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UAE announced their support for Afghan peace talks
Local NewsNews
By Admin - December 17, 2018
Kabul-Afghanistan (P.M.G)
Reporter: Moh.Khalid Noorzad
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of UAE, has said that their country is supporting Afghan peace talks during a meeting with Zalmai Khalilzad (United States Special Envoy for Afghanistan’s Peace) in Abu Dhabi on Monday (17 December).
According to a UAE Foreign Ministry newsletter, the country’s foreign minister expressed his efforts to help restore peace and stability in Afghanistan, he said that the United Arab Emirates has always supported the Afghan peace process and they wants to strengthen peace around the world.
Meanwhile, Zalmai Khalilzad, the Special Representative of the United States of America for the Peace of Afghanistan, commends the UAE’s humanitarian efforts to the people of Afghanistan. This is while the United Arab Emirates is one of the donor countries in Afghanistan, which is expected to send special troops to Afghanistan.
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Gary Leffew
Gary Leffew is widely considered the rodeo guru of positive thinking, and it all traces back to his fateful decision to pick up a book.
In the late 1960s he was a struggling bull rider, slumping badly and crippled by self-doubt.
Then he started thinking positively.
The simple act of picking up a book – “Psycho-Cybernetics” by Maxwell Maltz – not only got his riding career back on track, but changed the course of his life and revolutionized the sport of bull riding.
Leffew got his start in bull riding late, preferring motorcycles to bulls until his dad encouraged him to climb aboard bovines instead – claiming they were safer – at age 19. He was immediately hooked, and his career got off to a fast start. Within several years he qualified for his first National Finals Rodeo appearance in 1966 and finished 10th in the world standings.
“I loved the travel, I loved the adventure, I loved the life and I loved riding bulls,” Leffew said on Ride TV. He cracked a smile “And it’s show business!”
Things took a nosedive in 1967, with Leffew struggling through a six-month period unable to stay on a bull. That’s when a friend recommended “Psycho-Cybernetics,” and everything changed.
The book drove home to him that bull riding is a mental game.
From there, Leffew began meditating and using visualization tactics, or “riding bulls every day in [his] mind.” He envisioned himself riding and winning, over and over again. He says he rode 50 practice bulls before he returned, but visualized riding several hundred more in his mind.
By the time he got on his first bull after his six-month slump, he had what he calls the best ride of his career and went three months without getting bucked off.
Leffew turned his revelation into the Gary Leffew Bull Riding School, which opened in 1969, a world championship and NFR aggregate title in 1970, as well as seven career NFR appearances.
“I always tell my kids in my schools, my teacher used to snap her fingers and say, ‘Stop daydreaming!’” Leffew said. “I would snap my fingers and say, ‘Daydream!’ Because daydreaming is your rehearsing being someplace, being somebody and doing something. Being in the moment. And that is the best thing in the world for you, because it programs your mind. The next thing you know, you wake up and you’re there, and you feel at home.”
Leffew’s impact on the bull riding world didn’t stop when his riding career did.
The Gary Leffew Bull Riding School has now taught several generations of bull riders. Seventeen of his students have gone on to win PRCA World Championships, including four-time PRCA World Champion Sage Kimzey. Leffew’s methods advocate a straight arm technique and encourage daily meditation with the goal of a lower level of consciousness, enabling riders to essentially dance with the bulls.
From there, Leffew went on to build an empire for himself as he branched out into the entertainment world. He’s served in various capacities for commercials, music videos, movies and TV series; his IMDb page lists credits in acting, stunts and writing, as well as livestock consultant and bull riding instructor.
Perhaps his most famous work is the 1994 movie “8 Seconds” about the legendary Lane Frost, in which he taught star Luke Perry how to ride bulls using his psycho-cybernetics techniques. Perry’s first-ever time on a bull, after just weeks of training, ended in a qualified ride.
Now an elder statesman of the bull riding world, Leffew says the word retirement isn’t in his vocabulary.
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Penman No. 91: The Pinoy McManus (Part 2)
Posted on April 7, 2014 by penmanila
Penman for Monday, April 7, 2014
IN CASE you’re wondering where “The Pinoy McManus, Part 1” is, it came out in this corner almost two years ago, on May 28, 2012; and in case you’re wondering who or what a “McManus” is, let me reprise what that first piece was all about.
Jim McManus is a prizewinning journalist, novelist, and director of the Master of Fine Arts Program at the Art Institute of Chicago, whose fiction won him the Carl Sandburg Prize for the novel in 1996, and whose journalistic pieces—on everything from stem cell research to poker—have been published by the New York Times, Esquire, and Card Player Magazine, among many other periodicals. He’s been a Guggenheim and Rockefeller fellow as well.
In other words, in the writing game, Jim’s no slouch, and you’ll pardon me if I’ve felt a certain affinity to him, having shared the same interests and experiences—not the least a passion for poker. The fact that Jim and I are both writers and creative writing teachers is my official excuse for posting this column-piece in Arts & Culture rather than in the sports page. Now let’s get to the fun part.
Jim McManus was assigned by Harper’s to cover the 2000 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas as the backdrop for a murder investigation, but rather than watch the game from the sidelines, he decided to use his advance to buy a satellite seat (a kind of pre-tournament tournament, with a much smaller entry fee). That started an incredible run to the main event itself and, against all the odds, to the final table, where he finished in fifth place, beating out many established pros to win almost $250,000. He later chronicled that miraculous ascent to poker stardom in the book Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion’s World Series of Poker, a copy of which I picked up in a second-hand bookshop some years ago.
Some years ago—about eight years now, to be more precise—was when I began playing no-limit Texas Hold ‘Em poker semi-seriously, starting with beer-soaked Friday-night home games among friends and progressing to the Pagcor-vetted Metrocard Club in Pasig’s Metrowalk, where Manila’s pokerati regularly converge. Since then, I’ve spent many a night at Metro, usually on 16-hour binges, playing low-stakes poker while pecking away on a biography or an essay on my laptop and subsisting on dry saltine crackers and hot tea and black coffee.
My excuse to indulgent Beng for these excursions is that I’m gathering material for my third novel, on which I’ve been at work for three years now, and which features a call-center agent who moonlights as a poker grinder. But heck, I’ll admit it, the game’s addicting, and while other old guys might prefer golf, my turf’s the green felt table, and the swish of the cards is music to my ears. I’ve learned a few things about the game and have even won a few small tournaments, but I’m still basically what the pros would call a fish, an amateur whose rank enthusiasm for playing will often get the better of him.
As I wrote for a magazine a couple of years ago in a piece titled “Confessions of a Fish,” I’m in it more for the rush than the money: “For fish like me, winning is less an outcome than a moment—a surge of adrenalin, a flood of endorphins—that can pass very quickly, but is a high well worth buying. It’s the high you get when you hit your flush or your inside straight on the river, busting your cocky opponent’s three aces or two-pair. Never mind that that rush is followed by a long, slow slide back into the doldrums, and that you’ll be driving home in the wee hours many thousands of pesos poorer. All a fish has to do is to remember that instant—that look of utter horror and disgust on the other guy’s face—and all the pain of losing fades away, like dirty water down a drain.”
Part 1 of my McManus article came out because I’d just then placed 20th in a big million-peso tournament at Metro, my best-ever finish at that point. Jim McManus actually read my Star column online and congratulated me for it; we exchanged messages and pleasantries, and I promised to take him up on his invitation to have coffee or a beer with him in Kenilworth, Illinois one of these days and have my copies of his books signed (I also have his definitive history of poker, Cowboys Full).
Now, Jim, if you’re still out there, here’s an update from the fanboy and wannabe: last week, I did myself one better, and made the final table of another major tournament, the P1-million Metro Summer Event. A million pesos is small beans by Las Vegas standards, but the first prize could have wiped out my credit-card bills and bought me a Montblanc or two, so I was all worked up for the four-day marathon.
Like Jim, I entered the MSE through a pre-tourney satellite, winning a ticket to the big game. We started out with 15,000 in chips, and at one point on Day 1—among over 400 other players in the pool—my stack went down to 7K. On Day 2 and with the pool down to a hundred, I hit a lucky streak and nursed my 40K stack to almost 380K; on Day 3, that ballooned to over 1.2 million (these are just chips, folks, not real money, so don’t get too excited). On Day 4, down to the final table of ten players, I went in as second chip-leader, but also as the oldest guy and the biggest fish in the pool of sharks.
The technical details that follow will fascinate only the poker cognoscenti: I got that far in the tournament because of some of the most incredible, heart-stopping suckouts or last-card, last-second turnarounds you ever saw. At one point, my opponent drew a flush on the flop against my Q-10, but I hit trips on the turn and a full house on the river. The wildest hand of the tournament had me going all-in against the chip leader with a pair of 9s; he called, and tabled a pair of 10s: I was, 90 percent, a dead duck right at the start. The first three cards or the “flop” rolled out, none of them a 9 or a 10, but with two clubs; the fourth or turn card was the 6 of clubs. My opponent held the 10 of clubs, so he wasn’t just leading from the get-go but also had a backdoor flush draw.
Only one card in the whole deck remained that could beat him, the 9 of diamonds; if any other card showed up, I’d be homebound (even if the fifth and last or “river” card was the 9 of clubs, he would still hit his flush). At this point, I got up and shouldered my man-bag (loaded with crackers, a cellphone power bank, and Splenda sweetener); I needed the Splenda, as I could smell and taste the bitterness of certain defeat. Then the dealer drew and turned over the river card—hallelujah, the 9 of diamonds, the absolute, 2-percent one-outer. My opponent collapsed against the wall as I heard choirs of angels singing “Ode to Joy.”
On the final day, after a good night’s sleep, I got up at 6, and did a 10-kilometer walk around the UP campus, running the “Chariots of Fire” theme in my head. This was my day of days; I showered, did my students’ grades and turned in my grade sheets, worked on one of the biographies in the pipeline, got a foot massage, then put on my “University of the Philippines” baseball cap and blue jacket—my battle gear—and went to the final table.
I held on that night, scribbling messages to myself over the breaks on a notepad with my faithful Agatha Christie, reminders like “Keep your head!” and “Patience, endurance, opportunity!” (It was probably the doodling more than the messaging that relaxed me.) With uncharacteristic smartness, I played it safe, tossing away nine out of every ten hands, preserving my stack while I let the others duke it out. Eventually I finished in second place, bowing to a friend and previous champion, a genial and exemplarily cautious player, TV and film director Tofie Runas.
The next day I brought Beng with me to Metro to claim my prize, to ensure that the money would go to good causes (I might treat myself to a pen or two, as a souvenir of the experience). “Heck, this beats the Palancas,” I told myself, remembering my first Palanca short-story win nearly 30 years ago, also a second-place finish. I could see Jim McManus grinning in Kenilworth, Illinois. He’d addressed me in his messages as “brother,” so here’s to you, brother Jim, and to all of us 60-somethings chasing thrills and spills on the green felt table.
This entry was posted in Family & Me, Fun and tagged McManus, Metro, poker by penmanila. Bookmark the permalink.
4 thoughts on “Penman No. 91: The Pinoy McManus (Part 2)”
den cobunsio on April 8, 2014 at 1:28 am said:
Mylene Fallaria on April 9, 2014 at 7:16 am said:
Cheers on your winning!…I know the feeling, on a mahjong table though…
Javie Bengzon on April 23, 2014 at 10:29 am said:
No to suckouts, sir! Change gears and keep ’em guessing! Long-term success is where it’s at.
Let’s get our game going again! We can pump the blinds back up to 5/10 to make it a little more meaningful. Shoot me a message when you come back.
penmanila on April 25, 2014 at 1:03 pm said:
ha ha, don’t worry, javie–i love suckouts, but you can’t get to the final table by relying on them 😉 you do need that bit of luck at the right moment, though! see you guys soon.
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Charter Schools? Smarter Schools? Why Not Both?
Robert Slavin's Blog At-risk students, Charter schools, Evidence of Effectiveness, Evidence-based programs, Research methods, Student achievement June 6, 2019 6 Minutes
I recently saw an editorial in the May 29 Washington Post, entitled “Denying Poor Children a Chance,” a pro-charter school opinion piece that makes dire predictions about the damage to poor and minority students that would follow if charter expansion were to be limited. In education, it is common to see evidence-free opinions for and against charter schools, so I was glad to see actual data in the Post editorial. In my view, if charter schools could routinely and substantially improve student outcomes, especially for disadvantaged students, I’d be a big fan. My response to charter schools is the same as my response to everything else in education: Show me the evidence.
The Washington Post editorial cited a widely known 2015 Stanford CREDO study comparing urban charter schools to matched traditional public schools (TPS) in the same districts. Evidence always attracts my attention, so I decided to look into this and other large, multi-district studies. Despite the Post’s enthusiasm for the data, the average effect size was only +0.055 for math and +0.04 for reading. By anyone’s standards, these are very, very small outcomes. Outcomes for poor, urban, African American students were somewhat higher, at +0.08 for math and +0.06 for reading, but on the other hand, average effect sizes for White students were negative, averaging -0.05 for math and -0.02 for reading. Outcomes were also negative for Native American students: -0.10 for math, zero for reading. With effect sizes so low, these small differences are probably just different flavors of zero. A CREDO (2013) study of charter schools in 27 states, including non-urban as well as urban schools, found average effect sizes of +0.01 for math and -0.01 for reading. How much smaller can you get?
In fact, the CREDO studies have been widely criticized for using techniques that inflate test scores in charter schools. They compare students in charter schools to students in traditional public schools, matching on pretests and ethnicity. This ignores the obvious fact that students in charter schools chose to go there, or their parents chose for them to go. There is every reason to believe that students who choose to attend charter schools are, on average, higher-achieving, more highly motivated, and better behaved than students who stay in traditional public schools. Gleason et al. (2010) found that students who applied to charter schools started off 16 percentage points higher in reading and 13 percentage points higher in math than others in the same schools who did not apply. Applicants were more likely to be White and less likely to be African American or Hispanic, and they were less likely to qualify for free lunch. Self-selection is a particular problem in studies of students who choose or are sent to “no-excuses” charters, such as KIPP or Success Academies, because the students or their parents know students will be held to very high standards of behavior and accomplishment, and may be encouraged to leave the school if they do not meet those standards (this is not a criticism of KIPP or Success Academies, but when such charter systems use lotteries to select students, the students who show up for the lotteries were at least motivated to participate in a lottery to attend a very demanding school).
Well-designed studies of charter schools usually focus on schools that use lotteries to select students, and then they compare the students who were successful in the lottery to those who were not so lucky. This eliminates the self-selection problem, as students were selected by a random process. The CREDO studies do not do this, and this may be why their studies report higher (though still very small) effect sizes than those reported by syntheses of studies of students who all applied to charters, but may have been “lotteried in” or “lotteried out” at random. A very rigorous WWC synthesis of such studies by Gleason et al. (2010) found that middle school students who were lotteried into charter schools in 32 states performed non-significantly worse than those lotteried out, in math (ES=-0.06) and in reading (ES=-0.08). A 2015 update of the WWC study found very similar, slightly negative outcomes in reading and math.
It is important to note that “no-excuses” charter schools, mentioned earlier, have had more positive outcomes than other charters. A recent review of lottery studies by Cheng et al. (2017) found effect sizes of +0.25 for math and +0.17 for reading. However, such “no-excuses” charters are a tiny percentage of all charters nationwide.
Other meta-analyses of studies of achievement outcomes of charter schools also exist, but none found effect sizes as high as the CREDO urban study. The means of +0.055 for math and +0.04 for reading represent upper bounds for effects of urban charter schools.
Charter Schools or Smarter Schools?
So far, every study of achievement effects of charters has focused on impacts of charters on achievement compared to those of traditional public schools. However, this should not be the only question. “Charters” and “non-charters” do not exhaust the range of possibilities.
What if we instead ask this question: Among the range of programs available, which are most likely to be most effective at scale?
To illustrate the importance of this question, consider a study in England, which evaluated a program called Engaging Parents Through Mobile Phones. The program involves texting parents on cell phones to alert them to upcoming tests, inform them about whether students are completing their homework, and tell them what students were being taught in school. A randomized evaluation (Miller et al, 2017) found effect sizes of +0.06 for math and +0.03 for reading, remarkably similar to the urban charter school effects reported by CREDO (2015). The cost of the mobile phone program was £6 per student per year, or $7.80. If you like the outcomes of charter schools, might you prefer to get the same outcomes for $7.80 per child per year, without all the political, legal, and financial stresses of charter schools?
The point here is that rather than arguing about the size of small charter effects, one could consider charters a “treatment” and compare them to other proven approaches. In our Evidence for ESSA website, we list 112 reading and math programs that meet ESSA standards for “Strong,” “Moderate,” or “Promising” evidence of effectiveness. Of these, 107 had effect sizes larger than those CREDO (2015) reports for urban charter schools. In both math and reading, there are many programs with average effect sizes of +0.20, +0.30, up to more than +0.60. If applied as they were in the research, the best of these programs could, for example, entirely overcome Black-White and Hispanic-White achievement gaps in one or two years.
A few charter school networks have their own proven educational approaches, but the many charters that do not have proven programs should be looking for them. Most proven programs work just as well in charter schools as they do in traditional public schools, so there is no reason existing charter schools should not proactively seek proven programs to increase their outcomes. For new charters, wouldn’t it make sense for chartering agencies to encourage charter applicants to systematically search for and propose to adopt programs that have strong evidence of effectiveness? Many charter schools already use proven programs. In fact, there are several that specifically became charters to enable them to adopt or maintain our Success for All whole-school reform program.
There is no reason for any conflict between charter schools and smarter schools. The goal of every school, regardless of its governance, should be to help students achieve their full potential, and every leader of a charter or non-charter school would agree with this. Whatever we think about governance, all schools, traditional or charter, should get smarter, using proven programs of all sorts to improve student outcomes.
Cheng, A., Hitt, C., Kisida, B., & Mills, J. N. (2017). “No excuses” charter schools: A meta-analysis of the experimental evidence on student achievement. Journal of School Choice, 11 (2), 209-238.
Clark, M.A., Gleason, P. M., Tuttle, C. C., & Silverberg, M. K., (2015). Do charter schools improve student achievement? Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 37 (4), 419-436.
Gleason, P.M., Clark, M. A., Tuttle, C. C., & Dwoyer, E. (2010).The evaluation of charter school impacts. Washington, DC: What Works Clearinghouse.
Miller, S., Davison, J, Yohanis, J., Sloan, S., Gildea, A., & Thurston, A. (2016). Texting parents: Evaluation report and executive summary. London: Education Endowment Foundation.
Washington Post: Denying poor children a chance. [Editorial]. (May 29, 2019). The Washington Post, A16.
This blog was developed with support from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Foundation.
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First, Do No Harm: The Blind Duchess
One of the great strengths of the evidence movement in education has been its bipartisan nature. Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives have equal reasons to want to know what works, and to try to ensure that government funds will be spent primarily on programs and practices known to work from rigorous experiments. Politics plays a legitimate role in determining how evidence is put to use and what values should underpin policies in education, but whatever one’s politics, everyone should agree that it’s essential to know what works.
Yet while it’s easy to conclude that we should promote what does work, it’s not so easy to decide what to do in areas in which there is insufficient evidence. We want to gradually replace programs and practices not known to work with those that do have strong evidence, but what do we do while the evidence base is growing?
I recently took a tour of Chatsworth, a huge, ornate great house that since the 1600s has been the family seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, one of the wealthiest families in England. Our guide told us about a famous duchess, Georgiana (a distant ancestor of Lady Diana). In the late 1700s, Georgiana suffered from irritated eyes. Her physician had her bathe her eyes in a mixture of milk and vinegar, and then applied leeches. As a consequence, she went blind.
The duchess’ physician ignored the first principle of medicine, stated in the Hippocratic Oath that every doctor swears: “First, do no harm.” I think it is safe to assume that the Duchess of Devonshire could have had any doctor in Europe, and that the one she chose was considered one of the best. Yet even a duke or duchess or a king or queen could not obtain the kind of routine medical care we take for granted today. But what their doctors could at least do was to take care to avoid making things worse. Recall that around the same time, King George III suffered from insanity, perhaps caused by his physicians, and George Washington was killed by his leech-using doctors.
Today, in education, we face a different set of problems, but we must start with the Hippocratic principle: First, do no harm. But for us, doing no harm is less than straightforward.
In educational practice, we have a growing but still modest number of proven interventions. As I’ve noted previously, our Evidence for ESSA website contains approximately 100 reading and math programs for grades K-12 that meet current ESSA evidence standards. That’s impressive, but it is still a smaller number of proven programs than we’d like, especially in secondary schools and in mathematics. We are now working on the category of science, which has fewer proven programs, and we know that writing will have fewer still.
In all of education research, there are very few programs known to do actual harm, so we don’t really have to worry too much about the Duchess of Devonshire’s problem. What we have instead is a growing number of proven and promising programs and a very large number of programs that have not been evaluated at all, or not well enough to meet current standards, or with mixed outcomes.
For educators, “First, do no harm” may be taken to mean, “use programs proven to be effective when they exist, but stick with promising approaches until better ones have been validated.” That is, in areas in which there are many programs with strong, positive evidence of effectiveness, select one of these and implement it with care. But in areas in which few programs exist, use the best available, rather than insisting on perfect evidence.
One example of what I am talking about is after-school programs. Under federal funding called 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), after-school programs have been widespread. Several years ago, an evaluation of 21st CCLC found few benefits for student achievement, and there are few if any proven models in broad scale use. So how should the federal government respond?
I would argue that the principle of “First, do no harm” would support continuing but significantly modifying 21st CCLC or other after-school funding. Federal support for after school programs might be reformed to focus on development and evaluation of programs that improve achievement outcomes. In this way, federal dollars continue to support a popular and perhaps useful service, but more importantly they support R&D to find out which forms of that service produce the desired outcomes. The same approach might be applied to career and technical education and many other areas in which there is substantial federal, state, or local investment, but little evidence of what works. In each case, funds currently supporting popular but unproven services could be shifted to supporting development, evaluation, and dissemination of proven, effective strategies designed to meet the activity’s goal.
Instead of potentially harming students or taking away funding altogether, such a strategy could open up new areas of inquiry that would be sure to eventually create and validate effective programs where they do not exist today.
In education, “First, do no harm” should not justify abandonment of whole areas of education services that lack a sufficient selection of proven approaches. Instead, it means supplementing service dollars with R&D dollars to find out what works. We cannot justify the kinds of treatment the Duchess of Devonshire received for her irritated eye, but we also cannot justify using her case to give up on the search for effective treatments.
This blog is sponsored by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation
Robert Slavin's Blog Evidence for ESSA, Evidence of Effectiveness, Evidence-based programs, History Leave a comment June 29, 2017 November 7, 2017 4 Minutes
Research and Practice: “Tear Down This Wall”
I was recently in Berlin. Today, it’s a lively, entirely normal European capital. But the first time I saw it, it was 1970, and the wall still divided it. Like most tourists, I went through Checkpoint Charlie to the east side. The two sides were utterly different. West Berlin was pleasant, safe, and attractive. East Berlin was a different world. On my recent trip, I met a young researcher who grew up in West Berlin. He recalls his father being taken in for questioning because he accidentally brought a West Berlin newspaper across the border. Western people could visit, but western newspapers could get you arrested.
I remember John F. Kennedy’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech, and Ronald Reagan’s “Mr. Gorbechev, tear down this wall.” And one day, for reasons no one seems to understand, the wall was gone. Even today, I find it thrilling and incredible to walk down Unter den Linden under the Brandenburg Gate. Not so long ago, this was impossible, even fatal.
The reason I bring up the Berlin Wall is that I want to use it as an analogy to another wall of less geopolitical consequence, perhaps, but very important to our profession. This is the wall between research and practice.
It is not my intention to disrespect the worlds on either side of the research/practice wall. People on both sides care deeply about children and bring enormous knowledge, skill, and effort to improving educational outcomes. In fact, that’s what is so sad about this wall. People on both sides have so much to teach and learn from the other, but all too often, they don’t.
What has been happening in recent years is that the federal government, at least, has been reinforcing the research/practice divide in many ways, at least until the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (more on this later). On one hand, government has invested in high-quality educational research and development, especially through Investing in Innovation (i3) and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). As a result, over on the research side of the wall there is a growing stockpile of rigorously evaluated, ready-to-implement education programs for most subjects and grade levels.
On the practice side of the wall, however, government has implemented national policies that may or may not have a basis in research, but definitely do not focus on use of proven programs. Examples include accountability, teacher evaluation, and Common Core. Even federal School Improvement Grants (SIG) for the lowest-achieving 5% of schools in each state had loads of detailed requirements for schools to follow but said nothing at all about using proven programs or practices, until a proven whole-school reform option was permitted as one of six alternatives at the very end of No Child Left Behind. The huge Race to the Top funding program was similarly explicit about standards, assessments, teacher evaluations, and other issues, but said nothing about use of proven programs.
On the research side of the wall, developers and researchers were being encouraged by the U.S. Department of Education to write their findings clearly and “scale up” their findings to presumably eager potential adopters on the practice side. Yet the very same department was, at the same time, keeping education leaders on the practice side of the wall scrambling to meet federal standards to obtain Race to the Top, School Improvement Grants, and other funding, none of which had anything much to do with the evidence base building up on the research side of the wall. The problem posed by the Berlin Wall was not going to be resolved by sneaking well-written West Berlin newspapers into East Berlin, or East Berlin newspapers into West Berlin. Rather, someone had to tear down the wall.
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is one attempt to tear down the research/practice wall. Its definitions of strong, moderate, and promising levels of evidence, and provision of funding incentives for using proven programs (especially in applications for school improvement), could go a long way toward tearing down the research/practice wall, but it’s too soon to tell. So far, these definitions are just words on a page. It will take national, state, and local leadership to truly make evidence central to education policy and practice.
On National Public Radio, I recently heard recorded recollections from people who were in Berlin the day the wall came down. One of them really stuck with me. West Berliners had climbed to the top of the wall and were singing and cheering as gaps were opened. Then, an East German man headed for a gap. The nearby soldiers, unsure what to do, pointed their rifles at him and told him to stop. He put his hands in the air. The West Germans on the wall fell silent, anxiously watching.
A soldier went to find the captain. The captain came out of a guardhouse and walked over to the East German man. He put his arm around his shoulders and personally walked him through the gap in the wall.
That’s leadership. That’s courage. It’s what we need to tear down our wall: leaders at all levels who actively encourage the world of research and the world of practice to become one. To do it by personal and public examples, so that educators can understand that the rules have changed, and that communication between research and practice, and use of proven programs and practices, will be encouraged and facilitated.
Our wall can come down. It’s only a question of leadership, and commitment to better outcomes for children.
Robert Slavin's Blog Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), History, International, Policy, Research use Leave a comment June 22, 2017 March 6, 2018 4 Minutes
The Age of Evidence
In 1909, most people outside of cities had never seen an automobile. Those that existed frequently broke down, and there were few mechanics. Roads were poor, fuel was difficult to obtain, and spare parts were scarce. The automobile industry had not agreed on the best form of propulsion, so steam-powered cars, electric cars, and diesel cars shared the road with gasoline-powered cars. The high cost of cars made them a rich man’s hobby and a curiosity rather than a practical necessity for most people.
Yet despite all of these limitations, anyone with eyes to see knew that the automobile was the future.
I believe that evidence in education is at a similar point in its development. There are still not enough proven programs in all fields and grade levels. Educators are just now beginning to understand what proven programs can do for their children. Old fashioned textbooks and software lacking a scintilla of evidence still dominate the market. Many schools that do adopt proven programs may still not get promised outcomes because they shortchange professional development, planning, or other resources.
Despite all of these problems, any educator or policy maker with eyes to see knows that evidence is the future.
There are many indicators that the Age of Evidence is upon us. Here are some I’d point to.
· The ESSA evidence standards. The definitions in the ESSA law of strong, moderate, and promising levels of evidence and incentives to use programs that meet them are not yet affecting practice on a large scale, but they are certainly leading to substantial discussion about evidence among state, district, and school leaders. In the long run, this discussion may be as important as the law itself in promoting the use of evidence.
· The availability of many more proven programs. Our Evidence for ESSA website found approximately 100 K-12 reading and math programs meeting one of the top three ESSA standards. Many more are in the pipeline.
· Political support for evidence is growing and non-partisan. Note that the ESSA standards were passed with bipartisan support in a Republican Congress. This is a good indication that evidence is becoming a consensus “good government” theme, not just something that professors do.
· We’ve tried everything else. Despite their commendable support for research, both the G.W. Bush and the Obama administrations mainly focused on policies that ignored the existence of proven programs. Progress in student performance was disappointing. Perhaps next time, we’ll try using what works.
Any of these indicators could experience setbacks or reversals, but in all of modern history, it’s hard to think of cases in which, once the evidence/innovation genie is out of the bottle, it is forced back inside. Progress toward the Age of Evidence may be slower or more uneven than we’d like, but this is an idea that once planted tends to persist, and to change institutions.
If we have proven, better ways to teach reading or math or science, to increase graduation rates and college and career readiness, or to build students’ social and emotional skills and improve classroom behavior, then sooner or later policy and practice must take this evidence into account. When it does, it will kick off a virtuous cycle in which a taste for evidence among education leaders leads to substantial investments in R&D by government and the private sector. This will lead to creation and successful evaluation of better and better educational programs, which will progressively add to the taste for evidence, feeding the whole cycle.
The German philosopher Schopenhauer once said that every new idea is first ridiculed, then vehemently opposed, and then accepted as self-evident. I think we are nearing a turning point, where resistance to the idea of evidence of effectiveness as a driver in education is beginning to give way to a sense that of course any school should be using proven programs. Who would argue otherwise?
Other fields, such as medicine, agriculture, and technology, including automotive technology, long ago reached a point of no return, when innovation and evidence of effectiveness began to expand rapidly. Because education is mostly a creature of government, it has been slower to change, but change is coming. And when this point of no return arrives, we’ll never look back. As new teaching approaches, new uses of technology, new strategies for engaging students with each other, new ways of simulating scientific, mathematical, and social processes, and new ways of accommodating student differences are created, successfully evaluated, and disseminated, education will become an exciting, constantly evolving field. And no one will even remember a time when this was not the case.
In 1909, the problems of automotive engineering were daunting, but there was only one way things were going to go. True progress has no reverse gear. So it will be in education, as our Age of Evidence dawns.
Robert Slavin's Blog Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Evidence for ESSA, Evidence of Effectiveness, History, Policy, Proven programs Leave a comment June 15, 2017 March 6, 2018 3 Minutes
Make No Small Plans
In recent years, an interest has developed in very low-cost interventions that produce small but statistically significant effects on achievement. The argument for their importance is that their costs are so low that their impacts are obtained very cost-effectively. For example, there is evidence that a brief self-affirmation exercise can produce a small but significant effect on achievement, and that a brief intervention to reduce “social identity threat” can do the same. A study in England found that a system to send 50 text messages over the course of a school year, announcing upcoming tests and homework assignments, feedback on grades, test results, and attendance, and updates on topics being studied in school, improved math achievement slightly but significantly, at a cost of about $5 a year.
There is nothing wrong with these mini-interventions, and perhaps all schools should use them. Why not? Yet I find myself a bit disturbed by this type of approach.
Step back from the small-cost/small-but-significant outcome and consider the larger picture, the task in which all who read this blog are jointly engaged. We face an educational system that is deeply dysfunctional. Disadvantaged students remain far, far behind middle-class students in educational outcomes, and the gap has not narrowed very much over decades. The U.S. remains well behind peer nations in achievement and is not catching up. Dropout rates in the U.S. are diminishing, but skill levels of American high school graduates from disadvantaged schools are appalling.
For schools with limited budgets to spend on reform, it may be all they can do to adopt a low-cost/low-but-significant outcome intervention on the basis that it’s better than nothing. But again, step back to look at the larger situation. The average American student is educated at a cost of more than $11,000 per year. There are whole-school reform approaches, such as our own Success for All in elementary and middle schools and BARR in secondary schools, that cost around $100 per student per year, and have been found to make substantial differences in student achievement. Contrast this to a low-cost program that costs, say, $5 per student per year.
$100 is less than 1% of the ordinary cost of educating a student, on average. $5 is less than .05%, of course. But in the larger scheme of things, who cares? Using a proven whole-school reform model might perhaps increase the per-student cost from $11,000 to $11,100. Adding the $5 low-cost intervention could increase per-student costs from $11,000 to $11,005. From the perspective of a principal who has a fixed budget, and simply does not have $100 per student to spend, the whole-school approach may be infeasible. But from the system perspective, the difference between $11,000 and $11,100 (or $11,005) is meaningless if it truly increases student achievement. Our goal must be to make meaningful progress in reducing gaps and increasing national achievement, not make a small difference that happens to be very inexpensive.
I once saw a film in England on the vital role of carrier pigeons in the English army in World War II. I’m sure those pigeons played their part in the victory, and they were very cost-effective. But ultimately, it was expensive tanks and planes and ships and other weapons, and courageous men and women, who won the war, not pigeons, and piling up small (even if effective) interventions was just not going to do it.
We should be in a war against inequality, disadvantage, and mediocre outcomes in education. Winning it will require identification and deployment of whole-school, whole-district, and whole-state approaches that can be reliably replicated and intelligently applied to ensure positive, widespread improvements. If we just throw pigeon-sized solutions at huge and tenacious problems, our difficulties are sure to come home to roost.
Robert Slavin's Blog Cost-effectiveness, History, Student achievement Leave a comment May 11, 2017 November 8, 2017 2 Minutes
Luther Burbank and Evidence in Education
The first house my wife and I owned was a corner rowhouse in Baltimore. The house was small and the yard was small, but there was a long fenceline with no trees overhead. We decided to put in an orchard. By the time we were done, we’d planted apples, pears, peaches, cherries, Italian and Santa Rosa plums, blueberries, and Concord grapes. Some worked out better than others, but at harvest season we were picking and canning a lot of fruit.
My involvement with our tiny orchard led me to find out about Luther Burbank, the botanist who developed many of the fruit varieties we know today in the late 1800s. He and later botanists over the years developed a cornucopia of fruits, vegetables, and flowers of all kinds.
Burbank had nothing to do with educational research, as far as I know, but the process he developed to create and test many fruit varieties has lessons for us in education.
Burbank’s better-tasting or hardy-growing or heat-tolerant varieties enabled fruit to improve dramatically in diversity and quality and to diminish in cost. All to the good. Some of the new fruits were enthusiastically adopted by farmers, because they knew their customers would buy them. Some did not work out, because they were not so tasty, difficult or expensive to grow, or hard to ship. But the ones that did work out, like the delicious Santa Rosa plums we grew in profusion in Baltimore, changed the world. Burbank developed the Russet potato, for example, which rescued Ireland and the rest of Europe from the potato famine.
Now imagine that Burbank’s fruit trees were instead treated like new educational programs. Opponents of innovative fruits would try to get governments to ban them. Proponents might try to get governments to require them. Governments themselves might try to regulate them.
As a result, fruit tree development might have withered or died on the vine.
In education, we need to adopt the approaches agriculture has used since the time of Benjamin Franklin to promote ever-better seeds, varieties, and techniques. Government, publishers, software developers, and others should be in a constant process of creating and evaluating effective methods. Governments should set standards for evaluation as well as funding a great deal of it. When proven programs exist, government at all levels should help make educators aware of the programs and the evidence, much as agricultural extension agents do with farmers.
What government should not do is require schools or districts to adopt particular programs. Instead, they should provide information and incentives, but leave the choices up to the schools. Agricultural extension agents tell farmers about new research, but it is up to them to use it or not. If they choose not to do so but their neighbors do, and their neighbors get bigger yields and higher profits, they are likely to change their minds soon enough.
Similarly, government should not limit the creativity and ideas that are being explored in order to promote one particular design. Innovations should be field driven and address a broad range of issues in different ways to discover what works. Imagine if Burbank and his colleagues were only permitted to experiment with one variety of produce. What might have happened if the Russet potato had never been discovered?
In education, government needs to jumpstart research, development, and dissemination, and it needs to honestly present the evidence and provide resources for educators to use to adopt and perhaps further test innovations. Burbank’s brilliant hybrids would have been local curiosities if the Stark Seed Company had not provided, well, seed funding and marketing support. Changing metaphors, government needs to provide the field, the ball, the rules, and serve as referee and cheerleader, but then let the teams compete in the full light of public view.
America’s students can become the best in the world, if we use the same strategies that have made it strong economically. Create policies favoring innovation and use of proven programs and then stand back. That’s all Luther Burbank needed to revolutionize fruit tree production, and it’s all educational research and development needs to transform teaching and learning.
Robert Slavin's Blog Evidence-based programs, History, Innovation, Proven programs Leave a comment March 30, 2017 November 15, 2017 3 Minutes
Scaling Up: Penicillin and Education
In 1928, the Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming invented penicillin. As the story goes, he invented penicillin by accident, when he left a petri dish containing bacteria on his desk overnight and the next morning found that it was infected with rod-shaped organisms that had killed the bacteria. Fleming isolated the rods and recognized that if they could kill bacteria, they might be useful in curing many diseases.
Early on it was clear that penicillin had extraordinary possibilities. In World War I, more soldiers and civilians had been killed by bacterial diseases than were killed by bullets. What if these diseases could be cured? Early tests showed very promising effects.
Yet there was a big problem. No one knew how to produce penicillin in quantity. Very small experiments established that penicillin had potential for curing bacterial infections and was not toxic. However, the total world supply at the onset of World War II was about enough for a single adult. The impending need for penicillin was obvious, but it still was not ready for prime time.
American and British scientists finally began to work together to find a way to scale up production of penicillin. Finally, the Merck Company developed a mass production method, and was making billions of units by D-Day.
The key dynamic of the penicillin story has much in common with an essential problem of education reform. The Merck work did not change the structure of penicillin itself, but Merck scientists did a lot of science and experimentation to find strains that were stable and replicable. In education reform, it is equally the case that the development and initial evaluation of a given program may be a very different process from that intended to carry out large-scale evaluations and scaling up of proven programs.
In some cases, different organizations may be necessary to do large scale evaluation and implementation, as was the case with Merck and Fleming, and in other cases the same organization may carry though the development, initial evaluation, large-scale evaluation, and dissemination. Whoever is responsible for the various steps, their requirements are similar.
At small scale, innovators are likely to work in schools nearby, where they can frequently visit schools, see what is going on, hear teachers’ perspectives, and change strategies in course in response to what is going on. At small scale, programs might vary a great deal from class to class or school to school. Homemade measures, opinions, observations, and other informal indicators may be all developers need or want. From a penicillin perspective, this is still the Fleming level.
When a program moves to the next level, it may be working in many schools or distant locations, and the approach must change substantially. This is the Merck stage of development in penicillin terms. Developers must have a very clear idea of what the program is, and then provide student materials, software, professional development, and coaching directed toward helping teachers to enact the program effectively. Rather than being able to adapt a great deal to the desires or ideas of every school or teacher, principals and teachers can be asked to vote on participation, with an understanding that if they decide to participate, they commit to follow the program more or less as designed, with reasonable variations in light of unique characteristics of the school (e.g., urban/rural, presence of English learners, or substantial poverty). Professional development and coaching need to be standardized, with room for appropriate adaptations. Organizations that provide large-scale services need to learn how to manage functions such as finance, human resources, and IT.
As programs grow, they should seek funding for large-scale, randomized evaluations, ideally by third party evaluators.
In order to get to the Merck level in education reform, we must be ready to build robust, flexible, self-sustaining organizations, capable of ensuring positive impacts of educational programs on a broad scale. Funding from government and private foundations are needed along the way, but the organizations ultimately must be able to operate mostly or entirely on revenues from schools, especially Title I or other funds likely to be available in many or most schools.
Over the years, penicillin has saved millions of lives, due to the pioneering work of Fleming and the pragmatic work of Merck. In the same way, we can greatly enhance the learning of millions of children, combining innovative design and planful, practical scale-up.
Robert Slavin's Blog Challenges, History, Innovation, Scale-up Leave a comment November 3, 2016 November 28, 2017 3 Minutes
Brilliant Errors
On a recent visit to Sweden, my wife Nancy and I went to the lovely university city of Uppsala. There, one of the highlights of our trip was a tour of the house and garden of the great 18th century botanist, Carl Linnaeus, who invented the system of naming plants and animals we use today. Whenever we say Homo Sapiens, for example, we are honoring Linnaeus. His system uses two Latin words, first the genus and then the species. This replaced long, descriptive, but non-standardized naming systems that made it difficult to work out the relationships among plants and animals. Linnaeus was the most famous botanist of his time, and he is generally considered the most famous botanist in all of history. He wrote hundreds of books and papers, and he inspired the work of generations of botanists and biologists to follow, right up to today.
But he was dead wrong.
What Linnaeus was primarily trying to do was to create a comprehensive system to organize plants by their characteristics. In this, he developed what he called a “sexual system,” emphasizing the means by which plants reproduce. This was a reasonable guess, but later research showed that his organization system was incorrect.
But the fact that his specific model was wrong does not subtract one mustard seed from the power and importance of Linnaeus’ contribution.
Linnaeus’ lasting contribution was in his systematic approach, carefully analyzing plants to observe similarities and differences. Before Linnaeus, botany involved discovery, description, and categorization of plants, but there was no overarching system of relationships, and no scientifically useful naming system to facilitate seeing relationships.
The life and work of Linnaeus provides an interesting case for educators and educational research.
Being wrong is not shameful, as long as you can learn from your errors. In the history of education, the great majority of research began with a set of assumptions, but research methods did not adequately test these assumptions. There was an old saying that all educational research was “doomed to success.” As a result, we had little ability to tell when theories or methods were truly impactful, and when they were not. For this reason, it was rarely possible to learn from errors, or even from apparent successes.
In recent years, the rise of experimental research, in real schools over real periods of time measured by real assessments, has produced a growing set of proven replicable programs, and this is crucial for improving practice right now. But in the longer run, using methods that also identify failures or incorrect or unrealistic ideas is just as important. In the absence of methods that can disconfirm current beliefs, nothing ever changes.
It is becoming apparent that most large-scale randomized experiments in education fail to produce statistically significant outcomes on achievement. We can celebrate and replicate those that do make a significant difference in students’ learning, but we can also learn from those that do not. Often, studies find no difference overall but do find positive effects for particular subgroups, or when particular forms of a program are used, or when implementation meets a high standard. These after-the-fact findings provide clues, not proof, but if researchers use the lessons from a non-significant experiment in a new study and find that under well-specified conditions the treatment is effective for improving learning, then we’ve made a great advance.
It is important to set up experiments so that they can tell us more than “yes/no” but can instead tell us what factors did or did not contribute to positive impacts. This information is crucial whatever the overall impacts may be.
In every field that uses experiments, failures to find positive effects are common. Our task is to plan for this and learn from our own failures as well as successes. Like Linnaeus, we will make progress by learning from “brilliant errors.”
Linnaeus’ methods created the means of disconfirming his own taxonomy system. His taxonomy was indeed overthrown by later work, but his insistence on observation, categorization, and systematization, the very methods that undermined his own system of relationships among plants and animals, were his real contribution. In educational research, we must learn to celebrate high-quality rigorous research that finds what does not work, and include sufficient qualitative methods to help us learn how and why educational programs either work or do not work for children.
May we all have opportunities to fail as brilliantly as Linnaeus did!
Robert Slavin's Blog History, Innovation, Research methods, Research use Leave a comment October 27, 2016 November 28, 2017 3 Minutes
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The Insider's Secret to "One-Minute Dividends"
I recently sat down to dinner and shared a bottle of wine with one of the top financial minds in the United States.
And what he shared with me is the solution to every retiree’s dream of having an unending stream of income.
I’m talking about a way, for you as an investor, to collect a payout of as much as $3,570 or more — in CASH — within seconds.
I call these payouts “One-Minute Dividends” for reasons that will become clear in a minute.
And the best part is this isn’t a one-time thing.
You can continue collecting these payments any day the markets are open... for as long as you choose.
This money is yours to keep, no matter what happens in the stock market.
You can use it to invest, to pay bills, to go on vacation... whatever you want.
These payments are not loans. They’re not rebates. And they’re not advances against future earnings either.
Instead, by tapping into “One-Minute Dividends,” you’ll be using a stock market loophole that’s making some Americans rich:
Ed Caldwell worked as a printer for 35 years before he retired. But he hadn’t saved a ton of money, so he was living pretty thinly. Then he learned about “One-Minute Dividends” and now pockets an extra $7,000 per month.
Alma Quinn is a 62-year-old widow from Minnesota. After her husband passed away, things got pretty tight. So she turned to “One-Minute Dividends” and began earning as much as $10,000 per month. It’s worked so well for her, she says, “I’ve never lost any money doing this and am sure I never will.”
Mack Fowler made good money as a pharmacist, but he wanted to build a nest egg for his children in addition to his own. So he started claiming “One-Minute Dividends” and now pulls in up to $23,000 per month.
And here’s the thing...
It’s this kind of low-risk success that has some of the biggest names in finance recommending this strategy to investors who are retired... or would like to retire someday soon:
Brian Workman, former Senior Vice President at Citigroup says, “This was a definite eye-opener... It makes you wonder what else Wall Street has been keeping from us.”
Ron Groenke, a 25-year financial insider, says this secret yields “incredible monthly cash income.”
Financial author Tal Sharon simply calls it “the money machine.”
Of course, you might be wondering how it’s possible to collect up to $3,750 or more in cash almost instantly... and why you haven’t heard about this before.
The answers are right here.
I’ve spent most of the past year putting together the details...
Including my recent dinner with a 20-year insider who probably knows more about this opportunity than anyone in America.
Let me explain what I uncovered...
How to Collect $11,375 in the Next 60 Seconds
When I first walked into Baltimore’s renowned Magdalena restaurant, I was impressed by the vaulted ceilings, whitewashed brick walls, and floor-to-ceiling wine racks.
I was also enthralled by the marble-backed bar that served drinks with names like "The Bookie" and "The Paddington."
But I wasn’t there for the drinks.
Nor was I there for French-influenced specialties like seared foie gras and butter-poached lobster.
Though I’ll say it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, I was there for an entirely different reason...
One not a single person in the entire restaurant could probably have guessed.
I was there to get the full details on the only way I’ve ever heard of to collect thousands of extra dollars in investment income in just seconds.
And when I say seconds, I mean it.
Put simply, you can take just about ANY stock you own and collect “One-Minute Dividends” in the blink of an eye.
And once the money hits your account, it’s yours free and clear.
There are no waiting periods. The money is yours right away.
So what kind of payments am I talking about?
$1,875 in less than one minute:
There’s a company called Forestar Group, which develops residential real estate lots. If you owned shares, you could bank a “One-Minute Dividend” of $1,875 right now. And the money would be yours in less than 60 seconds.
You may not have heard of Abbott Laboratories, a U.S. health care firm out of Illinois. If you bought shares yesterday, you could’ve pulled in a $5,500 “One-Minute Dividend.”
