Resolved Jun 17, 2014 | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2820 |
__label__cc | 0.63769 | 0.36231 | Home » News » Bernstein Liebhard LLP Announces That A Class Action Has Been Filed Against OvaScience, Inc.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP Announces That A Class Action Has Been Filed Against OvaScience, Inc.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP announces that a securities class action has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased common shares of OvaScience, Inc. (“OvaScience” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: OVAS ) directly in the Company’s January 8, 2015 Secondary Offering and who were damaged thereby (the “Class”). The complaint alleges that Defendants violated Sections 11, 12(a) and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933.
OvaScience is a life science company that engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of new treatments for infertility. The Company is attempting to develop various fertility treatment options purported to enhance egg health and revolutionize in vitro fertilization (“IVF”). The Company’s Autologous Germline Mitochondrial Energy Transfer (“AUGMENT”) treatment, designed to improve the energy and health of the woman’s eggs by using mitochondria from a woman’s egg precursor cells (“EggPCs”), is available in certain IVF clinics in select international regions.
The Complaint alleges that Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the science behind AUGMENT was untested and in doubt; (2) the patients that had received OvaScience’s AUGMENT procedure in 2014 did not achieve a pregnancy success rate that was significantly higher than the rate achieved without the Company’s AUGMENT procedure; (3) the Company had not chosen to undertake its studies outside of the United States, but was forced to as it did not want to meet stringent and expensive federal regulations; and (4) the Company was far from being profitable, or even approaching profitability.
Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of all Class members who purchased OvaScience common shares directly in the Company’s January 8, 2015 Secondary Offering. If you invested in OvaScience as described above, and lost money on those transactions, you may wish to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in this action. In order to do so, you must meet certain requirements set forth in the applicable law and file appropriate papers no later than January 22, 2018.
A “lead plaintiff” is a representative party that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed lead plaintiff, the court must determine that the class member’s claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Under certain circumstances, one or more class members may together serve as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. You may retain Bernstein Liebhard LLP, or other counsel of your choice, to serve as your counsel in this action.
If you are interested in discussing your rights as an Applied Optoelectronics investor and/or have information relating to the matter, please contact Joseph R. Seidman, Jr. at (877) 779-1414 or seidman@bernlieb.com.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP has pursued hundreds of securities, consumer and shareholder rights cases and recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. The Firm has been named to The National Law Journal’s “Plaintiffs’ Hot List” thirteen times. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2822 |
__label__wiki | 0.940021 | 0.940021 | Bsn School in Cullowhee, North Carolina
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1 Bsn School in Cullowhee, North Carolina
Cullowhee, North Carolina
Bsn Schools in Cullowhee, North Carolina Site Evaluation
There is only one bsn school in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It is Western Carolina University. The school's website has a Google Page Rank of 7. Western Carolina University appears to maintain its site on a regular basis, as is indicated by the fact that there are not many broken links just one click away from the homepage.
The colors used on the website for the only bsn school in Cullowhee are white for 69% of the site and grey for 1.5% of the site.
The primary font used on website of Cullowhee's only bsn school is Times New Roman.
Western Carolina University has a Facebook page with 12,435 "likes".
Western Carolina University has a YouTube channel with 157 subscribers.
Western Carolina University has been bookmarked on Delicious 32 times.
Western Carolina University's website has a Compete Rank of 32,380, which indicates the number of unique visitors to the site. The school has a SEOMoz Page Authority rank of 72.3.
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723-9646
www.wcu.edu | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2824 |
__label__wiki | 0.553029 | 0.553029 | H.R. 6108 - Preserving America’s Battlefields Act
Sponsor: Jody B. Hice (R)
Bill Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Preserving America's Battlefields Act
This bill reauthorizes though FY2028 the Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program and expands the purposes of the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002. Specifically, the Act's purposes shall include:
the preservation and protection of nationally significant battlefields of not only the Civil War but also the American Revolution and the War of 1812, and
the enhancement of visitors' experiences at those battlefields.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
To provide for partnerships among State and local governments, regional entities, and the private sector to preserve, conserve, and enhance the visitor experience at nationally significant battlefields of the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the “Preserving America’s Battlefields Act”.
SEC. 2. Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002.
Section 2 of the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–359) is amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 2. Findings and purposes.
“(a) Findings.—Congress finds the following:
“(1) Battlefields of the American Revolution, War of 1812 and the Civil War—
“(A) provide a means for the people of the United States to understand our Nation’s turbulent first century;
“(B) serve as living memorials to those who fought and sacrificed in these conflicts to establish and maintain our freedom and liberty;
“(C) serve as training grounds for our Nation’s Armed Forces; and
“(D) serve as heritage tourism destinations, generating revenue for local economies.
“(2) According to the Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields, prepared by the National Park Service and updated in 2010, of the 383 Civil War battlefields identified as national preservation priorities—
“(A) only at 31 battlefields is more than half of the surviving landscape permanently protected;
“(B) at 227 battlefields, less than half of the surviving landscape is permanently protected;
“(C) 65 battlefields have no protection at all; and
“(D) 113 battlefields have been severely hampered by development since the Civil War or are on the verge of being overwhelmed.
“(3) According to the 2007 Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the United States, prepared by the National Park Service, of the 243 principal Revolutionary War and War of 1812 battlefields identified as national preservation priorities—
“(A) almost 70 percent lie within urban areas as denoted in the 2000 U.S. Census;
“(B) 141 are lost or extremely fragmented, with residential and commercial development being the chief threats;
“(C) 100 other battlefields retain significant features and lands from the period of battle, although on average these battlefields retain only 37 percent of the original historic scene;
“(D) of these 100 surviving but diminished battle landscapes, 82 are partially owned and protected by public and nonprofit stewards, although the extent of that protection varies from site to site;
“(E) 18 are without any legal protection;
“(F) the condition of two battlefields is unknown, with additional research and survey being required to determine their exact location and condition; and
“(G) the paucity of existing battlefield landscapes necessitates preservation and maintenance of what precious little remains today.
“(b) Purposes.—The purposes of this Act are—
“(1) to act quickly and proactively to preserve and protect nationally significant battlefields of the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War through conservation easements and fee-simple purchases of those battlefields from willing sellers; and
“(2) to create partnerships among State and local governments, regional entities, and the private sector to preserve, conserve, and enhance the visitor experience at nationally significant battlefields of the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War.”.
SEC. 3. Preservation assistance.
Section 308103(f) of title 54, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
“(f) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to provide grants under this section $15,000,000 for each fiscal year through 2025, of which not more than 10 percent may be used each fiscal year as follows:
“(1) Not more than $1,000,000 for projects and programs that modernize battlefield interpretive and educational assets through the deployment of technology, disbursed through the competitive grant process to non-profit organizations.
“(2) Not more than $1,000,000 for grants to organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code to be used for projects that restore day-of-battle conditions on land preserved through Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Program funds.”.
Passed the House of Representatives December 10, 2018.
Attest: karen l. haas, | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2825 |
__label__wiki | 0.666242 | 0.666242 | FTC Permanently Shuts Down Medical Alert System Scam Targeting Seniors
kelly_johnsen
The FTC shuts down major medical alert system scam targeting seniors nationwide.
The FTC issued a press release last Thursday stating that they permanently put an end to a large-scale scam operation that targeted senior citizens. The operation employed pre-recorded robocalls offering free medical alert systems to glean private information from it’s victims.
The scammers made illegal robocalls to seniors claiming that a loved one had ordered a medical alert system for them. They further claimed to be endorsed by many prominent health organizations such as the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and the National Institute on Aging (NIA).
The telemarketers insisted that the device was free and the user would not be charged anything before the device was activated. This turned out to be false as the user was immediately charged upon providing their credit card information. The FTC reports that those who gave their information have seen “monthly charges of $35 and up.”
Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, had this to say about the scammers:
“They lied about the product, about whether health organizations had endorsed it, and about it’s cost. And all the while, their M.O. was to take advantage of older people’s concerns about their health. We’re so glad to work with our partners in Florida to stop this fraud.”
A settlement was obtained by the FTC and the Office of the Florida Attorney General. The defendants have been banned from making robocalls and partaking in any other forms of telemarketing. In addition, the scammers now face a $23 million judgement.
We, here at Bay Alarm Medical, feel that this decision couldn’t have come more quickly. Our hearts go out to all the seniors nationwide who were affected by the scam. We received a large number of calls from confused seniors and their families thinking that the strange calls were coming from us. This egregious scam affected all major medical alert system companies.
We reported any information we received about the scam operation including phone numbers, names, and locations that the calls were being placed from to the Medical Alert Monitoring Association (MAMA) and the FTC. We advised our customers affected by the scam to do the same.
Thankfully, most of our customers who received a robocall said they had noticed something being “off” or “fishy” about the calls. Many refused the operator’s requests for private information and disconnected the call promptly.
We are extremely grateful to the FTC, the Florida Attorney General, MAMA and the countless other organizations involved for all the hard work they’ve done in remaining vigilant on this issue. Finally this disruptive scam has been brought to an end.
For further information on the scam, head over to the FTC’s website. There you can find some helpful tips for consumers on what to do if you get a robocall and education videos that explain robocalls. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2826 |
__label__wiki | 0.953404 | 0.953404 | Aung San Suu Kyi 'wants to lead Burma people'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18509455
Image caption Ms Suu Kyi said the democracy movement in Burma should not rely on external factors
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has confirmed her desire to lead the Burmese people - "if I can lead them in the right way".
But in an interview with the BBC's Newsnight programme, she said her struggle had been worthwhile in itself.
On the first day of a UK tour, she visited the BBC World Service and took part in a debate at the London School of Economics.
It is part of a two-week tour of Europe - her first overseas trip since 1988.
The pro-democracy leader was freed from more than two decades of house arrest in late 2010.
Burma's military-backed civilian government has started a series of reforms to open up the country.
No 'confidence trick'
Ms Suu Kyi's wide-ranging interview with the BBC covered Burma's ethnic conflicts, political reform and foreign investment.
She warned foreign companies investing in Burma - also known as Myanmar - that they would be monitored and exposed if they did not behave in a "democracy-friendly, human rights-friendly" way and follow "best practices".
I couldn't sleep last night because I was so excited. I was worried that she might not turn up, that she might be ill
Tin Htar Swe, BBC Burmese editor
Suu Kyi 'comes home' to BBC Burmese
"And if they are not such companies and if they are doing business with cronies and with those who will use their new economic powers to consolidate the grip of the government, then I think we'll have to expose them," she said.
She refused to accept she had been the victim of a "confidence trick" geared at getting sanctions on Burma lifted.
But she added the democracy movement in Burma had to depend on "our own resources to bring about change than to depend too much on external factors".
Ms Suu Kyi said the only way for Burma to achieve a "true union" would be to try to fulfil the aspirations for autonomy of its ethnic nationalities.
'Not the only one'
However, she said, during "our years of struggle, we have experienced how strong the unity between the ethnic nationalities can be, because our best and most reliable allies were the ethnic nationality parties".
On the remaining political prisoners in Burma, Ms Suu Kyi said 271 remained in custody and she had heard there would be a move to release more soon.
Image caption Ms Suu Kyi thanked BBC staff for keeping her in touch with the Burmese people during her house arrest
Asked whether her sacrifice would have been worth it if Burma did not achieve full democracy, Ms Suu Kyi said "the victory in some ways is in the endeavour".
"I'm not the only one working for democracy in Burma - there are so many people who have worked for it because they believe that this is the only way we can maintain the dignity of our people," she said.
But asked whether, following elections scheduled for 2015, she wanted to lead the Burmese people, she responded: "If I can lead them in the right way, yes."
'Sad' about World Service
Ms Suu Kyi's schedule on Tuesday - her 67th birthday - involved a visit to BBC World Service staff at the new Broadcasting House in central London.
"Because of the BBC, I never lost touch with my people, with the movement for democracy in Burma and with the rest of the world. For that, I would like to thank all of you very sincerely," she said.
But Ms Suu Kyi also said she was "a little sad" about changes to programming on the World Service.
"I feel that the BBC World Service is not as versatile as it used to be - or perhaps I'm not listening at the right times," she said.
"There used to be so many different programmes, and every time I listen to it now, it's news and commentaries. I miss the other old programmes... Bookshelf, Just a Minute, and so many others which I don't seem to hear now...
"It's not what it used to be," she said.
During her four-day tour of the UK, Ms Suu Kyi is due to meet members of the Royal Family and address the UK Parliament.
The interview with Aung Sang Suu Kyi will be broadcast on Newsnight on BBC2 on Tuesday evening at 22:30 BST.
Burma's Transition | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2827 |
__label__cc | 0.582274 | 0.417726 | Association of State Wetland Managers, Inc. - Staff
Marla is the Executive Director at the Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM). She was Assistant Director at ASWM from April 2018 – September 2018 and was a Policy Analyst at ASWM for five years prior. Marla has led research at ASWM on topics such as ecosystem service valuation for wetland restoration, the role of wetlands in floodplain and natural hazard management, wetlands and watershed health, wetland mapping and communications. She is also the Editor of Wetland Breaking News. Marla has a strong professional background in environmental issues, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, fundraising and communications. She has worked for a variety of environmental and social nonprofit organizations for over 20 years, helping to build organizational capacity, manage projects and improve internal processes. Marla also has a successful background in small business management. Marla earned her MA in Community Planning and Development with a focus on Land Use and the Environment at the Muskie School of Public Service and her BA in Environmental Issues from Colorado College. She is a member of the American Planning Association’s Sustainable Communities Division, serves on her community’s Town Council and enjoys making art, hiking, kayaking, camping, cooking and spending time with her partner Shawna, their four-footed, 85 pound “little” canine companion Alice, and their family and friends scattered throughout the U.S.
Brenda is Senior Policy Analyst at the Association of State Wetland Managers. Brenda’s areas of expertise include water resource policy, stormwater management, collaborative environmental policy implementation, and most recently, climate adaptation. At ASWM, Brenda conducts research and policy analysis on wetland and stream issues, manages projects; designs, coordinates and evaluates training for wetland professionals; coordinates webinars; publishes reports, articles and blogs; helps develop communications guidance; and is involved in conference planning and making presentations on ASWM’s work to a variety of audiences. Brenda recently completed a national status and trends/state summaries project analyzing 50 state wetland programs across the United States and a national stream identification, delineation and mitigation study. She currently leads projects focused on increasing access to high quality wetland training and improving energy permitting to protect wetlands. Brenda received her PhD in Public Policy from the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service in 2012, focusing on environmental policy and collaborative environmental management. She has her double Master’s degree from Boston University and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine. Brenda has 25 years of organizational leadership experience and a strong background in academic and action research, facilitation, training and communications. In addition to her work for ASWM, Brenda serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Southern Maine teaching public policy and assists water resource collaborations as a professional facilitator. Brenda is a Switzer Environmental Fellow and has been instrumental in developing regional approaches to stormwater management in the State of Maine.
William is the Policy Analyst at the Association of State Wetland Managers. William assists in the design and implementation of policy and program research and analysis plans; assists in identifying, writing, and carrying out federal grants; facilitates various workgroups and ad hoc committees; coordinates and hosts webinars; and identifies content for the ASWM webpages and publications. William has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Assumption College and a Master of Public Policy with a concentration in Environmental Policy from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. William has eight years of environmental work experience including field sampling, data review, and project management. William enjoys hiking and camping throughout New England with his wife Samantha and their dog August and playing cards with friends and family whenever possible.
Starsha is a Policy Analyst at the Association of State Wetland Managers contributing to the design and implementation of policy and program research and analysis for the organization's federal grant projects. Starsha received her Master’s degree in Public Policy, Planning and Management from the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine. Her previous work at ASWM has focused on research and analysis for the Healthy Wetlands, Healthy Watersheds Project, the Pipeline Permitting Project and ASWM’s Integration Project. Starsha comes to ASWM with extensive cross sector experience including program development and evaluation, community organizing, marketing and communications, fundraising, event production, staffing and utilization, and organizational optimization. Starsha loves living in Maine and enjoys hiking and kayaking throughout this beautiful state.
Dawn works on multimedia projects, focusing on webinars and short videos. After working in the corporate world for several years, she is redirecting creative energies towards social media, documentaries and short film communication formats. A lifetime resident of Maine, she has an appreciation for the preservation of local heritage and natural treasures, primarily from behind the lens. Working with the Association of State Wetland Managers, she has gained a greater appreciation for the local and national efforts to preserve and rebuild the wetland ecosystems that are all around us.
Marti Northover, Bookkeeper
Marti Northover is the ASWM bookkeeper. Marti has over 30 years of professional experience in accounting, logistics and advertising. Marti has an undergraduate degree in Geography from Framingham State University in Framingham, MA and masters degree in Environmental Science from Clark University in Worcester, MA. Professionally Marti has taught environment related courses at colleges in MA, was owner of an historic inn, worked as the Director of Accounting and HR at a logistic company in MA and a homeless shelter in ME. Six years ago Marti moved to Alfred, ME, where she lives with her husband Vernon, enjoying the lake life and her chickens, ducks and nice garden. Currently Marti is the Treasurer of the Parson’s Memorial Library Board of Trustees and is an Associate Member of Alfred Conservation Commission.
Laura is the Office Manager in the Windham office and has been with the Association since 2004. She is responsible for maintaining the membership information; assisting with the many tasks involved in preparing for webinars and workshops, preparing Association publications as well as general office duties. She has 30+ years’ experience in graphic design and also works part-time for Parent & Family, a local publication. She lives in Windham, Maine with her husband Dave and their canine companion Jay.
Sharon is the Publications Specialist and Webmaster for the Association in the Berne, New York office , where she has worked for the past 20+ years. Along with general office tasks, she works on the layout and design of Association publications, reports, and brochures. She helps coordinate ASWM workshops and symposia. She manages the ASWM website, which includes daily updates and prepares and designs new webpages. When she is not entertaining company, she enjoys some alone time with her husband, Ken, and grown children Karla and Pieter. She adores her dog and cat, who complete the family nest. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2830 |
__label__wiki | 0.830113 | 0.830113 | Delaware Fishing Reports
Mid-Atlantic Surf and Offshore Fishing Reports
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San Francisco Giants closer Hunter Strickland apologized to his team http://www.brownsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-baker-mayfield-jersey , fans, and said he’d consider anger management counseling three days after injuring his hand punching a door in frustration after a blown save against Miami.
Strickland is expected to be out six to eight weeks after breaking the pinkie on his pitching hand Monday. Sam Dyson and Tony Watson will be called upon for closing duties.
Strickland has had several outbursts on a national stage.
The 29-year-old right hander jawed with Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez during Game 2 of the World Series.
Last season he threw at Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper three years after he homered off Strickland in the 2014 NLDS.
”I think that obviously my anger in these moments have gotten the best of me and caused stupid decisions, so I don’t think I should be this angry person,” Strickland said. ”I think focused is the better word. We do have to be focused and locked in, focused on getting those outs.”
Strickland said he planned to address teammates later in the day.
”I’m responsible,” Strickland said. ”I’m not here to blame anybody on anything and I think that’s the way it should be.”
Strickland had surgery Tuesday, in which two pins were put in his injured finger. He’ll have more X-rays two weeks, when he hopes to have the pins taken out.
”That’s out of my control,” Strickland said. ”I’ll just do what I can http://www.brownsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-denzel-ward-jersey , work hard and let the doctors decide the rest.”
OAKLAND, Calif. — Two teams that began heading in opposite directions at just about the time they saw each other last month hook up again when the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics open a two-game interleague series Tuesday night.
The Padres were within arm’s length of .500 at 34-40, having won nine of 15, when the A’s ventured into San Diego and used a ninth-inning, two-out, two-strike, game-tying home run from Stephen Piscotty off relief ace Brad Hand to trigger a two-game sweep, winning 4-2 and 12-4.
The Padres now head north well out of contention in the National League West, having lost 11 of 14.
The A’s http://www.cowboysauthorizedshops.com/authentic-connor-williams-jersey , meanwhile, have won 12 of 15 to surge well above .500 at 46-39 and into contention in the American League wild-card race.
Oakland has made much of its recent run without standout third baseman Matt Chapman, who has taken time off to allow pain in his right hand to subside.
Two cortisone shots later, Chapman had a pain-free hitting session Sunday and was sent to Class A for an injury-rehab game Monday.
It’s possible he could be reinstated from the disabled list during this series.
“He hit a few off the back wall in center field, so that tells me enough,” A’s manager Bob Melvin observed Sunday. “Getting him back in the lineup will be a nice little kick for us.”
The A’s need no such boost in their pitching. They have allowed two or fewer runs in four of their last five games.
Right-hander Chris Bassitt (1-3, 2.82 ERA) will look to extend that impressive run while at the same time taste his first career success in interleague play.
The 29-year-old began the A’s recent pitching showcase with six innings of two-hit, scoreless ball in a 3-0 win at Detroit last Wednesday.
He has never faced the Padres in his career, and has lost both interleague starts despite a 2.45 ERA.
One intriguing potential matchup in the series is A’s closer Blake Treinen against Padres slugger Eric Hosmer http://www.broncosauthorizedshops.com/authentic-bradley-chubb-jersey , a pairing that carried a bit of history into a game-ending showdown in the A’s earlier 4-2 win in San Diego.
Then a member of the Kansas City Royals, Hosmer bombed a two-run, go-ahead homer off Treinen in the eighth inning of their first career head-to-head last August.
Treinen then extracted a measure of revenge in the June 19 rematch in San Diego, closing out the 10-inning game by striking out Hosmer as he represented the potential tying run.
Bassitt will be opposed by left-hander Clayton Richard (7-7, 4.29), who had a four-game winning streak stopped in a 5-2 loss at Texas last Wednesday.
He retains a good interleague record (9-5, 3.50) despite not having beaten an American League opponent since 2015.
You have to go back three years before that to find his last appearance against the A’s in Oakland, but it was a memorable one. He shut out a playoff-bound A’s team for 7 2/3 innings in 2012, allowing five hits in a 2-1 win.
He has faced the A’s three times in his career http://www.lionsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-frank-ragnow-jersey , twice as a starter, and gone 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA.
One A’s hitter that Richard will have to deal with is the aforementioned Piscotty, who played last season for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Piscotty has dominated the head-to-heads, going 3-for-4 with a home run and a flyout to deep center field in the only non-hit of the matchup.
A’s catcher Jonathan Lucroy, another former National Leaguer, also has a successful history against Richard, going 7-for-18 (.389) with two doubles and a homer.
Go To Topic Listing Delaware Fishing Reports | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2832 |
__label__wiki | 0.64672 | 0.64672 | Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry
Search The CDC Search Button
Toxic Substances Portal - Ethylene Glycol
Toxic Substances Portal
ToxFAQs
Public Health Statement
Toxicological Profile
ToxGuide
Medical Management Guidelines (MMG) for Acute Chemical Exposure
... More Resources
ToxProfile Index
What is ethylene glycol?
What happens to ethylene glycol when it enters the environment?
How might I be exposed to ethylene glycol?
How can ethylene glycol enter and leave my body?
How can ethylene glycol affect my health?
How can ethylene glycol affect children?
How can families reduce the risk of exposure to ethylene glycol?
Is there a medical test to determine whether I have been exposed to ethylene glycol?
What recommendations has the federal government made to protect human health?
Public Health Statement for Ethylene Glycol
(Glicol de etileno)
CAS#: 107-21-1
PDF Version, 85 KB
This Public Health Statement is the summary chapter from the Toxicological Profile for ethylene glycol. It is one in a series of Public Health Statements about hazardous substances and their health effects. A shorter version, ToxFAQsTM, is also available. This information is important because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present. For more information, call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-800-232-4636.
This public health statement tells you about ethylene glycol and the effects of exposure to it.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies the most serious hazardous waste sites in the nation. These sites are then placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) and are targeted for long-term federal clean-up activities. Ethylene glycol has been found in at least 37 of the 1,689 current or former NPL sites. Although the total number of NPL sites evaluated for this substance is not known, the possibility exists that the number of sites at which ethylene glycol is found may increase in the future as more sites are evaluated. This information is important because these sites may be sources of exposure and exposure to this substance may harm you.
When a substance is released either from a large area, such as an industrial plant, or from a container, such as a drum or bottle, it enters the environment. Such a release does not always lead to exposure. You can be exposed to a substance only when you come in contact with it. You may be exposed by breathing, eating, or drinking the substance, or by skin contact.
If you are exposed to ethylene glycol, many factors will determine whether you will be harmed. These factors include the dose (how much), the duration (how long), and how you come in contact with it. You must also consider any other chemicals you are exposed to and your age, sex, diet, family traits, lifestyle, and state of health.
Colorless liquid that is odorless
Ethylene glycol is a synthetic liquid substance that absorbs water. It is odorless, but has a sweet taste.
Used in consumer products
Ethylene glycol is used to make antifreeze and de-icing solutions for cars, airplanes, and boats.
Consumer products containing ethylene glycol include:
Hydraulic brake fluids
Inks used in stamp pads, ballpoint pens, and print shops
What happens to ethylene glycol when it enters the
Released into air, water, and soil
The primary source of ethylene glycol in the environment is from run-off at airports where is used in de-icing agents for runways and airplanes. Ethylene glycol can also enter the environment through the disposal of products that contain it.
Quickly broken down
Air: Ethylene glycol in air will break down in about 10 days
Water and soil: Ethylene glycol in water and in soil will breakdown within several days to a few weeks.
The general public can be exposed to ethylene glycol through skin contact when using automobile antifreeze. Accidental or intentional ingestion can occur because antifreeze is a sweet tasting, brightly colored liquid.
Air, water, soil
Background concentrations of ethylene glycol in air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, and sediment have not been reported. Exposure to ethylene glycol in air, drinking water, or soil is not expected.
Workplace air
People who work in industries that use ethylene glycol may be exposed by touching products such as solvents, antifreeze, and feedstocks that contain this substance
Workers can also be exposed to low levels from ethylene glycol-containing products such as airplane de-icing solutions that have been sprayed into the air.
Enters your body after ingestion, inhalation, or dermal contact
Ingested ethylene glycol is quickly absorbed in large amounts.
There is some information suggesting that inhaled ethylene glycol is also absorbed.
Ethylene glycol can also slowly enter your bloodstream through your skin if you come in direct contact with it and do not wash it off.
Typically leaves your body within 1-2 days
Once in your body, most of the ethylene glycol is broken down (into other more toxic chemicals) and some of it remains unchanged. Ethylene glycol and its break down products are removed from your body in the urine.
This section looks at studies concerning potential health effects in animal and human studies.
Very small amounts will not affect your health
Your health is not likely to be seriously affected by the very small amounts of ethylene glycol that could be tasted or otherwise accidentally eaten (for example, by putting your fingers in your mouth after getting them wet with antifreeze). Accidental or intentional ingestion of larger amounts of ethylene glycol can cause serious illness or death.
Large amounts can damage the kidneys, nervous system, and heart
When ethylene glycol breaks down in the body, it forms chemicals that crystallize, and the crystals can collect in your kidneys and affect kidney function.
Ethylene glycol also forms acidic chemicals in the body, which can change the body's acid/base balance and affect your nervous system, lungs, and heart.
Early treatment can prevent damage
Early diagnosis and treatment have been very successful in people drinking large amounts of ethylene glycol.
This section discusses potential health effects in humans from exposures during the period from conception to maturity at 18 years of age.
Children are likely to have similar effects as adults
Clinical findings in children who were poisoned by accidentally or intentionally drinking ethylene glycol indicate that it is likely that children would show the same health effects as adults. We do not know whether children differ in their susceptibility to the effects of ethylene glycol.
We do not know whether ethylene glycol causes birth defects in people. Skeletal defects and low birth weights have occurred in newborn animals whose mothers ingested large amounts of ethylene glycol during pregnancy.
Lactation exposure
We do not know whether ethylene glycol can accumulate in breast milk.
Avoid ingestion of antifreeze by careful handling and storage
Antifreeze products should be used with caution and kept out of the reach of children. Open bottles of antifreeze should not be left on or near the ground where children can reach them.
Antifreeze should not be stored in anything other than the original container, such as in a cup or soft drink bottle, to avoid someone mistaking it for a beverage. Antifreeze containers should have a child-proof cap, be stored away from food, and be properly marked.
Get medical advice if antifreeze is ingested
Ethylene glycol poisoning can be effectively treated, but early diagnosis is needed to prevent serious injury. Medical attention should be sought as soon as possible in cases of known or suspected antifreeze ingestion.
Limit dermal exposure to products containing ethylene glycol
Minimize skin contact when using antifreeze and other consumer products containing ethylene glycol. Avoid spilling or draining antifreeze on the ground to prevent children from playing in a puddle of ethylene glycol.
Is there a medical test to determine whether I
Analysis of blood and urine
Ethylene glycol and its effects can be measured in blood and urine. The metabolites cause characteristic chemical changes in the blood and urine that help to diagnose ethylene glycol poisoning.
You should have these tests done within a few hours after exposure occurs because ethylene glycol leaves the body very quickly and early diagnosis is necessary for effective treatment.
The presence of crystals in the urine may indicate kidney damage.
The federal government develops regulations and recommendations to protect public health. Regulations can be enforced by law. The EPA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are some federal agencies that develop regulations for toxic substances. Recommendations provide valuable guidelines to protect public health, but cannot be enforced by law. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are two federal organizations that develop recommendations for toxic substances.
Regulations and recommendations can be expressed as "not-to-exceed" levels, that is, levels of a toxic substance in air, water, soil, or food that do not exceed a critical value that is usually based on levels that affect animals; they are then adjusted to levels that will help protect humans. Sometimes these not-to-exceed levels differ among federal organizations because they used different exposure times (an 8-hour workday or a 24-hour day), different animal studies, or other factors.
Recommendations and regulations are also updated periodically as more information becomes available. For the most current information, check with the federal agency or organization that provides it.
Some regulations and recommendations for ethylene glycol include the following:
Levels in drinking water set by EPA
The EPA has determined that exposure to ethylene glycol in drinking water at concentrations of 20 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for 1 day or 6 mg/L for 10 days is not expected to cause any adverse effects in a child.
The EPA has determined that lifetime exposure to 14 mg/L ethylene glycol in drinking water is not expected to cause any adverse effects.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2010. Toxicological profile for Ethylene Glycol. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact your community or state health or environmental quality department or:
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop S102-1
Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO · 888-232-6348 (TTY)
Email: Contact CDC-INFO
ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances.
Page last reviewed: January 21, 2015
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Contact CDC: 800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348 | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2833 |
__label__wiki | 0.701277 | 0.701277 | Freire still troubled by injury
2004 world champion Oscar Freire is back in training, but admits he is still being troubled by the i
PC BY TDWSPORT.COM
Having missed most of last season due to an injury on one of his ‘sit’ bones that necessitated surgery last June, 2004 world champion Oscar Freire is still struggling to get himself fit for the new season despite having returned to training six weeks ago.
Freire has told Marca that the injury and the scarring caused by the operation are still giving him problems. “I am not as good as I could be because there is still some discomfort, but it is improving little by little,” said the Spaniard.
Freire explained that he has been able to train for some hours at a time, but the wound has opened again, forcing him to start again from scratch. “The problem is that the callused skin that cyclists have in that area has been lost and I have to build that up again, and it’s a slow process.
“I’ve been training again for a week and although there is still some pain I am putting up with it in the hope that it will gradually diminish.”
Freire still hopes to join his Rabobank team-mates at their pre-season Spanish training camp in Javea in a couple of weeks and says he is keen to get back to racing. “The Classics, and particularly Milan-San Remo, will be the first objective. After that I want to do a good Tour and, finally, the Worlds,” he said, refusing to commit himself to the Vuelta.
Hincapie’s Tour efforts recognised
New Team Leopard-Trek unveiled
Technique: Lose that drag
One day hostilities resume at Clasica San Sebastian | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2835 |
__label__wiki | 0.900989 | 0.900989 | Perception of Hip Hop around the World
NEW- 2017 TV – PG PROMO ORIGINAL
Hip-hop was a means of keeping it real in a world which was turning a bit biased in relation to what the people at the grassroots were going through. Hip-hop has been known to have an integrity at its core and that is where it started to differ from most of the pop-phenomenon.
Most people do art and sometimes they do it for money, however, hip-hop was a movement where people wanted to go out of their environment and achieve things, they wanted to express a piece of their identity. So they created a demonstration of that identity in a form of a music genre. That’s how it grew to be such a significant part of the culture.
Hip-hop proliferates like DJ Kool Herc with his innovation, The Cold Crush Brothers who rapped over minimalist beats in a declamatory style.
Another name that is associated with hip-hop evolution is Big daddy Kane who was proficient in firing up phrases without dropping a beat.
Where some hip-hop artists are known as preachers and some known to be seducers, KRS-One was a barrister who argued with verve and enthusiasm!
Hip-hop is resilient! There was a time when people had said that hip-hop won’t last for much longer as a genre. Now you cannot imagine a music world without this very genre.
Hip-hop is accessible. Anyone who has rhyming skills can rap away their story to be heard. This genre is not rigid too as some might believe.
People could just mold it to their own region or give it a global touch. Their Choice! There is also this perception that hip-hop is a successful medium for social change.Hip-Hop has become a dominant force in the American and Global pop culture. Once a local art form of street stories and freestyle poetry, the hip-hop sound, style, and slang now provides incitement for mainstream movies, television, radio, fashion, advertising, news media and of course, The Internet.
BOHH films a series of street interviews with people from all over the world and their perception of Hip Hop. The consensus is that people worldwide will be engaged in Birth Of Hip Hop Original Series.
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__label__wiki | 0.585679 | 0.585679 | Vítor Constâncio
This author does not work for the BIS.
Vítor Constâncio: Interview with Spiegel Online
Interview with Mr Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, and Spiegel Online, conducted by Mr Stefan Kaiser and Mr Henning Jauernig on 22 May 2018 and published on 29 May 2018.
Vítor Constâncio: Interview with Bloomberg TV
Interview with Mr Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, and Bloomberg TV, conducted by Mr Paul Gordon on 17 May 2018.
Vítor Constâncio: Interview in the Financial Times
Interview with Mr Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, in the Financial Times, conducted by Ms Claire Jones on 11 May and published on 16 May 2018.
Vítor Constâncio: Past and future of the European Central Bank monetary policy
Speech by Mr Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, at the Conference on "Central Banks in Historical Perspective: What Changed After the Financial Crisis?", organised by the Central Bank of Malta, Valletta, 4 May 2018.
Vítor Constâncio: Why EMU requires more financial integration
Keynote speech by Mr Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, at the joint conference of the European Commission and European Central Bank, Frankfurt am Main, 3 May 2018.
Vítor Constâncio: Presentation of the European Central Bank Annual Report 2017 to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament
Introductory remarks by Mr Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament, Brussels, 9 April 2018.
Vítor Constâncio: Interview in La Repubblica
Interview with Mr Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, in La Repubblica, conducted by Ms Tonia Mastrobuoni on 15 January and published on 17 January 2018.
Vítor Constâncio: Challenges for euro area monetary policy in early 2018
Speech by Mr Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, at the 32nd International ZinsFORUM, Frankfurt am Main, 6 December 2017.
Vítor Constâncio: Ricardo Reis' contribution to macroeconomics
Speech by Mr Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, at the ceremony marking the award of the 2016 Germán Bernácer Prize for Promoting Economic Research in Europe to Ricardo Reis, Madrid, 24 November 2017.
Vítor Constâncio: Economic recovery and the new phase of monetary policy
Keynote speech by Mr Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, at the Opening Conference of the 20th Euro Finance Week, Frankfurt am Main, 13 November 2017. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2838 |
__label__cc | 0.730311 | 0.269689 | The Black Dog Institute is a translational research institute that aims to reduce the incidence of mental illness and the stigma around it, to actively reduce suicide rates and empower everyone to live the most mentally healthy lives possible.
The Black Dog Institute is dedicated to understanding, preventing and treating mental illness. We are about creating a world where mental illness is treated with the same level of concern, immediacy and seriousness as physical illness; where scientists work to discover the causes of illness and new treatments, and where discoveries are immediately put into practice through health services, technology and communi...
The Black Dog Institute's history reflects our continued determination to help everyone live mentally healthier lives.
The Black Dog institute has a unique model of operation integrating mental health research, clinical care and education to create effective outcomes in the community.
The Black Dog Institute was founded in 2002 and is an independent not-for-profit, overseen by a distinguished Board of Directors.
The Black Dog Institute is funded through a variety of sources spanning the public and private sectors. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2841 |
__label__wiki | 0.792856 | 0.792856 | Riley voted board chair, new members installed
Anthony Garzilli
The newest Jasper County school board members were busy during their initial regular meeting on Nov. 19. They helped unanimously approve two items and elected the board's chairman, vice chairman, secretary and chaplain.
First-time board members Tedd Moyd (District 8), Bennie Hazel (District 2) and Debora Butler (District 6) were elected as write-in candidates. Randy Horton (District 4) was re-elected. They were formally installed at the meeting and welcomed by Sen. Clementa Pinckney.
"You have all been elected and re-elected to a very important office of service," Pinckney said. "Public service is a wonderful service, but also a thankless job. I ask that you keep in mind why your neighbors elected each of you and that is to serve the greater good. Keep in mind all of our students who may come from houses on hills, who may live in houses that may be on the bottom of hills; rich, poor, black, white, Hispanic and Asian. I ask you to continue and work hard for them."
Pinckney urged the board to work together.
"When you feel very strongly about an issue because you think you are absolutely right..., (I ask) you think what is in in the best interest of all of our children," Pinckney said. "The most important infrastructure in any county is education and you are the trustees of that promise to great public education."
"I'm certain you came on this board to make a difference for our children," Superintendent Vashti Washington said.
Berty Riley, a board member for 14 years, was unanimously voted as chairman. Priscilla Fraser (vice chair), Butler (secretary) and Moyd (chaplain) were unanimously elected to their positions.
The board unanimously approved a resolution to ask Congress not to move forward with across-the-board budget cuts.
According to the state Department of Education's Jay Ragley, federal funding for education could be cut between 7.8 percent and 12 percent. In the state, it could mean a reduction of between .8 percent and 1.3 percent in available funds.
Title programs will be largely affected and the school district received about $1.5 million in Title I funds in 2011.
The rigorous Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) course was approved. AVID curriculum, funded through the School Climate Grant, will be taught at Ridgeland-Hardeeville High and will be implemented in Jan. 2013 and Aug. 2013.
The course targets students in the academic middle who wish to go to college and hopes to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges.
According to Christy Thompson, executive director of secondary schools, the program develops students as readers and writers and gives support to students.
It is driven by the WICOR method: Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration and Reading.
Thompson said 19 students are enrolled in the program.
According to the (Corpus Christi) Caller-Times, Driscoll Middle School implemented the program five years ago and of its 800 students, 150 are enrolled.
The (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram reports Fossil Ridge High started the program five years ago with 67 students. It had 212 as of this fall.
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Jasper County Sun Times | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2844 |
__label__cc | 0.669661 | 0.330339 | A. “Architects are cursed with loving what they do. You don’t get into the profession to be the wealthiest individual. We mostly just enjoy solving problems. I got into the profession because I wanted to better a place. A work place, a living place. Whether it’s a restaurant or racket ball, we want to make them better for people.”
Q. Why was it important for you to stay close to home?
A. “That’s family. I worked in Chicago from this firm for about a year and a half. But I stayed local primarily because it’s just a comfort zone. St. Louis and the metropolitan area are considered to be big city with small-town characteristics. There’s a lot here to offer. It’s family and the community.”
Q. Does it make you feel differently about your work to have a hand in designing something where you live?
A. “It definitely does because I can drive my grandkids there. There’s nothing more important than that. Now that I have six grandkids, it’ll be something to be able to drive them by, and go there, and be able to say ‘Paw Paw designed this.’ There’s a real pride to that. And I’ve always wanted to do more over there.”
Q. Is architecture one of those canary industries that can point to the health of an economy as a whole? Is the firm busy?
A. “We are that. The hardest thing about our profession is the highs and lows. We get so extremely busy, and we can be so slow sometimes. We are busy right now.”
Q. What’s the idea behind having a Tim Horton’s and Reliance Bank share a building?
A. “I think the reason that Reliance and Tim Horton’s is getting together is because banking is becoming electronic. Bricks and mortar for a bank is just a loss leader. They do it just to do it, and because there are Baby Boomers out there who still want it. So to capture the Millennials, what do they do differently than any other generation before? I’ll be darned if it’s not buy expensive coffee. Though Tim Horton’s is a very modest coffee price compared to other vendors. So they’re thinking they can attract the young people. They’re going to drive through, see the bank. It’s all about the coffee. No one thought of it, no one’s doing it, but when you say it to another banker, they all look at you and wonder if there’s a patent on that. Because it really makes sense. A lot of businesses see the power of the younger generation. We have to dig into that future.”
An artist’s rendering of the Tim Horton’s and Reliance Bank coming to O’Fallon. Provided photo
Bob Dunn, a part-owner of Fox Architects in St. Louis alise obrien photography Provided photo | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2845 |
__label__wiki | 0.985273 | 0.985273 | {{item.title | formatTitle}}
SNC-Lavalin hearing pushed back until Criminal Code changes take effect
The offices of SNC Lavalin are seen in Montreal on March 26, 2012. , THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
MONTREAL -- The Court of Quebec has postponed and shortened the preliminary inquiry into SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. (SNC.TO), which is now scheduled to kick off Oct. 22 following the activation of a new Criminal Code provision the company's lawyer says will work in its favour.
The court hearing, initially slated to begin Monday and run for 50 days, relates to criminal fraud charges against the Montreal-based engineering and construction giant.
The provision, which comes into force later this month, enables deferred prosecution agreements. The so-called remediation agreements found in other G7 countries allow companies to settle corporate corruption cases and avoid being put at a disadvantage when competing against rival firms.
Lawyer Francois Fontaine called the provision "a new tool" he hopes will resolve charges stemming from allegations SNC-Lavalin paid nearly $47.7 million to public officials in Libya between 2001 and 2011 to influence government decisions.
"It can be resolved by the new legislation that would come into force," he said in an interview Monday.
Fontaine said the delayed start date is "not related" to the timing of the revised law, "but it's probably a good thing."
"Fifty days is too long, so we were able to shorten the preliminary inquiry," he added. "We will make sure that we are not taking court time that we don't need."
The RCMP has also charged the company, its construction division and a subsidiary with one charge each of fraud and corruption for allegedly defrauding various Libyan organizations of about $129.8 million.
Fontaine said he expects fewer witnesses than originally planned at the combined preliminary hearings for SNC-Lavalin and former executive vice-president Sami Bebawi. Any subsequent trials would be conducted separately.
The RCMP charged Bebawi in February 2014 with fraud over $5,000; two counts of laundering proceeds of crime; four counts of possession of property obtained by crime, and bribing a foreign public official. In September 2014, the RCMP added obstructing justice to the list of charges.
Former company executive Riadh Ben Aissa, who has co-operated with the RCMP investigation, is expected to testify for the Crown in the preliminary hearing, Fontaine said in February.
Ben Aissa was charged with fraud-related offences in Canada in connection with a superhospital project in Montreal after he was extradited from Switzerland in October 2014.
He acknowledged in Swiss court that he bribed Saadi Gadhafi, son of Libya's late dictator, Moammar Gadhafi, so SNC could win contracts. Ben Aissa also admitted to pocketing commissions.
Meanwhile, SNC-Lavalin has filed lawsuits seeking to recover almost $145 million it alleges was embezzled by Ben Aissa, Bebawi and their associates.
Canada’s biggest builder faces ‘new level of risk' in Saudi feud
SNC-Lavalin looking to partially sell investment in Highway 407 toll road
SNC-Lavalin gets $90M contract for electric substations in Dubai | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2846 |
__label__wiki | 0.501918 | 0.501918 | Annual meetings 2014: communiqués coverage
World Bank-IMF spring meetings 2015
Spring meetings 2015: communiqués coverage
Credit: World Bank
Detailed analysis of the communiqués from the 2015 World Bank and IMF spring meetings.
G24 communiqué (16 April): analysis, original document
G20 finance ministers’ communiqué (17 April) : analysis, original document
IMFC communiqué (18 April): analysis, original document
Development Committee communiqué (18 April): analysis, original document
G24 communiqué
The G24 is a grouping of some of the most important developing countries in the World Bank and IMF. It includes G20 countries such as India, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa, and also Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, Venezuela as well as a number of other countries. The G24 communiqué is traditionally the first statement of the meetings.
This G24’s Spring 2015 communiqué reveals a number of urgent issues of concern to developing countries. These include the uncertain consequences of the ongoing “new mediocre” as managing director Christine Lagarde has christened the sluggish global recovery, the subjects in the UN’s July Financing for Development Conference (FFD) which G24 states feel are most likely to yield unsatisfactory outcomes, and of course the bitter disappointment over the ongoing failure to reform the IMF. This all makes the frequent references to alternative institutions being built in the south more comprehensible, including the BRICS’ (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) and New Development Bank (NDB), and China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
On FFD, the G24 set out a host of issues on which they demand progress in the ongoing negotiations and seek to pressure richer states. Though they welcome the role of the Bank and Fund in contributing to these institutions, they tellingly add that these should be “consistent with their mandates and areas of expertise”, which tallies with concerns cited by civil society participants in the FFD negotiations that the two Washington Institutions have been playing a blocking role behind the scenes. They emphasise the need for coordinated tax reform to stop harmful tax avoidance, arguing that effective domestic resource mobilisation (DRM) will be crucial to achieving the goals of FFD. The communiqué also seeks to keep up the pressure so that negotiations should reflect the recommendations of the High-Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa that highlights the “negative impact of outflows emanating from lawful but harmful cross-border practices”. On climate and the FFD, they reiterate the need for “adequate, new and additional finance” to aid climate change mitigation and adaptation.
A major, repeated point in the FFD section is the value and importance of more development institutions, regionally and based in the South. It is hard not to see the subtext of frustration in this. They note that MDBs “need to play a greater role in supporting governments in their efforts to scale up investment in infrastructure” and rather pointedly add “we also look forward to the operational launch of the New Development Bank and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank”. They also make reference to the CRA when complaining of the ongoing risks to their economies from rich countries’ sluggish growth. They are basically telling rich countries to put their own economic house in order. By citing the potential “fallout from Greece” and implying that the need for alternatives to the Fund, such as the CRA, they reveal just how badly managed the global economy currently is in their view.
On the failure of IMF reform to move forward even an inch, the G24 states don’t mince their words. They state their “deep disappointment with the lack of progress in implementing the IMF quota and governance reforms agreed to in 2010 and strongly urge the US to complete ratification. This remains an impediment to IMF credibility, legitimacy, and effectiveness”. For the first time, they advocate de-linking of the two intertwined issues that Congress continues to block, reform of the Board and countries’ quotas. They suggest this as an “interim” solution, so that IMF resources can be increased without waiting on a Republican-controlled Congress to ratify reforms to an institution that some Congressmen and women like to suggest is a proto-socialist organisation not deserving of any more funds (or for that matter, enhanced representation of developing countries)! They remind the richer countries that an additional developing country place on the Board is also overdue, anticipating the subsequent quota reform, which is also now coming, due by December.
G20 finance ministers’ statement
The G20 is a grouping of some of the largest countries in the world. Since 2009 it has met more frequently, and in 2014 the G20 finance ministers plan to meet four times, including meetings in Washington. The official G20 communiqué has become very important because agreements at the G20 carry enough weight to be pushed through the agendas of the IFI policy setting bodies.
This spring meetings G20 communiqué had, as has now been the case for some time, strikingly little to say of note. There are the usual noises about the global economy, sounding a touch more optimistic than previously but noting the risks to the global economy. Though there’s not a word about Greece, or the potential for a chaotic exit from the euro (or Grexit), mucking up the IMF forecasts, which had once again to be downgraded. After years of over-optimism, you would think they had learned their lesson.
On the substance the now all-too-familiar devotion to infrastructure investment delivered through public-private partnerships is reaffirmed. The G20 commit to “further promote infrastructure investments and more involvement by the private sector, we will continue to strengthen capacity building in and the functioning of PPP models and encourage an optimal use of multilateral and national development bank resources and facilitate the development of appropriate financial vehicles including asset-based financing structures.” We will have to wait and see if the paper by the IMF, which the communiqué is looking forward to, reiterates past criticism and concerns of these approaches or soft-soaps them given that criticism may not be what the G20 members wish to hear.
It wouldn’t be a G20 statement if there were not the painfully repetitive ‘disappointment’ expressed in the lack of a resolution of the IMF reform process. But despite the G24 statement calling for de-linking the reform and proposing “interim solutions” (note that a few G20 members of course are also part of the G24), there is no awkward citation of bypassing the US Congressional impasse nor ‘interim proposals’ that could risk diluting the US veto, even just temporarily.
Perhaps most significantly, they indicate that the G20 is on track to finalise the G20/OECD tax work (the nattily titled “base erosion and profit shifting action plan”). Additionally they graciously reiterate that “we are committed to promote an enabling environment for developing countries, including low-income developing countries” in the upcoming Financing for Development summit in Addis Ababa and the climate summit in Paris. We shall have to wait and see.
IMFC communiqué
The IMFC is the direction-setting body of finance ministers for the IMF. The communiqué of the IMFC sets out the consensus position about the direction of the Fund and reform. The ministerial statements will also be available online.
The latest IMFC appears to be something of a curate’s egg. You may be wondering what a curate’s egg is – so read on. At first glance the latest IMFC statement draws out the familiar debate over how to manage a still-ailing global economy and achieve growth, by more cuts and reform or by prioritising investment, demand and jobs. But given the context of looming UN summits on Financing for Development, Climate and the post-2015 goals, there may also be something rather significant lurking between the lines.
The communiqué’s positive points, and they are there, are couched in more troubling calls for greater public-private investment in infrastructure, the ‘criticality’ of fiscal consolidation, and a seemingly fatalistic acceptance of the new ‘mediocre’. The calls for labour market reforms and financial deepening all hark back to a troubling past for the global economy, and cast doubt on the extent to which the positives are likely to materialise, given the role leading members of the IMFC are playing in the Greek crisis and in the negotiations for the UN Financing for Development conference and the climate summit later this year. Structural reforms are “critical” – these will apparently “boost business confidence, investment, and job creation” while simultaneously achieving “sustainable and more inclusive growth”.
A notable bright spot is the recognition of the need for “a stronger role of women in the economy” as necessary to achieve this, but more troubling is the simultaneous call for more “labour market reforms, deepening financial markets”. In the IMFC press conference Lagarde indicated that the IMF’s upcoming May paper on infrastructure would reveal that “pretty much every project is suboptimal in its selection, management, and can be improved by a margin of about 30 percent”.
However, it is possible to detect a rather more ambitious and significant subtext: a reinvigorated IMF.
This is visible in the new big idea – a “new multilateralism” that will seek to “build a new global framework for sustainable development through 2030 and beyond”. This seems to be the great encompassing approach that can put the differing needs of the global economy together – resolving how to achieve “macro-financial resilience, increase revenue mobilization, help tackle infrastructure gaps, enhance capacity building, and promote inclusive growth”. The IMF seems to be at the centre of building the model of the future global economy. The Fund is asked to work on “fragile and conflict-affected members” and told to “make more use of its existing lending framework” and to “contribute positively” to the FFD, Post-2015 SDG and climate summits later this year.
This communiqué may one day come to mark the coming of age of the IMF’s third phase. The Fund reinvented itself once already in the 1980s to become the prophet of structural adjustment. Yet by the time of the international financial crisis, the IMF had been in almost existential doubt as to its future role and relevance (much like the current commentary about its sister organisation, the World Bank).
There is no more doubt. The IMFC has reaffirmed its role. The Fund is invited to tackle gender challenges, inequality, fragile states and those “most poor and vulnerable” to pandemics, alongside expanded activity in familiar territory such as financial deepening, more interventionist and comprehensive surveillance, and last but far from least the mandate to frame a “new multilateralism” toward 2030.
A curate’s egg is a phrase usually taken to mean something that is a little bit good and a little bit bad. But the source of the phrase is instructive; it originates from a 19th century satirical cartoon depicting a meek priest (the curate) who, when given a stale egg by his very senior bishop, does not complain but instead suggests that ‘parts of it are excellent’. Though there are welcome elements, this communiqué still leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
This is because the legitimacy of tasking the IMF with all of these challenges is undermined by the seemingly endless saga of stalled governance reform at the Fund. The IMFC continues to “remain deeply disappointed with the continued delay” and advocates exploring “interim solutions”, almost to a word endorsing the G20’s communiqué published a day earlier. Given the governance impasse and the refusal to contemplate a truly multilateral institution – by airing the possibility of ending the US veto – this pungent mix may be more akin to that curate’s egg than the fragrant new dawn apparently envisaged.
Development Committee communiqué
The Development Committee is a joint committee of the boards of governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (Bank), which is meant to advise the Bank and the IMF on critical development issues and the resources needed to promote economic development. The Development Committee communiqué sets the direction for the Bank in the coming six months. The ministerial statements will also be available online.
The communiqué begins with a cautiously optimistic tone, noting the slight uptick in growth from 2014, apparently making this year’s ‘new mediocre’ a little less so. Interestingly the document also notes the need for vigilance in order to “protect hard-won gains”. One wonders whether this refers to a realisation that the putative progress made on the back of the development model supported by the two institutions is more fragile than normally admitted.
Helpfully that Development Committee provides a bit of clarity on the uncertainty surrounding the recent sharp fall in oil prices and commodity prices, bravely stating that this will likely result in a real income shift from oil exporter to importers. The communiqué concludes that this will result in a net positive impact for developing countries generally and will provide a great opportunity to pursue a popular policy of both institutions, the end of fuel subsidies.
In a not very subtle response to the concerns resulting from the establishment of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) New Development Bank (NDB) last year, and the more recent announcement of China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the communiqué commended cooperation among Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) to develop and eventually work to achieve the UN’s new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In that vein the document notes the presence of the UN secretary general and heads of multilateral development banks (MDBs) at the Development Committee meeting. The note seems aimed at instilling in the new institutions a sense of team spirit, lest they develop ideas of carving out their own territories or approaches, oblivious to the oft-repeated refrain that the massive gap in infrastructure financing makes competition unnecessary and cooperation the word of the day. The role played by MDBs in advance of the UN’s Finance for Development meeting to take place in Addis Ababa in July is not without critics, as civil society has expressed concerns that the World Bank and IMF have played an unhelpful role behind the scenes.
The push for continued progress on the financial deepening front continues with references to the need to catalyse and leverage private and non-traditional finance, particularly for what seems development’s new silver bullet: large scale infrastructure projects. Despite a cautious approach undertaken by Fund and Bank officials during high-level discussions and conversations with civil society on the issue, public-private partnerships once again received support of the Committee by explicit mention of the potential in the communiqué. In this the communiqué gives IFC an important role, despite pressing concerns once again raised by civil society about the potentially serious negative human rights impact of IFC’s investments, including through financial intermediaries.
The Committee congratulates the Bank and Fund on their contribution to the Ebola response. While discussion on potential responses to future public health emergencies seems prudent, there is no mention of the need to strengthen country-level health system in order to avoid emergencies in the first place. This is particularly striking as the Ebola outbreak was greatly exacerbated by weak health systems of the affected countries.
Gender receives little attention in the communiqué, which limits itself to a reference to the renewed gender strategy that will be released later this year. One hopes the strategy will move beyond the additional focus on entangling women in commercial financial systems through micro-credit lending or focusing on increased labour participation regardless of jobs quality. It is hoped the new strategy will focus on structural issues that constrain women socially and economically.
On climate change, unsurprisingly, the communiqué expresses its support for the World Bank and IMF’s market-based approach to this pressing problem. Apparently the meeting’s flagship event, co-hosted by the UN Environment Program (UNEP), on aligning the financial system with sustainable development did not make much of an impression on the Committee, as the event’s five panelists stressed that market-based solutions without a strong role for governments are unlikely to succeed and that a carbon tax, for example, was much preferable to carbon trading schemes.
The Committee, presumably as anxious as everyone else to see the end to the endless and highly contentious strategy and reform process at the World Bank states that it looks forward to its implementation. It also mentions that it welcomes the ongoing consultations on the Bank’s much criticised draft new safeguards, but without making mention of the concerns that have arisen from the recent damning report on the failure of the Bank’s implementation of its resettlement plans.
The communiqué calls on the Bank Group to continue to foster South-South cooperation, and to focus on fragile and conflict-affected states. No doubt reflecting fears of the wider impact of the conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, the document makes specific mention of these and “look forward” to the exploration of ways to increase IDA financing.
Finally, the communiqué ends by looking forward to the completion of the 2015 shareholder review to be completed for the October annual meeting in Lima Peru. The establishment of the AIIB and NDB is likely to make the review more interesting than usual. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2847 |
__label__wiki | 0.678628 | 0.678628 | Brisbane City FC announce partnership with Grace Lutheran College
Home / MyCity / Brisbane City FC announce partnership with Grace Lutheran College
In MyCity, News
Brisbane City FC announce partnership with Grace Lutheran College2019-06-252019-06-25https://www.brisbanecityfc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/BCFC_logo.pngwww.brisbanecityfc.com.auhttps://www.brisbanecityfc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/grace2.jpg200px200px
Brisbane City F.C is proud to announce an exciting partnership with Grace Lutheran College, which will see the club and school unite to help develop the next generation of Grace Lutheran College (Grace) and Brisbane City Football Club players.
The partnership was created with the goal of building a quality football program at Grace with the aim to build a highly successful and competitive football system from 2019 and beyond.
Brisbane City FC will be working with Grace over the course of the year by running sessions, educating staff and improving the overall quality of the program. This will include supplying specialist coaches to assist with delivering top tier football programs. The development program will be overseen by Head of Football, Tommy Peak.
We are very excited to create this partnership with Brisbane City FC, we would like to build on the strong foundations Grace Lutheran College has already built by enhancing our program with specialist coaches who have international experience and a sound technical knowledge of the game (Tommy Peak).
Nic de Jong, MyCity Program Director believes that this partnership with Grace College builds on the vision Brisbane City FC has for the wider community. Brisbane City FC is very proud to announce this partnership with Grace Lutheran College. We believe Grace has similar goals in growing their program with coaches that can share their knowledge with both teachers and students to grow the program. The North Brisbane bayside area has loads of potential, there are some very talented players coming from those suburbs. City is very excited to be a part of a program that will develop and grow football in that region (Nic de Jong)
The program has already been rolled out over the last few months with a number of players already showing signs of improvement in their football skill set and ability. Brisbane City Football Club is very excited to be involved with such a prestigious and ambitious school. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements from Brisbane City Football club and Grace Lutheran College Football Department.
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Volvo Cars Brisbane North Player of the MonthNews, Player of the Month | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2848 |
__label__wiki | 0.891569 | 0.891569 | Media (18 Images and 1 Video)
American Civil War: Maryland (02:13)
Discover how the socioeconomic and political divisions that contributed to the American Civil War played out in Maryland.
Inner Harbor and skyline of Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Fort McHenry, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Md.
Map of Baltimore, Md., c. 1900 from the 10th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica.
Baltimore, Maryland: places of interest
Baltimore, Maryland.
Skyline of Baltimore, Md.
Homewood House, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Washington Monument (centre), Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Contemporary and historical buildings, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Md.
The skyline of Baltimore, Md.
The American Visionary Arts Museum, Baltimore, Md.
Morgan State University: Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts…
Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
A man throwing a brick at police in Baltimore on April 27, 2015, following the funeral of Freddie Gray.
VIEW MORE in these related Britannica articles:
Media for: Annapolis
Media for: Camp David Accords
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Media for: United States | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2850 |
__label__wiki | 0.886336 | 0.886336 | { "1355538": { "url": "/topic/flag-of-Tajikistan", "shareUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Tajikistan", "title": "Flag of Tajikistan" ,"gaExtraDimensions": {"3":"false"} } }
Flag of Tajikistan
Whitney Smith
horizontally striped red-white-green national flag with a central gold crown. The flag’s width-to-length ratio is 1 to 2.
After World War II the member republics of the Soviet Union altered their flags to bring in stripes of national colours. Tajikistan was the last of the 15 to act. Previous Soviet Tajik flags had been red with the usual communist hammer, sickle, and star emblem above the name of the state in gold lettering. On March 20, 1953, Tajikistan added two horizontal stripes, white over light green, to the Soviet Red Banner with its gold hammer and sickle and gold-bordered red star. The green represented viticulture and agricultural produce, while white stood for the cotton that had made Tajikistan famous.
Tajikistan proclaimed its independence on September 9, 1991, but again it was slow to alter its flag. The new design, dating from November 24, 1992, incorporates the same four colours as the 1953 flag. Green is now said to stand for agricultural production, while red is a “symbol of state sovereignty.” White has the same meaning as previously, referring to the cotton crop. The crown in the centre of the white stripe is capped with an arc of seven gold stars: these are said to represent unity among the different social classes of the country, including workers, peasants, and intellectuals.
Soviet Union, former northern Eurasian empire (1917/22–1991) stretching from the Baltic and Black seas to the Pacific Ocean and, in its final years, consisting of 15 Soviet Socialist Republics (S.S.R.’s): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belorussia (now…
Tajikistan, country lying in the heart of Central Asia. It is bordered by Kyrgyzstan on the north, China on the east, Afghanistan on the south, and Uzbekistan on the west and northwest. Tajikistan includes the Gorno-Badakhshan (“Mountain…
Flag of the United States of America
Flag of Nepal
Flag of India
Flag of Canada
Flag of Australia
Flag of France
Flag of New Zealand
Flag of Italy
Flag of Mexico | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2851 |
__label__wiki | 0.692339 | 0.692339 | Bundesdruckerei makes global travel more secure
Successful bid for contract with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); Berlin-based company provides a secure infrastructure for checking passports; Basis for electronic passport verification
Berlin – Bundesdruckerei is to ensure that people can continue to travel around the globe with greater security. The Berlin-based company has won the contract to design and operate the ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD) Service of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialised agency of the United Nations. "We are pleased that our technical concept was selected competitively by ICAO and PKD Board Members. The contract underpins Bundesdruckerei's expertise and its role as a market leader for secure identities in public-sector infrastructures", says Ulrich Hamann, CEO of Bundesdruckerei. "Through our German trust service provider D-TRUST, we can offer an infrastructure made in Germany that offers high security and high availability and fully meets the customer's requirements." Other partners in this project include Bundesdruckerei's joint-venture partner Veridos and Emirates German Security Printing (EGSP) in Abu Dhabi, which Bundesdruckerei operates together with the Ministry of the Interior of the United Arab Emirates.
At borders in many countries around the world, control officers use special reading devices to check whether the electronic passports presented are genuine, forged or manipulated. Checks like these are also carried out by electronic gates, so-called eGates, which are becoming a familiar sight at many airports. Every chip in an electronic passport has its own unique signature that warrants authenticity and integrity. When checks are carried out at eGates, the signature on the chip of the passport is verified with the certificate of the country that issued the passport. These signature certificates and the pertinent revocation lists are made available in the PKD which ICAO operates from its headquarters in Montreal in Canada. There are currently 45 countries taking part in this system. Each country can update its signature certificates and revocation lists so that the signature certificates do not have to be exchanged bilaterally with each individual country, instead, the latest versions can be retrieved from the ICAO PKD and imported into the respective country's border control solutions. If the participating countries also set up a so-called national PKD, the certificates can be automatically and hence quickly distributed to all national border control points.
Background: Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Public Key Directory (PKD)
Public key infrastructures enable encrypted communication between subscribers (for instance, countries) via a public communication system like the Internet. What's special about this is that the subscribers do not have to exchange a joint secret key for every message via another trusted channel. All subscribers have to do is exchange their public keys which can be used to send messages to them. The messages can then only be decrypted by the recipient using their private key. So-called digital signatures can also be generated with this same mechanism, however, in this case, a signature is generated with the private key and verified with the pertinent public key. These signatures prove whether or not a message is from the sender stated or whether or not it was changed by an unauthorised person, i.e. whether or not data from the respective agency was written onto an electronic passport or whether it was manipulated.
What's important here is the authenticity of the sender, i.e. proof that an issuer of a public key is in fact who they claim to be. This is where the public key infrastructure (PKI) comes into play as it ensures that a public key is trusted by retrieving this from a trusted key directory. In the case of electronic passports, ICAO provides this kind of exchange platform (Public Key Directory) where countries that issue documents can publish their public keys which are needed for verification. Operators of national PKD solutions can also retrieve these same public keys from the platform. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2854 |
__label__cc | 0.603735 | 0.396265 | Club Statement: New Director Appointed
Gordon Sorfleet
Boardroom numbers increased with the arrival of a new director
Bury Football Club are delighted to announce the arrival of a new director at Gigg Lane as David Manchester joins the board of directors.
David has been an avid supporter of the club for over 50 years, along with his family. The family business – Manchester Safety Services Limited of Heywood, have been sponsors of Bury FC for 30 years.
David has stated that he is very much looking forward to working with the existing board members and everyone connected with the club. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2855 |
__label__cc | 0.569382 | 0.430618 | Exploring Melbourne’s Suburbs – City Of Knox
Using Bus Charter in Melbourne to Explore the City of Knox
Melbourne is a city that boasts of many unique adventures, and the reason why it is considered an ideal holiday destination for travellers across the world. The City of Knox is a local government area in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and is popularly known for its rich culture and diversity. If you are looking to explore the Knox City, don’t forget to choose Melbourne bus charter for convenient travelling.
About the City of Knox
Knox is a vibrant, modern city situated on the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, towards the outer eastern suburb of Melbourne. The city is known for its healthy lifestyle and family-orientated community that houses more than 1, 48,000 people.
The city was originally named after a former soldier and speaker of Legislative assembly, George Hodges Knox. This region was once a part of Shire of Berwick’s Scoresby Riding, which was later severed in 1889 to form the Shire of Fern Tree Gully. Development in this area began after the 2nd World War, and given its proximity to Melbourne, there was a rapid population growth and urbanisation, with more than 60,000 people occupying the area by 1961.
In 1963, the Shire of Knox was created, which was later declared a city in 1969, with a healthy population of more than 100,000 residents. Suburbs within the boundary of the city include Boronia, Bayswater, Knoxfield, Scoresby, Wantirna, The Basin, Sassafras, Lysterfield and Fern Tree Gully. The Knox City Council offers a wide assortment of cultural programs and opportunities for the visitors to engage themselves in. Let us take a look at some of the things you can do, while in the City of Knox.
Pay a Visit to Knox Community Art Centre
Some exceptional artworks are created throughout the year, which are meant to aid communication of important messages and ideas to the community that can improve lives of people. A recent initiative of Knox Craft collective focuses on allowing artists and organisations to work towards development of Public Arts Program.
The Knox Community Art Centre has been around for more than 4 decades, and has entertained audience with a wide assortment of amateur and professional theatre including music, cinema, circus, dance, cabaret and opera. The centre’s pledge towards developing associations has played an important role in maintaining the decorum of theatre shows in the city, and the notable partnerships include Opera Australia, La Mamma Theatre, Australian Jazz Museum and Deaf Children Australia.
It has assisted a number of theatre groups to stage their shows, and the centre has maintained a strong sense of community ownership. There’s a dedicated gallery space, an accessible entrance ramp and a public sculpture area.
Attending Festivals and Events
The city of Knox stages some of the best community events and festivals throughout the year, at multiple venues. Some of the major events include:
Knox Festival: The festival kicks off with a premier art-making event at the Wally Tew Reserve, on the very first weekend of March, every year. Explore some of the hidden treasures, and witness everything that goes around the city, and what makes it way it is.
Stringybark Festival: Scheduled to be held on the 3rd weekend of October, the Stringybark Festival in Rowville is all about informing and empowering the local communities to make practical changes that can impact daily lives of people, and contribute to a sustainable lifestyle. This is must-visit festival, if you are in the city this time of the year.
Carols by Candlelight: Known to be the largest Christmas carol celebration in Melbourne, the Carol by Candlelight witnesses more than 200 performers making a crowd of 15000 go crazy over the celebrations at the Wally Tew Reserve. The line-up for this year includes the pop icon Paulini and the talented Luke Kennedy.
Bicycling Through the City of Knox
Connecting major reserves, parks, shopping zones and schools, the bicycle path stretches to a length of 70 kms. Explore the entire city as you paddle your way through the area, and also help the environment by not polluting it. Bicycling is certainly the best way to explore a place in its entirety. The exceptional bicycle network is on the verge of further development comprising of on-road and off-road networks with an objective to make cycling a travel choice for visitors, as well as residents.
Taking you on a ride to historic landmarks, shopping precincts, leisure centres, reserves, local parks and the waterways is surely the best way to discover the city. You can stop by at some odd picnic location and soak up the views of the scenic beauty, as you move further to explore 18 underpasses and 7 bridges along the cycling path, which began building in 1977, and boasts of a comprehensive network till this day. A safe recreational environment ensures cyclists and pedestrians feel adventurous when they paddle their way, all through the Knox city up into the Dandenong Ranges. Nothing can match the warmth and freshness of the natural air you get, when on a bicycle, rather than a car.
Take a Foundation Walking Tour
If biking isn’t your thing, Knox has a comprehensive footpath network stretching across an area of 1200 km, which can be utilised to the best of your walking potentials. Something that is really good for health as well as the environment, foundation walking tour is a great way to promote healthy cooperation of individuals among the community members and foster relationship with people from diverse background.
The idea is to make walking a viable travelling choice, which gives you loads of opportunities to explore some high-end precincts of the city, and take in the panoramic views of the landscape surrounding the area. It’s always fun to be low and slow, when you want to experience a place in its entirety.
If you are travelling in a group to the city of Knox, make sure to use bus charter in Melbourne for a comfortable ride to some of the favourite destinations here. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2856 |
__label__wiki | 0.926694 | 0.926694 | Russia Is Spending A Ludicrous Amount Of Money On The Winter Olympics
A few days ago, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak estimated that the Sochi Winter Olympic Games would cost $51 billion.
That’s a lot of money — as the AP notes, it’s way more than the $6 billion Vancouver spend on the last Winter Games in 2010.
In fact, according to some calculations tweeted today by the Times of London, it’s the most expensive Olympic Games on record.
We put the Times’ calculations into a chart to show the vast differences in money being reportedly spent (click to enlarge):
Photo: Adam Taylor / Business Insider
While it’s worth noting that there are always some discrepancies in how Olympic costs are calculated (perhaps why the Times’ number doesn’t quite fit with the AP’s), it certainly puts the numbers in context — Russia’s Olympic spend is more than twice as much as the next most expensive Winter Games, held in Nagano in 1998.
What’s behind this massive budget? Well, Russia is clearly banking a lot on these games, and hoping that they can dispell the persistent talk of corruption and inefficiency that lingers around the country (also notice the millions the government is paying Goldman Sachs to boost its image this year).
Unfortunately “corruption” and “inefficiency” could also be a reasons the spend is so big.
For example, the assassination of Moscow mobster Aslan Usoyan appears to have revealed how embedded Russia’s organised crime groups are in the construction in Sochi — there’s even talk of a “turf war”.
This week Vladimir Putin spent a much-publicized trip to the site scolding officials over a two-year delay, and has demanded that Akmet Bilalov, a senior Russian Olympic Committee member, be fired for a particularly bad cost overrun on a ski jump.
There’s even rumours that a Sochi’s relatively warm climate is forcing Russia to hoard snow for next year.
So, right now, Sochi may not be the best investment for Russia. But Putin should take heart in the 2012 London Summer Games, which — despite widespread rumours it would be a disaster — are generally seen as having been a net positive for the UK.
olympics russia sochi olympics sportspage-us vladimir putin | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2858 |
__label__cc | 0.602107 | 0.397893 | Here's What I'm Doing To Fix The Oil Disaster
As we speak, our nation faces a multitude of challenges. At home, our top priority is to recover and rebuild from a recession that has touched the lives of nearly every American. Abroad, our brave men and women in uniform are taking the fight to al Qaeda wherever it exists. And tonight, I've returned from a trip to the Gulf Coast to speak with you about the battle we're waging against an oil spill that is assaulting our shores and our citizens.
On April 20 th, an explosion ripped through BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, about forty miles off the coast of Louisiana. Eleven workers lost their lives. Seventeen others were injured. And soon, nearly a mile beneath the surface of the ocean, oil began spewing into the water.
Because there has never been a leak of this size at this depth, stopping it has tested the limits of human technology. That is why just after the rig sank, I assembled a team of our nation's best scientists and engineers to tackle this challenge - a team led by Dr. Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and our nation's Secretary of Energy. Scientists at our national labs and experts from academia and other oil companies have also provided ideas and advice.
As a result of these efforts, we have directed BP to mobilize additional equipment and technology. In the coming days and weeks, these efforts should capture up to 90% of the oil leaking out of the well. This is until the company finishes drilling a relief well later in the summer that is expected to stop the leak completely.
Already, this oil spill is the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced. And unlike an earthquake or a hurricane, it is not a single event that does its damage in a matter of minutes or days. The millions of gallons of oil that have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico are more like an epidemic, one that we will be fighting for months and even years.
But make no mistake: we will fight this spill with everything we've got for as long it takes. We will make BP pay for the damage their company has caused. And we will do whatever's necessary to help the Gulf Coast and its people recover from this tragedy.
Tonight I'd like to lay out for you what our battle plan is going forward: what we're doing to clean up the oil, what we're doing to help our neighbors in the Gulf, and what we're doing to make sure that a catastrophe like this never happens again.
First, the cleanup. From the very beginning of this crisis, the federal government has been in charge of the largest environmental cleanup effort in our nation's history - an effort led by Admiral Thad Allen, who has almost forty years of experience responding to disasters. We now have nearly 30,000 personnel who are working across four states to contain and cleanup the oil. Thousands of ships and other vessels are responding in the Gulf. And I have authorized the deployment of over 17,000 National Guard members along the coast. These servicemen and women are ready to help stop the oil from coming ashore, clean beaches, train response workers, or even help with processing claims - and I urge the governors in the affected states to activate these troops as soon as possible.
Because of our efforts, millions of gallons of oil have already been removed from the water through burning, skimming, and other collection methods. Over five and a half million feet of boom has been laid across the water to block and absorb the approaching oil. We have approved the construction of new barrier islands in Louisiana to try and stop the oil before it reaches the shore, and we are working with Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida to implement creative approaches to their unique coastlines.
As the clean up continues, we will offer whatever additional resources and assistance our coastal states may need. Now, a mobilization of this speed and magnitude will never be perfect, and new challenges will always arise. I saw and heard evidence of that during this trip. So if something isn't working, we want to hear about it. If there are problems in the operation, we will fix them.
But we have to recognize that despite our best efforts, oil has already caused damage to our coastline and its wildlife. And sadly, no matter how effective our response becomes, there will be more oil and more damage before this siege is done. That's why the second thing we're focused on is the recovery and restoration of the Gulf Coast.
You know, for generations, men and women who call this region home have made their living from the water. That living is now in jeopardy. I've talked to shrimpers and fishermen who don't know how they're going to support their families this year. I've seen empty docks and restaurants with fewer customers - even in areas where the beaches are not yet affected. I've talked to owners of shops and hotels who wonder when the tourists will start to come back. The sadness and anger they feel is not just about the money they've lost. It's about a wrenching anxiety that their way of life may be lost.
I refuse to let that happen. Tomorrow, I will meet with the chairman of BP and inform him that he is to set aside whatever resources are required to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed as a result of his company's recklessness. And this fund will not be controlled by BP. In order to ensure that all legitimate claims are paid out in a fair and timely manner, the account must and will be administered by an independent, third party.
Beyond compensating the people of the Gulf in the short-term, it's also clear we need a long-term plan to restore the unique beauty and bounty of this region. The oil spill represents just the latest blow to a place that has already suffered multiple economic disasters and decades of environmental degradation that has led to disappearing wetlands and habitats. And the region still hasn't recovered from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. That's why we must make a commitment to the Gulf Coast that goes beyond responding to the crisis of the moment.
I make that commitment tonight. Earlier, I asked Ray Mabus, the Secretary of the Navy, a former governor of Mississippi, and a son of the Gulf, to develop a long-term Gulf Coast Restoration Plan as soon as possible. The plan will be designed by states, local communities, tribes, fishermen, businesses, conservationists, and other Gulf residents. And BP will pay for the impact this spill has had on the region.
The third part of our response plan is the steps we're taking to ensure that a disaster like this does not happen again. A few months ago, I approved a proposal to consider new, limited offshore drilling under the assurance that it would be absolutely safe - that the proper technology would be in place and the necessary precautions would be taken.
That was obviously not the case on the Deepwater Horizon rig, and I want to know why. The American people deserve to know why. The families I met with last week who lost their loved ones in the explosion - these families deserve to know why. And so I have established a National Commission to understand the causes of this disaster and offer recommendations on what additional safety and environmental standards we need to put in place. Already, I have issued a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling. I know this creates difficulty for the people who work on these rigs, but for the sake of their safety, and for the sake of the entire region, we need to know the facts before we allow deepwater drilling to continue. And while I urge the Commission to complete its work as quickly as possible, I expect them to do that work thoroughly and impartially.
One place we have already begun to take action is at the agency in charge of regulating drilling and issuing permits, known as the Minerals Management Service. Over the last decade, this agency has become emblematic of a failed philosophy that views all regulation with hostility - a philosophy that says corporations should be allowed to play by their own rules and police themselves. At this agency, industry insiders were put in charge of industry oversight. Oil companies showered regulators with gifts and favors, and were essentially allowed to conduct their own safety inspections and write their own regulations.
When Ken Salazar became my Secretary of the Interior, one of his very first acts was to clean up the worst of the corruption at this agency. But it's now clear that the problems there ran much deeper, and the pace of reform was just too slow. And so Secretary Salazar and I are bringing in new leadership at the agency - Michael Bromwich, who was a tough federal prosecutor and Inspector General. His charge over the next few months is to build an organization that acts as the oil industry's watchdog - not its partner.
One of the lessons we've learned from this spill is that we need better regulations better safety standards, and better enforcement when it comes to offshore drilling. But a larger lesson is that no matter how much we improve our regulation of the industry, drilling for oil these days entails greater risk. After all, oil is a finite resource. We consume more than 20% of the world's oil, but have less than 2% of the world's oil reserves. And that's part of the reason oil companies are drilling a mile beneath the surface of the ocean - because we're running out of places to drill on land and in shallow water.
For decades, we have known the days of cheap and easily accessible oil were numbered. For decades, we have talked and talked about the need to end America's century-long addiction to fossil fuels. And for decades, we have failed to act with the sense of urgency that this challenge requires. Time and again, the path forward has been blocked - not only by oil industry lobbyists, but also by a lack of political courage and candor.
The consequences of our inaction are now in plain sight. Countries like China are investing in clean energy jobs and industries that should be here in America. Each day, we send nearly $1 billion of our wealth to foreign countries for their oil. And today, as we look to the Gulf, we see an entire way of life being threatened by a menacing cloud of black crude.
We cannot consign our children to this future. The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now. Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash American innovation and seize control of our own destiny.
This is not some distant vision for America. The transition away from fossil fuels will take some time, but over the last year and a half, we have already taken unprecedented action to jumpstart the clean energy industry. As we speak, old factories are reopening to produce wind turbines, people are going back to work installing energy-efficient windows, and small businesses are making solar panels. Consumers are buying more efficient cars and trucks, and families are making their homes more energy-efficient. Scientists and researchers are discovering clean energy technologies that will someday lead to entire new industries.
Each of us has a part to play in a new future that will benefit all of us. As we recover from this recession, the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of good, middle-class jobs - but only if we accelerate that transition. Only if we seize the moment. And only if we rally together and act as one nation - workers and entrepreneurs; scientists and citizens; the public and private sectors.
When I was a candidate for this office, I laid out a set of principles that would move our country towards energy independence. Last year, the House of Representatives acted on these principles by passing a strong and comprehensive energy and climate bill - a bill that finally makes clean energy the profitable kind of energy for America's businesses.
Now, there are costs associated with this transition. And some believe we can't afford those costs right now. I say we can't afford not to change how we produce and use energy - because the long-term costs to our economy, our national security, and our environment are far greater.
So I am happy to look at other ideas and approaches from either party - as long they seriously tackle our addiction to fossil fuels. Some have suggested raising efficiency standards in our buildings like we did in our cars and trucks. Some believe we should set standards to ensure that more of our electricity comes from wind and solar power. Others wonder why the energy industry only spends a fraction of what the high-tech industry does on research and development - and want to rapidly boost our investments in such research and development.
All of these approaches have merit, and deserve a fear hearing in the months ahead. But the one approach I will not accept is inaction. The one answer I will not settle for is the idea that this challenge is too big and too difficult to meet. You see, the same thing was said about our ability to produce enough planes and tanks in World War II. The same thing was said about our ability to harness the science and technology to land a man safely on the surface of the moon. And yet, time and again, we have refused to settle for the paltry limits of conventional wisdom. Instead, what has defined us as a nation since our founding is our capacity to shape our destiny - our determination to fight for the America we want for our children. Even if we're unsure exactly what that looks like. Even if we don't yet know precisely how to get there. We know we'll get there.
More: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Barack Obama | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2859 |
__label__wiki | 0.606811 | 0.606811 | Why The iPhone 5 Looks Basically The Same As The Old One, And That's Brilliant
When Apple released the iPhone 4S last year a lot of people felt let down.
They wanted a new physical design from Apple. Instead they got the exact same design.
Because Apple didn't do anything different with the look of the iPhone 4S, people believed Apple was going to radically overhaul the iPhone 5.
And, arguably, Apple did radically overhaul the iPhone. It has a taller screen as well as a new aluminum backplate.
But, because we saw leaks of the iPhone 5 ahead of time, and because the core design of the iPhone 4 remains in tact with the iPhone 5, it doesn't feel like a radical overhaul.
It feels like an incremental upgrade. As David Pogue put it, it looks "as though someone ran over the old iPhone with a steamroller."
If you just took a quick glance at the front of the iPhone 5 you might think it was an iPhone 4.
Perhaps anticipating these sorts of critiques, Apple's lead designer Jony Ive said in the iPhone 5 promotional video:
"When you think about your iPhone, it's probably the object that you use most in your life. It's the product that you have with you all the time. With this unique relationship people have with their iPhone, we take changing it really seriously. We don't to just want to make a new phone. We want to make a much better phone. iPhone 5 is the result of this approach."
You see what he's saying there? He's saying, "We think we've nailed the fundamental design of the iPhone. We're not going to be making big changes for the sake of making big changes."
In other words, you better get used to the way the iPhone looks. This fundamental design is going to be around for a long time. (And it should be! The phone looks fantastic.)
Look at Apple's iMacs. Look at its MacBooks. Those designs have been around for four to five years and have only been incrementally changed. Once Apple figures out a design it really loves, it just makes slight changes.
If you've felt let down by the iPhone 5 design ( which is gorgeous) then you're going to be let down by iPhones for years to come.
Don't Miss: Why There's No Jumbo-Sized iPhone Screen
More: iPhone 5 Apple iPhone Phones | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2860 |
__label__wiki | 0.90093 | 0.90093 | Home Newsletters Daily Report AM Homicides in Baton Rouge may be down, but what about nonfatal shootings?
Homicides in Baton Rouge may be down, but what about nonfatal shootings?
Stephanie Riegel
At a community forum earlier this week, called to address a recent spike in gun violence in Baton Rouge, Mayor Sharon Weston Broome and Police Chief Murphy Paul noted that while the trends are troubling, the city’s homicide rate is still lower than it was at this point in 2018 or 2017.
“Certainly we have challenges,” Broome reportedly said at the gathering. “But this is not Gotham City.”
But Metro Council member Matt Watson doesn’t believe that the homicide rate alone paints an accurate picture of the city’s crime problem, and he has asked the BRPD for statistics on the number of nonfatal shootings, which he believes are on the rise, based on conversations he has had with police officers and constituents.
“Mayor Broome and Murphy Paul said Tuesday night the homicide rate is going down,” Watson says. “But the number of people getting shot is actually going up. The only reason homicides are going down is because you have bad marksmen and good EMTs.”
Watson says he was initially told by a statistician in the BRPD that it would be easy to pull data on the number of nonfatal shootings, even though that is not one of the standard categories of the Uniform Crime Reports compiled by the BRPD and submitted to the FBI.
He was later told, however, it would take weeks to tabulate the numbers.
“It shouldn’t be that difficult,” he says. “All I want to know is how many times someone got shot in Baton Rouge.”
A spokesman for the BRPD tells Daily Report the information requested by Watson “isn’t readily available and would have to be researched.”
Watson says the citizens have a right to the information.
“Every member of the Metro Council and the mayor should be asking to see these statistics,” he says. “We know when we have a homicide. But when we have a surge in gun violence, like the ones we’ve seen recently, I would think those numbers would be at the ready.”
In the past 10 days, there have been eight unrelated shootings in East Baton Rouge Parish, which have killed four people and injured 14 others. In the city, there was one fatal shooting during that time.
Still, the number of homicides for the year to date is 37, down from 48 at this time in 2018 and 42 in 2017, though up from 26 in 2016.
(Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to clarify that the number of shootings cited over the past 10 days is parishwide.) | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2861 |
__label__wiki | 0.872676 | 0.872676 | Will Lucious Lyon Die On 'Empire' This Season? Anything Is Possible On FOX's Musical Drama
By Jefferson Grubbs
It's a little bit ironic that FOX's new musical drama Empire, which marketed itself largely on the name recognition of its Academy Award-nominated star Terrence Howard, started its pilot episode by immediately placing said star in mortal danger. And yet that's exactly what co-creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong did: at the top of the show's first hour, audiences saw Howard's Lucious Lyon at the hospital. Later that the premiere of Empire , we learn that Lucious has ALS, the same disease that inspired this summer's ice bucket challenge. Formerly called Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS is the same illness that afflicts Stephen Hawking, as so memorably portrayed by Eddie Redmayne in this year's Oscar contender The Theory Of Everything.
The writers hedged their bets when Lucious' doctor informed him that he probably has about three years left to live... but "maybe more, maybe less." An educated guess, then, would state that Lucious will pass away sometime around the Season 3 finale, right?
Unfortunately, not only is ALS incurable, but it's also unpredictable — Hawking was diagnosed at the young age of 21, and he's now 73 and counting, so the disease can move more slowly than suggested. Conversely, the disease could move faster than expected; in the most recent episode, Lucious started experiencing cramps sooner than the doctor had predicted. Does this signal that he could have a shorter life expectancy than imagined? But Howard is Empire's biggest star! He's on all the posters! Surely they won't kill him off in the first season, right??
In this post-Game Of Thrones world, never assume anyone is safe — even if they are the biggest name in the cast. Besides, it's not like Empire would lack respected actors if Howard left — co-stars Taraji P. Henson and Gabourey Sidibe both have Oscar nominations to their names as well, for The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button and Precious, respectively. (And in fact, they're both probably more "respected" than Howard anyway, considering the six allegations of physical abuse that have been levied against the actor by ex-wives, girlfriends, flight attendants, and complete strangers.)
So will Lucious last for one season, three years, or well into his 70s? It's hard to say, although we can take a look at Empire's inspiration for some clues. The series is ostensibly based on Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear, although it also bears much in common with the 1966 play The Lion In Winter . In the latter, the protagonist, Henry II, survives the events of the play — although the real king went on to die of a bleeding ulcer at the age of 56 after being defeated in battle by his eldest son Richard. In Shakespeare's version, the addled king perishes from grief after his youngest daughter, Cordelia, is executed.
Will Lucious finally succumb to his illness after Andre wrests control of Empire Records from him? Or will he do himself harm after his actions lead to the death of hot-headed Hakeem? Perhaps a combination of the two? Either way, don't be too shocked if Lucious doesn't make it through the events of Season 1 alive, no matter what medical prognosis he is given.
Images: Matt Dinerstein/FOX; thegameofthrowns/tumblr | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2862 |
__label__cc | 0.733775 | 0.266225 | FSBO Only (3)
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Currently there are 86 homes for sale and 6 vacant land parcels for sale in 63123
Background on Saint. Louis
St. Louis is an Independent city located in Missouri. Missouri was built along the Western Bank of the Mississippi River, this area borders Illinois. As of 2018 the estimated population here in St. Louis is approximately 309,000. The Greater St. Louis Metro area is home to more than 3,000,000 people making it the largest metro area in all of Missouri. St. Louis was founded in 1764 and incorporated in 1822. The United States Census Bureau indicates that St. Louis is a total of 66 square miles and approximately 4 miles of that is made up of water. The climate here in St. Louis is in a transitional zone between a humid continental and humid subtropical climate. The reason for this is because there aren’t any large mountains or bodies of water around to help moderate the temperature here. This means that the summers here tend to be hot and humid and the winters tend to be cold. One of the main reasons for the weather variation here is that St. Louis is subject to the cold Arctic air as well as the hot and humid tropical air that comes from the Gulf of Mexico. The weather here can go from zero degrees in the winter all the way up to 100 or more during the summer months. St. Louis also experiences about 41 inches of rainfall a year.
Real Estate in St. Louis
The real estate available here in St. Louis is amazing. This portion of Missouri has some extremely affordable homes for sale with most falling within the $200,000 range. The types of homes you will find here vary from neighborhood to neighborhood but you can expect to see a mixture of Traditional, Bungalow, Tudor, Ranch, Condos and Townhomes in this area. Most homes have a brick exterior which adds so much charm to the homes found here. St. Louis is actually broken up into 79 different government designated neighborhoods. A lot of people who live here refer to where they live as either “North City,” “South City,” or “The Central West End.” The 79 different neighborhoods all fall within these confines. Some of the most notable and sought after neighborhoods are Hyde Park, Clifton Heights, Lindenwood Park, Forest Park Southeast and Tower Grove East. These are just a few of the neighborhoods in St. Louis for you to consider.
Points of Interest in Saint. Louis
Gateway Arch – The Gateway Arch is a popular tourist destination if you are traveling through the area. This 630 foot monument is made up of stainless steel is the world’s tallest arch as well as the tallest man made monument within the Western Hemisphere. After the Gateway Arch was built as part of the westward expansion it was dedicated to the American people. The Gateway Arch was completed in October of 1965 and cost $13 million to build which would be equivalent to more than $77 million in 2018. If you live in St. Louis you have to experience all that the Gateway Arch has to offer at least once!
City Museum – This museum consists largely of repurposed architectural and industrial objects. This museum attracts close to a million visitors a year. This museum was founded by Bob Cassilly and his wife Gail. When they looked at the space back in 1993 it was a vacant shoe factory and warehouse. It wasn’t until 1997 that this museum opened and started drawing in large crowds. Bob Cassilly remained in his position as artistic director until he passed away in 2011. This 600,000 square foot museum has everything you could imagine and then some. On the third floor there is a circus ring that has daily live acts as well as concerts. There is also a fifth floor to this museum that consists of apartments. These apartments are known as the “Lofts at City Museum” and range in since from 1,300 to almost 3,000 square feet.
The Saint Louis Zoo – This 90 acre zoo has more than 600 different species and over 18,000 types of animals. This zoo is a leader when it comes to an animal management, research, conservation and education. The best part about this zoo is that there is no admission unless there is a special attraction going on. This place is perfect for you to take your kids to educate them on all the different types of species and animals that roam the earth.
Saint. Louis is a wonderful place to live if you are looking for charm and plenty of local attractions. There are 79 different neighborhoods for you to choose from when deciding to make the move here. Whichever neighborhood you choose to live in will offer up different views and experiences here in St. Louis.
63123 is located in Saint Louis, MO. There are currently 86 Homes for Sale within 63123, with asking prices ranging from $25,000 to $650,000. The average list price per square foot of the available inventory in 63123 is $144, which is above the Saint Louis County average of $144. The Average Sales price of all sold real estate in this subdivision for the past year is $166,650. Recent comparable homes have been selling for 95.98% of their asking price. Waterfront homes represent 0.00% of the available 63123 inventory. The population of 63123, according to the 2010 Census, is 49,308. The total number of households in the zip code of 63123 is 22,022, with an average household size for of 2.23 people. The total number of renter households within the zip code of 63123 is 5,454, which means that 75.23% of households in this zipcode are owner occupant households. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2863 |
__label__wiki | 0.609291 | 0.609291 | American Political Science Review
Self-Interest vs. Symbolic Poli...
Cited by 331
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September 1980 , pp. 670-684
Self-Interest vs. Symbolic Politics in Policy Attitudes and Presidential Voting
David O. Sears (a1), Richard R. Lau (a2), Tom R. Tyler (a3) and Harris M. Allen (a1)
(a1)
Carnegie-Mellon University
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 August 2014
This article contrasts short-term self-interest and longstanding symbolic attitudes as determinants of (1) voters' attitudes toward government policy on four controversial issues (unemployment, national health insurance, busing, and law and order), and (2) issue voting concerning those policy areas. In general, we found the various self-interest measures to have very little effect in determining either policy preferences or voting behavior. In contrast, symbolic attitudes (liberal or conservative ideology, party identification, and racial prejudice) had major effects. Nor did self-interest play much of a role in creating “issue publics” that were particularly attentive to, informed about, or constrained in their attitudes about these specific policy issues. Conditions that might facilitate more self-interested political attitudes, specifically having privatistic (rather than public-regarding) personal values, perceiving the policy area as a major national problem, being high in political sophistication, perceiving the government as responsive, or having a sense of political efficacy, were also explored, but had no effect. The possibility that some long-term self-interest might be reflected in either group membership or in symbolic attitudes themselves is examined. While such possibilities cannot be definitively rejected, problems with interpreting standard demographic findings as self-interest effects are discussed.
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__label__wiki | 0.784482 | 0.784482 | Debra Wise
Debra Wise* (Artistic Director, Underground Railway Theater) launched URT in Oberlin, Ohio with founding Artistic Director Wes Sanders, who recently completed an e-book documenting URT’s decades as a touring company (1978-2008). With Sanders, Wise helped create over 30 new works which toured nationally and internationally to venues ranging from Lincoln Center to public schools; titles included Sanctuary – The Spirit of Harriet Tubman, Home is Where, InTOXICating and The Christopher Columbus Follies. Wise led URT collaborations with Boston Symphony Orchestra (Firebird, Creation of the World, Tempest); and Wise created and staged plays for Boston’s Museum of Science (Aging Puzzle), New Center for Arts and Culture (Jewish Women and Their Salons), the Mary Baker Eddy Library, the MFA and the ICA (Art InterACTions), and the Cambridge Arts Council (theater in dialogue with public art). Since creating Central Square Theater with The Nora Theatre Company, Wise has focused on re-envisioning URT’s mission to grow from within its first theater home. With playwrights Alan Brody and the late Jon Lipsky, and physicist/author Alan Lightman, she co-founded Catalyst Collaborative@MIT (CST’s unique science theater partnership with MIT), and led partnerships with Mount Auburn Cemetery (Our Town) and the National Park Service (Roots of Liberty – The Haitian Revolution and the American Civil War, featuring over 50 actors, dancers, musicians, and guest artists Danny Glover and Edwidge Danticat). URT has won Elliot Norton awards under Wise’s leadership: for The Convert and Constellations (Outstanding Production) and Bedlam’s St. Joan (Best Visiting Production). Other appearances on the CST stage include Kushner’s Homebody, Copenhagen, Brundibar & But the Giraffe!, The Other Place, Distracted, The How and the Why, Einstein’s Dreams, From Orchids to Octopi: An Evolutionary Love Story, Yesterday Happened: Remembering H.M., Breaking the Code, Arabian Nights and A Christmas Memory. Acting appearances on other Boston stages include Mistero Buffo (Poets’ Theatre); A Boston Marriage and Orson’s Shadow (New Repertory Theatre), Brooklyn Boy (SpeakEasy Stage Co.), and Chosen Child (Boston Playwrights’ Theater); in NYC, The Haggadah (The Public, with Julie Taymor). Wise has been nominated for Outstanding Performance by both the Elliot Norton Awards and the IRNE. Her work as a playwright includes States of Grace, inspired by the stories, poems, and essays of Grace Paley; and Alice’s Adventures Underground, based on the works of Lewis Carroll. She collaborates each summer with Harvard’s Project Zero, training educators on using theater to help students think more deeply across the curriculum.
dwise@undergroundrailwaytheater.org 617-307-4267 | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2873 |
__label__cc | 0.671482 | 0.328518 | Building Chargebee
Chargebee Blog
Growth, Product
How to Make the Product-led Transition and Other Insights from Wes Bush
Akash Sharma
~ 25 min read | July 15
1999. The cloud promises a transformative mansion for software (and the world). One with multiple doors of possibilities. Chief among them, the “do-it-yourself” door, championed by Salesforce as a fundamental upturning of legacy methods.
“All the old-school laborious and high-cost selling steps were no longer necessary. We had entered the new era of the Internet, and our service was available 24/7 on the Web. It was so simple that customers could learn everything about it, subscribe, and get it running just by visiting www.salesforce.com. It was do-it-yourself. There were no analysts and no meetings. Further, there was no haggling.” ~ Marc Benioff
But as we’ve come to learn, in their case and most others, that particular door has mostly remained bolted. Because the “you” in “do-it-yourself” has long been the buyer, not the user. Sales processes can still prove laborious. Time to value, indefinite.
It’s only in the last few years — with the work of practitioners at companies like Atlassian, Intercom, and Slack, on the one hand, and observers like Samuel Hulick on the other — that the assumptions and expectations around what products can (and cannot) enable have begun to change.
Few are more alert to this unbolting of doors than Wes Bush.
Who, having seen the unfolding of multiple SaaS successes, has come to believe that “truly great software companies are built to be product-led.”
And is now seeking to unpack that belief. And, in so doing, expand the collective understanding on the interesting mingling of markets, models, org structures, and attitudes, needed to build this way. A fine distillation of which can be found in his excellent new book.
We spoke with him recently to learn:
— whether a company can ever be truly product-led,
— the positioning implications of free software,
— the changing discovery and evaluation cycles,
— why we don’t need a white paper to learn how to make a poster,
— the learning costs of starting out with the freemium model,
— why companies treat onboarding as a one-trick pony,
— why support teams should think of tickets as bugs,
— how marketing teams should think about lead magnets,
— and how “tiger teams” can lead the product-led transition.
Q: Let’s begin with some time travel. Two SaaS companies, almost two decades apart. First, Salesforce, which is, arguably, the foremost proponent of cloud’s self-serve promises. And, then, Slack, a revered poster child of product-led growth. Both seem to be submitting to the same worries about selling to the enterprise:
A few months into our effort to win enterprise clients, Frank van Veenendaal came to me concerned that the free trial—and the low barrier to entry—was doing us a disservice…I knew he was right: it was time to stop selling salesforce.com as a solution that was inexpensive enough to be purchased every month and slipped by on an individual’s expense report. Instead of sneaking in under the radar, we needed to respect organizational hierarchy.
Marc Benioff, Behind the Cloud
Additionally, increasing our sales to large organizations requires increasingly sophisticated and costly sales efforts targeted at senior management and other personnel. If our efforts to sell to large organizations and organizations of all sizes are not successful or do not generate additional revenue, our business would suffer.
One of the risk factors from Slack's S1 filing
What’s at play here? Can a company ever be truly product-led?
Wes: Companies can always be completely product-led. And even having a sales team doesn’t mean you’re not product-led. It just depends on how you’re using your sales team.
For instance, be it with a free trial or a freemium offer, by having product-qualified leads, by qualifying people as they go through your funnel, your sales team can then reach out to them, let’s say, in Slack’s case, to accounts that have a hundred people already using the product.
That is a very hot lead. And someone you do want to reach out to. And see if you can help them more. So, in that fashion, using the product-qualified-lead is really just a powerful way for your sales team to understand who are the people who we can really help provide the most value to.
That’s totally a product-led business. They’re just using sales in a much smarter way than a lot of other people.
Compare that with the marketing-qualified-lead model.
You’re looking at people who’re downloading these white papers and then Sales is reaching out to those people. And saying, “Hey, white paper downloader,” obviously they’re not calling them that.
But sending an email along the lines of: “we noticed you downloaded this guide, do you want our software?” That’s basically what they’re trying to say. And the receiver’s like, “No, sorry I was just interested in this information. But, not anymore!”
But whenever there’s a product-qualified lead, it’s actually a good conversation, “Hey, I noticed you’re using a specific feature, I think you should check out this one because we figured based on what you’re doing that this would be insanely valuable.” And you get the person thinking: “You actually know what I’m doing.”
Wes thinks “there are a million ways you can slice and dice what a PQL is for your business. What matters, however, is that you try to find behaviors that correlate with people upgrading.”
It’s just a much more natural conversation and it’s beginning to become just THE expectation. Like people expect those personalized outreaches, and if you can make those sales outreaches personal, then you have really won people over. And they actually do want to hear from you.
That’s true. The norm, fortunately, is slowly moving there. Also, how should one think about the positioning implications that having a free trial/freemium offering might present?
Having a free trial or freemium model doesn’t mean people look at your product and say, ‘hey, that’s a free product. Now, if you’re thinking from a positioning perspective, it doesn’t hurt your brand at all.
And it’s really, whether you’re selling to enterprise or SMB, people want to try the product before they buy it. And by just letting it be super easy and convenient for someone to try it out, they’re more than willing to go through that experience. Definitely, regardless of your price point, it’s a great way to get people onboard.
If you think of the enterprise approach, it’s a very different kind of selling, and it starts off with who you’re targeting in the first place.
So in the traditional sales-led company, the people they’re typically targeting are the execs, because back in the day when SaaS first came out, it used to be insanely expensive to buy software applications.
So what they’d want to have, say, if you’re buying a CRM, they’d want to have one CRM, instead of a CRM for your sales team, one for your marketing team, it just made sense to have one.
So if you go to the top, you can just standardize it for the entire business, and so it made a lot of sense for a really long time, but then, now with product-led businesses, it’s becoming a lot easier for people who are actually using the product to say, ‘hey, I need a new solution because the CRM we’re using right now isn’t good enough.’
So if you target the people who’re actually going to be using these solutions, they can ramp up, get up to speed much quicker, they don’t even need to have to flip the switch on the current solution.
They can just test it out, see if they like it, and then they can migrate it over.
Switching costs nowadays are virtually non-existent. It’s really fascinating to see how people can go from one to others, so easily. It’s a really great place to be for software.
It fundamentally changes the evaluation process.
Right? Like the typical customer lifecycle journey that I’m sure a lot of people are familiar with is that you have awareness, you have an evaluation phase, then you have your purchase phase.
I know there are a lot of marketers that like to overcomplicate it but that’s basically what it all boils down to. And so if we compare it to, let’s say, a sales-led company, well someone, if they’re looking at a Demo offer, they’re usually pretty far along in the evaluation phase. “Oh, you know, I’m going to set up this demo and then I’m going to kickstart and go through this whole sales process.”
And while they’re going through that, it might take a few weeks. You have that first introductory call with the inside sales agent who is just trying to go off a list of questions to make sure you’re a good fit.
And then, maybe you’d get an intro to the AE, if things are moving along pretty quickly, and then you have a couple more chats, then you go through the pricing, and then it’s a long time to really do anything.
Where as with the product-led approach, you could be early, I mean really early on in that evaluation phase, trying out the product, seeing if you like it. And you might be ready to buy as soon as you understand, ‘Hey this product actually solves my problem really well. This is potentially going to save me five hours a week or five hours a month.’
That’s still really impressive. You can very quickly understand, “okay, this is something I need.” You just come into that purchase phase way quicker.
Instead of searching around and making that evaluation phase a really long process, you just short-cut it. You’re at the purchase phase in that seven-day, 14-day free trial. And it’s done.
At the end of it, maybe 30% of those people, are happy. They’ve found a solution that really works for them. And both sides are truly happy.
For most B2B companies, a key aim with inbound acquisition is to address a prospect across the awareness cycle — from being unaware of the problem to being aware of the company’s solution.
The inherent breadth of this aim causes (even rewards, as you write) unnecessary friction and leaks. What replaces this process in a product-led setup? How does one go about addressing the entire awareness cycle? Can one?
I still believe that it works, it’s just a lot more competitive.
And so what I’m seeing again and again for a lot of companies, is really, using like…
Let’s take this example: say, we want to learn how to make a poster. So we Google, say, “how to make a poster?”, then we’re going to click on an article by Canva, and the CTA is, “Design your poster.”
And you go through a really quick registration, and really we’re in the product and all we see is posters. We can select a template and within three clicks, we edit the text and we have our poster. And so, it’s really straightforward.
And what we’re seeing again and again is that companies that leverage whether it’s their organic search or even paid campaigns that go to these specific pages and create these onboarding experiences that are so catered to what someone is searching for, it becomes that much more powerful.
Like it used to be enough for SaaS companies to slap on a landing page, a “thank you” page, and then have someone download a white paper, but nowadays, it’s getting a little more complicated. Because now people almost expect, ‘okay, I searched for how to make a poster, I actually want to do that as the first thing in the product.”
So I think a lot of brands quickly starting to realize, “hey this might take a little while to implement, so it better be a good keyword.”
It really comes down to what experience would you prefer, if I clicked on a how-to-make-a-poster article and they were like “download this, 50 page guide, on how to make a poster” and then at the end of the white paper, just say, “use our software,” like how peeved would you be.
Or would you prefer, a simple sign up process, very few details required, and get right into the product. And I think a lot of people are just tired of these ridiculous white papers that are just like long written sales pitches basically.
“Really I’ve learned nothing here. And I know I’m just going to get contacted, and receive tons of emails from your team, because now you think I’m a lead.”
With all the freemium stories you’ve witnessed first-hand, what do you make of Chris’s assertion:
The #1 question when you’re starting out as an entrepreneur is whether or not you are building something that people actually want. If someone signs up for a free product, you’ve only learned that someone was willing to exchange a small slice of time to try it. That teaches you very little about whether you’ve built something useful.
Chris Savage, Co-founder, Wistia
I think if you’re just starting out and going straight to freemium, it’s usually never a good idea. Because you really need to understand what is it that someone really values. How much do they value it?
And so, when you’re first starting out, it’s really important to even just talk to people. Like if you have to go with the sales-led approach initially when you are first starting out. That’s totally fine.