You could have also collected a “One-Minute Dividend” on Ball Corporation, the company that makes the famous glass jars. On this one, you could have banked $4,000 in less than 60 seconds.
Those three “One-Minute Dividends” combined could have netted you over $11,000 if you’d known how to collect them.
And each would have taken less than one minute to hit your account.
You know, normally in the investment world, you have to wait a long time to get paid for your investment.
Bonds and CDs typically make you wait a year or more. And they pay hardly anything.
Ordinary dividends generally make you wait a few months.
And it could take years for a stock purchase to pay off.
But with “One-Minute Dividends,” you get paid almost immediately.
And YOU decide exactly when you want to get paid.
It gets even better, too...
You can collect “One-Minute Dividends” almost as often as you wish.
It’s amazingly simple once you know how to get started, too.
Let me show you an example of what I mean...
This Stock Paid $16,345 in "One-Minute Dividends"
There’s a company based in Massachusetts called Cabot Corporation.
There’s nothing remarkable about the company at first glance.
Cabot has been around for more than 130 years and produces specialty chemicals like printer ink, waterproofing agents, and food coloring.
Last year they brought in roughly $3 billion in revenue, and they pay a regular dividend of around 1% per year.
From February to August of 2018, the stock went up 8%.
So if you collected those gains — and the dividends during that period — you’d have pulled in a total profit of $6,060.
But for investors who took advantage of the company’s “One-Minute Dividends” during the same period, the results were amazing.
Look at what I mean...
Investors who owned shares had the opportunity to collect:
A $3,200 “One-Minute Dividend” in February
A $2,275 “One-Minute Dividend” in May
A $3,875 “One-Minute Dividend” in June
A $4,100 “One-Minute Dividend” in August
And a $2,895 “One-Minute Dividend” in November
Keep in mind, this is just a short list of the “One-Minute Dividends” you could have actually collected.
You can essentially collect these payouts whenever — and as often — as you choose.
But my point is this: Instead of collecting just $6,060 in stock gains and dividends like most shareholders did... you could have collected $16,345 in cash by tapping into “One-Minute Dividends.”
And you could have used the money right away to reinvest, pay bills, take a vacation... whatever you want.
But here’s the real kicker...
Even while taking advantage of the “One-Minute Dividends” I’ve listed, you could have STILL collected the stock gains and the regular dividends as well.
That’s what makes this secret so incredible.
It allows you to double- and triple-dip on stocks you already own.
You see, those who simply hold stocks do okay (some of the time).
But savvy investors who take advantage of “One-Minute Dividends” have made a fortune, no matter what happens in the stock market.
And amazingly...
"One-Minute Dividends" are Available on 4,000+ Publicly Traded Stocks
This includes some obscure companies, like Cabot Corporation.
But it also includes many well-known companies like Netflix, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and thousands of others.
In fact, if you’d tapped into Apple’s “One-Minute Dividends,” you could have collected 11 payments in 2018...
And EVERY one of them would have been for at least $2,400.
So it’s pretty easy to see why investors from all walks of life have started tapping into this secret.
And they’re getting filthy rich doing it...
Earn $12,000 Per Month with "One-Minute Dividends"
Martha Curtis is a kindergarten teacher from West Chester, Pennsylvania.
And the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a story on her amazing run of collecting “One-Minute Dividends.”
As the paper says, she can rattle off which stocks she’s collected payments on “faster than one of her bright 5-year-olds can recite the ABCs.”
Of course, the individual stocks she uses don’t really matter to her...
It’s the payments of up to $3,000 per month she’s more interested in.
Same with Wes Pittman — for years, he was in charge of warehouse inventory for a small company close to his home in Gary, Indiana.
His boss treated him well, but he never really made all that much money.
But when he turned to “One-Minute Dividends,” he started making enough to pay his rent on time, buy parts for his custom car, and pay off the debt on his wife’s recent surgery.
That’s what $2,000 extra each month — free and clear — will do for you.
And Wes isn’t some financial wizard.
In fact, he dropped out of college after the first year.
But as he says of collecting “One-Minute Dividends”...
“It’s so easy anybody could do it.”
Homer Moore started collecting “One-Minute Dividends” a bit earlier in life.
He kicked off his investing career in his mid-20s and did what most people do... funneled money into his 401(k), lived economically, and avoided risky propositions like real estate.
But when he learned about “One-Minute Dividends,” things kicked into high gear.
He began pocketing up to $12,000 per month, and by the time he was 40, Homer was able to call himself a millionaire.
And this is just a small sample of the many people who’ve been tapping into “One-Minute Dividends” to collect cash payments just about whenever they want.
Of course, this begs the question...
Why Haven’t You Heard about this Opportunity Before?
I believe there are three reasons...
First, “One-Minute Dividends” are only available on around 25% of the publicly traded companies in the market.
4,000+ stocks offer them, but they’re not available on every company that trades on the stock market.
Second, this is a market secret few people know about.
It’s extremely simple to use once you’ve learned it, but I’d venture that 99% of the investing public has no idea “One-Minute Dividends” exist.
On top of that, brokers and financial planners will almost never tell their clients about this secret...
And while they probably won’t admit it, the reason for this is because they don’t know how to use it effectively themselves.
As former Merrill Lynch stockbroker Joseph Lynch says, this is “without a doubt the most misunderstood... and poorly implemented financial tool in the world.”
And the third reason you’ve probably never heard about “One-Minute Dividends” is because, for years, they were essentially only available to very wealthy money managers.
In fact, Richard Lehman, a finance instructor at UC Berkeley and a VP at Mechanics Bank, wrote about this in a book on the subject: “Professional investment managers have been using this strategy for years, and recent developments have now made it easier for individual investors to employ it as well.”
The good news is that this is now one of the easiest, safest, and most profitable investments in the world.
So how can you begin collecting “One-Minute Dividends” right away?
Let me show you...
Why Some Americans are So Rich
My name, by the way, is Brian Hicks. I’m the President of Angel Publishing in Baltimore, Maryland.
We’ve been around for nearly two decades now, and individual investors from all over the world come to us on a daily basis for our independent financial research and stock recommendations.
And many of them have gotten quite rich thanks to our expertise.
We turned our readers on to early opportunities in the tech sector as technology stocks shot through the roof. Those who took our advice could have netted gains of 212% on Rocket Fuel Inc., 136% on AVT, and 157% on Envision Solar.
Before cryptocurrencies crashed, we showed ordinary investors how to get in and out before everyone else lost money. We helped them nail down 1,040% gains on Ethereum and 2,528% on Bitcoin.
We were also in on marijuana stocks before just about anyone else in our industry. Our readers had the chance to make 1,174% on Aphria, 1,185% on Organigram, and 3,015% on Canopy.
And that’s why our readers from all over the world have reported such incredible success stories...
Dan W. from London, England is up $45,000
“Since I have taken over my portfolio, I’m up $45,000-plus in five months. I currently have 16 open positions and every single one is up. I got up this morning and watched the market open and my portfolio came to life with a $3,000 jump.”
Erica D. from Denver, Colorado made $50,000 in one year
“I’m up about $50,000 in one year... which was my best year of investing ever.”
Bennie R. from Wooster, Ohio earned $42,000 in ONE DAY
“Today I made over $42,000... this, to me, is a game changer. Incredible.”
Simon B. from Valencia, Spain is up $120,000
“A BIG thank you... I just secured a $120,000 gain in 30 days.”
Jack S. from Miami, Florida bought a boat
“I live in Florida and just bought a 30' Pro Line fishing boat... In fact, at the end of this month, my wife and I are going on a 15-day cruise to South America... It can happen to anyone with a little effort, and like myself, change your total way of life.”
As you can see, not only do we provide honest, unfiltered advice... we also change lives
You have the chance to experience that starting today.
And it’s all thanks to one man...
The man I recently sat down to dinner with at Baltimore’s renowned Magdalena restaurant.
His name is Briton Ryle.
And for more than 20 years, he’s been making people wealthier than they ever dreamed possible.
Ever since Briton set foot on the floor of the CBOE more than two decades ago, he’s generated an estimated $6.8 million in gains.
The crazy thing is, the lion’s share of these riches has come thanks to a single, simple secret: “One-Minute Dividends.”
And that’s because he’s made a career out of showing ordinary investors how to pocket these lightning-fast “dividends” as often as they wish.
I’m talking about “One-Minute Dividends” like these...
Right now, electronics retailer Best Buy has a $3,750 “One-Minute Dividend” available for anyone who knows how to claim it. And the money would hit your account in less than 60 seconds.
$950 in less than one minute:
Pandora, the music streaming service, currently has a “One-Minute Dividend” available for $950.
There’s also a “One-Minute Dividend” available from oil giant ExxonMobil. In the next 60 seconds, you could bank $1,050.
Every single day, ordinary investors have the chance to bank massive payouts...
But to date, I’ve only come across a handful of folks that have been tapping into this secret.
One of them is Bruce P.
He knows a bit about investing, but he hadn’t really ever done anything outside of buying and holding stocks.
But that changed once he learned how to collect “One-Minute Dividends” from a book he purchased online.
Now, he collects these “dividends” on the regular. And he says that these flash payouts are “the safest way for the novice trader (in my opinion) to put money in their pocket each month.”
Jeanette R. feels the same way.
She retired a few years back, and she wanted to make some extra money without returning to the workforce.
So she began getting into investing and quickly found out about “One-Minute Dividends.”
She only started recently, but she wasn’t hesitant to mention, “what I learned... has already been profitable for me.”
Another novice investor, Lowell H., has also started collecting “One-Minute Dividends” as often as he can.
He’s never considered himself a savvy investor, but he sure started feeling like one when he started getting 60-second payouts.
As he says, “I’m not a rocket scientist... but I was able to understand it.”
All of these people, new or fairly new to investing, have all been able to tap into “One-Minute Dividends” and collect princely sums of fast cash.
So, how can YOU tap into “One-Minute Dividends” and pull in guaranteed sums of cash in less than 60 seconds like these people?
The Real Secret Behind "One-Minute Dividends"
In short, the real secret behind “One-Minute Dividends” lies in options.
But let me clear something up right away. In order to take advantage of this secret, you DO NOT have to buy options.
Instead, you take advantage of options in a different, much lower-risk way.
And if you’re on the fence about using options, I’ll tell you this: I’ve put together an entire video, which I’ll share with you today that details everything you need to know in order to get started.
There’s nothing risky or complicated involved here AT ALL.
Instead, you’re simply collecting fast, lump sums of cash, whether the market is up or down, when other people trade certain shares of stock.
It’s a little-known stock market strategy that 99% of investors have no idea exists.
Yet it’s explosively profitable... extremely easy... and you can do it starting today.
Once you learn the secret of how this works, I think you’ll realize few things in life are easier or simpler than collecting “One-Minute Dividends.”
Remember, you’re simply collecting guaranteed payouts when certain shares of stock trade hands. Whether the share prices go up, down, or stay the same, you still get paid.
And I can’t reiterate enough... the money’s yours to keep. There are no strings attached, no hidden clauses, no complicated agreements.
Once the money hits your account — in less than 60 seconds — it’s yours free and clear.
The simple secret is taking advantage of the money other people are spending.
Millions of stock options are traded every single day. And as that happens, millions upon millions of dollars change hands.
And by using this 100% legal strategy, you’re able to capture a portion of that cash with only a few clicks of your mouse.
But the best part of all is that these payouts are 100% guaranteed.
If you know the secret to collecting “One-Minute Dividends,” you’re absolutely guaranteed to receive these payouts for EVERY “dividend” transaction you make.
Why "One-Minute Dividends" are Guaranteed
Of course, I know very few things in life are guaranteed... especially when it comes to profiting from the stock market.
But thanks to SEC law, brokers are forced to distribute the money their clients receive from certain options transactions.
In many cases, the amounts range anywhere from $500 to around $3,500.
Sometimes, as you’ve seen, the amounts can be even higher.
And by taking advantage of “One-Minute Dividends,” you’re able to take that money and put it in your pocket.
For decades, only the most powerful and successful traders were able to tap into this.
But today, ordinary investors are taking advantage of “One-Minute Dividends” more often than ever.
Just ask Arthur Fein, an 82-year-old retiree from New York City.
He recently took advantage of FOUR “One-Minute Dividends” paid out by ExxonMobil.
All told, he raked in $920.
Now that payout might not seem crazy high, but keep in mind that he did it all in a single day and each of the payouts hit his account in less than 60 seconds.
In his words: “The returns on CDs and money markets and bonds are so low that I’m looking for a way to generate better returns and some income.”
I think it’s safe to say he’s found the key to doing just that...
And he’s not the only one touting the profit power of “One-Minute Dividends.”
MarketWatch recently reported: The “great exodus of investors out of the Treasury market has caused them to look with increased interest toward a yield-enhancing strategy like [‘One-Minute Dividends’]."
The Wall Street Journal had this to say: “[‘One-Minute Dividends’] generate income and can juice returns in any market."
Forbes also chimed in, saying "One-Minute Dividend” income is “like finding money in the street.”
Thing is, how do you find the biggest “One-Minute Dividends,” and how do you know which ones are available at any given time?
That’s where Briton Ryle comes in. It’s his specialty.
It’s also likely the most impressive — and consistently profitable — investment secret we’ve ever shared with our readers.
He’s perfected this strategy over almost two decades, and on any given day, he can tell you which “One-Minute Dividends” will pay the most and when you should take advantage of them.
And that’s the hard part... finding THE perfect “One-Minute Dividends” to rake in.
Because, truth be told, if you don’t use this strategy properly, it’s possible to lose money.
As with anything, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’ll probably make mistakes.
But that’s not a concern when you have Briton at your back. He scours the markets on a daily basis... applies several technical indicators to EACH stock that might pay a good “One-Minute Dividend”... and evaluates those stocks to make sure they’re poised to be profitable.
It’s a ton of effort, but trust me when I say that effort pays off BIG TIME.
Take a company by the name of Allied Nevada, for example.
Briton found this company after A LOT of research and applying all of his technical indicators.
He immediately recommended this play to a select group of folks, and they had the chance to collect on a $500 “One-Minute Dividend.”
It didn’t matter that the stock was trading for under $5 and that share prices were all over the place.
Those who knew about this opportunity saw a $500 guaranteed payout sitting in front of them.
And he spots tons of “One-Minute Dividends” just like this every single month...
$1,250 on Simon Property Group
$750 on Overstock.com
$1,110 on Hyatt
$2,250 on Lands' End
$2,400 on FirstEnergy
It’s no wonder I’ve been receiving tons of emails lately about “One-Minute Dividends.”
Of course, with anything this profitable, I’d fully expect people to be excited.
But the high demand for information led me to make a decision.
I decided to have Briton write up a full reveal on “One-Minute Dividends.”
And what he came up with is truly incredible.
In his tell-all, called "'One-Minute Dividends': Your Key to Endless Wealth," you'll find out:
How to find the highest “One-Minute Dividends” available
How to collect them
How to make $500–$3,570 on every payout
Which “One-Minute Dividend” to collect right now
But perhaps the best bit of information you’ll receive today is that this report is absolutely free of charge.
That said, you might be wondering why I’d give this information away for free.
Let me explain...
Why This Report is 100% Free
In my many years in the financial markets, I’ve discovered one ultimate truth:
Roughly 95% of people who want to retire on time are going about investing the wrong way.
I can tell by what people are buying, when they’re buying it, and how they go about “saving” their money.
And it’s quite disconcerting to say the least... especially when money can be so easily had.
In fact, if you were to collect one $750 “One-Minute Dividend” per week, you’d be sitting on an extra $39,000 over the course of a year.
Collect two per week, and you’re looking at $78,000.
And even that is on the low end of what you could do, depending on how active you want to be in the markets.
It’s astounding how quickly it all adds up.
The bottom line: High-yield income strategies aren’t just for the pros; they’re for anyone who knows how to use them.
With “One-Minute Dividends,” you can sit back, profit from the cash flow of others, and rake in huge amounts of guaranteed weekly income.
And each “One-Minute Dividend” takes less than 60 seconds to hit your account.
That’s a very tiny fraction of the time it would take to earn the same gains by owning blue chips or holding bonds.
So how do you start collecting “One-Minute Dividends” today?
I simply ask that you take a sneak peek of Briton’s high-powered, high-profit advisory service, Real Income Trader.
As you might expect, a good portion of the service revolves around collecting a stream of “One-Minute Dividends,” but he also covers other income-generating secrets as well.
You can probably tell from the name, but Real Income Trader will give you the opportunity to earn real income without the hassle normally associated with the stock market.
It’s your chance to sock away an extra $20,000–$50,000 per year for retirement or whatever else you might want to use the money for.
And I’m not talking about potential stock gains or low paying bonds here, either.
I’m talking about real income in your pocket... lump sums of actual cash you can use for whatever you like.
And the best way to start generating that type of income is through “One-Minute Dividends.”
Once all is said and done, you could easily earn more in the next couple of months than most people in an entire year of investing.
But before you agree to partner with Real Income Trader, there are a couple important things you need to know...
Collect $2,180 in the Next 60 Seconds
The first thing you need to be aware of is that Briton just spotted another massive “One-Minute Dividend” you could collect this very moment.
If you follow his instructions to the letter, you could find yourself up to $2,180 richer in the next 60 seconds.
That’s no exaggeration either. That’s how fast this secret works.
But as I also mentioned, while “One-Minute Dividends” are Briton’s specialty... they’re not the only profit secret he has up his sleeve.
In fact, I’d like to share one of these opportunities with you right now...
Consider it a FREE bonus should you decide to partner with Real Income Trader today.
The opportunity I’m talking about is all in another of Briton’s explosive profit reports: "Safe Harbor Savings Accounts: How to Sit Back and Become a Millionaire."
How to Become an "Armchair Millionaire"
Imagine if you could quit your job, sit back in an armchair, and still become a millionaire...
Well, to be honest, there’s no way that’s possible for most folks.
BUT there is a way to generate eye-popping income figures without being a hedge fund guru or a top-tier trader on Wall Street.
In fact, the real truth is you should be just the opposite.
That’s right — I’m advising that you’re better off being a lazy investor than someone who studies charts day and night, watches the markets from a smartphone, and keeps a hawk’s eye on stocks during all hours.
And that’s no mistake. You really can accomplish more in the markets over the long run by doing less.
Of course, seasoned lazy investors have known this for years. That’s why the truly rich don’t spend their days glued to the financial news.
They’re too smart for that.
And you should be too...
That’s why Briton put together this first bonus report for you: "Safe Harbor Savings Accounts: How to Sit Back and Become a Millionaire."
And just like with “One-Minute Dividends,” you don’t need any special financial expertise or a degree in business.
You simply have to be able to follow a couple guidelines, and you could be on the track to making a million bucks the easy way.
All of the details about this income generation technique are included in Briton’s report I just mentioned.
And it’s also 100% FREE to you today.
So that’s TWO free reports in total, and both will be immediately sent to your inbox in return for agreeing to join Real Income Trader today.
What You’ll Get as a Partner of Real Income Trader
Once you decide to become a member of Real Income Trader, you’ll have the opportunity to pocket lump sums of guaranteed cash about as often as you wish...
And you’ll also have access to all of the following:
Profit Report #1: "'One-Minute Dividends': Your Key to Endless Wealth" — This is your guide to pocketing the most explosive “One-Minute Dividends” the market has to offer. Not only will this report show you how to claim your first “dividend,” but it also includes the first company you should target to collect your first guaranteed payout.
Profit Report #2: "Safe Harbor Savings Accounts: How to Sit Back and Become a Millionaire" — If you want to learn an easy way to make money — the lazy person’s way to becoming a millionaire — this is the report for you. As far as I’m concerned, this is one of the essential keys to getting rich in the market today.
Real Income Trader Direct Alerts — “One-Minute Dividends” don’t operate on a fixed schedule. In fact, they pop up all the time. That’s why you will get direct alerts... so you have up-to-the-minute knowledge of the best “One-Minute Dividends” the market has to offer. More often than not, these alerts will come around once per week or so. Some weeks might hold nothing, while others could hold two or more opportunities.
12 Monthly Real Income Trader Reports — Each month, you’ll receive a full-length briefing on everything that’s gone on during the month. This report will include a recap of the “One-Minute Dividends” Briton has recommended to you, as well as any new ones that may have popped up while I was putting the report together. Think of this as your monthly touchstone... Briton’s way of keeping you abreast of everything that’s going on in Real Income Trader.
VIP Service — A subscription to Real Income Trader qualifies you for VIP service. You can contact the VIP team with any questions at (844) 310-4115.
That’s a pretty full slate of benefits... But best of all, you’ll have the power to profit consistently. And the payouts you’ll receive are 100% guaranteed.
You can then use the money for whatever you want.
That’s what Real Income Trader is all about — helping you earn a steady stream of income that continues year after year after year.
That said, I’m sure you’re wondering by now how much it costs to partner with Real Income Trader.
Well, due to the specialized nature of this service, I pondered this question for quite some time.
I know secrets and advice like this go for a pretty penny in some circles.
In fact, I personally know folks who pay upwards of $5,000 for similar information.
But I realize that’s outlandish. So I decided on a price that’s a mere fraction of that figure.
However, before I get into the full details on price, I’d like to tell you about one more benefit you’ll receive as a partner of Real Income Trader.
A $199 Gift — Yours FREE
I mentioned earlier that anyone — regardless of experience — could take advantage of “One-Minute Dividends.”
But I also want to make it as simple for you as possible.
That’s why Briton created a complete walkthrough for “One-Minute Dividends.”
It’s called "The Endless Income Quick-Start Guide."
The purpose of this guide is quite simple. It’ll help you get started collecting “One-Minute Dividends” from start to finish.
This guide covers every step, detail, and nuance of “One-Minute Dividends.”
This way, no matter how much investing experience you might have, you’ll own a resource that will help you get started (even if you’ve never bought a stock in your life).
Now, this guide carries a shelf price of $199.
But as a partner of Real Income Trader, you’ll receive it absolutely FREE.
That’s in addition to the two free reports I told you about earlier.
Put simply, I want you to make as much money as possible. And if that means giving you this $199 quick-start guide for free, then that’s what I’m going to do.
The only thing you have to do is agree to partner with Real Income Trader today.
Once you do that, everything I’ve detailed already is yours.
So let me get back to the matter of how much Real Income Trader costs.
I’m actually a bit embarrassed to tell you. The price is THAT low.
But I’ll just come out and say it.
I know we could charge $5,000 for a full year of access to Real Income Trader, and many people would gladly pay that price.
But that’s what I could charge... not the special price I’m currently offering to you if you agree to partner with Real Income Trader today.
For you, the price is just $1,999.
That’s a 60% discount.
I consider that an absolute steal considering you could make that amount back with just a single “One-Minute Dividend” payout.
I will say, though, that this is a limited-time offer. There are only a select number of partnerships available.
Once those fill up, the price will revert to the standard. No exceptions.
So if you’re interested in generating continual income by collecting “One-Minute Dividends” worth up to $3,570 — or more — I suggest you lock in your spot today.
You won’t find an opportunity like this very often. And with the amount of information I’m giving to you FREE of charge, joining us at Real Income Trader is a no-brainer.
My Ironclad Guarantee
However, if you’re still on the fence... no problem.
You’ll have 30 days to check everything out.
If you partner with us today and realize Real Income Trader isn’t for you... no worries.
Simply let us know within 30 days, and you’ll get back every penny you sent us.
Plus, with just one “One-Minute Dividend,” you could easily pay off your subscription in full... and then some.
I’m a complete believer that a year from now, you’ll be looking back on a very different life.
And I say that because I have a great feeling you’ll have far more money than you ever dreamed possible.
Remember, with just a single “One-Minute Dividend” per week, you could land a “second salary” of $39,000 without breaking a sweat.
The only thing left to do now is partner with us at Real Income Trader and find out what “One-Minute Dividend” is available right now.
Brian Hicks
President, Angel Publishing
Angel Publishing LLC, a general interest newsletter is not liable for the suitability or future investment performance of any securities or strategies discussed. Please note that we are not a registered investment firm or broker/dealer. Only a registered broker or investment adviser may advise you individually on the suitability and performance of your portfolio or specific investments.
Readers are advised that the material contained herein should be used solely for informational purposes. As a publisher of a financial newsletter of general and regular circulation, we cannot tender individual investment advice. We urge you to always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision.
We will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by a reader's reliance on information obtained on our web sites. Our readers are solely responsible for their own investment decisions. Historical investment return examples given are hypothetical, and not to be taken as representative of any individual's actual trading experience. Please click here to see our Details and Disclosures
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Who Is The New Host
[caption id="attachment_1513" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="David Tennant takes over the reins this fall as the new host of the PBS series Masterpiece Contemporary. Photo copyright of the BBC"] [/caption] ONE of Britian's most popular actors has been named the new host of Masterpiece Contemporary on PBS. David Tennant, well-known to fans of British television for his acclaimed star turns as Doctor Who and Casanova, will make his hosting debut when Masterpiece Contemporary returns in October 2009 with Endgame, a drama about the last days of apartheid. "How many actors can nail the characters of Casanova and the Doctor?" says Masterpiece executive producer Rebecca Eaton. "David's talent, versatility and unique appeal make him the perfect match for Masterpiece Contemporary. "I'm honored to be hosting the series that introduced American audiences to programming such as Casanova and He Knew He Was Right," says Tennant. "And it's a thrill to join the Masterpiece family of hosts: Masterpiece Mystery!'s Alan Cumming and Masterpiece Classic's Laura Linney." Tennant's award-winning run [2005-present] in the classic British Sci-Fi series Doctor Who has gained him worldwide recognition. His other iconic television roles include the flirtatious vicar Reverand Gibson in Masterpiece's He Knew He Was Right; the infamous 18th-century lothario Casanova in Masterpiece's rollicking miniseries, playing the youthful counterpart to Peter O'Toole; and the down-at-the-heel Inspector Peter Carlisle in the cult hit Blackpool. His career, launched in his native Scotland, extends to film and stage. Millions of moviegoers know him as Barty Crouch Junior in the blockbuster Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Ginger Littlejohn in Stephen Fry's Bright Young Things. He recently worked with Bill Nighy, Romola Garai and Julie Christie in the Stephen Poliakoff film 1939, which will be released later this year. A graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD), Tennant developed his stage career at the Royal Shakespeare Company. He recently completed a successful run as Hamlet with the RSC. Masterpiece Contemporary will return in October 2009 with Endgame, a gripping new drama about the final days of apartheid in South Africa. Starring William Hurt (Damages), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dirty Pretty Things, American Gangster, Serenity) and Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone, Trainspotting), Endgame premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival. As noted above, photo of David Tennant is the copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any form. Thanks!
Posted at 03:00 AM in Alan Cumming, Bill Nighy, Blackpool, Bright Young Things, Casanova, Chiwetel Ejiofor, David Tennant, Doctor Who, Endgame, Entertainment, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, He Knew He Was Right, Jonny Lee Miller, Julie Christie, Laura Linney, Masterpiece Classic, Masterpiece Contemporary, Masterpiece Mystery!, PBS, Romola Garai, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, RSAMD, Stephen Fry, Stephen Poliakoff, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Uncategorized, William Hurt | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Claire Bennet
Heroes' Robert Knepper - Mover And Shaker
Robert Knepper as Heroes' Samuel Sullivan. Photo by Chris Huston and copyright of NBC.
Murder, kidnapping and rape are among the most heinous crimes committed by racist and pedophile Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell. Once described by TV Guide magazine as "one of the creepiest characters on television," T-Bag became a very familiar face to Prison Break fans around the world thanks to the talented Robert Knepper. For four seasons, he kept viewers guessing as to what his character would get up to next, and when the show ended last year, the actor began looking for a new creative outlet. He was soon cast as Samuel Sullivan in season four of Heroes. The leader of Sullivan Bros. Carnival, Samuel has the ability to control earth and other minerals with his mind. Playing someone with super powers could not have been more different from T-Bag, but Knepper was determined to make this character just as memorable for audiences.
"When I first met with Dennis Hammer [executive producer] we talked about Samuel not being a stereotypical character," says Knepper. "I learned a long time ago from a great acting teacher of mine in New York to always play the opposite. Don't play a bad guy like a bad guy, don't play a doctor like a doctor, don't play a cop like a cop, etc. The stereotypical carnival barker is someone who is kind of oily and sleazy and is like, 'Step right up, step right up, see him walk, see him talk.' That type of thing, you know?
"At this point I didn't even have any ideas yet visually about Samuel, but Dennis and I talked about him being charismatic, magnetic and magnanimous, like a rock star. Samuel has to entice these people with powers to get them to come over to his side because he realizes that he's more powerful with them around him. His abilities increase exponentially as a result of that. I suppose he could have just coerced them in obvious ways - hey, you're going to join me or I'll kill you - but then you would have had half a season of Heroes and not a full one," jokes the actor. "But I think Samuel is smart enough to realize that it's better to entice these people and get them to say, 'Hey, thank you, Samuel, for helping me realize something in my redemptive path that I really need to look at. Now, how can I pay you back?'
Samuel welcomes you into his world in "Hysterical Blindness." Photo by Trae Patton and copyright of NBC.
"So Dennis and I talked about all this in our initial meeting and I realized that this was a really interesting character. From there, I began thinking about what Samuel would look like, and Keith Richards kept coming to mind. Why do rock-'n'-roll musicians sometimes wear facial make-up onstage? When you're, say, an accountant, you don't do that when you go to work. I come from the theater where you want the audience to see your eyes in the back row, but some of these guys go over the top. KISS wore all this make-up and created a certain look for themselves, so I thought, 'Well, it may or may not be explained why Samuel does this,' like the nail polish thing that I came up with, but these guys [the Heroes producers] were great. They let me experiment and would pull me back if they felt I was going a bit overboard with the make-up, but it was always a collaborative effort from the get-go.
"I think they knew and know that I'm a team player and a true storyteller. I love being part of telling a story, and when you're in the theater or on television, at least the kind of television that I like to work on, that's a true collaboration. And I have to say that the people on Heroes took a lot of my ideas and ran with them. When we were shooting the last [season four] episode, Tim Kring [series creator/executive producer] came up to me and said, 'I just want to thank you because we have such a great time writing for you.' And I said to him, 'I had a great time saying your words, buddy.' When you have that kind of collaboration, the writers love writing for you. Also, on Heroes, they know I don't look ahead. I'm right there in the moment with the scripts. What's right there on the page is what I'm concerned with and nothing more. So it really was such a terrific start with these guys, and by the time we got to the end of filming, there were a lot of good feelings bubbling around."
Making his debut in Heroes' fourth season opener, Orientation, Samuel Sullivan is seen giving a speech at his brother's funeral. He tells his fellow carnival workers - who also have special powers - that they are his true family and that the outside world does not understand them. Using his power to cover his brother's grave with dirt, Samuel later goes to see Lydia (Dawn Olivieri), an empath who can sense the wishes and desires of others. In this and in later episodes, he uses her abilities to show him others with powers who can help him expand his family. Although Knepper had made some decisions on how to play Samuel, there were still one or two aspects of the character he needed to tweak.
Samuel consults Lydia (Dawn Olivieri) as fellow carnie, Edgar (Ray Park), looks on. Photo by Chris Huston and copyright of NBC.
"My challenge with this character, as with any character, was to make him believable so as not to look so damn silly as you're standing there causing an earthquake with your clenched fists," he says. "Samuel's accent was a huge challenge for me. I always work with Tim Monich [dialect coach] and try to make the time to prepare and get it [the accent] down. I remember when I did [the feature film] Hitman in Bulgaria during one of the hiatuses from Prison Break. I worked for a bit over here with Tim and then I studied with a guy in Bulgaria for a couple of weeks before we began filming. I thought, 'People know me all over the world as T-Bag from Prison Break, and now I want to be Russian. I want to be as freakin' Russian as I can.' When I did press for that movie, I met a French journalist in New York, and his first comment was, 'Where did they get that Russian guy who looks a lot like T-Bag.' I thought, 'Yes!'
"With Hitman I had time to study the accent, but with Samuel it was frustrating because I had to jump in right away. Early on I had this crazy idea of making him Irish, or not necessarily Irish but coming from someplace in the British Isles, maybe a little Scottish, maybe a little of Northern England. There's kind of an Old World feeling to Samuel because he's not your average guy walking down the street. This is someone with powers who is suddenly discovering them over the years. If, when he was a child, Samuel had known about his abilities, he probably would have destroyed half the world, but if his brother had told him about it, then maybe he wouldn't have been so destructive. Who knows?
"Anyway, the fact that my character had these powers made him seem timeless, and there's something timeless about British accents, but I didn't have any time to call Tim [Kring] about it. I actually phoned him after we began filming and apologized to him, saying, 'I'm just kind of winging it [the accent].' I've done quite a few English dialects over the years in the theater, but never Irish.
The charismatic, magnetic and magnanimous Samuel. Photo by Adam Taylor and copyright of NBC.
"I remember going down to Comic-Con and telling the people there, 'You're going to watch me discover Samuel as we go along. This is not a fully fleshed-out character, especially dialect-wise.' And the thing is, a lot of these fans are the same fans who watched Prison Break, so I just hoped that they'd forgive me for that because I was experimenting. But at least I had the guts to experiment in front of them, almost like it was theater. I'd say that by about a third of the way through the season, I found my footing. So Samuel's look didn't change, but his dialect did.'
What did the actor think about his character's powers and filming scenes where Samuel uses them? "I like how the writers wrote about the power of moving earth," notes Knepper. "That's how it was described to me. What's Samuel's power? He can move earth. Then, of course, it went from this nice sweet simple act of Samuel moving his arms and covering up his brother's coffin, to covering up seeds he planted in the ground [Hysterical Blindness], and then, [in Strange Attractors] him saying, 'I can't believe you've hurt one of my own. I'm going to bring down the police station.' And before that [in Ink] when Samuel destroys the house where he and Joseph grew up and later became its caretakers, all because the owner wouldn't let him into the backyard.
"So you don't want to upset this guy because he will do something destructive, and as the season goes on, Samuel becomes angrier and angrier as more and more things are revealed to him. When it comes to shooting the scenes where he uses his powers, you've just got to pretend. You have to stand there and think, 'I'm believing all this is real.' It's described to you [in the script] how to look, but even then you don't know for sure. It's more about a feeling you have as opposed to what you're really seeing."
Samuel Sullivan - one man who literally can make the earth move! Photo by Adam Taylor and copyright of NBC.
Among the heroes (and villains) that Samuel tries to lure into his carnival family are Claire Bennet (Hayden Panetterie), Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka) and the psychotic Sylar (Zachary Quinto), who, while suffering from amnesia, stumbles upon Samuel's carnival in Hysterical Blindness. "The thing with Sylar is that Zach and I first met when I was doing Prison Break," says Knepper. "We were in this issue of Entertainment Weekly as some of TV's best villains, along with people like Vanessa Williams from Ugly Betty and James Callis from Battlestar Galactica. We were all brought together for this photo shoot, and because I don't watch TV I didn't know who any of these other actors were, but it was just nice to be included in this group.
"I did, however, know that Zach was in Heroes, and then later when I came on the show, I thought, 'This is kind of fun. Here are these two heavyweights [Sylar and T-Bag] going up against each other.' So it was a little surreal. Our characters were famous from our [respective] TV shows, but now we were together. It was like a big-time wrestling match; in this corner is Sylar, and in the other corner, Samuel," chuckles the actor. "Zach is a cool guy, and even though people go nuts for him because of the Star Trek film [in which Quinto plays Mr. Spock] as well as Heroes, he's totally unpretentious about the whole thing.
"As far as the storyline with Sylar and Samuel, I'm not sure the writers knew exactly where they wanted to take that. Sometimes he would get Sylar in his clutches, and then Sylar would disappear and then come back. I think that's still got to be fleshed out as far as what happens with it. Ultimately, though, I feel that Sylar will become as much a hero as he can be and be part of taking down Samuel. However, I'm not sure yet if they [the writers] know whether they want to do that or not. It would be kind of nice to leave it hanging as far as, oh, you thought you saw that bad boy [Sylar]. Well, take a look at this bad boy [Samuel], and you've got them both on the same show. At the same time, I don't know if Sylar and Samuel could ever come together because they might be a bit too narcissistic."
Sylar (Zachary Quinto) and Samuel. Photo by Trae Patton and copyright of NBC.
In the fourth season Heroes episode Thanksgiving, viewers are given further glimpses into Samuel's and his brother Joseph's (Andrew Connolly) past. Since childhood, Joseph, who was also an evolved human with the power to cause others to lose control of their abilities and render them unconscious, had kept his younger brother from ever fully realizing his abilities in order to prevent him from wreaking havoc. When Samuel discovered that Joseph lied to him, it led to the fight where he accidentally murdered him.
"It's funny, after I was cast as Samuel, I found out that it had been between me and another actor, and the next thing I heard was that this other actor [Andrew Connolly] would be playing Joseph," recalls Knepper. "I thought, 'Oh, this is going to be awkward,' but Andrew turned out to be really cool. He's the real McCoy, meaning he's Irish, and just the sweetest man. On our first day working together, Andrew came up to me and said, 'They gave me a few episodes to watch and your Irish is terrific. You're an amazing actor and I'm just really honored to work with you.'
"So Andrew was incredible, and I learned so much from him about Samuel. We had that great scene together where our two characters go out in the field and they fight. Samuel is so upset and he throws a rock and hits Joseph in the neck. But he didn't throw that rock to kill him. Samuel threw it because he was so angry, and then it was like, 'Oh, crap, I killed him.' That scene was so well done in how it was filmed and written to say, no, no, no, it was not the intention to kill him. Damn you, Joseph, I hate you so much that I feel like killing you, but I don't really want to kill you. I just want to let you know how mad I am.
In an effort to discover his true self, Samuel inadvertently kills the one person he ever truly cared about. Photo by Justin Lubin and copyright of NBC.
"Joseph was everything to Samuel. He was his world, he was his mentor, he was his father, and he was his leader. At the same time, Samuel couldn't believe that his brother kept this information from him. How dare Joseph hold this back from him and not let Samuel reach his full potential. How could he not have found a way to tell his brother? All this stuff is fantastic in Shakespearean-like or Greek tragedy-like proportions, and really neat to play. And Andrew was terrific to work with from start to finish."
In last week's Heroes episode, The Act of Deception, Claire returns to the carnival to try to talk Samuel into surrendering to her father, Noah (Jack Coleman), who is coming for him. Samuel agrees, but unknown to Claire or Noah, he betrays them and uses Noah's attempt to capture him as a ploy to further convince the other carnies that they must help him create a new world where all evolved humans will be accepted. Filming this episode as well as the final few season four Heroes stories was especially satisfying for Knepper.
"The best thing about working on an ensemble show is that most shows shoot around eight days [per episode], but Heroes shoots 10 or 11 days as well as shoots simultaneously with other episodes," explains the actor. "When I was on Prison Break I'd work three or four days out of eight, so I got a lot of time to spend with my family. These last three or four episodes of Heroes were over two months worth of work. I swear I worked every day, sometimes all night long, but as a result, I got to feel what it's like to be number one on the call sheet, and it didn't feel like an ensemble. It was like I had this weight on my shoulders, and I proudly took it. I thought, 'I'm going to take this season to the finish line,' and I loved it.
Samuel and Edgar in the Heroes fourth season finale "Brave New World." Photo by Trae Patton and copyright of NBC.
"Probably my biggest challenge was finding the energy as well as time to memorize my lines and just stay afloat. But I was like a boxer in the ring and thinking, 'Come on, come on, bring it on. What else have you got for me?' In these last few episodes everything comes to a climax in regard to Samuel's powers along with his anger, frustration and revenge. It boils over the top and is very intense."
Born in Fremont, Ohio, Knepper was nine years old when he joined a community children's theatre group, the Back Alley Kids and performed in plays during the summertime. At home, the actor's parents both played piano, and rather than television, their nightly entertainment was standing around the piano and singing. Knepper's father is a veterinarian, and the actor always thought that he would one day take over his dad's practice.
"But I never stopped having fun [performing onstage]," says Knepper. "Luckily, my parents didn't discourage me from having fun, and they didn't encourage me, either. When I was in high school I was auditioning and doing college plays, so it just seemed like a natural conclusion that I would go into the theater.
"When I was studying at Northwestern University I did an English play called The Ruling Class, which my mom and dad came to see. This particular night just happened to be amazing; it was the first time I ever got a standing ovation. And my dad was so sweet. Before he and my mom came backstage, he sent me a note that read, 'I think you're doing the right thing.' So they were always supportive of my decision."
While attending Northwestern, Knepper worked professionally onstage, and after two years he moved to New York City where he continued performing in the theater. The actor was around 25 years old when he relocated again, this time to Los Angeles, to pursue feature film and eventually TV work. That's Life!, Wild Thing, Species III and The Day the Earth Stood Still are among his movie credits, while on the small screen Knepper has guest-starred on such shows as Star Trek: The Next Generation, ER, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and CSI: Miami as well as played recurring characters on Presidio Med and Carnivale.
Robert Knepper's Prison Break alter ego - Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell. Photo by Greg Gayne and copyright of Fox.
"Prison Break is what put me on the map, though, and I haven't looked back since," says the actor. "T-Bag had so much in his past as well as so much he was fighting against and wanted. Of course, there was the need to cover all that up because he was a wanted criminal. He had escaped from prison, so he needed to be charming. Some of the funniest damn lines I've ever said acting-wise came with that role, too. T-Bag was kind of like the show's Don Rickles," he jokes, " and that was a hell of a lot of fun. It's the same sort of thing with Samuel. Again, you peel the layers of the onion away, but you don't wear it on your sleeve. You don't walk around saying, 'Look at me, I'm a wounded guy. Oh, forgive me.' Samuel would kick T-Bag's butt, except for the fact that he's just as wounded."
As noted above, photos by Adam Taylor, Trae Patton, Justin Lubin, Chris Huston or Greg Gayne and copyright of NBC or Fox, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Posted at 03:00 AM in Andrew Connolly, Claire Bennet, Dawn Olivieri, Dennis Hammer, Entertainment, Fantasy, Hayden Panettiere, Heroes, Hiro Nakamura, Jack Coleman, Masi Oka, NBC, Prison Break, Ray Park, Robert Knepper, Samuel Sullivan, Science Fiction, Sylar, Theodore T-Bag Bagwell, Tim Kring, Tim Monich, TV, Uncategorized, Zachary Quinto | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Andrew Connolly, Claire Bennet, Dawn Olivieri, Dennis Hammer, Entertainment, Fantasy, Hayden Panettiere, Heroes, Hiro Nakamura, Jack Coleman, Masi Oka, NBC, Prison Break, Ray Park, Robert Knepper, Samuel Sullivan, Science Fiction, Sylar, Theodore T-Bag Bagwell, Tim Kring, Tim Monich, TV, Zachary Quinto
Heroes' Greg Grunberg - Man On A Trapeze
Greg Grunberg as Matt Parkman in Heroes. Photo copyright of NBC.
Do you know the old saying, "No good deed goes unpunished?" It is one that Matt Parkman perhaps should have heeded at the end of Heroes' third year. The good-natured and often put-upon law enforcement officer, who also happens to possess telepathic powers, thought he finally had the chance to start a normal life with his wife Janice and baby son, Matt Jr. Then, however, Noah Bennet and Angela Petrelli talked Matt into using his ability to help them get rid of Sylar. As a result, Matt not only wound up with a guilty conscience, but, at the start of season four, Sylar's psychotic consciousness stuck inside his head as well. Yes, it was yet more angst for our reluctant hero to contend with, but Greg Grunberg, who plays Matt, readily embraced the new acting challenge.
"Well, first of all, the end of season three was exciting for me because suddenly Matt was the one who they turned to in order to level Sylar, which was awesome," enthuses Grunberg. "I love how we play things on this show, in that most of the time they're character-driven and we try to keep it that way. So going into this particular story arc, I knew it would be good. However, Matt wasn't happy about doing this. It was something he had never done before and he knew there would be repercussions. Although he was thrown into this, it was also something he chose to do. And, of course, when we're burning the body [in the third season finale An Invisible Thread], Matt knows it's not really Sylar, and he's carrying that secret with him.
"Then at the beginning of season four, when Angela [Christine Rose] calls Matt and says, 'Things didn't go as planned; we need your help again,' it's like, crap! He's not happy about it and doesn't want to go back. Once again, all Matt wants to do is try to lead a normal life, which is exactly what inspired Tim Kring [Heroes executive producer] to create this show after he saw [the feature film] The Incredibles. The thing is, no matter what you try to do, when you're 'special' and have these powers, you're going to get called upon, and when push comes to shove, you're going to have to step up to the plate. As much as Matt tries to go back to that normal life, he can't. He always gets pulled back into this one.
"There are themes in Heroes that are very consistent and, as this season has gone on, the focus for my character is that he will do whatever necessary to protect his family. This goes back to season two and what happened with Matt's father [Maury Parkman, played by Alan Blumfeld], which was a powerful moment for my character. Matt realized that his father had all this power and did whatever it took in order to save their family. But then Matt had to take him down. This year, it's another powerful moment for Matt when he realizes, 'By killing myself, I'll kill Sylar [Zachary Quinto], because if I don't, he's going to go on killing people, maybe even my own family.' So towards the end of this season you're going to see Matt do some really dark things that you wouldn't expect from him."
With Matt's (Greg Grunberg) help, Noah (Jack Coleman) and Angela (Christine Rose) prepare to carry out their plan to deal with Sylar in "An Invisible Thread." Photo by Trae Patton and copyright of NBC.
Turning down Angela Petrelli's request for additional help in the season four Heroes opener Orientation, Matt is shocked when Sylar appears, but only he can see him. In the following episode, Jump, Push, Fall, Sylar tells Matt that he is part of his mind and has no intentions of leaving until he is reunited with his body. Matt tries to ignore Sylar, but the psychopath's relentless taunting starts to adversely affect him. Sylar's hold on Matt strengthens when, in Ink, he uses Matt's powers against him, causing the detective to almost beat a suspected drug dealer to death.
"What I love about this story is that Sylar consciously or subconsciously tapped into Matt's darkest and biggest fear, which goes back to my character discovering Molly," explains Grunberg. "It really mirrored what happened back in season one when he found the little girl under the stairs, but this time when Matt found her, she was dead. That was something Sylar tricked him into seeing. For a second, Matt let his guard down when he and Sylar are in the bathroom and Sylar says to him, 'Look at this house. I mean, you're a cop. I don't know any kid who you would raise in a house like this.' Then he shows Matt the doll and he's like, 'Put it all together.'
"There are so many moments of huge suspension of disbelief in our show, but this is not one of them. Here's a cop trying to do his job and being nagged by an image and a person only he can see and hear and who's giving him clues he can't ignore. Matt has to deal with this, which was really great for me acting-wise, and it was hard, too. The stuff I do on the show is difficult because I always try to play it as real as possible. However, if you were talking to someone and suddenly they tilted their head and looked at you funny, you couldn't help but comment on it and ask, 'What's the matter?' So there's that fine line of Matt talking to Sylar and at the same time trying to keep other people from noticing he's doing so. Those sorts of complex scenes are always so interesting as well as fun to do."