I know with product-led growth, it’s all the rage. A lot of people want to go down this path. But it does make sense to start with a sales-led approach at the beginning. Because you learn so much more by talking to people.
And once you start hearing the same thing over and over again, then it makes a lot more sense, to really say, “alright we know that customers want us for these three outcomes.”
That’s what we want. Now, in the onboarding we’re going to ask people these three outcomes. Depending on which ones they want, we’re going to direct them to that part of the product.
So that they can see exactly what they want. We don’t have to be there to handhold them through the whole thing. They can really find out what they want, exactly on their own timeline, very quickly.”
I think what Chris was really getting at in this, if you just offer completely for free, you have no upgrade model, it gets really hard. I agree.
I don’t really see that the case for Wistia, they do have a really great upgrade levers, and maybe that was before they really identified the value.
Understanding your value metric is so important in a product-led business, I really view the revenue model and customer acquisition model as sort of like an arranged marriage, especially if you’re coming from a sales-led business, because your revenue model can’t have it all.
You can’t just raise your prices to, say, $20,000 per month and then your customer acquisition model is going to really hate you. Because you have just killed the potential of getting any new leads in your door.
And same thing goes for the customer acquisition model. You start giving away all your products for free. Well, you got a little bit of a problem. Your revenue model is going to hate you. It’s just the opposite way. So you have to find out what is that balancing act there, and usually the best way to really find that is understanding what your value metric is.
And really that’s what you’re mentioning with Wistia, really understanding, okay we’re charging 25 cents per video, that’s pretty straightforward, people can understand that, and as they get bigger, as they get more successful, as they start investing more in video, we benefit, as you should. That’s really important.
“Can your onboarding be completely self-serve?” That’s one of the qualifying questions, you enlist, to help one assess if the product-led path to the market is feasible.
Before Stripe came about, most payment platforms (and their users) would have responded to that question with a resolute, “No!” Do you think this holds across categories?
This sense of believing that something’s complex because everyone else does, until some plucky outsider flips that thinking on its head.
What are the markers that can help someone objectively conclude whether a product can/cannot be self-serve? How can companies rid themselves of “well, this process has always required a person to guide customers through, we cannot possibly automate it”?
I think it really just comes down to, who is building the company and are they actually challenging the norms at all. I mean there’s really complex industries where it almost seems like there’s not a lot you could do.
Look at the insurance space. There’s just a lot of red tape everywhere. And you think, like, ah, we cannot do anything different, we just got to play by the rules. And if you play by the rules, you are going to have a very, very hard time.
But then, there are companies like Lemonade in the states that are really disrupting the whole space. Because they actually made insurance useful, dare I say, even a little fun.
And so there’s a lot of different ways in which you can approach these things. But you have to start with challenging “what is the current way we’re doing it?”
Because I find with some companies that they just don’t have that. It’s going to be really hard for you to grow, if you don’t have that kind of gene in your business.
I do think there are a lot of ways in which you could make things easier.
One of the most common problems I see with a lot of companies is whenever it comes to onboarding, a lot of people try and treat it like this one-trick pony.
They’re always trying to fit everything in one onboarding sequence. So as soon as I sign up for the product, I’m now being shown all the features, everything in the entire product. A person can’t handle that much information.
It’s like me trying to get you to read my entire book in one sitting, it’s like you might have to go to the bathroom. I don’t expect you to read the entire book in one sitting. That’s a little crazy.
It’s also crazy to think that someone’s going to go through that entire onboarding sequence, all in that first experience.
And what I always like to do is sometimes the task isn’t even that tricky, it’s just that we need to break it down. Like what’s that first domino where you get someone to actually say, ‘ah, I’m making some progress here.’
So if it’s Chargebee, it might be, “let’s set up your payments here. So we can get your first invoice and start seeing, okay now the dashboard has come to life, now you can start setting goals, now you can start doing this. Check out RevenueStory, it’s cool.”
There are a lot of different stepping stones you can take people through, to help them really move forward. And by that point they are a lot more motivated because they’ve already seen some progress.
In the book, there’s a part where you contrast the org-structures of sales-led and product-led companies, and touch upon how the former are certainly lacking, and how a product-focussed bent must pervade all teams.
Having read it, I wondered, how does this ‘bent’ translate into actual process and ways of operating?
How, for instance, can a success team operate in a way that helps them answer: “How can we create a product that helps customers become successful without our help?”
I guess for customer support and success, one of the things I’m doing right now that I find is fascinating and it can help a lot of support teams, and significantly reduce the amount of support tickets, is looking at support tickets as just a bug.
Because this is someone who really had a tough time, they had to reach out to you, they couldn’t do this stuff on their own. And now that’s counter-intuitive of what a lot of people think.
They go, “hey, we have a customer reaching out, we can help them now.” But that’s someone who’s really struggling.
They’re having a frustrating time and they had to reach out to you to figure something it. What they shouldn’t have done in the first place. This should have been easy, a no-brainer in fact for them to do that.
And so what you can do, if you really want to prevent a lot of these support tickets, especially the ones that repeat again and again and again, is just compile and try and find, for every part of your product, what are the recurring ones that happen again and again.
And whenever someone gets an error, let’s say, whenever they do something wrong in the product. Within the product, show them, what is the response your support team would tell them.
Just show it to them. The exact response. It doesn’t have to be a fancy looking thing. Make sure it’s grammatically correct. But that’s it. A small step.
You can help someone expedite the whole process. You’re really doing the same job but you’re just much quicker at it. And so by doing that your support team can then focus on the really complex and challenging problems. And for a support team, I’m not trying to say, “yeah, downsize them, get rid of support.”
It’s just that you get to work on new and exciting problems. How boring would it be for you to work on getting the same customer request again and again. You have the same automated emails for the same kind of stuff. People aren’t robots. That’s no fun.
Let’s help them with really challenging problems. Like the new ones that pop up with new features. That’s great stuff. They can really excel at that. But with your support team, stay away from stuff that can be automated.
What about marketing teams? What should they be thinking about day in, day out?
So really just looking at what are some of the products that have the quickest time to value. And like if we could have a product that could help someone understand and get up to speed, really, really quickly. That is a perfect lead magnet.
Where someone can quickly start using it, experience its value, and share it. That is something that I see again and again.
Even when I was working at Vidyard with GoVideo, we launched the product and it was a simple chrome plugin where you could record videos and just send it to people on Gmail. You could see who actually watched your video, how much of that video they watched. And it was really straight forward.
The reason we did that was that it was just really hard to get people to do it when they signed up for the free trial.
“It wasn’t until I helped launch a freemium product that soared to over 100,000 users in less than a year that I realized something was wrong with the old marketing playbook. By making it easy for people to experience the value of our product, we transformed it into a powerful customer acquisition model.”
You had to bring your own video, then you had to send some traffic to that video, really see the analytics behind that video and learn who is watching it. Whereas, with the chrome plugin, it was pretty straightforward.
You don’t need fancy equipment. You just need a chrome browser and a webcam that’s not even that good and you can just send all of these videos to whether prospects or friends or family, doesn’t really matter who you send it to, but you can quickly start just creating videos, which was something that was really new.
So for your marketing team, what I’d really recommend is that whether it’s your main product or even just a free product, you give it away freely, like the website grader, you’ve all heard of from HubSpot. It’s not necessarily your product.
But it’s a quick way for you to really understand and help people. And think about what are those other free ways we can help people with their business or some of those other specific pain points they’re struggling with.
Almost productizing the insights that previously existed in content?
Tools definitely have a much bigger draw. Like anyone can write content. But having a very useful tool is great. And the perfect example of this is, when I was writing my book and I had to basically create an Amazon description.
I learned like, ‘oh, shoot, you have to use HTML.” And I thought, “I have taken HTML courses but I’m not just going to wing it. It’s been a long time.” I mean, if you mess it up, you have like three-four days where it might be like HTML in your description. And you’re like I don’t want to be that rookie.
So I just typed in, something like ‘Amazon book description generator’, and sure enough there’s a really helpful guy who made a tool. And I used it. It was awesome. And I kept going back to that. Everyone referred back to that tool even in their blog articles.
So, even if it’s for backlinks, people will link to another tool because that’s what they’re using. That’s just much bigger of a draw, then it is to have something written on, “here’s how to make your HTML go like this, so it does that.”
You still end up with the headache. Just solve that problem for them, and it’s really not that difficult.
For sales-led organizations that are contemplating a transition, you recommend setting up a small ‘tiger team,’ a startup-in-residence almost, which owns and does “whatever it takes to help people become successful with the product.”
In your work with clients, have you noticed a pattern in the way these teams get to their first wins? What does it look like?
So this has changed a lot after working with a bunch of different clients. Just with the different sizes. Because it’s always going to be a little bit different, like, if you’re talking to let’s say a ten person startup. Maybe one person can, in this entire team of one.
And that’s okay as long as you have someone who is focussed on this question — how can you help users become successful. That’s better than nothing.
And as you get bigger, what I’ve typically found around like the 50-100 person range, for most companies, is that they do actually put together a team.
But depending on how much traffic they have, and how much volume, what some companies have been doing is that they will actually throttle the traffic, so maybe only like 10% of people who go to the website will even see the free trial offer. Everyone else would just go through the standard demo process.
And so what they’re doing is really smart because now they’re only dealing with that 10% of traffic which is just enough for that team to really figure out how they can help all these people, and when they do, they can figure out new ways to build, new processes slowly, without swamping everyone.
I think a lot of people think it’s this big switch.
Like, “oh, today, we’re doing free trials.” And I’m like, ‘wait a minute!’ this is really different from a sales-led approach.
And a lot of these companies are wondering, “What did we just do? Did we just shoot ourselves in the foot with our customer acquisition model? What happened here, and how long can we sustain this, we’re running a business after all.”
But if you do it slowly, it’s definitely a lot less of a spike. And it’s not bad for your business at all.
Why Product-Led Growth Is of Rising Importance
The Innovator’s Solution for SaaS Startups — The Flywheel SaaS Company
Beginner’s Guide to Product Qualified Leads (PQL)
“Monetize Backwards” to Build a SaaS Business That Lasts
Putting the User Back in User Onboarding
Free Software is the New Marketing
Related Read | ~17 min
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Freemium Model for SaaS – The Good, The Bad, and The In-between
The Best Way to Win the Freemium Model Is by Challenging the Very Model Itself
Marketer. Contributing editor (first reader :)) at Chargebee's SaaS Dispatch. Tending to the matters of logic and lyric.
Dear SaaS Peers, Scale Value, Not Usage (It’s Not as Simple as You Think)
Join 6000+ companies that use Chargebee's sophisticated billing system | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2875 |
__label__cc | 0.561776 | 0.438224 | Bean Ninjas founder counts on expansion
Meryl Johnston CA, founder of Bean Ninjas, explains how she tapped into a market niche that offered global opportunities.
When Meryl Johnston moved to the Gold Coast for lifestyle, she soon realised running her own business would be part of the mix
She opted for bookkeeping, recognising that it offered a steady cash flow and scalable opportunities
In just a few years, Johnston’s venture has expanded internationally and she believes focusing on a niche is essential
As founder and CEO of Bean Ninjas, Meryl Johnston CA is leading a successful business with a footprint that spans six nations. Yet it all began with just $500.
“My role in Bean Ninjas has transitioned,” says Johnston. “When I first started with only one co-founder, I was responsible for everything.” Johnston did it all – from the bookkeeping work to financial reporting, sales, marketing, HR, and managing risk. These days, her role has shifted. “Now my day-to-day is a lot more about thinking in terms of the strategy of the business and mentoring team members within the business.”
Johnston describes what she does as a “mix of looking into the future and thinking about where we need to be, and how we position the business to get there.” Along the way she also develops her team and gets to complete some internal accounting.
A natural entrepreneur, Johnston started her first venture – a tennis coaching business – while at university. On graduation, she began her professional career as part of BDO’s audit team. “The decision to go into audit was more around what I was going to learn rather than a passion for audit itself,” recalls Johnston. As a young auditor, she found herself talking to CFOs and people who she admits were vastly more experienced than herself. It provided a firm foundation of knowledge, and upon becoming a chartered accountant, Johnston took leave without pay and headed from Melbourne to the Gold Coast.
She found work in a busy commercial role at Queensland Airports. But she had to remind herself that she had moved to the Sunshine State for the lifestyle. “It was at that moment that I made the decision to start out on my own and build a consulting business.”
"In the accounting industry, small firms try to be everything to everyone and with technology changing, this is becoming a real challenge."
Meryl Johnston CA, CEO and founder, Bean Ninjas.
Keeping it scalable
“With Bean Ninjas, the service we offer is built on bookkeeping and financial reporting,” explains Johnston. “If you don't have clean data, how can you use that information to provide advice to clients? That's why I decided to focus on bookkeeping.”
Recognising that management accounting is similar in many countries, Johnston also saw the global possibilities of her fledgling business.
Building Bean Ninjas from scratch – with personal capital of just $500 is, understandably, one of Johnston’s proudest achievements, and she admits there was a lot of learning on the fly. “We really started from a base of not much without a network, and without a lot of experience in running businesses. Within three years we've grown to a global business with offices in the UK, US, and Serbia, and a team of 12,” she notes.
Solving pain points
Like many CAs, Johnston can see both the opportunities and threats offered by automation. But she believes other challenges lie ahead.
“In the accounting industry, historically, small firms, have been locally based. They try to be everything to everyone and with technology changing, this is becoming a real challenge,” Johnston observes. She sees the need to find a niche and become an expert in a particular field or industry, for example, accounting for cafes. “If you stay as a local firm and try to serve a whole range of different businesses with different needs, I think it'll be a real challenge to do that profitably in the future,” she cautions.
Having a niche also helps from a marketing perspective. Instead of trying to sell general accounting services or bookkeeping services, Johnston believes CAs can look at the pain points of the specific market segments they are working with. “In the case of e-commerce, as an example, we look at what are their challenges are and write marketing copy in our messages to directly address those pain points,” she explains.
Discover how our members are making an impact
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__label__wiki | 0.753872 | 0.753872 | The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel (Paperback)
Books Inc. in Alameda
4 on hand, as of Jul 18 12:16pm
Books Inc. in Berkeley
Books Inc. in Mountain View
Books Inc. in Palo Alto
Books Inc. in Opera Plaza/SF
Books Inc. in Laurel Village/SF
Books Inc. in the Marina/SF
Compass Books-Terminal 2/SFO
Books Inc. in Campbell
Kobo eBook (September 3rd, 2018): $11.99
Hardcover (September 4th, 2018): $26.99
Paperback, Large Print (September 4th, 2018): $19.99
Pre-Recorded Audio Player (September 4th, 2018): $64.99
MP3 CD (March 27th, 2018): $14.99
Compact Disc (March 27th, 2018): $59.97
September 2018 Indie Next List
“I devoured The Tattooist of Auschwitz, a powerful book based on a true story, in two sittings. Lale, a Slovakian Jew at Auschwitz-Birkenau, becomes the Tatowierer—the man responsible for tattooing every prisoner who arrives at the concentration camp. Seen by some as a collaborator, Lale must make impossible choices to keep himself and his friends alive. Incredibly, Lale tattoos the woman who will become the love of his life. The power of their love in the face of unmitigated horror makes for one of the most compelling WWII books I have ever read.”
— Carrie Deming, The Dog Eared Book, Palmyra, NY
Winter 2018 Reading Group Indie Next List
“Holocaust survivor Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov met with author Heather Morris for three years before his death in order to recount his harrowing experiences in the Auschwitz concentration camp during WWII. His story was developed in this novel about an Auschwitz prisoner (Lale) who survives by learning to tattoo numbers onto the arms of incoming camp prisoners. After tattooing one woman, he is determined to have her as his future wife, and resolves to survive the war. Traumatic events in the camp threaten to destroy him and his girl. In the back, Morris includes photographs, a map of the camp, and a postwar follow up on Lale, his wife, his family, some of the prisoners, and his guards. Agonizing, yet triumphant.”
— Robin Allen, Forever Books, St. Joseph, MI
#1 New York Times Bestseller and #1 International Bestseller
This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity.
“The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an extraordinary document, a story about the extremes of human behavior existing side by side: calculated brutality alongside impulsive and selfless acts of love. I find it hard to imagine anyone who would not be drawn in, confronted and moved. I would recommend it unreservedly to anyone, whether they’d read a hundred Holocaust stories or none.”—Graeme Simsion, internationally-bestselling author of The Rosie Project
In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.
Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.
One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her.
A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov's experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.
Heather Morris is a native of New Zealand, now resident in Australia. For several years, while working in a large public hospital in Melbourne, she studied and wrote screenplays, one of which was optioned by an Academy Award-winning screenwriter in the US. In 2003, Heather was introduced to an elderly gentleman who ‘might just have a story worth telling’. The day she met Lale Sokolov changed both their lives. Their friendship grew and Lale embarked on a journey of self-scrutiny, entrusting the innermost details of his life during the Holocaust to her. Heather originally wrote Lale’s story as a screenplay – which ranked high in international competitions – before reshaping it into her debut novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
“Based on a true story, the wrenching yet riveting tale of Lale’s determination to survive the camp with Gita is a moving testament to the power of kindness, ingenuity, and hope.”
“Like the Nobel Prize-winning author Elie Wiesel’s Night, Morris’ work takes us inside the day-to-day workings of the most notorious German death camp. Over the course of three years, Morris interviewed Lale, teasing out his memories and weaving them into her heart-rending narrative of a Jew whose unlikely forced occupation as a tattooist put him in a position to act with kindness and humanity in a place where both were nearly extinct.”
— BookPage
“The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the story of hope and survival against incredible odds and the power of love.”
— Popsugar
“The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an extraordinary document.. I find it hard to imagine anyone who would not be drawn in, confronted and moved. I would recommend it unreservedly to anyone, whether they’d read a hundred Holocaust stories or none.”
— Graeme Simsion, internationally-bestselling author of The Rosie Project
“What an extraordinary and important book this is. We need as many memories of the Holocaust as we can retain, and this is a moving and ultimately uplifting story of love, loyalties and friendship amidst the horrors of war.”
— International bestseller Jill Mansell
“As many interviews as I did with Holocaust survivors for the Shoah Foundation and as many devastating testimonies as I heard, I could not stop reading THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ—an extraordinary story of love so fierce it sustained people enduring the unimaginable. Read it, share it, remember it.”
— Jenna Blum, NYT and international bestselling author of Those Who Save Us and The Lost Family
“To many, this book will be most appreciated for its powerful evocation of the everyday horrors of life as a prisoner in a concentration camp, while others will be heartened by the novel’s message of how true love can transcend even the most hellishly inhuman environments. This is a perfect novel for book clubs and readers of historical fiction.”
“..this is a powerful, gut-wrenching tale that is hard to shake off.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Although one might suspect that there’s far more to his past than is revealed here, much of Lale’s story’s complexity makes it onto the page. And even though it’s clear that Lale will survive, Morris imbues the novel with remarkable suspense.”
— Booklist
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Publication Date: September 4th, 2018
Fiction / Historical
Fiction / Jewish
Fiction / Cultural Heritage | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2878 |
__label__wiki | 0.897288 | 0.897288 | Apple slammed for blocking Tiananmen-linked songs
Updated : April 15, 2019 06:37 AM IST
Under pressure from China, Apple Music has removed songs with lyrics that refer to the massacre -- one of the biggest of all times.
Several other Congress members felt by surrendering to China's repressive mentality, the iPhone-maker was missing the chance to "become a stronger voice for freedom around the globe."
Apple is being slammed by US Congress members for censoring content on Apple Music to appease China ahead of the 30th anniversary of the "Tiananmen Square Massacre".
Under pressure from China, Apple Music has removed songs with lyrics that refer to the massacre -- one of the biggest of all times, The Verge reported on Saturday.
"It's disgraceful to see one of America's most innovative, influential tech companies support the Communist government's aggressive censorship efforts within China as we near the Tiananmen Square massacre's 30th anniversary," the report quoted Marco Rubio, the US Senator for Florida as saying.
Thousands of pro-democracy protesters were killed and thousands arrested when Chinese troops stormed the Tiananmen Square in Beijing firing on June 4, 1989.
Every year, around June 4, the Chinese government begins to censor mentions of the protest and this time Apple joined in, especially on its music platform, the report said.
One of the songs removed is "The Path of Man", written by James Wong. Wong confirmed that lyrics referred to the Tiananmen Square protests and showed the Chinese government in poor light. Two other singers censored by the app are pro-democracy activists Denise Ho and Anthony Wong.
As Apple expands its retail operations in China, it has grown increasingly aligned with the country's government. Last year, it moved the data of its Chinese users to a local firm in southern China to gain government trust.
In accordance with the Chinese line that Taiwan is its part, the company has censored the Taiwanese flag emoji in China. It even created a bug that crashed users' phones when they received texts containing the Taiwanese flag emoji.
Tags Apple Apple Music Tiananmen Square | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2882 |
__label__wiki | 0.732892 | 0.732892 | Rep. King: If Trump Makes DACA 'Amnesty,' His Political 'Base Will Leave Him'
By Michael W. Chapman | September 15, 2017 | 12:48 PM EDT
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) and
President Donald Trump. (FNC)
Commenting on President Donald J. Trump's negotiations with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) about DACA, conservative House Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said that if Trump works out some form of amnesty for the deferred action "dreamers," his political "base will leave him."
"They won't be able to defend him anymore," said King. He added that, although he has searched and contacted the White House, he has not seen any plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and that there apparently is "no commader of the wall" project.
On CNN's New Day, hosted by Alisyn Camerota, Rep. King said that "about 80%" of Trump's base "agree with me" on DACA, "that we cannot reward lawbreakers."
"If we do that, then we get more lawbreakers," he said. "And here's the irony out here is that in '86, Ronald Reagan led with amnesty. And in about 2006, Bush 43 led with amnesty. The Obama administration and the gang of eight led with amnesty in 2013. Every one of those initiatives failed because the American people know, we need enforcement."
"And if you give amnesty first with the promise of enforcement second, you got what Bush 41 got when he said no new taxes, read my lips," explained King. "He got the taxes and not the spending cuts."
"I've worked for 30 years to restore the respect for the rule of law, especially with regard to immigration," said King. "And we were on the cusp of doing that until the Trump announcement the other day on DACA, and now it looks to me like things are going downhill pretty fast and we'd better put it back together or the Republicans will be done in 2018 and 2020."
CNN's Camerota then asked, "Congressman, what does this mean for the Republican Party? If the president protects the dreamers or has a deal with Pelosi and Schumer to protect the dreamers and the wall that he promised really is refurbishing old fences?"
King said, "What it means is that the base will leave him. They won't be able to defend him anymore. And, you know, I'm -- I mean I feel that, ringing back to me, there's a strong message -- and I'm talking about my constituents in Iowa who will say, you need to be behind Trump."
"I support Donald Trump's campaign agenda," said King. "I support the agenda that he had when he was sworn into office and I support almost every piece of the rest of his agenda, except this amnesty piece that's being dangled out in front of America right now."
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), President Donald Trump, and House Minority Leader Nancy
Pelosi (D-Calif.) (Screenshots: YouTube)
As for the wall along the border of the United States and Mexico, one of Trump's primary campaign issues, King said he has searched for more information from the White House but has come up empty handed.
"I've not found one," said King. "And I've drilled deeply. And I've had promises that they would come to me and I can't get those answers. So, you know, I want to see the plans. I want to see what plans have been approved."
"They had competition between multiple contractors," he said. "They approved a small number of contractors to build prototypes, and this thing is stalled because somebody complained is what -- the best I know."
King continued, "But I've not looked anybody in the eye that is part of the administration that can say, here's what we're doing, here's our plan, here's the progress so far and here is the proposal that has come forward. They don't have -- one person doesn't have that in their head. There is no commander of the wall."
"And I don't know how it gets done if you're going to trust a committee," he said. "That's not -- that's just not cohesive and don't seem to know what each other are doing."
Michael W. Chapman
More from Michael W. Chapman
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Rev. Graham: Pride Month 'Reveals the Deepening Depravity That Now Vexes Our Country' | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2883 |
__label__wiki | 0.957313 | 0.957313 | Rakul Preet: NGK Suriya I am not worried about being stereotyped- Cinema express
Rakul Preet: I am not worried about being stereotyped
The actor opens up about working with Selvaraghavan and Suriya in NGK and how she wants to essay all kinds of characters
Ashameera Aiyappan
@XpressCinema
Rakul Preet seems busy, as she answers my call. She is already back on the sets of the film she is shooting for next. Despite her tight schedule, she obliges, and begins talking about her year, and what a bustling year it has been. She has had two releases, Dev in Tamil and De De Pyaar De in Hindi; she also did a cameo in NTR Kathanayakudu in which she got the opportunity to play Sridevi. Interestingly, both of her films saw her play different versions of the modern, sophisticated young woman. “If you look at my character in De De Pyaar De, it is the sort I have never played before. She is fun, liberated, and with a naughty streak,” says Rakul. Dev, on the other hand, saw her play Meghna, a successful businesswoman who has trouble believing in relationships. She says there have been times when she felt like slapping her character. “But I understood that there are people who are as complicated and insecure. Actors by nature are observational -- I learn a lot from observing people. And naturally, there are times I emote using personal experiences,” she explains.
But for NGK, in which she works with Selvaraghavan for the first time, she had to step in with a clean slate. Despite being an ‘instinctive actor’, Rakul says you can never guess what Selva has in mind. “His characters are so strong because he thinks of details that many others don’t. His vision is unique and different,” she says. A fan of Selvaraghavan’s Aayirathil Oruvan and 7G Rainbow Colony, Rakul says his working style helped her blend into his vision more easily. “The three-second pause we take before saying our lines or the no-blink rule he enforced didn’t affect me. The atmosphere on the sets is calm and relaxed. He also never uses a clapboard and says an actor will get depressed upon seeing it,” she says.
In NGK, she plays Vanathi, an aspiring politician, a role she is thrilled about. “A strong and ambitious woman, she remains inscrutable to others. Nobody can read her mind. I have never done such a role before.” NGK also sees her collaborate with Suriya and Sai Pallavi for the first time. “Suriya sir shows no airs. He mingles with everybody easily and would do anything to make us all feel comfortable on the sets. I have four-five combination scenes with Pallavi. She has played her part really well. She is a talented artiste, who acts effortlessly,” she says.
While on offbeat roles, you can’t miss asking Rakul about her upcoming sci-fi film helmed by Indru Netru Naalai-fame, Ravikumar. The actor who has already begun working on the project is careful not to reveal much about the film. “It takes longer to shoot for a film with heavy VFX because there are multiple shots. I really can't say anything more as it is too early.” The project sees her team up with Sivakarthikeyan for the first time. “Siva is a funny and warm person. It has been a great experience working with him.”
Rakul might have had three urbane characters back-to-back, but the actor is not in the least worried about being stereotyped. The actor reveals that scripts that belong to varied genres have actually come her way. “It’s probably because I have done a bit of everything. I've done the quintessential commercial heroine, and also, the offbeat characters,” she says. She is quick to add that she wants a balance between both kinds. Ask her if she has a dream role, and Rakul swiftly replies, “a classic love story -- in the lines of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. I would love to be part of a cult love story, the kind of film that stays relevant and special even after a decade.”
(with additional inputs from Murali Krishna CH)
Rakul Preet NGK Dev De De Pyaar De | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2886 |
__label__wiki | 0.571538 | 0.571538 | An extra £5m pay in lieu!
or of one of the bank’s divisions. The bank wrote to him on 29 November 2007 stating that his employment was terminated ‘with immediate effect’. This was on the basis that Mr Geys’ contract of employment included a pay in lieu of notice (‘PILON’) clause stating that the bank reserved the right to terminate the employment at any time with immediate effect by making a payment in lieu of notice for the notice period.
Mr Geys wrote to the bank on 7 December 2007 reserving his position. On 18 December 2007 the bank deposited an amount of money into Mr Geys’ bank account and Mr Geys responded on 21 December 2007 by again reserving his position and by a further letter on 2 January 2008 affirming his contract. On 4 January the bank finally wrote to Mr Geys formally terminating his contract under the pay in lieu of notice clause.
The bank argued that Mr Geys’ employment ended either on 29 November 2007 when he was told his employment was being terminated with immediate effect, or on 18 December 2007 when the bank made the payment in lieu of notice.
Mr Geys argued that the first occasion when the bank notified him that it had exercised its right to terminate his employment under the PILON clause was in its letter of 4 January 2008, and that as he had affirmed his contract throughout the intervening period, his employment could not have terminated before this date.
The Supreme Court agreed with Mr Geys and, unfortunately for the bank, another clause in Mr Geys’ contract stated that if his employment terminated before 1 January 2008 he would be entitled to a termination bonus of €7m, but that if his employment terminated on or after 1 January 2008 the termination bonus would increase to €12.5m. The Supreme Court therefore awarded Mr Gey €12.5m plus damages, some £5m more than he had been paid.
It wasn’t a very happy new year for the bank – if only the termination letter had been received in 2007! | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2887 |
__label__wiki | 0.991037 | 0.991037 | The alltime greatest football players from Mississippi includes Favre, Payton and Rice
With Pro Football Hall of Famers in abundance, this team is special and was hard to pick
The alltime greatest football players from Mississippi includes Favre, Payton and Rice With Pro Football Hall of Famers in abundance, this team is special and was hard to pick Check out this story on clarionledger.com: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2017/12/14/mississippi-bicentennial-football-team-favre-payton-and-rice-and-keeps-going-there/951912001/
Hugh Kellenberger, Clarion Ledger Published 5:51 p.m. CT Dec. 14, 2017 | Updated 10:02 a.m. CT Dec. 26, 2017
As Mississippi celebrates its 200th anniversary, we picked the all-time best football players from the state. Hugh Kellenberger/Clarion Ledger
Brett Favre is a NFL record-holder who made the Hall of Fame coming out of Kiln, Mississippi.(Photo: Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
As Mississippi celebrates its 200th birthday, the Clarion Ledger is joining in the celebration of the state’s history by picking bicentennial teams.
After careful deliberation, a decision was made to include only those raised in Mississippi. This excludes some athletes who were born here (usually because of parents’ military obligations) but quickly moved elsewhere, and those who came from out-of-state to attend one of the universities. While some made a deep and lifelong connection to Mississippi, others viewed college as a way station to something else. That’s fine, but we wanted to celebrate Mississippians, and we found this to be the best way to do so.
We made decisions based on total career impact, including high school, college and professional accomplishments. For the baseball and football teams, we were position-specific, while the goal for basketball was to create a starting five that could play a game. Because they’d need someone to coach them, we also included a coach or manager with each team.
Baseball: The baseball team features a player-coach appearance from Boo
Women's basketball: Vivians, Gillom lead the list
Men's basketball: Monta and Mahmoud are our backcourt
QUARTERBACK — Brett Favre (Kiln)
Easily the toughest decision to make in this whole series, settling between Favre, Steve McNair, Archie Manning and also Charlie Conerly. But, in the end, how do we go away from Favre, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who won a Super Bowl, was three times NFL MVP and retired as the league’s all-time leading passer? We could say a lot more, but how much more do you really need? Favre is one of the best to ever play the game.
More: Kellenberger: Favre's Hall of Fame speech was an absolute all-timer
Walter Payton is one of the greatest players ever, and is from Mississippi. (Photo: Mike Powell, Getty Images)
RUNNING BACK — Walter Payton (Columbia)
Again, one of the best ever. Payton ran for 16,726 yards during his NFL career, an NFL record at the time. He scored 110 touchdowns, caught 492 passes, ran for at least 1,200 yards in 10 of his 13 seasons and missed one game throughout his career. Sweetness was a star at Jackson State before that, and was the fourth-overall pick in the 1975 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears.
Saints running back Deuce McAllister (left) races around the Colt's Tyjuan Hagler. (Photo: Joe Ellis/The Clarion-Ledger, The Clarion-Ledger)
RUNNING BACK — Deuce McAllister (Lena)
The best running back in Ole Miss history, McAllister ran for more than 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns during his career. He then had four 1,000-yard plus seasons in eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints, went to two Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl. He ended his career with 49 touchdowns.
FILE - In this Jan. 28, 1990 file photo, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice raises his fist in celebration after scoring his second touchdown of the day with 34 seconds left in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos, in New Orleans, during Super Bowl XXIV. Rice was elected on his first try and will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday, along with Emmitt Smith, John Randle, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau. (AP Photo/John Gaps III) (Photo: John Gapps III, ASSOCIATED PRESS)
WIDE RECEIVER — Jerry Rice (Crawford)
Again with one of the best ever players. Rice is the best NFL receiver in history, having caught 1,549 passes for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns in 20 seasons as a pro. He won three Super Bowls, was twice named NFL offensive player of the year, 13 Pro Bowls, 10 all-pro teams and a Hall of Famer. Not bad for a kid from tiny Crawford who went to Mississippi Valley State.
WIDE RECEIVER — Lance Alworth (Hog Chain)
Born in Texas, but moved to Mississippi and attended Brookhaven. A member of the college and pro football Halls of Fame, Alworth caught 542 passes for more than 10,000 yards and 85 touchdowns during his pro career. His No. 19 jersey is retired by the Chargers and he was a member of the NFL’s 75th-anniversary team.
TIGHT END — Wesley Walls (Batesville)
Went to Pontotoc and Ole Miss, then enjoyed a decorated 14-year NFL career, the best years of which were with the Carolina Panthers. He was named to the Pro Bowl five teams, an all-pro four times, caught 54 touchdowns and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
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OFFENSIVE LINE — Bruiser Kinard (Pelahatchie)
He was Ole Miss’ first All-American then enjoyed a pro career of equal renown — six times named all-pro. He was a charter member of the College Football Hall of Fame and elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
Jackie Slater enjoyed a two-decade-long career with the Los Angeles Rams. (Photo: File photo)
OFFENSIVE LINE — Jackie Slater (Jackson)
Went from Jackson State to the Los Angeles Rams, where he spent 20 years playing a dominant offensive tackle. Went to seven Pro Bowls, was named first-team All-Pro three times and second-team All-Pro twice. The Rams retired his jersey, and he’s in the NFL Hall of Fame.
OFFENSIVE LINE — Billy Shaw (Vicksburg)
The only player ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame without having ever played in the NFL — Shaw spent the entirety of his career with the AFL Buffalo Bills. He was perfect for the Bills as a 258-pound pulling guard, making eight AFL All-Star teams and being named All-AFL seven times.
OFFENSIVE LINE — Kline Gilbert (Hollandale)
Went to Ole Miss and was an All-American and All-SEC tackle, then moved on to the NFL from 1953-57 for the Chicago Bears. He was a team captain for the Bears from 1956-57 and was named to the Pro Bowl in his final season.
Bills lineman Kent Hull. (Photo: FIle photo)
CENTER — Kent Hull (Pontotoc)
Went from Greenwood to Mississippi State and then the New Jersey Generals (USFL) and eventually the Buffalo Bills. One of the greatest Bills ever, Hull went to three Pro Bowls and played in four Super Bowls.
Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive end L.C. Greenwood is seen in 1973. (Photo: HARRY CABLUCK, AP)
DEFENSIVE END — L.C. Greenwood (Canton)
All Greenwood did was win four Super Bowl rings with the great Pittsburgh Steelers teams of the 1970s, collecting 70 sacks in 14 seasons in the NFL. He also had 14 fumble recoveries and made six Pro Bowls, and was twice named all-pro.
DEFENSIVE END — Verlon Biggs (Moss Point)
A two-time All-American at Jackson State who made five All-AFL teams with the New York Jets and played on two Super Bowl teams (one with the Jets, one with the Washington Redskins). A pass-rusher, Biggs played in the era before sacks were counted, but coaches noted his ability to make the big play.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (91) reacts after a sack against the San Francisco 49ers. (Photo: Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
DEFENSIVE TACKLE — Fletcher Cox (Yazoo City)
One of three active players to make this roster, Cox is really just getting started — he’s 27 years old and finishing up his sixth NFL season. But with 34 career sacks, seven forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries, two Pro Bowls and two appearances on the NFL Top 100 (both times in the top 50, in fact) we’re betting he’s just getting started. Played at Mississippi State.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE — Tommy Kelly (Jackson)
From Provine and Mississippi State, Kelly went to the NFL for 11 years, where he had 38 sacks, four fumble recoveries and 10 forced fumbles. After making the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent, Kelly developed into the kind of talent that signed a $50.5 million contract, the largest ever at the time for a defensive tackle.
LINEBACKER — Larry Grantham (Crystal Springs)
Such a talented player that he was named to Ole Miss’ team of the century, Grantham went on to the New York Titans (later Jets) of the AFL and had a standout career. He was a four-time All-AFL pick, won a Super Bowl and an AFL title and is on the New York Jets Ring of Honor.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Steve DeBerg (17) is hit hard by Miami Dolphins linebacker Hugh Green (55) during the first quarter of the NFL preseason game in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Friday, Aug.29, 1986. Green is a former Buccaneer.(AP Photo/Raul De Molina) (Photo: Raul De Molina, AP)
LINEBACKER — Hugh Green (Natchez)
Was just a monster player at Pitt, winning the Maxwell, Lombardi and Walter Camp Awards in 1980. Was then drafted seventh overall by the Tampa Bay Bucs, and enjoyed all-pro seasons in year 2 and 3 of his career. Unfortunately, injuries hurt his career, but Green still finished with 34 sacks. He’s a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
LINEBACKER — K.J. Wright (Olive Branch)
A very good linebacker at Mississippi State who has developed into a key piece on the Seattle Seahawks’ fierce defense in recent years. Now in his seventh season, Wright has 459 career tackles, 11.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. He made the 2016 Pro Bowl.
Willie Brown was one of the best cornerbacks of all time. (Photo: File photo)
DEFENSIVE BACK — Willie Brown (Yazoo City)
One of the best cornerbacks in NFL history. Brown had 54 career interceptions for the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders, won three Super Bowls, won an AFL championship, went to nine all-star games, was five times named all-pro and is a member of the AFL All-Time Team. He was a first-ballot selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
DEFENSIVE BACK — Lem Barney (Gulfport)
Went from Jackson State to the Detroit Lions, where he was NFL Rookie of the Year in 1967 after intercepting a league-high 10 passes (with three pick-sixes). He did not stop there, with 56 career interceptions, seven Pro Bowl appearances and two times named all-pro. He was later named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
DEFENSIVE BACK — Jimmy Patton (Greenville)
Was an all-pro safety five-straight years from 1958-62 with the New York Giants, with four Pro Bowl appearances. He had an NFL-best 11 picks in 1958, part of 52 total for his career. Won an NFL championship, and was four times a runner-up. A member of Ole Miss’ team of the century.
DEFENSIVE BACK — Terrell Buckley (Pascagoula)
Won the Jim Thorpe Award and was an All-American at Florida State. Was the fifth-overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, ended up enjoying a 14-year NFL career. He had 50 career interceptions, six of which he returned for touchdowns, with 15 fumble recoveries and 10 forced fumbles. Also a Super Bowl champion.
Stephen Gostkowski has had a long and decorated career with the New England Patriots. (Photo: Greg M. Cooper, Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports)
KICKER — Stephen Gostkowski (Madison)
Moved to Madison as a child. He’s one of the most accurate and decorated kickers in NFL history, holding the record for made consecutive points along with two Super Bowls, four Pro Bowls and three All-Pro selections.
PUNTER — Jerrel Wilson (Brookhaven)
Born in New Orleans but went to Brookhaven High School, Pearl River Junior College and Southern Miss. “Thunderfoot” had a terrific career for the Kansas City Chiefs, and was named to the All-AFL Team. He made six all-pro teams, won a Super Bowl and is in the Chiefs Hall of Fame. He four times punted a ball at least 70 yards.
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What will be the most intriguing position battle for Ole Miss ahead of 2019 season? | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2891 |
__label__cc | 0.664377 | 0.335623 | Leaf from a Book of Hours: Christ Carrying the Cross (Sext, Hours of the Cross)
c. 1410-1420
France, Brittany(?), 15th century
Ink, tempera and gold on vellum
Each leaf: 17.2 x 12.1 cm (6 3/4 x 4 3/4 in.)
The Jeanne Miles Blackburn Collection 1999.127
113 French Tapestries & Illuminated Manuscripts
Within books of hours, the Hours of the Cross normally received only one miniature, a Crucifixion, as its introduction. There are exceptions, however, and in some books of hours a Passion cycle of seven miniatures, one for each hour (except Lauds), might be found. The present leaf with its miniature of Christ Carrying the Cross would have been part of such a cycle of pictures in which it introduced the Hour of Sext (confirmed by the rubric, Ad Sextam). The composition shows Christ laboring to support the weight of the cross as he journeys to Calvary. The Virgin and Saint John appear at the far left as the group exits the gates of Jerusalem. In the background, the body of Judas is seen suspended from a tree high upon a hill.
[Bruce Ferrini, Akron]
Fliegel, Stephen N. The Jeanne Miles Blackburn Collection of Manuscript Illuminations. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1999. Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 35, cat. no. 27 archive.org
CMA, 19 December 1999 - 27 February 2000, The Jeanne Miles Blackburn Collection of Manuscript Illuminations, cat. 27, illus. p. 35.
The Cleveland Museum of Art (10/10/2004 - 10/02/2005); "Illuminated Manuscripts"
Museum Het Valkhof, Nijmegen, The Netherlands (8/28/2005 - 11/20/2005): "Limbourg Brothers, Nijmegen Masters at the French Court (1400-1416) ", ex. cat. no 110. p. 387-388.
Cleveland Museum of Art, (11/06/2010 - 04/17/2011); "The Glory Of the Painted Page: Manuscript Illuminations from the Permanent Collections"
Main Gallery rotation (gallery 113): January 14, 2014 - January 26, 2015.
The Jeanne Miles Blackburn Collection of Manuscript Illuminations. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (December 19, 1999-February 27, 2000).
Illuminated Manuscripts. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (October 10, 2004-October 2, 2005).
Limbourg Brothers, Nijmegen Masters at the French Court (1400-1416) . Museum Het Valkhof, Nijmegen, The Netherlands (August 28-November 20, 2005).
The Glory of the Painted Page: Manuscript Illuminations from the Permanent Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (November 6, 2010-April 17, 2011).
{{cite web|title=Leaf from a Book of Hours: Christ Carrying the Cross (Sext, Hours of the Cross)|url=https://clevelandart.org/art/1999.127|year=c. 1410-1420|access-date=18 July 2019|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
MED - Manuscript Illuminations
The Jeanne Miles Blackburn Collection | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2893 |
__label__wiki | 0.927165 | 0.927165 | The Bay of Pigs was the failed liberation landing on Cuba in April 1961. Under control of the American CIA, a group of over 1,500 Cuban patriots landed in the Bay of Pigs[1] in the island of Cuba to liberate the nation from Castro's communist government. The idea was to repeat the same landing that Castro had done in the past. The result was a triumph for Communism and a worldwide humiliation for the United States, which had planned, organized and financed the invasion but gave it too little support for success, possibly intentionally.[2]
The planning for this liberation landing started during the Eisenhower presidency, but his term ended before it was put into action. President Kennedy inherited the project and ordered it into operation while withdrawing critically essential American air support. The landing occurred three months after Kennedy's inauguration.
In Miami, the CIA was organizing the new government comprised of already existing exile organizations. The training for the freedom fighters took place in Guatemala.
The landing was hurried, a second pre-attack air strike was withheld. The idea was that the people in Cuba would join the fight against Castro once they learned about the liberation forces landing. The resistance in the Escambray mountains and elsewhere was blocked by massive militia encirclement (see War Against the Bandits); mass arrests on the order of 300,000 disrupted anti-Castro urban resistance.
While militia and police were sacrificed in bloody charges, and died by the hundreds in burning buses along the swamp causeways, Castro quickly moved artillery and tanks (supplied by the Soviet Union) and planes (inherited from the previous regime) to the landing site. Although the Cuban patriots fought heroically and far more skillfully than the communist Cubans, the far greater numbers of Castro government troops and loss of air cover to protect supply lines brought an end to the invasion. Kennedy, and his advisers lost confidence and forbade direct American intervention by US Navy carriers already in the area. Within two days, over 100 of the anti-Castro Cubans were killed and over a thousand were captured. Castro government troops had far greater losses a matter still veiled by the present Cuban government (see below).
This incident led to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
2 Background and Preparation
3 Soviet Advisers to Cuban Government Forces
4 Invasion
5 Air action
6 Land action
7 Casualties
8 Release of most captive prisoners
9 Aftermath, Reaction, and Re-Evaluation
10 Notable surviving veterans
Time: April 15–19, 1961
Place: Bay of Pigs, South of Matanzas Province Cuba
Result: Victory for the Castro leadership of Cuba
Castro government commanders: Fidel Castro, Jose Ramon Fernandez, and Hispano Soviet Francisco Ciutat de Miguel
Invader leadership CIA: Grayston Lynch; Cuban exile: Pepe San Roman Erneido Oliva
Strength Castro forces: 51,000 Strength invading forces: 1,500
Casualties Castro forces various estimates; over 1,600 dead (Triay p. 81) to 5,000 total estimated (Grayston)
Casualties Invading forces 115 dead and 1,189 captured
Failure of the operation emboldened the Soviet Union to send nuclear missiles to Cuba in 1962 in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Background and Preparation
Tensions between the United States and Cuba had increased steadily since the Cuban Revolution of 1959. Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy judged that Castro's policies, including the expropriation of US assets on the island and Cuba's increasing ties with the Soviet Union, could not be tolerated.
On March 17, 1960, Eisenhower agreed to a recommendation from the CIA to equip and drill Cuban exiles for action against the new Castro government.[3] Eisenhower stated that it was the policy of the U.S. government to aid anti-Castro guerrilla forces. The CIA began to recruit and train anti-Castro forces in the Sierra Madre mountains on the Pacific coast of Guatemala.[3]
The CIA was initially confident that it was capable of overthrowing Castro, having experience assisting in the overthrow of other foreign governments such as Iranian prime minister Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953 and Guatemalan president Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán in 1954. Richard Mervin Bissell Jr., one of Allen Dulles's three aides, was made director of "Operation Zapata."
The original plan called for landing the exile brigade in the vicinity of the old colonial city of Trinidad in the central province of Sancti Spiritus approximately 400 km southeast of Havana at the foothills of the Escambray mountains. The selection of the Trinidad site provided a number of options that the exile brigade could exploit during the invasion. The population of Trinidad was generally opposed to Castro and the rugged mountains outside the city provided an area into which the invasion force could retreat and establish a guerrilla campaign were the landing to falter. Throughout 1960, the growing ranks of Brigade 2506 trained at locations throughout southern Florida and in Guatemala for the beach landing and possible mountain retreat.
On February 17, 1961, Kennedy, the new U.S. president, asked his advisors whether the toppling of Castro might be related to weapon shipments and if it was possible to claim the real targets were modern fighter aircraft and rockets which endangered America's security. At the time, Cuba's army possessed Soviet tanks, artillery and small arms, and its air force consisted of B-26 medium bombers, Hawker Sea Furies (a fast and effective, though obsolete, propeller-driven fighter-bomber) and T-33 jets left over from the Batista Air Force.[4]
As Washington's plans evolved, critical details were changed that were to hamper chances of a successful mission without direct U.S. help. These revised details included changing the landing area for Brigade 2506 to two points in Matanzas Province, 202 km southeast of Havana on the eastern edge of the Zapata peninsula at the Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs). The landings would now take place on the Girón and Playa Larga beaches. This change effectively cut off contact with the rebels in the Escambray "War Against the Bandits". The Castro government also had been warned by senior KGB agents Osvaldo Sánchez Cabrera and "Aragon", who respectively died violently before and after the invasion.
Soviet Advisers to Cuban Government Forces
Cuban militia, artillery, and intelligence are necessary to field a regular army. Foreign advisors were brought from "Eastern Block" countries; the most senior of these were Francisco Ciutat de Miguel, Enrique Lister, and Alberto Bayo.[5] Ciutat de Miguel (Masonic name: Algazel; Russian name: Pavel Pablovich Stepanov; Cuban alias: Ángel Martínez Riosola, commonly referred to as Angelito) is said to have arrived the same day as La Coubre explosion; he was wounded in the foot during the War Against the Bandits, the type of wound that is common to senior officers observing combat at the edge of effective rifle range. Date of wound is not given in references cited [3], [4].
On the morning of April 15, 1961, three flights of Douglas Aircraft Company|Douglas B-26B Invader light bomber aircraft displaying Cuban Fuerza Aerea Revolucionaria (FAR - Revolutionary Air Force) markings bombed and strafed the Cuban airfields of San Antonio de Los Baños, Antonio Maceo International Airport, and the airfield at Ciudad Libertad. Operation Puma, the code name given to the offensive counter air attacks against the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, called for 48 hours of air strikes across the island to effectively eliminate the Cuban air force, ensuring Brigade 2506 complete air superiority over the island prior to the actual landing at the Bay of Pigs. This failed because the air strikes were not continued, as was originally planned - limited by decisions at the highest level of US government. Castro also had prior knowledge of the invasion and had moved the airplanes out of harm's way.
Of the Brigade 2506 aircraft, one was tasked with establishing a CIA cover story for the invasion. The slightly modified two-seat B-26B used for this mission was piloted by Captain Mario Zuniga. Prior to departure, the engine cowling from one of the aircraft's two engines was removed by maintenance personnel, fired upon, then re-installed to give the appearance that the aircraft had taken ground fire at some point during its flight. Captain Zuniga departed from the exile base in Nicaragua on a solo, low-level mission that would take him over the westernmost province of Pinar del Río, Cuba, and then northeast toward Key West, Florida. Once across the island, Captain Zuniga climbed steeply away from the waves of the Florida Straits to an altitude where he would be detected by US radar installations to the north of Cuba. At altitude and a safe distance north of the island, Captain Zuniga feathered the engine with the pre-installed bullet holes in the engine cowling, radioed a mayday call, and requested immediate permission to land at Boca Chica Naval Air Station a few kilometers northeast of Key West, Florida. This account is at apparent variance with Cuban government reports that Sea Fury, B-26 fighter-bombers and T-33 trainers flown by the few Cuban (notable Rafael del Pino, (Lagas, 1964)) and some left-wing Chilean and Nicaraguan pilots (Lagas, 1964; Somoza-Debayle and Jack Cox, 1980), loyal to Castro attacked the older slower B-26s flown by the invading force.[6]
By the time of Captain Zuniga's announcement to the world mid-morning on the 15th, all but one of the Brigade's Douglas bombers were back over the Caribbean on the three and a half hour return leg to their base in Nicaragua to re-arm and refuel. Upon landing, however, the flight crews were met with a cable from Washington ordering the indefinite stand-down of all further combat operations over Cuba.
On April 17, four 2,400-ton chartered transports (named the Houston, Río Escondido, Caribe, and Atlántico) transported 1,511 Cuban exiles to the Bay of Pigs on the Southern coast of Cuba. They were accompanied by two CIA-owned infantry landing crafts (LCI's), called the Blagar and Barbara J, containing supplies, ordnance, and equipment. The small army hoped to find support from the local population, intending to cross the island to Havana. The CIA assumed that the invasion would spark a popular uprising against Castro. However, the Escambray rebels had been contained by Cuban militia directed by Francisco Ciutat de Miguel (see Soviet Advisers to Cuban government forces above). By the time the Invasion began, Castro had already executed some who were suspected of colluding with the American campaign (notably two former "Comandantes" Humberto Sorí Marin and William Alexander Morgan[7][8] Others executed included Alberto Tapia Ruano a Catholic youth leader. April was a bloody month for the resistance. Several hundreds of thousands were imprisoned the others before, during and after the invasion (Priestland, 2003).
After landing, it soon became evident that the exiles were not going to receive effective support at the site of the invasion and were likely to lose. Reports from both sides describe tank battles (see much detail in printed references section below) involving heavy USSR equipment.[9] Kennedy decided against giving the faltering invasion US air support (though four US pilots were killed in Cuba during the invasion) because of his opposition to overt intervention. Kennedy also canceled several sorties of bombings (only two took place) on the grounded Cuban Air Force, which might have crippled the Cuban Air Force and given air superiority to the invaders. U.S. Marines were not sent in.
Air action
Aviation is commonly considered the deciding factor during the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The first airplane of the Cuban Armed forces was obtained in 1913; Cuban pilots, such as Francisco Terry Sánchez and Santiago Campuzano fought combat missions as early as WW I [5]. The 1931 Gibara landing against Machado was defeated in great part by Cuban Aviation [6]. However, by the end of January 1959, most Cuban pilots and support technicians from the Batista era were in jail [7] or in exile.
During the Bay of Pigs invasion, the first Cuban exile attack with B-26 left Cuban forces with "two B-26s, two Sea Furies, and two T-33As at San Antonio de los Baños Airbase, and only one Sea Fury at the Antonio Maceo Airport" and two of the attacking bombers were damaged [8] April 17 Cuban exile pilots and copilots/navigators: Matias Farias, Eddy Gonzalez, Osvaldo Piedra, Jose Fernandez, Raul Vianello, Jose, A. Crespo, Lorenzo Perez Lorenzo, Crispin Garcia, and Juan Mata Gonzalez are killed. April 19 US aviators Riley Shamburger, Wade Gray, Thomas W. Ray and Leo Baker, replacing exhausted Cuban exile fliers, die in action.
Cuban pilots Alvaro Galo and Willy Figueroa were jailed for cowardice, for not flying B-26; Captain Evans was accused of poisoning crews and also jailed.
Cuban Air Force pilots included Carlos Ulloa Rauz who was Nicaraguan; Jaques Lagas who flew a B-26 and survived is from Chile' Alfredo Noa died in battle in a plane piloted by Luis A. Silva Tablada also killed. Rafael del Pino. de Varens died in a B-26 accident in Camaguey. Laga lists dead Castro fliers as: Noa, Silva, Ulloa, Martin Torres, Reinaldo Gonzalez Calainada, and Orestes Acosta. On page 81 Lagas mentions Enrique Carrera Rola and Gustavo Borzac.
On page 82 Lagas mentions 16 exile planes in first attack, presumably B-26 bombers. Kraus mentions eight B-26 piloted by Cuban exiles [9]. Lagas mentions Cuban pilot Alberto Fernandez. Juan Suarez Plaza Ernesto Carrera is mentioned as flying a Seafury, and another Nicaraguan; Seafuries were also flown by Cuban pilots including Douglas Rood and Sanchez de Mola. Lagas states he was the only B-26 pilot left on the 19th of April. By April 21 ten of twelve exile B-26B had been destroyed [10]. Eight Cuban pilots survived, only one from the B-26.
Land action
The land action was very bloody. Carlos Franqui writes: “We lost a lot of men. This frontal attack of men against machines (the enemy tanks) had nothing to do with guerrilla war; in fact it was a Russian tactic, probably the idea of the two Soviet generals, both of Spanish origin (they fought for the Republic in the Spanish Civil War and fled to the Soviet Union to later fight in World War II. One of them was a veteran, a fox named Ciutah. He (Ciutah) was sent by the Red Army and the Party as an advisor and was the father of the new Cuban army. He was the only person who could have taken charge of the Girón campaign. The other Hispano-Russian general was an expert in anti-guerrilla war who ran the Escambray cleanup. But the real factor in our favor at Girón was the militias: Almejeira’s column embarked on a suicide mission, they were massacred but they reached the beach.”
By the time fighting ended on April 21, 68 exiles were dead and the rest were captured. Estimates of Cuban forces killed vary with the source, but were generally far higher.
The 1,209 captured exiles were quickly put on trial. A few were executed and the rest sentenced to thirty years in prison for treason. After 20 months of negotiation with the United States, Cuba released the exiles in exchange for $53 million in food and medicine.
It is generally assumed by some that during the Bay of Pigs Invasion Cuba's losses were high. Triay (2001 p. 110) mentions 4,000 casualties; Lynch (p. 148) 50X or about 5,000. Other sources indicate over 2,200 casualties. Unofficial reports list that seven Cuban army infantry battalions suffered significant losses during the fighting.
In one air attack alone, Cuban forces suffered an estimated 1,800 casualties when a mixture of army troops, militia, and civilians were caught on an open causeway riding in civilian buses towards the battle scene in which several buses were hit by napalm.[10][11][12]
The Cuban government initially reported their army losses as 87 dead with many more wounded. The number of those killed in action in Cuba's army during the battle eventually ran to 140, and then finally to 161. Thus in the most accepted calculations, a total of around 2,000 (perhaps as many as 5,000, see above) Cuban militia fighting for the Republic of Cuba may have been killed, wounded or missing in action.
The total casualties for the brigade were 104 members killed, and a few hundred more were wounded. Of those killed, ten died trying to escape Cuba in a boat (Celia), nine asphyxiated in a sealed truck on the way to Havana,[13] five were executed after the invasion, five were executed after being captured infiltrating Cuba, five died in training at their base and two died in a Cuban prison camp.
In 1979 the body of Alabama National Guard Captain {Pilot} Thomas Willard Ray who was executed after capture was returned to his family from Cuba; the CIA eventually ("in the late 90's") admitted to his links to the agency and awarded him their highest award the Intelligence Star.[14]
Release of most captive prisoners
In May 1961 Castro proposed an exchange of the surviving members of the assault for five hundred bulldozers. The trade soon rose to $28 million United States dollars.[3] Negotiations were non-productive until after the Cuban Missile Crisis. On December 21, 1962, Castro and James B. Donovan, a U.S. lawyer signed an agreement to exchange the 1,113 prisoners for $53 million U.S. dollars in food and medicine, the money being raised by private donations.[15] On December 29, 1962 Kennedy met with the returning brigade at Palm Beach, Florida.[3]
Aftermath, Reaction, and Re-Evaluation
The failed Bay of Pigs invasion severely embarrassed the Kennedy administration, and made Castro wary of future US intervention in Cuba. As a result of the failure, CIA director Allen Dulles, deputy CIA director Charles Cabell, and Deputy Director of Operations Richard Mervin Bissell were all forced to resign. All three were held responsible for the planning of the operation at the CIA. Responsibility of the Kennedy Administration and the US State Department for modifications of the plans were not apparent until later.
The Kennedy administration continued covert operations against Castro, later launching the Cuban Project to "help Cuba overthrow the Communist regime". Tensions would again peak in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
The CIA, apparently under a Presidential directive, wrote a detailed internal report that laid blame for the failure squarely on internal incompetence. No blame was placed where it probably belonged, President Kennedy's most trusted advisers. Thus the report only mentions a number of grave errors by the CIA and other American analysts contributed to the debacle:
The administration believed that the troops could retreat to the mountains to lead a guerrilla war if they lost in open battle. The mountains were too far to reach on foot, and the troops were deployed in swampland, where they were easily surrounded.
They believed that the involvement of the US in the incident could be denied.
They believed that Cubans would be grateful to be liberated from Fidel Castro and would quickly join the battle. This support failed to materialize; many hundreds of thousands of others were arrested, and some executed, prior to the landings. (see also Priestland 2003; Grayston, 2000).
The CIA's near certainty that the Cuban people would rise up and join them was based on the agency's extremely weak presence on the ground in Cuba. Castro's counterintelligence, trained by Soviet Bloc specialists including Enrique Lister,[9] had infiltrated most resistance groups. Because of this, almost all the information that came from exiles and defectors was "contaminated." CIA operative E. Howard Hunt had interviewed Cubans in Havana prior to the invasion; in a future interview with CNN, he said, "...all I could find was a lot of enthusiasm for Fidel Castro."[16] Grayston Lynch among others, also points to Castro's rounding up of hundreds thousands of anti-Castro and potentially anti-Castro Cubans across the island prior and during the invasion (e.g. Priestland, 2003) to destroying any chances for a general uprising against the Castro regime. Thus the million voices that had cried "Cuba si, comunismo NO!" on November 28, 1959,[11] were gone or silent.
Many military leaders almost certainly expected the invasion to fail but thought that Kennedy would send in Marines to save the exiles. Kennedy, however, did not want a full-scale war and abandoned the exiles.
An April 29, 2000, Washington Post article, "Soviets Knew Date of Cuba Attack", reported that the CIA had information indicating that the Soviet Union knew the invasion was going to take place and did not inform Kennedy. Radio Moscow actually broadcast an English-language newscast on April 13, 1961, predicting the invasion "in a plot hatched by the CIA" using paid "criminals" within a week. The invasion took place four days later. According to British minister David Ormsby-Gore, British intelligence estimates, which had been made available to the CIA, showed that the Cuban people were predominantly behind Castro and that there was no likelihood of mass defections or insurrections following the invasion.[3] Some conservatives argue that globalists in the U.S. State Department sympathetic toward Marxism and influenced by the Council on Foreign Relations contributed to the invasion's defeat.[2]
The invasion is often criticized as making Castro even more popular, adding nationalistic sentiments to the support for his economic policies. Following the initial B-26 bombings, he declared the revolution "Marxist-Leninist". After the invasion, he pursued closer relations with the Soviet Union, partly for protection, which helped pave the way for the Cuban Missile Crisis a year and a half later.
There are still yearly nationwide drills in Cuba during the 'Dia de la Defensa' (defense day) to prepare the entire population for an invasion.
An appendix to the Enrique Ros book pp. 287–298 gives the names of Bay of Pigs veterans who became officers in the US Army in Vietnam, these names include 6 Colonels, 19 Lt Colonels, 9 Majors, and 29 Captains.
Notable surviving veterans
Félix Rodríguez
List of wars involving the United States
↑ "Bay of Pigs" is the English version of the Spanish name "Bahia de Cochinos;" "Cochino" refers to a species of Triggerfish (Balistes vetula) [1], rather than pigs Sus scrofa.
↑ 2.0 2.1 De Varona, Frank; Newman, Alex (June 7, 2018). U.S. Globalists Put Castro in Power and Kept Him There. The New American. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 A Thousand Days: John F Kennedy in the White House Arthur Schlesinger Jr 1965
↑ http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/baypigs-airforce.htm
↑ (Paz-Sanchez, 2001, pp 189-199)
↑ http://www.urrib2000.narod.ru/ArticGiron1-e.html
↑ http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/bayofpigs/chron.html
↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/SPlister.htm
↑ http://www.serendipity.li/cia/bay-of-pigs.htm
↑ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1984/EJR.htm
↑ http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/articles/bayofpigs.htm
↑ http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/15933592.htm
↑ Thomas, Eric 2007 (accessed 2-22-07) Local Man Forever Tied To Cuban Leader Father Frozen, Displayed By Fidel Castro KGO ABC7/KGO-TV/DT. ABC San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=assignment_7&id=5056129
↑ http://onwar.com/aced/chrono/c1900s/yr60/fcuba1961.htm
↑ https://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/18/interviews/hunt/
Anderson, Jon L. 1998 Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life. Grove/Atlantic ISBN 0-8021-3558-7
Corzo, Pedro 2003 Cuba Cronología de la lucha contra el totalitarismo. Ediciones Memorias, Miami. ISBN 1890829242
Franqui, Carlos 1984 (foreword by G. Cabrera Infante and translated by Alfred MacAdam from Spanish 1981 version) Family portrait with Fidel. 1985 edition Random House First Vintage Books, New York. ISBN 0394726200 pp. 111–128
Grayston, Lynch L. 2000 Decision for Disaster: Betrayal at the Bay of Pigs. Potomac Books Dulles Virginia ISBN 1-57488-237-6
Hunt, E. Howard 1973 Give us this day. Arlington House, New Rochelle, N.Y. ISBN-10 0870002287 ISBN 978-0870002281
Johnson, Haynes 1964 The Bay of Pigs: The Leaders' Story of Brigade 2506. W. W. Norton & Co Inc. New York. 1974 edition ISBN 0-393-04263-4
Lagas, Jacques 1964 Memorias de un capitán rebelde. Editorial del Pácifico. Santiago, Chile.
Lazo, Mario 1968, 1970 Dagger in the heart: American policy failures in Cuba. Twin Circle. New York. I968 edition Library of Congress number 6831632, 1970 edition, ASIN B0007DPNJS
Lynch L. Grayston (see Grayston, Lynch L)
de Paz-Sánchez, Manuel 2001 Zona de Guerra, España y la revolución Cubana (1960-1962), Taller de Historia, Tenerife Gran Canaria ISBN 8479263644
Priestland, Jane (editor) 2003 British Archives on Cuba: Cuba under Castro 1959-1962. Archival Publications International Limited, 2003, London ISBN 1-903008-20-4
Jean Edward Smith, "Bay of Pigs: The Unanswered Questions," The Nation, (Apr. 13, 1964), p. 360-363.
Somoza-Debayle, Anastasio and Jack Cox 1980 Nicaragua Betrayed Western Islands Publishers, pp. 169–180 ISBN 088279235
Ros, Enrique 1994 (1998) Giron la verdadera historia. Ediciones Universales (Colección Cuba y sus jueces) third edition Miami ISBN 0-89729-738-5
Thomas, Hugh 1998 Cuba or The Pursuit of Freedom. Da Capo Press, New York Updated Ed. ISBN 0-306-80827-7
Triay, Victor 2001 Andres Bay of Pigs. University Press of Florida, Gainesville ISBN 0-8130-2090-5
Welch, David A and James G Blight (editors) 1998 Intelligence and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Frank Cass Publishers, London and Portland Oregon ISBN 0-7146-4883-3 ISBN 0-7146-4435-8
Wyden, Peter 1979 Bay of Pigs Simon. and Schuster New York ISBN 0-671-24006-40
Detail Information on the Bay of Pigs Invasion — Includes maps of the Invasion and Documents.
History of Cuba — Bay of Pigs Invasion.
National Security Archive chronology
The Sea Fury aircraft at Bay of Pigs
Reference on Bay of Pigs Invasion at Encylopedia.com
Bay of pigs betrayal the betrayal of the Cuban people by the CIA, State Department, and staff members of the New York Times ranks as one of America's darkest foreign-policy moments
Retrieved from "https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Bay_of_Pigs_invasion&oldid=1524810" | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2896 |
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__label__wiki | 0.968659 | 0.968659 | Italian Life
Italian life >
Marchionne Says Fiat Could Do Better Without Italy
Fiat’s CEO Sergio Marchionne says none of 2010 profit came from Italy. Pledge to take wages to European levels
MILAN – “Fiat would do better if it could ditch Italy”. Sergio Marchionne, guesting on Fabio Fazio’s Che tempo che fa talk show on Sunday evening, went over many of the issues that have been in the headlines in the past few weeks. The Fiat CEO stressed that “not a single euro of the two billion operating profit forecast for 2010” comes from Italy. “Fiat cannot continue to run its factories at a loss forever”, he added. Mr Marchionne continued: “In 2008 and 2009, Fiat was the only company that did not look to the government for money”, unlike many of its competitors in Europe. “I’m not asking for thanks but I don’t want to be accused of taking state subsidies either. Scrappage incentives go to the consumer. They help us to some extent but seven out of ten cars purchased in Italy are not Italian. With the money from the American government, we’ll get Chrysler back on its feet and we’ll pay the US government back with interest. We’ve paid off the aid we got from the Italian government”.
WORK EFFICIENCY – Mr Marchionne reeled off some of the problems with Italy: “We’re in 118th place out of 139 for work efficiency and 48th for industrial competitiveness. We’re out of Europe and neighbouring countries. The Italian system has lost competitiveness year after year for several years and in the last ten, Italy has been unable to keep up with other countries. It’s not the workers’ fault”.
EUROPEAN WAGES – Mr Marchionne said that one of the aims for the future was to bring the average wage of a worker in Italy up to European levels. “Fiat has a duty to close the gap in workers’ earnings”. But to do so, he went on, “it is not possible to have three individuals bringing an entire factory to a halt”, as happened at Melfi, where “we had an example of anarchy, not democracy. But with this system, you just can’t manage companies that big”. Mr Marchionne added that only 12% of Fiat group workers were members of the FIOM-CGIL union, which does not therefore “represent the majority”. “Fewer than half of our employees are members of a union”, he said, adding: “We have not removed the minimum level of entitlements accumulated over the years. If you look at the Pomigliano agreement, the only thing different was that we tried to make the unions responsible for the anomalies that impact on the system’s productivity”. Regarding the dispute over the reduction in breaks for workers at Italian factories, Mr Marchionne explained that the new system proposed for the Melfi plant “is already implemented at Mirafiori. It’s nothing exceptional, just part of the effort being made to redesign the production system”. Mr Marchionne did admit that “if Fiat stopped making cars in Campania, we would have a vast social problem, especially in an area where the Camorra is very active”.
“I’M A CAR WORKER” – “Me in politics? Are you kidding? I’m a car worker. I make cars, trucks and tractors”, said the Fiat CEO to Fabio Fazio. Commenting on recent claims that the cages in Italy have been opened and all the animals are out, Mr Marchionne said: “I read the papers every morning at six. There’s an incredible range of political and social views, everyone is talking and you don’t know where the country is going”. Nevertheless, the Fiat CEO maintains that “you can have faith in Italy, I think so, there are easier ways to go about it but I think it’s possible to build different conditions here, otherwise I wouldn’t have taken this on”.
COMMENTS – Mr Marchionne’s statements swiftly provoked reactions from politicians and trade unionists. “I would remind Mr Marchionne that Italy is the country where the carmaker’s historic base is located and where it has established factories, and above all an immense heritage of experience and professional skills”, said the employment minister, Maurizio Sacconi. “Mr Marchionne’s words are less than generous towards Italy and the workers who have helped to make Fiat great”, said Cesare Damiano, the Democratic Party (PD) group leader on the employment committee. “Mr Marchionne’s statements would be coherent if Fiat handed back all the money it has had from Italy”, said Italy of Values’ (IDV) employment spokesman, Maurizio Zipponi. The People of Freedom (PDL) coordinator in Piedmont, Enzo Ghigo, said: “Mr Marchionne is not showing lack of faith in Italy, but in the sectors of trade unions that are proving to be anti-historical and contrary to economic and industrial development”. According to Giorgio Airaudo, who is in charge of the FIOM auto sector, “even 12 years ago, Mr Marchionne’s predecessors were saying that thanks to globalisation, the Italian factories were being paid for by profits from Brazil”. “Mr Marchionne should cease to humiliate the workers and unions”, said UILM general secretary Rocco Palombella.
English translation by Giles Watson
www.watson.it
Article in Italian
Pictures of the dayMore collapses at Pompeii | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2899 |
__label__wiki | 0.530542 | 0.530542 | Targeted Assassination Of Iraqi Academics
By Prof. Lieven De Cauter
Brusselstribunal.org
While the anniversary of the war waged on Iraq is approaching, I think of what I wrote seven years ago: that this illegal invasion had nothing to do with the war on terror but was planned well in advance and was not about democracy but about the destruction of Iraq. I was openly taunted for it. At best, I was considered endearing or pathetic in my anger, but not on the level when it came to world politics.
In preparation for an evening on the occasion of this seventh anniversary on March 20, I am reading a book: Cultural Cleansing in Iraq. Why museums were looted, burned libraries and academics murdered. The basic thesis is, believe it or not, that the purpose of the war was from the onset the destruction of the Iraqi state. But there is more: cultural cleansing, tolerating the looting of museums, the burning of libraries and the murder of academics was part of the war strategy, the authors argue. State ending will certainly become established as a concept, alongside genocide and its derivatives, such as urbicide (destruction of cities), sociocide (destruction of the social fabric) mnemocide (destruction of the collective memory). We do hope so, because unfortunately these concepts and their intertwinement do not only apply to Iraq.
There was a lot of press coverage about the looting of the museums, albeit the press reports didn’t put responsibility with the occupying powers, as the international laws of war stipulate; and without identifying it as a strategy of "mnenocide". In contrast, all these years a deafening silence has reigned on the hundreds of academics who have been victims of targeted assassinations in Iraq. Strange. In the first three months of the occupation 250 academics were killed. The BRussells Tribunal has now a list of 437 casualties, a list that serves as a worldwide reference. Because the professors who documented these killings and disappearances have been killed or forced to flee the country, it is increasingly harder to keep this list up to date. According to the Christian Science Monitor, by June 2006 already 2500 academics were killed, kidnapped or driven out of the country. Nobody knows how many have been murdered until today. We do know that thousands have been threatened - often by envelopes containing bullets - and fled. Alongside the academics also media professionals, doctors, engineers and spiritual leaders have been targets of intimidation, kidnapping and murder. It is important to know that, in the case of academics, it’s not about sectarian murders, because statistics show that there is no pattern in the murders. Professors in leading positions have especially been targeted, and not just Baathists.
These murders have never being investigated, the culprits never found let alone prosecuted. How come? Perhaps because both the occupiers and the new rulers in Iraq thought it was not important. Or maybe because death squads are part of their strategy, like formerly in El Salvador. That is what the book claims: the murder of academics was and is part of the "Salvador Option".
Conclusion of the authors? The goal was to liquidate the intellectual class, which would naturally be the basis for a new democratic state. It is that sinister. So sinister that it is difficult to believe. And yet it is true: the elimination of academics and other professionals from the middle class served the first and highest war aim: the destruction of the Iraqi state. "State-ending" instead of "nation building". According to the editors of the book this war objective was a decision taken when three parties aligned: the neoconservatives who wanted permanent bases in a geographical strategy of military domination; Israel that did not want a powerful state in its backyard; and the oil industry that wanted to lay its hand on one of the largest oil reserves in the world. This I have also written seven years ago. Now it’s there, in black and white, with many footnotes, well documented in a book published by an internationally renowned publishing house (Pluto Press). Perhaps the world will now finally start to realise the truth.
Worldwide protests from the academic community would be nice. But one minute of silence for their murdered colleagues will not suffice. Because, and that makes it so overwhelming, all this is just the tip of the iceberg: the children who are born severely deformed by the use of white phosphorus and depleted uranium, the lack of potable water, electricity and healthcare, the destruction of the educational system which results in a lost generation, the 1.2 million deaths and 5 million refugees - all these things combined make the war in Iraq the biggest war crime and the largest man-made humanitarian catastrophe in decades. And it continues. There is little or no hope of improvement, especially not after the recent elections. Add to this the countless bombings and the sectarian disintegration of the country and you have a picture of hell. And we, we all look more and more the other way. Because we are sick and tired of Iraq after seven years? It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth to see that I have been proven right with my thesis about the destruction of Iraq, that so many thought was absurd. Even Bush has been proven right with his famous show on the deck of the USS Lincoln that first May of 2003: "Mission accomplished". Indeed, Iraq is destroyed.
Happy birthday, Mr. President! Yes, tu quoque Obama.
Lieven De Cauter,
philosopher, president of the BRussells Tribunal | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2900 |
__label__cc | 0.623417 | 0.376583 | To the editor: Secretary of State supports net neutrality
The Chester Telegraph | Dec 18, 2017 | Comments 0
Open and unfettered access to information is critical to a functioning democracy. The Federal Communications Commission’s decision to upend net neutrality is a major blow to our democratic ideals of open information access and free speech, allowing corporations to restrict what information Americans are able to access, and how they’re able to access it. This is a clear affront to personal freedom and the ability of all Americans to access the informational, educational and social resources of the internet without interference.
The Secretary of State’s office provides open access to government information through the secretary’s website, including information on campaign finance filings, historic election results, and professional license holders, among other information and resources. The internet is a key transparency tool that the public has a right to access in an unencumbered and unrestricted manner.
The FCC’s repeal of net neutrality rules is expected to be challenged in court. Vermont Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders have joined Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey and a number of other senators in a plan to introduce a Congressional Review Act resolution that would overturn last week’s decision by the FCC. Additionally, Vermont Rep. Peter Welch said in an official statement that he will soon join colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to introduce legislation to reverse this decision.
I thank — and stand with — Vermont’s congressional delegation taking direct steps to protect Vermonters’ right to open information access from the interests of big broadband companies. Allowing big broadband companies to pick and choose what information they want to put a premium on for the sake of profits is a disgrace to our democratic values.
Jim Condos
Filed Under: Commentary • Letters to the Editor
Congratulations Vanessa! Having known Vanessa from 13 years ago when my son was in her first kindergarten class at park ... | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2901 |
__label__wiki | 0.969781 | 0.969781 | Migrants say U.S. Border Patrol detention centers are 'iceboxes'
By Nick Miroff
A U.S. Border Patrol truck enters the Port Isabel Detention Center, which holds detainees of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in Los Fresnos, Texas. (David J. Phillip / AP)
The tired and poor masses crossing the border illegally do a lot of huddling after coming to America. It's the air conditioning.
So notoriously cold are the U.S. Border Patrol's detention cells that those heading north are warned the first stop will be a hielera, or "icebox." The shivering stay is a rite of passage, and at the busiest border stations, the floors and benches are crowded with detainees bundled in silver polyethylene sheets, the only blankets made available. Their shifting bodies produce a constant crinkling, like the sound of Christmas gifts being unwrapped for hours on end.
A fight for control of the temperature inside these facilities is the subject of litigation between the U.S. government and immigration advocacy groups who accuse the Border Patrol of using the thermostat as a tool to deter migration and gain leverage over those in custody. While these accusations stretch back years, the uproar triggered by the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" family separation policy has brought new claims of hypothermic misery.
"They do it as a form of punishment," said Peter Schey, one of the lead attorneys in the ongoing class-action suit known as the Flores settlement, which dates to the late 1990s and sets detention standards for migrant children in federal custody.
Last month, Schey and others submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California testimonies and sworn statements from more than 200 detainees about their treatment in U.S. custody. Complaints about the cold come up again and again.
"It was hard to keep warm," one Honduran mother, identified only as Maria A, said in a sworn statement. "When other people would leave there would be extra blankets so we would try to take them to have more to keep warm but the guards would notice we had more blankets and they would take them from us so we only had one," her statement says. Maria's 4-year-old son had become "very sick" because of the cold, it notes.
Customs and Border Protection officials vigorously dispute allegations of mistreatment. Many of the migrants in custody are from rural parts of Central America, they note, and simply not accustomed to air conditioning, or what some Border Patrol officials refer to as "refrigerated air." The agency says temperature settings are never used for punitive purposes and thermostats are checked regularly to ensure they are between 66 and 80 degrees, the range that CBP deemed reasonable under the terms of the Flores settlement.
But the stories of trembling detainees and harsh conditions prompted U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee, who oversees compliance with Flores, to order the appointment of a "special master" who will conduct independent oversight of detention facilities. Attorneys for the government request more time to investigate and rebut the claims, but the judge cited a need to get "realistic, unbiased reports of what's happening."
"This needs to happen sooner rather than later," said Gee, who rejected the Trump administration's request to allow the government to hold children longer than the 20-day limit established by the court.
Driving the air conditioning dispute is the fact that two distinct groups must share the detention facilities — migrants and Border Patrol agents — and they have very different needs.
In south Texas, where Border Patrol stations absorb the most illegal traffic, migrants often arrive with damp clothing after crossing the Rio Grande. Their long-sleeved shirts may be taken away because of concerns about suicide. Then they remain sedentary for hours or days on end, sitting and sleeping on heat-sapping concrete benches and floors, with little room to move.
Border Patrol agents, meanwhile, have jobs that require them to move in and out of the muggy heat, wearing uniforms and gear that may include body armor. Some are burly, and they are acclimatized to refrigerated air. They want the thermostat kept at a temperature that keeps them comfortable.
"Our folks wear long sleeves because they have to go through vegetation, or the desert, where they're out in the sun," said one CBP official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the temperature dispute is a matter of ongoing litigation. "We have to make sure our folks can do their job."
"It doesn't mean we don't stop trying to make people as comfortable as possible in our custody," the official said.
Attorneys and immigrant advocates say the lower end of the government's temperature range is too extreme even for Americans whose homes and offices are climate-controlled.
"I know I would freeze in a room that was 68 degrees, and I would want more than a Mylar blanket on me," said Jennifer Podkul, policy director at KIND, one of the legal-aid organizations that advocates for migrant children.
Under the Flores settlement's terms, migrant children should remain in CBP custody for no longer than 72 hours, and the Border Patrol generally seeks to transfer all adults in its custody to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as quickly as possible. Complaints about temperature generally do not extend to ICE facilities, Podkul noted, because its detainees are given sweatshirts, blankets and beds.
CBP officials said they use disposable Mylar blankets, at a cost of 68 cents per unit, because the expense and logistical challenge of laundering fabric would be too great. The plastic is more hygienic, officials said, and agents are vigilant against blanket-sharing because of previous outbreaks of lice and scabies.
"They're not comfortable and cozy, but they do provide warmth," the CBP official said.
Stories of sleepless nights on concrete floors are repeated throughout migrants' testimonies in the Flores suit, and the CBP official acknowledged that mats are not always available for adults. "There are facilities that do have mats. There are others that do not," the official said. "At the larger facilities, there are mats for juveniles."
One Honduran mother, identified in court filings as Dilsia R., said she and her 12-year-old daughter were wet and muddy from crossing the Rio Grande when they were taken into custody June 25.
Dilsia testified that her daughter was taken to a separate room for juveniles. "I did not sleep at all that night, it was too cold," her statement says. "I sat there on the ground without any type of bed and shivered to the next day."
Schey, whose Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law is the chief plaintiff for the Flores litigation, said that in the hundreds of detainee interviews, 9 in 10 complain about the cold. He believes something more sinister is going on than a culture clash over air conditioning.
"By keeping the temperatures as low as they do, it really increases the susceptibility of detained children and their parents to go along with whatever the CBP agent who interviews them wants," he said. Schey said migrants seeking asylum due to violence in Central America report being pressured to agree to voluntary deportation, and chilly temperatures leave them desperate to get out of their cells.
"It's a way to enforce submissiveness and discourage people from asserting rights they may have to prevent their [deportation]," Schey added. "It also encourages people to want to just leave and agree to be deported, because they have no idea how long they'll be kept in an 'icebox,' where their kid is shivering, sneezing and hasn't slept."
CBP officials dispute those claims. Last year, the agency designated a Flores juvenile coordinator to ensure compliance with the court agreement. While conducting unannounced inspections of detention facilities, the coordinator carries a thermometer and records the readings in his reports.
The inspector, Henry Moak, wrote in a June report provided to Gee that during his visits to eight detention facilities, he found only one instance of a temperature setting below the established range.
In most facilities Moak measured, the temperature ranged between 70 and 75 degrees. But in interviews with 38 detainees, many also told Moak they were cold, including one 4-year-old boy from Guatemala. Moak noted that the temperature in the cell was 76.4 degrees, but the boy's father told him they had not received a blanket or mat after four hours in custody.
First published by The Washington Post | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2902 |
__label__wiki | 0.952027 | 0.952027 | 10 things you might not know about Robert Mueller
By Mark Jacob and Stephan Benzkofer
Mar 23, 2018 | 11:45 AM
The House Judiciary Committee hears from then-FBI Director Robert Mueller as it holds an oversight hearing on the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 13, 2013. (J. Scott Applewhite / AP)
The special counsel who is investigating connections between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign is known as a straight arrow — “a high Protestant with a locked jaw, blue blazer … khaki pants, penny loafers, maybe a little Vitalis and Old Spice to boot,” in the words of former CIA Director George Tenet.
Here are 10 facts, just the facts, about Robert Mueller.
1. Robert Swan Mueller III’s nickname at Justice Department headquarters was “Bobby Three Sticks,” supposedly a reference both to the Roman numerals at the end of his name and the three-finger Boy Scout salute.
2. Mueller is at least the 31st person to be specially appointed to investigate federal wrongdoing. The first was John Henderson in 1875, hired and fired by President Ulysses Grant. In the intervening century before Watergate, just seven men looked into five cases. In the last 40 years, however, 24 people — 22 men and two women — have been told to ferret out the truth.
3. Mueller is the great-grandson of William Truesdale, who served from 1899-1925 as head of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, serving Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Truesdale was credited with improving the DL&W, but he was less famous than the railroad’s fictional advertising character, Phoebe Snow, who promoted the company’s boast that its coal caused less soot. (The singer later known as Phoebe Snow was born Phoebe Ann Laub, and took her stage name from the railroad’s ad character.)
4. When Mueller was on the hockey team at St. Paul’s prep school in New Hampshire, one of his teammates was future Secretary of State John Kerry.
5. Mueller served 12 years as director of the FBI, the longest tenure since J. Edgar Hoover, but his law enforcement career was marked by a number of high-profile cases long before he rose to the top, including the investigation of mobster John Gotti, Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega and the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland. According to Lisa Monaco, a former chief of staff, the Lockerbie case affected him particularly. For years later, Mueller quietly attended the December memorial services organized by the families.
6. When George W. Bush took office in 2001, Mueller became acting deputy attorney general and instantly established his work ethic. His own deputy, David Margolis, showed up to work the morning after the inauguration to find a note on his chair: “It’s 0700. Where are you?” The note was unsigned, but Margolis knew it was from Mueller. Margolis has another story about Mueller’s adherence to schedule: When Mueller was at Justice under George H.W. Bush, he hosted a barbecue for his aides from 8 to 11 p.m. “At five minutes to 11, he’d start flipping the lights to get people out of his house,” Margolis said.
7. His wife sometimes beats him at golf.
8. Mueller said he was inspired to serve in Vietnam because of the combat death of Princeton classmate and friend David Hackett. Mueller enlisted with the Marine Corps and graduated from the Army’s demanding Ranger school before ending up leading a rifle platoon in Vietnam in 1968. When his men came under heavy attack at Mutter’s Ridge, he kept his cool, supervised the evacuation of casualties and led a team into enemy territory to rescue a wounded Marine. He was awarded a Bronze Star with a V distinction for combat valor.
9. When Mueller was between government jobs in 2014-15, the NFL hired him to investigate the league’s handling of the Ray Rice case. Rice, a running back for the Baltimore Ravens, had been suspended for two games after a casino video showed him dragging his fiancee (now wife) from an elevator. But later a video leaked showing Rice punching his fiancee in the elevator, and the NFL suspended him indefinitely. Mueller investigated whether the NFL had seen the punching video before it leaked. He found no evidence that it had.
10. Mueller is often described in serious terms, but he isn’t without a sense of humor. In 2013, at a farewell event to celebrate his public service — at which one person joked he would “depart Justice for the last time, hopefully” — the remarks at times were reminiscent of a roast, and Mueller not only laughed along but took part. During his 8½-minute speech, Mueller told a story about a particularly tense senior staff meeting, where he admitted he was a “wee bit ill-tempered.” Mueller’s chief of staff, Lee Rawls, out of the blue asked, “What is the difference between the director of the FBI and a 4-year-old child?” The room grew hushed, and Rawls delivered the ice-breaker: “Height.”
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Mark Jacob is the Tribune’s associate managing editor for metropolitan news. Stephan Benzkofer, a former weekend editor of the Tribune, is a freelance writer and editor.
mjacob@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @MarkJacob16
Sources: “Encyclopedia of North American Railroads,” edited by William D. Middleton, Rick Morgan and Roberta L. Diehl; “Coal Trains: The History of Railroading and Coal in the United States,” by Brian Solomon and Patrick Yough; “The Threat Matrix: Inside Robert Mueller’s FBI and the War on Global Terror,” by Garrett M. Graff; Donald C. Smaltz address at Gonzaga University; The New York Times; The Saturday Evening Post; Time magazine; The Washington Post; USA Today; CNN.com; Washingtonian.com; slate.com; c-span.org.
Robert Mueller III | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2903 |
__label__wiki | 0.929614 | 0.929614 | Sex predator who raped a young woman at a West Sussex railway station is jailed
Alex Jenkins
A sex predator who raped a young woman in West Sussex has been locked up for four years.
Callum Fife-Wright, 26, of Stane Street Close, Pulborough, was found guilty of rape at Hove Crown Court on December 21, following the incident at Three Bridges Railway Station in July 2018.
Callum Fife-Wright, 26, of Stane Street Close, Pulborough
Yesterday (April 29, 2019), the judge sentenced him to four years in prison, with another four years to be considered pending further assessment.
On July 6, 2018, Fife-Wright offered his victim, a 17-year-old woman, a lighter outside the station before bombarding her with inappropriate comments.
The court heard he showed her the electronic tagging device on his ankle and tried to kiss her.
The victim asked him to stop but Fife-Wright then raped her.
Following an investigation by British Transport Police, he was arrested at Three Bridges Railway Station a few hours later.
DC Jason Montana said: “I would like to thank the victim for her courage in coming forward and supporting our efforts to bring Fife-Wright to justice.
“This was a hideous crime committed by a dangerous individual, and I hope the victim will be able to take some small comfort in the knowledge he is now behind bars.
“I also hope this sends a very clear message to everyone that we will do everything in our power to prosecute sex offenders.”
Men try to steal doors of Land Rover Defender in Bosham | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2904 |
__label__wiki | 0.834819 | 0.834819 | Top judge slams Newcastle City Council for in the case of three young children
The children - aged six, four, and three - had been left 'in limbo' for almost two year in a foster home whilst the council dragged its feet
Lisa HutchinsonMultimedia Journalist
A top judge has slammed Newcastle City council for its ‘dereliction of duty’ in the case of three young children whose mother cannot look after them.
The children - girls, aged six and four, and a three-year-old boy - had been left ‘in limbo’ whilst the council dragged its feet, said Mr Justice Cobb.
Due to the delay in deciding their future, they had been living in foster care for nearly two years - almost two-thirds of the little boy’s life.
They had lost contact with their mother’s family and formed a loving bond with their foster mother, which would now have to be broken, the judge added.
Although no individual social worker could be blamed, the council’s failings had caused ‘unnecessary and avoidable delay’ in finding a permanent placement for the children.
“Precious time in the lives of these children has been spent, I would say wasted, while the local authority has failed to progress any meaningful form of care planning.
“In my judgment, this was a dereliction of the local authority’s duty ...and I regret that valuable time has been lost in the care planning”, he told the High Court in London.
Due to the length of time they had been in her care, the children had become ‘very very attached’ to their foster mother and would be ‘very upset’ at being separated from her.
The children all had different fathers, one of them unidentified, another who had not seen his daughter in many months, and a third who was a convicted sex offender.
Their mother was socially isolated and vulnerable and the judge found that they had been ‘physically and emotionally neglected’ in her care.
There was no doubt that the mother loved her children, and was ‘warm and caring’ towards them - but the judge refused to return them to her care.
The council proposed that all three children should be adopted outside their natural family and said that suitable adopters were waiting ‘in the wings’.
But the judge rejected that plan and ruled that the two girls would be better off living with their maternal aunt. Only the boy should be adopted, he said.
He told the council to give the aunt ‘urgent assistance’ in her new role, including secure and permanent housing.
Her new address will be kept secret from the children’s mother, who would only be allowed contact with the girls two or three times-a-year.
The little boy was ‘in a very different position’. No family member had asked to care for him and he needed a secure and permanent placement with an adoptive family.
Although he had lived with his sisters all his life, the judge said his adoption was “bound to be mean separation” from them.
And he acknowledged that there might be difficulties in maintaining the boy’s relationship with his sisters in the future.
A council spokesperson said: “Newcastle City Council accepts that it has taken an undue length of time to bring this case to a conclusion. This is unusual for the council which has an excellent track of resolving adoption cases without undue delay. National figures verified by the Department for Education show that in Newcastle, adoption placements are concluded on average within 532 days. This is 96 days shorter than the England average.
“As the Judge has acknowledged, this is an exceptionally difficult and complex case and no individual social workers should be blamed for the delay. They have had to deal with a range of issues – including the requirement for family member assessments outside the Newcastle area, language barriers and the learning difficulties experienced by the children’s mother.
However, we fully accept that there are lessons to be learned from the Judge’s comments, for us an all other local authorities, and we will ensure that we reflect on these and revise our policies and practices accordingly.” | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2909 |
__label__wiki | 0.934978 | 0.934978 | Subscribe To Transformers 5: What We Know About The Last Knight Updates
Transformers 5: What We Know About The Last Knight
By Sean O'Connell
Michael Bay's Transformers: Age of Extinction was meant to be the start of a new trilogy. Gone were Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, replaced by Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor. And with Bay behind the "wheel" of this massive sequel, the fourth Transformers movie did what previous Transformers movies have done: disappointed critics while earning boatloads of money.
Despite the fact that the formula continues to work, Paramount has promised sweeping changes for the Transformers franchise by the time Transformers 5 rolls into theaters. For starters, it's no longer called Transformers 5. It now goes by Transformers: The Last Knight. So, that happened. In addition, this is being looked at as a launch of the next phase of Transformers movies, which likely will break from the mythology created by Michael Bay and place a greater emphasis on characters who have not been in the spotlight yet. (Hello, Bumblebee Solo Movie!) Since massive pieces already are moving into place on the upcoming sequel, we figured now was a great time to get the lay of the land and catch you up on everything we know about the ongoing cinematic battle between the Autobots, the Decepticons, and mankind.
What Is The Transformers 5 Release Date?
Paramount has given Transformers: The Last Knight a release date of June 21. This means that the massive robot sequel will bleed into the July 4 holiday, where Michael Bay's movies tend to shine. It also means that, by coming out on that weekend, Transformers has the time frame all to themselves. Though right behind the Transformers, audiences will be getting ready for The House, with Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler, while Despicable Me 3 hits on June 30. Of course, there's Wonder Woman to contend with (that is still crushing at the box office), and a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man swinging into theaters on July 7. Busy, busy summer season.
What Is The Transformers 5 Rating?
Just like the previous entries in Michael Bay's Transformers franchise, Transformers: The Last Knight is PG-13. All of these movies have been PG-13, dating back to 2007, so I don't expect the director, or the studio, to ever aim for anything different. Bay likes pushing the envelope with these Transformers movies, despite the fact that they are based on a toy line (which produced an animated series). But he'll never go R with a Transformers movie. I also think we'll need a new director in the chair before the series softens for a PG rating (if that ever happens).
Michael Bay Is Directing Transformers: The Last Knight
Love him or hate him, Michael Bay has been the face of the Transformers franchise, the driving creative force since Paramount unveiled the inspired-by-toys franchise in 2007. And while early indicators once suggested that the director would move away from the massive robot series with the next movie, he actually allowed himself to be pulled back into the fold for one more Transformers story. He even did it with the most Michael Bay quote ever, telling Rolling Stone, "I'm doing Transformers... 5 is it?" Yeah, Mike. It's the fifth one. It's is almost to the point where I won't believe that Michael Bay isn't directing the next Transformers movie until a different filmmaker delivers one into theaters. This has been Bay's show since Day One. To his credit, the director has done an incredible job keeping his fans up to speed with video shares from the globe-trotting set of Transformers: The Last Knight. To dig into all that war revealed, read on.
Mark Wahlberg Will Return For Transformers: The Last Knight
Pain & Gain, Michael Bay's collaboration with Mark Wahlberg, actually led to the Happening actor taking a lead role in Transformers: Age of Extinction. But we were uncertain whether or not Wahlberg and his character, Cade Yeager, would stay with the franchise. A while back, Wahlberg explained to the media that he didn't view Age of Extinction as a sequel, and that he "thought of it more as a stand-alone thing. I've never done a sequel." Which is true. But then he did a second Ted movie. And then Bay lured Wahlberg back for another Transformers film. So I guess Wahlberg does sequels now. We expect Cade Yeager to be a major player in the new storyline for Transformers: The Last Knight. Some have even gone so far as to suggest that the "Last Knight" of the title refers to Cade Yeager, and not Optimus Prime. Would that be blasphemy? We shall see. At the very least, we know that Wahlberg's not going to be the lead of the film. Bay's bringing in someone new, to appeal to a different demographic.
Isabela Moner Has Joined The Series
Knowing that he needed some fresh blood (seeing as how Megan Fox has moved on to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise), Michael Bay has started populating Transformers: The Last Knight with human co-stars who are able to run and scream alongside Mark Wahlberg. Up first? Isabela Moner, a 15-year-old actress from Cleveland, OH whose credits are limited to Nickelodeon. When The Wrap broke the news of her casting, they described her as:
A street-smart tomboy who grew up an orphan and was raised in foster care. She counts a small Transformer as her only friend... until she meets [Mark] Wahlberg's heroic inventor Cade Yeager.
So that's how she'll be made part of the human side of the equation. And the presence of Moner's new character gives the franchise, as a whole, someone to build on -- providing that audiences respond to her character, and her heroic actions. Yes, yes. We know that fans show up for these movies to see the Autobots and the Decepticons. But the human element is equally important, so for now, you get Wahlberg and Moner, and a handful of familiar faces who Bay has convinced to return. Are the Coen brothers releasing their stable of character actors again? John Turturro's got to eat, people!
Josh Duhamel is a dependable actor with a decent number of credits to his resume, though none, arguably, were ever as big as Transformers. The actor appeared in the original trilogy of Transformers films, then sat out Age of Extinction, which was Paramount's attempt at spinning off in a new direction... sort of. Well, worlds are about to collide, as Duhamel and Bay both confirmed recently that his character, Lennox, would be returning for Transformers: The Last Knight -- though we don't yet know in what capacity. The Autobots clearly know who Lennox is, though he'll be a new ally to Mark Wahlberg's Cade Yeager. It will be nice to have a familiar face like Duhamel around when the explosions and the screaming begin.
Josh Duhamel isn't the only one knocking on Michael Bay's door, looking for a gig. Tyrese Gibson, who played Epps in the first three Transformers movies but also sat on the sideline during Transformers: Age of Extinction, did what Tyrese likes to do when there's a part that he wants to nab. He took to social media and recorded an original video message to Michael Bay stating "I'm ready!" Tyrese said that acting in the movies is "a high," saying he loves "all of the magic shit" that comes with acting alongside massive robots. Bay has been egging Tyrese along in the comments of the actor's Instagram page, and we finally confirmed that the actor will be back on screen, running from Decepticons and battling with the Autobots on June 21.
The Storyline
Bear with me here, because this one gets a little crazy. In Transformers: The Last Knight, a possessed Optimus Prime lashes out at Cade (Mark Wahlberg), Bumblebee, and previous allies because he now believes that in order for his homeworld to survive, the Earth must be destroyed. This is a classic plot twist, with the main hero going rogue. Hell, it has been used on screen already this year, as Dom Toretto turned on his "family" in the eighth Fast & Furious movie. Even though The Last Knight trailers show Prime fighting Cade and Bumblebee, we know that Prime won't stay evil for the duration -- that's just not possible. What we CAN'T figure out yet is how Michael Bay plans to use time travel in The Last Knight. That's right. I said time travel. Previous reports indicate that Merlin, Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table will play a major part in this next Transformers movie. Additionally, we know that we'll be seeing Transformers in the time of World War II. And promo shots show three-headed Transformers dragons. No clue what century they are from. Sir Anthony Hopkins joins Transformers: The Last Knight as someone with the knowledge that the robots in disguise have been fighting with us for centuries, and this time out, Bay plans to show it. Color us intrigued.
The Transformers Writers' Room
There's a reason that we are remaining optimistic about Transformers: The Last Knight and potential Transformers movies that may come down the pipeline... even though we know that the previous four Transformers movies were underwhelming. Way back in July 2015, Paramount put together a television-inspired Writers Room for the Transformers franchise, and recruited some top names in long-form storytelling to come together and pitch ideas for the creative future of the series. Steven S. DeKnight, the brains behind Netflix's Daredevil series and Spartacus, was one of the voices in that room. And when he reflected on the creative experience, DeKnight told Collider:
You know, it's that wonderful thing where features are now taking a page from television and getting people together to plan things out, and it was a wonderful experience. ... It was phenomenal. We laughed, and joked, and told stories and plotted out --- I can't say what we plotted out, but it was all very exciting. In the next few months we'll see what moves forward and what doesn't move forward. It was a fantastic experience.
This, I believe, is exactly what the Transformers movies needed -- an infusion of fresh blood and new ideas that could help bring the film franchise more in line with what the animated series and the comic books offered to fans. That being said, every major studio is doing what they can to jump start potential film franchises, and Paramount needs only to look across the street at Universal to see how The Mummy struggled to get a Dark Universe concept off the ground. Putting the cart before the horse can be dangerous. Transformers: The Last Knight will be the first movie born of the Writers Room experiment, while a Bumblebee solo movie is next on the docket. And if they work, we might actually be excited about the future of this massive-screen movie franchise.
A G.I. Joe Crossover Movie
The other prevailing rumor swirling around in the heads of Transformers: The Last Knight fans is that Paramount might want to boost both of its toy-based action franchise by combining them in a Transformers / G.I. Joe mash-up movie at some point down the line. Can you imagine Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Bruce Willis going toe-to-toe with Optimus Prime? That's the stuff of legend. But in an interview with Total Film, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura went so far as to call it a "possibility" before throwing cold water on the hopes of fans. "I don't think [it's] in the near future at all," he explained. "It's not something we talk about either. There's a lot more story to be told in both cases. And I think if at some moment we think, 'You know what? It's time to bring the two of them together,' we'll do that. But I think they're strong enough to exist on their own." So this team up isn't likely for Transformers: The Last Knight, but maybe a few years down the road? Hold out hope.
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All The Transformers Movies, Ranked Best To Worst | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2911 |
__label__wiki | 0.924538 | 0.924538 | Cities talk taxes
Mt. Clemens, Ann Arbor look at adding income levies to help fix budgets
Anjali Fluker Sheena Harrison
As communities struggle to balance budgets, the city income tax is once again on the table.
Mt. Clemens is working for City Commission approval to put the issue on the ballot this year, while Ann Arbor has no time frame for its proposal.
The cities are considering the option because their main sources of revenue, property taxes and state revenue, are not generating enough funds to balance budgets, said Summer Minnick, manager of finance and tax policy for the Michigan Municipal League.
"Most cities are struggling very significantly financially," Minnick said. "Property tax (increases) are capped because of Proposal A and there have been significant revenue sharing cuts from the state. An income tax is a good tool for a lot of communities."
Michigan cities also have lost close to $800 million in revenue in the past five years because of state revenue-sharing cuts, Minnick said.
In addition, more than 40 percent of the land in Mt. Clemens and about 35 percent of the land in Ann Arbor is owned by tax-exempt organizations, such as government, nonprofits and schools.
Conan Smith, executive director of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance, said communities need to find ways to diversify income sources to try to relieve their dependence on property taxes and the state.
"We rely very heavily on the income tax at the state level and property taxes on the local level," Smith said. "You see a cycle where (cities) rely on property taxes, and that's hard to break."
There are 22 cities in Michigan that levy an income tax, including Detroit, Pontiac, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Flint, Saginaw and Grand Rapids. The statutory limit is 1 percent of taxable income for residents and corporations and 0.5 percent for nonresidents who work in the city. Detroit, Saginaw, Highland Park and Grand Rapids are allowed to impose up to a 2 percent tax for residents and 1 percent for nonresidents working in the city.
Mt. Clemens' proposed income tax could eventually raise $5 million once it is fully operational, officials said. The city property tax would be reduced by 2 mills if an income tax is adopted.
The city, which has a budget of about $12.6 million this year, but only about $11 million in projected revenue, faces a more than $100,000 shortfall each month and could use up its estimated $700,000 fund balance if measures are not taken to cut costs and generate income, officials said.
The city already has tried to balance the budget by trimming about 20 employees through attrition or layoffs since 2000 and closing down its recreation department. But more needs to be done, officials said.
Members of the city's business community said they are against the proposed income tax, but also are aware the city must respond quickly to stay afloat financially. Robert Leslie, certified public accountant and stockholder for Carabell, Leslie & Co., said he doesn't want to see taxes go up, but he may be willing to sacrifice city-provided services. Leslie lives and works in the city.
"We're all aware that the city has to balance its budget," Leslie said. "But my biggest concern is with home property values. If the income tax goes in, who's going to want to come into the city and buy my home? And for businesses, who is going to want to move in and buy a building here when you can move outside the four square miles of the city and not pay a tax."
Leslie and other business owners also said if the income tax is not instituted, services will have to be slashed, or the city could be facing receivership.
"The financial stability of a community is important to its businesses," said Grace Shore, president of the Central Macomb Chamber of Commerce. "Unfortunately, there aren't many real good options here. Our chamber is opposed to an income tax, but we understand the city is in a tough position. In our mind, receivership isn't an option either."
Ann Arbor, meanwhile, also is searching for ways to make ends meet without hurting the city's home owners, who currently pay about 6.2 mills in property taxes.
According to the city's charter, Ann Arbor would have to eliminate the city's property tax if it were to implement an income tax. According to a study conducted last year by Plante & Moran P.L.L.C., Ann Arbor could generate up to $14 million in net additional annual revenue if it collected income taxes of 1 percent for residents and corporations and 0.5 percent for non-residents.
There's no momentum to get the issue on a citywide ballot right now, but the discussion is timely, City Administrator Roger Fraser said.
More than half of Ann Arbor's residential housing is occupied by renters, and about 70,000 people commute to jobs in the city each day, Fraser said. In addition, Ann Arbor's city staff has been reduced by 20 percent over the past 3 years, and the city likely will have to fill a $3.6 million hole in its $76 million, 2005-06 general budget that goes up for consideration this summer.
An income tax could be an option in the future, Fraser said. "There's an argument to be made that the burden of city services is not adequately divided among people who live and work in Ann Arbor," he said.
The Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce is conducting a survey of its 1,400 members to get their opinions. The chamber was opposed to an income tax when it was discussed in 1997 and could take the same position now if chamber members agree, said Brandt Coultas, director of governmental affairs for the chamber.
Anjali Fluker: (313) 446-6796, [email protected] crain.com
Sheena Harrison: (313) 446-0325, sharrison @crain.com | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2912 |
__label__wiki | 0.650966 | 0.650966 | José Nuñez
José Nuñez (b. 1945, El Salvador) uses a simple, assured stroke to delineate the shapes of his subjects, which he often repeats or elongates to fill the picture plane, giving his work a complex graphic arrangement. The flora and fauna of his beloved El Salvador occupy a large portion of his attention, his work often depicting memories from time spent alone in the countryside taking care of his family's cows. Out of those memories also come artistic investigations of mythological subjects like cadejo, a shadow dog that hunts at night and used to terrify him. Nuñez sometimes collaborates with Mirian Munguia, drawing plants and figures on textiles, which she then embroiders.
Nuñez joined the Creativity Explored studio shortly after moving to California in 1996, and his work has been exhibited nationally and internationally (See below). In 2011 CB2 chose Nuñez's work to adorn a complete set of bedding.
See more of Nuñez's work on Artsy.