Matt contemplates his next move in "Ink." Photo by Chris Haston and copyright of NBC.
Matt is about to lose his cool with Jimmy Keppler (Daniel Newman) as Sylar (Zachary Quinto) looks on in "Ink." Photo by Chris Haston and copyright of NBC.
Was it hard for the actor to shoot the scenes in which Matt physically abuses his suspect, Jimmy Keppler (Daniel Newman)? "Yes and no," says the actor. "I mean, we all have our rage, and if I want I can get to a dark place pretty quickly. Years ago I did an episode of NYPD Blue and I learned something from Dennis Franz [Detective Andy Sipowicz]. He drowned my character in a bar sink, and when we did the scene, he was getting super-physical with it. I remember saying, 'Dennis, I've got it. I'll go down and you can just put your hand on my head.' He said to me, 'Look, man, when they roll the cameras, I bring the evil.' I thought, 'Wow, what a great line.' Obviously, Dennis did it in a way that he wasn't hurting me, but he was just saying that he really embodied his character.
"So in Heroes it ended up not being too tough for me to take everything I had out on this guy. For Matt to come in, realize, oh, my God, she's dead, and then just ramp it up as he's walking towards this guy and yelling, 'What did you do to her!' was terrific to play. From the camera angles, what's interesting is that the slaps and punches were a foot-and-a-half away from the other actor's [Daniel Newman] head, but it still really looked violent. In-between scenes, they [the make-up artists] came in, added [fake] blood and then we carried on, so it turned out great."
Along with Ink, another favorite episode for the actor to have worked on this season is Strange Attractors in which Matt thinks he has found a way to suppress Sylar's influence on him. "There's one scene, in particular, where Matt is packing to leave and Sylar is in the room with him, but Matt's wife Janice [Lisa Lackey] doesn't know Sylar is there," says Grunberg. "She asks Matt, 'Where are you going?' He tells her, 'I've got to get out of here.' Matt then explains to Janice what he did [with regard to Sylar]. Janice offers, instead, to leave and take the baby somewhere safe, and Matt says, 'Sssh, he'll hear you. Don't tell me where you're going so he [Sylar] won't know.' Here's a guy who is about to go crazy and his wife who loves him seeing that craziness building inside him. I love that scene.
Fighting to be your typical, average family - Matt, Matt Jr. and Janice (Lisa Lackey). Photo by Chris Haston and copyright of NBC.
"Also in this episode is Matt out-drinking Sylar, which is kind of cool. Some people made the comment, 'It's that easy. You just go and get drunk,' but if you stop and think about it, no, it wasn't that easy. Matt got inside Sylar's head and found a weakness. He discovered what really meant something to him and took advantage of it. So it had layers to it, but on the surface it was like, oh, that's all it takes to get Sylar to disappear from your head. Just drink until you pass out.
"So I thought that was interesting, but the scene with Matt and Janice, going into it, I didn't see it being as deep as it turned out to be. When, however, she looked at me, and it was her looking into her husband's eyes and [reassuringly] going, 'Ok, ok,' but meanwhile thinking, 'Dear God, I'm losing him,' that was wonderful to play.
"With this show I feel like I'm working on a trapeze with the strongest, safest, softest and most comfortable net below me because Tim Kring, Dennis Hammer [executive producer] and all the writers and editors are just so good. I can do something and know, OK, it's on film and, yes, perhaps the network will see a take that I'm not thrilled about, but you've got to be willing to take chances to come up with some great stuff. You can't second-guess yourself and think, 'Maybe I should try this, but if I do it might not work.' Who cares? Just do it. It's only film, and with film they're only going to use what works. But you've got to trust the people making those decisions, and I do."
Matt and Sylar are confronted by the police outside the Burnt Toast Diner in "Shadowboxing." Photo by Trae Patton and copyright of NBC.
Unfortunately, Matt's drinking is only a temporary solution to his problem. At the end of Strange Attractors, Sylar retaliates by taking over Matt's body, and in the following episode, Shadowboxing, Sylar goes off in search of his own body. He ends up at the Burnt Toast Diner, where Matt reveals to Sylar that he, Noah (Jack Coleman) and Angela "transformed" him into Nathan Petrelli (Adrian Pasdar). While at the diner, Matt uses his power to make Sylar unwittingly write down on a napkin that he has a gun and he's going to use it to kill everyone. Sylar then hands the napkin to a waitress, and when he eventually walks outside, the police are waiting. Matt tricks Sylar into pretending that he is taking a gun out of his jacket, forcing the police to shoot him.
Matt uses his powers to "persuade" Sylar to act in a threatening manner towards the police in "Shadowboxing." Photo by Trae Patton and copyright of NBC.
"For that scene, Zach and I each had 12 squibs on us," recalls Grunberg. "I'd never had that many squibs on me before. I've been shot on Alias as well as in movies and the most I've ever had is four squibs, which is a lot of explosive charges to have on your chest. So we did the scene and Zach gets shot, then I step in and get shot, but they never showed Matt getting hit. They only showed my character lying on the ground with blood around him. Sylar was the only one who you actually see taking the bullets. In my mind I thought they were going to do a fade-across dissolve [shot] where it would show Sylar getting shot and then, as it fades, it's Matt being shot, but they didn't do that.
Matt intends to sacrifice his own life by goading the police into shooting Sylar in "Shadowboxing." Photo by Trae Patton and copyright of NBC.
"I remember watching the scene when I was doing [audio] looping for the episode, and I called Tim and asked him, 'What happened? I'm not getting shot.' And he said, 'What are you talking about? Sure you are.' In fact, they had made a decision in the editing room, which Tim had forgotten about, and that was they wanted to make it seem like Sylar was really gone. Had they shown me being shot, there might have been a question in some peoples' minds that, oh, maybe it was just Matt who got shot and Sylar didn't die. I thought, 'I went through all those squibs and they didn't even show it,'" chuckles the actor. "Stuff like that, though, is like playing cowboys and Indians. It's a dream for anybody, let alone an actor, to do something like that, and I had a ball."
Poor Matt is down for the count in "Shadowboxing," but only temporarily. Photo by Trae Patton and copyright of NBC.
Peter (Milo Ventimiglia), Matt, Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) and Sylar have an unexpected reunion in "Brother's Keeper." Photo by Chris Haston and copyright of NBC.
Lucky for Matt, Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia) comes to the hospital in Brother's Keeper and uses his replicated power to heal Matt. However, his "brother" Nathan (a.k.a. the transformed Sylar) is with him and, during a fight between him and Peter, Nathan brushes Matt's hand. Matt suddenly finds himself back in his body and, apparently, Sylar has returned to his own body as well. Despite his character's life and death struggle, Grunberg did not mind having Matt share his mind with Sylar.
"Knowing I was going to be working with Zach as much as I did was a treat," he says. "He's the greatest. Zach and I have known each other for a long time and we're very close, so right away I knew that this was going to be fantastic. And we have a shorthand with each other where we step on each other's lines. I do the same thing with Adrian and a bunch of other actors on the show because we're so familiar with one another.
"At the same time, Zach has a really specific quality to his character and I wanted to try to embody that in certain things I did. In the airport scene [in Shadowboxing] where Sylar takes over Matt's body, I suddenly kind of bring my brow down. There's this look that Zach has about him and a very intense quality that he brings to his character that I wanted to try to copy, even in little moments like that, but in doing so I didn't want to go over the top."
Matt's journey could have ended in "Shadowboxing," but he lives to fight another day, beginning in "Close to You." Photo by Trae Patton and copyright of NBC.
With Sylar finally out of his mind, Matt is reunited with his wife and son, but in Close to You, Noah comes to Matt's house and asks him for help to find Samuel (Robert Knepper), who is bringing together heroes for his own private agenda. At first, Matt refuses, but when Noah plants the seed that Samuel could one day come for Parkman's son, Matt realizes that, once again, he has no choice but to lend a hand. Having worked with Zachary Quinto for much of the season, Grunberg looked forward to sharing some screen time now with Jack Coleman.
"Jack is an amazing actor and it's always great working with him. On the flip side, though, his character is someone who I strapped to a chair in a motel room, and now Matt is trusting him again, just like he trusted Peter, just like he trusted whoever," says the actor. "These alliances keep getting to toxic levels and then suddenly we're like, well, OK, it's all fine with these guys. So it's been a little crazy, but at the same time we're all fighting for ourselves. It's dog-eat-dog, and after a while a pack of dogs is more powerful than any single dog, so you've kind of got to go with it.
"So at the beginning of the episode, Noah is pulling Matt out of his house, and then at the end, my character tells him, 'Look, that's it. Go home. I'm done with this.' But like I said before, it gets very dark from here on in, not only with Matt, and I think people are going to like what's coming up."
Having been a series regular before on Alias and Felicity, the actor has once again enjoyed the opportunity to walk for an extended period of time in Matt Parkman's shoes and seeing his character grow and develop on Heroes. "When we first met Matt, he was quite lonely," notes Grunberg. "His relationship at home was falling apart; he sort of had a clue as to why, but not really. Then, however, he found out that his wife was cheating on him, so he couldn't have been more alone at that moment.
Father and son - Matt and Matt Jr. Photo by Chris Haston and copyright of NBC.
"From there, Matt just wanted to figure out who did this to him [gave him his telepathic abilities], and in doing so, he discovered these other people who are very much like him. All of a sudden my character realized what it was he truly wanted, but then it was a case of be careful what you wish for. Matt became a John McClane [referring to Bruce Wills' Die Hard character] and has been thrust into something he's really not prepared for. He's learning how to control his abilities, while at the same time discovering just how huge a deal this superhero stuff is.
"So my character has basically gone from being alone, to going on this journey of discovery, and then finding his dad and realizing that all this is part of his destiny and there's no turning back. Matt is now at the point where he can't trust anyone, and the way I've tended to play it - and the writers haven't really written to it in a while - is that this is a vicious cycle and he sees it happening all over again. Matt has powers and look what's happened to his life, and now his son has powers, so what's going to happen to him? Matt just wants to break this cycle and live that normal life, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen."
Besides his heroic endeavors as Matt Parkman in Heroes, Grunberg has also been busy with various other projects, including two films, one of which is called Group Sex.
"Group Sex is something I co-wrote and co-produced with Laurence Trilling, who is working on [the TV series] Parenthood at the moment and who I worked with on Alias as well as Felicity," says the actor. "He's a good friend of mine and a really talented guy and we made this movie independently. I'm starring in it along with Henry Winkler, Tom Arnold, Josh Cooke, Odette Yustman, Kym Whitley, Robbie Benedict and James Denton. Hayden Panettiere [Clare Bennet in Heroes] has a part in it, too, and so does Dania Ramirez [Maya Herrera in Heroes].
A rockin' Greg Grunberg! Photo courtesy of and copyright of The Lippin Group.
"It's a romantic comedy that takes place in a sexaholic recovery group, and I play this guy who belongs in this group, but is the best friend of a guy who wanders into the group. My character's friend follows a girl who he finds attractive into the back room of a church and, all of a sudden, he's in the middle of this group being led by Henry Winkler, who's standing there saying, 'I'm addicted to sex.' The film really turned out well and we're currently working out a distribution deal. I cannot wait for it to get out there because the title alone should intrigue people enough to want to see it, but the movie really does deliver.
"I also did Kill Speed, which is another independent movie but it was financed by a group of fighter pilots, so we got to use all their jets as well as received cooperation from the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] and airports. We also got military cooperation, which you normally can't get. It's the first film since Top Gun that actually has practical filming of air-to-air combat. The shots in the movie are unbelievable and they're all real, like planes screaming between buildings in downtown Los Angeles, and a jet fighter following one of the these fiberglass planes that are used to transport drugs.
"I play a government agent who's calling the shots from underground and trying to get these drug runners. So for me it was coming in for two or three intense days of shooting where I was looking at monitors and yelling, 'Come on, get 'em! Get 'em!' It was more like a callback to my Alias days than anything else, but I had a really fun time doing the movie and I think people are going to enjoy it.
"I've also got this iPhone application out there that's been exploding and doing really well. It's called Yowza!! and the website for it is getyowza.com. It's a free application, and you just press Yowza!! on your iPhone, iPod Touch, Palm Pre, Android, Blackberry, etc., and it knows your location and brings up all the stores, restaurants and businesses around you along with all their coupons and deals. So you never have to clip coupons again or look for the best deal by walking the mall. When you're in a mall, press Yowza!! and it'll show you, closest to farthest away, where the best deals are."
Husband, dad, talented actor and all-around nice guy, Greg Grunberg. Photo courtesy of and copyright of The Lippin Group.
While there has been no official announcement yet whether or not Heroes will return for a fifth year, Grunberg remains optimistic. "I definitely think we're going to get the opportunity to properly end the series in one year, two years, whatever it may be," he says. "A show like this is successful all over the world and on DVD, and in today's TV business you've got to have that. If a program isn't a hit around the world or if it doesn't take advantage of ancillary markets out there, then it's not going to survive.
"When the time does come, I hope the characters can all band together - those who are still standing - and have some satisfaction that they're doing the right thing. Ultimately, that's what everyone wants to do, even the characters who do something bad. I mean, Ali Larter's character [Niki/Jessica Sanders/Tracy Strauss] feels terrible when she does something bad, but she can't help herself. So I hope we can all see that ultimate redemption - no pun intended. It's a tall order to wrap it all up, but we'll see how they [the producers/writers] do it. Like I said, though, hopefully it'll be a couple of seasons from now."
As noted above, photos by Chris Haston or Trae Patton and copyright of NBC or The Lippin Group, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Posted at 03:00 AM in Adrian Pasdar, Alan Blumfeld, Ali Larter, Alias, Angela Petrelli, Christine Rose, Claire Bennet, Dania Ramirez, Daniel Newman, Dennis Hammer, Entertainment, Fantasy, Felicity, Greg Grunberg, Hayden Panettiere, Heroes, Jack Coleman, Jimmy Keppler, Lisa Lackey, Matt Parkman, Maury Parkman, Maya Herrera, Milo Ventimiglia, Nathan Petrelli, NBC, Noah Bennet, Peter Petrelli, Robert Knepper, Science Fiction, Sylar, Tim Kring, TV, Uncategorized, Yowza!!, Zachary Quinto | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Adrian Pasdar, Alan Blumfeld, Ali Larter, Alias, Angela Petrelli, Christine Rose, Claire Bennet, Dania Ramirez, Daniel Newman, Dennis Hammer, Entertainment, Fantasy, Felicity, Greg Grunberg, Hayden Panettiere, Heroes, Jack Coleman, Jimmy Keppler, Lisa Lackey, Matt Parkman, Maury Parkman, Maya Herrera, Milo Ventimiglia, Nathan Petrelli, NBC, Noah Bennet, Peter Petrelli, Robert Knepper, Science Fiction, Sylar, Tim Kring, TV, Yowza!!, Zachary Quinto
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Home Articles Ramaphosa’s Election is A Good Thing, But We Need Him to Lose...
Ramaphosa’s Election is A Good Thing, But We Need Him to Lose in 2019
Because so many of our fellow citizens continue to give the African National Congress (ANC) power over our lives, it is in our interests, as South Africans, to understand how the ANC works – how it decides on its policies, what the special interests are and how these play out in terms of how its leaders are chosen.
We must understand the urban/rural divide, the youth/adult divide, equal rights for women, traditional female roles in traditional cultures, the left/centre-left divide, the looting/anti-corruption divide, the competing tribal interests (the Zulus within the ANC, in particular, haven’t bought into the whole anti-tribal thing), and the middle-class/working-class divide.
These fault lines are also present in broader South Africa, and herein lies the key to the ANC’s electoral successes: balancing all the competing political interests among black people to get enough of them to vote ANC.
This balance is emergent rather than constructed consciously. It comes from the ANC’s structure as a mass democratic movement rather than a vehicle for a particular set of principles. At different times in its post-1994 history the ANC has had a leadership in which some of these factions have had more or less influence.
Some factions are no longer relevant, such as the black majority/coloured and Indian minority divide.
It is in this context that #ANCBowl2017 should be understood.
The outcomes of this conference were unusual compared to all the others because it was one of the few times since 1994 that the ANC tried consciously to strike a compromise between its many factions, not only in terms of leadership but the policies that have been approved.
The problem is that these factions can’t really be balanced. You can’t be for looting and fighting corruption at the same time. That is why the ANC is going to continue splitting.
In the short-term, the prospect has been staved off long enough to hopefully (from the ANC’s point of view) win the 2019 elections. That is why Ramaphosa became president.
Losing the urban vote forever is a disaster given the reality of urbanisation. Losing the middle-class vote represented by COSATU is equally a disaster and both sets of voters are being courted by the Democratic Alliance (DA) as we speak, whilst the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is courting the populist (left) and youth votes.
ANC divisions capture the political divisions among black people in South Africa. The most foolish thing apartheid ever did was create a black political identity. By defining black people as fourth class citizens they created the conditions in which the various political factions among black people could put aside their differences and engage in common political action regardless of each faction’s interests.
The ANC took advantage of this when they returned from exile (the second foolish thing apartheid did was not enforce the law when the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Azanian People’s Organisation were suffering under the terrorism of the ANC’s people’s war) and continued the work that the ANC Youth League had begun under the likes of Mandela and Tambo in the 1950s. Lest we forget, the ANC used to be a body for the African aristocracy and were willing to accept a liberal compromise in exchange for property rights; a real missed opportunity.
This is why the ANC has so far only lost power through its breakaways: different parts of its contradictory alliance are finding homes which best represent their interests. As I have said, their artificial unity constructed at the conference in Nasrec will not last, even with the fabled unifying skill of Cyril Ramaphosa.
Speaking of Cyril, it is precisely because of the ANC’s contradictions – the resolution passed in 2007 that the ANC president should be their candidate for SA president and the power vested in the state president by the Constitution – that Cyril’s victory is a good thing. Any president is going to focus their implementation efforts (in terms of ANC policy) on the side of the contradictions that they belong to. As every ANC president does, Ramaphosa is going to pick and choose while also having the opportunity of killing (or slowing down) the policies he doesn’t agree with through committee.
The choice during #ANCBowl2017 was really between an Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma/EFF coalition and a Ramaphosa/DA (or just Ramaphosa) coalition. The opposition couldn’t govern without the EFF even if the ANC had gone below 50% in 2019, and NDZ’s faction was more likely to try and woo Malema by changing the Constitution.
So, if you think debt and inflation are our most pressing long-term problems (as I do), supporting Ramaphosa to win the ANC presidency while vociferously campaigning against the ANC in 2019, is your best bet. Listen to his speech on his ‘new deal’, which is really just a restatement of the National Development Plan, and its emphasis on avoiding a default compared to NDZ’s populist slogans during the campaign, and you soon realise what was at stake.
The problem with South Africans and South African liberals in particular is our tendency to see things in absolute terms rather than seeing every choice in terms of damage limitation. We are like the general who focuses all their efforts on winning the pitched battle while the enemy whittles down their men in small skirmishes. I say we need to fight to win every engagement, inside or outside the ANC.
It is still of critical importance that the ANC lose power, not only to provide the right incentives for any future government but also to stave off the inevitable takeover of South Africa by populists. This means having an opposition that can provide a credible alternative vision to the many political factions in this country. The DA is, unfortunately, ill-suited to the task at the moment, as they are creating policy based on opinion polls and thus reproducing the policies of the ANC since it is built to reflect popular opinion better than the DA. An opposition that can challenge the premises of ANC policy and not just accept them and try to make them more pragmatic, an opposition that can tell the majority when they are wrong.
If such an opposition cannot be found, then we are doomed by whatever happens inside the ANC.
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Harald Sitta 4 January 2018 at 21:22 PM
Excellent! The best analysis I have studied up to date. No schmoozing, really 🙂
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Mar 16, 2014 | Joel Brooks
http://media.blubrry.com/390813/p/archive.org/download/RCCBirmingham_2014/RCC_2014-03-16.mp3
2 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” 8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm—9 if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He declared to Arioch, the king's captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.
17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king's matter.”
24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”
25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” 26 The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.
31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.
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NHB asks housing finance company's directors to be `Fit & Proper'
The development comes at a time when the spotlight is on corporate governance and the role of independent directors in some of India's top companies such as Tata Sons and Infosys.Atmadip Ray | ET Bureau | February 18, 2017, 07:31 IST
KOLKATA: The National Housing Bank (NHB) has directed all housing finance companies with minimum asset of `. 50 crore to follow the guideline of “fit and proper“ for their directors and tighten risk management tools.
The missive, aimed at strengthening the .Rs 5-lakh crore housing finance architecture, also makes chief executives responsible for any breach of “fit and proper“ rules in selection of directors.
The development comes at a time when the spotlight is on corporate governance and the role of independent directors in some of India's top companies such as Tata Sons and Infosys.
Industry leaders, however, believe that NHB is now trying to regulate the smaller, unlisted and new entrants more effectively.
Small housing finance companies (HFCs) mostly focus on the affordable housing segment -estimated by Crisil to be about .Rs 1.3 lakh crore in size as on March 2016 and accounting for over a quarter of the housing loans. The market share of mid-sized HFCs has grown to 17% in 2016 from 11% in 2014. Crisil said new entrants in this segment are growing at a CAGR of 40% due to its high growth potential. NHB told HFCs to adhere to the directions with immediate effect and to keep it in the loop in case of any change in the structure of their boards. There are two types of HFCs -deposit-taking entities such as the Hou sing Development Fi nance Corporation, and the non-deposit-ta king ones, and both ha ve been asked to follow the rules.
“It's a welcome move.
The small and unlisted entities are the prime targets of this direction,“ said R Nambirajan, managing director of DHFL Vysya Housing Finance.
NHB has told HFCs to form an audit committee consisting of not less than three members of the board, and a nomination committee to ensure “fit and proper“ status of proposed and existing directors. It has also directed them to set up a risk management committee and asset liability management committee without fail.
“All applicable HFCs shall ensure that a policy is put in place with the approval of the board of directors for ascertaining the “fit and proper“ criteria of the directors at the time of appointment, and on a continuing basis,“ NHB said in its note. It said managing directors should certify that “fit and proper“ criteria in selection of the directors has been followed.
Attention realty investors!! Here are the 10 learnings from 2016 for guaranteed returns
Tags : Regulatory, National Housing Bank, money matters, Kolkata
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Premiere: Mirror Travel Explores New Moods and Places on New LP, Cruise Deal
She Shreds SXSW: Diet Cig
She Shreds SXSW: Abjects
Text by Jamie Ludwig
Photo by Olivia Gyovai
New Mexico by-way-of Texas psych rock trio Mirror Travel was born out of a high school friendship between Lauren Green and drummer Tiffanie Lanmon.
After several years and lineup changes, and having generated a buzz under the moniker Follow That Bird, the group renamed itself Mirror Travel to signify a new chapter in their musical journey. Armed with bassist Paul Brinkley, they released their debut full-length, Mexico, in 2013.
With its second and latest album, Cruise Deal (out 3/11 via Modern Outsider), Mirror Travel trades some of the uptempo, garage-y vibes of its previous record for a dynamic mix of sun-soaked psychedelics, desert folk, and dreamy, crushing, Disintegration-era Gothic rock. Recorded primarily in a storage unit-turned-studio with Rory Taylor (known for his work with Emmylou Harris and Patty Griffin, among others), with another two tracks (“Aasim” and “Yesca”) recorded with Aaron Bastinelli at Big Orange in Austin, the album offers a snapshot of a band in the midst of transition as two of its members grappled with the idea of leaving town. Soon after the album’s completion, the group did scattered across the country, only to reconvene in New Mexico with new bassist Meredith Stoner.
She Shreds caught up with Mirror Travel to learn more about Cruise Deal and life after Texas, although they’re heading back soon for SXSW where, among other things, they will play at She Shreds’ Day Party at Hotel Vegas on 3/16. Later this spring, they band will release a limited-edition 10” in Europe through Anton Newcombe’s (Brian Jonestown Massacre) label The Committee to Keep Music Evil before launching a full US tour.
Check out our interview and exclusive album premiere of Cruise Deal below.
At what point did you decide to reinvent yourselves from Follow That Bird to Mirror Travel?
Lauren Green: We did it about three or four years ago, we had such a long history. Tiffanie and I had played as a two piece and throughout the years we had a few different bassists, including Paul Brinkley who is now in Philadelphia. We had wanted to change the name for a really long time, and get away from a lot of the Sesame Street references and questions. Also, we had outgrown the name. It had so much history and so much associated with it that we didn’t identify with it anymore, either sound-wise and feelings.
Tiffanie Lanmon: I would say it was also musical. Not that we had been all over the map necessarily, but we definitely had a certain sound in the past.
Place seems to be a factor in your albums, whether it’s songs about Mexico, or the fact that Cruise Deal was recorded right before you left town. How do your surroundings influence your music, whether it’s the legacy of Texas psych, the landscape, or anything else?
LG: I would say it is huge lyrically and musically as well. Mexico follows some stories of touring and travel and things like that, and I was in Marfa for some of that time and we recorded in Marfa. So the sound kind of reflected that, and the same with Cruise Deal because we were all kind of scattered. I think the inspiration was drawn from a few different locations and landscapes.
You worked with Rory Taylor on Cruise Deal and recorded [much of] Cruise Deal in your practice space. Was it a storage locker that you used as a practice space, or a building that had been re-oufitted as rehearsal rooms?
LG: It was a storage unit that was re-outfitted as a practice space. It was two rooms and they separated a practice area with a two-way glass partition so you were able to record in there. And there’s a lounge and a couch area in there.
TL: It’s pretty amazing. We rented it from this couple who had a band for a long time. They’d had that space for ten years. The husband had recently passed away, but that was his life. He spent all of his time making this place into a viable practice and recording studio. When he passed away [his wife] held onto it and was ready for someone else to take it on. We really lucked out. It was like a dream. It was fun to see how it did work as a recording studio. It wasn’t perfect, but it was pretty cool to see what they had achieved.
LG: It was in a U-Haul storage area, so the guy next to us had deadly snakes in cages and lawnmowers and stuff, and then there was a practice space. It was funny.
Did you ever get weird traffic coming through there, or people who didn’t expect to see a band there?
TL: Not really. There was another band we’d see when we drove in. It was a 7-piece band and it was really awesome, but the snakes were probably the wildest things we saw. The guy did water purification but in his office, as a hobby, he also collected exotic snakes.
Maybe it’s from being recorded in two different sessions, but one thing that is cool about this record is that while there are a lot of commonalities between the songs there are also a lot of different moods.
LG: Yeah, I think this album was a lot moodier than Mexico in the general length of the songs and the dynamics, and more open space and more room for breathing. “Melt You” is a song that doesn’t belong on Mexico but it is more in that vein. I feel like that was the last song we were working on, which maybe shows.
It sounds like kind of a “goodbye” song.
LG: Yeah, it is actually. It was written when I was living in Marfa and going back and forth between loving the landscape and the people, but not necessarily wanting to be there and not necessarily wanting to be in Austin, either.
It’s hard to be in limbo. What prompted you to leave Texas? If “Melt You” is a goodbye song, is the whole record a bit of a goodbye?
LG: I didn’t really think about it that way, but I can see that. This album was done before I moved and before Tiffanie and Meredith came to town. We were switching lineups and scenery, the whole deal.
TL: Yeah, it was interesting because when we recorded it, a lot of the mood changes seem to be coming from the fact that we had Lauren who knows that she wants to go and is deciding where. Then there is Paul, who wasn’t really thinking about leaving and then he was about to move somewhere really different. At that time I thought I was going to stay [in Texas]. So everyone was kind of recognizing that, thinking we were going to live in three different places and just try to make that work. There are a lot of emotions on here about coming and going. It was also written across spring through winter and then the other side of it. You’re on point with saying there are a lot of different emotions going on. All of the songs all go together because they are from a specific time, but there are a lot of different feelings happening within them.
You were writing this record and picturing yourselves living in different states, but now you’re all in the same place again. In the digital age there are more bands doing this cross-country kind of set up. How did you ultimately decide that that wasn’t the best decision for you?
TL: It kind of came organically. We were prepared to write remotely over long-distance, and then just get together when we could. Meredith and I knew we wanted to move outside of Austin, but were thinking hill country outside of Austin. Then we came to visit Lauren last February, and as we drove away we knew we wanted to live here.
Meredith Stoner: It was more of a life decision than a band decision and the beauty of it is that it ended up really benefitting the band, but that wasn’t the intention. That’s kinda great. Life is full of surprises, and good ones.
Austin is a city that musicians move to every day. You could say the same about Portland or New York, or wherever, but by the time you moved away you’d been there for so long that it was an old game for you. What is it like now, living somewhere without the constant hum of a city that is a total music hub.
LG: I think it’s great, and going back to what you are saying about bands being spread across the country and still being able to communicate and working remotely through the Internet. We’ve realized we don’t have to be playing a show four days a week or whatever. It’s been really fantastic for me to live out in a smaller place with a lot of close mountains and things like that, writing wise and for inspiration. The stuff we’re writing I really like. It’s really different. It feels a little more organic.
Is the new material in the same vein as Cruise Deal or are you moving into new territory?
TL: I have a feeling we’re going to still sound like Mirror Travel, but it’s starting to sound a lot heavier, actually. Cruise Deal is heavier than Mexico and where we are going is heavier still, and that’s really exciting.
MS: It was very unconscious. We just started playing together and see what happens. We’re all just going with it. It was interesting that a heavier sound was coming out of us all playing together.
LG: Yeah, and it’s been interesting playing with Tiffanie for so long, with me on guitar and her and drums, but now there is much more openness and experimentation, with me playing drums and her playing guitar. It could translate to live performances or not, but it is nice to have a new perspective on songwriting.
Thinking about experimentation, what are your favorite pieces of gear for getting these heavy, reverb-soaked sounds? What advice would you give to musicians who are interested in exploring these areas in music but don’t know where to start?
LG: I am a huge nerd about watching a lot of YouTube videos. You can learn so much without even having to try it out. Or you can go to a pawn shop and just buy something and mess around with it. But I really like EarthQuaker [Devices]. Those pedals are awesome as far as reverb and stuff like that goes. I’m also a huge fan of DeArmond guitars. I bought one at a pawnshop in Portland for $70, and I switched it out for another guitar I was playing that was a little pricier. It just has this sound, this deep tone that I love so much. I’m a fan of mixing new and old, and things like that.
MS: I just bought an MXR pedal with direct input, with a preamp and distortion in it. The reason I bought it was that I’m an obsessive person, and I obsess over sound. We have all of these SX shows coming up that are all backlined, which is great for room in your car but it’s so unpredictable when you are trying to get a really precise sound. I bought the pedal to calm my nerves around that I will have a lot more control. It’s just a beautiful pedal.
TL: It has an equalizer on there, you can play with distortion or clean. If you can only get one pedal it is a really great pedal to have.
MS: You can record on there too. I think they just came out with another generation of it. It’s even getting better.
That backline situation is something a lot of people don’t realize about a big festival like SXSW, where there is so much action that sometimes bands are playing three times a day. Do you like that kind atmosphere, or does it give you more nerves about performing?
TL: This year it feels really exciting.
LG: In previous years we’ve been excited to play at SX, but living there is hard when the festival is coming because you’re still living your life, doing all of this festival stuff, and then going to work the next day. This time it feels like a big vacation. We are really excited to see who else we’re playing with, to sit back and watch what happens, and discover. We’re playing with people we know so we’d be at those shows anyway.
MS: I think it will be really inspiring to play with such talent. I’m looking forward to that. So I’ll risk the nerves and lack of control for that.
As Texas natives, what are you looking for the most when you’re back in town? What is the one tip you’d give to musicians coming for the first time to play the festival?
TL: Transportation can be tricky for some people, but I would say that if you’re able, to get out of town for one day. Just drive 30 minutes west and just enjoy the beauty of the Texas country. It’s really marvelous, especially during the spring. And Austin is getting an early spring this year so there should just be flowers and green trees everywhere.
“We’ve realized we don’t have to be playing a show four days a week or whatever. It’s been really fantastic for me to live out in a smaller place with a lot of close mountains and things like that, writing wise and for inspiration.”
Mirror Travel at SXSW (Full tour later this year).
March 14 – SXSW @ Strange Brew V – Volstead at 2pm
March 15 – SXSW @ Lolipop Records/NRMAL Fest – Hotel Vegas at2pm
March 16 – SXSW @ She Shreds – Hotel Vegas at 4pm
March 16 – SXSW @ Modern Outsider Showcase – Scratch House Backyard at 9pm
March 17 – SXSW @ KLBJ – Shady Grove at 4pm
Bob Tomlinson says:
The new release sounds great! Looking forward to seeing a cool Taos band at SX! Hopefully you’ll be playing more in Santa Fe too.
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Emerson Quartet, Joshua Bell and Cleveland Orchestra on tap at Kravis Center
The Emerson String Quartet will perform at the Kravis Center Dec. 6 as part of the 2011-12 Regional Arts Series
The Kravis Center’s Regional Arts Series will once again offer a choice array of classical artists during the 2011-12 music season.
The Cleveland Orchestra will come to the Kravis Center on January 25. Music director Franz Welser-Möst will lead a program of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 6, Sean Shepherd’s Wanderlust, and Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 with Yefim Bronfman as soloist.
On March 11 Osmo Vänskä will bring the Minnesota Orchestra to Kravis with guest violinist Midori in a program of Brahms, Beethoven and Sibelius.
The Emerson Quartet returns to West Palm Beach December 6 in a program of Haydn, Bartok and Beethoven. Joshua Bell will perform a recital Jan. 31, as will Itzhak Perlman on March 6.
Pinchas Zukerman and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will present two programs January 4 and 5 with Zukerman doubling as conductor and violin soloist in concertos by Bruch and Beethoven. Also appearing for two programs Feb. 8 and 9 is the Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra led by Jacek Kaspszyk; Garrick Ohlsson is the soloist in concertos of Chopin and Beethoven. And the Tchaikovsky St. Petersburg State Orchestra comes to Kravis on Jan. 24 with pianist Alexandre Piorojenko.
The Kalichstein Laredo Robinson Trio will offer music of Beethoven, Schubert and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Feb. 28. Clarinetist Richard Stoltzman performs Mozart and Stravinsky with the New York Chamber Soloists on March 27. Pianist Menahem Pressler will appear with the same ensemble March 28 in music of Mozart and Shostakovich. And the season will open November 15 and 16 with the Munich Symphony conducted by Philippe Entremont in two programs, including Mozart’s Requiem.
Subscriptions for the Kravis Center’s Regional Arts Concert Series are now available; single tickets go on sale September 24. Call 561-832-7469 or go to kravis.org.
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Luis A. Ruedas
Luis A. Ruedas, Spanish-U.S. zoologist.
Department of Biology and Museum of Natural History, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, United States.
3 taxon names authored by Luis A. Ruedas
Brown, R.M., Ferner, J.W. & Ruedas, L.A. 1995. A new species of lygosomine lizard (Reptilia: Lacertilia: Scincidae; Sphenomorphus) from Mt. Isarog, Luzon Island, Philippines. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 108(1): 18–28. BHL Reference page.
Ruedas, Luis A. 1995. Description of a new large–bodied species of Apomys Mearns, 1905, (Mammalia: Rodentia: Muridae) from Mindoro Island, Philippines. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 108(2):302–318. BHL Reference page.
Ruedas, Luis A. 1998. Systematics of Sylvilagus Gray, 1867 (Lagomorpha: Leporidae) from Southwestern North America, with emphasis on S. robustus (Bailey, 1905). Journal of Mammalogy, 78(4):1355–1378. doi: 10.2307/1383027 Reference page.
Ruedas, L. A. 2017. A new species of cottontail rabbit (Lagomorpha: Leporidae: Sylvilagus) from Suriname, with comments on the taxonomy of allied taxa from northern South America. Journal of Mammalogy, 98(4):1042–1059. (online ahead of print 17 May 2017). doi: 10.1093/jmammal/gyx048 Reference page.
Ruedas, L. A., S. Marques Silva, J. H. French, R. N. Platt, II, J. Salazar–Bravo, J. M. Mora, and C. W. Thompson. 2017. A prolegomenon to the systematics of South American cottontail rabbits (Mammalia, Lagomorpha, Leporidae: Sylvilagus): designation of a neotype for S. brasiliensis (Linnaeus, 1758), and restoration of S. andinus (Thomas, 1897) and S. tapetillus Thomas, 1913. Miscellaneous Publications, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, 205:1–67. Handle. Reference page.
Lissovsky, A.A., McDonough, M., Dahal, N., Jin, W., Liu, S. & Ruedas, L.A.. 2017. A new subspecies of large–eared pika, Ochotona macrotis (Lagomorpha: Ochotonidae), from the Eastern Himalaya. Russian Journal of Theriology 16(1): 30–42 (online and in print June 2017). PDF Reference page.
ZooBank: 075D0ED3-09A8-40F1-8F03-8DA7D1F95011
Google Scholar: 3TnYTeoAAAAJ
ResearchGate: Luis_Ruedas
Retrieved from "https://species.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Luis_A._Ruedas&oldid=4753071"
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Archive: "Black Hawk War" Tag
John T. Dorcheus memoirs
July 23, 2018 by Ryan K. Lee • Ashton, autobiography, Black Hawk War, Gunnison, Idaho, John T. Dorcheus, patriarchal blessings, Utah
L. Tom Perry Special Collections is pleased to announce the availability of a new digitized collection: John T. Dorcheus memoirs (MSS SC 1879). This handwritten autobiography written in 1911 details Dorcheus’ life in Gunnison, Utah and later in Ashton, Idaho, and his participation in the “Utah Black Hawk War.” Also included are typed copies of blessings …
George Peacock diary
September 18, 2017 by Ryan K. Lee • Black Hawk War, British Mission, George Peacock, Manti, missionaries, missionary diaries, Sanpete County, Scotland, Utah
L. Tom Perry Special Collections is pleased to announce the availability of a new digitized collection: George Peacock diary (MSS 1228). In this handwritten diary, Peacock writes about his mission for the Mormon Church in Scotland, his work as a judge and postmaster, and his life in Sanpete County, Utah. He also relates many incidents …
James M. Peterson diary
May 27, 2016 by Ryan K. Lee • banks, Black Hawk War, business, diaries, James M. Peterson, newspaper clippings, Richfield, Sevier County, Utah
L. Tom Perry Special Collections is pleased to announce the availability of a new digitized collection: James M. Peterson diary (MSS 3870). This includes one volume of a handwritten diary and several newspaper clippings of obituaries of members of Peterson’s family. The events in Peterson’s life are recounted from 1850 to 1866, after which a daily record was …
Heber Robert McBride autobiography
April 1, 2016 by Ryan K. Lee • autobiography, Black Hawk War, Martin Handcart Company
L. Tom Perry Special Collections is pleased to announce the availability of a new digitized collection: Heber Robert McBride autobiography (MSS 501). This item is a handwritten autobiography in which McBride (1843-1925) writes about migrating with his family from England to Utah in 1856 as a youth in the ill-fated Mormon handcart company led by Edward Martin. He …
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CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) sells $271M worth of stock to bolster XFL reboot
WWE – McMahon sold more than 3.2 million shares — about 4.1 percent of WWE’s outstanding shares.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Class A (WWE - Get Rating) 0.35% closed down 3.8 percent Wednesday and continued marginally lower in after-hours trading after CEO Vince McMahon reported a significant divestment.
McMahon sold more than 3.2 million shares — about 4.1 percent of WWE’s outstanding shares — in a block trade in order to bolster his other fledgling venture.
“Mr. McMahon executed the sale primarily to fund a separate entity from the Company, Alpha Entertainment LLC, which Mr. McMahon established to explore investment opportunities across the sports and entertainment landscapes, including launching a professional football league under the name ‘XFL,’” according to his 8-K filing.
This is the second time McMahon drew from his holdings to fund Alpha Entertainment, a wholly distinct entity from the WWE.
Why It’s Important
By the market’s reaction, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Class A (WWE - Get Rating) investors appeared to interpret the sale to portend more disruptive imminent changes. McMahon assured the company he has no intention to sell additional shares, and he plans to remain CEO and chairman “for the foreseeable future.”
With nearly 28.7 million shares still in hand, McMahon continues to hold 80.1 percent of WWE’s voting power and 36.8 percent of total outstanding shares.
The XFL is scheduled to launch in early 2020 with teams in Dallas, St. Louis, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Washington, D.C.
WWE’s stock closed Wednesday’s session at $84.87 per share. The stock is up 134 percent over the past year.
World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. shares were trading at $84.54 per share on Thursday morning, down $0.33 (-0.39%). Year-to-date, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Class A (WWE - Get Rating) has gained 13.30%, versus a 12.50% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Class A (WWE - Get Rating) currently has a StockNews.com POWR Rating of B (Buy), and is ranked #3 of 19 stocks in the Entertainment – Media Producers category.
This article is brought to you courtesy of Benzinga.
More World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Class A Common Stock (WWE) News View All
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MAKING THE SQUARE QATAR PEG FIT INTO THE ROUND WORLD CUP HOLE
Filed under: Qatar World Cup in November and December, Uncategorized | Tags: 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2022 World Cup, Bahrain, Christmas, college football, Cristiano Ronaldo, ESPN, EuroSnobs, FIFA, FIFA Executive Committee, Muslim world, NBA, NFL, NHL, Portugal, Qatar, Ramadan, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, UEFA Champions League, Univision, USA, Winter Olympics, Zurich
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be an autumn affair, the first World Cup not to be played in late spring/early summer.
A task force formed to look into ways to avoid the sweltering summer heat in the tiny Gulf state is recommending that Qatar ’22 be played in November and December. Its report is expected to be ratified by the FIFA Executive Committee when it meets in Zurich on March 19 and 20.
Summer temperatures in Qatar routinely top 100 degrees while the heat drops to the high 70s in late fall.
The task force, headed by Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, considered a January-February tournament, but that would clash with the Winter Olympics. April was rejected because Ramadan will be observed in the Muslim world in that month in 2022.
Under the recommendation, it is believed that Qatar ’22 would be shorter than the traditional 31 or 32 days, kicking off November 26 and ending on December 23, two days before Christmas.
Though FIFA says all of its confederations favor the move to November-December, it is expected to encounter fierce opposition from Europe’s top leagues. Most of those leagues traditionally schedule a winter break of up to four weeks for weather reasons, but the task force’s plan would idle players not involved in the ’22 World Cup for up to eight weeks [February 25]
Comment: A very bad idea got worse.
The FIFA Executive Committee’s expected rubber-stamp to this topsy-turvy scheduling of a World Cup is further proof that the world’s soccer-governing body is hell-bent on holding its world championship in Qatar at all costs. Allegations that the Qataris won over a solid U.S. bid through bribery have been swept under the rug. Reports that foreign workers involved in World Cup preparations have been mistreated or even died in accidents is worth a shrug, all the more troubling because the stadiums and infrastructure promised by Qatar are being built from scratch. At No. 109 in the latest FIFA World Rankings, the Qatari National Team is poised to be the worst host side in World Cup history, far weaker than South Africa in 2010. And if a June World Cup in Qatar is being considered unworkable, then Qatar isn’t likely to be able to host the 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup, the tradition World Cup dress rehearsal for a host nation.
On a much, much smaller scale, there’s something for Americans to consider, and it’s not just the fact that, among EuroSnobs, their favorite club’s schedule will be interrupted by a November-December World Cup after just a dozen matches.
TV ratings, those figures that determine in the future how often you can see your favorite European club or whether you can watch UEFA Champions League games on cable or network television here, will take a serious hit if the 2022 World Cup is played in late fall.
At last year’s World Cup, the USA’s first-round match against Portugal was played on a Sunday. America was sitting on its couch with nothing more than mid-season baseball and a golf tournament as a diversion, and the TV audience for what will be remembered here for Cristiano Ronaldo’s last-gasp, heartbreaking assist, was 24.7 million on ESPN and Univision combined, a record for a soccer telecast in the U.S. There were no NFL games, no college football games, no NBA games, no NHL games to syphon off viewers. A similar World Cup game, played on an NFL Sunday in 2022, will be buried in the ratings. NFL games last season averaged 17.6 million–five pro gridiron games attracted more than 29 million.
Perhaps, in seven years, a November World Cup can steal casual viewers from the NFL. At present, it’s doubtful.
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Where we stand > Access to funding
If authors are unable to make a living from their work, the supply of new and innovative writing will dry up. It is therefore vital that they have access to grants and other sources of funding.
While a number of charitable organisations are able to provide discreet funding for creators, such as our own Authors' Foundation, there is a great need for ongoing support via national and international bodies.
Arts Council & Creative Scotland
The SoA works closely with Arts Council England, the Arts Council of Wales and Creative Scotland to ensure that funds are made available to authors and to support literature. In between 2015-2018, Arts Council England expects to spend approximately £46m on literature from a total budget of over £1.3bn, which represents just 3.5%. We believe that the Arts Council and Creative Scotland should do more across the UK to support authors in order to increase the supply of quality writing for everyone. We support Arts Council England’s aim, as expressed in Models of Support for Literary Fiction, to provide greater support for authors and independent publishers, boost readership and increase diversity across the sector.
In April 2018 we responded to Arts Council England’s ‘conversation’ about its plans for the next ten years. We highlighted a number of areas where we believe ACE could provide greater support to authors, including grants for work in progress, skills training, mentoring schemes, funding for prizes and supporting authors to make school visits. The next stage of ACE’s consultation will take place in the autumn. We will be making a submission and asking for members’ views in advance of this.
We are concerned about the loss of EU funding for the arts after Brexit. The Creative Europe funding scheme provides important funding for the arts across Europe, and brings in an average of £18.4 million a year to the UK. Creative Europe is particularly important for literary translation, and since 2014 its funding has enabled 147 books by authors from or based in the UK to be translated into other languages. It has also helped distribute 145 British films in other European countries.
One of Creative Europe’s key aims is to “promote the transnational circulation and mobility of cultural and creative works and artists to reach new audiences.” This is a laudable goal, and public funding of the arts must continue to support such an aspiration after Brexit. Membership of Creative Europe is not restricted to EU states, and we are urging the Government to either commit to remaining within Creative Europe following our departure from the EU, or to increase domestic funding for the arts via the Arts Council or another equivalent body.
Authors benefit both directly and indirectly from EU research funding. The UK is the second largest recipient of EU funding for science and research, and it is vital that our excellent reputation for research is not damaged by Brexit. Losing this funding would also have a knock-on effect on the £1.1bn journal market. The Government should commit to securing continued access to EU research funding schemes, or putting in place a domestic replacement.
Funding for skills training
Most authors are self-employed workers, and it is crucial that continuing professional development is offered to them and not just to employees. One way to reach this almost invisible workforce is through professional organisations and trade unions, including the SoA, which offer members access to training, mentoring and updates on industry developments. Government funding would be well directed to such schemes which take the place of traditional apprenticeships, which, by the very nature of writing, do not work for authors.
SoA responds to ACE's consultation on its future strategy (19 December 2018)
SoA responds to Arts Council England's 'conversation' (6 April 2018)
Arts Council England - Developing Your Creative Practice
News: EU funds £2.5m literary projects in UK
News: Impact of Creative Europe in the UK
Public Investment, Public Gain Report from Arts Council England and the Creative Industries Federation on the importance of public investment in the arts
SoA responds to ACE's consultation on its future strategy
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Sat 22 Dec, 2018, 1:00 PM (EST)
Rutgers vs. Columbia - 12/22/18 College Basketball Pick, Odds, and Prediction
Columbia Lions (3-7) at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-5)
Saturday December 22, 2018, 1:00 PM (EST)
The Line: Rutgers Scarlet Knights -13 -- Over/Under: 137.5
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Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
The Columbia Lions and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights meet in college basketball action from the Louis Brown Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Columbia Lions will be looking to bounce back after a 82-73 loss to Boston College in their last outing. Patrick Tape led the Lions with 17 points on 8 of 13 shooting while Quinton Adlesh and Randy Brumant each had 16 points to round out the trio of double-digit scorers for Columbia in the win, with Brumant pulling down a team-high 9 rebounds while Adlesh hit 4 threes in the win. Gabe Stefanini fell one point shy of a double-double with 9 points to go along with his team-leading 11 assists in the winning effort. Stefanini still leads Columbia with an average of 14.9 points and 3.6 assists per game while Brumant leads the Lions in rebounding with 7.7 rebounds per game this season. As a team, Columbia is averaging 78.5 points per game on 45.6% shooting from the field, 37.9% from behind the arc and 73.3% from the foul line this season.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will be out to snap a 4-game losing streak after a 72-66 loss to Seton Hall in their last outing. Peter Kiss led the Scarlet Knights with 16 points on 6 of 14 shooting with a pair of threes while Eugene Omoruyi added 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals and Geo Baker added 14 points with 3 triples and a team-high 5 assists to finish off the group of double-digit scorers for Rutgers in the loss. Shaquille Doorson added a team-high 12 rebounds while Myles Johnson pulled down 9 boards as well in the losing effort. Omoruyi leads Rutgers with an average of 15.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while Baker leads the Scarlet Knights in assists with 4.6 assists per game this season. As a team, Rutgers is averaging 69.1 points per game on 41.3% shooting from the field, 33.6% from behind the arc and 60.9% from the foul line this season.
Columbia is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games and 22-10-1 ATS in their last 33 road games against a team with a home winning percentage above .600 while the over is 9-3-1 in their last 13 games overall. Rutgers is 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games overall and 15-6-1 ATS in their last 22 non-conference games while the under is 11-1 in their last 12 games against the Ivy League.
I know Rutgers is the team in the stronger conference here and is probably the better team between the two. However, I’m not laying this many points with Rutgers while they’re on this current losing skid. Columbia is arguably the better team offensively and aren’t scared to go on the road and play opponents tough, just ask Boston College. Rutgers probably rights the ship with a win in this game, but I can’t see it being by double digits, so I’ll side with Columbia and the points in this one.
Columbia +13
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Fri 28 Dec, 2018, 9:00 PM (EST)
Iowa State vs. Washington State - 12/28/18 - Alamo Bowl - College Football Pick, Odds, and Prediction
By: Mark
Iowa State Cyclones (8-4) at Washington State Cougars (10-2)
Friday December 28, 2018, 9:00 PM (EST)
The Line: Washington State Cougars -3 -- Over/Under: 56
Stream College Football all season on ESPN+ for only $4.99 a month. Sign up now!
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington State Cougars take the field with the Iowa State Cyclones in the Alamo Bowl in Friday college football.
The Iowa State Cyclones went 7-1 down the stretch with the lone loss coming at Texas. Iowa State was ordinary offensively with 359 yards producing 26.8 points. The Cyclones defense was the driving force behind the team’s success with 351 yards and 22.5 points allowed.
Brock Purdy paced the ISU passing attack, connecting on 66.3% of his passes for 1,935 yards for 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. Hakeem Butler was the star of the ISU receiving corps with 1,126 yards on 51 receptions with an eye popping 22.1 yard average.
The Cyclones rushing attack revolved around David Montgomery who totaled 1,092 yards on 231 touches and 12 trips to the end zone.
Washington State enjoyed a banner season at 10-2 with dominant numbers on both sides of the ball. Washington State racked up 463 yards and 38 points with the top ranked passing attack averaging 380 yards. The Cougars defense had plenty of bite as well with 346 yards and 23 points given up.
Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew was unstoppable as he completed 70.6% of his throws for 4,477 yards with 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Dezmon Patmon was the top WSU receiver with 55 catches for 740 yards while Davontavean Martin snagged 65 passes for 650 yards. The Cougars receiving corps was both deep and productive but the seldom used ground game was not with James Williams totaling 552 yards on 119 carries.
Under is 4-0-1 in Iowa State Cyclones last 5 non-conference games and over is 6-0 in Iowa State Cyclones last 6 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game and under is 4-0 in Iowa State Cyclones last 4 Friday games. Washington State Cougars are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big 12 and over is 4-0 in Washington State Cougars last 4 games after accumulating less than 275 total yards in their previous game and under is 7-0-1 in Washington State Cougars last 8 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Washington State looks formidable with their passing but as a guy who prefers defense I gravitate towards the Cyclones…
Iowa State +3
I have been a sports fan since I was old enough to pick up a ball and have always been drawn to competition. I don't participate in sporting events any longer but I do like to provide my opinion on games and writing gives me that outlet. I won't always be right but I always put 100% in to every article I do whether it's the World Series or an 0-10 college football team. Mitch shares that same passion and allows me to express myself in my own way.
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St. Faith’s Church of England (Aided) Primary School
Admissions Policy from September 2020
Admissions to Year R
This policy will apply to all admissions from 1 September 2020, including in-year admissions. It will be used during 2020-21 for allocating places for September 2020 as part of the normal admission round for Year R.
The Governing Body of St Faith’s Church of England (Aided) Primary School is the admission authority for The School. The admission arrangements are determined by the Governing Body, after statutory consultation.
The Published Admission Number (PAN) for St Faith’s Church of England (Aided) Primary School (The School) is 20. The PAN is the number of places for children available in the year group above.
A guiding principle of admissions to this school is that the school should serve its local community, defined in the trust deed of 6th March 1860 as the ecclesiastical parish of St Faith. The policy aims to be clear, fair and objective and to comply with all relevant legislation.
Outside the normal admissions round, the Local Authority’s Fair Access protocol will be applied alongside the policy to secure the admission of vulnerable pupils from specific groups.
Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school, will be allocated a place.
If the school is oversubscribed, places will be offered in the following priority order. Places for applications received after the deadline will be allocated using the same criteria:
1) Looked after children or children who were previously looked after. (see Definition A)
2) Children or families who have a serious medical, physical or psychological condition which makes it essential that the child attends the preferred school rather than any other. (Appropriate medical or psychological evidence must be provided in support.) (see Definition B)
3) Children living in the area served by the school who at the time of application have a sibling on the roll of the school who will still be on roll at the time of admission. (see Definition C)
4) Children who at the time of application have a sibling on the roll of the school who was attending prior to September 2019 and will still be on roll at the time of admission.
5) Children living in the area served by the school.
6) Children living out of the area served by the school who have a sibling attending the school who will still be on roll at the time of admission.
7) Children living out of the area served by the school.
Looked after children or children who were previously looked after
This criterion provides a priority for children who are (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition in section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989). It can also be used for children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, residence, or special guardianship order. An adoption order is an order under section 46 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, to include children adopted under the 1976 act (in addition to the 2000 act). A ‘residence order’ is as an order settling the arrangements to be made as to the person with whom the child is to live under section 8 of the Children Act 1989. Section 14A of the Children Act 1989 defines a ‘special guardianship order’ as an order appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian (or special guardians).]
Applications under this criterion should be accompanied by evidence to show that the child is looked after or was previously looked after (e.g. a copy of the adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship order)
Serious medical, physical or psychological condition
Where a place is requested for a child or family who have a serious social or medical, condition, you must supply supporting independent evidence at the time of application confirming the reason(s) why attendance at St. Faith’s Church of England (Aided) Primary School is essential rather than any other school. You must also describe the difficulties that would be caused if the child had to attend another school. The evidence should be provided by a suitably qualified medical professional. The evidence will be considered carefully in confidence by the admissions committee of The Governing Body, who will endeavour to reach a fair and equitable decision.
‘Sibling’ refers to brother or sister, half brother or half sister, adoptive brother or adoptive sister, foster brother or foster sister, step brother or step sister, and includes children living as siblings in the same family unit at the same address
The Area served by the School
The School’s trust deed of 1860, states that The School was established to provide education for children living in the ecclesiastical parish of St. Faith’s. This ecclesiastical parish is referred to as The Area served by The School.
The child’s permanent residence is where they live, normally including weekends and during school holidays as well as during the week, and should be used for the application. The permanent address of children who spend part of their week with one parent and part with the other, at different addresses, will be the address at which they spend most of their time.
The home address, used for the term ‘living inside’ and ‘living outside’, means the address where the child usually lives.
Where parents have shared residence of a child and the child lives for part of the week with each parent the Governing Body will take the home address to be the address at which:
the child lives most of a school week;
Or, where the child lives at each address for equal parts of a school week, then
the address nearest to The School as determined by the Local Authority distance measuring system.
Maps of the parish area form part of this policy document and can also be found on our web-site, www.st-faithsceprimary.co.uk This is for guidance only. For the definitive parish boundary parents must check with the map displayed in the school office.
Moving home & UK service personnel & crown servants
Places can only be offered on the basis of future moves on the basis of:
a letter from the solicitor (or equivalent) confirming exchange of contracts to buy a property relevant to the application;
a tenancy agreement confirming the renting of a specific property relevant to the application;
a letter from a housing association confirming that the parent(s) will be living at a specific address relevant to the application; or
providing proof of posting and relocation date
Tie-breaker
If the school is oversubscribed from within any of the above criteria or sub-criteria, straight line distance will be used to prioritise applications; applicants living nearer the school have priority. Hampshire County Council’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will be used to determine distances (normally from the Ordnance Survey home address point to the school office. Distances to multiple dwellings will give priority to the ground floor over the first floor and so on. On individual floors, distances will be measured to the stairs leading to the communal entrance. If it still not possible to decide between two applicants who are equidistant then a random allocation will be made to allocate the final place. An explanation of the method of making random allocations is on the council website.
Only a parent can apply for a place at a school. A parent is any person who has parental responsibility for or is the legal guardian of the child, as set out in the Children Act 1989
You must complete a Local Authority Application Form available from www.hants.gov.uk/admissions or as a paper copy from The School office.
The Local Authority operates a timetabled co-ordinated admissions scheme for all Schools in line with Government legislation.
Information about applying is published on the County Council webpage: www.hants.gov.uk/admissions.
For the normal admission round, all on time preferences will be considered simultaneously and ranked in accordance with the admission criteria. If more than one school can offer a place, the parent’s highest stated available preference will be allocated.
The Admission Authority
The Local Authority will manage the process on behalf of The School according to the scheme, which they will publish on the School Admissions pages of the County website. The Governing Body, as the Admission Authority for this school, decide, using the Admission Criteria above, which children can be offered a place at The School.
The Governing Body will consider first all those applications received by the published deadline of midnight on 15 January 2020. Notifications to parents offering a place will be sent by the Local Authority on 16 April 2020.
Applications made after midnight on 15 January 2020 will be considered after all on-time applications have been fully processed unless exceptional circumstances merit consideration alongside on-time applications.
For the normal admission round, all on-time preferences will be considered simultaneously and ranked in accordance with the admission criteria. If more than one school can offer a place, the parent’s highest stated available preference will be allocated.
Pupils with a statement of special educational needs
The governors will admit any pupil whose final statement of special educational needs names the school. Where possible such children will be admitted within the PAN.
Multiple births
Where a twin or child from a multiple birth is admitted to a school under this policy then any further twin or child of the same multiple birth will be admitted, if the parents so wish, even though this may raise the number in the year group above the school’s PAN.
In-year applications (ordinary)
The allocation of any places which may become available during the year will be made on the basis of the current Admissions Criteria. There are no deadline dates for in year applications. Applications must be made using the Local Authority Admission Form. Any parent can apply for a place for their child at any time to any school. The Governing Body will decide whether a place can be offered at this school.
In-Year Fair Access placements by the local authority
The local authority must ensure that all pupils are placed in schools as quickly as possible. It may therefore sometimes be necessary for a pupil to be placed by the local authority, or a local placement panel acting on behalf of the authority, in a particular school even if there is a waiting list for admission. Such placements will be made in accordance with the provisions of the local authority’s In-Year Fair Access Protocol. Th Protocol is based on legislation and government guidance. If an admission through In-Year Fair Access raises the number on roll above the PAN, no further pupil will be admitted from the waiting list until a place becomes available within the PAN.
When all available places have been allocated, waiting lists will be operated by schools on behalf of the local authority. Any places that become available will be allocated according to the criteria of the admission policy with no account being taken of the length of time on the waiting list or any priority order expressed as part of the main admission round. Fair Access admissions and school closure arrangements will take priority over the waiting list.
The waiting list will be reviewed and revised –
each time a child is added to, or removed from it.
when a child’s changed circumstances affect their priority;
periodically, when parents with a child on the waiting list will be contacted and asked if they wish to remain on the list for the following school year.
At the time of receiving an offer of a school place parents will be advised of the process for adding their child’s name to a school’s waiting list. Parents may keep their child’s name on the waiting list of as many schools as they wish and for as long as they wish.
Starting school in Year R Only in Primary Schools
The School will provide for the admission of all children in the September following their fourth birthday. Places in the reception year will be provided from the beginning of the academic year, the September, in which a child will reach the age of five years.
Deferred entry into Year R Only in Primary Schools
Parents can request that the date their child is admitted to school is deferred until later in the school year but not beyond the point they reach compulsory school age, at the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday.
Part time places in Year R Only in Primary Schools
Parents can also request that their child takes up the place part-time until the child reaches compulsory school age.
Deferred Entry until the following September
Exceptionally, parents of children with birthdays between 1 April and 31 August (inclusive) may wish to defer admission until the following September. Parents have the right to apply for a Year R place in the September following the child’s fifth birthday and the decision will be made in the best interests of the child by the governing body.
Please discuss these arrangements with The School as soon as possible.
Notes on compulsory school age and summer born children
A child is not required to start school until they have reached compulsory school age following their fifth birthday. For summer born children this is almost a full school year after the point at which they could first be admitted. Compulsory school age is set out in section 8 of the Education Act 1996 and The Education (Start of Compulsory School Age) Order 1998. A child reaches compulsory school age on the prescribed day following his fifth birthday (or on his fifth birthday if it falls on a prescribed day). The prescribed days are 31 December, 31 March and 31 August.
All children born from the beginning of April to the end of August reach compulsory school age in the September following their fifth birthday. It is likely that most requests for children to be admitted out of their normal year group will come from parents of children born in the later summer months or those born prematurely.
Admission of children outside their normal age group
Parents who have deferred entry into Year R or of a gifted and talented child or a child who has experienced problems or missed part of a year, for example due to ill health, can request a place outside the normal age group. In addition, the parents of a summer born child may choose not to send that child to school until the September following their fifth birthday and may request that they are admitted out of their normal age group – to reception rather than year 1. The Local Governing Body will make a decision on the basis of the circumstances of each case. Parents do not have a right to appeal if they have been offered a place and it is not in the year group they would like.
If you are unsuccessful in gaining a place for your child at The School you will be informed by The Local Authority in writing, be given reasons for the refusal and informed of your right to an independent appeal against the decision.
Places are withdrawn every year because parents give a false ‘home address’ on application forms. This includes cases where parents take out a short-term let or buy a property solely to use its address on the application form without any intention of taking up permanent residence there. In fairness to all parents, all allegations of fraudulent practice brought to The Governing Body attention will be investigated. The Governing Body reserves the right to withdraw the offer of a place if fraudulent or intentionally misleading information has been used on an application.
This policy takes account of all relevant legislation including the legislation on sex discrimination, race relations, and disability, together with all relevant regulations and the School Admissions Code (published by the DfE in 2014).
This policy has been made in accordance with the The Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty, The Human Rights Act 1998, School Standards Framework Act 1998.
This policy will be administered fairly and impartially. The decision to admit, or otherwise, is the responsibility of The Governing Body.
The information given below is correct for the school year shown above, but it could be altered for future years. Parents should check with The School that no changes have occurred. All applications are made by Parents for their child / children.
If you require further information about applying for a place at St Faith’s Church of England (Aided) Primary School, please contact The School.
St Faith’s Road, St. Cross, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9QB
Email: adminoffice@st-faiths.hants.sch.uk
Only a parent can apply for a place at a school. A parent is any person who has parental responsibility for or is the legal guardian of the child, as set out in the Children Act 1989.
The local authority must ensure that all pupils are placed in schools as quickly as possible. It may therefore sometimes be necessary for a pupil to be placed by the local authority, or a local placement panel acting on behalf of the authority, in a particular school even if there is a waiting list for admission. Such placements will be made in accordance with the provisions of the local authority’s In-Year Fair Access Protocol. The Protocol is based on legislation and government guidance. If an admission through In-Year Fair Access raises the number on roll above the PAN, no further pupil will be admitted from the waiting list until a place becomes available within the PAN.
Parents who have deferred entry into Year R or of a gifted and talented child or a child who has experienced problems or missed part of a year, for example due to ill health, can request a place outside the normal age group. The Governing Body will make a decision on the basis of the circumstances of each case. Parents do not have a right to appeal if they have been offered a place and it is not in the year group they would like.
Click here to view SEN information
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INEC was neutral, fair in Ebonyi — Lawmaker- elect
March 16, 2019 UD Politics Comments Off on INEC was neutral, fair in Ebonyi — Lawmaker- elect
By Douglas Okoro
Abakaliki – Mr Livinus Makwe, a house of representatives member -elect has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for being neutral and fair to all political parties during the 2019 general elections in Ebonyi.
Makwe, elected to represent Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constitutency, gave the commendation in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abakaliki.
He said that INEC lived up to its promise to conduct smooth, transparent, free and credible elections in Ebonyi.
Makwe, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was issued the Certificate of Return (CoR) for the election by the electoral body on Thursday in Abuja.
Makwe had defeated candidates of other parties to emerge victorious during the Feb 23 National Assembly elections.
The incoming lawmaker also congratulated the state governor, Mr David Umahi, on his victory in the governorship election in the state.
He said the governor’s election was not surprising as he had performed beyond expectations by carrying out monumental development projects in all the 13 local government areas in the state.
“The governor won due to his outstanding performance; there is no part of the state that has not felt the impact of the governor in one form or the other.
“The governor’s infrastructural transformation in the areas of road construction, education, health, agriculture, electricity, human empowerment and capacity building, is second to none in the country today.
“The governor’s achievement is more remarkable when one considers the fact that the state receives one of the least allocations from the monthly federal allocations.
” So, Ebonyi people had no choice but to use their votes to tell him to continue the transformation of the state,” he said.
Makwe said that the PDP recorded total victory in Ebonyi by winning all the national and state house of assembly seats declared so far.
He said that the party’s landslide victory is a testament to the governor’s political sagacity, prowess and the acceptance of PDP as the only relevant political party in the state.
Makwe also promised to cooperate fully with the governor in moving the state forward.
He thanked his constituents for electing him with landslide votes and promised not to disappoint them.
“I promised during the campaign to attract more federal presence to the area and that I will pursue with doggedness once I am inaugurated.
“I will also work assiduously to ensure that my constituency is no longer marginalised in employment into federal government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as has been the case in the past,” he said.(NAN)
fair in Ebonyi
INEC was neutral
Lawmaker- elect
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Features, Sales 5
Superior $ales-Talk – December 2015 Figures
By Cain Winstead @CainWrites · On January 14, 2016
Happy January, everyone! Did you make a New Year’s resolution to read more Superior $ales-Talk? Depending on your rate of success for your resolutions, I either hope you did or did not!
Click on the image to read the numbers.
We’re finally starting to see an end to the wave of #1s. This puts us square in a honeymoon period where sales start high, but quickly fall as opening story arcs move to their conclusion and new readers leave the book. Not to mention incentive variables that are only available for the first issue, reprinted issues included in #1s (such as Vision #1 in January’s Spider-Man/Deadpool #1), backup stories, and whatever else Marvel can throw the consumer’s way in order to get them to pick up a new comic.
The honeymoon might be over for everyone’s favorite web-slinger, with numbers possibly evening out with Amazing Spider-Man #5. Amazing Spider-Man #4 shed a quarter of the sales earned by #3, but #5 lost only 3.5% of #4‘s, showing that those who read #4 stuck around for the finale. Amazing Spider-Man #5 moved 79,122 units, a number the core Spider-Man title hasn’t dropped to since the penultimate issue of “Goblin Nation,” Superior Spider-Man #29. Amazing is not quite to pre-#700 numbers (which would be around 55,000), but this is the lowest Spider-Man has sold since March, 2014. It’s still a little early in the title’s life span to say with certainty that 80,000 will be the number the title sticks with or if the series will continue to lose readers. If the arc starting in Amazing Spider-Man #6 proves to be more gripping than what we were given with the first five issues (and judging from the first issue, it might) we may even see an upswing in the numbers.
Amazing Spider-Man #1.1 launched with numbers similar to the B-titles’ #1s; Amazing Spider-Man #1.1 sold roughly the same as Spidey #1, Web Warriors #1, Carnage #1, and a little bit more than what Venom: Space Knight, Silk, and Spider-Woman started out with. 66,000 units sold is almost half of what last volume’s “Learning to Crawl” #1.1 issue sold, but almost exactly what “Spiral” sold with its first issue. However, Amazing Spider-Man vol. 3 #17, from which “Spiral” starts its side-numbering, sold 99,964 copies, while #17.1 sold 68.907 copies. So, while we have less people reading the main title, we have roughly the same amount of readers buying the .1 side story. At the very least, readers seem to have the same level of interest in the Spider-Man character, but perhaps not the direction he is currently heading. The trend of 60,000 units sold for a new Spider-Family book seems to imply a base level of readers who are willing to try out in books heading out of the Spider-Man office. We can call them the die-hard fans. As Amazing Spider-Man proper inches closer to the 60,000 mark, we’ll see how that affects the satellite titles.
All-New All-Different Avengers #2 lost about half of its sales from #1, something we’re used to seeing by now. This is the flagship Avengers title, unless I am mistaken, and it’s being fairly safe by sticking to the Captain America-Thor-Iron Man trinity. I have no doubts that it will sell well based on name alone. Uncanny Avengers has its loyal fan base. Having returned to its pre-relaunch numbers last month, it holds steady and sells just north of 50,000 copies.
Secret Wars #8 did not receive the upswing in purchases that I thought it might, now that the end is in sight, shipped, and definitely happening. It posted a small loss, showing more or less the same amount of readers from #7. However, Secret Wars #8 was the top selling comic of December, beating out Dark Knight III #2 over at the Distinguished Competition by about 10,000 sales. It’s been a wild ride and by the time you are reading this, Secret Wars #9 will be out. It’s a little past the scope of this feature to say this, but man, what a ride Secret Wars has been… even if it has been a little light on the Spider-action.
Gwenpool Holiday Special. Well. It happened. Holiday specials are a tradition at Marvel, although one that might have been skipped over for the past few years—unless I missed something, the last one Marvel produced was in 2011 and sold 6,787 copies, so I can see why Marvel might have been Scrouging us for the past three holiday seasons. So in that regard Gwenpool Holiday Special was a huge success. It’s also nice to see that Marvel hasn’t completely given up on Soule’s She-Hulk, even if everyone else had (Hey, I enjoyed it!). Gwenpool herself continues to puzzle me as she pops up in the back of Howard the Duck. If the Gwenpool Holiday Special is any indication, her recently announced solo title will do decent numbers. I’m not sure about the staying power of a character backed mostly by the cosplay community, but apparently the support is enough to move 81,000 books for one issue. Perhaps I’m underestimating the appeal of the character.
Carnage still seems to be shedding sales as #3 posts a 16% loss against the sales from #2. My only hope is that this book sticks at a good number soon because it’s unlike anything Marvel is putting out right now. That of course might also be one of the reasons it’s not selling gangbusters; things that stray from the cape genre seldom sell well out of the Big Two.
Speaking of unique, Venom: Space Knight #2 lost a considerable amount of its solid opening, as did Web Warriors #2. Both books sold roughly the same last month as well as this month. As for predictions, I can really only give you a shrug. I doubt these titles are going to ever see a substantial gain—Venom is a spin-off of Guardians of the Galaxy which altered a re-imagined take on the Venom character and Web Warriors features some fan favorite characters who have proven to not be be able to maintain sales for an ongoing plus Spider-Gwen. I’m not exactly sure who Venom: Space Knight is supposed to appeal to, and Web Warriors, while a personal favorite, also lacks widespread appeal aside from present fan-favorite Spider-Gwen and past fan-favorite Mayday (Anya will continue to be my favorite teen female Spider-character. I’m still not over losing Young Allies right out of the gate). These are two stories that I’d pick up sooner rather than later if you’re on the fence or waiting for the trade.
Silk #2 has returned to its pre-relaunch numbers as the story continues as if almost nothing has changed. It is currently at a net gain of 4,000 sales from where it was before the relaunch, so perhaps this will be a rare instance in where a relaunched #1 actually benefited the title. Sure, it’s not the 20,000 or so net gain Amazing Spider-Man vol. 3 #1 saw over Superior Spider-Man, but it’s something.
Spider-Woman #2 however suffered a fate similar to Venom and Web Warriors, losing roughly half of its sales. This puts the book down in the danger zone. Historically books that have sales hovering around 20,000 get the ax at Marvel, though this trend has not held true in the recent age of “relaunch and try again”. Spider-Woman is a high profile enough character that even if her title gets canned, she’ll be back before too long. Starbrand and Nightmask, whose #1 debuted at 28,000 issues though? “Cannon fodder”, I believe, is the term. If they show up in an event, assume it’s going to be the last few pages you’ll ever see them.
Ultimate End #5 ended the Ultimate universe with a whimper across the boards, getting slammed by critics and neglected on the shelves. The long delay between #4 and #5 didn’t help things either, with #5 losing a fifth of the sales compared to #4. Ultimate Spider-Man helped me and many others transition from comics of the past to the comics of the present and it’s unfortunate that the universe more-or-less built up around him ended on such a sour note. Then again, things never truly recovered for the Ultimate universe after Ultimatum, with Miles Morales acting as a thin silver lining. But that’s for a different article. Hopefully Ultimate End #5 is not foreshadowing the quality we’ll be seeing in the upcoming Spider-Man, also penned by Brian Michael Bendis.
Speaking of alternate Spider-Men, Spider-Man 2099 continues to under perform, with #5 inching closer to last volume’s concluding sales number of 30,000. I assume the character will always have a place at Marvel as long as Peter David wants to write him, but that’s only my own assumption. We’ll see next month if the numbers stay around 30,000 or dive further down. I’m afraid a shake up of rather sizable magnitude is going to be required to rejuvenate this title.
Spidey #1 launched with a decent number of units sold. I do not see much staying power with this book, however. Charming as it may be, both visually and in tone, the book is retreading old ground and not in a fairly creative way. We have a long history of reinterpretations of the starting days of Spider-Man; some of them are Ultimate Spider-Man, some of them are “Chapter One”. Not to make this sound like a review, but my feeling is that this book will fail to find an audience and thus fail to sell. As it is now, Spidey is playing it far too safe to distinguish itself from the gold standard modern Spider-Man origin, Ultimate Spider-Man. Perhaps a strong tie to the Spider-Man we’ll see in “Captain America: Civil War” will appear and we’ll see a boost in the sales. Next month’s numbers will paint a better picture, I may be in the minority regarding my feelings on the title.
Radioactive Spider-Gwen #3 bled readers as we begin to see the book slide further down the rankings. As it stands, Radioactive Spider-Gwen #3 sold around 12,000 copies less than the previous volume’s final issue. While Radioactive Spider-Gwen #3‘s 55,000 is still a solid number to be selling, the slow decline does point to a waning interest in the title. I’m sure there will be die-hards that develop, especially if the series slows down and continues to world build, but a title like this should be selling like Silk since it was more or less unchanged by Secret Wars. The fact that it is not is an ill omen for the future sales.
Last and also least is Ultimate Spider-Man: Spider-Verse #2 which… did not chart. Diamond Comic Distributors releases estimates only for the top selling 300 comics per month, so anything less than that does not get reported. This month the number to beat for a spot on the chart was 5,848, so all we know is that Ultimate Spider-Man: Spider-Verse #2 sold less than that. Marvel Universe Guardians of the Galaxy #3, which like Ultimate Spider-Man: Spider-Verse is adapted from a cartoon, sold 6,159 copies, putting at the 291th highest selling comic of December. Ultimate Spider-Man: Spider-Verse typically sells less than Guardians by a few hundred, so we can guess it just barely missed the mark.
That’s a wrap for December and for 2015! See you next month! Remember to buy Web Warriors! I’m pretty sure you told me you were going to go out and buy Web Warriors. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a comment here or reach out to me on Twitter. My handle can be found at the top of this article. Thanks again goes to comichron.com for their hard work getting all these figures together. Remember folks, with great comics must also come… superior sales!
amazingFiguresmarketingmarvelnumberssalessecret warsspiderman
Cain Winstead
Cain grew up on the sandy shores of the Gulf Coast but moved to Memphis, TN in 2008 to earn his BA in English from Rhodes College. After graduation in 2012, a series of misadventures lead him through several careers before landing in computer repair. When he’s not writing bios in the third person, he can be found outside working in his yard, inside catching up on the Marvel universe, or at his desk working on his fiction writing.
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Pollution,
Toxicology,
Nanosilver: Naughty or nice?
Questions abound about the possible effects of those tiny antibiotic particles that are showing up all over
Silver nanoparticles can confer an array of colors when in solution. The particles in this image can be used to detect diseases. Others are used as antibiotics. But some scientists are beginning to worry that overusing the technology might cause problems.
Ginger Lab/University of Washington
Silver is beautiful — and a killer. The shiny white metal is a natural antibiotic. That means it kills bacteria. People have recognized this benefit since ancient times. Wealthy Romans ate using knives, forks and spoons made of silver. They understood that silver helped keep spoiled food from making them sick. In fact, historians think that is how we came to call eating utensils "silverware."
Today, eating off silver is more about wealth than health. Still, silver continues to play a role in medicine. Doctors use silver-coated bandages to kill germs that might infect burns and other wounds. Silver also is sometimes used to coat medical devices, such as breathing tubes. This can reduce the likelihood that patients on ventilators (to help them breathe) will develop pneumonia from exposure to germs.
Explainer: Where antibiotics came from
In just the last decade, silver’s use as a germ killer has expanded dramatically — and not only in medicine. Beginning around 2005, companies started adding a special form of silver to a wide range of everyday products. This silver was fashioned into amazingly tiny particles. Companies put it into socks, toothbrushes, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and other items.
Sometimes adding the special silver is promoted as a defense against bacteria that might make people sick. Other times, it’s more about neutralizing bacteria that cause stinky feet or smelly breath. At last count, more than 400 consumer products contained this form of silver, called nanosilver.
And as that name suggests, nanosilver particles are too small to see, even with a classroom microscope. The particles measure between 1 and 100 nanometers, or billionths of a meter, across. (Nano is a prefix meaning a billionth.) By comparison, most human hair is 40,000 to 120,000 nanometers wide. That is hundreds of times the width of even a large nanoparticle.
People have used silver products for thousands of years. But some scientists have begun to worry that adding so much nanosilver to so many things could harm our health or the environment. Experts have begun looking for answers. But so far, the findings are mixed.
Little particle, big surface
Scientists say there are several things that are important to know about nanosilver to assess its potential harm. First, nanosilver is so tiny that it can find its way into tiny spaces. These spaces include our cells and the cells of other living things. Second, because nanosilver particles are so small, they have very high surface areas. That means that relative to their volume, their surface is fairly big. Particles undergo chemical reactions on their surface. The more surface area, the more chemical reactions. Some of those reactions could be harmful. Others might not be.
The list of potential reactions includes what happens when silver reacts with moisture in the air — those nanoparticles shed silver ions. Silver ions are atoms of silver with a positive electric charge. Some research suggests silver ions can kill a microbe by damaging its cell membranes. This can make the microbe's cells "leaky." Affected cells soon die.
Other research suggests the nanoparticle itself can kill a microbe.
But what happens if nanosilver gets into human cells? Some researchers have wondered whether the particles — or the ions they release — can cause harm.
Jim Hutchison is among those scientists trying to figure this out. He is a chemist and an expert in nanoparticles at the University of Oregon in Eugene.
The most visible effect of silver, Hutchison says, is a condition called argyria (Ahr–JEER–ee–uh). People exposed to very large amounts of silver can suffer from this condition. Although it turns the skin blue, it doesn't appear to otherwise affect health.
Historians suspect argyria is the origin of the term "blue blood." It is used to describe people of noble birth. Royalty would likely have worn a lot of silver jewelry. Nobles also would have used real silver tableware when eating and drinking.
These blue bloods also may have drunk a lot of colloidal silver. That's a liquid into which silver particles are suspended.
"Colloidal silver has been used for a long time," says Hutchison. "It was thought of as a cure-all for many different illnesses."
It was especially popular before modern-day antibiotics were developed to kill microbes. Even today, some people drink it. They believe it can fight some serious diseases. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however, disagrees. This federal agency says there is no scientific evidence that colloidal silver successfully treats anything.
So far, Hutchison’s research suggests nanosilver and the silver ions it sheds probably aren’t harmful to people (beyond turning some of them blue). "You can never prove every technology is going to be safe before you use it," he says. "But silver doesn't seem to be toxic to us."
In a 2011 study published in the journal ACS Nano, Hutchison's team looked at silver jewelry and eating utensils under high-powered microscopes. They found the solid silver products were shedding nanoparticles. "This means nanosilver has been in contact with humans for a long, long time," he says. And that, he concludes, "should be reassuring, because those exposures don’t seem to have caused harm."
Yet, Hutchison notes, nanosilver is being used in more products than ever. It’s part of the boom in the market for germ killers. It is possible that people and the environment both are being exposed to so much of the silver that past experiences may not fully predict future risks.
A lot of the little
In fact, there are no studies to suggest how much nanosilver might be too much, says Ramune Reliene. She is a cancer researcher at the State University of New York in Albany.
Studies do show that nanosilver can damage human cells. But those studies exposed cells to anywhere from 100 to 10,000 times more nanosilver than people currently encounter in the environment, she says. Also, the cells were in a Petri dish. A cell inside a living creature works differently than it does in some dish in the lab.
That's why it is important to go beyond cell studies, scientists argue. Some want to see nanosilver tested in animals. Reliene and others have begun such work with laboratory mice and rats. So far, they’ve completed only a handful of such studies. That means it’s too soon to know for certain how nanosilver might affect the health of animals big and small.
Still, this early research has offered hints that nanosilver might pose problems. Last year, for instance, Reliene’s team published data suggesting the silver bits might pose a risk of cancer.
The researchers gave five mice water containing high levels of nanosilver for five days. Then the experts looked at the animals’ blood cells, at cells inside their bone marrow and at tissues from developing mouse embryos. In each case, they found damage to DNA. This molecule is found in most cells. It tells cells how to grow and function.
Reliene is especially worried about DNA damage in bone marrow. That is because in both mice and humans, blood cells form inside the marrow. The type of damage the researchers saw in the marrow of mice is the same type that leads to blood cancers in people. Leukemia and lymphoma are two examples.
"Nanosilver seems to be toxic to particular tissues, especially immature blood cells in bone marrow," Reliene concludes. Her team shared its findings in the March 2015 Nanotoxicology.
No silver lining to this pollution
Andrew Maynard is is an environmental health scientist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. His team has been running a study similar to Reliene's. Although they have not published their data yet, they are willing to share some early findings. Chief among them: Maynard says his group "saw virtually no effect" of feeding mice very high levels of nanosilver for up to 28 days.
Both he and Reliene say more research is needed if they hope to figure why two similar studies might have produced such different outcomes.
One possible explanation involves the chemicals used to coat nanosilver particles. The coating keeps individual particles from clumping together. Different companies use different coatings. And those coatings might affect whether nanosilver is toxic. In addition, nanosilver can be made in different sizes and shapes. This too may affect its toxicity.
Maynard suspects if nanosilver is going to cause problems, it will probably show up in the environment. That's where a lot of nanosilver ends up. For example, washing machines coated with nanosilver flush some of the particles into the sewer system with each load of laundry. From there, the particles end up in rivers and lakes.
"Because they are so small, nanoparticles can flow long distances in water and get picked up by fish and enter root systems," Maynard says. They also can settle onto sediment at the bottom of a river or lake. And it is possible the particles might harm microbes that live there. Such microbes include bacteria that perform an important role: breaking down dead plants and animals.
As the microbes do this, they recycle back into the environment the nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon that had been in the dead organisms. These elements are essential nutrients for all living things.
If bacteria can't do their jobs, these nutrients stay locked up. Then nearby plants can't use them to grow. That, in turn, could reduce the food supply for plant-eating animals. It could even affect the health of bigger animals that prey on the plant-eaters.
Chris Metcalfe is trying to understand how nanosilver might affect this nutrient cycle. He works at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. As an environmental toxicologist, he studies materials that can serve as poisons in the environment.
He and his team added high amounts of nanosilver to an experimental lake in northern Ontario. This changed the mix of bacteria living on the bottom. Metcalfe can't say if the nanosilver led to changes in the overall numbers of specific types of bacteria. That's because there are limits to the technology for identifying bacteria. But, he adds, "We can say it changed the composition of bacteria — some of which are involved in cycling carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus." And this could, in turn, affect the nutrient cycle and the organisms that depend on it.
His team published its findings, three years ago, in Environmental Science and Technology.
This silver bullet might not last
But there may be an even more immediate concern, Metcalfe and other scientists worry. A steady stream of nanosilver into the environment could foster harmful microbes to become resistant to the germ killer. Microbes tend to evolve — or adapt over time — to changing conditions. And those adaptations might allow them to survive what could have been a toxic dose of silver.
If that happened, doctors could no longer rely on silver-coated medical devices or silver-treated bandages to keep such germs from sickening their patients.
Microbes are particularly good at developing resistance. That is why many of the antibiotics developed to kill harmful bacteria no longer work. Most of these drugs have been used often and for a long time. With such heavy and sustained use of antibiotics, microbes have a greater chance of developing just the right change in their DNA to fight off the drugs. Once they do that, those "superbugs" survive to breed more microbes with the same ability.
It's particularly hard for microbes to develop a resistance to silver because the element destroys cell membranes, says Maynard. It's not easy to recover from that. But it's not impossible either. Scientists warn that the more nanosilver that enters the environment, the greater the chance that microbes will learn how to resist it.
As Maynard puts it: "Silver is a big line of defense against microbes. We don't want to waste this weapon on socks."
antibiotic A germ-killing substance prescribed as a medicine (or sometimes as a feed additive to promote the growth of livestock). It does not work against viruses.
argyria A permanent, blue discoloring of the skin due to an excessive exposure to silver-based preparations aimed at treating a medical condition.
cancer Any of more than 100 different diseases, each characterized by the rapid, uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. The development and growth of cancers, also known as malignancies, can lead to tumors, pain and death.
carbon The chemical element having the atomic number 6. It is the physical basis of all life on Earth. Carbon exists freely as graphite and diamond. It is an important part of coal, limestone and petroleum, and is capable of self-bonding, chemically, to form an enormous number of chemically, biologically and commercially important molecules.
cell The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. Typically too small to see with the naked eye, it consists of watery fluid surrounded by a membrane or wall. Animals are made of anywhere from thousands to trillions of cells, depending on their size.
chemical A substance formed from two or more atoms that unite (become bonded together) in a fixed proportion and structure. For example, water is a chemical made of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. Its chemical symbol is H2O.
chemical reaction A process that involves the rearrangement of the molecules or structure of a substance, as opposed to a change in physical form (as from a solid to a gas).
chemistry The field of science that deals with the composition, structure and properties of substances and how they interact with one another. Chemists use this knowledge to study unfamiliar substances, to reproduce large quantities of useful substances or to design and create new and useful substances. (about compounds) The term is used to refer to the recipe of a compound, the way it’s produced or some of its properties.
colloid (adj. colloidal) A very finely divided substance scattered throughout another substance. Colloidal silver, for example, consists of very tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid.
DNA (short for deoxyribonucleic acid) A long, double-stranded and spiral-shaped molecule inside most living cells that carries genetic instructions. In all living things, from plants and animals to microbes, these instructions tell cells which molecules to make.
electron A negatively charged particle, usually found orbiting the outer regions of an atom; also, the carrier of electricity within solids.
element (in chemistry) Each of more than one hundred substances for which the smallest unit of each is a single atom. Examples include hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, lithium and uranium.
embryo The early stages of a developing vertebrate, or animal with a backbone, consisting only one or a or a few cells. As an adjective, the term would be embryonic — and could be used to refer to the early stages or life of a system or technology.
Food and Drug Administration (or FDA) A part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, FDA is charged with overseeing the safety of many products. For instance, it is responsible for making sure drugs are properly labeled, safe and effective; that cosmetics and food supplements are safe and properly labeled; and that tobacco products are regulated.
food web (also known as a food chain) The network of relationships among organisms sharing an ecosystem. Member organisms depend on others within this network as a source of food.
germ Any one-celled microorganism, such as a bacterium, fungal species or virus particle. Some germs cause disease. Others can promote the health of higher-order organisms, including birds and mammals. The health effects of most germs, however, remain unknown.
ion An atom or molecule with an electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.
leukemia A type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes high numbers of immature or abnormal white blood cells. This can lead to anemia, a shortage of red blood cells.
lymphoma A type of cancer that begins in immune system cells.
marrow (in physiology and medicine) Spongy tissue that develops inside of bones. Most red blood cells, infection-fighting white blood cells and blood platelets all form within the marrow.
membrane A barrier which blocks the passage (or flow through of) some materials depending on their size or other features. Membranes are an integral part of filtration systems. Many serve that function on cells or organs of a body.
microbe Short for microorganism. A living thing that is too small to see with the unaided eye, including bacteria, some fungi and many other organisms such as amoebas. Most consist of a single cell.
microscope An instrument used to view objects, like bacteria, or the single cells of plants or animals, that are too small to be visible to the unaided eye.
nano A prefix indicating a billionth. In the metric system of measurements, it’s often used as an abbreviation to refer to objects that are a billionth of a meter long or in diameter.
nanoparticle A small particle with dimensions measured in billionths of a meter.
nitrogen A colorless, odorless and nonreactive gaseous element that forms about 78 percent of Earth's atmosphere. Its scientific symbol is N. Nitrogen is released in the form of nitrogen oxides as fossil fuels burn.
particle A minute amount of something.
Petri dish A shallow, circular dish used to grow bacteria or other microorganisms.
phosphorus A highly reactive, nonmetallic element occurring naturally in phosphates. Its scientific symbol is P.
pneumonia A lung disease in which infection by a virus or bacterium causes inflammation and tissue damage. Sometimes the lungs fill with fluid or mucus. Symptoms include fever, chills, cough and trouble breathing.
resistance (as in drug resistance) The reduction in the effectiveness of a drug to cure a disease, usually a microbial infection. (as in disease resistance) The ability of an organism to fight off disease. (as in exercise) A type of rather sedentary exercise that relies on the contraction of muscles to build strength in localized tissues.
technology The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry — or the devices, processes and systems that result from those efforts.
toxic Poisonous or able to harm or kill cells, tissues or whole organisms. The measure of risk posed by such a poison is its toxicity.
toxicology The branch of science that probes poisons and how they disrupt the health of people and other organisms.
ventilator (in medicine) A device used to help a person breathe — take in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide — when the body cannot easily do that on its own.
Word Find (click here to enlarge for printing)
B. Brookshire. “Scientists say colloid.” Eureka! Lab. February 9, 2015.
A.P. Stevens. “Nano air pollutants strike a blow to the brain.” Science News for Students. December 17, 2014.
A.P. Stevens. “Germs help each other fend off antibiotics.” Science News for Students. November 10, 2014.
K. Kowalski. “Recycling the dead.” Science News for Students. September 27, 2014.
E. Landhuis. “The war on superbugs.” Science News for Students. July 16, 2014.
E. Landhuis. “Superbugs: A silent health emergency.” Science News for Students. July 10, 2014.
E. Landhuis. “Explainer: Where antibiotics came from.” Science News for Students. July 10, 2014.
S. Perkins. “Nanosilver, away!” Science News for Students. May 17, 2012.
J. Raloff. “Nanoparticles’ indirect threat to DNA.” Science News. November 5, 2009.
Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies: Silver nanotechnology in commercial products database.
Learn more about research on nanosilver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Original Journal Source: P. Kovvuru et al. Oral ingestion of silver nanoparticles induces genomic instability and DNA damage in multiple tissues. Nanotoxicology. Vol. 9, March 2015, p. 162. doi: 10.3109/17435390.2014.902520.
Original Journal Source: J.M. Hutchison et al. Generation of metal nanoparticles from silver and copper objects: Nanoparticle dynamics on surfaces and potential sources of nanoparticles in the environment. ACS Nano. Vol. 5, November 22, 2011, p. 8950. doi: 10.1021/nn2031319.
Original Journal Source: P. Das et al. Changes in bacterial community structure after exposure to silver nanoparticles in natural waters. Environmental Science & Technology. Vol. 46, August 21, 2012, p. 9120. doi: 10.1021/es3019918.
Questions for "Nanosilver: Naughty or nice?"
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A Love Story …
PUBLICATION DATE: Feb 05, 2019
Mari Davies and Moose celebrate their first year anniversary in December.
There is a “Moose” in the home of Mari Davies. Moose, a 10-year-old golden retriever rescue, has found his forever home. His journey began in early December of last year when his new “mom” was swiping through several dog rescue organizations on social media. “I am a huge dog lover,” stated Davies. “We lost our ‘Welshie” (Welsh Terrier). He was the last of our three children’s childhood dogs that they grew up with. Suddenly Moose’s picture came up on the screen. It was as if he jumped off the screen into my lap. It was that intense. I spoke with my husband who told me to at least call and inquire. I called and left a voicemail for the woman, who was fostering him in northern Michigan, five hours north of here, expressing my interest in the dog. She left a return message saying GRROM (Golden Retriever Rescue of Michigan) has a policy of no adoptions over state lines.” Davies was not deterred. She called a close friend and avid dog lover who lives in Michigan to ask her why they would have such a policy. “She asked me if I wanted her to put in a good word for me. That’s what got the ball rolling,” said Davies. “One of the guidelines required of the rescue organization is a home visit conducted by a local volunteer. A volunteer and her dog came to our house because they wanted to verify that what I told them was accurate. She found that we had everything that was up to code per their adoption requirements. I think having her see a portrait of our dear departed “Welshie” and learning that my husband was the former chairman of the Toledo Area Humane Society sealed the deal.”