8 x 12.75 inches
Marker on wood. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2915 |
__label__wiki | 0.934784 | 0.934784 | Russia's growing health crisis
By DAVID R. FRANCIS
Many know about Africa's severe health problems, but few are aware of a parallel tragedy building in Russia.
Devastated by disease and alcoholism, mortality rates have risen dramatically since the fall of communism. Furthermore, very little is being done either by the Russian government or the world community.
At the moment, deaths exceed births by about 700,000 a year. Some experts say Russia's population could drop to 80 million in 50 years from 150 million today.
"The loss of life from this quiet crisis in Russia has been a catastrophe of historic proportions," says Nicholas Eberstadt, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. "Mortality and disease will pose major obstacles to economic development ... for decades to come."
"If demography is said to be destiny, the destiny of Russia for the next 50 years or more is appalling," says Murray Feshbach, a research professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Washington.
These grim views are based on economic, health, and demographic trends in Russia since the fall of communism, and no rapid way out of the disaster is easily visible. One hopes these views will serve as warnings. Will Russian politicians and citizens, seeing the flashing red lights of danger, change direction and break through the damaging fog of alcoholism, sexually transmitted diseases, sharing of drug needles, and corruption?
Already the breakup of the Soviet Union has greatly diminished Russia's might. "In barely a decade, Moscow has plummeted from the status of an imperial superpower to a condition of astonishing geopolitical weakness," notes Mr. Eberstadt in Policy Review, a Heritage Foundation publication. Furthermore, Russia's gross domestic product halved in the 1990s.
So far Russia hasn't adequately tackled its catastrophic health scene - nor does it appear to be a matter of public concern.
While there are more than a dozen political parties fighting for votes this election season, none has chosen to make public health a major campaign issue. It wasn't mentioned much in the recent parliamentary elections.
Nor are many Russian citizens, perhaps unused to participatory democracy, organizing a push for improved spending programs for health or demanding temperance measures.
The Soviet Union was infamous for its staggering vodka consumption. Contemporary Russia's thirst for vodka has gotten worse. Russian men on average are drinking about five bottles of vodka per week.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stipulates that eight liters of alcohol per capita is the upper limit for consumption before major health problems ensue. Russians - adults and children alike - consume 14 to 15 liters per capita per year. And Vodka output rose 65 percent in the first half of 1999.
In effect, many Russians are drinking themselves to death.
More than 35,000 people died from accidental alcohol poisoning in 1996. In fact, daily headlines in Moscow during the winter include body counts of the inebriated people who died of exposure. In the United States, which has almost twice the population, about 300 a year die from the same cause.
Drinking is behind many of the violent and accidental deaths in Russia. According to Eberstadt, with the present pattern, a baby boy stands almost a 1 in 4 probability of dying from some sort of external trauma. That compares with about 1 in 30 in Britain. Russian women are twice as likely to die from alcohol poisoning or injury as American men. Alcohol abuse, Eberstadt figures, also plays a role in high rates of coronary disease and other fatal diseases.
Russians are also heavy tobacco users. Two-thirds of men and one-third of women smoke. Medical authorities say smoking accounts for 20 to 30 percent of deaths from heart disease and cancer. And Russian death rates from these diseases are twice those in the US.
Feshbach further sees a rapid spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis, AIDS, and other sexually-transmitted disease in Russia. One study predicts some 13 million Russians will be infected by HIV by 2005.
"This is getting close to Africa," Feshbach says. Eberstadt doesn't regard the AIDS problem as being so severe, but he does find the breakout of AIDS surprising in an industrial country with an educated population.
So what is to be done?
Teresa Ho, manager of the World Bank's health programs in Russia, says Feshbach's terrible predictions of diseases will come fully true only if nothing is done. And that's not entirely the case.
Russia's health ministry itself is experimenting with more modern hospital practices to make more-efficient use of public-health funds and thus provide services to more people.
The World Bank is considering a $150 million loan for a program to deal with AIDS and tuberculosis. WHO, other UN organizations, the Soros Foundation, and the US and other nations are trying to help in modest ways.
Eberstadt emphasizes the need for a determination within the Russian public and political scene to pay more attention to the catastrophe. Public attitudes toward healthy behavior must change.
A transition to a civil society under the rule of law "would have a positive and tangible effect on Russian health," he says. It could encourage business and reduce the poverty behind some of the health problems.
Mikhail Gorbachev took measures to restrain alcohol consumption during his 1980s presidency. Death rates declined. But the measure was a disaster from a political standpoint. No political leader has since dared to challenge Russia's drinking binge.
"The leadership remains relatively silent," notes Ms. Ho. There is no organized campaign to spread "healthy life styles" among Russians.
Without rapid policy measures, Russia's population will drop 45 percent in 50 years - the same period in which US population is expected to rise 45 percent, from 272 million to 393 million. Russia ranks 125th in average life expectancy among 188 nations studied by the UN.
The ultimate effect of inaction is captured in a chilling question posed by Eberstadt: Will Russia be "too sick to matter" in world affairs?
A Harvard University expert on Russia, Graham Allison, argues that the health crisis in Russia with its 30,000 nuclear weapons makes it even more important for the West to provide help to the troubled nation. "It is Russia's weakness that is the greater danger to America."
*David R. Francis is senior economic correspondent for the Monitor.
(c) Copyright 1999. The Christian Science Publishing Society
Kremlin says Russians are drinking less and exercising more. Are they?
Global News Blog Deep emotions run beneath Russia's adoption ban
Difference Maker How one woman’s citizen diplomacy has strengthened US-Russia ties for decades | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2918 |
__label__wiki | 0.950628 | 0.950628 | Senator Boxer calls for probe on California nuclear plant
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) of California charges that Southern California Edison intentionally misled regulators in order to avoid an extensive safety review of upgrades to its San Onofre nuclear plant. Senator Boxer has called on the Justice Department to investigate.
Grant Hindsley/AP/File
Surfers walk along a beach near the San Onofre nuclear power plant in San Onofre, Calif. The plant closed in January 2012 after a radioactive leak led to the discovery of wear in tubing that carries radioactive water.
By David J. Unger Correspondent
@dungerdunger
The operator of a California nuclear plant is under fire from a US senator for allegedly misrepresenting the nature of an equipment upgrade that resulted in a small radioactive leak at the plant last year.
It's another blow to Southern California Edison (SCE), which has worked to reopen the closed San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station for over a year. The fallout has cost the company more than $553 million and drawn attacks from environmentalists who say the plant is inherently unsafe.
On Tuesday, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) of California released a private company letter she says is evidence of the company intentionally misleading regulators in order to avoid an extensive safety review of upgrades to San Onofre. She has called on the Justice Department to investigate.
"Given this new information, it is clear to me that in order for this nuclear plant to even be considered for a restart in the future all investigations must be completed and a full license amendment and public hearing process must be required," Ms. Boxer said in a statement Tuesday. "This is simply a common sense approach."
The plant closed in January 2012 after a radioactive leak led to the discovery of wear in tubing that carries radioactive water. The unusually rapid wear was blamed on new steam generators that were installed in 2009 and 2010.
That upgrade did not require an extensive review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, SCE initially said, because the new generators were close enough in design to the original generators.
A November 2004 letter between an SCE executive and the manufacturer of the new generators suggests both companies knew of major design differences but publicly downplayed them in order to avoid extensive NRC review, Boxer said Tuesday. The announcement was first reported by the Associated Press.
"This will be one of the largest steam generators ever built for the United States and represents a significant increase in size from those that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has built in the past," Dwight E. Nunn, vice president of SCE, wrote in the letter. "It will require Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to evolve a new design beyond that which they currently have available."
The letter is evidence of detailed involvement in the upgrade process, according to a response from SCE, and the company applied for and received two license amendments for the replacement steam generators.
“SCE’s own oversight of MHI’s design review complied with industry standards and best practices,” Pete Dietrich, SCE senior vice president and chief nuclear officer, said in a statement. “SCE would never, and did not, install steam generators that it believed would impact public safety or impair reliability.”
Before its closure, San Onofre was the state's largest source of electricity, capable of generating up to 2,200 megawatts, enough to power 1.4 million homes and businesses. Like all nuclear plants, San Onofre emitted virtually zero carbon emissions.
Still, the plant drew criticism for its location on the California coast between Los Angeles and San Diego, vulnerable to tsunamis and seismic activity. The 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan heightened concerns that a similar event could occur at San Onofre, despite the company's assurances the structure was built to withstand earthquakes.
“The restart of San Onofre reactors is now off the table," Damon Moglen, climate and energy director for environmental group Friends of the Earth, said in a prepared response to the release of the letter. "No one can possibly argue for the further operation of these crippled reactors when such an experiment places the lives and livelihoods of millions of Southern Californians at risk.”
Energy: About 20 percent of electricity generation in the US comes from nuclear power.
Environment: Nuclear power produces zero carbon emissions but runs the risk of radioactive leaks.
Test your knowledge Fracking. Tight oil. Do you know your energy vocabulary?
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Cheapest way to heat your home? Four fuels compared. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2919 |
__label__cc | 0.726175 | 0.273825 | Time Is Running Out to Comply with the New FASB Revenue Recognition Standard
Planning for Lease Accounting Standard Should Be in Process, Too
From the May/June 2017 issue of New Jersey CPA magazine (njcpa.org/newjerseycpa)
By Kevin Bogle, KPMG LLP
Research indicates that some companies may have trouble meeting the reporting deadlines on at least one of two major accounting standards that financial statement preparers must implement over the coming two years.
Revenue recognition – the more immediate, as it goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2018, for calendar-year-end public companies and Jan. 1, 2019, for calendar-year-end non-public companies – may represent a significant change, and one that many companies may be behind in implementing.
The new accounting standard for revenue recognition replaces a complex set of existing U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and industry practices that have more than 100 existing sources of revenue recognition guidance.
But a KPMG survey of more than 475 financial reporting executives in December 2016 found that two-thirds of their organizations remained in the assessment phase, as opposed to designing their future state or being in the implementation phase, and only 19 percent had started considering the ramifications of the standard.
Companies should have completed their assessment and be in the implementation phase already, but the survey results indicated only 13 percent have started implementation which may forecast a last-minute dash to the finish line for revenue recognition. Emphasis should be on moving beyond assessment to development of processes, systems and internal controls, as well as full implementation.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has also adopted a new standard for lease accounting that will require companies to recognize most leases on-balance sheet, effective Jan. 1, 2019, for calendar year-end public companies and one year later for calendar year-end non-public companies.
While complying with these standards may seem arduous, timely adoption of the new rules is imperative. Otherwise, companies will find that:
Their financial statements will no longer be in accordance with GAAP.
They will not be able to get a “clean” audit opinion.
If they are a public company, they will not be able to comply with SEC requirements.
Many companies will also be faced with changes to their processes, systems and internal controls. The accounting, finance, tax, IT and investor relations departments will need to work together to develop a coordinated response to the new standards.
This year and next will be a demanding time for our profession, as preparers in all industries will be affected and time is of the essence to assess and comply with these standards. Staying updated on new developments and industry interpretations will be key to successful implementation, and realistic timelines and clear accountability will be critical. The new standards will impact each company in varying ways, so the best course of action is to be prepared.
CAREFULLY MANAGE THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS FOR NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Preparers of financial information should have a plan to ensure compliance with the new revenue recognition and lease accounting standards that go into effect in the coming two years. They should already have considered the following important steps:
Establish a project management office (PMO) for each standard.
The PMO should coordinate all aspects of implementation, which should be based on a comprehensive and detailed gap analysis that identifies the difference between current accounting, tax and reporting compared to the new standards and identifies how those gaps impact systems, processes, availability of data, people and underlying contracts. This impact analysis, along with the identified gaps, will facilitate the development of a plan and help control the implementation process.
The PMO should also have timely involvement with the external auditor to ensure there is alignment throughout the process and that there are no surprises at the end.
Design and understand the new reporting environment
Both of the new standards have specific transition rules that will allow companies to select adoption alternatives that will impact the transition and future periods. In addition, companies can opt to use the transition as an opportunity to design solutions that address existing gaps in accounting processes and systems or automate certain accounting processes that are currently performed manually.
Unlike previous revenue recognition standards that allowed companies to apply new rules prospectively, this standard requires retrospective adoption by restating all comparative periods or creating a cumulative “catch-up” adjustment in the year of adoption. This could take a significant amount of time to implement accurately.
The new lease accounting standard also requires retrospective adoption by restating all comparative periods. For most companies, this will require a comprehensive and potentially complex “look back” into historical transactions that remain open on the effective date in order to recalculate historical revenue and/or expense under the new rules.
If changes to IT systems are needed or new systems will be developed, it will take more time to complete implementation and, therefore, this will need to be factored into the design phase.
Implement the accounting change
Making these significant accounting, tax and reporting changes may take several iterations before the new financial reporting environment becomes business as usual. It is important to allow enough time to:
Test the new reporting environment and make necessary corrections.
Document, implement and test the new controls over financial reporting.
Create a communication plan both internally and externally so that stakeholders understand the impact of adopting the new standards.
Conduct necessary internal trainings on the accounting and new processes.
Kevin Bogle is a principal in KPMG’s Accounting Advisory Services group within the Deal Advisory practice. He specializes in accounting, financial reporting and project management for complex transactions under U.S. GAAP and IFRS. In this role, Kevin supports clients in the design and implementation of financial reporting environments to meet new internal and external reporting requirements as a result of a transaction or accounting conversion. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2921 |
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What the food industry really fears about GMO labeling
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Halloween has come and gone, and as evidenced by the products hitting grocery store shelves, the food industry can change labels at any time to capture holiday sales.
What goes on a label is designed to make their products more marketable. It’s their job.
Which may explain why the food industry is pouring over $21 million dollars into an initiative to keep some things off of their food labels: which ingredients are genetically engineered.
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The industry argues that labeling would drive up their costs, and they would have to pass these added expenses on to consumers. But it doesn’t ring true, especially as evidenced in October alone by the number of pink ribbons and Halloween goblins that appear.
So why not label genetically engineered ingredients? The food companies are already labeling these ingredients on their products in other countries.
They are already changing labels every holiday, sports season and cause-driven campaign to capture sales If label changes really cost them, can you imagine the impact on profitability of all of this? The fact is that the industry changes labels year round.
So why the fear of labeling genetically engineered ingredients? Especially when our own companies, Kraft, Coca Cola, Kellogg and other members of the Grocery Manufacturers Association already label genetically engineered ingredients on the products they sell overseas?
In harm's way?
Because without labels on genetically engineered ingredients, the industry can claim “no evidence of harm.” Without labels, there is no evidence of traceability, accountability and liability. No way for a mother to directly link her child’s allergic reaction to the genetically engineered soy that has been hardwired to withstand increasing doses of a weedkiller she has been told not to store under her kitchen sink. A soy introduced into our food supply in the late 1990s without a label.
If you haven’t heard of these ingredients, you’re not alone, but a growing number of Americans are learning about them, and there is now legislation introduced in more than half of the states around the country to get them labeled here, too.
A Wall Street Journal poll asked: Do you think genetically engineered foods should be labeled? 87% said yes.
These are not wide-eyed, fringe, radicals, but rather, most likely a business-minded segment of the population, suggesting that knowing what is in our food just might be a sound way to conserve the health of our country and help manage the bottom lines of companies whose profits are being hit by the burdens of disease .
Sure, the chemical and pesticide industries producing these foods don’t want to hear this. Some of these genetically engineered products are now regulated by the EPA as pesticides. That’s a hard sell to a consumer. Can you imagine that marketing campaign? ”Made with pesticides.”
But as more of us are waking up to the fact that the United States remains one of the only developed countries in the world to have failed to label these ingredients in our food supply, the question now seems to be: Is now the time to label genetically engineered foods, foods whose genetic makeup has been hardwired to withstand increasing doses of toxic chemicals or to produce insecticides within the plant itself.
The chemical companies that are both making the foods and selling the chemicals required to grow them often claim that their products are needed to feed the world.
It’s an emotional argument. Powerful, too. But in light of the fact that 2 billion people are overweight or obese and 1 billion are hungry, while 30% of what is grown is thrown away, is a food shortage really the problem?
“The world is hungry because of politics and economics, not because we can’t grow food” a farmer from Australia recently said. And if you go wide, beyond the consumers and farmers, and dig into the politics of food, you realize how complicated and politically, economically and financially loaded the issue has become.
According to the USDA, 40 percent of the food we produce is never eaten.
Food waste woes
So in light of this food waste, do we need this genetically engineered food to feed the world or do we need to design a distribution model?
In the late 1990s, pesticide manufacturers created this line of genetically engineered products, seeds that are hardwired to withstand increasing doses of their pesticides, as well as new pesticides. That’s good for their revenue lines and product sales, but mounting scientific evidence is questioning the safety of these products, engineered using a gene gun to manipulate the DNA. And in light of the fact that no long-term human studies have been done on what it might be doing to us, and recent headlines linking the chemicals used on it to brain, intestinal and heart defects in fetuses, at the very least, shouldn’t we pause and label these foods?
Sure, the companies engineering these crops to withstand their chemicals say it’s safe. It’s not the first time that ingredients with the potential to cause harm have been marketed this way. Doctors marketed cigarettes to our grandmothers. Like the tobacco industry, the pesticide and chemical industries fund research, protected under intellectual property law that is not subject to peer review, and then present it as evidence that their products are safe. That’s their job, to market their products so that they can drive shareholder return. But what about the rest of us, the world’s 7 billion stakeholders in the food supply – those of us, not known by the names given to our portfolios, but those of us simply called “eaters”?
Don’t we have a right to know that a researcher with the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research and director of the Molecular Embryology Laboratory said,”The noteworthy thing is that there are no studies of embryos on the world level and none where (the chemical routinely doused on these genetically engineered crops) glyphosate is injected into embryos.”
In other words, we have hardwired our crops so that they can be routinely sprayed and saturated with a chemical for which there are no studies of its impact on developing embryos on the world level.
And since the United States doesn’t label these foods, as over 40 countries around the world do, it means that American moms who are pregnant are the study. We are a walking experiment.
That’s hard to hear, especially for those of us that dismissed organic, that ate genetically engineered foods unknowingly while pregnant and for those of us who fed them to our families, completely unaware that they had been inserted into our food supply.
So when industry claims there is no evidence of harm, you almost want to believe them. But if you think about it, without labels, there simply is no evidence.
Label lowdown
Labels are needed to prove a direct cause and effect. However, mounting hospitalization records, record drug sales and an increasingly allergic, diabetic, cancer-stricken and obese population in which 46 children are diagnosed with cancer every day might suggest that we should take a closer look and introduce labeling here in the United States as a conservative measure to protect the heath of our citizens, the way the health of citizens in every country in the European Union, Australia, Japan, Russia and China are protected (to name a few).
Now, the industry might claim that this is “alarmist” or that it’s going to drive up the cost of food. What is alarming is that an FTC inquiry has not been launched into the marketing practices or a Senate committee on finance investigation has not looked into the publication of industry studies in medical journals in light of the growing number of children with pediatric cancers, autism, allergies, ADHD and asthma. According to the Latin American Herald Tribune, which is reporting on the scientific study just released, “The doses of herbicide used in the study “were much lower than the levels used in the fumigations,” and so the situation “is much more serious” that the study suggests, embryology professor Andres Carrasco, one of the study’s authors, warned.
But the researchers are not the only ones that are worried. Australian farmers are warning New Zealanders to make sure their country remains free of genetically engineered and modified organisms, and those concerns were recently supported by a scientific study out of Norway who just released results from experimental feeding studies carried out over a 10-year period showing a link between genetically engineered crops and obesity, changes in the digestive systems and changes in the major organics, including the liver, kidneys, pancreas, genitals and more.
According to the article:
“The results show a positive link between GE corn and obesity. Animals fed a GE corn diet got fatter quicker and retained the weight compared to animals fed a non-GE grain diet. The studies were performed on rats, mice, pigs and salmon, achieving the same results.
… Researchers found distinct changes to the intestines of animals fed GMOs compared to those fed non-GMOs. This confirms other studies done by US researchers. Significant changes occurred in the digestive systems of the test animals’ major organs including the liver, kidneys, pancreas, genitals and more.”
Professor Åshild Krogdahl, a researcher in the study, explains of her collaborative study: “It has often been claimed that the new genes in genetically modified foods can’t do any damage because all genes are broken down beyond recognition in the gut. Our results show the contrary that genes can be taken up across the intestinal wall, is transferred to the blood and is left in the blood, muscle and liver in large chunks so that they can be easily recognized.”
No one wants to hear this.
It is incredibly hard information to learn, especially for those of us that ate these genetically engineered crops and foods during our pregnancies, or for those who have watched a child die of cancer or for those of us who have a family member suffering under the health burdens of obesity. It is also hard on our farmers, who have lost loved ones to breast cancer, prostate cancer, lymphomas and more or the wives suffering from infertility rates or miscarriages.
The president-elect of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists will be focusing on the environmental factors for the health of moms and babies, and not a moment too soon.
It was Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political thinker, who said, “It is easier for the world to accept a simple lie than a complex truth”, but perhaps the truth is best stated by the researcher with the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research and director of the Molecular Embryology Laboratory:
“The companies say that drinking a glass of glyphosate (the chemical often used on these genetically engineered crops) is healthier than drinking a glass of milk, but the fact is that they’ve used us as guinea pigs.”
It doesn’t have to be an “either-or” situation. The chemical industry is responsible for these products. The food industry can opt out. Consumers are rewarding companies that already are, and so is the stock market. When Chipotle announced that they were going to source non genetically engineered ingredients, their stock soared to a record high.
The bottom line? Opting out of these ingredients appears be good for business. Food industry shareholders and executives have an opportunity to capture those returns, without the risk of the liability, accountability and traceability that labeling the chemical industry’s products might contain.
To learn more about genetically engineered foods and the pesticides being routinely applied to them, please visit one of the following sites, known for their independent research:
Pesticide Action Network
Just Label It
Our Right to Know
EPA’s Regulation of Genetically Engineered Crops as Pesticides
About the author: Robyn O'Brien is the founder of AllergyKids, whose mission is to restore the health of American families by addressing the needs of the 1 in 3 American children that now has allergies, autism, ADHD and asthma and the role that additives in our food supply are having on our health.
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__label__wiki | 0.875766 | 0.875766 | Jaffe: With the price of renewables falling, is…
With the price of renewables falling, is 100 percent green energy affordable?
Andy Cross, Denver Post file
Solar installer, Justin Woodbury, Namaste Solar, secures solar panels for a photovoltaic solar array system on the roof of a house in the Sorrel Ranch area, near e-470 and Smoky hill Road in Aurora in 2016.
By Mark Jaffe | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: January 26, 2018 at 12:00 pm | UPDATED: January 26, 2018 at 3:28 pm
The 100 percent fever has hit Colorado. From Aspen to Longmont to the state Capitol, the goal of powering Colorado with 100 percent renewable energy is taking hold.
Critics have questioned the economic and technical viability of such an aim. A study released in December by the Independence Institute, a libertarian think tank, put the cost of replacing Colorado’s coal-fired and natural gas-fired generation, which accounted for 55 percent of the state’s electricity in 2016, at $44.8 billion.
Still, two Democratic gubernatorial candidates — Jared Polis and Mike Johnston — have included it in their campaign platforms. State Sen. Matt Jones, a Boulder Democrat, is sponsoring the “Cheaper Cleaner Power Act,” which sets a target of 100 percent renewable power for the state by 2035.
Boulder, Pueblo, Lafayette, Aspen, Nederland, Breckenridge and Summit County are all part of the movement. On Jan. 9, the Longmont City Council adopted a target of 100 percent by 2030.
Colorado isn’t alone. Hawaii has already adopted the standard, California may follow this year, and more than 50 cities around the country have embraced the goal. The 100 percenters contend moving to all renewable energy will not only be cleaner and address climate change, it will also be cheaper.
But would it be?
“It is a pretty big promise to make,” said Amy Oliver Cooke, director of the Independence Institute’s Energy and Environmental Policy Center. “If you want to go there, go with yours eyes wide open. It is going to be expensive.”
In addition to replacing generation, the electrical grid would have to be overhauled to accommodate renewable energy, which is variable with the sun and the winds, and creates more rapid electricity flows across the grid, according a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) study.
Jones said that since aging plants and lines will have to be replaced anyway, it makes sense to transition to clean energy. “We are going to have to invest in something, and this can be an economic benefit to the state,” he said.
The price of key technologies — wind, solar and battery storage — are quickly falling. Wind costs are a third of what they were 10 years ago, and in just the last year, lithium-ion battery prices dropped 24 percent and solar costs dropped 30 percent.
In December, Xcel Energy, the state’s largest electricity provider, received bids for new wind, solar and storage projects that were among the lowest ever offered.
“We are in a technology revolution in energy, akin to the change from the horse and buggy to internal-combustion engine car,” said Jones. “In 2004, we adopted a 10 percent renewable energy standard, and Xcel said they couldn’t do that.”
Xcel now gets 30 percent of its power from renewable generation and has a proposal to boost that to 55 percent by 2025.
“We may not have a clear path forward today, but we didn’t have a clear path forward in 2004,” Jones said.
There is a consensus among energy researchers and utility operators that high levels of renewable energy can be put on the electric gird. NREL did a study looking at 80 percent renewable energy for the country by 2050. Moving beyond that is the big question.
In the Independence Institute study, the price tag rises steeply in the final years as more battery storage — the least developed and most expensive technology — is added. “The grid can effectively manage relatively high levels of renewables as long as it has something to balance it out,” said Dustin Meyer, an analyst with Energy Ventures Analysis, a Washington, D.C., consulting firm that did the study.
When all fossil-fuel plants shut, Energy Ventures sees the balancing done with batteries.
An analysis by Stanford University researcher Mark Jacobson concluded it would be possible to power the entire American economy with cheap renewable energy by 2050.
Polis has cited, or mis-cited, Jacobson’s work saying going to 100 percent would create 49,000 construction jobs and 21,000 operations jobs in Colorado, while saving consumers 10 percent on energy costs. But Jacobson’s calculations are for converting everything — electricity, heating, transportation, industry — to renewable energy, while most 100-percent plans are just focusing on electricity.
A group of researchers argue that Jacobson’s models were flawed and that as you approach 100 percent, renewables become more expensive and vulnerable to weather fluctuations.
Jacobson responded that the critics willfully mischaracterized his work and were carrying water for the nuclear industry. “We are saying this is technically possible,” Jacobson said in a podcast last year. “Whether it is a good idea or not is a political issue.”
While energy researchers battle over their models, the on-the-ground experience of Aspen, the third community in the nation to reach the 100 percent goal, is instructive.
Getting to 80 percent was relatively easy, the next 20 percent was hard, said David Hornbacher, the city’s director of utilities and environmental initiatives.
Aspen ended up meeting the goal through a power agreement with a new hydro project in Ridgway, Colo., about 90 miles from Aspen, and investing in a wind farm in Nebraska 200 miles away.
“Aspen took flak from renewable-energy advocates for not building their own,” said Elizabeth Doris, who manages an NREL program advising state and local governments, including Aspen. Local solutions were too expensive, Hornbacher said.
“Some of the challenges of the last percentage is trying to make the resource match your load characteristic,” Hornbacher said. For Aspen, the challenge was making sure it had lots of electricity for the Christmas holidays.
Still, there is growing interest across the country in trying to reach the target for reasons of environment, health, economics development or self-sufficiency, Doris said. “It almost gets to a very American ideal, what do you want for your community? Why do you want to do this?”
Mark Jaffe, a former Denver Post reporter, writes on Colorado environment and energy issues.
Jared Polis
Mike Johnston
Xcel Energy
Mark Jaffe
Mark Jaffe has been a reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Bloomberg News and The Denver Post. He was also previously a Paris correspondent for Businessweek.
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__label__wiki | 0.661103 | 0.661103 | [ chahy-nuh ]
/ ˈtʃaɪ nə /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR china ON THESAURUS.COM
a translucent ceramic material, biscuit-fired at a high temperature, its glaze fired at a low temperature.
any porcelain ware.
plates, cups, saucers, etc., collectively.
figurines made of porcelain or ceramic material, collectively: a collection of china.
Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a playing marble of china, or sometimes of porcelain or glass.
made of china.
indicating the twentieth event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.
Chinese New Year emojiRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
7 Chinese Loanwords To Expand Your VocabularyRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
pottery, service, crockery, porcelain, tableware, ware, ceramics, stoneware
chin-chou, chin-hsien, chin-strap, chin-up, chin., china, china aster, china bark, china blue, china clay, china closet
Origin of china
First recorded in 1645–55; by ellipsis from chinaware
Definition for china (2 of 2)
People's Republic of, a country in E Asia. 3,691,502 sq. mi. (9,560,990 sq. km). Capital: Beijing.
Republic of. Also called Nationalist China. a republic consisting mainly of the island of Taiwan off the SE coast of mainland China: under Nationalist control since 1948 but claimed by the People's Republic of China. 13,885 sq. mi. (35,960 sq. km). Capital: Taipei.
Examples from the Web for china
He did travel to China and Australia while the story was unfolding.
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In 1957, the islands came under repeated shelling by Mainland--or as it was then called, “Red”-- China.
The World’s Toughest Political Quiz|Jeff Greenfield|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The two islands are now tourist sites for visitors from Taiwan and mainland China.
At least 70 percent of the children were adopted from overseas, including Russia, China, Ethiopia and Ukraine.
Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking|Tina Traster|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Communist Party of China gets a bad rap for cracking down on religion.
The Buddhist Business of Poaching Animals for Good Karma|Brendon Hong|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Here came great fleets of junks from China laden with stores.
A History of the Philippines|David P. Barrows
This king despatched a return embassy to Fu-nan and his ambassadors met there an official sent by the Emperor of China.
Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 3 (of 3)|Charles Eliot
These are cheap and durable, and are placed on the tiled floors so common in the colder parts of China.
Rugs: Oriental and Occidental, Antique & Modern|Rosa Belle Holt
In one sense it is the old popular religion of China, of which Confucius selected the scholarly and gentlemanly features.
Of China as much was written as had been learned by succeeding generations down practically to our own time.
The Thirteenth|James J. Walsh
British Dictionary definitions for china (1 of 3)
/ (ˈtʃaɪnə) /
ceramic ware of a type originally from China
any porcelain or similar ware
cups, saucers, etc, collectively
(modifier) made of chinaa china tea service
Word Origin for china
C16 chiny, from Persian chīnī
British and Southern African informal a friend or companion
C19: originally Cockney rhyming slang: china plate, mate
People's Republic of China, Communist China or Red China a republic in E Asia: the third largest and the most populous country in the world; the oldest continuing civilization (beginning over 2000 years bc); republic established in 1911 after the overthrow of the Manchu dynasty by Sun Yat-sen; People's Republic formed in 1949; the 1980s and 1990s saw economic liberalization but a rejection of political reform; contains vast deserts, steppes, great mountain ranges (Himalayas, Kunlun, Tian Shan, and Nan Shan), a central rugged plateau, and intensively cultivated E plains. Language: Chinese in various dialects, the chief of which is Mandarin. Religion: nonreligious majority; Buddhist and Taoist minorities. Currency: yuan. Capital: Beijing. Pop: 1 349 586 000 (2013 est). Area: 9 560 990 sq km (3 691 502 sq miles)
Republic of China, Nationalist China or Taiwan a republic (recognized as independent by only 24 nations) in E Asia occupying the island of Taiwan, 13 nearby islands, and 64 islands of the Penghu (Pescadores) group: established in 1949 by the Nationalist government of China under Chiang Kai-shek after its expulsion by the Communists from the mainland; its territory claimed by the People's Republic of China since the political separation from the mainland; under US protection 1954–79; lost its seat at the UN to the People's Republic of China in 1971; state of war with the People's Republic of China formally ended in 1991, though tensions continue owing to the unresolved territorial claim. Language: Mandarin Chinese. Religion: nonreligious majority, Buddhist and Taoist minorities. Currency: New Taiwan dollar. Capital: Taipei. Pop: 22 610 000 (2003 est). Area: 35 981 sq km (13 892 sq miles)Former name: Formosa
Related formsRelated adjective: Sinitic
Word Origin and History for china (1 of 2)
"porcelain imported from China," 1570s, short for Chinaware, China dishes, etc.; from the country name (see China).
Asian country name, 1550s, of uncertain origin, probably ultimately from Sanskrit Cina-s "the Chinese" (earliest European usage is in Italian, by Marco Polo), perhaps from Qin dynasty, which ruled 3c. B.C.E. Latinized as Sina, hence sinologist. The Chinese word for the country is Chung-kuo (Wade-Giles), Zhongguo (Pinyin).
Culture definitions for china
Nation in eastern Asia, bordered by Russia and North Korea to the east; Russia and Mongolia to the north; Russia and Afghanistan to the west; and Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Laos, and Vietnam to the south. Its capital is Beijing, and its largest city is Shanghai.
China is the most populous country in the world and the third largest, after Russia and Canada.
The Boxer Rebellion of 1900 grew out of strong resentment of foreign influence in China.
A revolution in 1911 overthrew the Qing dynasty, ending the two-thousand-year-old imperial system.
Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of the Chinese Nationalists, established the government of Nationalist China (see also Nationalist China) in 1928 in Nanjing.
The Second Sino-Japanese War, which lasted from 1937 to 1945 (merging with World War II in 1941), grew out of Japanese encroachments on Chinese land.
The Chinese communists, with Mao Zedong as their leader, defeated Chiang's Nationalists in 1949, proclaiming the People's Republic of China. The Nationalists withdrew to the island of Taiwan.
In 1950, Chinese forces joined the North Korean army in the Korean War.
In 1958, Mao undertook the “Great Leap Forward” campaign, a crash program of industrialization, but none of its goals were reached, and the effort collapsed.
In 1960, the ideological split between the Soviet Union and China widened, and the Soviets withdrew all aid.
In the mid-1960s, Mao's wife, acting on his behalf, and three colleagues, later known as the Gang of Four, advanced the goals of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, aimed at eliminating old ideas and customs. Mobs attacked schools and cultural centers, brutally disrupting the entire nation. With the death of Mao in 1976 and the trial of the Gang of Four in 1980, the Cultural Revolution came to an end.
In 1972, President Richard Nixon visited China, reopening relations between mainland China and the United States.
In 1989, the government brutally suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square.
Although China remains officially communist, its government encourages capitalism in designated areas, especially in its southeastern provinces. China has experienced considerable economic development in recent decades. Relations with the United States remain tense, especially over Taiwan, but the United States supported China's admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2929 |
__label__wiki | 0.965356 | 0.965356 | Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Fulfilling Our Nation's Promise
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Soldier Accounted For From Korean War (Martin, J.)
Release No: 18-205 Nov. 19, 2018
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John W. Martin
WASHINGTON — The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, accounted-for from the Korean War, are those of Army Pfc. John W. Martin, 23, of Saratoga, New York. Martin was accounted for on Sept. 24, 2018.
In late November 1950, Martin was a member of Medical Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Approximately 2,500 U.S. and 700 South Korean soldiers assembled into the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT), which was deployed east of the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, when it was attacked by overwhelming numbers of Chinese forces. As the Chinese attacks continued, American forces withdrew south. By December 6, the U.S. Army evacuated approximately 1,500 service members; the remaining soldiers had been either captured, killed or missing in enemy territory. Martin was reported missing in action on Dec. 2, 1950, after he was last seen near the Chosin Reservoir.
Martin’s name did not appear on any prisoner of war lists, and no returning prisoners of war reported that he had been captured. Based on this information, he was declared deceased as of Dec. 31, 1951. In 1956, his remains were declared non-recoverable.
In September 2001, during the 25th Joint Recovery Operation, a burial site located at the Chosin Reservoir, in the vicinity of where Martin’s unit fought during the war, was excavated. The remains were accessioned to the DPAA laboratory for identification.
To identify Martin’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial (mtDNA), Y-chromosome (Y-STR) and autosomal (auSTR) DNA analysis, anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
DPAA is grateful to the government and people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and looks forward to the continued fulfillment of the commitment made by President Trump and Chairman Kim on the return and recovery of U.S. service members in North Korea.
Today, 7,675 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously returned by North Korean officials or recovered from North Korea by American recovery teams. Martin’s name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
For information on funeral services, contact the Army Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.
For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa or call (703) 699-1420/1169.
Martin’s personnel profile can be viewed at https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000cLirwEAC | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2932 |
__label__cc | 0.546787 | 0.453213 | Unraveling universal healthcare, the alternative to the GOP’s plan
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Photo via Daniel Lobo/Flickr (CC-BY)
There is an alternative to the GOP’s proposed healthcare model.
If anything can be understood by the Republican drive to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) it’s that healthcare is a hot-button issue in the U.S., one that’s been debated for decades.
Elsewhere in the developed world, it’s a settled matter that centers around giving every citizen accessibility to health services. So, as the Senate Republican healthcare bill moves toward a vote, it’s interesting to take a look at the alternative—universal healthcare.
What is universal health care?
Universal healthcare (UHC) is a broad term that describes the provision of quality health services to every citizen while protecting them from the financial consequences that the use of expensive treatments or medicines often incur.
The aim is to give everyone, regardless of social status or income, access to a progressive range of essential health services, including education services, as well as a full breadth of treatment and care services—although some medical interventions may not be covered. UHC often also encompasses what are called population-based services and health awareness campaigns.
What are the pros and cons of universal healthcare?
The sudden onset of an illness or disease can force people of lower income into poverty as they try to pay for their treatment, causing people to spend their savings and driving many into debt. So, the key to applying UHC successfully is inextricably linked to protecting people from health costs by spreading the financial risk across the population.
Many countries rate UHC as fundamental to positive health outcomes across their populations, corroborating the World Health Organisation’s assessment that UHC not only improves quality of life across society but is also linked to sustained economic growth and development.
As such, UHC has generally been moved on as a key policy objective in both developed and developing nations. In fact, as part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, member states have committed to implementing and working towards UHC by 2030.
The primary arguments against switching to universal healthcare in the United States boil down to money, options, and trust in government.
As we’ve seen to a lesser extent with the ACA, the cost of insuring more people—or, in the case of a UHC system, everyone—means more people have to chip in. This often comes in the form of taxes and other payments (more on this below). This means some people might pay more than they otherwise would at certain points in their lives, while others might pay less. Some Americans are opposed to the idea that their money might go toward keeping a stranger healthy or alive. Others want the option to spend their money on something other than health insurance, even if that puts them at higher risk.
Another factor is choice. Under a UHC system, everyone is effectively treated equally and options for treatments may be limited. This is great for people who are at a financial disadvantage, but people with the funds to spend more for better (or simply different) treatments may balk at the idea of relying on UHC.
Finally, there’s the question of whether the federal government can effectively and efficiently run a healthcare system for hundreds of millions of Americans in all 50 states. One only need explore the problems with the Department of Veteran Affairs—inadequate care, long wait times for patients, and more—to see how a government-run healthcare system for everyone could potentially devolve into a nightmare.
Photo via Patient Care Technician
How are universal healthcare programs paid for?
The healthcare models and financing systems vary from country to country, but most countries provide total coverage through a blend of publicly owned and private systems. On occasion, however, a government may directly and solely manage healthcare provision on behalf of the citizenry.
UHC is often paid for by several sources. In most countries, funding is secured through taxation, often supplemented by private and compulsory contributions made on behalf of an employee by an employer or company.
Is UHC common around the world?
Many economically developed countries in the world implement universal healthcare in one form or another. The countries of Europe and Scandinavia almost all deliver UHC, apart from a couple of troubled countries.
The United Kingdom has offered its citizens a National Health Service since 1948, alongside a market for private insurers. Other wealthy countries like Australia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea have provided UHC for more than half a century.
Developing countries like China, which supports the world’s largest healthcare system already, is working toward UHC for its colossal population of 1.37 billion people.
In North America, Canada has successfully implemented healthcare provision for every citizen since the 1960s, in stark contrast to its southerly neighbor.
Photo via United Workers/Flickr (CC-BY)
Why does the U.S. not have universal healthcare?
There is no real consensus on how healthcare should be implemented in the U.S., and there are many reasons for this. When it comes to UHC, the strongest opposition in the U.S. from players in both the political and business spheres.
On one hand, interest groups spend big money lobbying on behalf of the powerful private health insurers industry. In 2009, when Obamacare legislation was being drafted, health-sector lobbyists doubled in number and spending hit more than $1.2 billion. Meanwhile, ultra-conservatives with limited government ideologies believe that UHC stands in contradiction with American values. Groups like the House Freedom Caucus have worked to restrict both government subsidizing of health services and what those essential services include.
Money and ideology aside, a January poll from Pew Research shows that a 60 percent majority of Americans say the government should be responsible for ensuring health care coverage for all Americans—effectively backing UHC.
Perhaps the loudest vocal political force for American UHC is Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination last year. Providing healthcare for all Americans became one of his key campaign pitches in his race against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
“There is one major country that does not guarantee healthcare to all people,” he said during a February 2016 PBS debate between Sanders and Clinton. “There is one major country—the United States—which ends up spending almost three times per capita what they do in the U.K. guaranteeing healthcare to all people, 50 percent more than they do in France guaranteeing healthcare to all people, far more than our Canadian neighbors, who guarantee health care to all people.”
In just one decade, the country has moved from establishing the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, which enfranchised over 24 million citizens using government subsidies and funding.
For social democrats like Sanders, the Affordable Care Act was good, but it didn’t go far enough.
The U.S. is now retreating further from UHC. Senate Republicans recently unveiled their plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, which greatly cuts funding for Medicaid—a government-run insurance plan that serves over 60 million Americans—among many other provisions.
Still, many Americans are not sold on the ideas Republicans have offered for replacing Obamacare. Even if it passes as Obamacare did, the debate is clearly far from settled.
David Gilmour is a reporter who specializes in national politics, internet culture, and technology. He previously covered civil liberties, crime, and politics for Vice.
Affordable Care Act American Healthcare Act Barack Obama Donald Trump Government Universal Healthcare | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2934 |
__label__wiki | 0.85844 | 0.85844 | Home Norway Fine arts/music The Mythical Norwegian Electro Pop Wizard from Oz
The Mythical Norwegian Electro Pop Wizard from Oz
Electro pop singer and songwriter Aurora gained international prominence when she covered the Oasis song “Half the World Away” for the British retailer John Lewis’ Christmas commercial in 2015.
Aurora was discovered in 2012 after she had uploaded a personal song onto Norwegian Soundcloud, originally meant as a Christmas gift for her parents. It quickly found its way to the ears of an agent.
Aurora Aksnes born in Os outside Bergen, Norway, released her first single “Puppet” in December 2012
Aurora Aksnes born in Os outside Bergen, Norway, released her first single “Puppet” in December 2012. Her song “Runaway”, from her debut-ep “Running With The Wolves”, released by Decca records in February 2015, received 1 million views on Spotify in six weeks. Pop star Katy Perry tweeted, calling her music “new music that makes my heart flutter.”
Aurora’s music is also making the American rapper Jaden Smith feel all the feels. He has described her music as “cosmic conscious”.
Related: Norwegian Pop Group a-ha is Back
Aurora’s melancholy and moody songs sound like they’re bending toward a light, and her lyrics are often surprisingly dark
The 21-year-old musician (who records under her first name) is seemingly moving through the world without any particular pattern, drifting to whatever entices her. With platinum-blonde hair and an angelic accent, Aurora reminds us of a mythical creature where you almost can hear the birds chirping in the background. She began making music when she found her parents’ old electric piano in her attic, and at 10 she began writing her own songs.
Related: Passionate Norwegian Singer/Songwriter
How does a girl from the mountains of Norway make it all the way to the world of stardom? Her melancholy and moody songs sound like they’re bending toward a light, and her lyrics are often surprisingly dark. When she sings her fingers flicker in the air, as if she’s literally trying to grab words out of the sky.
Related: Norwegian Electronica Artist André Bratten
When Aurora sings her fingers flicker in the air, as if she’s literally trying to grab words out of the sky
“At first, I wasn’t really keen on the idea of me being on stage having to sing in front of people,” says Aksnes. “That’s why I made the gift for my parents in the first place — so they could listen to me without me having to be there.”
“I am definitely affected by energy,” says Aurora, “and that’s why I write mostly, to get rid of these energies so I don’t have to carry them around with me all the time.”
Mythical Norwegian Electro Pop Wizard from Oz, written by Tor Kjolberg
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A Norwegian Eldorado for Anglers | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2935 |
__label__wiki | 0.890184 | 0.890184 | Reconciliation still ongoing in APC – Ajimobi
By Muideen Olaniyi | Published Date May 31, 2018 18:33 PM
The chairman of the publicity sub-committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention Committee (NCC) and Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, has said the position of National Chairman is still open to contest despite the endorsement of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ajimobi said this in Abuja on Friday while briefing journalists on the activities of Governor Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa State-led NCC ahead of June 23, 2018 National Convention, where a new set of APC national officers would be elected.
“Talking about the President endorsement of Adams Oshiomhole, I believe that, yes, the President has endorsed but it doesn’t preclude other people from declaring to contest. It is a democracy and everybody is open to declare.
“I think everybody has a right to declare and once they declare, we go through the convention and we choose whoever won. So, it is very competitive and you will still see in the coming days, some people will declare their interest,” he said while responding to questions from journalists.
The governor, who said Asiwaju Bola Ahmed-led reconciliation committee was working “quietly” to resolve various issues that had been bedevilling the APC, voiced optimism that some of those who had approached courts because of the fallout of the congresses would withdraw their cases.
“You will see a lot of people moving round and talking, quietly with the Asiwaju group. So, reconciliation is a work in progress. I believe the Asiwaju team; they are working very effectively and reporting to the President,” said the governor.
Governor Ajimobi said the struggle for positions during the just-concluded State Congresses, the violence that trailed the exercise and the disagreements witnessed showed the interest people had in the APC, the level of democratisation it had experienced and the party’s democratic nature.
“State congresses, yes, there have been reports of violence here and there. It will continue to witness reconciliation and this is what we are doing. I believe honestly that reconciliation should take place,” said the NCC spokesperson. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2936 |
__label__cc | 0.611111 | 0.388889 | Are You Your Own Twin?
Take any two cells from your body and there's a good chance their genetic sequences will be a match. That is, unless you happen to have what's referred to in the medical literature as a 'tetragametic chimerism' – a condition that causes separate fertilised embryos to merge into a single body.
Once thought to be rare among humans, there's good reason to suspect we might be seeing a lot more of it in the future.
The truth is, nobody is really certain how many humans have cells in their body that once belonged to a sibling.
Unlike the transplantation of a fully developed organ into a grown body, the presence of genetically distinct cells early in life won't trigger alarm bells in the immune system.
That makes it possible for two (or more) fertilised eggs – siblings, for all purposes – to bump into one another in the uterus, and mistake their new neighbour for another cell in their own growing body. Far from rejecting each other, the cells team up and continue to build a single human.
The tides of hormones and other chemical signals directing the embryo's evolution tend to affect the two cells in pretty much the same way, making it hard to spot where one developing tissue ends and another begins.
On occasion, however, the different sets of genes do make themselves known.
Increased reliance on assisted reproductive technologies means we can expect more multiple conceptions.
Just how many of these embryonic siblings merge into a single person is far from clear. Given how little we know about either its prevalence or how it might be responsible for anything from allergies to auto-immune disorders, this could be concerning.
But no doubt it's a topic we'll be learning more about in coming years. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2939 |
__label__wiki | 0.613097 | 0.613097 | For all DSJ Exclusive content
What it’s like to be the people charged with defending the accused 9/11 conspirators
by Justice Bennett | Nov 20, 2018 | Defense Systems News, DSJ @ GTMO - Nov 2018, DSJ Exclusive Interviews, DSJ in the Field, DSJ News Features
Defense Systems Journal visited GTMO at the invitation of the Department of Defense (DoD) during the week of 3-10 November 2018 to witness the pre-trial proceedings of the Office of Military Commissions. In this context we had the opportunity to attend...
Here’s what it would take to get the trial against accused 9/11 conspirators started
It’s been over 17 years since the 9/11 attacks that killed 2,977 people and over 10 years since five members of Al-Qaeda accused of supporting the attack, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-described “mastermind,” were charged in a U.S. military...
HASC Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) outlines national security priorities for the next Congress
by Douglas Harpel | Oct 10, 2018 | DSJ Exclusive Interviews
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by Douglas Harpel | Aug 24, 2018 | DSJ Exclusive Interviews, DSJ News Features
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EXCLUSIVE: One-on-One with Kevin Taylor, Chairman, Hybrid Air Vehicles
by Douglas Harpel | Jul 18, 2018 | DSJ Exclusive Interviews, Industry Conference Reports
DSJ's editor, Douglas Harpel, sat down with Hybrid Air Vehicles' new Chairman, Kevin Taylor, in the company's exhibition booth at the 2018 Farnborough International Air Show. DSJ: You were announced just yesterday as the new Chairman of Hybrid Air Vehicles. Why did...
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by Justice Bennett | Jun 20, 2018 | DSJ Exclusive Interviews, DSJ News Features, Pentagon News
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EXCLUSIVE: On Guard in Europe with General Maj. Gen. John L. Gronski, Deputy Commanding General of the Army National Guard within U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR)
by Douglas Harpel | May 10, 2018 | Defense Systems News, DSJ Exclusive Interviews
Defense Systems Journal had a chance to sit down last week at the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) Annual Meeting and Exhibition with Maj. Gen. John L. Gronski, Deputy Commanding General of the Army National Guard within U.S. Army... | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2941 |
__label__wiki | 0.725433 | 0.725433 | Uzbekistan Exit from CSTO Reveals Limits of Russia’s Eurasian Integration Plans
Nathan Hamm, Jul 17 2012, 1163 views
On June 28, Uzbekistan announced its intention to withdraw from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russian-led military alliance that Moscow views as a competitor to NATO. Uzbekistan’s relationship with the CSTO, much like its foreign relations in general, has run hot and cold. It was one of the original members of the organization, but it left in 1999, only to rejoin in 2006, after relations with the West had soured and ties with Russia were being vigorously improved.
Uzbekistan’s CSTO withdrawal comes after several years of improving relations with the United States, which has been using the Northern Distribution Network (NDN), a logistics network running through Central Asia, to resupply war efforts in Afghanistan. Deteriorating US-Pakistan relations have greatly increased the need for and use of the NDN, and tremendous diplomatic effort has been put into expanding the types of equipment that can be moved over the route and opening the route to the transport of supplies out of Afghanistan as NATO reduces its presence in the country.
Many observers have characterized Uzbekistan’s CSTO departure as signaling an erosion of Moscow’s influence in Central Asia and an increase in Washington’s. In an article carried by Atlantic Sentinel, Wikistrat analyst Michael Moreland says that Uzbekistan’s withdrawal from the CSTO has turned it into a US ally in Central Asia and predicts that US will secure use of Uzbek military bases beginning in 2014. Commentators in Russia’s media voiced certainty that a new US-Uzbekistan strategic alliance will soon be announced and that US troops will be allowed to be based in Uzbekistan. This conviction was strengthened by the visit of a large US Congressional delegation to Uzbekistan in early July. The Kremlin’s difficulties in finalizing a basing agreement to keep the 201st Motor Rifle Division in Tajikistan and remarks by the new US ambassador in Dushanbe about the possibility of placing a US transit center in Tajikistan in early July left many Russian commentators lamenting that America had secured alliances with both countries at Moscow’s expense.
The reality is, any influence that Moscow is perceived to have lost is influence it did not actually have, and any additional influence the US has gained is miniscule at best.
The US role in Central Asia has indeed increased over the past several years, and relations between Washington and Tashkent are much improved. The need for a reliable logistics route into Afghanistan has driven both of these phenomena, but they have been hard fought. Each NDN partner has sought to get as much from the US as possible in the few years that high levels of traffic will move through the network. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have moved slowly to approve new transit deals, hoping to guarantee a better deal than its neighbor.
Nevertheless, there are few signs that Central Asian governments or the United States are interested in especially robust defense relationships. The US has found predictable and productive relationships with Central Asian governments, especially Uzbekistan’s, difficult and expensive to maintain. Lengthy interagency and Congressional certification processes and security assistance restrictions imposed by human rights legislation make cooperation and equipment transfers difficult, particularly in the case of Uzbekistan. Observers of the region like Columbia’s Alexander Cooley, whom the AP recently quoted as saying the US is all but certain to slip lethal equipment into planned transfers of non-lethal equipment, are almost certainly worrying unnecessarily.
Meanwhile, no Central Asian government seems eager to participate in security assistance that comes with obligations. Kazakhstan, which has been developing a NATO-interoperable brigade with US assistance, backed away from plans to make a small troop contribution of four officers to ISAF in 2011. Uzbekistan famously has little patience to hear any criticism of its human rights records and has shown unwillingness to liberalize in exchange for economic or military assistance. Additionally, attacks on the West remain staples of the state-controlled print and broadcast media. Most Central Asian governments have expressed concerns that close cooperation with the US or NATO makes them targets for terrorists.