Moose’s age was given on the organization’s social media page. “I knew he was 10. I didn’t blink an eye. He was meant to be mine regardless of his age,” she stated. “I did not know anything about his history, but his soul sang to me.” Davies eventually learned from the foster parent that Moose was found wandering around Highway 31 near Elk Rapids, Mich. “A good Samaritan stopped the car and opened the door and he hopped in,” stated Davies. “He had a collar and all of his tags, so she was able to find his home. The homeowner was doing work outside and she asked if this was his dog. He said he always gets out. The good Samaritan asked if the owner really wanted him. He told her that they were redoing their house and that they really didn’t have time for him anymore. The good Samaritan took him to the Silver Muzzle Cottage, a rescue cottage for senior dogs.”
Moose spent some time at the cottage until they were able to get a foster for him. He went to live with his foster mom and dad and their three dogs while they were in the process of putting him up for adoption.
Three days after the home visit, the Davies home started to fill to the brim with family members from all over the country for the holidays. Two days before Christmas, Davies headed north with her sister to pick up her forever friend.
“I immediately made the choice to change his name from Zeus to Moose because he is a northern boy and I have loved spending time in Maine. I would also like to stress to people the importance of using pet shelters instead of getting animals from a pet store. It perpetuates a tragic situation for those animals.”
The Davieses are enjoying their “silver senior” and feel blessed that they did not let “ageism” deter them from adopting Moose. Mari Davies stated, “We are bringing each other incredible joy and proving age is a state of mind. We are all going to be gone someday so celebrate every day you have … whether it is 10,000 or 1,000.”
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Difference between revisions of "English"
Revision as of 18:49, 6 October 2012 (edit)
Technopat (talk | contribs)
(redlink... in view of the latest research & figures)
[[Category:definitions]]
[[Category:definition]]
English is a lightly inflected, stress-timed language.
It is the subject that TEFL teachers teach. There are many varieties of English, including, but not limited to, American English (AmE), Australian English (AuE), British English (BrE), Indian English, South African English, Canadian English, Chinese English and so on. This wide-ranging reality has led to most specialists now preferring to use the term the English languages or Englishes.
Within the UK itself, regional varieties abound, such as Cockney and Estuary English in London or Scottish English (with variants such as Glaswegian) with major differences in the spoken language, and teachers must be aware of such differences when working on pronunciation.
1 Number of speakers of English
2 History of English
3 Vocabulary
Number of speakers of English
See main article Number of speakers of English
For various reasons it is difficult to be exact about the total number of native speakers of English but estimates vary from three hundred and nine million to three hundred and forty one million. This would rank English fourth in number of native speakers after Mandarin Chinese, Hindi/Urdu and Spanish.[1]
On the other hand, if one were to attempt to include the number of individuals who speak English as a second language then the number becomes something in the order of one thousand five hundred million people - a larger number than that of any other language. A 2012 article in English Today by Bolton and Graddol, quoting a China Daily article, states that around 400 million people in China, approximately a third of the population, are currently learning English.[2][3] A more precise figure, that of 390.16 million people who had learnt English i.e. studied it at school as a foreign language, is quoted by Wei and Su in the same issue.[4]
Additionally English is used in international trade and industry to a greater extent than other languages. English is the only language for international air transport communications.
See main article History of the English languages
Notwithstanding its many varieties, English has a long and varied history which is, not unnaturally, bound up with the history of Britain, the British Isles and its peoples.
Modern English is the product of various Germanic invasions, the Norman conquest, the British Empire and much else.
See main article Number of words in English
English has always freely absorbed words from other languages giving it the ability express a wide number of nuances. Nevertheless establishing the exact number of words is not as exact a science as one might suppose.
American English v. British English
Learning English conversation questions
↑ wikipedia - languages by native speaker
↑ Graddol, D. "The great China English puzzle" Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 6th October 2012.
↑ Bolton, K. and Graddol, D. "English in China today" in English Today Volume 28, Issue 03, Sept. 2012, pp 3-9 English Today. Retrieved 6th October 2012.
↑ Wei, R. and Su, J. "The statistics of English in China: An analysis of the best available data from government sources" in English Today , Volume 28, Issue 03, Sept. 2012, pp 10-14 English Today. Retrieved 6th October 2012. (Available free of charge until the 31st October 2012.)
David Crystal on English as a Global Language David Crystal (interview on video)
Global English with David Crystal David Crystal (interview on video)
"English is difficult" World Wide Words
This article is a stub and may need expanding. If you feel you can help improve it please click the "Edit" link at top to edit it. If you need help editing, simple guidance can be found here.
Retrieved from "https://teflpedia.com/index.php?title=English&oldid=23386"
Short articles
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#AHLOTB: Right formula have Devils near top
January 5, 2016 theahl
By Christopher Forman and Kevin Zalaznik | AHL On The Beat Archive
No one quite knew where to place the Albany Devils in the preseason rankings. Although Head Coach Rick Kowalsky was back behind the bench and much of the leadership was the same, there were still a lot of new faces–in the front office and on the ice–at the beginning of the 2015-16 season.
So it was a bit surprising when the Devils had a 12-4-3-0 record at the end of November. Thanks to an additional eight wins since then, Albany has cemented itself as one of the teams to beat in the AHL.
As of January 4, the team is second in the North Division and third in the Eastern Conference at 20-8-3-0 (.694). They are undefeated at home in their last eight outings and have won four consecutive games overall.
There isn’t an exact formula in hockey to guarantee wins, but the Devils have established themselves as a team that can get out front early and shut down late. Albany has scored first 19 times, going 16-1-2-0, and it is 16-0-1-0 when leading after the second period.
“It’s a commitment to defend hard and compete,” said captain Rod Pelley. “That’s one of our foundation points. We talked about it all year long. We want to defend hard and control the puck. If you do that you’re going to have more opportunities to win hockey games.
“It’s just a commitment to block shots and all those little details that it takes to win when you have a lead or a tight game. Guys have to sacrifice themselves and they’ve done that.”
That work shot blocking has helped the Devils’ defense rank near the top with a 2.10 goals-against average and a 24.90 shots-against average. This season, the Devils are 17-0-1-0 when allowing two or fewer goals.
Yann Danis and Scott Wedgewood have been a force in net. Danis is third in the AHL with 15 wins, boasting a 15-5-3 record with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Wedgewood, who missed the start of the season with an ankle injury, is on a three-game winning streak, posting a 1.67 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage, stopping 81 of 86 shots.
This current roster isn’t a team Albany has quite seen before. The roster has a bevy of championship experience and features players who have earned the AHL’s highest honors. Both Jim O’Brien and Brian O’Neill have won Calder Cups. Marc-Andrew Gragnani helped lead SC Bern to the Swiss Cup, Vojtech Mozik won a Czech Extraliga Championship and Max Novak won an NCAA Championship with Union College.
O’Neill was the AHL’s MVP in 2015, Danis was the league’s top netminder in 2012 and Gragnani was honored as the top defenseman in 2011.
Call ups to the New Jersey Devils haven’t hindered the team yet and it continues to find ways to battle through injuries.
“We’re still trying to find the right chemistry now that we have some options here with some of these guys, but it’s going to make for a competitive balance,” Kowalsky said. “It is fun, we can continually tinker with [the lines]. That’s the beauty of it. Fully healthy we have three lines that are capable of scoring goals. That’s depth we’ve never had here. That’s something that certainly makes us more of a weapon offensively as a team.”
While the veteran leadership on the team has been brought to a new level, the Devils have also seen their youth quickly adjust to the AHL level and contribute in a variety of ways. Joseph Blandisi has showed off the playmaking skills and devastating shot that made him the winner of the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy in the OHL last season, producing a league-leading 52 goals and finishing fourth with 112 points.
Matt Lorito has carried over his success from a brief stint in Albany at the end of last season. He has surpassed Mike Sislo for the team lead for points. In 29 outings, Lorito has registered 25 points, including seven goals and a team-high 18 helpers.
Defenseman Vojtech Mozik, in his first year playing in North America, leads the team with a +16 rating.
Fellow first year players Blake Coleman, Ryan Kujawinksi, Blake Pietila and Novak have also played important two-way roles on the team and continue to improve as the season goes a long. They have given the team great roster flexibility.
For the Devils to extend their success, they will need their youth to continue to progress and adapt to the AHL level. If they do, the Devils could have one of the most dynamic forward units in the league.
“If young players are willing to learn and willing to sacrifice and jump on board, to soak it in and work hard there’s going to be success,” Pelley said. “They are good, talented and to their credit they are hardworking and they do soak things in. They bring energy; every team is looking for energy and good young legs. They are learning as they go. Some of the older guys are here to help them as they go with the coaching staff. We mesh well together.”
Despite their early success, the same mantra can be heard from coaches and every player on the roster. To a man, the words around the locker room have been “hard work,” “compete,” and “sacrifice.”
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Helping others is the true goal, pope tells soccer league
April 15, 2019 Catholic News Service Focus on FaithNo comments
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Like those who play soccer, people must learn to work together, help one another and race toward a clear goal, Pope Francis said.
While one may not always achieve every goal in his or her life, having a clear set of objectives makes people see “where are we going and where our efforts are taking us” as opposed to today’s culture which often pushes young men and women to “run without stopping,” the pope said April 15 during an audience with members of the Italian National Amateur Soccer League.
Pope Francis accepts a soccer ball during a meeting with members of the Italian National Amateur Soccer League at the Vatican April 15, 2019. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
“To clarify and improve our goals is an exercise that is never-ending and carried out every day — I would say almost every moment — to become more and more aware of what we are doing and the most suitable ways to achieve the desired result,” he said.
Founded in 1959, the Italian National Amateur Soccer League oversees several men’s and women’s regional soccer leagues throughout Italy.
Noting that the association will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year, the pope said it continues to “play an important role in Italian society,” and that its role in educating young men and women should be “appreciated and encouraged.”
Soccer, like all sports, he said, can play an integral part in a person’s life and teach “patience, acceptance of defeat, team spirit and a willingness to work with others.”
It also teaches the values of fair play and respect for the rules that can give players “great respect not only for your opponents but also for every person in front of you,” the pope said.
Applying those principles “requires self-control, which is obtained through inner training and the care of one’s spiritual life, as well as physical life, because each one of us is made up of a unity of body and mind, and one cannot be well if the needs of the other are neglected.”
Pope Francis also emphasized the importance of solidarity with one’s own team and community, especially reaching out to those “who have fallen or suffered a foul or limping because they have been hurt” and to respect both friend and foe.
By following those guidelines, players will understand that “the championship does not start if one is alone” and that “in our society, we can only be saved together, while we lose if we allow those who are weaker to remain on the sidelines and feel worthless.”
Jesus calls on all people to “love and do everything with a look of goodness toward people and their situations,” the pope said. “This means becoming the last one, learning to see beauty even in the smallest things and trying to accept our limits with serenity.”
Tagged: Pope Francis soccer
Author: Catholic News Service
Catholic News Service is the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ news and information service.
View all posts by Catholic News Service
Movie: ‘Breakthrough’
Assisted suicide now law in N.J.; cardinal calls it ‘morally unacceptable’
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Best Casino Hotels in Las Vegas
U.S. News has identified top casino hotels by taking into account amenities, reputation among... READ MORE
U.S. News has identified top casino hotels by taking into account amenities, reputation among professional travel experts, guest reviews and hotel class ratings. Use the filters and settings below to help find the best casino hotels for you.
See Las Vegas Travel Guide »
All NeighborhoodsLas Vegas StripWest of The StripEast of the Las Vegas Strip
Preferred Legend Collection HotelsPreferred Legend Collection Hotels
Preferred Lifestyle Collection HotelsPreferred Lifestyle Collection Hotels
ARIA Sky Suites
Resting high above the Las Vegas Strip, ARIA Sky Suites sits atop the ARIA Resort & Casino in the heart of Sin City. Attention to detail is a high priority at this hotel. A personal concierge is assigned to each Sky Suite, there are check-in and checkout areas separate from the ARIA Resort guests and, according to recent visitors, the service is unparalleled. As far as rooms go, you'll have the option of one- and two-bedroom suites or penthouses, and – if you really want to splurge – Sky Villas. These accommodations measure 3,370 square feet and include floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows with epic views of Las Vegas. All rooms come with separate living room and bedroom areas, flat-screen TVs and touch-screen consoles that control everything from the entertainment system to the blackout drapes. (Though a few tech-challenged reviewers said they found the controls a bit glitchy and difficult to work.) Outside the accommodations, visitors have access to a private pool, an art gallery and a lounge with free food and drink amenities, such as a daily wine and cheese pairing. Plus, guests have access to the amenities and facilities at the ARIA Resort, including its multiple restaurants and pools, the spa, the casino and nightlife options.
TripAdvisor (16245)
Recent travel lovers gave the Encore's casino high marks for style, especially in the lobby and common areas. And they appreciate the decor – a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian design elements. The rooms aren't as design-heavy, but still earn high praise for floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious setups and overall cleanliness and maintenance. The Encore also impresses guests with its accommodating staff. Be forewarned: Recent travelers mentioned the hefty fees for partaking in the minibar's treats. But this is the Encore, after all, where most of the guests are high rollers prepared to splurge. If you're having trouble getting a vacancy at the Encore, consider its sister hotel and neighbor, the Wynn Las Vegas.
This sprawling resort – with its huge emphasis on natural light, greenery and other earthy elements – is perhaps the first central Las Vegas hotel to master the feeling of seclusion rather than themed chaos. And the rooms are consistently called the best non-suite accommodations on the Strip. Recent travelers found lots to love in the Wynn – the top-rated Andrea's fine dining restaurant and the posh casino, to name a few things – but not everyone loves the price. You'll pay a pretty penny for everything here (and a daily resort fee on top of that), although most visitors say it's worth it the splurge. The Wynn enjoys a centralized location with Encore, The Palazzo and The Venetian all within walking distance.
ARIA Resort & Casino's cutting-edge technology is a big hit with travel buffs: Rooms have bedside touch-screen controls that remember your temperature and lighting preferences, outlets for your MP3 player and camera, and gaming consoles are in the 42-inch flat-screen televisions. Obviously, ARIA is popular with conventioneers and others away on business, but still, leisure travelers like its central locale and its bevy of amenities (though there is a $39 resort fee). This MGM Resorts property boasts a number of eateries and pools, a spa and salon, as well as several trendy bars and lounges. You'll find the ARIA Resort & Casino mid-Strip, near the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino and the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas.
Bellagio Resort & Casino
With an upscale casino reminiscent of those found in Monaco, the Bellagio Resort & Casino is a favorite home base for high rollers. The Chihuly glass-decorated lobby is a sight in and of itself and the more than 15 dining options provide visitors with ample places to grab a bite. Guest rooms feature understated design touches inspired by Italy's Lake Como, as well as luxurious perks like marble foyers and automatic curtain controls. Bear in mind that this MGM Resorts property is big, so you will be doing a lot of walking. But when you need a breather, stop in at the Bellagio Spa for a massage, a soothing soak or a seaweed wrap, or chill out by one of the pools. Also be sure to make some time for the spectacular Fountains of Bellagio show. You'll find the Bellagio in the middle of the Strip, across the street from Paris Las Vegas. Keep in mind, the Bellagio Tower Suites are part of the Leading Hotels of the World, so Leaders Club members can earn extra perks here.
Located on the Strip just south of the Bellagio, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is one of Sin City's more modern luxury hotels. Rooms are comfortable yet contemporary, thanks to a palette of cool blues and bright whites. Accommodations also house plenty of luxe amenities like spacious, marble-floored bathrooms and separate seating areas. Plus these are some of the only accommodations in Vegas that offer the option of a balcony or terrace (available in some suite categories). Downstairs in the lobby, the Wicked Spoon brunch buffet earns rave reviews from recent travelers for the delectable dishes served in individual sizes (in fact, nearly all of the Cosmopolitan's restaurants receive two thumbs up). Between meals, take a dip in one of the hotel's three pools, each with a different atmosphere. Recent travelers also praised the hotel's friendly staff and the concierge's helpful knowledge. Because The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is a member of the Marriott family, members of the Marriott Bonvoy membership program can accrue or redeem points by choosing to stay here.
The Palazzo Las Vegas
Situated on the northern end of the Strip – right next door to The Venetian – The Palazzo is the updated and modernized kid sister of its kitschy Italian neighbor. Its sleek decor and modern color palette also make it a hit with the swankier crowd. Guests love the spacious suites that come with sunken living rooms perfect for lounging. The deep bathtubs are also popular, although it may be worth hopping out of the tub to spring for some added relaxation: Recent visitors rave about the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, which offers a full menu of massages, along with salon treatments and fitness classes. When you get hungry, head over to The Venetian, where a multitude of dining options are available. While most recent visitors enjoyed the suites, access to multiple pools and the variety of amenities, they cautioned that with the high price tags attached to room rates they expected a bit better service.
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
The Venetian is one of the best-known theme hotels in Vegas, embracing its fine Italian design with gargantuan marble pieces, gold leaf-gilded everything and hand-painted artistry covering the ceilings. Outside, Venice's top landmarks like the Campanile, St. Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace are recreated. Inside, the resort begins to push the kitsch envelope with the Grand Canal Shoppes inside an indoor replica of Venice. You can even take a gondola ride from the lobby to the shops, and despite the cheese factor and the price, many say the ticket is worth it. The suite-style digs have separate sunken living rooms, large windows and Italian marble bathrooms. Still, some say the hotel's location on the north end of the Strip is a bit inconvenient as it's removed from some of the more popular restaurants and nightclubs. But guests still heap praise on the accommodating staff at the luxurious Canyon Ranch spa + fitness (some areas require an extra fee), and the variety of dining choices on-site.
Caesars Palace is the ultimate choice in ridiculously campy Las Vegas kitsch – and travelers love it. The hotel's theme is ripped straight from the Julius Caesar's Rome, with columns, marble gods and goddesses, plus a toga-clad wait staff serving cocktails on the casino floor. And it's not lacking in entertainment options either: Guests love the sprawling casino floor and the hundreds of designer outlets found at the Forum Shops, plus the plethora of dining venues. The Colosseum at Caesars Palace – a concert venue with regular acts like Celine Dion, Rod Stewart and Jerry Seinfeld – is another popular perk. While visitors love all the hotel's amenities, they do warn that travelers should be aware of additional charges for early check-in and the resort fee. You'll find Caesars mid-Strip, nestled between the Bellagio and the Mirage.
Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa
Although the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa is about a 30-minute drive from the Strip, it's still a good bet for travelers who want to gamble in a quieter, more laid-back atmosphere. The enormous 87,000-square-foot casino is airy and open, echoing the resort's design elements of natural wood, stonework and warm, amber-hued light fixtures. Recent guests loved the rooms, listing the Egyptian cotton linens, iPod docks and spacious bathrooms with soaking bathtubs as favorite features. And the popular backyard area – 3 acres of space speckled with wading and swimming pools, a sandy beach and private cabanas – is also a big hit with travelers. The resort is also home to multiple dining options and a spa. If you start to get a little stir crazy, though, there's a complimentary shuttle that will drop you off at Fashion Show Mall on the Strip.
M Resort Spa Casino Las Vegas
Located less than 10 minutes by car from Henderson Executive Airport and a 10-mile drive south of the Strip, the M Resort Spa Casino offers incredible views of the bright lights of Las Vegas. Compared to other off-Strip hotels, the M is a bigger party animal. Dance music pumps from the pool area and the M Bar is the see-and-be-seen spot on the resort. Plus, the Studio B Buffet has a live action cooking studio so guests can watch as chefs prepare delectable cuisine. Recent travelers also loved the sleek and modern guest rooms with their floor-to-ceiling windows (even in the bathrooms), HD televisions and in-mirror bathroom TVs. When you're ready to get off the resort, the M offers complimentary scheduled shuttle service to the Strip.
Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa
A local favorite, Green Valley Ranch is an off-Strip resort that revels in its quieter atmosphere. Travelers love the on-site restaurants like Hank's Fine Steaks and Tides Seafood & Sushi Bar, and give high praise to the approachable and friendly staff members. Despite the picturesque vineyards and Italianate architecture, the hotel still provides a Sin City vibe. The casino area has gaming tables and a popular Race & Sports Book, as well as a multiscreen movie theater. Several bars are peppered around the property from the lobby to the pool. And when you want to relax, head to the on-site spa for a massage or body scrub. What's more, iPrefer members can earn perks and use points at this property.
Although some visitors consider The Cromwell small by Las Vegas standards, this Caesars-affiliated property – which is located on The Strip – does not disappoint. Gamblers enjoy the 440 slot machines and 66 table games that occupy the hotel's 40,000-square-foot casino, while partygoers rave about the late-night lounges and clubs, including the 65,000-square-foot Drai's Beachclub-Nightclub. But there are plenty of tamer offerings for guests, too. You can take in some sun by The Cromwell's beach-themed rooftop pool or, if you're a shopaholic, wander into the 1940s-esque Curios; you can find everything from chess piece candles and gin and tonic-scented mustache wax to top hats and Ray Ban sunglasses. And should you crave a bite, stop by GIADA, the on-site Italian eatery that's celebrity chef Giada de Laurentiis' first restaurant. Previous diners recommended the chicken Marsala meatballs and the lemon potatoes, although they also cautioned that the portions are small and prices are high. When you're ready for bed, make your way back to your Parisian-inspired digs. Recent travelers appreciated the trendy decor and top-notch amenities like hardwood floors, rain showers, pillow-top mattresses and 55-inch flat-screen TVs.
Aliante Casino + Hotel
If you don't mind being a bit removed from the Strip, the Aliante Casino + Hotel may be for you. Situated about a 30-minute drive north of the Strip, the hotel is a hit with travelers who are looking for an off-the-beaten path locale. Guests also favor the the tasteful and modern furnishings in the guest rooms, which start at 400 square feet and boast flat-screen TVs, minifridges and complimentary bottled water. The casino also wins over guests, in part for its lower limit tables, averaging around $5. Step outside the casino and you'll find plenty more to do on the property: a full-size movie theater is on-site, a palm tree-lined pool is ideal for kicking back in the desert sun and five restaurants (as well as a Starbucks) are available to choose from. Keep in mind: The hotel doesn't provide any transportation, so you'll need to rent a car if you fly into the Vegas area. Another detail to note: The hotel charges a daily $12.99 resort fee.
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Perched at the south end of the Strip, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino overlooks the bustling Sin City. And when you want to explore Las Vegas further, there's a monorail system that will take you to other casinos nearby. Travelers give Mandalay Bay mixed reviews, though; some complain that there are too many kids at the pool and man-made beach (it's known as one of the most family-friendly hotels in town), but on the flip side others describe a relaxing ambiance at the poolside cabanas. Rooms feature spa tubs, floor-to-ceiling windows, 42-inch flat-screen TVs and iHome radios. If you're really hankering for a quieter atmosphere, you can book a room upstairs at the Four Seasons, which occupies the Mandalay Bay Tower's top five floors.
Palms Place Hotel and Spa
Housed within the Palms Casino Resort just a few blocks west of the Strip, the Palms Place Hotel and Spa (and its grand suites and penthouses) provides guests with a taste of the Palms' ritzier side. Many previous travelers said that they felt pampered in their elevated dwellings, complete with hardwood and marble floors and kitchens, not to mention Italian linens and spectacular Vegas views. The property is also home to a casino, a pool and several restaurants and nightclubs. Most guests give the Palms Place glowing reviews for an off-Strip resort, citing the chic design, kind staff and long list of amenities as reasons why they would return. Plus, the Studio Suites offer what many recent visitors consider a great value for the price, although you will have to pay additional charges to use the property's spa amenities.
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa
Located about 20 minutes from Red Rock Canyon, the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa is a popular spot for those who want to visit Vegas away from the Strip. Sprawling across 50 acres, the property allows ample opportunities for guests to unwind with a game of golf at the nearby Tournament Players Club Golf Course or with a decadent chocolate scrub at Spa Aquae located steps from the casino floor. And if retreating from the casino means finding solace in your accommodations, you'll find each of the spacious rooms (starting at 560 square feet) equipped with a marble bathroom, a whirlpool and a 40-inch flat-screen TV. Although some guests gripe about the drive to the Strip, most recent travelers consider this Marriott property's distance to be the main perk. What's more, if you're a member of the Marriott Bonvoy program, you can earn or accrue points for staying here.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
Despite the off-Strip location on Paradise Road, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is great for young and aspiring rock stars. Swim-up blackjack tables near the ever-popular Rehab Beach Club and the casino's 24-hour Center Bar help create a party-centric vibe. But some recent travelers offer mixed reviews on the staff: Some said they encountered poorly trained or uninterested workers, while others said their experience with the hotel's employees was wonderful. Lodgers were more complimentary of the accommodations, which feature stocked minbars, plasma TVs, iPod docking stations and luxury linens. Recent guests recommended booking a room in the HRH All-Suite Tower or Paradise Tower, as the Casino Tower is on the older side. Many also praised this Hard Rock outpost's eight restaurants, which dish up everything from steaks to tacos to sushi.
Built in 1989, The Mirage was a big gamble for notorious hotelier Steve Wynn, with its cascading waterfalls, rainforest roughage, luscious lagoons and giant "active" volcano spread out across an unprecedented 102 acres. And although the hotel gets credit for the sheer breadth of commitment to the theme, traversing through the rainforest to get around can become tiresome after a while. The Mirage does have some of the nicest swimming holes in Las Vegas, though, from the oasis-like pool out back to the more private, adults-only Bare pool (Las Vegas code for topless) nestled around the corner. The popular Beatles-inspired LOVE Cirque du Soleil show finds its home here, as does one of the best casinos on the Strip. When you're ready to brave the crowds, you'll find The Mirage sandwiched between Treasure Island and The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
At the massive MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, bigger is better, even if it makes the floor plan confusing to navigate. Not that you really need to find your way to the door to leave, anyway: The MGM houses more than 5,000 rooms and suites, 15 restaurants and nine entertainment venues, including the popular Hakkasan Nightclub and Wet Republic Ultra Pool complex. Top entertainers include DJs Calvin Harris and Steve Aoki, and the acrobats of Cirque du Soleil's Kà. And despite its confusing and immense layout, the MGM still fares well with Vegas travelers – though they do recommend you pack a comfortable pair of shoes. You'll find this MGM Resorts property on the Strip, which participates in the brand's M life Rewards program, across the street from the New York - New York Hotel and Casino.
Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
The Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino's main perk is its prime address (right across the street from the Bellagio, on the Strip). Though its location is tought to beat, the hotel's interiors receive less favorable reviews. The rooms are described as comfortable and spacious thanks to amenities like flat-screen TVs and marble bathrooms. But recent lodgers were also quick to note that the European chic decor is tired and outdated. Still, you'll find plenty of French cuisine options, including an on-site JJ's Boulangerie selling fresh baguettes, and plenty of French landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower. But aside from the kitschy decor, the property won favor with recent visitors for its friendly and accommodating staff and its prime perch on the Strip, which many reviewers said is enough of a reason to return.
Palms Casino Resort
The Palms has been buzzing with celebrities ever since it housed MTV's "The Real World" cast in 2002 (and yes, the tricked-out suite is still available for reservations). Some recent guests went for a different pop culture theme instead, booking a stay in the Hot Pink Suite that's decorated from top to bottom in a bright fuchsia and Barbie theme. And still others splurged for entertaining accommodations that feature two-lane bowling alleys or basketball half-courts. The Palms also has plenty of basic guest rooms designed with comfort in mind for both adults and kids; the IMAX movie theater and family-friendly food court earn points with the younger set. There are two chinks in the armor, however: First, the Palms Casino Resort is consistently overrun with celebrity clientele seeking the best Vegas nightlife (and usually finding it). Second, the Palms is located about 2 miles west of the Strip.
South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa
While technically still on Las Vegas Boulevard, the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa is a good 6 miles away from even the south end of the Strip. Still, recent visitors compliment the spacious, Southern California-style accommodations' quieter atmosphere after a long night of dining and entertainment; guests love the rooms at the South Point Hotel, particularly for their comfortable beds and great shower water pressure. If you're looking for lower stakes gambling and smoke-free poker rooms, you probably won't want to leave. Guests also like South Point's diverse entertainment options from its horse rodeos and BMX biking events to its movie theater and bowling alley. Before a show, save some time to eat your way through one of South Point's many dining options.
Golden Nugget Las Vegas
Part of the Fremont Street Experience, the Golden Nugget is a vintage relic of the mid-1940s. But don't expect the Wild West decor of yore; after a refurbishment in the late '70s, the Golden Nugget is now a popular choice for affordable luxury. The rooms are small, but travelers report on their refreshingly modern feel. Guests also love perks like The Tank, a secured waterslide that goes through a shark-filled tank, and the Gold Diggers dance club's outdoor balcony that overlooks Fremont Street. After a late night, guests can retreat to rooms adorned with feather down comforters, 42-inch flat-screen TVs and spanning views of the Vegas Strip – the large size of the bathrooms and the notably comfortable beds are favorites among recent travelers.
Treasure Island Hotel & Casino
Located on the north side of the Strip, Treasure Island Hotel & Casino has undergone a major renovation in the past few years. Gone are the kiddy swashbucklers, skull and crossbones motifs and "Pirates of the Caribbean"-esque panache. You'll see evidence of the revamp inside your rooms where pillow-top mattresses and marble-floored bathrooms greet you. TI – as it's now called – currently offers a more adult-centered experience, with a lively pool party scene and multiple bars and clubs. Most recent guests enjoyed the makeover, but warn against overcrowding; a few unlucky guests experienced long wait times at check-in and checkout.
More Las Vegas Hotel Rankings
Casino Hotels
Lake Hotels
Mc Carran Intl Airport (LAS)
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October 21, 2016 3:34 pm September 27, 2018 1:30 pm
Pomona Shifts Orientation Planning Responsibilities to Dean of the College Office
By Marc Rod 299 Views 0 Comment
Pomona College recently announced that Associate Dean of the College Mary Coffey and the Dean of the College office would be responsible for coordinating the Orientation Book Committee, community book discussion, and pairing new students with pre-major academic advisers. These responsibilities were previously handled by Dean of Students Miriam Feldblum.
The Pomona faculty has always been involved in the first-year book selection. Since the Orientation Book Committee is a faculty committee with student members, Pomona’s administration decided that it should be supervised and coordinated by the Dean of the College’s office.
“Because the Orientation Book Committee is a faculty committee, it makes sense for the Dean of the College Office to provide support,” wrote Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Audrey Bilger in an email to TSL.
“It’s a faculty committee chaired by faculty members which also includes students. The Dean of Students has been staffing the committee, so the selection is not changing, but rather what’s changing is which office is staffing the committee,” Feldblum said.
Even though she is no longer directly coordinating the book selection process, Feldblum will continue to be an important part of the first-year book selection process.
“To have someone in the Dean of the College’s office facilitate [the book selection] lines up more appropriately with faculty. That said, I’m working closely with Dean Feldblum and keeping her in the loop on things, since she has such a long history with this and I want to take advantage of that,” Coffey said.
Student engagement in the orientation book selection process remains important, despite these administrative changes. As in past years, Coffey sent out an email soliciting ideas from students for the first-year book, as well as themes and areas of interest that students believed the committee should consider. The email also gave students an opportunity to apply to join the Orientation Book Committee. The students selected will be notified on Friday, Oct. 21.
According to Feldblum, the other logistical change that Pomona made to its orientation process is that the Dean of the College office, instead of the Dean of Students office, will now match students with pre-major academic advisers, who meet with new students during orientation. The Dean of the College office has always decided, and will continue to decide, which professors become first-year advisers.
Pomona “really wanted to have advising be taken seriously by faculty and wanted to work on what the role of advising in tenure and promotion is, [which is more straightforward] if the Dean of the College’s office is fully coordinating the advising process,” Feldblum said.
“My office continues with its work in terms of providing support for faculty in terms of first- and second-year students and in terms of providing information” to the advisers, based on student’s adviser match letters, Feldblum added.
The changes to new student orientation are largely administrative logistical changes, and will likely not affect students.
“The Dean of the College Office is taking a more of an active role this year in the process than it has in recent years; however, I don’t foresee that the process will differ greatly from past practices,” Bilger wrote in an email to TSL.
Overall, the Dean of the College office has taken a larger role in orientation during the last five years, according to Feldblum, including the introduction of a day dedicated to academic programs and advising.
Consequently, the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC) has set up a faculty committee to review the academic affairs portions of new student orientation. The committee will report to the FEC in the spring, according to Bilger.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Policy Change Sparks Student Backlash
Love is in Stor(age): A Girl and Her Phone
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Nuclear deal paves way for 11km of subsea tunnels 22 Oct 2015
TunnelTalk reporting
After more than five years in the planning and negotiation stage French energy supplier EDF says it is ready to announce its final investment decision on the £18 billion nuclear power station at Hinkley Point on the west coast of England “within weeks.”
UK Government stalls on nuclear deal 03 Aug 2016
Hinkley Point C requires 11km of tunnels
The UK Government has stalled on making a final decision on the £18 billion Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.
The unexpected decision to delay came as French energy giant EDF gave the long-awaited go-ahead for investment in the project at a board meeting last Thursday (27 July). It has been suggested that the Government is concerned about energy security issues concerning a linked deal that would see the Chinese – who are to provide a third of the funding for Hinkley Point C – given the right to build another nuclear power station on UK soil.
UK construction company Costain holds the £200 million design-build contract, awarded in October 2013, to excavate more than 11km of water intake tunnels and associated sea-bed intake structures. Three TBMs are expected to be procured for excavation of the 3 x 7m diameter tunnels that will be required.
The UK Government says it will “consider carefully” whether to proceed with the project and make a final announcement in the autumn.
The news comes as EDF finally signed a future pricing agreement with the UK Government yesterday (21 October), as well as a deal with its long-term Chinese nuclear partner CGN over funding. The announcements were made during this week’s high-level China state visit to London, with the relevant signatures witnessed by UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Chinese President Xi Jinping
The series of deals that have been struck also include the £2 billion contract with Buoygues/Laing O’Rourke for the civils, originally awarded in 2012 but which is now in “final agreed form.” Its Tier 1 contractor for the underground works – the scope of which includes two cool water intake tunnels plus a shared outfall tunnel – is Costain.
All the tunnels are designed to be excavated by TBM. An underground water-cooling pumping station will also be constructed.
Costain Chief Executive Andrew Wylie said yesterday: “Costain will design and construct three marine tunnels, around 11km in total length and each one approximately 7m in diameter, to take in cooling water from the Severn Estuary for the nuclear reactor before it is cleansed, recycled and returned.”
EDF said in a statement: “Conditions to allow the Hinkley Point C project to go ahead are in place. These are the signing of the Strategic Investment Agreement, all the agreements between EDF and the UK Government being in a final agreed form, as are the contracts with the key suppliers. Under the Strategic Investment Agreement, EDF’s share in Hinkley Point C will be 66.5% and CGN’s will be 33.5%. Without reducing this initial stake below 50%, EDF intends in due course to bring other investors into the project.”
Deal witnessed by UK Premier Cameron and Chinese President Jinping
The announcement also puts the underground construction industry on alert for future major contracts, because it includes agreement for a wider partnership for the joint development of more new nuclear power stations at Sizewell and Bradwell on the east coast.
EDF Chairman Jean-Bernard Lévy said: “Our ambitious nuclear projects are strongly supported by the governments of the UK, China and France and they will bring benefits to all three countries. I am confident that our experience and ability mean we will successfully deliver Hinkley Point C and subsequent projects. We are planning for a final investment decision within weeks so that we can move forward with construction.”
First operation of Hinkley Point C is expected in 2025, when it will meet approximately 7% of the country’s electricity needs. The investment in nuclear energy by the UK comes at a time when much of Europe is moving away from this form of energy production. However, the UK’s reliance on Russia for its power needs has prompted a complete revision of its energy security policy.
UK advances underground nuclear facilities 23 Oct 2013
Peter Kenyon, TunnelTalk
Agreement on key investment terms between the UK Government and French electricity company EDF paves the way for construction of the UK's first nuclear power reactors in nearly two decades.
New nuclear plant will have two pressurised water reactors
An announcement earlier this week reconfirms the Bouygues/Laing O'Rourke JV as preferred bidder for a £2 billion civil works package and Costain as the delivery and design partner for marine work that includes construction of extensive underground water intake and outfall infrastructure.
The marine package will include two cool water intake tunnels, one for each of the two pressurised water reactors (PWRs) that are planned for construction. These will extend 3.3km into the Bristol Channel and will be 6m in diameter. A shared 7m diameter outfall tunnel will extend 2km from the shoreline. All three tunnels will be excavated by TBM. Construction also comprises a forebay, an underground cooling water pumping station plus two concrete outfall ponds that will link with the shared outfall tunnel.
Hinkley Point C primary structures and tunnels
Planning permission for the £14 billion project is already in place, and this week's agreement between the UK Government and EDF over a wholesale "strike price" ceiling for electricity that will be generated when the reactors come online in 10 years time means that one of the final hurdles for the huge development has been overcome. Agreement is also reached over future decommissioning, and confirmation is made that the project will benefit from the government's Infrastructure Guarantee, under which up to 65% of project costs prior to operations starting will be underwritten by public debt. A final investment decision will be made by EDF in July next year (2014), but the latest agreements and confirmation that a significant Chinese investment of up to 40% of total project cost will be acceptable, paves the way for a final financing deal to be reached.
Hinkley Point C design plans and intake/outfall structures
The strike price agreed is £89.50/MWh to rise in line with the Consumer Price Index, or £93.50 if EDF's plans to construct two new Sizewell C reactors do not go ahead. The current wholesale price is £45/MWh.
Under the current financing structure, spread over 35 years, EDF will be the majority equity partner with a 45-50% stake, AREVA (an international nuclear supply industry company) 10%, and the China General Nuclear Corporation (CGN) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) 30-40% between them. Discussions are also taking place with a shortlist of other investors who could take an investment stake of up to 15%. EDF has been in an industrial partnership with CNNC and CGN for the last 30 years, including involvement in a joint venture with CGN to build two EPR reactors at Taishan, China.
Current and future nuclear reactor facilities in the UK
The two EPR type reactors planned for the UK, design for which is already approved by regulators, will be built at Hinkley Point in Somerset. Project scope also includes construction of temporary spent fuel storage facilities. There are also plans that are less well advanced for two identical reactors to be built at the existing nuclear facility at Sizewell (Sizewell C), as well as proposals for similar constructions in the future that would have a "series benefit" from shared design, supply chain and engineering work.
"We are delighted that Costain will play a key role in delivering the secure, low carbon energy the UK needs for the future through our role as a Tier One contractor in the Hinkley Point C project", said Andrew Wyllie, Chief Executive of Costain. "The project will also help ensure Costain can play its part in building the skills of the UK and showcasing them to the world in a way which will help us to compete for other such contracts. We estimate that this contract will lead to the creation of hundreds of new jobs at Costain alone, including apprentices, specialist technical and engineering roles and programme management. We are very much looking forward to working with all our partners in this project to design and deliver a world class power station at Hinkley Point."
Construction of Hinkley Point C will create up to 25,000 jobs, including 400 apprentices, as well as a further 900 jobs once fully operational. Hinkley Point B, which comprises two gas-cooled type reactors, took eight years to build and began its operational life in 1976. It is scheduled for decommissioning in 2023, and since 2006, owing to its age, has been operating at only 70% capacity.
Pressurised water reactor design
In a Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) like the EPR (European Pressurised Reactor) to be constructed at Hinkley Point, ordinary (light) water is utilised to remove the heat produced inside the reactor core by nuclear fission.
Water pressurised reactor schematic
This water also slows down (or moderates) neutrons (constituents of atomic nuclei that are released in the nuclear fission process). Slowing down neutrons is necessary to sustain the nuclear chain reaction (neutrons have to be moderated to be able to break down the fissile atom nuclei).
The heat produced inside the reactor core is transferred to the turbine through the steam generators. Only heat is exchanged between the reactor cooling circuit (primary circuit) and the steam circuit used to feed the turbine (secondary circuit).
No exchange of cooling water takes place. The primary water is pumped through the reactor core and the primary side of the steam generators, in four parallel closed loops, by coolant pumps powered by electric motors. Each loop is equipped with a steam generator and a coolant pump. The reactor operating pressure and temperature are such that the cooling water does not evaporate and remains in the liquid state, which increases its cooling effectiveness. A pressuriser connected to one of the coolant loops is used to control the pressure in the primary circuit. Feedwater entering the secondary side of the steam generators absorbs the heat transferred from the primary side and evaporates to produce saturated steam. The steam is dried in the steam generators then delivered to the turbine. After exiting the turbine, the steam is condensed and returns as feedwater to the steam generators. The generator, driven by the turbine, generates electricity.
Excavation advances nuclear research - TunnelTalk, May 2013
Move to bury Yucca nuclear waste repository - TunnelTalk, March 2010
Short sighted Yucca Mountain shutdown - TunnelTalk, June 2011
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September 9, 2018 / 11:27 PM / 10 months ago
Man arrested after seven wounded in Paris knife attack
PARIS (Reuters) - French police detained a man who wounded seven people in a knife attack in central Paris late on Sunday, police and judicial sources said on Monday, adding there was no initial indication the incident was linked to terrorism.
The attacker, who one police source said was from Afghanistan, stabbed tourists and passersby along the Bassin de la Villette, a popular outdoor canal area in the northeast of Paris where many people gather on warm evenings.
Among those stabbed were two British tourists, a judicial source said. They and two others remain in hospital with severe wounds, although they are not thought to be life-threatening.
Witnesses cited by French media said a group of men playing boules threw heavy metal balls that are used in the popular game at the attacker, with one hitting him on the head and stalling him.
Thierry, a witness quoted on BFM TV, said a group of people then assailed the attacker.
“Someone with a wooden stick smashed him across the knees and he fell to the ground,” he said. “Loads of people arrived, some were saying ‘kill him’ but one guy who was pinning him down said ‘no, the last thing we must do is kill him.’”
Police and ambulance crews arrived on the scene shortly afterwards, witnesses said, and the man was taken into custody.
While the motives for the attack remain unclear, a judicial source said it did not appear to be akin to other attacks carried out by Muslim militants in Paris in recent years.
“Police didn’t find any initial indication the attack was linked to terrorism,” the source said. “But the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office is following how the investigation proceeds closely.”
Paris has suffered a number of militant attacks since November 2015, when a series of coordinated strikes by Islamist gunmen and suicide bombers killed 129 people in the capital, an assault planned by the Islamic State and its adherents.
Reporting by Inti Landauro and Richard Lough; Writing by Luke Baker; Editing by Brian Love and David Stamp
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Meet Exprinfil, TUC’s Youth Programs Alumni
June 19, 2019 June 19, 2019 News
Most teens envision a life of exploration and excitement after high school – going to college, seeking the career of their dreams, and spreading their wings. For high school graduate Exprinfil, she longed for necessities most of us take for granted: warm showers, electricity, food on the table, and pursuing higher education.
Over the last year, Exprinfil has been both the breadwinner and caregiver for her disabled parents and three young siblings. Her father currently suffers from kidney failure, and in 2015, he was declared legally blind. Her mother has circulatory problems in her legs, which prevents her from working. Family members initially provided financial support for the family of six, helping them pay rent for their studio apartment as well as utilities. However, after a couple of months, her aunts and uncles were unable to provide additional support. Exprinfil, though unsure where to begin job hunting, was determined to get her family out of the hardship.
Exprinfil sought immediate help from The Unity Council in 2018 and instantly found relief through The Unity Council’s Summer Summit, a summer career, and college exploration program. The program, exclusively for Oakland youth and young adults ages 16 – 24 years old welcomes all participants regardless of immigration status. Exprinfil, a DACA recipient, has faced backlash seeking help with college or career exploration, including once being discouraged by a college counselor who told her “you’re wasting your time going to college. You will not find a job anyway because you do not have papers.”
During her participation at Summer Summit, she underwent job training, resume and communication skill building and became an intern for District 5 Councilmember Noel Gallo. She was thrilled to bring home her first check and used the funds to pay for groceries, utilities, and a laptop for her siblings.
In addition, the Summer Summit program connected her with community resources and housing rights advocates, which empowered Exprinfil to take action against the subtenant who ceased water and electricity in her home. Exprinfil and her family were initially afraid to talk to lawyers due to repercussions based on the family’s immigration status, but with the aid of Councilmember Gallo’s office, Causa Justa:: Just Cause, and Centro Legal de la Raza, the family sued the subtenant and successfully won the case.
In April 2019, Exprinfil entered The Unity Council’s STEP (Success, Training, Education, and Planning) program wanting to pursue a job in the healthcare industry. Rather than just during the summer, the STEP program offers case management and year-round support for youth. Youth Career and Financial Coach Jessica Martin-Gonzalez helped refresh Exprinfil’s soft skills, update her resume and cover letter, and fostered Exprinfil’s interest in pursuing nursing. Martin-Gonzalez advised her to attend a health job fair, and Exprinfil left the event with a job offer as an on-call clinical office assistant at La Clínica de la Raza.
La Clínicastaff were immediately impressed by Exprinfil’s tenacity and work ethic that she was offered a full-time position after working there for a few days. On her second week of employment, she received praise for managing the office on her own as if she was a seasoned employee. She now is getting a first-hand look at working in the health industry.
Exprinfil credits her success to The Unity Council’s training, diligence to find a career in an industry of her interest, and for pushing her to stay motivated during a stressful period in her life.
“I’m the first in my family to graduate from high school, and I’m not stopping here,” said Exprenfil. “I want to let people know that I can do it regardless of my legal status.”
Martin-Gonzalez says Exprinfil is a living example of resilience because while she provided guidance and resources, “she would take the initiative to act on the information that was given to her, which quickly translated into an employment opportunity at a community clinic. I am amazed at how much Exprinfil has accomplished, and I am excited about her future growth and development. “
After experiencing much success from the programs, Exprinfil’s siblings also joined a number of The Unity Council’s other youth programs, including STEP, Latino Men & Boys, and the Summer Summit. Exprinfil is pleased to see her siblings are taking a similar route that has been influential in her life, but would rather see them further their education instead of providing financial support. “I’ve always told them to graduate and focus on school,” said Exprinfil. “My moment will come; it’s just not now.”
Her dream to become a nurse is still as ardent as ever. For now, Exprinfil is utilizing her current role at La Clínica to learn the ins and outs of the industry, which she says will benefit her when she begins nursing school. Martin-Gonzalez does not doubt that Exprinfil will be a fantastic nurse one day.
Exprinfil is currently seeking housing options for her family including applying for Casa Arabella, the 94 units of 1-, 2-, 3-bedroom apartments co-developed by The Unity Council and East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) which will be available in the fall.
Unfortunately, Exprinfil’s story is not uncommon for local teens and young adults facing financial challenges in their household as a result of the skyrocketing rental market. Through the help of The Unity Council, Exprinfil not only found a job that gives her purpose and provides for her family, but she also found her voice to advocate for her family during a vulnerable time.
“I can’t thank The Unity Council enough for all of the services that make a difference for families like mine.”
The youth workforce programs mentioned in this story are made possible through a $250,000 grant from the Citi Foundation Youth Workforce Fund, a national initiative that is supporting community organizations in key cities across the United States to help them expand their programming and connect low-income youth to a range of employment opportunities. The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities.
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July 30, 2017 September 27, 2017 BigFaith Moravian History, Pastor's Blog, Traditions
Join We All: The August 13th Story
Each August 13th we celebrate the renewal of the Unitas Fratrum. This is a remarkable story of the Czech reformation Christian refugees, who, for over 150 years had been forced into hiding in the areas of Moravia and ultimately Poland. Now, they had come together with disenfranchised Lutheran Pietists and other religious non-conformists to set up camp on Count Ludwig Von Zinzendorf’s land in Saxony (eastern Germany).
Would Zinzendorf allow them to stay? Would he deport these illegal immigrants back to where they came from? What is the game plan? What is it that they want from Zinzendorf and from each other? They don’t want to be Lutheran, or Roman Catholic, or Anabaptist… So, what do they want?
Zinzendorf accepted this ragtag group, and entrusted the care of this developing community to the Lutheran Pastor of Berthelsdorf, Johann Rothe. For the next two years, Pastor Rothe worked with the sixty or so folks who wanted to form a worshiping and ministering community.
These refugees then began building their village they called Herrnhut (which means The Lord’s Watch), and they worshiped in Pastor Rothe’s Lutheran church in Berthelsdorf where Zinzendorf lived – only a 20-minute walk away.
Zinzendorf began assisting with some pastoral duties, but when the Herrnhut community began to grow and quarrels and disputes became inevitable, he assumed more responsibility and authority to bring order and purpose to this group.
In May of 1727, Zinzendorf encouraged every resident of Herrnhut to sign his document called Manorial Injunctions and Prohibitions along with the Brotherly Agreement which made clear to all who voluntarily signed, that this was to be a religious community with the teachings of Christ as their core.
After the signings, Zinzendorf instituted the Bands which were made up of small groups of volunteers led by a director who assumed responsibility for the pastoral care and spiritual direction of each person in the band. (The Wesleys copied this organization model calling them “Methodist Societies.”) Christian David gives a description of the workings of the band:
We meet as bands to confess to one another the state of our heart and sinful inclinations…this is not done to give light to our imperfections, but that one may see the rightness of the heart. In this way, we learn to trust one another, to meet once a week to assist each other with the unburdening of the heart.
On Sunday, August 13, 1727 during the service of Holy Communion at the Lutheran Church in Berthelsdorf, the Holy Spirit came upon these people and they realized that they had a purpose. They wanted to be Christ’s congregation.
Zinzendorf encouraged the bands to meet and sent food from his manor house to the homes where they were gathering. These “Agape Meals” or “Lovefeasts” became important for this community as it grew together in love and in mission for Christ.
290 years ago, on August 13, 1727, the Unitas Fratrum was brought back to life in the form of the Moravian Church.
What might God have in store for us this August 13, 2017?
-The Rev. Barry Foster is pastor of Unity Moravian Church in Lewisville, North Carolina. This article was first published in the August 2017 church newsletter.
Singing in the Storm
Leaving Room for Grace
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Tag Archives: martin luther king
What makes a STAR moment shine?
Your audience should always leave your presentation with something they’ll always remember. But, what does it actually take to create a memorable STAR moment?
In her landmark text on developing persuasive and engaging content, Resonate, Nancy Duarte devotes an entire chapter to what she calls STAR moments, those moments in a presentation when an audience truly achieves shared meaning with a presenter. According to Duarte, a STAR moment should “dramatically drive the big idea home” (Source), and it should be a “significant, sincere, and enlightening” (Source) moment that imprints the audience so much so that they spread and share the big idea long after the presentation ends. In teaching this particular presentation strategy, I’ve found that one can codify and define the types of actions that serve as STAR moments: memorable dramatizations, like Bill Gates releasing mosquitos on a TED conference audience; emotive storytelling, like Jill Bolte Taylor’s dynamic recreation of her massive brain stroke; evocative visuals, like Lisa Kristine’s hauntingly beautiful images of a few of the 28 million people enslaved throughout the world; repeatable sound bites like Martin Luther King, Jr.s “I have a dream…”; and shocking statistics, like Michael Pollan’s revelation that 28 oz of crude oil go into making each and every one of those quarter pounders with cheese sold at McDonalds every day. But, I’ve also learned that one can define a set of qualities that all of these strategies embody.
So, these are excellent examples of types of STAR moments, but what makes a STAR moment actually memorable? What is it about what these and other great speakers do that leads to that mental hook in the audience? A former student, Elianna Bentz, led a class discussion several months ago that really helped put the qualities of a strong STAR moment into an easily digestible format. A STAR Moment should be Simple, Transferable, Audience-centered, Repeatable, and Meaningful.
The job of the STAR moment is often to take a very complicated problem and break it down to its simplest, most human, most transparent form. Chip and Dan Heath believe simplicity starts by removing superfluous elements and getting to the core of an idea. They compare it to the way a journalist writes an article–the lead comes first, and is not buried by complexities (Source). In the same way, a STAR moment has to be straightforward and evocative. Take for example Benjamin Zander’s STAR moment in the TED talk below. To help the audience understand the technicality of music, he demoes what piano playing is like at different ages and breaks down a prelude by Chopin note by note. But, to help the audience understand just how impacting classical music can be, before he plays the piece a second time, he asks the audience to imagine a lost loved one. The first time I did this, I was in tears. I’ve watched the speech now each month for four years and its impact is never the same unless I succumb to Zander’s request.
A STAR moment cannot exist in the vacuum of the speaker’s own mind and heart; it’s emotional impact has to be transferred to the audience so that they can internalize it. According to Duarte, a STAR moment is “rehearsed and planned to have just the right amount of analytical and emotional appeal to engage both the minds and hearts of an audience” (Source). Bill Gates’ 2009 TED talk contains such a moment. After establishing the problem–malaria is a worldwide problem (200 million are affected), but because the people affected do not have the wealth and resources to stop the problem, not enough is being done. To transfer the impact of this problem to a room full of TEDsters, wealthy folks who cannot necessarily relate to or understand the problem, he releases mosquitos into the audience, stating “there’s no reason only poor people should have the experience” (Source). Brilliant transference!
Audience-centered
A great STAR moment requires audience-analysis and audience adaptation.Why? Because without audience analysis and adaptation, how can a speaker truly know what will impact his or her target audience, what will push through the wall of bias and resistance present in each audience member, what will be easily understood by the audience? The last day of Professional Communication and Presentation is Ignite presentation day. Two days ago, I witnessed one of the strongest STAR moments. Shayna wanted to communicate to her classmates that while they are all a product of the environments they came from, such a truth does not necessarily mean one has to be a slave to that idea or to what one learned as a result of one’s upbringing. She began her presentation by describing what it means to be a slave; she wore chains around her arms while she described this concept. For the next two minutes of her presentation she established her big idea, used storytelling, statistics, facts, and examples to support her big idea. She then told the story of having lost friends and family to drug abuse and how these experiences led her to act, to break her chains. She then threw the chains wrapped around her arms down. The reaction from her classmates was audible–the air literally went out of the room. By the end of her presentation, she had her audience in tears, fired up and ready to take control of their destinies.
Repeatable and Meaningful
Finally, a STAR moment (if it embodies the first three qualities) must be easily repeatable/describable and also meaningful enough that the audience must repeat it. According to Duarte, “a carefully crafted sound bite can work as a STAR moment–not only for those who attend your presentation, but also for those who encounter it second hand” (Source). One of the most beautiful, repeatable, and meaningful STAR moments of our time is the repetition in Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream.” Dr. King, who spoke this portion of the speech extemporaneously and without a pre-written set of points (Clarence Jones describes the moment when King pushed his speech aside and spoke from the heart in this NPR interview). What made it repeatable was the simplicity of the phrase; what made it meaningful is that he was vocalizing America’s collective dream of the future. In order to help the audience visualize a positive future, motivate them to action, inspire their waning spirits, and tie the dream of desegregation to the long line of America’s dream, King repeats the phrase and follows it with what Nancy Duarte calls “new bliss,” a visualization of the world with his idea in place. This phrase has become part of our cultural consciousness in the United States and it helped reinvigorate the hearts and minds of King’s followers.
So, by choosing a type of STAR moment and then ensuring it meets the qualities above, you too can create a moment that shines on long after you say “Thank you for your time. Any questions?”
Tagged content development, delivery, Duarte, Jill Bolte Taylor, martin luther king, Martin Luther King Jr., memorable moment, Nancy Duarte, presentation, something they'll always remember, speech development, speech preparation, speech writing, STAR Moment, TED, TED conference audience
Beyond Rhetoric: What MLK Day means to me
In Professional Communication and Presentation, we devote a class to studying the rhetorical strategies Martin Luther King uses in his landmark “I Have a Dream” speech, but it’s also important to recognize that while the speech is well constructed, what creates true impact is the shared vision Dr. King so eloquently expressed to all Americans. King’s speech was not about racial equality and justice–to him these were givens that our country had the potential and responsibility to live up to–King’s speech was about the dream of all citizens working together to further the cause of creating a thriving future for our children and grandchildren.
I’ve been working on the following infographic for several months now and still have several more weeks of design before it is complete, but considering King’s vision has helped me push past a creative block I’ve been dealing with.
Because my focus is on emphasizing the rhetorical mastery of the speech (and it’s definitely masterful), I’ve been missing the words and visuals to truly communicate the impact of this speech on the American psyche. The bottom third of the infographic will include rhetorical analysis, but I plan on devoting the majority of that design space to translating and communicating the lasting effects of Dr. King’s work as embodied by this speech. As Americans, we have a responsibility to “work together, to pray together, to struggle together…to stand up for freedom together” (Source). It’s this legacy of unified service that we must remember just as much as the way the idea was communicated.
Today is MLK Day also known as the MLK Day of Service. There’s no better way to commemorate one of our greatest humans than by honoring his legacy through service. Make a commitment to serving someone other than yourself today, whether it’s through an act or an encouraging word.
Tagged commemoration, day of service, Dr. King, I have a dream, King's speech, martin luther king, memory, MLK
The Golden Circle: Simon Sinek’s Start with Why
Each first day of class, I share Simon Sinek’s TEDxPugetSound talk with students as a starting point for a discussion of what it actually takes to persuade, convince, or resonate with an audience.
In his talk and his book Start With Why, Sinek proposes that great leaders–Martin Luther King, Steve Jobs, the Wright Brothers–all communicate with a purpose, they communicate (think and act) from the inside out. Most of us, Sinek believes, communicate from the outside in. It is a clear sense of why–a mission, a purpose, a calling, a big idea–that allows great leaders to gain followers, to inspire others to take on their ideas and act on them. In preparation for my first day of class in two weeks, I’ve prepared a brief introduction to Sinek’s The Golden Circle.
Do you Start with Why? What is the Why that drives your decisions?
Tagged communication, great leaders, inspiration, Leadership, martin luther king, politics, Simon Sinek, Start With Why, Steve Jobs, wright brothers
Tweak your Slides, Tweak your Speech
Michael Fassbender makes everything better
So, in tweaking my slides for tomorrow, I sought out a strong representation of Kenneth Burke’s concept of identification that was not about Hitler or Martin Luther King. I hit upon the example of Magneto of X-Men, which of course gave me an excellent chance to search for an image of Magneto, and who better to choose than Michael Fassbender (sorry, Sir Ian McKellen..I really really like Fassbender), who most recently portrayed the complicated leader o’ rogue mutants and owner of all things metallic. Magneto uses identification, the seeking out of similarities between a speaker and audience (even when such similarities are unknown or denied), to gain the trust and allegiance of mutants like Mystique. He works to differentiate the mutant, the superior, from the human or inferior. It is this acknowledgement of common superiority that leads to the rift between Magneto and Professor X. I take this slide below as a lovely end to my night of tweaks to tomorrow’s session on rhetoric and persuasion.
Tagged identification, Kenneth Burke, magneto, martin luther king, Michael Fassbender, mutants, professor x, rhetoric, sir ian mckellen, x men
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Yet another new character added to 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'
Ken Leung joins the Star Wars franchise
Ken Leung will rejoin J.J. Abrams in the newest Star Wars movie supposedly as a member of the Resistance.
by Jeremiah Flaherty
28 June 2015 18:10 Sun 28 Jun 2015 18:10:36 BST
Once news got out that J.J. Abrams will direct the first instalment of the new Star Wars trilogy, odds were high that the director would involve a couple of his favourite actors in his new movie. Abrams' childhood pal, Greg Grunberg (Heroes) has been already spotted on the set as a rebel pilot. Now another actor connected to Abrams is confirmed to appear in The Force Awakens as Ken Leung will play a high ranking character, possibly a general, of the good guys.
While Leung's name is not the biggest out there he still appeared in hits like Red Dragon and X-Men: Last Stand. Those who follow TV shows will remember him from Lost, J. J. Abram's most famous series, but lately he can be found on Person of Interest, which is another TV project of Abrams. New reports say that Leung was spotted on The Force Awakens' set posing in a brownish, olive hue military uniform with a red belt.
According to costume designer Michael Kaplan, these costumes resemble the members of the Resistance, which is the new name of the Rebel Alliance during the time of The Force Awakens. Additionally, based on his rank insignia which looks like an X, Leung may play a high-ranking official, possibly a general.
One thing is for sure, Leung won't appear much in the movie since he was only shooting for a couple of days on the set.
Although his screen time may be limited, there's still a chance that his appearance will impact the events of the Film. These details that surfaced imply that he is one of the good guys, but it's well-known that he doesn't rule out evil roles either.
We'll surely know more about The Force Awakens' cast and plot when the Star Wars panel finally opens at this year's Comic-Con in San Diego. The newest chapter in the Star Wars universe brings back the old characters, and with them also the original actors of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca and of course everyone's favourite droids, C-3PO and R2-D2.
Besides them new faces will show up in the franchise, such as John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver, the latter being the main villain of the film.
The Force Awakens will be released on December 18.
Jeremiah Flaherty
I'm a great fan of movies and tv-series, complemented with hollywood gossip, silicon valley news and sports. I hope you will enjoy my articles - if you do, don't forget to like my facebook page: https://www.
Follow Jeremiah on Facebook
Read more on the same topic from Jeremiah Flaherty:
'Hello Kitty' movie under development Can the power of the crowd make 'White Chicks 2' happen? A photo of a beloved 'Game of Thrones' actor blew up the internet
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THEMUSEUM Community Stage: Friends of THEMUSEUM: Cam Turner
Posted on: September 1, 2015 by THEMUSEUM
Community members are a very important aspect of THEMUSEUM. Our staff and volunteers interact with members of the Kitchener-Waterloo community on a daily basis, and do their absolute best to ensure they are always entertained, inspired and enlightened. Cam Turner helped THEMUSEUM spearhead Maker Club, and has also gone on to start his own organization, Tinker Truck. Maker Club sessions, which run once a month, have sold out consistently for the past six months. Through these programs, children have been learning how to tinker, hack, create, imagine, and experience new methods of hands-on learning.
How did you initially become involved with THEMUSEUM?
Initially, in the Fall of 2012, my family and I were sitting around the kitchen table trying to decide what my son wanted to do: did he want to do karate, or soccer, or something like that? And he said “I want to get together with my friends and make stuff, like with saws.” I said, well, that’s gotta exist in town, especially with all the creativity. And it didn’t exist! So we were like, well, we’re going to have to make this club ourselves, and through my professional network at the time I ended up getting introduced to Meaghan [THEMUSEUM’s Director of Sales and Strategic Initiatives], so it just sort of went from there; it was a perfect match, and we’ve been exploring how to do it ever since.
Was there a specific reason why you wanted to host Maker Club at THEMUSEUM, or why you thought the two fit together?
Obviously there’s location. It’s a very convenient location for people to get to and we wanted to make sure that Maker Club was inclusive, and it can cater to a wide variety of people being in Downtown Kitchener; it was ideal. The history that THEMUSEUM has as a space for children was also fantastic. And just the willingness to participate and the willingness to collaborate on how to make it go from the staff here, as soon as we started those conversations we stopped looking everywhere else.
If you could create a new community event or expand on Maker Club for THEMUSEUM, how would that project unfold?
I am making a new community event! I’m working with a group of nine other people to bring Maker Expo to Downtown Kitchener. That will be 10,000 people and 150 exhibitors, one of which will be Maker Club. The whole culture of making and do-it-yourself, and try anything, and figure-it-out, that whole angle we believe is in everybody, so we want to do that.
In terms of community events and programs at THEMUSEUM, besides Maker Club, is there one that really stands out for you?
I’ve been impressed with a lot of the stuff that THEMUSEUM is doing after hours to try and up the age perception. A lot of them I’ve wanted to participate in myself, and I’ve liked the variety of exhibits that have been coming through. In terms of events it’s mostly about the ones that are pushing the boundaries of what THEMUSEUM is known for.
Is there anything specific about THEMUSEUM that you would recommend to families?
Aside from the obvious – that there’s a lot of hands on and interactive stuff – it’s just a good atmosphere to explore and play, and figure out through doing with no scripted stuff. Without fail, every time we walk through the doors we spend at least a half hour [with] the blocks on the main floor in the atrium. We are not allowed to come to THEMUSEUM without spending at least 20 minutes or half an hour playing with them. And I’m constantly amazed at the number of things that the kids come up with. It’s the angle that there is no right or wrong way that attracts me the most. That families could stand to explore more, that there is no right or wrong way kind of activities. Every sort of other activity you can do that isn’t creative has a right and wrong way, and my perception is that there isn’t enough of the “just exploring” aspect.
If you could pick three words to describe THEMUSEUM, what would they be?
Vibrant. Exploratory. Risk-taking.
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Google’s new AI can help you speak another language in your own voice
by Ivan Mehta — in Google
Credit: Pixabay
Google Translate is one of the company’s most used products. It helps people translate one language to another through typing, taking pics of text, and using speech-to-text technology. Now, the company’s launching a new project called Translatotron, which will offer direct speech-to-speech translations – without even using any text.
In a post on Google’s AI blog, the team behind the tool explained that instead of using speech-to-text and then text-to-speech to convert voice, it relied on a new model (which runs on a neural network) to develop the new system.
“Dubbed Translatotron, this system avoids dividing the task into separate stages, providing a few advantages over cascaded systems, including faster inference speed, naturally avoiding compounding errors between recognition and translation, making it straightforward to retain the voice of the original speaker after translation, and better handling of words that do not need to be translated (e.g., names and proper nouns),” the Google research team wrote in the blog post.
Translatotron can also preserve the characteristics of the voice of the speaker when translating from one language to another. This could be really useful to sound editors who dub movies and TV shows.
The researchers have admitted that translations from the new model are not as precise as traditional models, but they’re confident the accuracy of the new model will soon improve.
There are plenty of apps out there like iTranslate and SayHi that try to translate one language to another using voice. But they’re still not as smooth and error-free as one would like.
Considering this still a model (and theres not even a demo available yet), chances are Google will take a while to implement the new system in consumer-grade solutions. I, for one, am looking forward to trying it out though.
You can read more about Google’s new technology here, and you can read more about the model the research team used here.
Read next: This IBM certificate program shows you how to create AI-powered chatbots
GoogleTechTranslationSpeech recognitionArtificial intelligenceGoogle
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death cab for cutie – narrow stairs
by thenorthline in alternative, death cab for cutie, indie rock Tags: death cab for cutie
i have been listening to this album today and like many other albums i have i forget how good this album really is . you should give this a play if you dont already own it .
Throughout their career, and especially since they were forever enshrined as the favorite band of sardonic emo kid Seth Cohen on television’s THE OC, Death Cab For Cutie have always been known as indie rock’s most famous sensitive guys. Even at their most abrasive on previous albums like PLANS and WE HAVE THE FACTS AND WE’RE VOTING YES, Ben Gibbard and crew have always had an inherent gentleness along with the low-key pop sensibility that allowed them to make the jump from the indie fringe to major-label stardom. The ambitious, experimental NARROW STAIRS is Death Cab For Cutie’s unexpectedly edgy response to any preconceptions, a wide-ranging, noisy and exciting album that sounds little like anything they’ve done before. From the epic-length first single. “I Will Possess Your Heart.” through the spacy, almost psychedelic “Pity and Fear” and the noise-riddled “Your New Twin Sized Bed,” NARROW STAIRS is Death Cab For Cutie’s equivalent to Radiohead’s KID A, a bracingly ambitious attempt to counter expectations as their stardom ascends.
After spending the better part of a decade in the musical minor leagues, Death Cab for Cutie went pro with 2005’s Plans, a record whose optimism and Technicolor sound gave the band enough leverage to finally enter the mainstream. “Soul Meets Body” became their biggest rock single to date, but it was Ben Gibbard’s delicate love song, “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” that earned the quartet a Grammy nomination and legions of new fans. Some bands might have taken a cue from such success and resigned themselves to a career of acoustic ballads, not unlike the Goo Goo Dolls’ transformation in the mid-’90s. But Narrow Stairs roughs up Plans’ bright palette with something starker, more harrowing, and altogether darkened by Gibbard’s blues. No longer crooning about immortal love or his desire to embrace all of Manhattan, the frontman lives inside his own troubled head on these 11 tracks — or at least the heads of the characters he conjures up with ease, like some music-minded novelist with a knack for pop melodies and witty observations. There’s “Cath,” an ill-married girl who “holds a smile like someone would hold a crying child,” as well as the creepy stalker in “I Will Possess Your Heart,” who simply demands that his intended lover give him the time of day. Elsewhere, Gibbard examines a friend’s recent heartbreak by referencing her bedroom furniture (“Your New Twin Sized Bed”), offering up his concern — if not quite his help — while the band conjures up a lazy summer’s day with gauzy keyboards and brightly chiming riffs. Such contrast between music and text plays an occasional role on Narrow Stairs, with songs like “No Sunlight” and “Long Division” pairing somber lyrics with upbeat orchestration. But the album largely paints itself as the darker, mysterious cousin to Plans — raw rather than polished, heartbroken rather than optimistic, enigmatic rather than energetic. Gibbard strings his words together with an army of free-flowing “ands” and “buts”, and the resulting lyrics — long, uncoiling sentences with no clear end — mirror his characters’ desperate attitudes. Narrow Stairs is far from desperate, however, and the album’s willingness to steer Death Cab into unfamiliar territory (or, to reference an earlier lyric, “into the dark”), is by far its strongest asset. ~ Andrew LeaheyRolling Stone (p.66) – 4 stars out of 5 — “[T]he album is as dark as anything the band has done….[T]he most indelible moment is ‘Grapevine Fires,’ a minor-key processional framed by churchy organ and electric piano.
http://www.mediafire.com/?hwmwwucikti
Previous live next month Next dreamstate mix tape vol 1 & 2
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We Can’t Separate Climate Justice from Opposing Militarism
At the conclusion of the Sanders Institute Gathering, RoseAnn De Moro, John Cusack and Bob Pollin discuss the key policy ideas coming out of the sessions, with host Paul Jay
PAUL JAY: Welcome to The Real News Network. I’m Paul Jay, and we’re in Burlington, Vermont, at the Sanders Institute Gathering. The Gathering takes place as we begin the run up to the 2020 elections; perhaps the most important elections, well, maybe anywhere ever, given what’s at stake with the climate crisis, with the threat of global war, another potential financial meltdown. Humans themselves are at stake here, and what happens in 2020 will go a long way to deciding what kind of future us humans have.
This Gathering was meant, I believe, to create a policy framework for the Sanders and progressive candidates for the movement heading into 2020. The guideline here was don’t trash Trump. Talk about positive policy initiatives and a vision people can fight for. Now we’re going to talk to some of the people who were involved on panels and making this gathering possible, and what was accomplished, and what they think is going to happen next, what needs to be done.
First of all, joining us on my right is John Cusack. He’s a writer, filmmaker, producer, and founding member of the Freedom of Press foundation. John is also co-author of Things That Can and Cannot Be Said.
RoseAnn DeMoro is the former executive director of National Nurses United. She also serves on the board of Consumer Watchdog.
And Robert Pollin is a distinguished professor of economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Thank you all for joining us.
JOHN CUSACK: Thanks for having us.
PAUL JAY: RoseAnn, so the gathering was meant to create a policy framework, a vision of going forward. How well did it accomplish these ends?
ROSEANN DEMORO: I think it was phenomenal on just about every level. I regret, actually, that this is the first time I’ve ever actually wanted to stay at a conference longer than it was going, because the people … First of all, the quality of the people, the quality of the ideas. And also people who are engaged in social movements. It’s not just talking about issues, it’s people who propel the social movements, who help the social movements.
JOHN CUSACK: Well, Cornell said justice is what love looks like in public, right? So these policies are what justice looks like in public, I guess. Mother Earth is really pissed off and she doesn’t want any more talk. She wants action, because we’re running out of time. These are people who are into actions, solutions, and are on the ground. It gives you spirit, gives you hope.
PAUL JAY: There’s a very unifying factor for everyone who’s been involved, or will be involved, in the run up to 2020, in terms of the Democratic Party and progressives and such, and that’s, they want to see the end of the Trump presidency. But there were some issues coming out of this Gathering which are not so unified. For example, Medicare for All. Within the Democratic Party itself there’s people quite on other sides of that. A lot of people in the Democratic Party leadership don’t think it’s a doable thing. When they tried to pass it in California, when the nurses were so active, it was sections of the Democratic Party of California that actually stopped it from happening.
ROBERT POLLIN: Well, RoseAnn can speak more to the details of that, but all I can say is when I did the study, commissioned by RoseAnn and the Nurse’s Union for California, I flew out to Sacramento, met with the State Senate one day, I think it was May 30 of 2017. The next day, it passed. So it did pass the State Senate and it, the thing that blocked it was unfortunately my old friend, Jerry Brown, governor, who absolutely was adamant was not going to go for this. Now there’s a new Governor, Newsom. He ran on Medicare for All, so we have to hold him accountable, and it could pass. It would actually be massively transformational for California, where the population is roughly equal to Canada, to have this pass. Which—you know, it wasn’t too far off. Thanks to the Nurse’s Union, it wasn’t too far off, just one year ago. Now we actually have a governor who supports it.
JOHN CUSACK: The state of play is always in change, but if you talk about living wage, Medicare for All, all these issues that Bernie ran on, these were thought totally impossible, radical four years ago, and now they’re completely mainstream, because they’re all interconnected. If the housing crisis doesn’t get worked out, affordable housing, even if you get a living wage of $15 an hour, if people can’t afford to live, right? And that’s connected to gentrification and the idea that we’re not doing anything about jobs and economy. We can’t even talk, in the Obama Administration, we couldn’t even talk about poor people, we could only talk about the middle class.
PAUL JAY: In the Hollywood circles you travel.
JOHN CUSACK: I don’t travel in Hollywood circles.
PAUL JAY: Well, you know Hollywood circles. You may not travel in them. There was a real division during the primary in 2016. And after the defeat of Hillary Clinton, I talked to a lot of people in LA, because I go out there fundraising, and they’re blaming Bernie for Hillary losing. Are you feeling a shift in that at all?
JOHN CUSACK: I hope to God that the Democratic Party will get over itself and just understand that Bernie has brought the party, the left, primaries for people on the left are good for the candidates. Cynthia Nixon made Andrew Cuomo a better candidate, right? So the idea is not that personalities are what matters. That’s what this place is about; the policies, the ideas that should outlast any individual. So that’s what I think. I hope to God people aren’t going to still do that petty infighting within the Democratic Party, but the donor class … right?
ROSEANN DEMORO: But we’ve shifted the debate. I was thinking, when Bob and I started working together, a long time ago now, and started working on ideas like single-payer, and you did the first study and … This is what’s interesting to me about this conference too. It’s ideas into action, right? And so he did the study on single-payer at that point in time, seeing that the favorability of single-payer was probably 30-40% or something, it was very …
ROBERT POLLIN: You would know better than me.
ROSEANN DEMORO: So that’s what it was. And then so he did this study, he also worked with the Sanders office for us, with us, and even breaking through on Capitol Hill in terms of what conventional wisdom is, the things we can’t say and do, things that shouldn’t be said at Capitol Hill because they’re always looking for allies, well, there are no allies. That’s finally what we said to Bernie. There are no allies. You’ve stood alone for basically all your history. We firmly believe this is the will of the people. Bob Pollin’s work buttressed that. We took it in motion. Bernie took it in motion. And we … we’ve propelled the favorability of single-payer on steroids; it’s 70% favorability at this point in time. That’s social change. If you have people fighting for fundamental rights and have–that’s where you start breaking down hegemony. Really. It’s why in the hell wouldn’t people want healthcare? Just a guarantee of healthcare? But it’s strong, hegemony’s strong.
PAUL JAY: This fight over Medicare for All means closing down private health insurance. It’s a very powerful sector of the economy. It’s totally entwined with Wall Street. There’s no separation between private insurance and the big finance, it’s the same thing. The tentacles of that Wall Street is in the Democratic Party, of course in the Republican Party, very powerful. This is not just a war of ideas, it’s a real war of interest here.
JOHN CUSACK: Yeah, the free market solutions are, like, great. That’d be a great thing if there are no human beings. But there are human beings, it doesn’t work. It’s like a—they’re rigged markets.
ROSEANN DEMORO: Well, the thing about Bob’s study is he’s addressed all of their objections, which is what I love about your new study.
JOHN CUSACK: As well as the transition which you were like, you stopped and said, “Let me repeat this.”
ROBERT POLLIN: Yeah. The point is … Well, first I want to address the donor class, that this is, real, real, real, real, real money. We run our healthcare system at 18% of GDP, other countries, 10, 9, 11%. That differential for our … If we went from 18% to 11%, that’s like $1.2 trillion. And that $1.2 trillion is what is landing in the pockets of the health insurance industries, the pharmaceutical industries. That’s what they’re fighting about. And they will fight to the bitter end. So yes, it’s a struggle, but as RoseAnn said–this is a true pioneer here, she mobilized this idea. I had nothing to do with the idea myself, frankly, until a couple of years ago when she asked me to get involved. People see that this is a real simple thing and you can deliver the healthcare, the assuredness that you can live your life without going bankrupt. You can live at a higher level, a higher standard of living with better healthcare, and spend less money. That’s it.
You can call it socialized medicine, you can call it single-payer, you can call it Medicare for All, that’s what it is. But, what John mentioned, a lot of the way we get savings is we are going to see layoffs, by definition. The private health insurance industry is going to be extinct, and that means all the workers are going to be laid off, all of them. That’s 800,000 people.
So one of the things we do in our study, to my knowledge the first time anyone has bothered, is to say, “Well, what do we do about those 800,000 people?” And we do have, we put a lot of time into working through what we call a just transition to get these people support when they lose their jobs, to get them into new opportunities. That’s the solution.
JOHN CUSACK: Then you also said that the amount of jobs within the Green New Deal and that sector will make up for some of the losses.
ROBERT POLLIN: Some of.
JOHN CUSACK: But it’s important to put that–it’s not the healthcare industry isolated from the rest of the economy it’ll take to make …
ROBERT POLLIN: But I don’t want to say that the Green New Deal can deliver everything for all problems. It’ll get you some of the way. Basically, we have to pay money so people have their wages guaranteed until they get their next job. They need to have retraining, support, and, critically, their pensions have to be guaranteed.
JOHN CUSACK: So that Wall Street doesn’t steal them.
ROBERT POLLIN: Yeah. We look at this study, we have page after page on this very issue of how you make sure the pensions don’t get stolen, which—whoever heard of a study about healthcare talking about people’s pensions in detail? And we had to do that.
ROSEANN DEMORO: It’s really an amazing study. It’s on the website by the way, it’s on the PERI website. PERI.[edu].
ROBERT POLLIN: Thank you.
PAUL JAY: I’m concerned about something.
ROSEANN DEMORO: Sure.
PAUL JAY: There’s a balance somewhere here about keeping people engaged, optimistic, fighting. But somewhere in here we also have to tell people the whole truth of how dangerous this moment is.
ROSEANN DEMORO: Yes.
JOHN CUSACK: They told it here.
ROSEANN DEMORO: They did.
PAUL JAY: Well, I honestly didn’t—I didn’t hear it as much, not as much.
ROSEANN DEMORO: Actually that’s fair.
PAUL JAY: We’re, what, less than a couple of decades away from anywhere from 1.5 to 2.0 Celsius. This critical threshold that will change life as we know it on earth. We’re all in denial. And I have to say, I include myself until just recently when I did a 13-part series with Daniel Ellsberg, who scared the shit out of me, because we are still in a 10-second window of a hair trigger on nuclear war. And the number of near nuclear war misses has been incredible. Just a few individuals refused to follow protocol, and that’s why we’re still here. And it’s worse, they’re going to spend a trillion dollars—both Russia is going to spend a trillion and the United States, most of it in the next 10 years—upgrading the nuclear arms arsenal.
JOHN CUSACK: So, basically just a way to plunder, it’s all plunder.
PAUL JAY: It’s all about moneymaking. But the problem with this moneymaking is this is the end of life on earth.
JOHN CUSACK: That’s why you can’t separate either climate justice and militarism. You can’t do it.
PAUL JAY: Well, it all comes back to the same issue. It all comes back to same issue.
JOHN CUSACK: Because the drones are going to follow the fresh water, and the soldiers are going to protect the oil, and then if things go on as they are, game over for the planet. That’s why we need, like, a Bernie for president.
PAUL JAY: What I’m saying is we’ve got to somehow do both. There has to be a vision to fight for.
ROSEANN DEMORO: There does.
PAUL JAY: You can’t fight if you’re in despair. On the other hand, we gotta tell people the whole truth about how dangerous this moment is.
ROSEANN DEMORO: I agree with you. And you know, the other night we were having dinner with Dr. Cornel West, and just in a relaxed state over dinner I said, “So, Cornel, how bad do you think this is?” Because obviously he’s one of the great minds of our time. The way he responded, it was kind of visceral, didn’t you think so? He went back on us, like, it’s a horrifying thing for us all to talk about, and he had no reassuring news, right? I could see the horror on his face. And that wasn’t reassuring for me, either. But I completely understand. And the sense of urgency—this is why I say Bernie Sanders has to run for president, because we are at a tipping point. We’re definitely at a tipping point. And that, with the planet, just the planet alone, let alone the economy and everything else they’ve taken …
JOHN CUSACK: Yeah. And as Naomi said, according to the great Arundhati Roy, it’s like, people want to know what they can do to change without having to change. And so they’d like to change their lightbulb, but what you need is a bold leap forward in how income and capital is restricted.
PAUL JAY: I think one of the big fights, and I think this is where the progressive movement needs to really turn up the ratchet of whatever you want would turn up. Congress needs to hold hearings on these issues, not just trash Trump. Trash Trump, fine. I mean, OK. But it will completely distract away from what we need to do. If all the Democrats are going to end up doing is trashing Trump, debating impeachment, we will have wasted two years. We will not have advanced a positive agenda. We may even put a halo around Pence, imagine.
JOHN CUSACK: Yeah. But the other hand, if we get him out of office on the merits, because he’s broken the law. Like, throw a rock and hit an impeachable offense. And maybe it’s less likely that the hair trigger catastrophes you’re talking about …
PAUL JAY: Maybe. What I’m concerned about is that there is the potential here to have, I hate to use this as the analogy, but McCarthy-ite like hearings on climate, on dismantle the doomsday machine, on Medicare for All. Have these as big, public, with subpoena power- [crosstalk]
ROSEANN DEMORO: Absolutely.
JOHN CUSACK: 100%.
PAUL JAY: And create such a drama that the CEO of Boeing, come in and tell us how much money you made building nuclear weapons in the last 40 years.
JOHN CUSACK: Also the migrant, the refugee crisis. It’s not just climate. It’s like, we blew up the Middle East. We’ve been at permanent war since 2001.
PAUL JAY: We destroyed Central America.
JOHN CUSACK: Where are those people going to go? So what are we going to do, cage the people, free all the money?
ROSEANN DEMORO: The problem is we’ve got this team concept, this is the Republicans versus the Democrats, and it’s just a false narrative on both. Because ultimately what the Democrats are arguing is we need … Basically get rid of Trump and get back to where we were. Well, where we were is how we got here. And we can’t go back there, we cannot go back there. And this is what we’re doing, we’re re-envisioning where we’ve been, where we should be, what we need. But I mean, I could-
JOHN CUSACK: The pre-Trump landscape is the landscape that produced Trump.
ROSEANN DEMORO: Precisely. That’s precisely correct. But the problem is you’re right, how could they not be discussing? And you wonder, I always wondered, do these people not have anyone in their lives that they love? I wonder that. Do they know love? Are politicians such psychopaths that they can’t feel love and compassion?
PAUL JAY: Maybe.
ROSEANN DEMORO: Can you do a study on that?
PAUL JAY: But it’s not just the politicians, it’s the people paying the politicians.
JOHN CUSACK: That’s why the fastest thing you can do is, one of the questions answered, is campaign finance. What’s great about this institute is what other progressive institutes that aren’t funded by the same people who fund Congress? And they want to keep the system right as it is.
PAUL JAY: I interviewed Rana Foroohar, who writes for the Financial Times, did a multipart series on financialization. And I asked her, these guys on Wall Street, they have kids, they have grandkids, what …
JOHN CUSACK: They get to go to Mars and they have their own disaster strategy.
PAUL JAY: That was the answer. It wasn’t Mars, but everyone has their escape plan, was they’re … In a real way, that you can’t—New Zealand had to pass a law against foreign ownership of land, because so many American billionaires are buying up New Zealand land. But people aren’t hearing this.
There was a petition that came out just before this gathering, about 25 or 30 various antiwar people and academics, asking Bernie to spend more effort, more time, on cutting the Pentagon budget. That is, there’s not enough conversation about a significant cut as a way to fund free college education, other things. Do you think that’s a fair critique?
ROSEANN DEMORO: I think it’s, I mean, it’s one of those areas. Do I think it’s a fair critique? Of course, I do, but I’m not a senator, and I’m not running for president. I think it’s a very tough terrain, I do. I think it’s very different for people like us than it is for people who actually have to take on the issues. It just depends on where he sees his list of priorities. But certainly Bernie sits there, he knows where the budget is misappropriated.
ROBERT POLLIN: He said it several times at the conference. We have a $700 billion dollar war budget. Bernie kept saying it’s more than the top 10 other countries combined, which it is, but that also means it’s more than all countries combined, so that’s how much we’re spending. Of course, we could massively cut it.
JOHN CUSACK: And still be the most powerful [military] on earth.
ROBERT POLLIN: And still be able to blow up the world many times over.
ROSEANN DEMORO: Sounds horrifying, but, yes.
JOHN CUSACK: Raytheon would still be rich, let’s be honest.
ROBERT POLLIN: But it’s also true that people in Vermont have jobs in the military.
PAUL JAY: But Daniel Ellsberg, who I said just interviewed, he ends his book by saying the thing of our time to be fighting for is, he calls, conversion. You have to convert military production to green production, and it ties the two together. Maybe we should be talking more about this idea of conversion.
ROBERT POLLIN: Absolutely. I started doing those studies. The first study I did on the green transition was, yes, exactly, military spending out, green spending in.
PAUL JAY: Literally turning those plants that are producing arms into, whether it’s high speed buses, trains, windmills … Because it partly deals with the issue of labor transition. Senators or others are afraid of raising the issues because the arms industry is, as everyone knows, makes sure every single state has a nice piece of the pie.
ROBERT POLLIN: And they do.
ROSEANN DEMORO: I’ll just say Bernie Sanders knows.
JOHN CUSACK: I heard that this conference a lot.
ROSEANN DEMORO: If I were running a campaign for president, if I were advising Bernie Sanders, I would run on basically enfranchising the working people of this country. And if I were Bernie Sanders, I would focus there, because he knows right from wrong. He has got a moral center like no one that sits in that Congress. I mean, obviously. He does, he knows, he has not changed in all of these years. Workers are hurting, families are hurting. And that’s not, like, rhetoric. That’s real. And people are falling away, they’re falling away, they don’t trust. There’s—the democracy is even up for grabs at this stage of the game. They don’t trust anyone, they don’t know who to trust. This man they can trust, and he speaks the truth.
JOHN CUSACK: Clear, concise.
ROSEANN DEMORO: They were so rotten to him. I was at those places when we ran that campaign, and they just stole that election from him, the primary. I was there, I saw the dirty tricks, I saw the ugliness.
PAUL JAY: They meaning corporate Democrats.
ROSEANN DEMORO: Well, yeah, corporate Democrats, the DNC.
JOHN CUSACK: Owner donor?
ROSEANN DEMORO: Yes, owner donor. That was so rigged. It was so rigged. Now we’re in a massively different place. Everybody in this country—he’s the most respected politician in this country.
JOHN CUSACK: He’s trusted internationally, too.
ROSEANN DEMORO: He is. And he’s authentic, and he’s real, and he can do this. I’m not looking for demagogues, I’m looking for him to basically jump start a movement that changes this country fundamentally and systemically.
JOHN CUSACK: Well, as Howard Zinn said, “It doesn’t matter who’s in the White House if we don’t have the people on the street.”
PAUL JAY: Well, this is the beginning of a whole other conversation. Thanks for joining us.
ROBERT POLLIN: Okay. Thank you.
PAUL JAY: Thank you for joining us on The Real News Network.
RoseAnn DeMoro
RoseAnn DeMoro is executive director of National Nurses United.
Robert Pollin
Robert Pollin is Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He is the founding co-Director of the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI). His research centers on macroeconomics, conditions for low-wage workers in the US and globally, the analysis of financial markets, and the economics of building a clean-energy economy in the US.…
Paul Jay
Fred Branfman< and strong>
Why A 20-Year Old Climate Activist is Suing the Federal Government
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How Quickly Would Julian Castro Transition the US to 100% Renewables?
No War, No Warming with Rev. Lennox Yearwood
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Future Resource Wars
Dr. David Suzuki: Trudeau Government’s Climate Emergency Declaration Is ‘A Joke’
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Get Back to Work
Published on Mar 27, 2013 | Occupational Medicine, Urgent Care, Worker's Compensation
A frustrated PA I interviewed recently told me a story that really burns me on two levels:
Inconsistency and discontinuity in urgent care practice
Bad worker’s compensation return to work policy
And a 3rd is probably lack of management support for a rational clinical decision.
The story went something like this:
A worker was seen for a worker’s compensation low back injury by his supervising physician and owner of the urgent care center on a Thursday. He was kept off duty from work, although his job did not require significant lifting, and was given a follow up appointment for the following Monday.
This PA was on duty on Monday and saw the patient. When asking how the patient felt he said “fine, no more pain” and his examination revealed that he could touch his palms to the floor and had no physical limitations. So the PA said “great, I’ll let you get back to work.”
But the worker said “Oh, no I can’t return to work yet, I have to be out for 8 days!” (In order to collect time loss under this perverse disincentive rule for Connecticut worker’s comp). The PA dutifully explained that the decision to return to work is made solely on the basis of fitness for duty as indicated by the current history and physical examination, and unfortunately cannot be done on the basis of his time loss compensation.
Angered, the patient demanded to be seen by the initial physician. The PA explained the situation to the owner/physician, who then went to see the patient. He came back to the PA and said he had returned the patient to work….next week!
So this poor PA was devastated for the reasons 1-3 above, to say nothing of a possible insurance fraud issue this raises as well. It is quite likely the patient may not have needed any time off work at all and could have been treated as “first aid” and not OSHA-recordable.
It is little wonder that this PA is interviewing for a new position. This lack of adherence to sound return to work philosophy and communication with client employers is not only unethical and poor practice, it has also led to an exodus of clients from this practice, according to the PA.
PAs: What frustrates you about your supervising physicians?
Worker’s Comp Posts:
Three Ways to Lose Your Occmed Clients
When the Boss Wants to Play Doctor
Jimmy Leach on June 15, 2015 at 9:42 am
It is quite possible the physician noticed something during his exam that warranted the extra time off the patient was requesting. If so, an explanation to the PA might have been helpful in retaining his services at the UCC. However, lack of a reasonable explanation would leave the PA a feeling his decision had been circumvented for unethical reasons.
B Geoffrey Burnham on May 7, 2018 at 1:22 pm
I know it has been a long time since this story was published and I hadn’t seen the comment until just now… to answer your question, the Physician did not find anything wrong with the patient or something I had missed. The patient putting his palms on the floor was pretty telling. The physician admitted to me the following Monday, he kept the patient out because he wanted to avoid the confrontation which he expected had he sent the patient back to work. I had also asked the physician, prior to his examining the patient, if he did find some justification for keeping the patient out of work, to please show or let me know so I could learn from it.. there wasn’t.
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Sodexo steps up fight against...
Sodexo steps up fight against food waste, aims to deploy data-driven program at 3,000 sites within year
Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, announced the deployment of its data-driven food waste prevention program, WasteWatch powered by Leanpath, at 3,000 sites worldwide within a year.
During the Tech for Good Summit, Denis Machuel, Sodexo’s Chief Executive Officer, reiterated the company’s goal to deploy the program to all relevant Sodexo sites by 2025, in line with its goal to halve food waste and food losses from its operations by the same year.
“We need to accelerate the fight against food waste for the sake of humanity and in light of hunger worldwide. The rapid deployment of WasteWatch powered by Leanpath is our rally cry across Sodexo to do our part, while empowering our clients and the consumers we serve. We must track how much food is discarded at each and every one of our food service sites – and we are committed to make these figures public to bring a sense of urgency and motivate us to always do better,” said Denis Machuel, Chief Executive Officer, Sodexo. “Beyond data, the program is a revolutionary approach to food services. Our chefs, supply experts, site managers and frontline teams are trained and encouraged to think creatively and innovate in the way we plan, use and serve food to reduce avoidable waste.”
The WasteWatch powered by Leanpath Program prevents on average 50% of food wasted. Using the program, Sodexo teams can rapidly and easily capture food waste data, giving clear insights into what is being wasted in their kitchens and why. With this new understanding, teams can implement targeted operational and behavioral changes to help end avoidable food waste, whether food waste generated in the kitchen or consumer food waste.