Aside from officially neutral Turkmenistan, every Central Asian government has a multi-vector foreign policy that manifests in periods of good, bad, and indifferent relations with the US and Russia. In Uzbekistan’s case, the swings appear to take place more quickly and the extremes of its foreign shifts are much wider. When it demanded the US stop using the Karshi-Khanabad airbase in 2005, Tashkent appeared to be quickly exiting its strategic partnership with Washington and warming up to Beijing and Moscow. And when Uzbekistan announced its CSTO departure at the end of June, the appearance was of a quick rush from Russia to the US.
In both of these cases, the changes were a long time coming. Despite appearances of sudden foreign policy shifts, President Karimov’s priorities have remained almost entirely static since independence.
The paramount concern in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy is to defend the country’s sovereignty and independence. State propaganda is peppered with pronouncements of Uzbekistan’s greatness, permanence, independence, and that its people will never depend on anyone. As far back as 1996, President Karimov was declaring he would not cede “even a particle” of Uzbekistan’s sovereignty to multilateral CIS institutions.
Uzbekistan is unlikely to participate in multilateral organizations that offer no benefits. It will not participate in multilateral organizations that erode its sovereignty. For most of its existence, the CSTO did very little. It held its first large-scale exercise in 2008 and established a rapid reaction force in 2009. Uzbekistan did not participate in CSTO exercises and expressed concern over the formation of the rapid reaction force. It also strongly criticized Russia’s 2009 suggestion that a base be established for this force in southern Kyrgyzstan, near the border with Uzbekistan. However, CSTO paralysis during 2010’s ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan and subsequent refusal to assist the country in the aftermath of that violence revealed the alliance to still be toothless and ineffectual.
So what has changed? The CSTO is still an untested military alliance with an unclear mission among governments that frequently criticize one another. Like the CIS and other multilateral organizations composed of Soviet successor states, it is primarily a vehicle for Russian foreign policy. And it is a quiet but important shift in Russia’s foreign policy that made continued membership in the CSTO a problem for Uzbekistan.
Eurasian integration has been a key priority in Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy. In January, while still Russia’s Prime Minister, Putin published several articles in newspapers addressing various policy issues facing the country. In these, he cites the importance of further Eurasian integration and wrote that the CSTO must be strengthened so that it can fulfill its role as “guarantor of stability in Eurasia.” In just the last month, the phrase “Eurasian Integration” has been uttered by political elites across Russia and the CIS, revealing the push the Kremlin is making to strengthen organizations like the CSTO and Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) that create ties between Moscow and several Soviet successor states. Putin expressed sorrow that “brotherly Ukraine” is not part of this integration and invited its government to participate in any way it wished. Sergei Naryshkin, the Chairman of the Russian Duma, hailed the “Eurasian Integration” of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan as instrumental to giving them equal footing on the world stage. The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said in late June that Eurasian Integration was eroding borders between participants and creating a strong, nearly unified state.
With a renewed Russian push for Eurasian integration via multilateral organizations like the CSTO, Uzbekistan sees continued membership as a threat to its sovereignty. President Karimov believes Uzbekistan to be the most important and powerful state in Central Asia and a peer of powerful states outside of the region. If Russia’s push for closer integration indicates that it intends to more seriously use organizations it dominates like the CSTO and EurAsEC as venues for defense and economic relations, Uzbekistan suffers a loss of power and prestige by remaining a member. As a CSTO member, Uzbekistan is a peer of Kyrgyzstan and Armenia and likely viewed less favorably than Kazakhstan. As a non-member, it is an equal peer of Russia and forces all negotiations into its bilateral relationship with Moscow where it can secure better deals.
Uzbekistan’s withdrawal from the CSTO is not a victory for the US in the “New Great Game.” While Uzbekistan’s CSTO membership did give the Kremlin a veto over any potential US base or transit facility in Uzbekistan, it is unlikely that the US would put too much effort into securing a basing agreement with Tashkent without also speaking to Russia, which itself hosts a US military transit center in Ulyanovsk which is to become operational this August.
Meanwhile, relations between Uzbekistan and Russia are likely to continue as they have via bilateral channels. There have been no official denunciations from either side, and the Uzbek media has hardly even discussed the country’s exit from the alliance. Karimov lavished Putin with praise and talked regional defense issues when the two met in Moscow following Putin’s inauguration. Despite the threatened shutdown of Russian mobile operator MTS in Uzbekistan, the two countries enjoy robust economic links and Russian companies remain important players in Uzbekistan’s energy sector.
However, Uzbekistan’s departure from the CSTO does have important implications for the region. It is a reminder that Russia’s influence has sharp limits, even in its near abroad. Uzbekistan’s departure will do little to change the behavior of other CSTO members in Central Asia. In fact, it makes the organization more cohesive. Nevertheless, all of the governments in Central Asia are protective of their sovereignty and ability to act independently of Russia. Other CSTO members will continue to participate in the development of the alliance, but it is unlikely that they will continue if doing so places serious limits on their sovereignty. Keeping the alliance watered down and ill-defined works fairly well for most of the Central Asian members. Going forward, Russia will probably have to temper its hopes for meaningful, rapid integration in Eurasia.
Nathan Hamm is the founder and Principal Analyst for Registan, which he launched in 2003. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan 2000-2001 and received his MA in Central Asian Studies from the University of Washington in 2007. Since 2007, he has worked full-time as an analyst, consulting with private and government clients on Central Asian affairs, specializing in how socio-cultural and political factors shape risks and opportunities and how organizations can adjust their strategic and operational plans to account for these variables.
Tags: Central Asia, CSTO, Russia, Uzbekistan | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2943 |
__label__cc | 0.531995 | 0.468005 | Energy & Infrastructure >
BMW installs 100 charging points in Mallorca
Balearic IslandsBMWChargeNowCharging StationsMallorca
BMW has begun installation of a charging network for EVs that will cover 100 charging points with up to 22kW capacities at 50 locations around the island by the end of the year. So far, one fifth of the stations has been installed.
The charging points will be installed at strategic locations such as hotels, restaurants, sport centres and ports. The distance between locations is supposed to be around 25 km. The stations are part of the ChangeNow project by the BMW Group.
Independently, the Balearic government is also supporting the mobility change. As of 2025, no new diesels will be allowed on the islands, as of 2035 this will also apply to gas combustion vehicles. Furthermore, the island group is planning to install a total of 500 HPC charging stations this year, 300 in Mallorca alone. The initiative is being financed with 12 million euros from tourist taxes.
Additionally, as of 2030, only electrified vehicles will be allowed to be rented on the Balearic islands. The corresponding law was passed last November. As of 2020, the plan is to have the EV quota at car dealerships on the islands at 10%, adding another 10% each year afterwards. Electrive.net launched a trial attempt of navigating the islands in early 2016, but found the facilities were somewhat lacking at the time.
Author: Chris Randall
GreenWay installs 31 HPC stations in Poland
Fast Cities Australia secures $7 million investment
https://www.electrive.com/2018/07/26/bmw-installs-100-charging-points-in-mallorca/ | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2945 |
__label__cc | 0.680349 | 0.319651 | « Teen Sues Parents | Main | Special issue of Economics and Philosophy on the work of Amartya Sen »
The arbitrariness of well-being measures: family mealtimes and Facebook enrollment
Last week I submitted the manuscript for a book that argues that all measures of well-being or happiness are arbitrary and reflect the judgments of those who designed them, rather than the interests of the people whose well-being is ostensibly measured. (A precis of sorts for the book appeared in this article, published late last year.)
Last week The Telegraph provided a perfect (if a bit outrageous) example of this in an article titled "Family mealtimes to become official measure of national ‘happiness’." The article begins:
Eating meals together as a family is to be officially recognised as a mark of happiness as part of David Cameron’s plan to measure Britain’s national “well-being”.
For the first time, the number British families who maintain traditional mealtimes is to be monitored, under plans to expand the so-called “happiness” index.
Children as young as 10 are to be asked how often they argue with their parents and whether they are being bullied at school, including Internet bullying.
They will also be asked to share how they feel about their personal appearance, whether they can confide in their parents about problems and whether they have signed up to social networking sites such as Facebook.
Before I get to the broader issue here, let me say that these "elements of happiness" are not uncontroversial. Family mealtimes are usually good, sure, but being signed up to Facebook? The latter has been linked with some measures of happiness, and some have even questioned the mental health of people who aren't on Facebook. But this is hardly a settled matter, and it seems hasty (at best) to suggesting using Facebook enrollment in official government statistics meant to guide policymaking. (I hope you can appreciate the self-restraint required in keeping this paragraph relatively snark-free.)
There are good arguments for composite indices of well-being (such as the United Nations' Human Development Index), but this latest effort by the British government seems more like a kitchen sink approach to measuring well-being. Are public policy decisions seriously going to be taken based on Facebook enrollment and family mealtime frequency? Do British policymakers actually think this will capture the well-being of their citizens accurately enough to guide policy decisions in their interests?
Clearly somebody feels that these aspects of life are important to the well-being of the British people. This is what philosopher Sissela Bok meant when, in her book Exploring Happiness, she compared happiness measures to Rorschach tests: they often reveal more about those who designed them then about those whose happiness they are used to assess. The question is whether any haphazard collection of statistics about daily life—even those shown to have some connection to some measure of well-being—can hope to accurately capture the interests of any one person, much less a nation's entire population, in order to ground responsible and effective policy decisions.
In the article linked above and my forthcoming book, I argue that the answer is a resounding no. A person's interests are complex, multifaceted, and subjective, and they're combined and balanced in ever-shifting ways by his or her judgment before they issue in a choice that reflects them. No statistical measure of happiness or well-being can even begin to approach people's true interests, and governments should stop pretending they can. This practice is ineffective, wasteful, and—more important—disrespectful to their citizens' right to live their lives as they wish (consistent with all other dong the same).
Instead, I argue that governments should focus on restructing laws and other institutions to enable the maximal freedom possibe for people to pursue their own interests, while focusing on addressing problems that present themselves—minimizing suffering where it exists rather than trying to maximize well-being according to measures they invent.
Posted by Mark D. White on March 10, 2014 at 09:25 AM in Ethics, Happiness, Paternalism, Policy, Posts by Mark D. White, Well-being | Permalink | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2950 |
__label__wiki | 0.72348 | 0.72348 | Guinness Record attempt in Dubai on International Yoga Day
Dubai-based Ivan Stanley set a challenge for himself and stood on his head for 61 minutes to create a possible new Guinness World Record. (Supplied)
Bindu Rai
Published Sunday, June 21, 2015
Wrap your head around this; but then again, such an attempt may not be suitable for the faint-hearted or those flailing in their fitness routines.
Dubai-based Ivan Stanley set a challenge for himself and stood on his head for 61 minutes to create a possible new Guinness World Record.
Trembling yet jubilant after completing this feat, Stanley spoke to Emirates 24|7 minutes after his feet touched the ground, saying: “It feels nice but a little disorienting. Those last five minutes were impossible, perhaps the longest of my life.”
A ‘shirsasana’ pose, or the headstand, is often called the king of asanas or postures in yoga.
A few minutes of standing upside down, balancing on your head, can send the blood rushing. However, the 41-year-old advertising professional chose this very posture to push his own boundaries in his journey of self-discovery.
He said: “In yoga, there is a concept we learn called ‘swadhyay’ or self-study. It is the moment when you go beyond your comfort zone when you start discovering who you really are; your true strength.
“I believe in pushing myself beyond my comfort zone and thought why not take the International Yoga Day as my stepping stone.”
Asked if he doubted he would be able to push those limits to headstand for 61 minutes, Stanley said he had full faith in himself.
“I have attempted 50 minutes earlier; and last week, I pushed up to 58 minutes,” he said. “That’s when I decided, one hour is good time to start with to set a record.”
Stanley continued: “It is a case of mind over matter. I was chanting the whole time I was maintaining the ‘shirsasana.’ After a while you just zone out.”
“But yes, around the 45-minute mark, I had an idea I was reaching the end, of what was happening around me. So, I just pulled myself together for the final few minutes.”
Record attempt
According to the Guinness World Records database, a headstand attempt has not been registered as a challenge as yet.
Stanley said: “When I contacted the Guinness World Records international office and the Dubai one, there was no such challenge registered with the organisation. We have registered the attempt and will send the video to them. Hopefully, we should know soon enough.”
While no official record exists, Stanley himself admitted there was an Internet video he saw one year ago of someone holding a headstand for 34 minutes.
Similarly, reports have emerged of certified yoga instructor Yogaraj CP who reportedly stayed in headstand posture for two hours and 40 minutes in September 2004.
However, the Hong Kong-based man holds no record of this, but does appear in the Guinness World Records for conducting the longest yoga marathon earlier this year, which lasted 40 hours and 15 minutes.
His attempt was broadcast live on YouTube, and over 1,200 yoga positions were conducted.
Ask Stanley what’s next for him and he laughed to say the only thing he wants to do now is “lie down for a while.”
He added: “I do want to thank my teachers who have been so patient with me. Yoga has completely changed my life.” | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2953 |
__label__wiki | 0.944983 | 0.944983 | Recording Equipment from L.A.’s The Sound Factory Now Available on Reverb.com
Techno Empire’s Reverb Shop Features Monitors, Compressors, and More From This Historic Studio.
Electronic Musician Newswire
Thursday, January 4, 2018 — Today, L.A.’s Techno Empire is selling recording equipment from The Sound Factory studio on music gear marketplace Reverb.com. The iconic L.A. studio, which has been the center of many classic recordings since the late ‘60s, will remain active while also giving artists, engineers, fans, and more the opportunity to own a piece of recording history.
The Sound Factory was already a working studio when David Hassinger bought it in 1969, but the engineer and producer — known for his work with the Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, Sam Cooke, and CSNY — brought a new level of craft to the building. Throughout the ‘70s, country rockers like Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, and more recorded in the studio. Warren Zevon’s Excitable Boy, the artist’s largest-selling album that featured “Werewolves of London,” was created there as well.
In 1981, the studio was purchased by Salvatore “Tutti” Camarata and his son Paul Camarata, who were also running the legendary Sunset Sound recording studio where The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and Prince were making seminal albums. The Sound Factory went on to record Toni Basil’s “Mickey,” Tom Waits, and T Bone Burnett in the ‘80s, as well as Belle and Sebastian, Sheryl Crow, Beck, Marilyn Manson, Ryan Adams, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and John Legend throughout the ‘90s and 2000s.
Two albums that Paul, who co-owned The Sound Factory until last year, is particularly proud of recording at the studio are the last records from both Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash. He told Reverb, “There were some really historic records both from us and the previous incarnation of Dave Hassinger that were done at Sound Factory, and a lot of that gear that we have for sale were used in the production of those records.”
Among the items for sale in the Techno Empire Reverb Shop are the studio’s original Steinway B7 Grand Piano and Doug Sacks custom-tuned “Big Red” Altec monitors. The shop will also feature a large collection of vintage API EQs, DBX compressors, outboard effects units, and more. While the original Studio A board was sold in 1987 and the original Studio B board will remain in place, dozens of other pieces of recording equipment from the studio will be for sale as well as a few pieces from Sunset Sound.
About Techno Empire
Techno Empire is LA's premier consignment service for entertainment professionals, selling musical instruments and recording gear on behalf of musicians, engineers, producers, recording studios, and manufacturers. From up-and-coming artists and people behind the scenes, all the way to performers who are legends in their field, the company provides unsurpassed service to artists at all stages of their careers.
About Reverb.com
Reverb.com is the online marketplace to buy, sell and learn about new, used, vintage and handmade music gear. Since launching in 2013, Reverb has grown into the world’s most popular music gear website with more than eight million monthly visitors. At any given time, the site has roughly half a million listings ranging from electric, acoustic and bass guitars to effects, studio gear, synthesizers, drums, DJ equipment, orchestra instruments and more.
SteinwayReverb.comstudiocompressorgearSound FactorypianoVintagemonitor
Moby Launches Reverb Shop to Sell More than 100 Synthesizers, Microphones, Guitars & More from His Career to Benefit Chronic Diseases Charity
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ROLI’s MIDI Polyphonic Expression Songmaker Kit Now Available at Retailers Worldwide | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2954 |
__label__cc | 0.697355 | 0.302645 | When Can A Person Go Back To Driving After A Hip Replacement Surgery?
Reviewed By: Pramod Kerkar, MD, FFARCSI
Almost all the patients who either are on the list to undergo a hip replacement or have already undergone a hip replacement surgery have one common question and this when can they return back to their normal activities with regard to work, recreational activities, and driving. When talking about recovery from total hip replacement, there are many factors that play a crucial role in determining the overall recovery time of the patient from the procedure. This includes the age, overall health status of the patient, the hard yards he or she is willing to put in after procedure during rehabilitation, how soon he or she can get back into shape to do activities of daily living, and how soon the new hip fits into the hip joint so that the patient can resume driving.
For almost all the cases, it takes about four to six weeks before an individual is said to be recovered from a hip replacement procedure although total healing time takes about six months. During the first 8 to 10 weeks after the hip replacement surgery the patient is good enough to walk without assistance and participate in some of the activities of daily living except heavy lifting, bending, and twisting. When it comes to driving, it involves perfect reaction time and it is seen that immediately after a hip replacement surgery patients have a decreased reaction time and thus are said to be unfit for driving. This reaction time required during driving gradually increases over time and it takes usually a couple of months after procedure when the patient should be able to drive. This article gives an approximate time frame as to when can an individual go back to driving after a hip replacement surgery.
How Long Does It Take To Drive After A Hip Replacement?
As of now, physicians recommend at least six to eight weeks before an individual can return back to driving after a hip replacement procedure. However, a recent research conducted on patients have found that younger people who are in the age range of 50-55 years who have had hip replacements can return to driving approximately two weeks earlier than this.
The research selected a group of patients who were supposed to undergo a hip replacement procedure. They recorded their reaction time through a driving stimulator machine in which they were supposed to put the foot on the accelerator and then switch to the brake pedal when they see the stop sign on the screen. The time taken for them to do so was recorded and an average taken. The patients were then asked to take the same test again two weeks post surgery and the average reaction time taken was more than the pre-procedure baseline. Thus it was concluded that the patient is not fit for driving two weeks after a hip replacement surgery. The same test was repeated four weeks out of surgery and the results were that people who fell in the age range of 50-60 years had a reaction time that was better than the preoperative state and such individuals were considered fit to be driving.
The results for individuals above 60 years of age were more than the baseline and they were tested again eight weeks out from hip replacement surgery. Such individuals were back at their baseline reaction time after 8-10 weeks post surgery. Thus, it was deemed that people who are young and active and fall in the age bracket of 50-60 years are deemed fit for driving 4-6 weeks out of hip replacement surgery and those above this age range were fit to drive after 10 weeks post surgery. In some cases, people recorded much better reaction time even at four weeks after surgery and were declared fit to drive.
In conclusion, it normally takes 6 weeks after a hip replacement surgery for an individual to be able to drive but for the elderly population this time frame goes up by a couple of weeks to 6-10 weeks before they can be declared fit to be driving after a hip replacement surgery.
Written, Edited or Reviewed By:
Pramod Kerkar, MD,FFARCSI
Pain Assist Inc.
Last Modified On: December 30, 2017
This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
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ePainAssist Home | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2958 |
__label__cc | 0.523036 | 0.476964 | Home / Civilian / DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano Steps Down to Lead University of California System
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano Steps Down to Lead University of California System
Mary-Louise Hoffman July 12, 2013 Civilian, News
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will step down as head of DHS to become the next president of the 10-campus University of California system, the Los Angeles Times newspaper reported Friday.
Larry Gordon writes the UC Board of Regents will decide on Napolitano’s nomination during a board meeting Thursday in San Francisco.
Napolitano, if approved, would be the first female and first national-level political figure to head UC in the system’s history, according to the report.
University officials believe Napolitano can help UC manage its federal energy and nuclear weapons laboratory as well as its federally funded research projects.
“While some may consider her to be an unconventional choice, Secretary Napolitano is without a doubt the right person at the right time to lead this incredible university,” Sherry Lansing, the regent who headed the search committee, said in a statement.
Napolitano,was confirmed as the nation’s third homeland security secretary and the first woman to hold the post the day after President Barack Obama took office in 2009.
Prior to her role in the Obama Administration, Napolitano served as governor and attorney general in Arizona.
Tags DHS featured Janet Napolitano nomination Sherry Lansing University of California | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2963 |
__label__wiki | 0.56864 | 0.56864 | Unexpectedly Serious Games
One of my favorite talks from PAX 2009 was the "Murder, Sex & Drugs" panel that asked the question: "Do video games have a cultural imperative to present serious topics seriously?" The basic consensus on the panel was a definitive "yes," but there was some worry that the largest mainstream games often blunder into social issues naively or halfheartedly. Additionally, folks agreed that a system of dual responsibility was required for games to address serious issues: Developers needed to take responsibility for fostering serious topics while also making the games engaging, and players needed to take responsibility to then seek out these games, purchase them, and partake in the discussion.
Throughout the discussion, I felt as though most folks were resigned to the idea that we are probably years away from realizing a widespread social commentary in games. While I definitely think that game development and analysis will become increasingly sophisticated in the years to come, I believe there is another movement underway that is already laying the groundwork for the way we examine how even the most popular games interact with complex social issues.
First, it is important to think realistically when forming expectations for how games should tackle serious social and cultural issues. Simply put, it is difficult to create a work of art that is both commercially successful and thematically challenging; take a look at the 2008 top grossing films in the U.S. versus the ones that won Oscars. The point here is not to damn video games to the trajectories of other mediums, but to temper our expectations for mass acceptance of difficult games.
That being said, I believe we are in the midst of an exciting trend within the critical game analysis community. A group of dedicated writers is taking the initiative to extract socially meaningful content from games that were not necessarily designed to convey any specific social message. Instead of waiting for developers to create "message" games, a growing number of folks are mining some of the most popular games for commentary on many of the issues raised in thePAX panel:
- Justin Keverne and Travis Megill have engaged in a cross-site conversation about the portrayal of mentally ill people in the recently-released "Batman: Arkham Asylum." Both authors raise valid points about the ways in which the game taps into the often-sordid history of mental health care.
- Sparky Clarkson reviews Red Faction: Guerrilla, and finds that it does little to mimic the ways in which an actual insurgency functions.
- Simon Ferrari examines the stereotypical portrayals of gender roles and racial constructs in the Gears of War universe.
- Duncan Fyfe writes about the "entertainment wars" found in Call of Duty 4 and Far Cry 2. Without any real consequences, these games are absurd idealizations of what happens on the battlefield.
These are only a few of the many folks actively expanding the discussion of some of the most high-profile games. Most striking is the fact that the conversations are sparked by the games' omissions or deficiencies, and what these oversights imply on a societal level. in the games leading to broader societal implications. It is the lack of humane mental health treatment, the sterilization of warfare, and the lack of progressive gender and racial portrayals that has catalyzed these writers to explore the serious content these games posses.
Similarly, I recently spent several weeks simply analyzing what was "Missing In Action" in Call of Duty 4: the absence of civilians, the messy aftermath of battle, and the consequences of individual sacrifices acted to convey extremely powerful, if not optimistic, societal messages. CoD 4 ended up being a surprisingly meaningful game: The game's missing pieces allowed me to look outward for historical and cultural material to fill those gaps.
Again, it is not realistic to expect a drastic shift in the way major developers integrate societal issues into mainstream games. As is the case in every other medium, making something that is challenging to the audience is often at odds with making something profitable. The preponderance of innovative, thought-provoking games will still come from smaller companies that are both willing and able to take risks on something that would not get past the shareholders of a larger company. However, the video game community is lucky to have a growing number of critics dedicated to preserving their casual enjoyment of a game while simultaneously challenging its content and pulling it towards the serious end of the gaming spectrum.
Gamers have shown that they are more than willing to meet developers halfway along the path of serious, engaging games. Up until this point, the movement of analyzing serious issues in contemporary mainstream games has focused on looking at the issues games gloss over, or the topics they deal with unsatisfactorily. Clearly, there is a large group of people interested in games with thematic challenges: instead of letting the absence of serious topics stymie their analysis, they instead utilized the absence to their advantage.
These folks are doing more than waiting for developers to meet them in the middle: they are actively calling out to them.
Written by Scott Juster at 9/11/2009 09:26:00 PM
Labels: difficulty, features, game criticism, PAX
Simon Ferrari September 11, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Hey Scott, thanks for the link! I hadn't read about the panels at PAX, mostly because I was jealous I couldn't go. But this one sounds awesome, and it's good to hear that the subject came up at a fan-centric convention like PAX (usually the topic is reserved for the devs at GDC and the academics at Digra).
I'd say the first people who started talking about this stuff were Chris Crawford and Brenda Laurel, who were around in the early days of videogame creation and were some of the first to leave the mainstream industry to make games that were more meaningful to them. Most recently the discussion has been picked up by Mary Flanagan, Alexander Galloway, Miguel Sicart, and Ian Bogost (who I work with). If you guys are lacking something to read, all of those names have some pretty wonderful books where you can see them start to develop ways to find real-world systems and problems embedded in games that were obviously made primarily for entertainment. Over the summer we wrote a book about journalism and games, and one of the chapters I wrote for it is about journalism literacy embedded in AAA titles. It'll be free on the net when it's published, so I'll send you guys a link (though apparently publishing takes for ass ever).
RASS September 12, 2009 at 1:22 AM
Nice post!, besides the difficulties of implementing serious subjects into games, there's always a hipersensitive reception of the media that dosen't help at all. Six Days in Fallujah could have taken a serious position into explaining the war in Irak and it's consecuences on the lives of thoes who were involved on it (for saying an example), but media reacted and things went downhill from then. If there were games that seriously treated subjects of social and human problematics, would they be able to see the daylight?, countries such as Germany, China, Australia and soon Venezuela with their complete censuring, seem to make things harder for developers as they probably want to stay on a low profile, rather than take the risk of getting banned.
I think the blogosphere will continue to play a big role in making a stand for videogames in the furute, but i'm not sure if it could globaly defend videogames, rather than just in a small amount of countries.
Scott Juster September 13, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Thanks for stopping by! I was very impressed with some of the panels, as they seemed to be taking some inspiration from the topics found at GDC. There is definitely a realization on the part of the PAX folks that being a "fan" isn't just about playing games. There were a respectable number of academically oriented panels.
Thanks also for the reading suggestions; that book you worked on sounds especially interesting.
@RASS
Good point about the media and government's role. Really, I guess the path to "serious" games involves, players, developers, and the non-gaming public.
The censorship suggests that indie games will be even more important, since it is easier for them to slip under government's radar.
Nels Anderson September 13, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Once again, I feel like a total knob for not giving a shout out to you and Jorge during that panel. It's folks like you guys that are making these important, progressive conversations about games possible. Should the opportunity arise again, there's no way I'm going to miss it twice ;)
@Nels
Yeah, what happened to you, man? You used to be cool; now all you talk about is having martinis with N'Gai! ;-)
But seriously, there are so many people (yourself included) talking about games in a serious way, it would be weird to only single a few out. We were just glad to be there.
But seriously though: How did Ron feel about adding a Utilikilt to Death Spank? Did he love it, or did he LOVE it?
Alex R September 20, 2009 at 6:41 AM
Nice post, and I definitely agree with your overall point.
However, I would like to take this opportunity to remind my friends in the gaming blogosphere that when we're talking about social issues in games it is important to include writers of color, women, and other marginalized groups.
All the writers you listed are men. I don't know if they are all white and straight as well, but I'm betting most are.
There was a heated but ultimately I think very productive conversation over at Critical-Distance at its first inception addressing this very issue. If you want to have intelligent conversations about games, you can't exclude voices of people from marginalized groups. And really, when you're addressing issues of race and gender, it's VITALLY important to go to people of color and women FIRST.
Some examples: Token Minorities (race), Racialicious (race), The Official Shrub blog (variety), Tera Kirk from GameCritics (disability), Feminist Gamers (mostly gender), the Pensive Harpy (gender). Those are just off the top of my head, and the Iris Network has a whole directory of women who blog about games (though not necessarily about gender and social issues).
I know these are just a few examples and not a comprehensive list, and I'm not just mad you didn't link to my blog, and I'm certainly not picking on just you. But maybe you should think about why all your go-to examples for social issues (including gender!!) in games are men, and mostly white, straight men at that. Its easy to slip back into that pattern of exclusion and I would hate for that to happen.
I should clarify that, in order to not "exclude voices of people from marginalized groups", you have to ACTIVELY INCLUDE them. This is not something that can be solved without action.
Scott Juster September 22, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Damn typos...reposting
If you're still following this thread, thanks for stopping by.
I'm glad you raised the issue of marginalized groups in the community. It is something that Jorge and I have had many conversations about when discussing the community at large, the content we create for the site, and how we personally interact as a team.
Also, thanks for the list of sites. Both these topics and these writers deserves the publicity. There were a couple of sites I had never read before, and I'm always happy to add to the ungainly mass that is my RSS reader. :-)
EXP Podcast #45: A Real Downer
Kids These Days
EXP Podcast #44: Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood De...
Review: The Puzzling Success of Professor Layton
Review: The Novelty of New Super Mario Bros.
EXP Podcast #43: Tact and Dead Celebrities
Supplemental Gaming
EXP Podcast #42: Title Bouts
Farmpocalypse Now
EXP Podcast: PAX 2009, Day 3
Henry Hatsworth's Harried Heroics
EXP Podcast #41: Survey Said...Depresssion? | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2965 |
__label__wiki | 0.631512 | 0.631512 | Five Ways To Read Someone’s Mind
Mind-reading isn’t a trick, it’s a skill that the most successful people have mastered. Here’s how you can practice it.
[Photo: Leshchenko Dmytro via Shutterstock]
By Stephanie Vozza 3 minute Read
While telepathy sounds like a superpower, reading someone’s mind is actually a skill that can be learned. From anticipating the needs of a client to knowing how to approach your boss, developing an inner intuition about what others value can help you get ahead.
“Perceptive people are always more successful in life and in work,” says Loren Miner, COO of the recruitment firm Decision Toolbox. “Top performers aren’t always the smartest people; they’re the ones who connect with others and have a higher EQ [emotional quotient].”
People send signals about their thoughts all the time, says Miner, but it can take practice to tune in. “When the messages you receive say that the person isn’t on the same page, these are clues that are telling you to step back and redirect,” she says. “It’s time to change the conversation or change your approach.”
Loren says there are five ways you can read someone’s mind–or at least take an educated guess–and build better business relationships:
1. Start With Generational Differences
Understanding someone’s generation can give insight about how he or she thinks. It’s a lens through which they view life, says Miner.
“Generational differences are fascinating,” she says. “Millennials often hide behind computers and speak their mind through Twitter and blogs. They don’t place value in face-to-face communication. Boomers, on the other hand, like to talk to someone in person.”
Miner says understanding someone’s generation will help you know the best way to approach them to develop a relationship. “If we’re closing a deal with a millennial, we know there is no need to fly out and schedule a roundtable,” she says. “They prefer a presentation via the Internet. For boomers, we spend the money and go out.”
Generations also value different things, says Miner. Millennials, for example, look for fast results. “When we talk to them, we talk about quick, proven processes,” she says. “Boomers are more conservative. When we talk to them, we move slower and talk about things like safety and risk.”
2. Recognize Hot Buttons
Another way to tell what someone is thinking is to look for their pain points, which involves asking the right questions. Miner says it’s important to establish a personal bond to get to know what they consider to be important.
You have to have big ears and a small mouth.
“What triggers emotion for them? Where are their comfort zones?” she asks. “You have to have big ears and a small mouth.”
Miner suggests skipping pre-canned conversations and entering the relationship as a discussion. “Ask open-ended questions that allow the person to share their strengths and challenges,” says Miner. “Or share stories about what you’ve done for others. Nine times out of 10, people will agree that they have the same issue, which helps you better understand what they need.”
3. Consider Personalities
It can help to notice and observe individual qualities to determine who they are as a person and what’s important to them.
Miner says she’s very analytical, and she relates well when people methodically lay out their ideas: “I’ve taught my team that they have to come to me prepared to back up their initiative with numbers,” she says. “If you don’t, you’ve lost me.”
Look for clues into someone’s personality by paying attention to characteristics and verbiage. Someone who prefers to be dominant, for example, might have an overly firm handshake, says Miner. People who welcome humor will often insert sarcasm into a conversation. Use these clues to determine their values and their approach.
4. Look for Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal behavior is also important, and Miner suggests watching for body language clues. If someone leans in, they’re engaged. If they back up, look down, or turn away, they aren’t relating to what you’re saying.
It’s important to develop a good ear that can listen for the subtle sounds.
Tone of voice can also provide clues. For example, if someone is answering you in monotone, they’re most likely unattached to your concept and not interested. If they look at you when you speak and move closer, they’re finding value in what you’re saying.
5. Be a Good Listener
Finally, listen to what someone is saying as well as what they’re not saying. While this is harder when the conversation is done over the phone, Miner says an engaged or passionate voice is obvious. It’s also apparent when someone is frustrated.
“Their tone changes, or you’ll hear a sigh,” she says. “It’s important to develop a good ear that can listen for the subtle sounds.”
Anything critical or that involves emotion should never be communicated by email, says Miner. “Pick up the phone,” she says. “Emails are awful for conveying meaning behind the words. They can be a real hindrance to being perceptive.” | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2969 |
__label__wiki | 0.856258 | 0.856258 | FC Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets: 'We tried but we were unlucky'
The blaugrana midfielder was the first player to speak to the media after the game, followed by teammates Gerard Piqué and Sergi Roberto
05:05PM Saturday 19 Nov
Just seconds after the final whistle of Barça’s scoreless draw with Málaga on Saturday evening at Camp Nou, after all his teammates had already headed past the benches, through the tunnel, and up the steps leading to the dressing room, Sergio Busquets was the lone player still out on the field, where he was attending to a post-game interview.
“We know these types of games are tough,” the Barça midfielder said. “We tried but we were unlucky in front of the goal.”
“That’s football,” he said. “If you don’t finish you can’t win.”
He spoke the truth. But despite Barça’s obvious lack of luck in a game they dominated — 80% possession to 20% for Málaga — many people’s minds were focused on the absence of Lionel Messi (stomach ailment) and Luis Suárez (yellow card accumulation) as possible excuse for having failed to find the net for the first time in 32 straight games at home.
“Not having Messi and Suárez?” Busquets wondered aloud. “They are two of our biggest difference-makers and you’re always going to miss them, but that’s not an excuse.”
Instead, Busquets sized up the game along strategic and tactical lines. “They were very well organised defensively,” he said. “They conceded possession and, with it, scoring chances. But for us, there was almost no space to operate.”
“It’s a shame, but now we have to focus on [Tuesday’s Champions League game versus] Celtic.”
Barça defender Gerard Piqué and midfielder Sergi Roberto also spoke to the media after the game. Here are the highlights of what they had to say.
“With Málaga down to ten men it was easy to move up on attack, but it just wasn’t to be. We had plenty of chances, one goal disallowed, Kameni was very good. But we have to put these games away earlier, and not have to worry about trying to win in the final moments. When games drag on and we’re not winning in the final minutes, it’s a lot tougher.”
“We played fairly well. We had the ball, we moved well, we created chances. But sometimes the ball doesn’t want to go in; that’s football. We drop two points but we move on.”
“We shouldn’t be dropping points at Camp Nou, it’s difficult when games like this get away. Next week we’ll head to Anoeta motivated to take home three points.”
“We’re Barça; we don’t make excuses when players are out. We still have great players.”
Sergi Roberto
“In games like these you get a little worn down, and you get a little desperate. They were well positioned, which keeps you from finding space. We tried to find space along the side-lines with crosses, but we weren’t able to finish.”
“When your opponents have the whole team back in their own penalty area it becomes very complicated. If they’re well organised it’s difficult to score.”
“We have to think and reflect. Camp Nou has to be our fortress, we shouldn’t be dropping points. We have to be positive and think about the next game.” | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2970 |
__label__wiki | 0.676838 | 0.676838 | Feinstein Backs Plan to Protect Military Families from Financial Fraud
Washington—U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined a group of 40 Senators in supporting the Department of Defense’s (DOD) plan to update the Military Lending Act (MLA) and close existing loopholes in order to better protect soldiers and their families from abusive financial practices. The letter, sent to U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, expresses strong support for the proposed new rule to help prevent lenders from charging excessive fees and taking advantage of military families.
Following a 2006 Pentagon report that found that “predatory lending undermines military readiness, harms the morale of troops and their families, and adds to the cost of fielding an all-volunteer fighting force,” Congress passed the MLA. This law capped the annual interest rates for consumer credit to service members and their dependents at 36% while giving DOD the authority to define what loans should be covered. The DOD’s 2007 implementing regulations narrowly included only three types of loans: (1) payday loans: closed-end loans with terms of 91 days or fewer, for $2,000 or less; (2) auto title loans: closed-end loans with terms of 181 days or fewer; and (3) refund anticipation loans: closed-end credit.
In the proposed changes to the MLA, first announced in September, DOD seeks to close existing loopholes in the current MLA rule. Today’s letter voices strong support for the proposed rule, arguing that the changes strike a better balance between protecting service members and their families while maintaining access to good credit.
“As our service members are asked to take on even more tasks in defense of our nation, we should take every opportunity to protect them and their families here at home, especially from unscrupulous lenders,” the Senators wrote. “We strongly support the proposed MLA rule and urge that the final MLA rule be similarly robust in enhancing protections for service members and their families, producing significant cost savings for DOD, and improving military readiness.”
Feinstein was joined by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Levin (D-Mich.), Brown (D-Ohio), Hirono (D-Hawaii), Manchin (D-W. Va.), Warner (D-Va.), Franken (D-Minn.), Baldwin (D-Wis.), Nelson (D-Fla.), Murphy (D-Conn.), Blumenthal (D-Colo.), Merkley (D-Ore.), Heinrich (D-N.M.), Warren (D-Mass.), Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Murray (D-Wash.), Whitehouse (D-R.I.), King (I-Maine), Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Kaine (D-Va.), McCaskill (D-Mo.), Shaheen (D-N.H.), Schatz (D-Hawaii), Markey (D-Mass.), Bennet (D-Colo.), Coons (D-Del.), Donnelly (D-Ind.), Cardin (D-Md.), Carper (D-Del.), Wyden (D-Ore.), Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Tester (D-Mont.), Boxer (D-Calif.), Hagan (D-N.C.), Harkin (D-Iowa), and Schumer (D-N.Y.) in signing onto the letter. The signatories include every Democratic member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The comment period, which was recently extended, for the proposed rule ends on December 26, 2014.
The full text of the letter follows:
The Honorable Chuck Hagel
1000 Defense Pentagon
Re: Limitations on Terms of Consumer Credit Extended to Service members and Dependents
Docket ID: DoD-2013-OS-0133
Dear Mr. Secretary:
We are writing in response to the Department of Defense (DOD) proposal to update the implementing rules for the Military Lending Act (MLA).
By enacting the MLA as part of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, Congress sent a clear bipartisan message that protecting service members and their families from predatory and high cost lending was of paramount importance to their financial security and military readiness.
This concern was reiterated in the Conference Report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which stated that “the conferees are concerned that the Department must remain vigilant to eliminate continuing, evolving predatory lending practices targeting service members and their families, and believe the Department should review its regulations implementing section 987, to address changes in the industry and the evolution of lending products offered since 2007, continuing use of predatory marketing practices, and other abuses identified by consumer protection advocates, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Servicemember Affairs.”
As a result of this required review of the current MLA rule, DOD in its proposal now recommends closing existing MLA loopholes. We believe this strikes a significantly better balance than the current MLA rule between protecting service members and their families on the one hand and maintaining access to non-predatory credit on the other. As such, this proposal also does a much better job of reflecting Congressional intent.
Specifically, we support the proposal to expand the MLA’s “definition of ‘consumer credit’ to cover a broader range of closed-end and open-end credit products.” In so doing, the rule proposes that these products be treated in a manner generally consistent with the decades-old requirements of the Truth in Lending Act.
This comprehensive approach is essential to preventing future evasions. As DOD notes in its proposed rule, “the extremely narrow definition of ‘consumer credit’ permits creditors to structure credit products in order to reduce or avoid altogether the obligations of the MLA.” For example, MLA protections currently can be avoided by simply adding a day to the term of a payday loan or by lending just one additional cent so that the payday loan no longer qualifies as “consumer credit” subject to the MLA protections.
Contrary to Congressional intent, these evasions threaten military readiness. According to DOD, “each separation of a service member is estimated to cost the Department $57,333, and the Department estimates that each year approximately 4,703 to 7,957 service members are involuntarily separated due to financial distress.” In addition to the estimated cost savings DOD has identified, we give great weight and deference to DOD’s statement that the proposed MLA rule “would reduce non-quantifiable costs associated with financial strains on service members. High-cost debt can detract from mission focus, reduce productivity, and require the attention of supervisors and commanders.” As a result, we strongly agree with DOD’s view that the proposed MLA rule not only has the potential to produce substantial cost savings, but also enhance military readiness.
In August of last year, a number of us wrote, “service members and their families deserve the strongest possible protections and swift action to ensure that all forms of credit offered to members of our armed forces are safe and sound.” Indeed, as our service members are asked to take on even more tasks in defense of our nation, we should take every opportunity to protect them and their families here at home, especially from unscrupulous lenders.
For all these reasons, we strongly support the proposed MLA rule and urge that the final MLA rule be similarly robust in enhancing protections for service members and their families, producing significant cost savings for DOD, and improving military readiness. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2971 |
__label__wiki | 0.877193 | 0.877193 | Explore Freedom » Daily Articles » The CIA, Terrorism, and the Cold War: The Evil of the National Security State
The CIA, Terrorism, and the Cold War: The Evil of the National Security State
by Jacob G. Hornberger April 1, 2016
The following is Chapter 1 of The Future of Freedom Foundation’s newest ebook, The CIA, Terrorism, and the Cold War: The Evil of the National Security State by Jacob Hornberger. Purchase the book for $1 here.
The two most important words in the lives of the American people for the past 60 years have been “national security.” The term has transformed American society for the worse. It has warped the morals and values of the American people. It has stultified conscience. It has altered the constitutional order. It has produced a democratically elected government that wields totalitarian powers.
We now live in a country whose government wields the legal authority to round up people, including citizens, and take them to concentration camps, detention centers, or military dungeons where the government can torture them, incarcerate them indefinitely, and even execute them as suspected terrorists.
We now live in a country whose government wields the legal authority to send its military and intelligence forces into any country anywhere in the world, kidnap people residing there, and transport them to a prison for the purpose of torture, indefinite detention, and even execution.
We now live in a country whose government wields the legal authority to sneak and peek into people’s homes or businesses without warrants; to monitor their emails, telephone calls, and financial transactions; and to spy on the citizenry.
We now live in a country whose government wields the legal authority to support, with money and armaments, totalitarian regimes all over the world and to enter into partnerships with them for the purpose of torturing people whom the U.S. government has kidnapped.
We now live in a country whose government wields the legal authority to assassinate anyone it wants, including American citizens, anywhere in the world, including here in the United States.
We now live in a country whose government wields the legal authority to impose sanctions and embargoes on any other nation and to severely punish the American people and foreign citizens and foreign companies who violate them.
We now live in a country whose government wields the legal authority to invade and occupy any country on earth, without a congressional declaration of war, for any purpose whatever, including regime change and the securing of resources.
And it’s all justified under the rubric of “national security.”
Most people would concede that that’s not the kind of country that America is supposed to be. The nation was founded as a constitutional republic, one whose governmental powers were extremely limited. In fact, the whole idea of using the Constitution to bring the federal government into existence was to make clear that the government’s powers were limited to those enumerated in the Constitution itself. To make certain that everyone got the point, the American people secured the passage of the Bill of Rights, which further clarified the extreme restrictions on government power.
Four separate amendments in the Bill of Rights address the power of the federal government to take people, both Americans and foreigners, into custody and to inflict harm on them: the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments. Due process of law, right to counsel, grand-jury indictments, trial by jury, search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishments, bail, speedy trial — they are all expressly addressed, reflecting how important they were to our American ancestors and to their concept of a free society.
In the age of national security, all of those protections have been rendered moot. They have all been trumped by the concept of national security.
Ironically, the term isn’t even found in the Constitution. One searches in vain for some grant of power anywhere in that document relating to “national security.” It isn’t there. Nonetheless, the government now wields omnipotent powers — powers that the greatest totalitarian dictatorships in history have wielded — under the rubric of “national security.”
With the exception of libertarians, hardly anyone questions or challenges it, including those who profess an ardent allegiance to the Constitution. Consider, for example, the Constitution’s Interstate Commerce Clause. For decades, both libertarians and conservatives have complained that the meaning of that clause has been so expanded as to transform it into a general grant of power enabling the federal government to regulate the most minute, localized aspects of economic activity.
Yet here’s a phrase — “national security” — that isn’t even found in the Constitution, which has been interpreted to grant omnipotent, totalitarian-like powers to the federal government, and conservatives have been rendered mute.
It would be one thing if there had been an amendment to the Constitution stating, “The federal government shall have the power to do whatever it deems necessary in the interests of national security.” At least then one could argue that such totalitarian measures were constitutional.
But that’s not the situation we have here. We have the government coming up with a concept known as “national security,” which it has then used to adopt powers that would otherwise violate the Constitution. It’s as if national security has been made the foundation of the nation. Everything else — the Constitution, society, the citizenry, freedom, prosperity — are then based on that foundation.
The goodness of national security
What is “national security”? No one really knows. There is certainly no precise definition of the term. It’s actually whatever the government says it is. National security is one of the most meaningless, nebulous, nonsensical terms in the English language, but, at the same time, the most important term in the lives of the American people.
All the government has to do is say “national security,” and all discussion and debate shuts down. If the government says that national security is at stake, that’s the end of the story. Federal judges will immediately dismiss lawsuits as soon as the government claims, “The case is a threat to national security, your honor.” Congress will immediately suspend investigations when the government claims that national security is at stake. The Justice Department will defer to the national-security establishment when it raises the issue of national security.
National security, a term not even in the Constitution, trumps everything. It trumps the judiciary. It trumps the legislative branch of government. It trumps federal criminal investigations. This nebulous term, whose meaning is whatever the government wants it be at any particular time, has been made the foundation of American society.
What is the national-security establishment? It is composed of several agencies, two of the main ones being the vast military-industrial establishment and the CIA. Those two entities have done more to transform American life than anything else, even more than the welfare state. They are the entities that enforce the sanctions and embargoes and engage in the invasions, occupations, regime-change operations, coups, assassinations, torture, indefinite incarcerations, renditions, partnerships with totalitarian regimes, and executions — all in the name of “national security.”
One of the most fascinating aspects of all this is how successful the government has been in convincing Americans of two things: that all this is necessary to keep them safe and, at the same time, that America has continued to be a free country notwithstanding the fact that the government has acquired and has exercised totalitarian powers in order to preserve national security.
When Americans see the governments of such countries as the Soviet Union or North Korea wield such powers, they can easily recognize them as being totalitarian in nature. When Americans read that the Soviet government rounded up its own people and sent them into the Gulag, they recoil against the exercise of such totalitarian powers. They have the same reaction when they hear that the North Korean government has tortured people within its prison system. It’s the same when Americans hear that the Chinese government has arrested and incarcerated people for years without charges or trial.
But when the U.S. government does such things or even just claims the authority to do them — in the name of national security — the mindset of the average American automatically shifts. It can’t be evil for the U.S. government to wield such powers because the agents who are wielding them are Americans, not communists. They have an American flag on their lapel. They have children in America’s public schools. They’re doing it to keep us safe. They’re on our side. We wouldn’t be free without them. They’re preserving our national security.
In fact, another fascinating aspect to all this is the mindset of those within the national-security establishment itself. Even though they are wielding the same kinds of powers that are wielded by totalitarian regimes, the last thing in their minds is that they’re doing anything evil or immoral. In their mind, they’re fighting evil in order to preserve security and freedom. Sure, they have to do some unsavory things, but those things are necessary to preserve the nation. Americans are safe and free because of things they’re doing, and we’re supposed to be grateful that they’re doing them.
After all, as advocates of the national-security state often remind us, the Constitution is not a suicide pact. If measures have to be taken to preserve the nation — or the security of the nation — that are inconsistent with the Constitution, then so be it. What good would it do to adhere strictly to the Constitution if, by doing so, the nation were to fall to the terrorists or the communists?
Thus, when officials in totalitarian regimes round people up without charges, incarcerate them indefinitely, torture them, and execute them, what they are doing is evil. But when officials within the U.S. national security state do those same things — and more — they look upon themselves as good and the citizenry look upon them in the same way, simply because they are doing it to advance freedom and to preserve the national security of the United States.
And even then, things are not so clear, at least not when it comes to national security. For example, some foreign totalitarian regimes are considered evil while others are considered good. Consider, for example, Iran and North Korea. In the mindset of the U.S. national-security establishment, they are considered to be evil totalitarian regimes. But then consider, say, Egypt, which has been ruled by a brutal military dictatorship for nearly 30 years, a totalitarian regime that wields the same kind of totalitarian powers that the U.S. government now wields. For decades, Egyptian military and intelligence forces have rounded people up, taken them to prison camps for indefinite detention, tortured them, and executed them, without formal charges and trial.
Nonetheless, the U.S. national-security establishment has long looked on the Egyptian military dictatorship as good, because of its close relationship with the U.S. national-security state. In fact, during the past several decades the U.S. government has sent hundreds of millions of dollars in money and armaments to Egypt to help fund its totalitarian military dictatorship, and there has been close cooperation between the national-security apparatuses of both nations. In fact, Egypt’s national-security state even agreed to serve as one of the U.S. empire’s rendition-torture partners, a relationship that enables U.S. officials to send a kidnapped victim to Egypt for the purpose of torture.
Good regime, bad regime
Sometimes, the nether world of national security becomes even more clouded, with some nations shifting back and forth from good to evil. Consider Iran and Iraq, for example. In 1953, Iran was considered a threat to U.S. national security. Thus, the CIA, one of the principal components of the U.S. national-security establishment, engaged in its first regime-change operation, one that succeeded in ousting Iran’s democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, from power and installing the shah of Iran into power.
For the next 25 years, Iran was considered good, notwithstanding the fact that the shah’s regime was totalitarian in nature. In fact, the CIA even helped him and his national-security establishment to oppress the Iranian people. When Iranians finally revolted against the domestic tyranny that the U.S. national-security state had foisted upon them, Iran immediately became an evil regime in the eyes of the U.S. national-security establishment, notwithstanding the fact that the new regime wasn’t doing anything different than the shah’s regime had done. During the 1980s, Iraq had a brutal totalitarian regime headed by Saddam Hussein. Nonetheless, it was considered a good regime because it was friendly to the U.S. national-security state. In fact, during that time the relationship was so solid that the United States even sent Iraq biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction so that Saddam could use them to attack Iran (which was considered evil).
Later, when Iraq invaded Kuwait, the U.S. national-security establishment reclassified Iraq as an evil regime. Today, Iraq is headed by a democratically elected regime that exercises the same totalitarian powers that Saddam exercised, but it’s considered to be a good regime because it’s perceived to be on the side of the U.S. national-security state. If it ultimately formally aligns itself with Iran, as many suspect it will, it will find itself back in the ranks of the evil.
How did it all come to this? How did the United States become transformed from a constitutional republic into a national-security state? How did the concept of national security become the guiding star of American life, without even the semblance of a constitutional amendment? How did the national-security establishment — the vast, permanent military-industrial complex and the CIA — come to be the foundation of American society?
More important, is a national-security state truly compatible with the principles of a free society? Did Americans delude themselves into thinking that they could retain a free and safe society with a government that wields totalitarian powers? Did Americans sacrifice their freedom, their security, their values, and their consciences on the altar of national security?
Perhaps most important, has the time come to dismantle the national-security state in order to restore a free, prosperous, peaceful, normal, and harmonious society to our land? Is it time to restore a limited-government, constitutional republic, the type of government that was clearly envisioned by the Founding Fathers?
Let’s examine those questions. Let’s start by focusing on Cuba.
This is Chapter 1 of FFF’s newest ebook, The CIA, Terrorism, and the Cold War: The Evil of the National Security State by Jacob Hornberger. Purchase the book for $1 here.