“Sodexo’s commitment to deploy smart food waste measurement technology at 3,000 sites represents the largest initiative of its kind announced in the restaurant and foodservice industry. Sodexo will prevent a tremendous amount of food waste and make a significant global impact with this effort,” said Andrew Shakman, Chief Executive Officer, Leanpath.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, approximately a third of food produced for human consumption is wasted globally. This is one of the biggest scandals of our time considering the 842 million people suffering from hunger around the world. And the environmental front is equally troubling: if food waste was a country today, it would be the third largest carbon emitter after the USA and China. The impact of food and agriculture on biodiversity, as recently highlighted in the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Report, is a further reason we cannot afford to waste food.
Acting on preventing food waste is part of Sodexo’s Positive Impact.
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29 Summer 2015 Proceedings www.uscg.mil/proceedings The United States Coast Guard and its key partners are cre- ating the marine navigation system of the future, spurred by changing needs of diverse users, such as increases in the beam and draft of commercial vessels, which reduce the margin of error for safe navigation; new developments in technology (displays, computers, geographic informa- tion systems); and deployed systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Automatic Identifcation System (AIS). Some advances are evolutionary, such as using light-emit- ting diodes, solar cells, and rechargeable batteries on buoys. But others are revolutionary, helping to make reliable and accurate electronic navigation (e-Navigation) a reality. For example, traditional aids to navigation (ATONs) can be aug- mented with AIS to create a sort of "smart buoy," capable of determining and transmitting when it is off station or otherwise not watching properly. These smart electronic ATONs or eATONs, include: • Real AIS ATON: AIS is placed on an actual aid, capable of transmitting the actual location of the buoy and other information. • Synthetic AIS ATON: An AIS broadcast station trans- mits a position signal that coincides with an actual ATON. • Virtual AIS ATON: An electronically charted ATON capable of being displayed on the vessel's electronic chart display and information system, electronic chart system, or less sophisticated chart plotter systems. Does not coincide with a physical aid. AIS has other uses as well; it can display the course, speed, distance of closest approach of other participating vessels, information from notices to mariners, and data from the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System. 1 These and other systems are capable of substantially increasing situational awareness. U.S. eATONs were frst tested in San Francisco Bay, Califor- nia, and are now operating at several other locations around the country. Plans are underway to include more test loca- tions, prior to any widespread deployment. Potential Benefts In principle, new e-Navigation systems have numerous ben- efts. For example, virtual buoys: • can be placed at locations with water depths too great for physical buoys; • are never off station; • cannot be hit by large ships or displaced by ice; • can be inserted at will on a temporary basis to replace a physical buoy destroyed by a storm or mark a wreck, regatta, or other temporary condition that requires extra caution; • may reduce the number of conventional ATONs, with resultant budgetary savings. An AIS base station can serve an extended geographical region, often in excess of 50 square miles per station. 2 More- over, virtual buoys do not require periodic servicing, which saves money. Recreational Boaters The USCG 2012 National Recreational Boating Survey indi- cated that there are approximately 21.6 million recreational boats in the U.S. Moreover, in 2012, approximately 3.6 billion person-hours were spent underway on recreational vessels. 3 Thus, recreational boating is a statistically important seg- ment of the marine transportation system, and therefore boaters' needs must be considered when designing and operating new e-Navigation systems. Recreational Boating Perspectives A revolution in the making. by l. dAniel MAxiM, ph.d. President Everest Consulting Associates Stakeholders' Perspective
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49 Spring 2016 Proceedings www.uscg.mil/proceedings The SMS in place on board the Delta Mariner addressed the company's expectation for bridge team manage- ment, including maintaining a focused watch, the open exchange of information, the prevention of distraction, and the creation of a team environment. The practice of good seamanship was to be observed at all times on watch, and each individual on watch was required to be alert and attentive to their respective duties relevant to the safety of the vessel. The master and DWOs 5 were instructed to always 'remain alert to the pilot's or mooring master's handling of the vessel and be prepared to intervene when necessary to safeguard personnel, environment, vessel, or cargo.' The NTSB report further refers to a sequence of events that began as the ship approached the Eggner's Ferry Bridge: … when the C/M 6 received his first instruction from the pilot to steer towards the green light of the 'E' span, through the time of the vessel's allision with the EFB, 7 none of the crewmembers present upon the vessel's navi- gation bridge countermanded or challenged the pilot's instruction to steer toward the green light marking the center of the 'E' span. As the vessel continued on its course, no attempt was made by the pilot, or the crewmembers to obtain a fx upon the vessel's position using other than visual means with the vessel's two spotlights. Per the SMS, the responsibility for obtaining vessel position fxes was the responsi bility of the DWO who was not on the helm position, in this case, the 3/M. 8 The SMS stated, 'the helmsman shall have no other duties when assigned to the helm,' and 'when the deck watch offcer is acting as helmsman, a second deck offcer and, or the master will be on the bridge to perform all other navigation and watch duties.' Ultimately, the ship struck the lighted recreational span of the Eggner's Ferry Bridge on the east side of Kentucky Lake. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report: The investigation revealed that the Delta Mariner's safety management system, developed by the company more than 10 years earlier and in place at the time of the accident, was not effectively implemented. Overall, [the company] provided ineffective oversight of the Delta Mariner's operations. Due to the vessel's good safety record and the company's reliance on proactive safety measures and a crew of well- trained, experienced deep-sea mariners to provide a high level of safety, the company became complacent regarding the safety of the vessel's operations. The investigation also found the expertise required of con- tract pilots was not clearly defned, and contract pilots and the Delta Mariner's deck offcers lacked clear under- standing of the guidance expected from contract pilots while serving on the bridge of a vessel. In addition, the safety management system discussed a passage plan, which is used to plan a voyage and take into account all diffculties the vessel expects to face along the transit. The passage plan was also supposed to detail the strategies proposed to mitigate any risks encountered. The NTSB report noted: [The company's] safety management system documents stated, 'A passage plan is of no value unless it is utilized by all team members — including the pilot.' Investigators found no evidence, however, that the passage plan was reviewed by deck watch offcers during the voyage. The National Transportation Safety Board report also noted: As the vessel approached Eggner's Ferry Bridge, the bridge team and contract pilot of the Delta Mariner were largely unaware of what lighting should have been visible on the bridge and which span allowed suffcient clearance for safe passage. The contract pilot and bridge team focused exclusively on the few lights visible on the bridge while ignoring readily available electronic charting system displays, which could have provided critical information about the vessel's posi- tion in relation to the bridge and the bridge's correct light- ing scheme. Despite this lack of information, the contract pilot continued to direct the vessel toward a span that was too low for the Delta Mariner. Further, despite the contract pilot's apparent uncertainty, none of the bridge team challenged his directions. Screen capture from a cell phone video taken by a mate aboard the M/ V Aiviq shows the tow wire on the right leading to the MODU Kulluk under tow. The computer screen on the left shows the readout in tons on the towing hawser (boxed in yellow) as 227 metric tons. The vessel's crew failed to recognize the importance of this critical measurement. U.S. Coast Guard image.
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<< Previous TITLE 18 / PART I / CHAPTER 1 / § 7 Next >>
18 USC 7: Special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States defined Text contains those laws in effect on July 17, 2019
From Title 18-CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDUREPART I-CRIMESCHAPTER 1-GENERAL PROVISIONS
Jump To: Source CreditReferences In TextAmendmentsMiscellaneous
§7. Special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States defined
The term "special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States", as used in this title, includes:
(1) The high seas, any other waters within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States and out of the jurisdiction of any particular State, and any vessel belonging in whole or in part to the United States or any citizen thereof, or to any corporation created by or under the laws of the United States, or of any State, Territory, District, or possession thereof, when such vessel is within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States and out of the jurisdiction of any particular State.
(2) Any vessel registered, licensed, or enrolled under the laws of the United States, and being on a voyage upon the waters of any of the Great Lakes, or any of the waters connecting them, or upon the Saint Lawrence River where the same constitutes the International Boundary Line.
(3) Any lands reserved or acquired for the use of the United States, and under the exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction thereof, or any place purchased or otherwise acquired by the United States by consent of the legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erection of a fort, magazine, arsenal, dockyard, or other needful building.
(4) Any island, rock, or key containing deposits of guano, which may, at the discretion of the President, be considered as appertaining to the United States.
(5) Any aircraft belonging in whole or in part to the United States, or any citizen thereof, or to any corporation created by or under the laws of the United States, or any State, Territory, district, or possession thereof, while such aircraft is in flight over the high seas, or over any other waters within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States and out of the jurisdiction of any particular State.
(6) Any vehicle used or designed for flight or navigation in space and on the registry of the United States pursuant to the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies and the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space, while that vehicle is in flight, which is from the moment when all external doors are closed on Earth following embarkation until the moment when one such door is opened on Earth for disembarkation or in the case of a forced landing, until the competent authorities take over the responsibility for the vehicle and for persons and property aboard.
(7) Any place outside the jurisdiction of any nation with respect to an offense by or against a national of the United States.
(8) To the extent permitted by international law, any foreign vessel during a voyage having a scheduled departure from or arrival in the United States with respect to an offense committed by or against a national of the United States.
(9) With respect to offenses committed by or against a national of the United States as that term is used in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act-
(A) the premises of United States diplomatic, consular, military or other United States Government missions or entities in foreign States, including the buildings, parts of buildings, and land appurtenant or ancillary thereto or used for purposes of those missions or entities, irrespective of ownership; and
(B) residences in foreign States and the land appurtenant or ancillary thereto, irrespective of ownership, used for purposes of those missions or entities or used by United States personnel assigned to those missions or entities.
Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to supersede any treaty or international agreement with which this paragraph conflicts. This paragraph does not apply with respect to an offense committed by a person described in section 3261(a) of this title.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 685 ; July 12, 1952, ch. 695, 66 Stat. 589 ; Pub. L. 97–96, §6, Dec. 21, 1981, 95 Stat. 1210 ; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §1210, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2164 ; Pub. L. 103–322, title XII, §120002, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2021 ; Pub. L. 107–56, title VIII, §804, Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 377 .)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §451 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §272, 35 Stat. 1142 ; June 11, 1940, ch. 323, 54 Stat. 304 ).
The words "The term 'special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States' as used in this title includes:" were substituted for the words "The crimes and offenses defined in sections 451–468 of this title shall be punished as herein prescribed."
This section first appeared in the 1909 Criminal Code. It made it possible to combine in one chapter all the penal provisions covering acts within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction without the necessity of repeating in each section the places covered.
The present section has made possible the allocation of the diverse provisions of chapter 11 of Title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., to particular chapters restricted to particular offenses, as contemplated by the alphabetical chapter arrangement.
In several revised sections of said chapter 11 the words "within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States" have been added. Thus the jurisdictional limitation will be preserved in all sections of said chapter 11 describing an offense.
Enumeration of names of Great Lakes was omitted as unnecessary.
Other minor changes were necessary now that the section defines a term rather than the place of commission of crime or offense; however, the extent of the special jurisdiction as originally enacted has been carefully followed.
Section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, referred to in par. (9), is classified to section 1101 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.
2001-Par. (9). Pub. L. 107–56 added par. (9).
1994-Par. (8). Pub. L. 103–322 added par. (8).
1981-Par. (6). Pub. L. 97–96 added par. (6).
1952-Par. (5). Act July 12, 1952, added par. (5).
Territorial Sea Extending to Twelve Miles Included in Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction
Pub. L. 104–132, title IX, §901(a), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1317 , provided that: "The Congress declares that all the territorial sea of the United States, as defined by Presidential Proclamation 5928 of December 27, 1988 [set out as a note under section 1331 of Title 43, Public Lands], for purposes of Federal criminal jurisdiction is part of the United States, subject to its sovereignty, and is within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States for the purposes of title 18, United States Code."
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December 14, 2013 ProjectsBartomeu Monserrat
Bartomeu Monserrat, Neil Drummond, Richard Needs
The vibrational properties of solids are usually studied within the harmonic approximation, which is valid when the motion of the atomic nuclei is restricted to the neighbourhood of their equilibrium positions. This approximation is usually very good when investigating standard solids under normal conditions. However, for the lighter nuclei and at high temperatures, atoms explore regions far away from their equilibrium positions, and the harmonic approximation is no longer valid.
We have worked on a methodology to study the vibrational properties of solids beyond the harmonic approximation. We map the Born-Oppenheimer energy surface on which the atoms move along phonon modes, and then solve the resulting equations self-consistently within a mean-field formalism. We then calculate phonon expectation values from the anharmonic phonon wave function. This allows us to investigate physical properties such as the electronic band gap renormalisation due to electron-phonon coupling, or thermal expansion using the stress tensor [PRB 87, 144302 (2013)].
The first applications of this methodology have included the study of systems comprising of the lightest elements: hydrogen and helium. For hydrogen we have investigated the dissociation of molecular solid hydrogen at high pressure with quantum Monte Carlo calculations for the electronic part, and anharmonic vibrational calculations for the nuclear part. We have predicted a dissociation pressure of 370 GPa, within reach of static diamond anvil cell experiments in the near future. This work has been done in collaboration with Sam Azadi and Matthew Foulkes. For helium, we have calculated the effects of electron-phonon coupling on the metallization transition, predicting a strong zero-point correction and temperature dependence, both increasing the static lattice metallization pressure. This result has implications in the area of white dwarf cooling. This work has been done in collaboration with Chris Pickard.
December 9, 2013 ProjectsMatthew Lyle
Matthew J. Lyle, Chris J. Pickard, and Richard J. Needs
High performance computing is an essential part of many areas of scientific research. Materials discovery, in particular, is especially suited to computational simulation. Here we use an ab-initio random structure searching (AIRSS) algorithm to generate thousands of possible atomic arrangements for our system of choice. Constraints such as symmetry and stoichiometry can be incorporated to help our search towards particular structures we may be after. These candidate structures are energetically ranked, usually using density functional theory (DFT), and low-energy or other interesting structures are further investigated.
My projects have focussed on finding new crystalline forms of metal oxides, including alumina (Al2O3) and titania (TiO2). Alumina exists in a number of distinct crystalline forms that are widely used in industry; annual global production is 100 Mtonne, valued at approximately U.S.$32 billion. Conventional crystalline aluminas exhibit negligible porosity, though many of their industrial applications require high porosities and surface areas. This is usually achieved through the fashioning of mesoporous channels, though often at the expense of crystallinity which is known to increase alumina stability. Moreover, crystalline microporous silicates and aluminosilicates, e.g. zeolites, have long been used as adsorbents, ion exchangers, and catalysts.
In this project we performed an extensive first-principles computational search for new crystalline forms of alumina that are stable at ambient pressure. We found 147 unique structures with energies intermediate between those of the conventional alumina phases and identified a new class of crystalline aluminas which are up to 43% less dense. We attribute these low densities to significant amounts (up to 100%) of fivefold Al coordination and the formation of highly microporous zeolite-like channels. These are the first crystalline aluminas exhibiting such extensive fivefold Al coordination and surface areas, suggesting a new paradigm for the processing of alumina for industrial use.
MAGE: Materials Automated Generation and Exploration
December 6, 2013 ProjectsGareth Conduit
Gareth Conduit
Through the stone, bronze, and iron ages the discovery of new materials has chronicled human history. The coming of each age was sparked by a chance discovery of a new material. Despite the central importance of materials in enabling new technologies, even today the only way to develop new materials is through experiment driven trial and error. We have developed the first tool [Patent GB1302743.8], MAGE, Materials Automated Generation and Exploration: computationally designs materials with specified physical properties. We have proven its accuracy by predicting five new alloys [Patent GB1307533.8, Patent GB1307535.3, Rolls-Royce Group plc invention submissions NC12261, NC13006 & Acta Materialia, 61, 3378 (2013)] that were subsequently experimentally verified. MAGE can help not only materials scientists, but moreover design engineers. At present engineers must design new objects and products around the shortcomings of pre-existing but non-ideal materials. The capability to develop materials computationally would allow engineers to instantly optimize bespoke materials for their application, bringing materials into the heart of the design process.
The alloys developed include a new nickel-based alloy for turbine discs in jet engines, a novel alloy for lining the combustion chamber of a jet engine, and a molybdenum based forging alloy. Each alloy has eight individual physical properties that are predicted to match or exceed commercially available alternatives including fracture toughness, oxidation resistance, yield strength, creep resistance and processibility. These properties are calculated using a variety of techniques including ab initio calculations, physically based models, and interpolation of existing experimental data. Several properties for each alloy have subsequently been experimentally verified so the alloys are now undergoing compliance testing by Rolls Royce plc.
In the future we plan to further incorporate first principles methods into MAGE. Working with Samsung Electronics Co Ltd through a Global Research Outreach Grant we will first focus on designing new GaInN-based LEDs materials, exploiting Density Functional Theory to predict properties from first principles. This investigation should allow us to not only design potentially important semiconductor materials, but moreover act as a launch-pad to guide the future design of new materials from first principles.
A Stochastic Approach to Battery Design
December 6, 2013 ProjectsAndrew Morris
Martin Mayo, Hugh Glass, Andrew J. Morris.
LIBs are the rechargeable battery of choice for electric vehicles and portable electronic devices. There is substantial interest in enhancing the capacity of LIBs, driven by the economic and environmental advantages of increasing the range of electric vehicles, and enabling longer-life portable electronic devices. The traditional anode is composed of graphite but recently silicon has been proposed as an alternative which has a theoretical capacity some ten-times larger. Silicon anodes are not fully understood however and suffer from large volume expansion on charge and hysteresis on charge cycling. Phosphorous is another such candidate for high-capacity anodes due to its multiple allotropes (white, red and black phosphorus), its ability to make Hittorf-chains and novel structures when mixed with lithium.[1]
P21/c Li1Si1
The creation of new materials is both difficult and expensive. It is very difficult to “see” the structure of these materials over the length scales that they work and very expensive to create prototype materials to test. Whilst experimental physics can use x-rays, high-energy electrons or neutrons to infer the structure of these materials, this inference is made much more robust when combined with theoretical predictions of the kinds of structures that can be formed. In a computer we use quantum mechanical calculations to simulate the results of these kinds of experiments, helping to understand materials and suggest new materials with the kind of properties desired. The theoretical prediction of even very simple structures has, until recently, been out of bounds due to the large number of possible atomic arrangements. The ab initio random structure searching method (AIRSS) [2] uses a stochastic approach to suggest different structural configurations of atoms within a material. By searching over a range of stoichiometries it is possible to model how a battery is charged as we can predict the structural changes of the electrodes as a charging potential is applied. Using this knowledge it is possible to perform further theoretical analysis such as NMR and EELS (electron energy loss) spectroscopies and predict charge and discharge voltages.
[1] “Inorganic Double Helix Structures of Unusually Simple Li-P Species”, Alexander S. Ivanov, Andrew J. Morris, Konstantin V. Bozhenko, Chris J. Pickard and Alexander I. Boldyrev, [Angewandte Chemie 51 33, 8330-8333 (2012)]
[2] C.J. Pickard, and R.J. Needs , Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 045504 (2006)
Quantum Monte Carlo simulations of solid hydrogen
December 2, 2013 ProjectsJonathan Lloyd-Williams
Jonathan Lloyd-Williams, Bartomeu Monserrat, Pablo López Ríos, Neil Drummond, and Richard Needs
Hydrogen has the simplest electronic structure of any atom but its bulk properties are surprisingly complex. As hydrogen can only form a single covalent bond, it is expected to remain molecular to very high pressures. Several solid phases of hydrogen have been observed; the low-pressure phase I which consists of a quantum crystal of rotating molecules on a hexagonal close-packed lattice transforms at pressures of about 110 GPa to the broken symmetry phase II, in which the mean molecular orientations are ordered, and then to phase III at about 150 GPa. A new phase IV was recently observed in room temperature experiments and has generated great excitement within the field. Despite many years of intensive study, the arrangements of the molecules in phases II and III remain undetermined. The structure of phase IV is also unknown.
Experimental measurements have only been able to provide limited information about the molecular orientations in phases II and III of hydrogen. The information obtained from X-ray diffraction is limited because of the weak scattering of hydrogen atoms. So far the most important experimental data have come from infra-red and Raman vibrational spectroscopy. Theoretical identification of the structures is also difficult because of the need to consider the quantum statistics of the nuclei, the large zero-point vibrational energies, and the small enthalpy differences between competing phases.
To make progress in understanding the high pressure phase diagram of hydrogen, we will perform diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) calculations for the candidate phases (P21/c-24, C2/c-24, Cmca-12, Cmca-4, and Pc-48) at several different densities which will allow us to evaluate the enthalpy. DMC is a zero-temperature method but estimating the small room temperature corrections should be straightforward. We will first perform a set of static lattice DMC calculations and add zero-point motion effects from density functional theory to allow some preliminary comparisons with experiment. We will then perform a second set of calculations including the full zero-point motion effects within DMC.
Project begun: January 2013
Expected completion: December 2014
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Home / News / Bear Hands Release Campfire Version of New Single”Back Seat Driver (Spirit Guide)”
Bear Hands Release Campfire Version of New Single”Back Seat Driver (Spirit Guide)”
RJ Frometa June 15, 2018 News Leave a comment 106 Views
This morning, Bear Hands releases the stripped down “campfire” version of their new single “Back Seat Driver (Spirit Guide).” The music video finds the band performing an acoustic version of the song in the back of a Lyft, with whom they partnered with for the video, while they cruise around the boroughs of New York City. Watch the new music video for the campfire version of Bear Hand’s “Back Seat Driver (Spirit Guide)” here.
Recently, Bear Hands returned with their new single, “Back Seat Driver (Spirit Guide)”. “The song is about free will and finding yourself doing things that you don’t feel you are in control of,” says lead singer Dylan Rau, “being drawn to something and not really knowing why.” Watch the new music video for “Back Seat Driver (Spirit Guide),” directed by Jonathan Chu, here.
“Back Seat Driver (Spirit Guide)” is inspired by influences as disparate as M83 and The Who. “I really love the arpeggiated synth work of Pete Townsend,” Rau says. While writing and recording “Back Seat Driver (Spirit Guide)” Chris Chu of POP ETC, an accomplished songwriter and producer in his own right, served as a spirit guide of sorts. “Chris Chu produced the track and he wrote some instrumentals on it. He wrote guitar parts and helped with the arrangements. Really editing and providing outsider perspective. That really helps.”
Founded in NYC, Bear Hands quickly made a name for themselves and paid their dues by playing the city’s many bars and sweaty DIY venues as well as touring with acts including Foals, Cage The Elephant, and GZA. The band, which includes Rau (vocals guitar, keyboards), Val Loper (bass), and TJ Orscher (drums), are currently working on their fourth full-length release which they plan to release in 2018.
http://bearhandsband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bearhandsband
https://twitter.com/bearhandsband
https://www.instagram.com/bearhandsband/ https://www.youtube.com/user/BearHandsBand
https://soundcloud.com/bearhandsband
Previous Ananya’s New Single ‘Circles’ released Worldwide on UMG & Island Records
Next Steve Aoki, Deorro, MAKJ, and Max Styler join forces for new single “Shakalaka”
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Batavia brothers bring the noise
Posted by Jess Wheeler
Scott DiMartino played in local bands as a teenager. He had all the sound equipment needed for his big idea. In December, he approached his brother, Danny DiMartino, with the idea to set up a portable night club in Batavia. They bought a light setup and are now staging events at T.F. Brown’s and Billy Goats with their business, Esdee Entertainment. “Batavia has a lot of culture for bars,” Scott said. “There is Center Street, Bourbon & Burger and other places. As far as dancing goes, there isn’t really much to offer. It’s the same bars, the same bands, the same nights.” The brothers never thought that Batavia was big enough to support a nightclub for more than six months. Scott is hoping that monthly events will get people out and give them exposure to a different scene they may not have necessarily seen before. “We want to bring something different to this town,” he said. “People in Batavia may not have seen real mixing on turntables and that’s what we want to bring.” The idea came to Scott after his friend, Macy Paradise, came back from Colorado for a visit. He asked Scott to play a show with him at T.F. Brown’s. At the event, Paradise spun records and DiMartino played the drums. The response was overwhelming. “Tons of people showed up,” DiMartino said. “We received so much support from the people of Batavia that night.” DiMartino praises Paradise and his brother for their help with bringing his idea to life, but he really does it out of his love for music. He works 55-hour weeks at his full-time job. Yet, he somehow finds the time to plan events to share his passion with the rest of Batavia. “We are just two brothers who love music and bought a bunch of stuff with a ton of support from the community,” he said. The duo is hosting their next event on July 24 at Billy Goats. The $5 throwback dance party is for the 21-and-over crowd. Music will be exclusively from the '80s, '90s and early 2000s. The brothers hope to turn the occasion into a giant karaoke party. “I want to see the looks on people’s faces when they say, ‘Oh my god, I forgot this song existed!’ ” DiMartino teased. “People are going to have a really good time. I couldn’t be more excited to share this with my hometown.” Check out their Facebook page for updates on their future events.
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Jason Aldean Lands New Number One
posted by Frank Parkison - Jan 30, 2019
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Jason Aldean has a new number one song on the "Billboard's" Country Airplay Chart. Jason's latest single, "Girl Like You," which is his 20th song to lead on this chart.
The new chart topper ties Jason for the seventh-most Country Airplay number ones. Others who have 20 number ones include Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, and Toby Keith. The chart's overall leader is Kenny Chesney, who has had 30 songs top the chart.
Looking elsewhere on the chart, Dan + Shay have dethroned themselves from the top of the Hot Country Songs chart. After 19 weeks on the chart, "Tequila" has taken over the top spot from the band's other hit, "Speechless." This is now Dan + Shay's second Hot Country Songs number one. "Speechless" is now at number two, which means this is the pair's seventh week holding the top two spots.
Cody Johnson's major label debut "Ain't Nothing To It" tops the Top Country Albums chart this week, which marks his first number one on that chart. This album debuted at nine on the all-genre "Billboard" 200.
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Rainer Werner Fassbinder – Acht Stunden sind kein Tag AKA Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day (1972)
in 1971-1980, Arthouse, Drama, Germany, Rainer Werner Fassbinder October 19, 2018 1 Comment 763 Views
Starring: Gottfried John, Hanna Schygulla, Luise Ullrich
Directed by: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Rainer Werner Fassbinder had been making feature films for three years – and already amassed a filmography that would satisfy most careers – when he decided to take on a bigger challenge. Teaming up with West German television channel WDR, he conceived of Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day, a series that would extend to five feature-length episodes to be broadcast at monthly intervals.
Centring on the Krüger family, as well as their lovers, in-laws, friends and co-workers, the series takes a sometimes comic, sometimes dramatic look at domestic relationships and labour relationships, with particular focus on skilled worker Jochen (Gottfried John, Berlin Alexanderplatz, Goldeneye) and his new girlfriend, Marion (Hanna Schygulla, The Marriage of Maria Braun).
Reminiscent of working-class soap operas such as Coronation Street and the family-based sitcoms of Carla Lane, Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day has been a one of the more difficult to find entries of Fassbinder’s extraordinarily prolific output, but is now presented here in full and newly restored by the Fassbinder Foundation.
The 60th Berlinale successfully premiered the restored version of Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s three-part TV series “World on a Wire.” Now, seven years later, the Festival and the Rainer Werner Fassbinder Foundation offer a special presentation of the newly restored, 478-minute, five-part “Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day,” created in 1972 for Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) network. The series, Fassbinder’s first for television, and the last of his major works to be restored, “not only established a new genre for German television but also signaled a major new development in the career of a great contemporary filmmaker,” says Juliane Lorenz, president of the Fassbinder Foundation.
Tasked with creating a new type of family series about the life of the working class, the then-27-year-old Fassbinder did away with the conventional separation between private and professional life, achieving a seamless interconnection between domesticity and workplace activity. Lorenz notes, “Alongside themes common to family series such as interpersonal disputes and misunderstandings, and love stories, ‘Eight Hours’ dealt with such issues, then foreign to television, as solidarity in the workplace, the hierarchical structure of the working world, educational opportunities for workers, free public transport, high rents, and even anti-authoritarian approaches to [raising children].”
Fassbinder was less interested in presenting social realities and educating the public than in motivating it to change the extant reality. In a 1973 interview, he said that rather than analysis, his focus was on “cultivating courage, presenting the situation as full of promise rather than hopeless, showing people that the group provides possibilities not available to the individual, which is a wonderful thing and can lead to something new.”
The production employed Fassbinder’s usual ensemble of actors, including Hanna Schygulla, Irm Herrmann, Kurt Raab, Margit Carstensen, Hans Hirschmüller, Karl Scheydt, and Rudolf-Waldemar Brem, and it provided his first collaboration with lanky leading actor Gottfried John, who subsequently played many significant roles in his films. The production was also important in firming his relationship with WDR commissioning producer Peter Märthesheimer, who would go on to produce Fassbinder’s feature films “The Marriage of Maria Braun,” “Veronika Voss,” and “Lola,” and the epic television series “Berlin Alexanderplatz,” as well as “World on a Wire.” In the book “Chaos as Usual: Conversations About Rainer Werner Fassbinder,” Märthesheimer recalls, “We had anticipated 105 days of filming and he wrapped after 97 days. He was incredibly disciplined. . . Rainer knew just how to cater to the WDR crew. Everybody loved him: his pace, his precision, the power of his artistic expression.”
German director-writer-artist Ulrike Ottinger, a near contemporary of Fassbinder, remembers,
“At that time, only few people had television, so for that kind of film, a bunch of friends would meet in order to watch together, followed by lively discussions.” Ottinger especially liked the way the daily-life talk of the working-class characters was transformed into an artificial language as in the early Fassbinder theater plays. She notes, “This effect was underlined by the actor`s expressions and performance. The films were dealing with very simple questions such as what it means to work for others, even in a Marxist sense. What I particularly liked as well was the use of kitschy elements, clichés and music citations normally used for family series on TV. But in this context they got somehow transformed.”
“Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day” is preserved as a 16mm original reversal positive. This material was digitized and restored under the artistic direction of Lorenz by Arri in 2K resolution.
7.27GB |790×576 | mkv
http://nitroflare.com/view/261688424932E2E/Episode_1.mkv
http://nitroflare.com/view/E7C8272133506E7/Episode_2.mkv
http://nitroflare.com/view/7A9BF0D2B19974E/Episode_3.mkv
http://nitroflare.com/view/7252DFD3EBB42D4/Episode_4.mkv
http://nitroflare.com/view/F14279991603738/Episode_5.mkv
Language(s):German
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1000 thanks, I’ll been looking for this for ages.
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Carmine Amoroso – Porno e libertà AKA Porn to Be Free (2016)
Ferenc Cakó – Stones AKA Kövek – Stones (2000)
Anne Émond – Les êtres chers AKA Our Loved Ones (2015)
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the world we want to live in
exploring generation and creation as resistance.
meet the participants
about freddie
Iman on de-coupling work from worth & science as the safest place for 21st century witches
photo by Aaron Wojack
How do you identify yourself in the world?
I identify as a queer Black woman. I’m a student and an activist. I’m a witch. I’ve recently begun to also claim my identity as an artist. I’m doing a phD at UC Berkeley, which takes up a fair amount of my time and emotional space.
How are you doing?
I’m in a period of transition. I’m trying to decouple my work from my worth. My job will be ending soon. Now would be the time to start applying for careers because I’m going to have this pretty bomb ass degree. I just don’t wanna work! It’s both anti-capitalism and just plain exhaustion that make me feel this way. Since I was five years old I have been waking up every weekday to report to an institution. I don’t want to show up for these powerful white men anymore, or to allow them to profit off my body and my mind. I’m considering being unemployed for up to a year to figure out what I truly want to do, but that’s obviously risky. I have so many blessings I’m grateful for, but I’m also like… what happens next?
Could you share more about decoupling your work from your worth? How has that been for you logistically and emotionally, and where are you at in that process?
This summer was my Art Summer. Since I’m plan to finish my degree in December, I probably should have been applying for jobs. Most people in my position and field have applied to 50 or 60 positions by now. I applied to three and then I felt done. Considering I have such a strong work ethic, I had to ask myself why I was not trying? Like, “I’m just not giving a fuck, why is that?” A lot of it has to do with the psychic exhaustion of being associated with the university. UC Berkeley is a toxic and violent space right now, with all the white supremacist rallies and neo-nazis on campus. Part of me needs to take space away from Cal — and science — to figure out where my time, energy, love, and labor is best spent.
For years I’ve experience anti-Black racism at the university in subtle ways — the low demographic representation of Black students and faculty and a myriad of micro-aggressions. Now this sentiment has manifested in physical violence. I’m not surprised it’s happening because we’ve had all this shit just underneath the surface, Trump and Milo just made us really have to look at it. So the idea of applying for a job to be a professor at a university — I’m like, fuck that, why would I wanna stay in this war zone forever? That’s a hard realization after spending 12 years trying to attain this degree. Now that I’m finally close to having my dissertation completed I realize I don’t really want it. But I’m not going to quit because I’m too deep into it.
What is the degree or field you’re in?
I’m doing a phD in microbiology.
It seems intense to be intimately familiar with these systems and working under white-male-dominated institutions for so long. I can imagine why you’d want to be bursting out of that.
I’m skilled and qualified so I’m good at these jobs but I’m not invested in them. At some point it’s like, who am I doing this for? I want to take time to find out what I want to do for myself and my community. That’s the decoupling I mentioned earlier. I feel like I can do this best through travel, but that’s also escapism. I wanted to move to Paris, but then Trump got elected and I felt I had to stay here and fight.
Where are you at with the question of figuring out what you want to do for yourself and for the world?
I’m pretty sure about how I want to contribute; I don’t know how to pay my bills while doing that. I know I want to be employed by the resistance, but who funds an insurgent revolution?
My main focus is environmental justice. I study microbial ecology and work in public housing. I compare microbes and toxic mold in market rate housing and federally subsidized housing. My data shows what people have been saying for decades —if you’re black, brown, low-income, or an immigrant, you’re gonna be exposed to more toxic molds. That’s a basic environmental justice issue but now we have the data to prove it. That’s the work I want to do for the rest of my life. How do we protect marginalized communities from environmental pollutants, from climate change, from oppression and exploitation of resources? How can we use science to protect our communities, keep us safe and healthy, and use law to hold polluters accountable?
I have a dream of starting a Queer Radical Science Institute (qRSI). I spent my most memorable summers at biological stations, which are basically summer camps for adults. There are these forested plots you can go to to conduct long term ecological research. They are so fun and nerdy, and I acknowledge I’ve been blessed at spaces like those where I’ve met other enthusiastic natural historians, but when I look back I realize they are implicitly white spaces. This is largely due of the push-out of People of Color from the community of science. People with any sort of spiritual practice are shunned in these spaces. It selects for a very particular kind of ideology and identity. And It’s a goddamn shame.
I want to create more space, and find new ways to do and teach science through a framework of de-colonizing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). In this new paradigm, what are the questions that we ask, what are the methods that we use? Western modern science operates under a framework of white supremacy and capitalism, which means it is merely a tool of those pre-existent powerful and oppressive structures. At qRSI I want to explore what it would mean to uplift traditional ecological knowledge and indigenous views of the world rather than just the scientific method? If we do that, what are our final products? When do we know when the experiment is done? I want to move away from thinking about publishing papers as the final product. How about a campaign or artwork as the final product? What does it mean to do science that doesn’t end up in these elitist universities or journals? What does it mean to democratize the knowledge? These are all questions and beautiful dreams I don’t yet know how to manifest.
It’s cool to hear you bring up spirituality and art in reference to science because the white mainstream view places them in opposition to one another. You also mentioned coming into your artistry and identifying as an artist and a witch. What do those things look like in your life right now?
photo by Brooke Anderson
I always say one of the safest places for a 21st century witch is in science because you get to make magic in the laboratory. In the lab you can tinker; you can make things explode, you can transform, and deconstruct. Science is an incredible way to come to know and love The Mother:Nature. But due to patriarchy and misogyny, of course, witches had to go underground for safety. The history of witchcraft is based in resistance. I’ve been fascinated by witchy spaces since I was a kid. When I was maybe 13 I went into a store looking for a book and the shopkeeper called me a green witch. I didn’t know what that meant but now it all makes sense. The way I interact with the earth and nature is witchcraft. It’s voodoo. It’s root work. It’s also called ‘ecology’.
I started to experience activist burnout doing work in the Black Lives Matter movement around 2014. So often I was antagonized by police and felt hopeless. The system is fully inundated with injustice. What is the point of putting one more Black body on the line? It was getting so heavy emotionally. Then one life-changing night, I picked up a textbook from my Alma Mater, Howard University, called Black Magic. The book contains the history of root work and magic in Black America, starting with how slaves conjured against their enslavers. I thought that was so dope that our witchcraft comes from slave rebellion.
I think it’s common for Black folx to have fantasies of being slaves who would run away on the underground railroad, bravely heading North to freedom. But the reality is maybe you might have been a slave who couldn’t run. So what do you do? You hear about some stories of kitchen/Big House slave women who poisoned their masters. Someone’s gonna figure that out and your ass would be whipped or killed. But there other ways to subvert, and conjure and hexing was a part of that tradition.I started to dig into root work and curses against white supremacy to re-activate and reclaim this knowledge in my own activism. It was empowering at the beginning, but over time I started to feel like I was putting too much negative energy into the universe and needed to find a way to balance this with more positive vibes. All the curses we make come back times three, even though I’m responding to a curse that’s been put on me by subjugation. I started thinking about community healing work and how to sustain people in the movement. What kind of herbs can we use as adaptogens? How can we think about ways to heal our communities rather than just hex others? That’s where I feel more comfortable and where I’m at today. I don’t want to put negative out. I want to cultivate positive. I talk a lot about this on the radio show I co-host with a local DJ, Namaste Shawty and MC Queens D. Light on lowergrandradio.com.
Plants help me to find beauty in this fucked up system. They’ve taken a beating from capitalism with deforestation and exploitation of natural resources. Nonetheless the plants are resilient. I started looking at sage and lavender in urban city settings. How can these incredibly medicinal healing plants survive in Oakland and San Francisco? If they can do it, I can do it. These are my allies. Covered in soot but still so lovely. I take a lesson from them.
Is this research you’re doing on your own or in relationship to your school work?
It is in no way related to my school! If I told people at my school they would think I was crazy. I collect medicinal plants on campus sometimes and people always give me the side eye. What I’ve shared with you are lessons and inspiration that sustain me. Now I’m doing [an activist group called] Queer Magic for the Resistance, touching base with other down witches and brujas and showing up for community with healing herbs.
I don’t think I was so cognizant of my body before I started getting into witchcraft. I realized my body is mortal and I’m interacting with forces that intend to take apart my body. The police would gladly kill me, and these racist institutions intend to annihilate me. My material body became more of a focus than my brain, the main thing driving my career up until this point. A lot of work I do with herbs is about healing the body — making bath salts or body butter or teas to soothe the material tissue. Exploring my queer identity has been interesting too, looking at my body and asking what do I like about it? What am I not comfortable with? How does that relate to patriarchy and heteronormativity? That’s all part of the magic!
You’re doing a lot of different kinds of art right now right?
Music, visual art, the Las Brujas Radio podcast, and a videogame. That has been an exploration in play and anti-capitalist views of time. If you’re not working and you’re not making money, then is your time valuable? Capitalism thwarts your creativity because you make it about dollars rather than creation. I have decided that I’m gonna make this collage just because I want to make this collage! I’m not gonna market or sell it. I’m gonna make it because it feels good and I’m entitled to my time and to pleasure. If I want to create, I can. I’m trying to not feel guilty about things I ‘should’ be doing instead.
So first I started playing with collage than I started playing with sound. Now I’m playing with audio collage. I dropped my debut album ‘Noncommital’ on bandcamp at the end of Virgo Season. I started playing in a band. I’m just reclaiming my time. I realized that the days belong to me — not the institution, and definitely not the market.
It’s hard though because like you said earlier, you know what you want to do for yourself and in the world but you don’t know how to pay the rent at the same time. Ideally we’re all trying to reclaim our time, but we also experience barriers to that.
Reclaiming my time is not without recourse. My advisor is my boss, and he’s threatened to stop paying me. I got to a point where I was like, if you’re gonna kick me out, then just go on and kick me out, but until then, this is what I’m gonna do. I’m six years into my PhD now and I’m kinda losing steam for science, but also I’m just interested in lots of other things and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Sometimes when I’m kicking ass in other projects I’m able to plug back into science and have an awesome productive day. But it’s gonna be a day, it’s not gonna be my week.
Right, it’s not taking over your life so much.
I gotta find space for me. The institutions erase your individuality. They make you a worker. I came here to be a thinker and to tinker, and to learn about fungi.
Outside of a capitalist framework, can you imagine what would you be doing for yourself and for your community?
By virtue of being human I believe everyone is entitled to food, housing, water, education, healthcare, and a suitable form of labor that makes life sweet. In my dream of the world everyone would have that. There’s a cool way to decouple labor from basic needs being met. Instead of working so much just to have a roof to put over your head and keep the lights on, what if we decided everyone’s entitled to these things just because you need them — what would you do with your time? The world would be so much more beautiful. People would create. People would care. Some people call it universal basic income, some call it socialism or anarchism, I’m also comfortable calling it welfare. There’s so much waste in capitalism. Anyone who qualifies should fucking get their food stamps. This system is providing so much junk we don’t need that’s having this awful environmental impact. Get your shit from the government. The government should care for you simply because you exist. I dream that.
In terms of my economic political standings, I want a big government that cares for all the people. I hate the laissez-faire market. I don’t want free market capitalism to drive any of our policies. I liked the idea of the share economy that tech is creating, minus the tech influence and the fact that the bottom-line is profit. But they’re onto something really — we don’t all need to have a car, you know? We don’t all need to own the land, but we can all utilize it. I love the idea of not exchanging money for services ever again.
What would you do and how would you contribute in this world?
I’d be working in outdoor education, still hanging out with plants and looking at fungi. Biodiversity is so beautiful and I love natural history. I’d probably be a storyteller. I’d tell people about what we’re seeing in our environment and how to engage with it and what other people do with these things. I’d wanna tell the stories of the forest and cultivate spaces where those stories could be told. The ways to tell that story would be numerous. You can paint it, you can sing it, you can have the bonfire, you can lead a mushroom hunt through the pristine woods, or abandoned urban lots.
What do you think is important about telling those stories?
They’re fascinating. It helps you to find your place if you know that the world is much bigger than you. I’m finding it humbling to realize how complex all of these interactions between soil, microbes, climate, weather, water, micronutrients, plants, and animals are. You could spend the rest of your life trying to figure out how this little ecosystem works. I’m just one little player in this beautiful construction. I love that. It means some of these decisions I make and stress over aren’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
I also think it’s important to just worship the land that you’re on and acknowledge the space you occupy as sacred. We’d engage a lot differently if we put ourselves in the context of the place and the space and hold ourselves and that space as not distinct from one another, and to acknowledge land as profound and beautiful.
It’s cool to hear you talk about your relationship to nature and science as being humbling. I feel like a lot of what has turned me off from mainstream science is the doctrine, the knowing, the framework that research happens for the purpose of ownership and dominance. It’s cool to hear how you are engaged in science and nature from a totally different perspective and seeking to unravel more mystery and wonder.
Yeah. There were anthropologists in the twenties who explored this demarcation between science, religion, and magic. It was in this ideation that “primitive” cultures have magic and religion basically because they are ignorant, and “civilized” cultures have science, because they understand and dominate their environments. Academics were suggesting that cultures who don’t have an understanding of their environment just ‘leave it up to the elements’ and pray to their gods because they don’t understand, and once you gain some knowledge of the earth you move towards magic so you can manipulate it, and then once you truly know it and demonstrate mastery then a cultures has science. This is obviously whack, because all of these things exist simultaneously and one person or entire cultures can go these different modes of wonder, ignorance, and knowledge every cycle, and/or every single day.
It’s a lot queerer.
Exactly. I want to get to a point where magic is viewed on the same plane as science, and privileged without having to be called “pseudo-science”.
Magic and science aren’t in opposition to each other. I recently learned that avocados change their sex multiple times a day.
So the flowers change or drop? That’s really interesting. That’s a lot of development and the genetics must be really intense and what kind environmental cues trigger those changes… How can we not be humbled and get off this dichotomy, you know? You are either male or female — no, there’s so many options, really. I love the idea of perfect flowers, which in botany is a term used to describe hermaphroditic flowers.
Maybe future check boxes on forms could have us choose between avocados and perfect flowers. It’s wonderful to hear about all the work you’re exploring. What do you need to support you in these processes and helping to create this world?
Instinctively I would say money but I want to move away from that. Part of me feels like a land trust is the move. What would it mean to have a spot where we do this Queer Radical Science Institute and just start by occupying? We just get there and start cultivating the world we want to see. We’ve seen that happen when you think about community gardens in Los Angeles or Detroit. People just took up hoes in urban space and developers come claim it once it’s poppin’.
I’m still figuring my shit out. It’d be cool if people were down to dream with me and offer their time and energy. All I really need is love and community. Money sucks. Capitalism is the reason my family, my ancestors were enslaved. I don’t want that to be what determines whether or not I’m a valuable contribution to society. Fuck the money. Share the love.
Is your goal to transform the institutions, to tear them down, or work completely outside of them?
I have been battling this question for so long. My second and third year at Cal, the only Black woman faculty member in my entire college, Carolyn Finney, was denied tenure. At the time there were only two Black professors, so all of the women of color flock to this one faculty member for mentorship. Because she was overloaded with doing community care work, she wasn’t able to produce as much academic stuff, which is the only thing the university really values. I started wondering, if we get her tenure, if more of us stay, can we shift it? Can we fix it from the inside? Maybe that is possible, but I’m not gonna be the one to do it, because that is not the timescale I wanna work on. Now bricks go through our windows and buildings get set on fire because people are so frustrated with the institution and want to tear it down. I think this absolutely needs to happen, but I don’t want to be the one to do that either. I want to work wholly outside of it. I don’t want to destroy it, I don’t want to sit around inside of it and wait for it to change, I want to do my own thing elsewhere. If folks wanna get down, come holler at me. But I’m not engaging in this shit anymore. I once heard a wise youth say, “everyone is invited to the revolution, but not everyone will come.”
You mentioned love and community as two things that can support you in doing that. Can you tell me what it looks like to show up for each other in community?
Sometimes it’s the simplest things. Sometimes after going to a protest, having a friend who’s cooked you a meal and made you tea and is there to give you a hug is huge. Having a friend go with you to the protest is also amazing. I get a lot of tarot readings from my friends and spend a lot of time in beer gardens debriefing and processing. I spend a lot of time in nature, in the rivers and forests. I go mushroom hunting every weekend. Take a hike and get away. Sometimes you don’t have to go very far. I spend a lot of time in the Piedmont Cemetery. That’s in Oakland, but I’m getting away from the exchange of money and capitalism. I sit with the realities that time is limited. Your life is precious. You only have a couple of years to do whatever it is you’re doing. And then once you’re done with that you’re gonna give all your atoms back to the universe.
Is this conversation bringing up any other thoughts you have about creating the world you want to live in?