Categories: CIA, Foreign Policy & War, National Security State
This post was written by: Jacob G. Hornberger
Jacob G. Hornberger is founder and president of The Future of Freedom Foundation. He was born and raised in Laredo, Texas, and received his B.A. in economics from Virginia Military Institute and his law degree from the University of Texas. He was a trial attorney for twelve years in Texas. He also was an adjunct professor at the University of Dallas, where he taught law and economics. In 1987, Mr. Hornberger left the practice of law to become director of programs at the Foundation for Economic Education. He has advanced freedom and free markets on talk-radio stations all across the country as well as on Fox News’ Neil Cavuto and Greta van Susteren shows and he appeared as a regular commentator on Judge Andrew Napolitano’s show Freedom Watch. View these interviews at LewRockwell.com and from Full Context. Send him email. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2972 |
__label__cc | 0.542903 | 0.457097 | BOARD DATE: 21 January 2015
1. The applicant requests an upgrade of his discharge from general, under honorable conditions to honorable.
2. The applicant did not submit any issues of equity or propriety to be considered by the Board.
a. Application Receipt Date: 22 January 2014
b. Discharge Received: General, Under Honorable Conditions
c. Date of Discharge: 29 March 2013
d. Reason/Authority/SPD/RE: Misconduct (Serious Offense), AR 635-200 Chapter 14, Paragraph 14-12c, JKQ, RE-3
e. Unit of assignment: HHC, 94th Combat Support Battalion, Fort Polk, LA
f. Current Enlistment Date/Term: 28 August 2012, 5 years
g. Current Enlistment Service: 7 months, 2 days
h. Total Service: 7 years, 2 months, 11 days
i. Lost time: None
j. Previous Discharges: RA (060119-120827)/HD
l. Military Occupational Specialty: 88M10, Motor Transport Operator
m. GT Score: NIF
n. Education: HS Graduate
o. Overseas Service: Southwest Asia/Korea
p. Combat Service: Iraq x 2 (060817-070816), (080921-090917)
q. Decorations/Awards: ARCOM-2, AAM-2, AGCM-2, NDSM, ICM-W/CS GWOTSM, NPDR, ASR, OSR-3
r. Administrative Separation Board: NIF
t. Counseling Statements: NIF
The applicant’s record shows he enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 January 2006, for a period of 3 years and 18 weeks. He was 24 years old at the time of entry and a HS Graduate. He was trained in and awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 88M10, Motor Transport Operator. On 28 August 2012, he reenlisted for a period of 5 years and he was 31 years old at the time. His record also shows he served two combat tours; earned several awards including two ARCOMS, four AAMs and two AGCMs; and he achieved the rank of SPC/E-4. He was serving at Fort Polk, LA, when his discharge was initiated.
1. The applicants service record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to the discharge from the Army. However, the record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicants digital signature.
2. The DD Form 214 indicates on 29 March 2013, the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 14, paragraph 14-12c, AR 635-200, for misconduct (serious offense), with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions. The DD Form 214 also shows a Separation Program Designator (SPD) code of JKQ and a reentry (RE) code of 3.
3. The applicants available record does not any evidence of unauthorized absences, time lost or actions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). However, he was separated as a PVT/E-1, and the action that caused his reduction is not contained in the service record.
4. On 25 March 2013, DA, HQs, Joint Readiness Training Center & Fort Polk, Fort Polk, LA, Orders Number 084-0316, discharged the applicant from the Army, effective 29 March 2013.
1. Discharge Orders Number 084-0316, dated 25 March 2013.
2. Amended Discharge Orders 084-0324, dated 25 March 2013.
3. A DD Form 214, dated 29 March 2013.
4. Two enlistment/reenlistment documents, dated 19 January 2006, and 28 August 2012.
The applicant provided a DD Form 149, two certificates, honorable discharge certificate, and a DD Form 214.
The applicant did not provide any information with his application.
1. Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 14 establishes policy and prescribes procedures for separating members for misconduct. Specific categories include minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, and commission of a serious offense, to include abuse of illegal drugs, convictions by civil authorities and desertion or being absent without leave. Action will be taken to separate a member for misconduct when it is clearly established that rehabilitation is impractical or unlikely to succeed. Army policy states that an under other than honorable conditions discharge is normally considered appropriate; however, a general, under honorable conditions or an honorable discharge may be granted.
2. Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 3-7a, provides that an honorable discharge is a separation with honor and entitles the recipient to benefits provided by law. The honorable characterization is appropriate when the quality of the members service generally has met the standards of acceptable conduct and performance of duty for Army personnel, or is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization would be clearly inappropriate. Whenever there is doubt, it is to be resolved in favor of the individual.
3. Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 3-7b, provides that a general discharge is a separation from the Army under honorable conditions. When authorized, it is issued to a Soldier whose military record is satisfactory but not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an honorable discharge. A characterization of under honorable conditions may be issued only when the reason for the Soldiers separation specifically allows such characterization.
1. The applicants request for an upgrade of the characterization of his discharge was carefully considered. However, after examining the applicants available military records, and the documents submitted with the application, there are insufficient mitigating factors to merit an upgrade of the applicant’s discharge.
2. The applicants record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to his discharge from the Army. However, the record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant’s digital signature. This document identifies the reason and characterization of the discharge and government regularity is presumed in the discharge process.
3. The DD Form 214 also indicates the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 14, paragraph 14-12c, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct (serious offense), with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions. Barring evidence to the contrary, the presumption of government regularity prevails as it appears that all the requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process.
5. If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it will be his responsibility to meet the burden of proof and provide the appropriate documents (i.e., the discharge packet) or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Boards consideration because they are not available in the official record.
6. Therefore, based on the available evidence and the government presumption of regularity, the reason for discharge and the characterization of service are both proper and equitable, the analyst recommends the Board deny relief.
Type of Hearing: Records Review Date: 21 January 2015 Location: Washington, DC | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2973 |
__label__wiki | 0.788642 | 0.788642 | Music Videos ( A - Z)
Ethiopian Names
Adigrat
Posted by Stephanie Baker on 2012-10-18 18:05:00 | Views: 2427 |
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Adigrat is a city and separate woreda in the Tigray Region (or kilil) of Ethiopia. Located in the Misraqawi Zone at longitude and latitude 14°16′N 39°27′ECoordinates: 14°16′N 39°27′E with an elevation of 2457 meters above sea level, below a high ridge to the west, Adigrat is the last important Ethiopian city south of the border with Eritrea, and is considered to be a strategically important gateway to Eritrea and the Red Sea. It was part of Ganta Afeshum woreda.
The largest pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Ethiopia, Addis Pharmaceuticals Factory SC, is located in Adigrat. Opened in 1992, the plant has an annual production capacity of 1.2 billion tables, 19 billion ampoules, 10 million vials, 500,000 capsules, 4 million ointment tubes and 9.6 million bottles of syrup. Addis Pharmaceuticals is one of the 13 companies owned and managed by the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT).
Adigrat, the capital of the Agame district, has an interesting aristocratic history. In town are the remnants of two castles from the Zemene Mesafint ("Era of Princes"), one (pictured) owned by Dej Desta, the other by the Ras Sebhat Aregawi. Other sites of interest:
19th century Adigrat Chirkos - was strategically built on a hill near Dej Desta's castle, so that Desta could see the church from his bedroom balcony.
A few years after World War II land was obtained in the centre of Adigrat at a site called "Welwalo". In view of the possibility that one day it might become a cathedral a church, the "Holy Saviour" was built and used regularly as a parish church. After the establishment of the Ethiopian Catholic hierarchy in 1961 that church was destined to become the cathedral of the Eparchy of Adigrat. After appropriate modifications were made the formal and official consecration of the Cathedral Catholicof the Holy Saviour took place on 19th April 1969. It has an Italian design, but incorporates work by Ethiopian artist Afewerk Tekle.
Italian War cemetery commemorates some 765 Italian soldiers who died between 1935 and 1938.
Adigrat also hosts a market, and a newly constructed community park.
Adrigrat first acquired importance when Ras Sabagadis made it his capital in 1818; it declined in importance after his death in 1831, although the missionary Samuel Gobat had joined countless Ethiopians in fleeing there for safety in the days immediately after Sabagadis' death. When the missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf passed through Adigrat in April 1842, "almost the whole is in ruins", and observed that a nearby village, Kersaber, was "much larger than Adigrate." According to Sven Rubenson, 1868, Ras Kassai (later the Emperor Yohannes IV), met with Sir Robert Napier at Adigrat, where he agreed to provide support for the British expeditionary force.
During the First Italian-Abyssinian War, the Italians occupied Adigrat on 25 March 1895, and used it as a base to support their advance south to Mek'ele. General Antonio Baldissera refortified the settlement after the Italian defeat at the Battle of Adowa, but Emperor Menelik II insisted on its surrender at the beginning of the peace talks that concluded the war; Baldissera was ordered to evacuate Adigrat, which he did 18 May 1896. Augustus B. Wylde a few years later described Adigrat as having a Saturday market of medium size.
The Italians again occupied Adigrat, without resistance, at the beginning of the Second Italian-Abyssinian War 7 October 1935. The Italians were met there on the 11th by Ras Haile Selassie Gugsa, who had been courted by the Italians to ignite a widespread defection of the Tigrean aristocracy; instead, he had been soundly defeated a few days before by Dejazmach Haile Kebbede of Wag, and presented himself to the invaders with only 1200 followers. Anthony Mockler notes that despite the fact the young Ras shook Ethiopian morale, "this was the first and last open defection to the Italians of an important noble and his men.
Adigrat was captured by rebels in the Woyane rebellion 25 September 1943, forcing the Ethiopian government administrators to flee to neighboring Eritrea. By 1958 the city was one of 27 places in Ethiopia ranked as a First Class Township.
By the 1970s, Adigrat possessed the only high school east of Adwa and north of Mek'ele, Agazi Comprehensive High School, and together with the town's Catholic junior high school, they became centers of anti-government dissent. The presence outside of town of a large military base, served as a focus for protesting students, and also as a source for their hopes of a military coup. During the first years of the Ethiopian Civil War, the fledgling Tigrayan People's Liberation Front drew support from these groups. Derg forces took Adigrat during their Operation Adwa in summer 1988. The same day that the Third Revolutionary Army was crushed at Battle of Shire, 19 February 1989, government troops and officials evacuated Adigrat. According to Africa Watch they caused widespread destruction in the town before they left.
Based on the 2007 national census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this town has a total population of 57,588, of whom 26,010 are men and 31,578 women. The majority of the inhabitants said they practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 94.01% reporting that as their religion, while 3.02% of the population were Catholics, and 2.68% were Muslim.
The 1994 census reported it had a total population of 37,417 of whom 17,352 were men and 20,065 were women.
Notable inhabitants
Yohannes Haile-Selassie, paleoanthropologist
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__label__wiki | 0.563627 | 0.563627 | Etihad cabin futures project
In late 2008 Etihad Airways embarked on a search for a leading design agency partner to design their future cabin interiors for their new fleet of A380’s.
Etihad Airways stated its ambition was to be the best airline in the world and outlined a vision for the project that would build on its success to continue to redefine airline travel. This meant that the airline wanted to disrupt the status quo in the industry and create a unique guest experience that would reflect the airline’s next phase of brand maturity and the exciting vision of Abu Dhabi.
After a global pitch process, Etihad Airways believed that no single agency could support and deliver the vision so they asked a number of agencies to work together as a consortium to deliver their challenging ambition. Etihad Airways created the EDC – the collective name for the Etihad Design Consortium, which incorporated three companies, Acumen, Factorydesign and Honour Branding.
Acumen were chosen to design the onboard seating across First Class, Business and Economy. Factorydesign were tasked with designing the passenger experience and cabin interior elements such as galleys, lavatories and passenger destination zones. Honour Branding were asked to coordinate the project across the EDC and manage the interface with Etihad. Honour’s role was to advise Etihad on the innovation process and define the design strategy for the concept work.
As the cabin interior products emerged Honour and Factorydesign were then tasked to work closely together to design the onboard guest experience, which included the new catering and onboard service offer.
The project began with an extensive and unique piece of customer research, the Etihad Big Talks in cities around the world. The EDC partnered with Promise Communispace, leaders in co-creation, to put the customer at the very heart of the innovation process. The research output created a vast number of ideas that were categorised into seven key customer insight territories. These territories helped to set the briefs and the strategic vision for the new onboard products and services.
EDC were initially tasked with developing an overall vision for the aircraft and were asked to build on the airline’s successful ‘Inspired Service’, which was informed by some of the world’s best hotel and hospitality experiences. The vision created was to bring the individuality and exclusivity of a ‘Luxury Boutique hotel experience - that embraced Arabian modernism’.
Every aspect of the guest experience and cabin interior was explored, generating a large volume of concepts.
The initial concepts were developed into physical full size mock-ups and were tested with customers to help evaluate and narrow down the options. EDC then developed the preferred concepts and built a partial full scale mock up of the Upper deck A380 and an entrance area on the main deck, at a secret location in a warehouse near Heathrow Airport, which later became the innovation lab for development meetings and concept testing.
Through 2011 / 2012 the EDC developed the concepts and began to interact with Airbus and the chosen vendors to understand the technical interfaces of the new concepts into the aircraft, supporting the airline through key design and technical milestones. During this time work also started on translating the A380 product vision across the new B787 and adapting the products to meet the challenging constraints of the new catalogue aircraft. This resulted in a new First Class suite product with a forward and aft configuration, enabling the width of the seat to be increased and create a unique ‘joggled’ aisle configuration.
As the project moved into the technical design phase through 2013/14 EDC continue to support the Etihad team and the global supplier base to deliver the products to reality.
As the designs became more defined the mock-ups were updated to reflect the final product. The A380 and B787 mock up cabin sections were transported to Abu Dhabi to be built in the airlines new Innovation Centre, which will serve as a showcase and training facility for all staff and an innovation lab for what comes next. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2977 |
__label__cc | 0.742552 | 0.257448 | Event Promotion?
saved events
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Museum Birthday Part
Museum Birthday Party
Jul, Fri 12 2019 - 10:00 AM to 3:50 PM
#thewoodlands #children #family #childrensmuseum
89 Impressions
In honor of its nine-year mark at its current location, The Woodlands Children’s Museum will present a big Birthday Party complete with cake, games and entertainment Friday, July 12.
The day will be packed with fun for children and their families, including chances to sing “Happy Birthday” to the museum and enjoy a slice of cake, courtesy of H-E-B, at 11:50 a.m. and 1:10 and 2:50 p.m.
Plus, children will be able to stuff their own teddy bears from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with some help from Teddy Bear Mobile. These “pawsome” bears, which will include a T-shirt with the museum’s logo, will be $25 each.
The party also will feature children’s musician Andy RooniVerse, who will perform at 10:30 and 11:20 a.m., and 12:10 p.m.
Visitors can hear Silly Songs with Gabe at 12:40, 3:10 and 3:50 p.m.
A Rapunzel story time and meet and greet will take place at 1:30 and 2:20 p.m.
Also planned is Storybook Theatre at 11 a.m., along with balloon animals by Daisy the Clown and face painting.
Source: woo... museum.org
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The Woodlands Children's Museum 4775 W. Panther Creek Dr., Suite 280 Spring US, The Woodlands Children's Museum, TX 32 km da Houston
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House of Blues Houston presented by Cricket Wireless
Khalid Free Spirit World Tour
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Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix in Concert
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__label__wiki | 0.632077 | 0.632077 | "Stand Up Paddleboarding: The Fastest Growing Sport"
by Stanfords
Stanfords
7 Mercer Walk
WC2H 9FA
Stand Up Paddleboarding or "SUP" has taken the world by storm and is now the fastest growing sport worldwide. It’s easy to see why: with comparatively low cost, the convenience of inflatable boards and the fact that you can just get on and go; but these are only just some of the reasons.
Join us at Stanfords as we talk to Simon Bassett about this fantastic sport. His new book Stand Up Paddleboarding: A Beginner’s Guide is a perfect introduction. It’s the first UK how-to book on paddleboarding and covers everything you need to know about getting started. He also describes the different types of paddleboarding from touring and exploring, racing, surfing and yoga / fitness.
Come along and find out what SUP could do for you and we think that, if you haven’t already done so, you'll catch the SUP bug and want to give it a try this summer!
Tickets £4 (redeemable against the price of Stand Up Paddleboarding: A Beginner’s Guide by Simon Bassett).
Includes a glass of wine/soft drink.
In 2006 Simon Bassett was one of the 10 first stand up paddleboarders in the UK and he started teaching it at the first SUP school on the South coast. Simon has been passionately involved in watersports tuition and coaching since the age of 16 and has developed his skills in the UK and abroad. He is the chairman of BSUPA and also works closely with AALS, ROSPA, the RNLI (to promote the safety of SUP) and he contributes to various SUP magazines and blogs with his stories, expertise and passion for stand up paddleboarding.
United Kingdom Events City of Westminster Events Things to do in London London Seminars London Sports & Fitness Seminars
"Stand Up Paddleboarding: The Fastest Growing Sport" at Stanfords
7 Mercer Walk, Covent Garden, WC2H 9FA, United Kingdom | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2981 |
__label__wiki | 0.765255 | 0.765255 | Home Entertainment Riverdance: 20th Anniversary Tour At Winspear Opera House
Riverdance: 20th Anniversary Tour At Winspear Opera House
Jo Ann Holt
Riverdance Opens In Dallas March 20
The 20th anniversary world tour of international Irish dance phenomenon “Riverdance” opens March 20 at the Winspear Opera House in the Dallas Arts District. Drawing on Irish traditions, the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music into the present day. This spectacular show has captured the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures with its innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song.
Of all the performances to emerge from Ireland – in rock, music, theatre and film – nothing has carried the energy, the sensuality and the spectacle of Riverdance.The 20th Anniversary World Tour is composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan. The tour comes directly to North America from a sold-out run across Europe and Asia. For ticket information, visit attpac.org.
Still ahead for the 2018 Broadway Series are “The Humans,” May 8 – May 20; “Jersey Boys,” May 22 – May 27; and “Bright Star,” June 12 – June 24.
AT&T Performing Arts Center also recently announced their 2018/2019 Broadway Series. It will kick off with Dallas Theater Center’s production of “Hairspray,” followed by “A Bronx Tale,” “The Lincoln Center Theater Broadway production of Falsettos,” “The Play That Goes Wrong,” “Bat Out of Hell,” and Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” All performances will take place at the Winspear Opera House in the downtown Dallas Arts District.
“A Christmas Story,” “Chicago,” and “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical” are also available as options to season subscribers.
This lineup represents 19 Tony Awards including Best Musical; two Grammys, one of which is for the #1 longest running American Musical in Broadway history; and two Olivier Awards. Subscriptions are available now.
“This season is our biggest yet,” said Doug Curtis, president and CEO of AT&T Performing Arts Center. “It’s interesting, diverse, and combines Broadway favorites, unexpected new shows, and an exciting collaboration – all in the stunning Winspear Opera House. There’s no better place to see Broadway.”
Six-show subscription packages range from $149 to $546, with the option to order A Christmas Story for $27 to $85; Chicago for $27 to $96 and Beautiful – The Carole King Musical for $27 to $96.
Information is available at www.attpac.org/broadway. Subscriptions may also be purchased by phone at 214-880-0202, or in person at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Winspear Opera House Box Office at 2403 Flora Street. The Box Office will be open 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. seven days a week and before performances.
Bat Out of Hell
Doug Curtis CEO
The Lincoln Center Theater Broadway production of Falsettos
The Play that went Wrong
Winspear Opera House
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Festival of Independent Theatres (FIT) Returns | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2983 |
__label__cc | 0.702195 | 0.297805 | The Motley Fool Canada » Investing » Canada’s Natural Gas Glut Continues To Plague Producers
Canada’s Natural Gas Glut Continues To Plague Producers
Matt DiLallo | January 10, 2014 | More on: CNQ PWE TLM CNQ PWT TLM
America’s natural gas boom is causing problems in Canada. With its top natural gas customer no longer needing its product, Canada is looking to export its excess natural gas overseas. Some companies just don’t want to wait around for the day that Canadian gas prices head higher.
Sale called off
That’s why producers like Canadian Natural Resources (TSX: CNQ) (NYSE: CNQ) are looking to sell natural gas properties. The problem it found is that no one was willing to give it much value in exchange for the assets. So the company recently called off the sale of the natural gas properties in the Montney region.
While Canadian Natural Resources did find a number of companies express interest in its asset, none made an offer it found acceptable. Instead, the company will retain the acreage. It’s possible it could put the assets on the block again later, or it could develop them when gas prices improve.
Canadian Natural Resources estimated that its more than one million net acres in the Montney contained about 6.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. That’s a vast supply of gas. To put it into perspective, 5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas is enough to supply the needs of five million households for 15 years. Clearly that’s a valuable commodity to have, even at today’s low price.
Projecting a problem
The problem that Canadian Natural Resources ran into is that it’s not the only producer trying to cash out on some of its natural gas holdings. Last year, Talisman Energy (TSX: TLM) (NYSE: TLM) unloaded 75% of its position in the Montney for $1.5 billion. The assets were sold to Progress Energy, which is the Canadian arm of Malaysia’s Petronas.
There are a range of other Western Canadian natural gas assets also either on the market or will be hitting the market over the next year. For example, Penn West Exploration (TSX: PWT) (NYSE: PWE) will be marketing its Cordova gas asset as part of the second phase of its disposition process to refocus its portfolio. That’s in addition to its more liquids focused Duvernay assets that will also be divested as part of phase two. The low price of natural gas, along with a glut of assets on the market, could cause Penn West to take a price less than ideal for these assets. That’s an outcome that Canadian Natural Resources avoided by holding on to its Montney gas assets.
Investor takeaway
This isn’t the ideal time to be unloading natural gas assets. Buyers, on the other hand, could be getting quite a deal if gas prices move higher once Canada starts exporting gas. In the end, Canadian Natural Resources could come out a winner by not bowing into pressure to sell its gas assets into a buyers’ market.
You should check out our special FREE report “2 Canadian Energy Stocks on the Cusp of a Powerful Long-Term Trend”. In this report, you’ll find that Canada is rich in other energy sources that are poised to take off! Click here now to get the full story!
Disclosure: Matt DiLallo does not own any of the stocks mentioned. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2984 |
__label__wiki | 0.598432 | 0.598432 | The Motley Fool Canada » Investing » 2 Reasons 2018 Is a Big Year for WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Air Canada
2 Reasons 2018 Is a Big Year for WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Air Canada
Ambrose O'Callaghan | February 26, 2018 | More on: AC AC.B WJA
The two largest airlines in Canada, Air Canada (TSX:AC)(TSX:AC.B) and WestJet Airlines Ltd. (TSX:WJA), are gearing up for a big year after releasing 2017 fourth-quarter and full-year results in February. After a terrific 2017, both stocks have sputtered to begin 2018. Air Canada is up 0.43% for the year, and shares of WestJet are down 1.9%. The Canadian dollar has retreated in 2018 relative to a strengthening U.S. dollar, but Canadian economic growth is projected to be strong, so airliners should continue to see high demand.
Both airlines reported record passenger traffic in the fourth quarter. WestJet saw segment guests rise 10% to 24.1 million in 2017, and Air Canada carried a record 48 million customers. Air Canada reported record operating revenues of $16.25 billion, and WestJet saw revenue jump 9.2% to $4.5 billion.
But what about 2018? Let’s look at two ways air travel may change and make things interesting for both of these companies this year.
Air travel is evolving
The news was good for air travel in 2017. This was not just due to record passenger traffic and revenues, but also because it was the safest year on record. The Aviation Safety Network reported no commercial passenger jet deaths in 2017. Compare this to 2005, when there were over 1,000 commercial passenger jet deaths around the world.
Airlines are working on big steps in modernization going forward. Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, Inc., recently said that his airline and others are working on instituting mobile check-in. High-speed internet is also expected to dramatically improve the in-flight experience for airlines like Lufthansa and Cathay. Airlines have also boasted that consumers will be able to further “customize” their in-flight experience.
Rising fuel costs could also result due to higher oil and gas prices. The oil crash in 2014 has produced a very friendly environment for airline operating costs. Passenger traffic is expected to increase in 2018 worldwide, but rising fuel costs could eat into revenues.
Low-cost competition is heating up
In February, Air Canada announced that it would be adding more planes to its regional carrier Rouge to service demand for domestic air travel. Air Canada is also concerned with the competition from new regional airlines that are offering low-cost alternatives.
WestJet is set to launch its “ultra-low-cost” Swoop airline in June of this year. The airline will make its home at the Hamilton, Ontario airport and will reportedly host 24 flights per week from the local airport. The flights will travel to Abbotsford, B.C., Halifax, Edmonton, and Winnipeg. Passenger numbers at the Hamilton airport nearly doubled in 2017. Traffic jumped 80% to 599,146 people in 2017 compared to 333,368 in 2016.
Should you add both to your portfolio?
Air Canada stock has surged 97% year over year as of close on February 23. A lower Canadian dollar, higher fuel prices, and general unease in stock markets put some question into the stock’s growth potential this year. WestJet Airlines is up 14% from the prior year, but it offers a solid dividend of $0.14 per share, representing a 2.1% dividend yield. Air Canada remains the premier airline in Canada today, but I still like WestJet stock more right now.
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Fool contributor Ambrose O'Callaghan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2985 |
__label__wiki | 0.672624 | 0.672624 | Uber's Underwhelming IPO; Plus, an Interview With Scott Galloway on Breaking Up Big Tech
After years of hype, Uber's IPO opened at the low end of its range, and didn't do much more than that.
(TMFWizard)
On this episode of Motley Fool Money, host Chris Hill and analysts Ron Gross, Andy Cross, and Jason Moser hit on the week's biggest market news. Does Uber's (NYSE:UBER) lackluster public debut mean IPO mania is finally calming down? Stamps.com (NASDAQ:STMP) loses half its market cap -- again -- and the future doesn't look much better. Huge growth days for Booking Holdings (NASDAQ:BKNG) might be over, but the business isn't done for. Also, the analysts discuss news from Match Group (NASDAQ:MTCH), Zillow (NASDAQ:Z) (NASDAQ:ZG), and The Trade Desk (NASDAQ:TTD); and, as always, they share some stocks on their radar this week. Also, Hill interviews Scott Galloway, best-selling author of The Four, about why the Big Four -- Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) -- should be broken up in the interest of healthy capitalism, why the ridesharing business stinks, why Amazon might spin off AWS, and much more.
To catch full episodes of all The Motley Fool's free podcasts, check out our podcast center. A full transcript follows the video.
This video was recorded on May 10, 2019.
Chris Hill: It's the Motley Fool Money radio show! I'm Chris Hill. Joining me in studio this week, senior analysts Jason Moser, Andy Cross and Ron Gross. Good to see you as always, gentlemen! We've got the latest headlines from Wall Street. Scott Galloway is our guest. And as always, we'll give you an inside look at the stocks on our radar.
The U.S.-China trade talks continue to be in flux, gentlemen, so we're going to start with the most hotly anticipated IPO of 2019. Uber going public Friday morning. They set their price at $45 a share. That was the low end of the range, Ron. When shares began trading shortly before noon, the stock opened at $42.
Ron Gross: This one is interesting to me. The lower end of the range, as you say, was set, but the subscription was oversubscribed. The IPO was oversubscribed, indicating that there was demand. But what I think happened is that the bankers in the company decided to be conservative for a couple of reasons. One, they didn't want what happened to Lyft to happen to them. Lyft went public and shortly thereafter, really within a day or so, broke through the IPO price and never looked back and has continued to go down. Plus, as you mentioned, we have the China-U.S. trade negotiations going on. The market is rattled, the market is weak. It's actually a bad week to go public as a result. So we saw some conservatism in there. Now you see the company actually start to trade. It trades weak. I think, again, building on the fact that the market is just not having it this week.
Andy Cross: Yeah. And I just don't think they wanted to delay it any further. I mean, I was thinking, maybe they'll push it back again. But it's been out there so much in the media. They just don't want to push that off. And while it was a bad time, at least the stock is hovering around that price right now. The bankers and the day-to-day traders trying to find that price. At least it doesn't collapse, which I think was potentially some risk out there right now.
Gross: And I think there's a chance that people are fatiguing on the phrase "path to profitability." There may come a time where people want to see profits once again. To take a company public at an $82 billion valuation that is not profitable, and probably won't be profitable for five years-plus, is daunting. And up until now, you could get away with that. In certain periods of time throughout the stock market, you could get away with it, right up until you can't, and investors want to see good old profits once again.
Jason Moser: I think it's a pretty fair assumption, too, that both companies' cost structures are going to be nothing but going up in the near future and even the farther-out future. The drivers are going to want more money. I mean, I think that right now, it seems like the difference between contractor and employee is really playing out in the press. So I mean, these are just two good examples of companies where I think it really pays to be patient. There is no reason to rush in and buy shares of these businesses. They're probably going to still be around in five years. But I think the business models themselves, the economics are going to change significantly. I think that'll be something that to keep in mind.
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Gross: Yeah. The take rate, which is the amount that Uber keeps after paying the drivers, has been declining. You do not want to see that because you need this business to really get profitable based on scale. Ninety-one million active monthly users is impressive. You need to continue to grow that but you need to continue to grow the profitability on a per-customer basis if this is ever going to turn into a profitable venture.
Hill: Well, and Ron, you mentioned the macro environment contributing to it not being a great week for Uber. Also not helping, probably, is the fact that this week, Lyft issued their first quarterly report as a public company. They lost over $1 billion in 90 days. That's amazing!
Gross: That's amazing!
Hill: And not the good kind!
Gross: Perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised, as we knew they were not profitable either. They're more of a pure play, right? Uber has Uber Eats, which is actually going to be probably a big deal in relation to it turning profitable. But Lyft is more of a pure play. 20 million active users in the quarter. Obviously much smaller than Uber, a more focused play on the rideshare industry. But you know what, we're going to autonomous vehicles at some point -- five years, 10 years, 20 years. Is Uber going to be profitable before that? If they are, then the whole thing changes again.
Hill: Shares of Disney (NYSE:DIS) down a bit this week, despite a strong second-quarter report. Jason, particularly the parks division.
Moser: Yeah. It was a strong quarter. I like to call this the Goldilocks quarter. I mean, it was nothing too terribly great, nothing terribly bad. I mean, it was really just kind of right up the middle. And with a company that has just finished pulling off a major acquisition, as Disney has, that's really all you want to see, is that they didn't completely screw something up. But the nice part about Disney is, they have the model that can make up for shortcomings in other segments.
Revenue $15 billion, was up 3% from a year ago. As you mentioned, the parks continued to get it done. The media division continues to get it done. The parks, they saw 5% revenue growth, but 15% operating profit growth. I think that really demonstrates that operating leverage we talk about in that model.
The headline, of course, is the Avengers: Endgame, over $2.3 billion box office receipts. That number will just grow. We always talk about the fact that those movies really aren't the biggest part of the business to begin with. But it doesn't hurt the cause. I think the real story for the coming quarters and years is going to be the burgeoning over-the-top department, the direct-to-consumer business that they're developing. That brought in revenue $955 million. Operating at a loss as they build out these services. But ESPN+ now has 2 million-plus subscribers, Hulu has 25 million-plus, they're forecasting Disney+ to have somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 to 90 million by 2024. Given the value in all of the IP that they have, I don't think those are too lofty a goal either. I mean, I can see a lot of different ways they could go with these services. And then we also saw, over the past couple of days, Netflix made the acquisition of some little children's entertainment provider. I think the fact that I can't really remember the name of it speaks to the value in the IP that we always talk about with Disney anyway. It's going to be a very interesting race here as we see Netflix and Disney build out these direct-to-consumer businesses. But I think Disney definitely has the leg up on the IP side.
Hill: Booking Holdings' first-quarter profits and revenue came in a bit light, but shares of Priceline's parent company still up a bit on Friday despite that. You tell me, Andy, what'd you think of the quarter?
Cross: Well, the hyper-growth days of booking.com, Priceline are over. It's OK, as long as investors understand that. Sales were up 6% if you back out the real strong dollar and the timing impact of Easter. Gross travel bookings up about 2%. That was down from up 14% of all of last year. The real high-growth days of booking.com and Priceline are down.
Interesting, they have 217 million worldwide rooms that were booked across their platform. That was up 10% ahead of their own guidance. And they now have almost 6 million alternative accommodations listed. That's up 13% as they go after the likes of Airbnb's market as well, too. Profits a little bit on the light side. It was a nice quarter, as long as you understand that the real heyday of high growth in booking.com and Priceline and their other businesses really isn't quite there. They bought back a lot of stock. They generate $4 [billion]-$5 billion of free cash flow per year. They're going to continue to buy back stock. It only sells at 16 or 17 times free cash flow. So, for a steady business, very profitable, it can be a nice investment in for investors, as long as you understand it's not going to be the huge growth story that it once was.
Hill: Although this does come in the same week where TripAdvisor shares sold off in the wake of their latest quarter. It does make me wonder if we're seeing a little bit of cooling off, not just with Priceline and booking.com, but maybe with travel in general.
Cross: Yeah, I think that might be true, Chris, when you just think about some of the wider macro concerns. You mentioned China at the top of the show. That just probably is playing a part. People are probably more careful with their dollars and how they spend it these days.
Hill: Zillow shares up 10% on Friday after first-quarter profits came in higher than expected. They raised guidance, too, Jason. It's been a rough stretch lately for Zillow. I'm wondering if you think they've turned a corner?
Moser: Maybe. Is that a good enough answer for you?
Hill: No, it's not a good answer.
Gross: [laughs] Try again!
Moser: I mean, the action of the share price after the earnings announcement has been pretty amazing to see. It was up 20% at one point after hours. I think the real story for this business going forward is homes. I mean in the homes business that they're trying to grow, the buying and selling of homes, that's the driver that investors want to follow closely in the coming quarters and years to get a gauge of whether or not Zillow, the company, the business, is growing. The home segment brought in revenue of about $130 million for the quarter. It's still operating at a loss, of course. To put that into context, they sold 414 homes, while purchasing 898.
The interesting thing I noted here, if you back out the homes revenue, then you get around $325 million in revenue there. That's only 8% growth from the same quarter a year ago, which is pretty meager. Looking at their guidance, that number actually is probably going to shrink even more in the second quarter. The premiere agent business is really just hitting a brick wall as they're trying to figure out how to change that, how to make it a little bit more valuable for the agents they have. So it does feel like the more things change, the more they stay the same with Zillow. But I do like the new CEO. I think that Rich Barton is the guy to get this done. If anybody's going to be able to pull it off, it's going to be him. But it really is going to hinge on that home segment. That's just going to take a lot of work and time. So that's what we'll want to pay attention to.
Hill: That doesn't sound like they've turned the corner.
Moser: [laughs] Well, they see the corner that they're trying to turn. How about that?
Hill: That's progress. In late February, shares of Stamps.com were cut in half in a single day. That happened again this Thursday, when the company cut its earnings guidance for 2019 as well as 2020 and 2021. Ron, in less than three months, this stock has gone from $200 to $38.
Gross: Brutal, and perhaps not getting any better anytime soon. They're claiming that the non-negotiable item for them was to no longer be the exclusive partner of the United States Postal Service, because they wanted ability to tap Amazon, FedEx, UPS. But that's just destroyed this business. Now, they're claiming that's a short-term pain, and once they can get into deals with those folks, they'll be able to offer multi different shipping arrangements to their customers, especially some of the smaller customers that use Stamps.com, and they'll be fine in the mid to longer term. That remains to be seen. The pain they're seeing now is due to the renegotiations with all these different customers. I think it's going to be painful for quite some time. I think perhaps they might never turn.
Hill: From a negotiating standpoint, shouldn't we be betting on all these other huge companies like FedEx and Amazon, now that Stamps.com is much smaller than it was three months ago?
Gross: It's a formidably competitive area.
Moser: I think that's a reasonable bet. I mean, you know that Overstock.com commercial where they spend the first 30 seconds trying to explain to you why their name is overstock.com, even though they don't really sell overstock goods? I mean, I feel like Stamps.com is running into that brick wall as well. I don't know why the company is called Stamps.com at this point, because they're not really in the business of selling you stamps. They're trying to figure out where to take this business. It'll be a big branding problem going forward.
Hill: Rough week for The Trade Desk. First-quarter revenue for the programmatic ad platform was not what analysts had come to expect, and shares of The Trade Desk were down 18% this weekend.
Cross: Oh, the challenge of high expectations, Chris! The Trade Desk is a programmatic company that serves up ads through algorithms and computers, mostly through online, although they're pushing more into connected TV with the likes of Hulu and Roku, as those businesses continue to do really well. Revenues were up 41%. That was a slowdown from 56% last quarter and 60% in the first quarter of 2018. $121 million in revenue. That was a little better than their management's guidance. But again, it wasn't just lights out as people had come to expect with The Trade Desk. Again, adjusted operating profits up 31%. Ahead of management's own guidance as well, too. The guidance was just a little bit, hey, it's great, but it's not super great. And with those expectations, with a stock price that sells at more than 20 times sales, Chris, if you're not continuing to really destroy your expectations game, it's just not going to do it for investors. And so the stock on that day sold off about 15%.
But, overall The Trade Desk story and why I like this business very much is, it continues to do very well, take market share in an exciting growing space as we think about consuming media in lots of different ways on lots of different devices. That's going to be driven by advertising over the next five, 10 years. And they're going to play right into that.
Hill: Yeah, even with the drop this week, this is a stock that has more than tripled over the past year. It's the proverbial good problem to have when you get into that range of, your earnings report needs to be perfect and your guidance needs to blow away Wall Street. But maybe this makes the stock a little bit more reasonable.
Cross: I think it does, Chris. I think for long-term owners of The Trade Desk or people who are interested in buying, this is a good opportunity now. It's only an $8 billion company competing in a very large market space. And they're profitable, and they're growing. I expect that to continue. I think ultimately The Trade Desk stock will do well for investors who will hold on for five years.
Hill: Shares of Match Group hitting an all-time high this week. The parent company of match.com, Tinder and other relationship sites posted really a great first quarter report, Jason. Basically everything was up.
Moser: Yeah. I liken what this company is doing in its space to what companies like Wayfair and Etsy have done in theirs. Emily and I were talking about this on MarketFoolery this week. You look at companies like this, you don't worry too much about the future because they've already faced their real tests. When we think about Wayfair and Etsy, the real test was, how are they going to exist in an Amazon world? They've passed that test, clearly. Match, I think the big question was Facebook saying they wanted to get into this line of work. Match has passed that test pretty well. We saw the same dynamic play out with LinkedIn and Facebook as well. People do actually want some separation in their lives when it comes to things like this. Match has been very good to build out that family of apps that center around that premise of meeting someone. It's a very singular focus.
It's a very powerful business model. It's a subscription business model, which is nice. Tinder is the crown jewel there with about 4.5 million subscribers now. It just plays into a big market opportunity. This is always going to be something in demand. People are always going to want to meet that someone in their life. Now they're able to pull back. Ad spend is becoming a smaller percentage of revenue, which means the business is scaling very nicely. That's going to work out really well for investors, for a company that already makes a lot of money and a ton of cash.
Hill: In the competitive risks section of their SEC documents, do they list marriage as one of them? If you think about it, someone who's going on to match.com, presumably, they meet someone, they get married, they're leaving match.com. The churn has got to be much higher than something like Tinder.
Moser: That's the sword that cuts both ways. It's the risk yet it's also the competitive advantage. You're going to find that person that you want to marry.
Hill: In all seriousness, though, Match Group is one of those businesses. You mentioned Facebook, but I suppose eHarmony is a direct competitor, but they really don't have competition in the way that other businesses do.
Moser: No, it is a very fragmented industry otherwise. That speaks to how smart management was to really roll up a lot of these valuable properties quickly. Because ultimately, the biggest networks do win.
Gross: Does anyone know how much a Tinder subscription costs? I'm asking for a friend.
Hill: No idea!
Moser: I won't even venture a guess because there's zero upside. Zero.
Hill: Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM) is buying rival Dogfish Head Brewery in a deal worth $300 million. Most of that is in stock, Andy. Back of the envelope math, it looks like this probably increases Boston Beer's annual sales by 10% to 15%.
Cross: The beer business, Chris, has really been struggling. I mean, most of Boston Beer's recent growth has been in their alternatives, things like Angry Orchard Hard Cider, Twisted Tea, the hard seltzer business as well. I mean, it's nice because it combines two legendary U.S. craft brewers. I think it's a nice deal. At $300 million, vs. a $3.8 billion market cap for Boston Beer, it's not huge for them. Sam Calagione will join the board. He and his wife will be the second-largest individual share owner behind Jim Koch, with $127 million worth of Sam Adams stock. You get a person who has a lot of passion into that market, hopefully sticks around. Often, when you join a larger company, when you're an entrepreneur, you don't really feel like sticking around a larger business.
Moser: Yeah, I don't know that it makes the business all that much more compelling. I mean, it's the consolidation that we expected. There's not a lot of overlap. They're two very different brands. But to Andy's point, the beer market itself has just been really challenging.
Hill: Scott Galloway is Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern, the founder of L2, the co-host of Pivot with Recode's Kara Swisher, and the author of The New York Times best-seller The Four: The Hidden DNA of Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google. Earlier this week, I caught up with Scott Galloway and began the conversation by asking about the future of big tech.
Hill: Let's start with The Four. You've called for breaking up big tech, not because you think that they're evil or they destroy jobs or anything like that; you've specifically said, let's break them up because we're capitalists. Can you explain what you mean by that?
Scott Galloway: Sure. A normal part of the economic cycle here in the U.S. is, we realize that through luck, timing, incredible execution, occasionally, a firm becomes an invasive species. That is, it becomes so dominant that it's able to perform infanticide on small companies and prematurely euthanize larger companies which tend to be good employers and good taxpayers. We've done this on a regular basis since we broke up the railroads, AT&T (NYSE:T), aluminum companies. It seems as if we've lost the script. Basically, the FTC and the DOJ have decided to go dormant the last three years. I think the number of actual antitrust actions filed is literally a fraction, a shadow of itself. It's largely because of the Bork Chicago viewpoint of, the test is consumer harm. It's difficult to decide to break up a company whose products are free, oftentimes.
But, yeah, we're well beyond that point. When Amazon can take the value of a stock down 30% by announcing an acquisition in the same category, or Google and Facebook are responsible for two-thirds of all digital marketing growth, or Amazon controls 50% of the most valuable channel in the world, which is e-commerce, or can use a highly profitable group, AWS, to subsidize a retail platform at below cost, similar to what the Chinese did to the steel market, tried to do in the '80s. We called it dumping when the Chinese were pricing steel below cost. When Amazon does it, we call it innovation.
Great companies! Love them! Own their stocks. They hire my kids out of school. Tremendous respect for them. Great, congratulations! It's time for you to be broken up.
Hill: In terms of regulatory actions, Facebook with their most recent earnings report, it came out that they've essentially set aside $3 [billion]-$5 billion to pay for a fine from the FTC. I get the strong sense that you think that number should be doubled, and then possibly doubled again.
Galloway: Look, there's an algebra of deterrence. It's simple. You take the likelihood of getting caught doing something wrong times the potential penalty, and that amount is a deterrent such that that amount is greater than the upside of continuing to engage in that behavior. What we've done with big tech is we've put a parking meter in front of your house that costs $100 an hour. But if you get a parking ticket, you break the law, the ticket is $0.25. So when Facebook does the math, and they have, on if they continue to violate privacy or not, put in place safeguards such that their platform isn't weaponized by bad actors, they get fined $3 [billion]-$5 billion, which is seven days of income or seven weeks of cash flow. Any algebra is, the smart thing, the shareholder-driven thing, for these firms to do is to continue to break the law. It's not their fault. They're doing the smart thing. It's our fault for not electing leaders that hold these firms to the same scrutiny and standards as we've held every other company for the past century. I was with the CEO of Macy's last night, and we were talking about big tech. Let's talk about Elon Musk. Can you imagine the CEO of Macy's referring to somebody of upstanding, you know, saying, "Oh, this person's a pedophile"? What if the CEO of Macy's said, "We're taking Macy stock public at $50 a share," and it's at $30 a share, "Funding secured." He'd have been out the next day. But we have decided not only with the companies, but with the individuals -- we no longer worship at the altar of character and kindness in this country. We worship at the altar of innovators and billionaires. I really think we've lost the script here. We need to hold these companies to the same standards, we need to realize these companies are totally shareholder-driven, they're not going to take care of us when we get older, they're not going to comfort us when we're sick. And we need to apply the same standards we've applied to every other firm. And we are not doing that right now.
Hill: When you and I talked in the fall of 2017, one of the things we talked about was the potential for the Big Four -- Apple, Alphabet, Facebook, Amazon -- spinning off parts of their business to get the political and regulatory heat off of them. Do you think, now that we're two years hence, the likelihood is even greater that that's going to happen?
Galloway: I do. I think that Jeff Bezos is arguably the brightest mind in business. I think he'll prophylactically spin AWS, because that will be the way to stave off the wolves at the door around regulation and antitrust. Also, on the spin, AWS would be one of the 10 most valuable companies in the world. It would also open up a whole vein of customers that right now don't consider AWS because it's owned by Amazon. Walmart or Macy's or L Brands are never going to work with AWS because they see them as a competitor. I think it not only would be a prophylactic against antitrust, it would be a smart business move, accretive to shareholders.
I also think that Instagram or WhatsApp will be spun, but I think it'll be done under DOJ or FTC instruction. I think allowing Facebook to acquire Instagram was one of the greatest regulatory failures of the last 20 years. They should have never been allowed to acquire Instagram, much less WhatsApp.
Hill: I know that for your first book, one of the reasons Microsoft didn't really enter the equation is because Microsoft's really more of a B2B company. The four that you chose are much more business-to-consumer companies. That being said, Microsoft recently crossed the trillion-dollar mark in terms of its market cap. Doesn't really get the adulation from the media that the other four do. But I'm curious what you've observed in the last couple of years with the rise of Microsoft.
Galloway: My excuse that they're a B2B firm is mostly a way of covering up the fact that I just don't understand Microsoft that well. I feel as if I can talk a pretty good game about Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google. Start talking Microsoft, and it's pretty clear I'm out of my depth pretty soon. So I came up with a rubric or construct to just make it these four firms. Quite frankly, I probably should have written about Alibaba and Tencent, but I don't understand those companies either. So, I was comfortable writing about those four.
But, the best way to build economic value in a household is through a monogamous relationship. Single people usually don't build that economic value. The marketplace has discovered the same thing with companies. It loves companies that are in monogamous relationship with their clients. That is, they've gone all in with this partner, the software company, the syndicated research company, Netflix, Prime, whatever. I'm going all in, I'm going to commit to you and I'm going to pay you this amount of money every year, and trust that the relationship works for both of us. The marketplace values recurring revenue companies with multiples of revenues, and non-recurring revenue companies, just general retail or consulting, at a multiple of EBITDA.
With Microsoft, you have the ultimate monogamous relationship in the history of the business world. That is the relationship between Microsoft Office and the corporate world. The markets just love that. Also, you have a CEO who came in, and, to Ballmer's, who gets probably an unfair share of the blame, he did set the company up for success in a lot of ways. He actually groomed and picked Satya. But Satya killed a lot of their mobile stuff, got out of things that weren't working, and said, "We're going to focus on what we're really good at." But the renaissance there is just literally nothing short of remarkable. The only thing that probably rivals it is the renaissance of Apple, and maybe you could argue IBM's renaissance in the '80s. But Microsoft is just an incredible firm. Satya Nadella would be on any shortlist for CEO of the decade.
Hill: Last time we talked, you mentioned Netflix and Amazon being on a collision course with one another. Since then, Disney has come out and announced that later this fall, they're going to be launching Disney+, which is their video-streaming service. Do you see that as more disruptive to Netflix than it is to Amazon, simply because of all the other things Amazon has going for it?
Galloway: That's a really interesting question! First of all, as far as I can tell, the only two legacy firms that are really landing counter blows on the big tech guys are: one, Walmart; two, Disney. I think the only retailer that Amazon ever talks about in a board meeting is Walmart. They've done grocery and they're doing pretty well online. Pretty aggressive at acquisitions, but mostly click and collect groceries. And then Disney is one of the few content firms that has the leadership with Bob Iger, the capital, and the brands to legitimately take on Netflix.
Is it more disruptive to Netflix than Amazon? One-hundred percent. Amazon's retail platform could go away and they'd still be one of the most valuable companies in the world. Their cloud business could go away and it could be one of the most valuable companies in the world. Amazon isn't a retailer. They're really a disruption platform. That is, they find an industry where they say, "Our skills, our data set, our access to cheap capital, our incredible consumer trust, mean we could go after this category and be a player overnight." Cloud, originally developed it for their own storage capacity. Now they're adding that amount every day and they're in an amazing business, the leader in what is arguably the most profitable, fastest-growing part of technology. The second-largest spender now on original scripted TV, Amazon. Probably the most innovative hardware manufacturer in the world right now is no longer Apple. It's Amazon. I would argue the Echo is more transformative than the AirPods or Apple Watch.
Disney is an existential threat to Netflix. Could cut its market cap in half. If Disney+ is a huge hit, and Amazon media never really takes off, it hurts Amazon, but it doesn't cut its market cap in half. So absolutely, Disney is a bigger threat to Netflix than to Amazon.
Hill: I'm curious what you think about the current state of the ridesharing industry. Now that Lyft is a public company and has already had a rough ride in its relatively short ride as a public company, and by the time this interview gets published, Uber will join Lyft in the public markets, what do you see when you look at the ridesharing industry?
Galloway: I think ridesharing is the tobacco of the gig economy. We've figured out a way for the lords to take revenge on the surface. That is, we have actually figured out a way, and we blessed it, that we can sequester the 20,000 mostly white, mostly college-educated professionals at headquarters for Uber. And they get to split the value of, I don't know, Airbus, Home Depot, a $90 billion company, with their investors. Meanwhile, the four and a half million driver partners -- which is Latin for someone who doesn't have health insurance, minimum wage protection, and also doesn't get to share in the spoils of the IPO -- those mostly non-white, mostly non-college-educated people, literally get a dime a ride. That's what Uber and Lyft have decided to give the drivers as spoils for their loyalty and benefit from the IPO. They're getting a bonus of anywhere between $0.10 and $1.00 per ride.
I talk to Uber drivers, and to be blunt, they like their job, there's a lot of flexibility. But offering someone flexibility isn't an excuse for not giving them health insurance. It isn't an excuse for not sharing more of this absolutely torrential windfall of capital. The notion that we have legally and culturally figured out a way to separate the workers from the nice people at HQ is, in my view, obscene. It is literally the 3 million lords in the United States taking revenge on the 350 million serfs. If you want to look at income inequality in our economy, look at ride hailing.
Now, let's talk about the companies. Lyft, full stop, is just a sh---y business. Ride hailing is a difficult, unprofitable business. They'll talk about autonomous, they'll talk about network effects. Autonomous is not coming anytime soon in my view. It's a vastly overrated technology. Ride hailing is a difficult, unprofitable business. Lyft makes no sense. I predicted that it would touch $100 on the day of the IPO and be at $50 within six months. I was wrong. It touched $90, it's almost at $50. I think it's going to $10. I think it's literally a ridiculously overvalued company and a sh---y business.
Uber is a sh---y business, ride hailing, but it's got a global brand, and it's demonstrated that all-elusive, all-important flywheel effect. That is, it brings people into the franchise through ride hailing, which is nothing but a transfer of wealth from drivers and investors to the rider. If you take a $20 ride, it costs them $25. But they've managed to get some legitimacy around this flywheel effect. Uber Eats is a really good business. And it's a profitable business. They do have the assets to get into some sort of freight and logistics. This is a company that is the first and last brand you touch -- or, the global affluent touch -- whether they're in Kuala Lumpur, London, or Cincinnati. There is a lot of opportunity there in terms of marketing. Uber is no Lyft. Uber is a real business that will survive and be worth tens of billions of dollars. I think Lyft could feasibly go to zero, whereas Uber's different.
Now, is it worth $90 billion? Originally, we were talking about $120 billion. They've lowered expectations to $90 billion. I think it's such an incredible global brand that they're probably going to pop on the first day and flatline to go down. Dara Khosrowshahi is, I think, a great CEO, but he's effectively Sheryl Sandberg. He's lipstick on cancer. That is, he's the fabric softener around some dynamics in a business that is really, really obscene and disturbing. I'll wrap up here, because I know I'm joining. At General Motors, a floor shop worker who just started their job in the '70s made $28 an hour plus healthcare. An Uber driver makes between $8 and $15 an hour. While we have unbelievable prosperity at Uber and Lyft, it's been sequestered for a few and we have almost no progress as a society. These firms are the tobacco of the gig economy.
Hill: Time to get to the stocks on our radar. Our man behind the glass, Steve Broido, is going to hit you with a question. Ron Gross, you're up first. What are you looking at?
Gross: This one's a little different for me. I have Xilinx, XLNX. Reprogrammable semiconductor chips known as field-programmable gate arrays. Selling into the artificial intelligence market is huge. The cloud data center market is huge. The company has been 150-bagger since it went public in 1990. Raised their dividend every year for the past 14 years, currently around 1.2% yield, so not knocking it out of the park but pretty good. Plus, I think we've got some nice appreciation potential. I think this would be a good total return play.
Hill: Steve, question about Xilinx?
Steve Broido: When will I have a robot in my home? That's a serious question! I'm not kidding! I want a robot!
Gross: Do you have the iRobot vacuum?
Broido: No, I'm talking about a robot, like Twiki from Buck Rogers.
Gross: [laughs] I think in your lifetime, you will.
Hill: Jason Moser, what are you looking at?
Moser: I've told you before I'm working on this augmented reality report. Lot of different companies I've been looking through. Integra LifeSciences is one of them, ticker AIRT. I'm finding a lot of data to support the notion that AR is going to be a big part of the future of surgery. Integra is a diversified medical technology company supporting a lot of verticals that utilize that AR, including neurosurgery and orthopedics, among others. This is a smaller company, $4.5 billion market cap. That could also be seen as an opportunity really to grow. That's what I'm digging into for the report.
Hill: Steve, question about Integra Life Sciences?
Broido: How important is the FDA to all these businesses that are doing medical kind of stuff? It seems critical.
Moser: It's utterly critical. The FDA does wield a lot of power in those relationships.
Hill: I don't know about any of our listeners, but I'm really hoping after those two high-tech companies, Andy comes up with Potbelly. Just something like, "Yep, I've got a stock on my radar. They make sandwiches." Andy Cross, what are you looking at?
Cross: Not quite. Steve, if you're looking to build your website, look at Wix. They report earnings next week. It provides services for individuals, more than 140 million registered users, to create websites. They have an ad business. They also have a subscription business as well. Registered users were up 19% last quarter. Premium subscribers grew 24%. I'm looking for that to continue to drive the revenue growth more than 25% in the quarter.
Hill: Steve, question about Wix?
Broido: Who is their biggest competitor right now?
Cross: What's really interesting is, they're more on the low-end side.
Gross: My son used it last week for a project!
Cross: There we go, Ron, yes! Whereas Shopify and Shopify+ are much higher-end, with a little bit higher tools that shop owners can use to provide commerce services. Wix is starting to play more and more into that business, but they're a little bit more in the lower end with their ad business and their subscription business.
Hill: Steve, three very different businesses. Wix, Xilinx, Integra Life Sciences. You have one you want to add your watchlist?
Broido: The only one I actually understand is Wix.
Gross: [laughs] That's fair!
Cross: [laughs] Perfect!
Hill: Is your son looking to sell stuff through this website? Or is it just for school?
Gross: It was a school project. We needed to rebrand something, so he rebranded the Washington Redskins, and had to create a new website around that.
Hill: Nice! He should expect a call from Tribune Media Services so that they don't have a redux of what happened with Tronc.
Gross: [laughs] Understood!
Hill: All right, Ron Gross, Jason Moser, Andy Cross, guys, thanks for being here! That'll do it for this week's edition of Motley Fool Money. Our engineer is Steve Broido, our producer is Mac Greer. I'm Chris Hill. Thanks for listening! We'll see you next week!
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Uber's Underwhelming IPO; Plus, an Interview With Scott Galloway on Breaking Up Big Tech @themotleyfool #stocks $AMZN $UBER $GOOG $TTD $ZG $MTCH $Z $BKNG $DIS $SAM $FB $STMP $GOOGL $AAPL $T Next Article | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2986 |
__label__wiki | 0.693128 | 0.693128 | How Local Watchdog Groups, Not Western Companies, Are Shaping Business Practices in China
Amy Westervelt Contributor
I cover innovation at the intersection of health & the environment.
Back in the early 1990s when the first wave of concern about labor practices in China emerged and photos of factory conditions spurred the creation of what we now call Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Chinese manufacturers cleaned up their act and largely did what their Western buyers wanted. They couldn't afford to lose the business.
Fast forward 20 years and it's as though 1990 has dawned again. Every week seems to bring some story or another of a Western company caught with a Chinese supplier that's dumping chemicals or infringing on worker rights. Despite the vast improvements to supply chain management over the past decades, companies are still being surprised by suppliers behaving in a way that doesn't exactly jive with their annual sustainability reports. So what's going on: Did those early efforts just scratch the surface? Is China tired of the West telling it how to conduct business? Is supply chain management so complex that few companies can truly sort it out? Given that much of the news these days centers around tech and electronics companies, is it more to do with the clandestine nature of those industries? Or are we just hearing more about it now because it's tougher to get away with labor and environmental violations for long before someone snaps a pic on their smartphone and it becomes a big news story?
As with most complex issues, it's a little bit of everything. "China is definitely a different animal – we bring in Western expectations and they just play by different rules," says Michael Saracini, CEO of Aravo Solutions, a leading supply chain management company based in San Francisco. "Five to seven years ago Chinese companies were a little more concerned because China was an emerging economy, but now they’re a major super power and they just don’t care as much."
That's not at all to say that to operate in China is to accept that your suppliers will go rogue. In fact the primary concern facing global companies today is not necessarily any particular country's work culture, but the fact that, globally, we are living in the era of the watchdog. Ironically, the same portable electronics being built in all those Chinese factories are the tools being used to expose practices there.
But just as Chinese suppliers may be less beholden to their Western customers these days, so Chinese companies today are less cowed by the threat of a massive Greenpeace campaign. Instead it is the work of small, local NGOs and watchdog groups bringing labor infractions to light. A few months ago when Apple was being spanked by everyone from The New York Times to the Financial Times for using toxics in its products and unnecessarily exposing workers to harmful chemicals and dangerous working conditions, it wasn't the Greenpeace report on the company's products that was cited most often, but reports produced by a coalition of local Chinese NGOs that had been on the ground gathering intel.
Because these local groups can more easily infiltrate factories, and because they are not open to accusations of imposing Western ideals on Chinese work culture, their investigative work may be far more effective than that of their Western counterparts when it comes to shifting the way China does business.
Last year, KYE Systems, a Taiwan-based manufacturer of computer peripherals, with factories in China, got a big wake-up call in the form of a report by the National Labor Committee (now the Institute for Global Labour & Human Rights) based on research from a local watchdog group, which alleged long hours and underage workers at KYE’s factories. Although KYE is prohibited by non-disclosure agreements from telling anyone who their customers are, they are a known supplier to Microsoft. The fallout from the report was what you might expect – several customers threatened to move their business and immediately deployed auditors to KYE’s facilities.
But then KYE did something perhaps not all that expected: Allotted meaningful resources toward developing a robust CSR program. The company's Chinese factories had been audited annually since 2006 by various auditors from its Western customers, according to Terry Chen, deputy plant manager and CSR program coordinator for KYE Systems.
"The audited items are very close to the EICC code," Chen says. "Through these audits, our customers seek to continuously help KYE to improve our factory. We have learned a lot from our customers; they have led us to produce completely lead-free and RoHS (restriction of hazardous substance)-compliant products."
Unfortunately, outside audits were not enough to prevent KYE from becoming the target of a local labor expose. The company realized it needed to do a better job of keeping tabs on its factories itself. First it established a CSR team, backed by the company president and comprised of managers both at KYE's Taipei headquarters and on-site at its factories in China. Then it implemented a policy against hiring student workers and paying wages to third parties (a common practice in the Guangdong province), and established an electronic system to better keep track of overtime hours and vacation time. The company also established a Worker's Congress to give factory workers a voice and improve the sense of community at its factories. The effort not only helped KYE weather the aftermath of the NLC report, it also helped the company to find its own ways to improve operations.
"During the CSR process, we found out that creating communication channels between employees and the management team is a bigger issue than what we first expected," Chen says. "This was not pointed out by the NLC, but through our own CSR process."
Chen notes that around eighty percent of complaints from employees were not work related, but more to do with friendship and family. Many of the company's factory workers are from rural areas and they often feel isolated and alone in the factory life. To help address this issue, KYE set up a third-party hotline for workers looking for someone to talk to about their private as well as work related issues. The company also remodeled its free dorm, increased the variety of options on the menu at its onsite restaurant, and provided the option for employees to live outside the factory area.
It wasn't easy to address KYE's various CSR issues quickly, Chen says. "Operations and monitoring is not as easy as policy and planning," he says. "Our management team realizes the urgency and the importance of embracing CSR. But, it is easy to set the target, and it will take time and experience to implement all the plans."
Chen also says that the three-month waiting period to join the EICC (Electronics Industry Code of Conduct) came at a large cost. During the waiting period, KYE was not able to close any new accounts or launch any new projects with customers.
Nonetheless, just a year after what could have been a major hit to the company's bottom line, KYE is a CSR success story. "All the effort that we spend on CSR causes higher costs, but it also distinguishes our factory from our competitors," Chen says. "It helps us attract a better customer base."
The fact that the change was prompted by local outrage, and that the process has enabled the company to make its own improvements, without mandates from its customers, also makes it both more stable and, paradoxically, more attractive to Western companies. It's increasingly looking as though the next wave of CSR in China will be led not by sustainability directors at Western companies, but by a combination of Chinese NGOs and local CSR managers.
Amy Westervelt
I'm a freelance journalist covering the environment from various angles for publications such as Slate.com, Sunset, and Consumers Digest. Back in 2007, my feature on the... | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2987 |
__label__cc | 0.618797 | 0.381203 | The Lost Energy Of Transportation Security
Brigham A. McCown Contributor
Former regulator & public policy expert
With over 50,000 employees and a massive budget, TSA has been given vast and significant resources in order to ensure the safety of the traveling public. As such, one would expect airport security to be a model of efficiency. Unfortunately for all of us, that is simply not the case.
Traveling from one city to the next via air involves waiting in lines and shuffling through security checkpoints in a ritual that has led to frustration for travelers and screeners alike. Let’s face it, the Transportation Security Administration, also known as the TSA, has an unfortunate reputation for causing headaches related to security checkpoints.
While the TSA’s parent, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has attempted to standardize inspection procedures and protocols, frequent travelers know firsthand the process itself is less than efficient. To add insult to injury, not all of the airports are on the same page when it comes to standardized screening processes and procedures, which has led me to question just how much physical and human energy is wasted on a daily basis, all in the name of security?
For the past decade, travelers have learned to adapt to a changing array of security requirements—shoes off, liquids restricted, laptops removed, bodies x-rayed and patted down. Piling on greater regulations in the name of safety is comforting, but can be detrimental to the sanity of those traveling. Total complaints filed by travelers with TSA in the first three months of 2015 equaled 1,840, according to the Air Travel Consumer Reports from that period.
No matter how confusing TSA regulations can be, they do not compare with the seemingly poor service of its workers. Take for example a family member of a colleague who was surprised to find an inspection tool in her checked luggage after arriving in Dallas from an airport in Tennessee. Her shock was apparent, and although it is not surprising that checked baggage goes through this type of inspection, finding evidence of the agency’s sloppiness is, well, unsettling at best.
Observing the sheer abundance of staff – not to mention under-utilized checkpoints - has led to a unique nickname for the agency’s acronym: “Thousands Standing Around.” In fact, TSA employees have so much free time that several created an Instagram account featuring confiscated items, bringing to light the lack of efficiency within its system.
While TSA provides a listing of how many items are confiscated, those numbers do not necessarily translate into a safer air travel system. However, those 50,000 employees utilize a lot of energy. From commuting to work, driving official government “Operations” vehicles, powering equipment, x-ray machines, cargo scanners, phones, computers, tablets, explosive meters, and full body scanners (with a high false positive rate) monitored remotely, all of this busy work consumes a significant amount of energy.
Aside from actual energy consumed, Americans find airports to be a source of gridlock and congestion, adding to wasted time and inefficiency. If one were to catalog the amount of direct and indirect energy consumed on the process, the results would likely be substantial.
If the security process actually led to increased safety, perhaps the benefits would outweigh the costs. Unfortunately, that is likely not the case. In fact, a recent investigation reported by ABCNews cited massive lapses in security measures, which failed to discover 67 out of 70 potential threats passing through security. Several of these tests to the system included fake weapons and explosives. With a success rate of four percent, the report hardly supported public confidence in the system.
While airport security is a necessary component of travel, the screening ritual is largely inefficient for everyone except for those peddling drinks and other items inside the secure zone of the nation’s airports.
Perhaps the time has come to actually study just how much time, money, and literal energy, is wasted by such a flawed process. Coast Guard Vice Commandant Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger recently sailed through initial hearings. If confirmed by the Senate, he would become the next TSA administrator.
Coast Guard Vice Commandant Peter Neffenger is sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 10, 2015, prior to testifying before the Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on his nomination to head the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Safeguarding the nation’s air travel system should remain a top priority. Unfortunately, our current system is neither efficient nor effective at doing what it was supposed to do. Let us hope the next TSA leader will not just be another bureaucrat, but a leader focused on reforming a system badly in need of reform.
Mr. McCown is an entrepreneur, retired government executive, attorney, and public policy expert. An avid baseball fan who calls it as he sees it, right down the middle. To learn more, visit him at brighammccown.com or follow him at @BAMcCown.
Brigham A. McCown
Brigham McCown is a domestic and foreign policy expert who has held senior posts in three presidential administrations, multiple presidential campaigns, and two presiden... | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2988 |
__label__wiki | 0.813787 | 0.813787 | The NBA's Rookie Scale Is A Bigger Asset Than One Might Think
Morten Jensen Contributor
I cover a wide variety of subjects within the NBA.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 05: Zion Williamson of the Duke Blue Devils speaks during a press conference after being awarded the AP Player of the Year award prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Maxx Wolfson/Getty Images)
As the mixed sounds of blowing trumpets and Dick Vitale's raspy, yet invigorating, voice sweeps across the nation during the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, NBA observers will undoubtedly place their attention on prospects who represent the next generation of draftees and, hopefully, the new era of stars that will spearhead the league for years to come.
NBA teams are surely taking notice too. Teams in drastic need of assistance from the college ranks, and armed with a projected Top 10 selection, will thoroughly review not just the entire tournament, but the full slate of games from the 2018/2019 season that a prospect of interest participated in, to get some idea about the player they'll potentially be selecting in two-and-a-half months.
Getting a pick right, even outside the lottery, is crucial for NBA teams for a myriad of reasons. One of those reasons is the rookie scale contract and the flexibility of acquiring four years of team control in a young player. Duke's Zion Williamson, the widely projected number one selection this year, will be eligible for a first-year salary of $8,120,700 this summer which represents just 7.4% of the projected $109 million salary cap for the 2019/2020 season. Should Williamson live up to the hype and enter the league as an immediate Top 30 player, which isn't out of the realm of possibility, his contract becomes a major component for his new organization, which would structure its salary, and team, around Williamson.
(Note: Usually teams sign rookies to 120% of the rookie scale. A rookie contract can bend from 80% to 120% in value off the rookie scale.)
Teams that rebuild through the draft frequently find themselves with significant cap space at some point during their young core's rookie scale years, and mostly by design. The plan is to locate a star, preferably several, through the draft and add an established All-Star to that core before the rookie scale players are up for their first major deal after their four initial years of service. A star coming off his rookie contract in today's league is almost certainly getting near-max, or even full-max, money right off the bat, meaning the team replaces his cheap rookie scale salary slot with a new much more expensive one, lessening their salary cap flexibility in free agency.
As such, most teams recognize the need to upgrade their roster while their young stars are still playing on deals that pay them far below market value, as to optimize their available cap space number. Some teams will waste that opportunity however, such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, by paying big money for players who are either too far off their young core's age group, or simply doesn't fit the team. The Wolves decided to not just trade away Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and the 7th overall pick in the 2017 draft, which became Lauri Markkanen, for a rental of Jimmy Butler, who was earning a max contract at the time, but they also signed ball-dominant Jeff Teague to a deal worth $57 million over three years and 32-year-old Taj Gibson to $28 million over two years. They went into the 2017/2018 season with Butler, Teague, Gorgui Dieng, and Gibson as their four highest-paid players ($66.4 million combined), while Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, the two players they aimed to build around, were earning a combined $13.7 million that season. Wiggins had signed an extension worth $147 million that kicked in this season, which meant 2017 was the last year in which the Timberwolves had optimized cap space. Unfortunately for the Wolves, however, it didn't work out.
Butler was traded after playing 10 games with the Wolves this season after a very public trade demand, Teague has looked drastically overpaid and ineffective throughout his contract, and while Gibson is objectively one of the best locker room players in the league, his advanced age (34) and lack of a consistent jumpshot was likewise an unnecessary overpay.
Ultimately, the plan was fine. It was the execution that did them in.
The execution went right somewhere else that same summer, when the Nuggets made the most out of the low cap hits of Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, who combined to earn just $7.3 million, by signing free agent forward Paul Millsap. While Millsap, like Gibson, is outside the young core's age group, his selfless style, natural leadership, and high-productive two-way game provided the Nuggets with a terrific boost of professionalism, and they're currently holding the 2nd seed in the highly competitive Western Conference. The Millsap acquisition couldn't have been made without Denver carrying multiple rookie scale deals.
Assuming Williamson lands with a team that's willing to clean their books in order to build around him over the next four years, such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, it's a good bet that somewhere between 2020 and 2022, the team will have stripped themselves of long-term contracts in order to free up money to add key free agents to their squad, which they've likely built up in the meantime with young players and inexpensive free agents.
That's the luxury that comes with rookie scale contracts. They take up such a small percentage of the overall salary cap, that NBA franchises are allowed almost limitless flexibility in terms of raw available money, or taking on money in trades, in order to improve their team. Having productive young stars literally earning around $15 million less annually than their market value dictates is a tremendous asset that smart teams will make the most out of. So by next season, when your favorite team's rookie is taking the league by surprise, know that his worth comes with a lot more than what he does on the court.
Morten Jensen
I have covered the NBA on a permanent basis since 2008. After being a writer and on-air TV analyst, I became the owner and editor-in-chief of Denmark's largest basketba | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2990 |
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Coast Survey chart of the Florida Peninsula.
Sketch F Showing the Progress of the Survey in Section VI. With a General Reconnaissance of the Western Coast of Florida 1848-51.
1851 (dated) 24 x 17 in (60.96 x 43.18 cm) 1 : 1200000
A beautiful coastal chart of Florida by the U. S. Coast Survey, 1851. Depicts the whole of the Florida peninsula, but specifically details the western coastline, showing all bays and harbors, as well as an accurate mapping the Florida Keys. Shows few internal features, however, does note the Mangrove Swamps and Indian Hunting Grounds near the Everglades. With the exception of the Key Biscayne Bay (Miami) area, the eastern coast of Florida is largely without detail. A table in the upper right hand quadrant features latitudes and longitudes for important Florida destinations. Sailing instructions above the title area in the lower left quadrant. The reconnaissance for this chart was accomplished by F. H. Gerdes and Captain Casey. Produced in 1851 under the Supervision of A. D. Bache, the most influential leader of the Coast Survey.
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The Office of the Coast Survey, founded in 1807 by President Thomas Jefferson and Secretary of Commerce Albert Gallatin, is the oldest scientific organization in the U.S. Federal Government. Jefferson created the "Survey of the Coast," as it was then called, in response to a need for accurate navigational charts of the new nation's coasts and harbors. The spirit of the Coast Survey was defined by its first two superintendents. The first superintendent of the Coast Survey was Swiss immigrant and West Point mathematics professor Ferdinand Hassler. Under the direction of Hassler, from 1816 to 1843, the ideological and scientific foundations for the Coast Survey were established. These included using the most advanced techniques and most sophisticated equipment as well as an unstinting attention to detail. Hassler devised a labor intensive triangulation system whereby the entire coast was divided into a series of enormous triangles. These were in turn subdivided into smaller triangulation units that were then individually surveyed. Employing this exacting technique on such a massive scale had never before been attempted. Consequently, Hassler and the Coast Survey under him developed a reputation for uncompromising dedication to the principles of accuracy and excellence. Unfortunately, despite being a masterful surveyor, Hassler was abrasive and politically unpopular, twice losing congressional funding for the Coast Survey. Nonetheless, Hassler led the Coast Survey until his death in 1843, at which time Alexander Dallas Bache, a great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin, took the helm. Bache was fully dedicated to the principles established by Hassler, but proved more politically astute and successfully lobbied Congress to liberally fund the endeavor. Under the leadership of A. D. Bache, the Coast Survey completed its most important work. Moreover, during his long tenure with the Coast Survey, from 1843 to 1865, Bache was a steadfast advocate of American science and navigation and in fact founded the American Academy of Sciences. Bache was succeeded by Benjamin Pierce who ran the Survey from 1867 to 1874. Pierce was in turn succeeded by Carlile Pollock Patterson who was Superintendent from 1874 to 1881. In 1878, under Patterson's superintendence, the U.S. Coast Survey was reorganized as the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (C & GS) to accommodate topographic as well as nautical surveys. Today the Coast Survey is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA as the National Geodetic Survey.
Alexander Dallas Bache (July 19, 1806 - February 17, 1867) was an American physicist, scientist and surveyor. Bache is best known in cartographic circles as the Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey from 1843 to 1865. Born in Philadelphia, Bache, a great grandson of the statesman and inventor Benjamin Franklin, had a varied career primarily focused on education. He toured Europe on behalf of Girard College and composed an important treatise on European Education. Later he served as president of Philadelphia's Central High School and was a professor of natural history and chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. On the death of Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler, Bache was appointed Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey. Picking up where Hassler left off Bache presided over the Survey during its most prolific period and oversaw the mapping of most of the United States coastline. To this day his name appears on countless marine pilot books and U.S. Coast Survey nautical charts. For his work he was elected Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and a Foreign Member of the Royal Society. Following the Civil War, Bache was elected a 3rd Class Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He died at Newport, Rhode Island and was buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC, where he is commemorated with a monument built by American architect Henry Hobson Richardson.
Bache, A. D., Report of the Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey, (Washington) 1851.
Very good. Minor wear and toning on original fold lines. Backed on archival tissue.
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__label__wiki | 0.614118 | 0.614118 | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RESILIENT AGAINST VIKINGS
Georgian 10 9 13 16 48
St. Lawrence 10 7 13 11 41
Pts: Kelsey Dunkeld - 17
Reb: Team - 23
Ast: Cassidy Warren-Timpano - 4
Pts: Kylie Moyer - 13
The Georgian Grizzlies women's basketball team opened up their second half of their OCAA regular season on Friday night when they travelled to take on the St. Lawrence Vikings in Kingston, ON.
It was a tight battle until a resilient Grizzlies squad pushed ahead late in the game thanks to a great effort by Kelsey Dunkeld.
The Barrie native had a team-high 17 points, including 10 of those points in the fourth quarter alone where she made five-out-of-six field goals to lead the Grizzlies to a 48-41 victory over the Vikings.
Dunkeld had a double-double for Georgian as she also posted 12 rebounds while teammate Cassidy Warren-Timpano (Barrie) had 10 points in the game.
Georgian has now won two straight games and improved their record to 3-7 on the season to sit in seventh in the OCAA east division standings but have now matched the win totals of the two teams ahead of them in the standings, St. Lawrence and the Loyalist Lancers.
Georgian will be back in action on Saturday afternoon as they wrap up their eastern road trip by playing the Loyalist Lancers in Belleville.
The Grizzlies will play their next home game on Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Georgian Athletic Centre in Barrie when they host the St. Lawrence Vikings at 1 p.m.
Tickets for the game are available at the doors for $5. | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2994 |
__label__wiki | 0.701677 | 0.701677 | / A Preview of the October 2017 United States Supreme Court Term with Respect to Bankruptcy Law
A Preview of the October 2017 United States Supreme Court Term with Respect to Bankruptcy Law
By: Howard A. Cohen
The Supreme Court recently concluded its 2016-2017 term, which featured two bankruptcy cases. In Czyzewki v. Jevic Holding Corporation1, the Supreme Court reversed the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and held that a bankruptcy court, without the consent of the affected parties, cannot approve structured dismissals that deviate from the basic priority rules. (See “The Supreme Court Rejects Use of Non-Consensual Structured Dismissals that Violate the Code’s Priority Rules in Jevic”). In Midland Funding v. Johnson,2 in a decision that surprised many, the Supreme Court resolved a split that existed in the circuit courts and held that a debt collector who files a proof of claim that is time barred by the applicable statute of limitations has not engaged in false, deceptive, misleading, unconscionable, or unfair conduct under the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act. To date, the Supreme Court has added two cases to its docket for the upcoming October 2017 term.
U.S. Bank NA v. The Village at Lakeridge LLC
The first case added to the Supreme Court’s docket is U.S. Bank NA v. The Village at Lakeridge LLC, a case decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This chapter 11 case is somewhat unusual in that it involved only two creditors. The first creditor was a bank with a $10 million secured claim, and the second creditor was the debtor’s general partner, who held a $2.8 unsecured claim. Due to the fact that the debtor needed an non-insider creditor to vote in favor of the plan, the general partner sold its claim at a discount to someone who had a close business and personal relationship with the general partner. The Ninth Circuit held that third-party assignee of an insider claim could vote to confirm the plan, even though the claim could not be voted in the hands of the original claimant. Further, the Ninth Circuit applied a clearly erroneous standard of review for determining non-statutory insider status, without regard to the “arm’s length” test applied by the Third, Seventh, and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeal. Although U.S. Bank NA requested that the Supreme Court address all of the issues decided by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court limited review to the appropriate standard of review for determining non-statutory insider status—namely, whether that standard is the de novo standard of review applied by the Third, Seventh, and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeal, pursuant to which the appellate court acts as if it were considering the question for the first time, affording no deference to the decisions below, or the clearly erroneous standard of review set forth by the Ninth Circuit, where a trial court makes a finding of fact and such finding is not disturbed unless the appellate court is left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed by trial court. For reasons unknown, the Supreme Court declined to decide the more interesting question concerning whether a purchaser of claim automatically assumes the seller’s insider status.
FTI Consulting Inc. v. Merit Management Group LP
The second case added to the Supreme Court’s docket is FTI Consulting Inc. v. Merit Management Group LP, a case decided by the Seventh Circuit. In this case, the Supreme Court granted certiorari to resolve a split in the circuit courts of appeal concerning the scope of section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code and whether such section applies when a financial institution acts only as a “mere conduit” with no beneficial interest in the stock being sold in a leveraged buyout transaction. It is not uncommon in bankruptcy proceedings for debtors or trustees to increase, through the use of lawsuits intended to claw back funds transferred by the debtor to third parties, the amount of funds available to pay creditors. Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code generally limits the debtor or trustee’s ability to claw back payments that are considered “settlement payments” made in connection with a securities contract. In interpreting the breadth of section 546(e), the circuit courts of appeal are divided on whether the safe harbor is available only for settlement payments that are for the benefit of the entities specifically set forth in the statute or also available for any settlement payments that pass through these types of entities to others. To date, the Second, Third, Sixth, Eighth, and Tenth Circuits have held that the safe harbor protects settlement payments that merely pass through financial institutions to the ultimate beneficiaries. In this case, FTI Consulting Inc. v. Merit Management Group LP, the Seventh Circuit joined with the Eleventh Circuit in holding to the contrary. In reaching this conclusion, the Seventh Circuit held that the language of section 546(e) was ambiguous because the phrase “By or to” could mean any transfer where an owner of a bank account used the bank’s services to transfer funds, and “For the benefit of” could mean a transaction made on behalf of an entity, or one involving an entity receiving a financial or beneficial interest. Relying on a previous ruling, the Seventh Circuit held that there was no risk to the securities market in connection with a claw back suit where none of the parties to the litigation were parties in the securities industry. Finally, the Seventh Circuit held that financial intermediaries that received no benefit from a transfer are not included as transferees under the language of section 546(e). The stakes will be very high in this case, since a ruling affirming the Seventh Circuit will likely lead to increased litigation in bankruptcy courts surrounding securities transactions and may impact the broader securities market.
PEM Entities LLC v. Levin – Grant of Certiorari Reversed as “improvidently granted”
After having granted certiorari in this matter on June 27, 2017, the Supreme Court did an “about face” and dismissed the certiorari petition as “improvidently granted” on August 10, 2017. We review the decisions below nonetheless. In this petition for certiorari, the Supreme Court was asked to resolve a circuit split by deciding whether bankruptcy courts should employ state or federal law in connection with efforts to recharacterize debt as equity in connection with bankruptcy proceedings. Although all of the circuits that have addressed the issue agree that a bankruptcy court has the power to recharacterize debt as equity, the Third, Fourth, Sixth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits employ federal law, while the Fifth and Ninth Circuits follow state law.
In this case, a real estate project was encumbered by a substantial bank loan. When the loan was in default, certain of the debtor’s insiders formed PEM Entities LLC and purchased the bank loan at a discount. Ultimately, the debtor filed for chapter 11 protection, and creditors filed a lawsuit seeking to recharacterize the purchased debt as equity or to equitably subordinate the loan (which would likely result in no recovery on the purchased bank debt). Although the relevant state law would have resulted in the loan being recognized as a valid and enforceable debt, the Fourth Circuit affirmed the bankruptcy court’s decision to rely on federal law to recharacterize the debt as equity based on the substantial discount on the sale of the loan, the buyer’s failure to take enforcement actions with respect to the loan prior to the bankruptcy, the debtor’s poor financial condition, and the buyer’s insider status. This decision now stands that the Supreme Court has dismissed its earlier action granting the certiorari petition.
1 580 U.S. __ (2017). | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2995 |
__label__cc | 0.507446 | 0.492554 | By Richard Wallis On March 13, 2019
As the whole world is reeling under slowdown pressure, the United States is not immune to it. The most significant factor to check one economy’s health is Job Growth status. And, as per the recent statistics, job growth has stalled in the United States. The recent statistics show that only 20000 payrolls have been added for the month of February. But it is largely due to temporary slowdown and strictly not attributed to recession like situation.
The report shows a massive gap between the figures predicted and the jobs actually added. For February, a whopping 160000 jobs were expected to add. And the prediction was based on the January’s surprisingly strong 311,000 payrolls addition. The unemployment rate also fell down 0.2 percent, now stands at 3.8 percent. The average hourly wages also grew at 3.4 percent annually.
“I don’t think there’s a recession on the horizon. However, the market has to grapple with a slowing economy against the backdrop of a much weaker global environment, and therefore questions about the U.S. ability to remain decoupled from the rest of the world will persist,” said Joseph LaVorgna, chief economist for the Americas at Natixis.
However, economists said that these numbers are not the best source to make our judgments upon. The official figures have been inconsistent. As there were 35 days long shut down, that might have affected the job status rate as many of private as well government employee was sent on furlough. It should be noted that the 35 days extended shutdown was the most extended shutdown in the history of the United States. This was caused because of a conflict between the U.S. Congress and President Trump over funding to the U.S. – Mexico border wall. In an interview, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow termed the figures as fluky.
Ward McCarthy, the chief financial economist at Jefferies, said that people had been waiting for a more consistent job data so that a proper assessment could be done. The current data are not that reliable to make a judgment on. It is not very different from the December Sales data which were so weak that people could not believe unless they attribute shutdown to it.
The January retail sales report has been delayed, and it was scheduled to be released on Monday. It would be watched carefully by experts and economists to check whether there is a revision to December’s 1.2 percent decline.
“We had the teacher’s strike, and government employment had a hard time ramping back up, so that pulled a lot of things down. There’s a lot of noise in the payroll data,” said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton.
After the job reports’ data was made public, there was a dip in the share market. But the market was already under pressure for many other factors like Trade inconsistencies and anticipated slowdown. Treasury yields also reported a slow growth which was already down. The yield rate slipped to 2.45 percent.
The only thing positive in this report was the unemployment rate. It dropped to an 18-year low of 7.3 percent from 8.1 percent in February. And the numbers include discouraged workers as well as those holding jobs part time for economic reasons.
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US groups agitating against President Donald Trump’s trade tariff policies … | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line2996 |
__label__cc | 0.590274 | 0.409726 | Saint John Joseph of the Cross
Image: Saint John Joseph of the Cross | Engraving by Alessandri after P.A. Novelli
Saint of the Day for March 5
(August 15, 1654 – March 5, 1734)
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar05.mp3
Saint John Joseph of the Cross’ Story
Self-denial is never an end in itself but is only a help toward greater charity—as the life of Saint John Joseph shows.
John Joseph was very ascetic even as a young man. At 16, he joined the Franciscans in Naples; he was the first Italian to follow the reform movement of Saint Peter Alcantara. John Joseph’s reputation for holiness prompted his superiors to put him in charge of establishing a new friary even before he was ordained.
Obedience moved John Joseph to accept appointments as novice master, guardian and, finally, provincial. His years of mortification enabled him to offer these services to the friars with great charity. As guardian he was not above working in the kitchen or carrying the wood and water needed by the friars.
When his term as provincial expired, John Joseph dedicated himself to hearing confessions and practicing mortification, two concerns contrary to the spirit of the dawning Age of Enlightenment. John Joseph of the Cross was canonized in 1839.
John Joseph’s mortification allowed him to be the kind of forgiving superior intended by Saint Francis. Self-denial should lead us to charity—not to bitterness; it should help us clarify our priorities and make us more loving. John Joseph is living proof of Chesterton’s observation: “It is always easy to let the age have its head; the difficult thing is to keep one’s own” (G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, page 101).
Click here for inspirational quotes from some of our favorite saints! | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line3001 |
__label__wiki | 0.827908 | 0.827908 | Frontiers in Plant Science
Plant Metabolism and Chemodiversity
Jens Rohloff
Ariaya H. Sahledingle
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Hartwig Schulz
Julius Kühn-Institut, Germany
Front. Plant Sci., 14 November 2017 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.01931
Volatile Metabolomic Composition of Vitex Species: Chemodiversity Insights and Acaricidal Activity
José G. de Sena Filho1, Ighor C. Barreto1, Avaldo O. Soares Filho2, Paulo C. L. Nogueira3, Adenir V. Teodoro1, Ana V. Cruz da Silva1, Haroudo S. Xavier4, Allívia R. C. Rabbani5, Daniel J. Spakowicz6 and Jennifer M. Duringer7*
1Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária – EMBRAPA Tabuleiros Costeiros, Aracaju, Brazil
2Herbário HUESBVC, Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Conquista, Brazil
3Laboratório de Pesquisa em Química Orgânica de Sergipe, Departamento de Química – CCET, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil
4Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
5Bahia Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology – IFBA, Porto Seguro, Brazil
6Program in Comparative Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
7Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
The Vitex genus (Lamiaceae) produces a plethora of metabolites that include ecdysteroids and terpenoids, some of which have demonstrated insect repellent properties. The volatile composition of several members of this genus has not been chemically defined, as many taxa are endemic to remote ecosystems. In this study, leaves were collected from the northeast of Brazil from Vitex capitata, V. megapotamica, V. gardneriana, and V. rufescens plants and examined for their chemical profile via GC-MS/FID of essential oil extracts. The analyses showed a diversity of terpenoids. Of particular note were seven-member ring sesquiterpenes which were present in great abundance; a dendrogram showed clades separating by the production of bicyclogermacrene, aromadendrane and 5,10-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids for the four species. Comparison of volatile metabolite profiles to 13 other Vitex species showed strong similarities in the production of some monoterpenes, but varied by their production of larger terpenes, especially those with gem-dimethylcyclopropyl subunits on seven-member ring compounds. From this work, we suggest that the sesquiterpene skeleton with seven member rings is a good chemosystematic biomarker candidate for the Vitex genus. Separation using this biomarker was then validated using Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat profiling. Lastly, experiments examining the toxicity of these four oils against the coconut mite Aceria guerreronis showed that only the oil of V. gardneriana had strong acaricidal activity, with an LC50 of 0.85 mg/mL, thus demonstrating its potential for use as a natural pesticide.
Metabolomic profiles from organisms in the Plantae and other kingdoms have been used to distinguish samples from different species and ecotypes, as well as aid in their classification (Dettmer et al., 2007; Allwood et al., 2011; Aliferis et al., 2013; Jing et al., 2015). In the case of plants, much attention has been given to one of the largest group of metabolites they produce, the terpenoids. In a study similar to ours which explored the chemodiversity of Selaginella in the context of evolution, Weng and Noel (2013) suggest that monoterpene and sesquiterpene synthases are derived from conserved diterpene synthases, based off of phylogenetic analyses of plant terpene synthases done by Bohlmann et al. (1998). Thus, it appears that monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are frequently used as chemical markers for distinguishing between genera. For example, in the Lantana (Verbenaceae) genus, β-caryophyllene was the major compound suggested as a chemical marker (Sena Filho et al., 2010), while in Citrus, both cyclic (R-(+)-limonene and α-terpinene) and bicyclic monoterpenes (α-pinene and sabinene) were dominant in fruit essential oils and therefore proposed as markers for those species/varieties (Jing et al., 2015). Worldwide, the volatile metabolomics composition of Vitex species has been poorly investigated, likely due to their accessibility and phenotype, namely, their size and bad odor. From a total of 250 species, only about 35 are reported in the literature with in-depth chemical characterizations. Many of them are difficult to identify due to endemism, e.g., Vitex rufences A. Juss, Vitex capitata Vahl, Vitex gardneriana Schauer, which are found only in areas in the northeast of Brazil.
The main goal of this study was to develop a metabolomics approach for evaluating the volatile composition of Vitex species, using four species we collected (Vitex capitata Vahl, Vitex megapotamica (Spreng.) Moldenke, Vitex gardneriana Schauer and Vitex rufescens A. Juss) in addition to 13 Vitex species published in the literature. First, the chemical composition of the volatile fraction of essential oils from leaves of these species was characterized via GC-MS/FID. Subsequently, cluster analyses of the chemical composition of the 17 Vitex species were performed. Next, Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) was used to evaluate the genetic variation between our four Vitex species, followed by cluster analyses. Lastly, bioactivity of our four essential oil extracts was evaluated using toxicity assays against Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae), a major pest found in coconut plantations worldwide (Návia et al., 2013). From this study, we aimed to chemosystematically characterize the Vitex genus, in addition to expand our understanding of it in an evolutionary context.
Plant Material
Leaves from V. capitata, V. megapotamica, V. gardneriana, and V. rufescens were collected in the northeast of Brazil during the rainy season in June of 2015. Determination of species was carried out by Prof. Dr. Avaldo de Oliveira Soares Filho, by comparison to exsiccates from the Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia (HUESBVC) and specimens of virtual herbaria, in addition to use of technical bibliographies (Salimena-Pires and Giulietti, 1998; Barroso et al., 1999; Lima and Rança, 2009). Genus of taxonomic classification followed the Angiosperm Phylogenetic Group (APG III) guidelines. Vouchers of the specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of HUESVC in Vitoria da Conquista, Brazil, under the numbers 8194 (V. capitata), 8195 (V. megapotamica) and 8126 (V. gardneriana). V. rufescens was deposited under number 38352 in the Herbarium of the Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS) in Aracaju.
Essential Oil Isolation Procedure
Essential oils from fresh leaves (1 kg) were extracted via hydrodistillation for 4 h with a Clevenger-type apparatus (Sena Filho et al., 2010). The extracted oils were dried with powdered anhydrous sodium sulfate and kept at 4°C in a sealed amber bottle before analysis by GC-MS/FID.
GC-MS/FID Analysis
Essential oil characterization was performed using methods described previously (Bittrich et al., 2013; Ramos et al., 2013; Feitosa-Alcantara et al., 2017). Specifically, a GC-MS/FID (QP2010 Ultra, Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan) equipped with an autosampler (AOC-20i, Shimadzu) was used to separate compounds with an Rtx®-5MS Restek fused silica capillary column (5%-diphenyl–95%-dimethyl polysiloxane) of 30 m × 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 μm film thickness, at a constant helium (99.999% purity) flow rate of 1.2 mL⋅min-1. An injection volume of 0.5 μL was employed, with a split ratio of 1:10. The oven temperature program started at 60°C, was held for 3 min, then increased at a rate of 5°C/min to 300°C, and was finally held for 9 min. The MS and FID data were simultaneously acquired by employing a detector splitting system, with a split flow ratio of 5:1 (MS:FID). A 0.4 m × 0.15 mm i.d. restrictor tube (capillary column) was used to connect the splitter to the MS detector, while a 0.6 m × 0.22 mm i.d. restrictor tube was used to connect the splitter to the FID detector. The MS data were acquired in full scan mode (m/z of 40-550) at a scan rate of 0.3 scan/s using an electron ionization potential of 70 eV. The injector temperature was set to 280°C and the ion source temperature to 200°C. The FID temperature was 300°C, and the gas supplies for the FID were hydrogen, air, and helium at flow rates of 30, 300, and 30 mL⋅min-1, respectively. Quantification of each constituent was estimated by FID peak-area normalization (%). Compound concentrations were calculated from the GC peak areas relative to the total peak area of all peaks and were arranged in order of GC elution. The retention index was obtained by co-injecting the oil sample with a C7–C30 linear hydrocarbon mixture; identification was made based on comparison of retention indices and fragmentation patterns with published values (Linstrom and Mallard, 2005; Adams, 2007).
Cluster Analyses of Essential Oil Volatile Metabolomic Composition
Molecules comprising at least 2% of the total FID signal were summarized for the four Vitex species from this study as well as 13 species referenced in the literature (Supplementary Table S1). The cluster analysis was then carried out using the Euclidean Distance and the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) cluster algorithm (Sokal and Michener, 1958). Statistical analysis was performed using the Paleontological Statistics Software Package for Education and Data Analysis (PAST) (Hammer et al., 2001). Dendrograms were then generated which assigned diversity of the 17 Vitex species based on their essential oil components.
Genetic Analysis with ISSR Markers
The four Vitex species we collected (Vitex capitata, V. megapotamica, V. gardneriana and V. rufescens) were analyzed by repeat sequence primers via Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR). The DNA was extracted from young, fresh leaves as previously described (Doyle, 1991). Fourteen primers were used to screen for polymorphisms (Table 1). The PCR amplification parameters and ISSR method used followed that as described in Sena Filho et al. (2010).
TABLE 1. Primer information for DNA markers used to screen for polymorphisms in four Vitex specimens gathered from northeastern Brazil.
Cluster Analysis of Genetic Markers
Based on the presence or absence of fragments, the polymorphic information content (PIC) (Ghislain et al., 1999), the marker index (MI) (Zhao et al., 2007), the similarity coefficient matrix (Jaccard, 1908), and the clustering of the matrix were calculated for each primer using the UPGMA cluster algorithm (Sokal and Michener, 1958). The bootstrap method was used with 100,000 replicates by employing FreeTree software (Pavlicek et al., 1999) to generate the dendrogram (Page, 1996).
Toxicity to A. guerreronis
Concentration-mortality bioassays (Silva et al., 2013) were conducted to estimate the lethal concentration (LC) of the essential oil extracted from four Vitex species (V. capitata, V. megapotamica, V. gardneriana, and V. rufescens) to adult coconut mites (A. guerreronis). A preliminary bioassay was performed using a wide concentration range where the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) and the concentration able to kill 100% of A. guerreronis were determined. Afterward, four concentrations within this range were used to generate a concentration response curve as follows: oil was sprayed onto perianth disks (1 cm diameter) of young coconut fruits placed in Petri dishes containing agar at 5%. Spraying of the oils was performed at a pressure of 34 kPa (0.34 bar) with a 9.3-ml spray rate using a Potter Tower device (Burkard, Rickmansworth, United Kingdom) (Oliveira et al., 2017). Sprayed perianth disks were allowed to dry for 20 min before 20 adult A. guerreronis were placed onto each disk. Control disks were sprayed with acetone, which was also used to dissolve and dilute the oils for all concentrations. Petri dishes were individually maintained in an incubator at 26°C and 70% relative humidity for 24 h. Eight replicates (wells) for each oil concentration were used. Harmfulness of the commercial acaricide abamectin (Vertimec 18 ECTM; 18 g a.i./L, at field dosage 75 mL/100 L) to A. guerreronis was evaluated as a way of toxicity comparison (20 replicates were performed and control disks were sprayed with distilled water). Mite mortality was assessed after 24 h of exposure and concentration-mortality curves were estimated by Probit analysis using the PROC PROBIT procedure in SAS (version 9.4, Cary, NC, United States). The likelihood ratio chi-square goodness-of-fit was applied to evaluate whether the data adequately conformed to the PROBIT model (Robertson et al., 2007).
GC-MS/FID analysis of essential oils collected from leaves of V. capitata, V. megapotamica, V. gardneriana and V. rufescens (yield of 0.13, 0.18, 0.33, and 0.45%, respectively) determined 46, 45, 41, and 37 constituents to be present, respectively (Table 2). Grouping for the species by Euclidian distance based on seven-member ring sesquiterpenes showed clades separating by the production of bicyclogermacrene, aromadendrane and 5,1-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids, e.g., aromadendrene, viridiflorene, ledol, viridiflorol, allo-aromadendrene, bicyclogermacrene, globulol, 6,9-guaiadiene, spathulenol and palustrol (Figure 1). We then analyzed the volatile composition of the essential oils from 13 previously published Vitex species, as well as the four Vitex species studied here, three of them endemic to Brazil (V. capitata, V. gardneriana and V. rufescens) via a clustering algorithm (Figure 2). The 17 species comparison showed strong similarities in the production of some monoterpenes, but varied by their production of larger terpenes, especially those with gem-dimethylcyclopropyl subunits on seven-member ring compounds.
TABLE 2. Major components (%) identified in the essential oil extracted from leaves of Vitex capitata, V. megapotamica, V. gardneriana and V. rufescens from northeastern Brazila.
FIGURE 1. Dendrogram of sesquiterpenes containing seven-member rings found in the essential oil extract of four Vitex specimens collected in northeastern Brazil.
FIGURE 2. Heat map of the volatile compounds characterized from essential oil extracts via GC-MS FID of 17 Vitex species. Heat map was generated using Euclidean Distance and the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean cluster algorithm. Compounds representing at least 2% of the GC-FID signal were included (for a listing of compounds, see Supplementary Table S1).
The 14 ISSR primers generated a total of 90 fragments, 100% of which were polymorphic. The primer with the highest number of fragments was 857 (eleven), while the lowest were 845 and 888 (two). The values of PIC and MI are parameters that allow for estimation of the power of discrimination of the molecular marker by a primer; in our results, the primers 842 and 818 were the most informative (Table 1). We observed only fragments to V. capitata for primer 823. Genotypes were clustered by UPGMA using the Jaccard coefficient (JC), estimated from the binary data (Figure 3). The similarity mean was 0.21 JC (0.08 – 0.45 JC). We observed a clear separation of two groups, with V. gardneriana being the most isolated of the four species. In our study, ISSR fingerprints clearly distinguished all of the tested species, with cluster results similar to those performed for the chemical compounds (Figure 2).
FIGURE 3. Dendrogram of genetic similarity based on data from Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat profiling using the Jaccard coefficient and the Unweighted Pair Group with Arithmetic Mean method. Numbers indicate values generated with 100,000 bootstrap repetitions.
In the biotoxicity assays, the essential oil extracted from V. gardneriana was highly toxic to A. guerreronis (LC50 0.8577 mg/mL; CI 0.67-1.15; x2 = 3.17, df = 2, P = 0.20). In contrast, it was not possible to estimate the LC50 from V. capitata, V. megapotamica and V. rufescens essential oils, as increasing concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 1.8, 2.0, and 2.3 mg/mL) of these oils did not kill adults of A. guerreronis over a period of 24 h. As a way of toxicity comparison, the acaricide abamectin, sprayed at its label rate, inflicted 100% mortality to A. guerreronis.
To our knowledge, this is the first report of the chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oil distilled from leaves of V. capitata, V. gardneriana and V. rufescens. Of the chemical constituents detected, 88.7, 94.5, 80.5, and 90.2% were sesquiterpenes, and 2.3, 0.3, 17.1, and 8.6% were monoterpenes for V. capitata, V. megapotamica, V. gardneriana and V. rufescens, respectively. Similar chemical compositions were found in the essential oil extracts from V. capitata and V. megapotamica, where α-copaene, (E)-caryophyllene, γ-elemene, α-humulene, gamma-muurolene, viridiflorene and γ-cadinene were the major components (Figure 2 and Table 2). Characterization of V. gardneriana revealed that the most abundant compounds were 6,9–guaiadiene (19.3%), caryophyllene oxide (18.6%), L-calamenene (13.9%) and α-cadinol (3.8%). In the case of V. rufescens, (E)-caryophyllene (21%), ledol (15.7%) and germacrene D (9.3%) were the main constituents detected.
Chemotaxonomy, or chemical variation in a group of compounds, is one of the tools used to define intra- and inter-specific variability in plants (Sena Filho et al., 2007, 2012; Duran-Peña et al., 2015). Our objective was to use the chemical profile in the four Vitex species we studied, plus 13 others from the literature, to develop a system for classification of plant specimens derived from this genus. The content of sesquiterpenes with seven and nine members in their ring system in the four Vitex species described in this study was remarkable. Recently, genes responsible for sesquiterpene cyclization were evaluated in fungi, which involved scaffolds generated by terpene synthases and cyclases (Quin et al., 2014). Our data indicates that sesquiterpene synthase is likely highly expressed in this genus and hypothesize that this enzyme plays an important role in its chemosystematics. Enzyme mechanisms of sesquiterpene biosynthesis are well known: 5-epi-aristolochene synthase (TEAS) found in Nicotiana tabacum L. (tobacco) was the first cloned and sequenced sesquiterpene synthase from Angiospermae species (Maillea et al., 2006), and could serve as a useful model for understanding how these compounds are built in the plant.
For both the chemical compound and genetic markers evaluated by clustering (Figures 1, 3), V. gardneriana was isolated from the other three species. This may be related to genotypic differences for this species, as it is found in a different biome (Sena Filho et al., 2008) which may influence the expression of genes used for synthesis of chemical compounds. The use of two data tools (chemical and genetic diversity) more thoroughly supports systematic characterization of the species studied (Rahalia et al., 2016), and validates our chemical marker proposal for the Vitex genus, namely, using the sesquiterpene skeleton with seven member rings as a biomarker candidate.
Interestingly, the chemical structure of the sesquiterpene viridiflorene found in V. megapotamica, V. capitata and V. rufescens possesses a very unique ring system, similar to 6,9-guaiadiene found in V. garnderiana (Figure 4). The enzymatic activity of recombinant Escherichia coli in TPS 31 from Solanum lycopenium led to the discovery of viridiflorine synthase (Bleeker et al., 2011). This compound possesses a similar structure to the africanone scaffold with a 2,6 ring closure (Quin et al., 2014); this type of ring closure could be considered as a more specific signature of the chemoprofile for species in the Vitex genus.
FIGURE 4. Biosynthesis of the 5,10-cycloaromadendrane type sesquiterpenoids and the seven-member ring compounds found in Vitex species viridiflorene (A) and 6,9-guaidiene (B).
In the toxicity bioassays, the essential oil extracted from V. gardneriana was highly toxic to A. guerreronis, indicating its potential for use in controlling this major coconut pest. On the other hand, it was not possible to estimate the LC50 from V. capitata, V. megapotamica and V. rufescens essential oils. This differential toxicity may be explained by the diversity and amount of sesquiterpenes found only in V. gardneriana, such as 6,9-guaiadine (19%), L-calamenene (13.9%), and caryophyllene oxide (18.6%). However, these compounds should be further evaluated concerning the toxicity to A. guerreronis using more modern toxicology bioassays. Further, predatory mites, especially those belonging to the family Phytoseiidae, are natural enemies of A. guerreronis worldwide (McMurtry and Croft, 1997; Návia et al., 2013). These beneficial mites are naturally found foraging on coconut plants and help to control A. guerreronis. Therefore, future research should also assess the acaricidal activity of V. gardneriana essential oil to predatory mites aiming at determining its selectivity toward non-target organisms, including pollinators and seed dispersers.
Biological activity of some of the prominent compounds we saw in the Vitex species studied here has been defined previously: 6,9-guaiadiene, prominent in V. gardneriana, was also found in essential oils extracted from Bracteosa ruilopezia (Standl.) Cuatrec and Baccharis salicifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. (Asteraceae)-both oils demonstrated antibacterial activity (Carrizo et al., 2009). It has also been suggested that caryophyllene oxide is toxic; this was evaluated using a direct spray test for females and eggs of the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Momen et al., 2014). Further, α-cadinol and caryophyllene oxide were the main volatile compounds found in essential oil extracted from aerial parts of Teucrium polium L. – Lamiaceae. The essential oil showed fumigant and repellency effects against the cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) (Khani and Asghari, 2012; Khani and Heydarian, 2014). α-Cadinol also showed excellent inhibitory action against the termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) (Cheng et al., 2014).
By combining the volatile profiles and ISSR molecular markers using bioinformatic tools, we were successful in clustering the Vitex species in order to identify markers for chemosystematic classification. In this work, V. gardneriana was isolated from the other species, expanding our understanding of the chemodiversity of this genus. In addition, the volatile components extracted from V. gardneriana showed potential for controlling A. guerreronis, as it was highly toxic to this coconut pest.
Conceived and designed experiments: JdSF, IB, AT, and HX. Conducted experiments: JdSF and IB. Analyzed data: JdSF, IB, AT, PN, DS, provided reagents: ACdS, AT, and JdSF. Wrote the manuscript: JdSF, AR, ASF, AT, DS, and JD.
We would like to thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (405485/2016-6) for funding.
We would like to thank the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA), CAPES, and CNPq 405485/2016-6 for contributing to this work.
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2017.01931/full#supplementary-material
TABLE S1 | Major components (%) determined in essential oil extracts from 17 Vitex species.
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Keywords: Vitex capitata, Vitex megapotamica, Vitex gardneriana, Vitex rufescens, chemodiversity
Citation: de Sena Filho JG, Barreto IC, Soares Filho AO, Nogueira PCL, Teodoro AV, Cruz da Silva AV, Xavier HS, Rabbani ARC, Spakowicz DJ and Duringer JM (2017) Volatile Metabolomic Composition of Vitex Species: Chemodiversity Insights and Acaricidal Activity. Front. Plant Sci. 8:1931. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01931
Received: 02 August 2017; Accepted: 25 October 2017;
Published: 14 November 2017.
Jens Rohloff, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Ariaya Hymete Sahledingle, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Hartwig Schulz, Julius Kühn-Institut, Germany
Copyright © 2017 de Sena Filho, Barreto, Soares Filho, Nogueira, Teodoro, Cruz da Silva, Xavier, Rabbani, Spakowicz and Duringer. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Jennifer M. Duringer, Jennifer.Duringer@oregonstate.edu | cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line3004 |
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