We as activists struggle to feel like we’re doing enough. The issues are so vast and so big. It can be disheartening. I’ve seen many people turn away from the movement because sometimes you feel like you’re never gonna win. I’ve grappled with that, but then I think about all the major victories we’ve accomplished in the last couple years. Something I’m proud of is that we got the University of California to divest in for-profit prisons. That’s a big deal. But it’s so easily overshadowed when the same university that divested is giving a “Free Speech Week” platform to white supremacists. You can get so inundated in the everyday struggle, forget how powerful you really are, and question if you’re doing enough. I used to feel like if i don’t go how can I expect anyone else to? This year I’ve gotten better about trusting that if I don’t show up, someone else will. Since the inauguration I think people are getting it. This shit is urgent.
There’s a certain level of privilege that comes from being associated with the university. I’ve been arrested and had my Cal ID on top of my state ID and the cops let me walk away. There are some things I can do other working class folks cannot. I don’t really have to show up at school tomorrow at 8am, I can go to jail tonight. I don’t want to go to jail, but it’s better me — the single student — to go to jail than somebody else who has to feed a child. If I get a job, which is what I’m trying to avoid for the rest of my life, I won’t have this particular freedom. So while I do, it’s critical for me to utilize it. I don’t feel like there’s a whole lot of privileges I have besides maybe my citizenship, my education, and being cisgendered. The few that I have, I’m gonna fucking work ‘em and put them to use.
The revolution will be pleasurable! I have been so blessed by the people in my life, especially the activist community. I have started using the phrase ‘Lover-Homie-Comrade’ just to acknowledge the ways people flow through relationships. Some can be romantic, some can be platonic, sometimes I’ll throw down with you in a protest, maybe we’ll spend the night together in jail. It’s hard work, but these are labors of love. We’re out here waging love y’all.
You can find Iman’s work all over! Listen to Iman’s album, band, and Las Brujas Radio. Check out Iman’s visual art and support the conceptual demo of her video game. This interview is part of a series for The World We Want to Live in.
Author freddiePosted on November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 Categories interviewTags academia, anticapitalism, art, artist activist, black, black lives matter, bruja, burnout, capitalism, community, ecology, environmental justice, herbalism, microbiology, plants, public housing, queer, resistance, science, spirituality, witch
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TransGenerational Theatre Project on autonomy, creating new scripts, and tra-la-la moments March 7, 2019
a note from freddie, on radio silence & what’s to come February 26, 2019
Kiran on nutrition as healthcare, interdependence, and valuing one’s own labor August 9, 2018
Sol on building the foundation, web-weaving, and the role of plant allies July 9, 2018
Amina on collectivizing, rethinking roles, and balancing community accessibility with personal sustainability May 9, 2018
This interview project asks: What is your role & work in this political moment?
We all have a role to play in resistance against oppression and building a better world. Many of us who may not be full-time activists and organizers may have trouble discerning our role in this resistance, but we can all take part, especially in the era of Trump and cultural resurgence/increased visibility of white supremacy, imperialism, and fascism. The central question of this project is: who are you, and how does your life and work connect to resistance in this era?
New interviews are published irregularly, but this project is active unless otherwise noted. Please follow us on Facebook or scroll down to subscribe via email so you can read ’em all!
my dearest companion & i are very grateful for sunshine after a very rainy few weeks in west sonoma county, on occupied coastal miwok land. . . . . . [image: frankie bean, an indisputably gorgeous tabby with impressive #eartufts, basks in the late afternoon sun on my porch.] #frankiebohnanza
At long last, NEW INTERVIEW UP: please enjoy this rich & vibrant interviw with members of the TransGenerational Theatre Project including: Kai (she, 22), Christian (35, she/they), L (they, 37), Renee (she, 70) . They discuss autonomy, creating new scripts, and "tra-la-la moments.” It is impossible to capture in text the dynamicism and vibrance of this group interview, which included many refrains of hoots, hollers, and "yaaaas"-es. Link in bio! . . . . Extra thanks to TGTP for being gracious and forgiving with the delay on publishing this piece! . . . . . [Image: members of the TransGenerational Theatre Project, with @burn.it.down.now’s words overlayed: "theatre provides an opportunity for us to explore how to change the world. By creating a piece of what the world looks can look like, trans people can re-envision a new world for ourselves.”."] . . . . . #worldwewanttolivein #trans #transisbeautiful #transgenerationaltheatreproject #gender #intergenerational #queer #nonbinary #Marshapjohnson #transtheatre #queertheatre #transfemme #interview #girlslikeus #queerart #transart #abetterworldispossible
incredible skies on the sonoma coast // occupied coastal miwok land. . . . . [image: dramatic clouds on a bright blue sky, popping green grass, & the ocean meeting the craggy bluff.]
“We [QTPOC artists] We make incredibly complex, diverse, professional, raw, amazingly polished art. You should really see about us; but real talk -- we coming either way.” . . . so proud of & excited for my friend @lafemmebear for her music video premiering on billboard yesterday! head over to her profile to watch this badass & beautiful music vid.
seeds can do so much with just seven days of dark, soil, water, & magic! maybe these bb kale plantlings will feed me when the weather is warm... . . . if you missed yesterday’s post, pls check out the interview with transgenerational theatre project in my bio 🎭💖 . . . [image: kale seedings emerging from the soil on my window sill, with a #sunbeam, #rosequartz, and #redwoods in the background.]
At long last, NEW INTERVIEW UP: please enjoy this rich & vibrant interviw with members of the TransGenerational Theatre Project including: Kai (she, 22), Christian (35, she/they), L (they, 37), Renee (she, 70) . They discuss autonomy, creating new scripts, and "tra-la-la moments.” It is impossible to capture in text the dynamicism and vibrance of this group interview, which included many refrains of hoots, hollers, and "yaaaas"-es. Link in bio! . . . . Extra thanks to TGTP for being gracious and forgiving with the delay on publishing this piece! . . . . . [Image: Renée & two other members of the TransGenerational Theatre Project, with Renée's words overlayed: "I don’t do it for me, I do it for you. Because maybe me exhibiting my realness will inspire others to release their inner realness that they have been afraid to present to the world."] . . . . . #worldwewanttolivein #trans #transisbeautiful #transgenerationaltheatreproject #gender #intergenerational #queer #nonbinary #Marshapjohnson #transtheatre #queertheatre #transfemme #interview #girlslikeus #queerart #transart #abetterworldispossible
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Welcome to the homepage of Worldwide Birding Tours
The Company for Quality Birding Holidays
Worldwide Birding Tours are different from other Companies offering birding Holidays on the following important points:
High quality and comfort of accommodation, food, transport and all other aspects of the tour are as important to us as the birding itself.
We provide alternative programs. Worldwide Birding tours understands that when a couple travel together, sometimes one has less interest in the actual birding and prefers to enjoy other aspects of the visited holiday destination.
Travelling together as friends, this is our philosophy, because we want to enjoy the tour as much as you and we also want to be an integral part of the group.
Our birding guides are of an extremely high standard, maybe this is not necessary to say, but of course we want to assure you, that you will really see all possible birds
Wallacea – Every Bird a Lifer
This photographic trip took place over three weeks during February/March 2017. The visit proved to be very different in nature to any previous expeditions due to the unique situation in Wallacea. Overall the photography proved to be very difficult since the areas were generally forest, although often quite open, the birds were not abundant and when we were observing displays these took place early in the morning in poor light conditions. Much of the time was therefore spent searching for a specific bird in a known location rather than randomly observing birds while travelling around. The result was a fairly limited list of birds, many of which however are endemics. It has to be said that although there is a long list of endemics for Wallacea the taxonomic splitters have taken every opportunity to exploit geographical separation of the islands to create new species based on barely discernible differences. It has to be admitted that the title of this article is not entirely accurate, however, more than fifty percent of the birds photographed were endemic and very few of the remaining ones were familiar to us even with extensive experience of photographing birds in Thailand, Malaysia and other parts of Asia.
Wallacea is a collection of islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago first identified as an area of biological interest by the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859. Wallace noted that there is a line of demarcation, the Wallace Line, which marks the rather abrupt change from Asiatiatic animal species to the west of the line to a mixture of Asian and Australian species to the east.The line he defined runs between Borneo and Sulawesi and through the Lombok Strait between Bali and Lombok. Even though the distance between Bali and Lombok is only 35 km the difference in the fauna is striking. Although Wallace did not understand the reason for such a clear biogeographical divide we now know that it resulted from the different origins of the land masses during tectonic plate movements in ancient times. Some indications of the original affiliations of the current islands can be seen from the depths of the sea between the groups of islands.
The visit to Wallacea had been due to start with a brief stay in Makassar on the island of Sulawesi, however, a cancelled flight from Amsterdam to Jakarta resulted in a lost day and a start in Palu on Sulawesi instead. The time in Palu was largely spent in Lore Lindu National Park, where the first endemic species for Sulawesi were seen.The second destination on Sulawesi was the town of Manado at the northern tip of the island where Tangkoko National Park was the focus of our attention. Photography here was a little easier due to the more open forest canopy. It was here that our list of Kingfishers began to expand significantly. Of particular interest during this part of the trip was a visit to Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park where a conservation project is underway for the Maleo. This is a large bird which lays a single egg buried deep in the sand, which it then leaves to incubate and hatch unattended. The chick hatches after 90 days and can fly immediately and has to fend for itself without any parental care.
The next part of the tour involved flying onward from Manado to the volcanic island of Ternate (where Wallace spent much of his time) and then immediately transferring by boat to Sofifi on Halmahera. It was here that we saw our first members of the Bird-of-Paradise family, the Paradise Crow and Wallace’s Standardwing. Once again many of the birds seen were endemic to Halmahera.
Our final destination was Waigeo Island in West Papua, which was reached by flying from Ternate back to Manado and then on to Sorong on mainland West Papua. A two-hour ferry ride from Sorong took us to Waigeo, a major destination for scuba diving. It took great persistence and physical exertion here to add Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise and the Red Bird-of-Paradise to our photographic record together with a number of other interesting species including the marsupial Common Spotted Cuscus and the Western Crowned-Pigeon. Returning from Sorong to Makassar en route for Jakarta and the journey home permitted some time to see a few more interesting endemic species in the area close to Makassar.
Author: Roger Marchant
Photographs: Roger Marchant (except Wilson's Bird of Paradise)
Brazil - Amazonia
Ready for surprises
A superb experience
To see the unexpected
Join our next tour
You will like it
Autumn Migration in Morocco
Join our tour in September
Visits to Ouad Massa
Paradise Valley and
Stone desert areas
A truly great experience
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Pamplin College of Business announces Outstanding Graduating Senior award recipient
Tatiana Mishina
BLACKSBURG, Va., April 30, 2008 – Virginia Tech has named Tatiana Mishina, a resident of Pilot, Va., as the Outstanding Graduating Senior in the Pamplin College of Business for the 2007-2008 academic year.
Mishina is expected to receive a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting in the Pamplin College of Business with a minor in Russian language in May 2008. She is a University Honors student who has served as a teaching assistant, a team co-leader for the Business Horizons Career Fair and assumed leadership roles with Pi Sigma Epsilon and Virginia Tech’s Residence Hall Federation.
Outside the university Mishina has completed internships with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst and Young, and Comprehensive Computer Solutions. She has also volunteered to participate in The Big Event and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The Outstanding Senior Awards are presented at the Student Honors Day Banquet each spring. These awards are co-sponsored by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association and the senior class.
The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding student performance in each college of the university. Students are selected on the basis of their quality credit average (3.4 or higher on a 4.0 scale) and outstanding performance in several or all of the following areas: academic achievement, extracurricular activities, leadership positions, and contributions of service to the university and/or community.
Virginia Tech’s nationally ranked Pamplin College of Business offers undergraduate and graduate programs in accounting and information systems, business information technology, economics, finance, hospitality and tourism management, management, and marketing. The college emphasizes the development of ethical values and leadership, technology, and international business skills. A member of its marketing faculty directs the interdisciplinary Sloan Foundation Forest Industries Center at Virginia Tech. The college’s other centers focus on business leadership, business diversity, electronic commerce, organizational performance, and services innovation. The college, committed to serving business and society through the expertise of its faculty, alumni, and students, is named in honor of Robert B. Pamplin (Class of 1933), the former CEO of Georgia-Pacific, and his son, businessman and philanthropist Robert B. Pamplin Jr. (Class of 1964). Virginia Tech, the most comprehensive university in Virginia, is dedicated to quality, innovation, and results to the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.
Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech is the most comprehensive university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is among the top research universities in the nation. Today, Virginia Tech’s eight colleges are dedicated to quality, innovation, and results through teaching, research, and outreach activities. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg and other campus centers in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, Southside, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 180 academic degree programs.
Written by Stephanie Haugen-Ray.
Virginia Tech News
vtnews@vt.edu
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EA Sports UFC 2 Review – Grapple Time
By Mat Growcott
Developer/Publisher: EA Canada, EA
Platform: Xbox One, PlayStation 4
Xbox One version reviewed. Review code provided by the developer.
For some of us, EA Sports’ UFC 2 is a perfect simulation of our physical skills. I spent half my time trying to pull of awesome moves and missing my opponent by about a mile, and the other half crying on the floor while someone kicked me in the head. Finally – a realistic fighting game.
From the very get go, it’s clear that EA are pushing this as the game for UFC fans. It’s all about the atmosphere, the cheers of the crowd, the excitement of the commentary. The developers got it just right in that even the longest, most mistake-ridden bout still feels like an event. This is a massive contrast to a lot of other sports games, where player action can easily make Chelsea look like the Elephant and Castle Old Boys.
Little things like having the option to bump gloves go a long way towards making this more than just slapping around another person. Small touches make it feel like this is a game based on real life, not just the rigid rules of a sport.
But ultimately, it’s how well it feels and how well it emulates the action of the real life game that any title should be judged on.
The controls are easier than ever to pick up, and while they’re still a little bit contrived, that’s more a result of having to use a controller at all than a specific fault on the part of the developers. Having to combine buttons to do specific actions without thinking isn’t as easy to rote learn as, say, the special moves in Street Fighter. Although the latter is more complicated, there’s less room for mistakes.
But picking up the basics is fairly easy and all but the most elite of players will be happy without too much practice. Grappling is controlled almost entirely with the right analogue stick, which takes you out of the action a little bit but definitely reduces how complicated it was in the previous title. Perhaps it reduces it a little too much.
You pick moves and, so long as you can hold it without being interrupted, that move is successful. You also have to try and counter your opponents moves. It’s simple, but does what it needs to do, usually.
The ground game never really gets to the point where it should be your top option. I think that’s my only major problem with the gameplay. It feels easier to smack someone in the face that it does to get into mildly compromising positions with someone on the floor and, as with all things in life, why bother taking a hard route when an easier one will do the job?
My joke about missing your opponent is mostly true. It’s easy to spend a lot of time narrowly missing the other player, if only because sometimes you can’t quite judge the effect a move will have. Thankfully, this is all on the player and it never feels like a problem.
There are times, on the other hand, where attacks almost don’t seem to register. A punch to the mouth seems to just slide off, with barely any noise and zero reaction from the person you’re hitting. It could be a comparison thing – a glancing blow compared to a proper smack – but it stands out and feels off somehow.
But despite that major problem, the gameplay is great. It’s very enjoyable with few, if any, genuine problems. Thankfully, you’re not just limited to reliving fights of the biggest names. There is an absolutely massive catalogue of fighters and modes to work your way through. This is a huge improvement over the last entry.
If you fancy a quick fight, that option is of course in full force, but mini-games and longer career modes are available as well. If you want this to be your main title for the next few months, there’s enough content here to make sure you aren’t repeating the same things over and over. Granted, the gameplay itself obviously stays exactly the same pretty much regardless, but the whole career progression, taking your character from training to world champion, is much appreciated.
One of the biggest marketing points of this and many of EA’s other sports titles is the visuals, and they don’t disappoint. In fact, they’re almost too good in many ways.
People look great, especially those in the ring. The detail is way better than you’d ever expect from a sports title which, to be fair, they could have just churned out. Hair moves realistically and bruises and breaks are enough to make a haemophobic queasy. That’s beyond the obvious: the fighters just look great.
It’s when you get clips of score girls between rounds that things become a little uneasy. Again, they’re structured well and move as you’d expect, but there’s something about their eyes and expression that just doesn’t seem right. It’s an unexpected visit to the uncanny valley. Without a simple solution, it’s hard to knock EA too much for this occasional problem.
A special mention must also be made of the sound design. It’s beautiful, both in terms of the way it’s mixed and the sound effects used. We’ve already mentioned the commentary, and to be fair you’d expect that to be at least pretty good, but it really does make the atmosphere. Beyond that, when you actually connect a punch or a kick, you can really feel it and most of that is down to the audio.
When you properly boot someone in the face, the corresponding click, as well as the cheer from the crowd, makes you cringe. It cannot be knocked.
It’s clear that EA have taken a lot of the complaints about their first UFC title on board when creating their second. They’ve added a bunch of content and fixed the grappling system in many ways. It’s still by no means a perfect experience, but the problems are far from game breaking. This is what a sports title should be and while it probably won’t bring in any new fans to UFC, it’s a more than decent representation for those that already love it.
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Tag Archives: St James Piccadilly
Parish Registers for Westminster
This is a little guide to the parish registers of baptisms, marriages and burials held at City of Westminster Archives Centre. On our website under “Researching your family history at the Archives Centre” you can find a list of our Information Sheets and other useful information.
Marriage entry for Percy Busshe Shelly, 24 March 1814, from St George, Hanover Square, volume 23, showing an example of a marriage entry before introduction of civil registration. Image property of Westminster City Archives.
Marriage entry for Theodore Roosevelt, 2 December 1886, St George, Hanover Square, volume 85 (after civil registration). Image property of Westminster City Archives.
Baptism entry for Robert Cicil (Robert Cecil, Statesman), 6 June 1563. Image property of Westminster City Archives.
An example of a burial entry page after Rose’s act of 1813 from St Martin in the Fields. Image property of Westminster City Archives.
Title page of our earliest register for St Clement Danes 1558, volume 1. Image property of Westminster City Archives.
An example of a baptism entry page from St James, Piccadilly, showing the printed paper registers used after 1813. Image property of Westminster City Archives.
Burial entry for Elinor Gwin (Nell Gwyn), St Martin in the Fields, 17 November 1687, volume 17. Image property of Westminster City Archives.
Information Sheet 1 lists the registers we have for Anglican Churches in Westminster. Most of these are available to view on microfilm (for reasons of conservation) in our Searchroom, but they have also been digitised and are available to search and view online on the Findmypast website.
Registers for the Anglican churches in Marylebone and Paddington are available to view on microfilm copies here and on the Ancestry website because the original registers for these are at the London Metropolitan Archives.
Both Findmypast and Ancestry are available on the public computers in all Westminster libraries and on Wifi to users in libraries with laptops. More detailed indexes to our holdings can be found in the Archives Searchroom.
The earliest registers date back to Henry VIII and the establishing of the Church of England. Thomas Cromwell issued an order to every parson, vicar or curate to register every wedding, christening and burial within their parish in 1538.
The oldest registers for Westminster are for St Margaret, Westminster starting from 1539 followed by St Martin in the Fields 1551 and St Clement Danes and St Mary le Strand in 1558.
In 1597 paper registers were found to be deteriorating. An order was issued for them to be on parchment or vellum. Old register were to be copied from at least 1558. There was also an order for a second copy to be made and sent to diocese and these are known as the Bishop’s Transcripts. This was to prevent the temptation of later tampering of the registers. You can find these copies for Westminster registers on the Ancestry website taken from the copies sent to the Bishop of London.
The years 1642 – 1653 are sometimes known as the civil war gaps due to the upheaval of the monarchy. From 1653 a civil register was introduced which reverted back to the clergy when the monarchy was reintroduced in 1660. Another important date to point out is 1752 when the calendar changed. Before this date the year started on Lady’s Day, 25 March.
The Hardwicke Act for marriages was introduced from 1754. Marriages had to be registered in a separate register to baptisms and burials, before this one register could contain all three. It was also expected to eliminate clandestine and irregular ceremonies; only Jews and Quakers were exempt. All others including Catholic were supposed to take place in licenced Anglican churches and printed paper registers were introduced. You could marry by Banns or Licence and needed the marks or signatures of two witnesses.
Rose’s Act was passed in 1812 and introduced printed standardised registers for baptisms and burials.
From 1 July 1837 the civil registration for births, marriages and death starts in England and Wales.
Parish registers still continues. The marriage entry in the parish register does correspond to the same format as the General Register Office certificate, but the parish register will have the original signatures of the groom, bride and witnesses, if they could write their own names.
[Cecilia]
Posted in Archives Centre, Online
Tagged Ancestry, archives, family history, Find My Past, genealogy, history, In House Specials, Nell Gwyn, online, parish registers, Percy Bysshe Shelly, Register Office, Robert Cecil, Roosevelt, St Clement Danes, St George Hanover Square, St James Piccadilly, St Martin in the Fields, Theodore Roosevelt
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Tag Archives: TDA
The great and the good
All of us who live or work in Westminster have walked through Trafalgar Square dozens of times, but how many of us have actually looked at Nelson’s Column properly? Certainly not me until recently when I happened to look at the bas-reliefs at the base of the pillar and wondered what they actually represented. Coincidentally on the bus home I heard a trailer for an excellent-sounding radio programme, Britain’s Black Past which mentioned the reliefs and revealed that at least one of the sailors pictured was black. A bit of research revealed that a third of the crew of the Victory, Nelson’s ship, were born outside Britain (including, somewhat surprisingly, three Frenchmen) and that one of the men pictured, George Ryan, was black.
As we celebrate Black History Month, what other memorials of interest can we find in Westminster?
Well, for a start there’s the oldest monument in London – Cleopatra’s Needle. Nothing to do with Cleopatra, it actually predates her by 1500 years, being made for Pharoah Thotmes III. One slightly odd feature of the Needle is that the four sphinxes, ostensibly there to guard it, actually face inwards so you’d think they’d be fairly easy to surprise…
Moving forward to the eighteenth century brings us to Ignatius Sancho (1724-1780) who, despite pretty much the worst possible start in life (he was born on slave ship and both his parents died soon after) became butler to the Duke of Montagu and, after securing his freedom, was the only eighteenth-century Afro-Briton known to have voted in a general election (in Westminster). He wrote many letters to the literary figures of the time such as the actor David Garrick and the writer Laurence Sterne, was painted by Thomas Gainsborough and was also a prolific composer.
You can read more about Sancho in several books available to view at Westminster City Archives, and listen to some of his compositions.
And if you happen to be passing the Foreign and Commonweath Office, see if you can spot the memorial to him.
A more famous near-contemporary of Sancho, was Olaudah Equiano (1747-1797), another former slave and author of one of the earliest autobiographies by a black Briton.
Like George Ryan, Equiano (or Gustavus Vassa as he was known in his lifetime) was a sailor who travelled to the Caribbean, South America and the Arctic, having been kidnapped from Africa as a child. While still a slave, Equiano converted to Christianity and was baptised in St Margaret’s Westminster. His autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano was one of the first slave narratives and was reprinted several times in Equiano’s lifetime. He became a leading member of the abolitionist movement, as one of the Sons of Africa, a group of former slaves in London who campaigned against slavery. You can see a plaque to him at 73 Riding House Street, Paddington and see him portrayed by Youssoo N’Dour in the film Amazing Grace.
One black Briton who needs almost no introduction is Mary Seacole (1805-1881), who fought racial prejudice to nurse and feed soldiers in the Crimea and who was so popular with her former patients that the Times reported on 26th April 1856 that, at a public banquet at the Royal Surrey Gardens:
“Among the illustrious visitors was Mrs Seacole whose appearance awakened the most raputurous enthusiasm. The soldiers not only cheered her but chaired her around the gardens and she really might have suffocated from the oppressive attentions of her admirers were it not that two sergeants of extraordinary stature gallantly undertook to protect her from the pressures of the crowd.”
You can follow the famous war correspondent WH Russell in the Times Digital Archive (log in with your library card number) – he was a great admirer of Mrs Seacole. And if you haven’t already, do read her extraordinary autobiography The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands. There are two plaques in her honour in Westminster – one at 147 George Street and one at 14 Soho Square.
Less well-known than Mary Seacole is Henry Sylvester Williams (1869-1911), a Trinidadian teacher who came to London in the 1890s, studied Latin at King’s College and qualified as a barrister in 1897 (though he earned his living as a lecturer for the Temperance Association). He was a founder-member of the Pan-African Association, whose aims were
“to secure civil and political rights for Africans and their descendants throughout the world; to encourage African peoples everywhere in educational, industrial and commercial enterprise; to ameliorate the condition of the oppressed Negro in Africa, America, the British Empire, and other parts of the world”
In 1906, Williams was elected as a Progressive for Marylebone Council and, along with John Archer in Battersea, was one of the first black people elected to public office in Britain. You can read more about Williams (and the other people listed here) in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and see a plaque erected by Westminster Council in his honour at 38 Church Street.
Bringing us nearer the present day are two former residents of Westminster who everyone knows. Guitarist Jimi Hendrix, discussed before in this blog, lived for a short time in 1968 at 23 Brook Street, Mayfair, and you can see a blue plaque to him there.
And we finish on perhaps the most famous memorial of recent years – in 2007 a bronze statue of Nelson Mandela was erected in Parliament Square in the presence of Mr Mandela himself.
You can find out more about the people in this blog by checking out our library catalogue and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as well as our Newspaper Archives. Plus if you want to know who the first Black British woman to write an autobiography was, don’t miss the event at Paddington Library on 27 October!
[Nicky]
Posted in Archives Centre, Books, Online, Web Treasure Hunt
Tagged 24/7, Africa, African, archives, authors, autobiography, BHM, biography, Black History Month, Blue Plaques, Caribbean, Church Street, Cleopatra's Needle, composers, Crimea, George Ryan, George Street, Green Plaques, Gustavus Vassa, Henry Sylvester Williams, history, Ignatius Sancho, Jimi Hendrix, local history, Mary Seacole, Marylebone, Marylebone Council, Mayfair, Nelson, Nelson Mandela, Nelson's Column, newspapers, October, ODNB, Olaudah Equiano, online, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Paddington, Pan-African Association, Pharoah Thotmes III, reference, Slave Trade, slavery, Soho Square, TDA, Times Digital Archive, Trafalgar Square, travel, Trinidad, Westminster Council
The Fairytale of Leicester City
Last week saw the rather unexpected news of Leicester City clinching the football Premier League title. Was this really as significant as many newspapers described? The most uplifting story in British sporting history, or perhaps the biggest upset/shock? The team’s odds were 5000 to 1 at the beginning of the season having narrowly avoided relegation last year, after all. It was that and more, according to the papers.
To compare this victory with other surprise wins and ‘rise of the underdog’ stories, we should first take a look at how Leicester City’s story was reported last week:
Go to the library to look at the recent newspapers held there
Use NewsBank to search through all the stories about Leicester City being champions – you can even read Leicester’s local paper The Leicester Mercury. You could go further, following how the story unfolded throughout the season, starting all the way back in August 2015.
Read through more stories and see the papers themselves on Library Press Display – the Foxes’ victory was reported as far afield as Thailand, India, the US and more.
But why stop there? Have a look through other resources we have to see whether other sporting shocks had comparable headlines. Explore the tabloid newspapers on UK Press Online and take your search back further and further using the Times Digital Archive or The Guardian and Observer archive. Have a look at some of the suggested shocks mentioned by others: Boris Becker winning Wimbledon in 1985, Denmark winning the European Championships having not qualified, Nottingham Forest’s winning of the league and then European cup just after being promoted from the second division, Wimbledon’s crazy gang’s rise to prominence and FA cup glory in 1988… the list goes on. The headlines and stories are fascinating.
Football stories almost always involve a heroic manager, amazing team work and notable individuals (Leicester’s stories even discuss the importance of Richard III!). Whatever the sport you will see that the English press – and people – always love an underdog; often more than their own team!
The above is just an illustration of how library resources can help you dig deep, research and analyse a story through looking at how it was reported in the media. The same principles can be applied to any story for personal interest, school projects or other research.
You can find free access to all these great databases – and much more – in the Newspapers and magazines section of our Online resources by subject page. Just log in from wherever you are using the number on your library card. In the Biography section you can also find out more about many of the people involved in the stories mentioned above by looking at Who’s who and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
[Owen]
Posted in Online
Tagged 24/7, biography, football, Guardian, Library Press Display, NewsBank, newspapers, Observer, ODNB, online, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Premier League, reference, Richard III, sport, TDA, Times Digital Archive, UK Press Online, Who Was Who, Who's Who
The Queen is 90! Let’s look back to April 1926…
So this year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 90th birthday. Or rather birthdays, as while her actual birthday is today, 21 April (she was born in 17 Bruton Street at 2.40am on 21 April 1926), her formal birthday with all the pomp and ceremony is on the second Saturday in June. This year there will be a weekend of celebrations, such as the Patron’s lunch on Sunday 12 June.
But as the title says – what was said and what happened on the day itself? Using our online newspaper archives it is possible to have a glimpse of the news as it would have been read by the people of 1926.
First of all, the time of the then Princess Elizabeth’s birth was important for the daily newspapers. Normally an event which occurred on the 21st would be reported on the 22nd once it has had a chance to be written and printed. However, because the event took place so early in the morning it made it into the headlines of the day!
Check the Times Digital Archive to see how the news was reported (log in with your library card number). You could limit your searches to just 21 and 22 April, or simply browse through each day’s newspaper. Then take a look at some of the other papers, for example The Guardian – different publications can give you different types of story and varying headlines. Some, such as The Daily Mirror (available through UK Press Online), will have pictures.
Think about your search terms; which words will you use? Try out different ones. Remember that the baby born that day had not yet been named, was not yet Queen or even the heir to the throne. Here are a few tips for possible keywords: granddaughter, daughter, birth, Duchess of York, and royal are just a few.
From my searches I discovered that The Times managed to get an announcement into its 21 April ‘News in Brief’ section, and the next day mentions that the princess is third in line for succession to the throne (an important fact, as we would find out later on).
The Daily Mirror provides us with a front page image and headline the day after the birth. Disappointingly there is not much from the Illustrated London News but there are one or two images. The Guardian also provides a picture and headlines “The birth of a princess” and also reminds us that she is “The King’s first granddaughter”.
Lots of stories to explore! Why not go further and see what is written about each of the birthdays and life events over her 90 years? You can read more in one of the many books featured in our new book list celebrating the Queen’s birthday (pictured above), and find dates and events to then research in the newspapers. Be imaginative with your search terms; you never know what you might discover!
Posted in Books, Online
Tagged 1926, 24/7, anniversaries, birthday, Daily Mirror, Elizabeth II, Guardian, Illustrated London News, Mirror, newspapers, online, Queen, reference, TDA, Times Digital Archive, UK Press Online
Computer Pioneers: The Westminster Connection
Spurred on by spotting Charles Babbage’s (1791–1871) Green Plaque on a building at 1a Dorset Street, Marylebone, I began to investigate the life of this computing pioneer, who began working on the idea of inventing automatic calculating machines at this address from the 1830s. This work followed his invention of a ‘difference engine’, a fixed-function calculator which used existing mathematical formulae to calculate an answer.
In contrast, the analytical engine was designed to calculate virtually any mathematical function using programmable numerical data, in any sequence, to find the answer. It would have been programmed by using punched cards, a technique used by loom operators at that time to control the patterns of the woven thread.
Punched holes on cards remained as the means for programming computers in many of the IBM and other early 20th century computers. In fact, immediately before the rise of the personal computer, I remember using hole punched cards denoting chosen subject terms as a means of searching for article references.
Babbage’s use of punched cards is important as it would enabled the operator to repeat the same sequence of operations and also choose alternative actions depending on the value of a result. A landmark in Babbage’s continuous development of his design came with a significant change of the machine’s internal organisation. He separated the stored numbers (data) from the section which processed it, thus laying the foundation for modern computers’ storing data together with a processor to manipulate this data.
Unfortunately Babbage never persuaded the British government or private investors to finance the construction of his machines. Luckily his notes and plans together with his correspondence with Westminster’s next computer pioneer have meant that physical reconstructions are possible. You can see examples of reconstructions at London’s Science Museum.
Babbage’s great supporter and an important contributor to his work was Ada Byron, Countess of Lovelace (1815–1852), the daughter of Lord Byron. Her residence, 12 St James’s Square SW1, displays an English Heritage Blue Plaque celebrating this contribution to computing history.
Lovelace is credited with understanding Babbage’s machine perhaps even better than he did himself, and with devising the first complex computer programme. In a letter to Babbage dated 10 July 1843, she suggests
“I want to put in something about Bernoulli’s Number, in one of my notes, as an example of how an explicit function may be worked out by the engine, without having been worked out by human head and hands first”.
She is posthumously celebrated for this achievement with a modern programming language named after her: Ada. Without the contribution of both parties the design of the analytical machine would not evolved as one of the first programmable computers. In this partnership Babbage was the engineer and Lovelace the programmer and visionary who saw its potential.
The final pioneer, Alan Turing had a much more tenuous link with the borough, being born in Westminster at Warrington Lodge, 2 Warrington Avenue, Maida Vale before being ‘shipped out’ aged one to the to the care of relations when his parents left for several years in India. However fleeting this connection he is also recognised with an English Heritage Blue Plaque on this house.
Posthumously famous for his WW2 code breaking efforts at Bletchley Park, about which we have written before, Alan Turing is also widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence, providing a formalisation of the concepts of algorithm and computing with his design of the Turing machine in the 1930s and his postwar research.
Alan Turing’s work and life is also the subject of the recent feature film ‘The Imitation Game‘.
With pleasing symmetry there is a link between Turing and Lovelace. In the 1930s, whilst working on artificial intelligence and computing, Alan Turing rediscovered her notes on programming and this had a significant influence on his research.
Further biographical details for all three pioneers can also be found using the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (log in to all of these subscription sites for free with your library membership card). It’s worth looking to the newspaper archives for further insight too – I found several further references to Charles Babbage in The Times Digital Archive as the newspaper published several of his letters relating to various scientific topics. He also wrote to the Illustrated London News describing, with illustrations, a devise which is similar to an early example of a periscope. This was designed for artillery troops to safely line up guns from beneath a parapet. (ILN Saturday, August 18, 1855; pg. 210; Issue 757).
More information about these pioneers and the wider history of computing can be obtained from two further 24/7 reference resources. Credo Reference and Oxford Digital Reference Shelf are both searchable resources which use a number of dictionaries, textbooks and encyclopedias as source material. Just type in the relevant search term, eg: Ada Lovelace, to display a number of links to original text relating to this search.
Returning to print, on the shelves of Marylebone Information Service is an useful guide to computing history: A Brief History of Computing by Gerard O’Regan.
The book begins with early civilizations such as the Babylonians and Egyptians, who developed mathematics, geometry and astronomy using methods such as a counting board (an early form of abacus) and algebra to make theoretical calculations, and leads right through to modern computer programming and the internet revolution.
And the computer revolution goes on. Will the next pioneer come from one of our Code Clubs for kids? There are currently regular clubs meeting at Charing Cross, Church Street, Maida Vale and St John’s Wood libraries, but more are planned – ask in your library for details.
[Francis]
Posted in Books, Marylebone Library
Tagged 24/7, Ada Lovelace, Alan Turing, biography, Bletchley Park, Blue Plaques, Charles Babbage, children, code, Code Club, codebreaking, computers, computing, Credo, Dorset Street, Green Plaques, Illustrated London News, letters, Marylebone, mathematics, maths, newspapers, ODNB, online, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford Digital Reference Shelf, programming, reference, science, Science Museum, TDA, Times Digital Archive
Read all about it! The Times Digital Archive
Imagine if you could pick up a newspaper from over 200 years ago and see what people were saying. Wouldn’t that be difficult? I mean, you would have to find a good reference library with a pretty decent collection of backdated copies…
Surely there is no other way?
Of course there is, the clue is in the title of this blog!
A few months ago, my colleague Francis talked about how addictive searching the Oxford Database of National Biography can be. While I do agree, I am going to say that The Times Digital Archive will give him a run for his money.
Recently I have been visiting libraries and talking with members of the public about some of the Online Resources available to anyone with a Westminster library card. The Times Digital Archive (TDA) is a fully searchable database containing facsimiles of all of the Times newspapers from 1785 to 2009. Here are three points I like to show our customers while highlighting some useful features of the TDA:
Founding of the Newspaper
I like to start at the very beginning. Not only does it make sense chronologically, it also shows just how far back the Digital Archive goes. The Times was first released as The Daily Universal Register for 3 years until 1788 and would set you back 2 ½ pence for 4 very large pages of content (the very definition of a broadsheet newspaper).
The first entry in the TDA is actually the second edition of the paper, you can see under the left hand ‘Printed Logographically’ banner. I like to point it out when demonstrating the TDA as well as to show off this rambling explanation from the editor:
“An unfortunate accident having prevent the publication of the first number of this paper in as early an hour as the proprietor intended, and the hawkers having taken away so many papers, that he was not able to supply his numerous friends and others, according to the promise, he thinks it proper to reprint his address to the public, that those who have not yet seen it may have an opportunity to form a judgement of his plan.”
On Tuesday 4 January 1785 the editor expands on what he intends to report in this fledgling newspaper. I’ve trimmed the text but you can read the whole paragraph in the image below:
“In this paper his readers will find regular accounts of the sailing and arrival of ships, of remarkable trials, debates in Parliament, bills of entry, prices courant, price of stocks, promotions, marriages and deaths &c. in a word, no expence [sic] will be spared that may procure useful intelligence and as next to having good intelligence is to have it early, the paper will be published regularly every morning at six o’clock, even during the sitting of Parliament.”
Looking through modern day Times, I can’t decide if it is meeting its 250 year old aims or not.
Important Events of our Times
While it is mildly useful to search through the rambles of the early editors and peruse the advertisements, I do enjoy showing people events that still resonate with us today. While we all know that Britain declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939, it must have been curious to read about it as the events are unfolding.
Here is one of the headlines from Monday 4 September:
Today that would be the front page headline, but in 1939 before reading that the country was at war you had to skip past a couple of pages of advertisements, shipping news, sports results – association football, rugby, golf and racing all come first. Admittedly, the next several pages discussed it in depth, but I find it interesting that front page headlines aren’t commonplace at this time.
The majority of the articles related to the war’s outbreak are either very short or very long, making it difficult to find good examples, but here are a few from the same edition that I find interesting:
Let’s go back a little further to another war and another battle that we know through hindsight – the Battle of Waterloo:
I won’t copy the whole text now, but the dispatch is fascinating and I encourage you to go look it up.
Each description of what the army is up to has this immediacy to it – slightly ironic that you are reading about it days after the event. For example, before the Battle of Waterloo was reported you had the reports coming in regarding the minor skirmishes taking place on 16 June 1815 in the 21 June edition:
And it wasn’t until 23 June that reports of the actual battle started coming in, along with lists of dead officers (the rank and file had not yet been accounted for) and a report from Wellington himself. Here are his closing remarks:
Change of Image
The last point I want to show is not about the content of the newspaper, but how the newspaper was presented – and I might have already given it away. If you look back at the font from the Battle of Waterloo reports, to the font for the WW2 War Declaration you might see where I am going with this.
By the 1930s the Times was a 28 page broadsheet, very popular but being accused of not adhering to the times (irony?) and still using an antiquated typeface. In 1931 a new type was commissioned that would sound very familiar to you if you have used a Microsoft computer in the past 3 decades. I am talking about, of course, Times Roman.
So there we have it. There is far too much to talk about in one blog post, but I hope I have whet your appetite for the Times Digital Archive and all the history that it contains.
If you have an event in history that you would like to look up, it is simple to do so yourself if you follow these steps:
Go to www.westminster.gov.uk/libraries
> 24/7 Library
> Online Resources – list by subject
> Newspapers and magazines
Scroll down until you reach Times Digital Archive.
Helpfully, the Browse by Date function is on the front page.
Happy searching!
[Shaun]
Tagged 1785, 1815, 1939, 24/7, newspapers, online, reference, TDA, Times, Times Digital Archive, Waterloo, World War II, WW2, WWII
“The new world: true terror-ridden peace”
This headline from Dorothy Thompson’s article in The Observer of 12 August 1945 (log in with your library card number for access) was, I felt, very apt for what had just occurred in Hiroshima and Nagasaki – not only for Japan but in a wider context. This week 70 years ago marked the end of one era of warfare and the beginning of a new, possibly more frightening time.
Atomic bomb mushroom clouds over Hiroshima (left) and Nagasaki (right) – images courtesy of Wikipedia
Were the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, destroying them completely in seconds, a ‘necessary evil’ to bring a war that had cost millions of lives to an end? Or were they one of many horrific crimes committed during the course of that war? Worse; something which could be used again?
As the newspaper pointed out, the bombs were not easy to create. Perhaps we were safe? But when some of the most powerful members of the Allies’ camp so firmly disapproved of each other, could there be the chance of another war on the way soon after? And with weapons like this just what could that mean?
Hiroshima aftermath – image courtesy of Wikipedia
Did the headline get it completely right? Read this story and many more through the days, months and years that were to come as the world learnt more about what had happened in the Second World War and began living with the underlying fear of the Cold War. Access to several online historical newspaper archives is a fascinating way to view history through the eyes of people actually there at the time. Westminster subscribes to several including the Times Digital Archive, the Guardian and Observer, the Mirror (see UK Press Online) and many more: Newspaper archives.
Tagged 1945, 24/7, anniversaries, archives, atomic, bombs, Cold War, Daily Mirror, Guardian, Hiroshima, history, Japan, Nagasaki, newspapers, nuclear, Observer, online, peace, reference, TDA, Times Digital Archive, UK Press Online, war, weapons, World War II, WW2, WWII
Holocaust Memorial Day – read and remember
Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27 January each year, marking the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau (the largest Nazi death camp) on 27 January 1945.
The purpose of the day is to reflect on and remember those victims or survivors of the Holocaust or subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. We have compiled a list of books which may help in this remembrance, and inform us through both fiction and non-fiction.
To read around the subject, including links to both historical and current newspaper articles, take a look at Credo Reference’s Holocaust Topic Page. Credo is part of the library service’s subscription resources (you can log in for full access with your library card), as are many of the other sites linked, eg: the Times Digital Archive. And to find out more about Holocaust Memorial Day itself, the HMD Trust’s website includes a huge number of resources, with information on both the Nazi Holocaust and genocides elsewhere and more recent.
There have been events and exhibitions across the Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham library services, and The Wiener Library for the Study of Holocaust and Genocide will visit Westminster Reference Library tomorrow afternoon, 28 January, to talk about the library’s mission and resources.
Tagged 1945, 24/7, book lists, books, Bosnia, Cambodia, Credo, Darfur, Financial Times Historical Archive, FT, Gale Virtual Reference Library, HMD, Holocaust Memorial Day, reference, Rwanda, TDA, Times Digital Archive, World War II, WW2, WWII
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STEM up - a case for encouraging women and girls to enter the tech industry
|In Tech Articles
STEM up – a case for encouraging women and girls to enter the tech industry
Image provided by Shutterstock
Anjali Arora, SVP and Chief Product Officer, Rocket Software
A recently resurfaced 1958 issue of an American magazine entitled 129 Ways To Get A Husband suggests searching the census reports for places with the most single men.
It’s 2019, and if you are in the market for a husband, you stand a good chance of finding him in a tech company. A Statista chart based on various tech companies’ diversity reports shows that women only make up 19 per cent of tech employees at Microsoft, and 20 per cent at Google, just to name two of the large industry players. With men currently holding 76 per cent of technical jobs, a lack of diversity is harming the tech industry in more ways than one.
Employing more women in tech is not just a question of ethics but, simply, a question of money. According to a study conducted by The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) gender-balanced companies have a higher productivity rate and perform better financially, particularly when women occupy a significant proportion of top management positions. Furthermore, companies with women on their executive boards outperformed companies with all-male executive boards. The evidence is there as has been for some time – we need more women in the tech industry.
So, what’s holding women back? Firstly, there are simply not enough girls entering the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). Secondly, those who do are not progressing as much as their male colleagues. Female software developers in the 35+ age group are 3.5 times more likely to be in a junior position than their male counterparts.
We’re STILL not doing enough
Despite the fact that girls are outperforming boys in maths and science at GCSE, a recent study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that girls are deterred from taking these subject at a higher level due to a lack of confidence in their own ability compared to their male counterparts. Call it a self-fulfilling prophecy – if girls hear it long enough, this gender-restrictive way of thinking might just become their reality. It’s an attitude that continues into the adult world; many of us might still remember THAT internal memo, where James Damore, now ex-employee at Google, made the assertion that women’s biology is to blame for their lack of tech abilities.
The reality is, of course, different. According to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), boys and girls performed similarly in the OECD science test, but more boys consider a STEM career than girls. And a report from the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution measured men’s and women’s digital scores and found that women had stronger skills than men do.
Yet schools and the industry itself are still not doing enough. The results of a PWC study suggest that most girls don’t even consider tech as a career. There is a lack of information about what jobs in the sector involve, and few are putting tech subjects forward as an option. When choosing A-level courses, a lack of confidence is a major issue preventing girls from taking Physics. A study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies revealed that over half of girls were worrying about difficult classes or poor grades, despite being predicted 7-9 (A or A*) at GCSE level. The same study showed that two-thirds of high-achieving girls believe STEM jobs are male-dominated – another factor that may be putting people off these subjects. By the time they reach university, just 30 per cent of female students are studying STEM subjects compared with 52 per cent of males.
If you can see it, you can be it
If the image of both STEM subjects and the careers they can lead to is addressed at an early stage in girls’ education, a real impact can be made to bridge the gender gap. The Campaign for Science and Engineering has published a new policy review on improving diversity and inclusion in STEM, with key recommendations for government to improve career guidance and a strategy to increase female take-up of STEM. Ideally, schools need programmes designed specifically to generate and maintain girls’ interest in these subjects if they are to make a real difference.
One way to increase the number of girls wanting a career in tech is to change the image of the industry by shining the spotlight on strong female role models. The PWC study reveals almost 80 per cent of students can’t name a famous female working in technology, while over two thirds can name a famous man. Women who achieve success in the tech sector can share their experiences by teaching a STEM or tech class in school, or by participating in careers events and providing a living demonstration of how rewarding the profession can be.
The Brogrammer culture
The second challenge is getting women into the right jobs and moving up the ladder when they get there. We aren’t going to have role models for young girls until enough people are getting their foot in the door of tech companies, and even this is no mean feat, according to a study by the American Sociology Review. The study revealed that hiring managers have a tendency to employ staff that are culturally similar to themselves, a trend known as “in-group favouritism” which is holding female applicants back and adding to the well-publicised “brogrammer” culture.
This culture persists once a woman does embark on a career in tech. The NCWIT research indicates women in the 25-34 age group are dissatisfied with IT career prospects due to unsupportive working environments and the necessity to make excessive sacrifices in their personal lives. With many women leaving the sector before they make it to the top it’s little wonder there are so few role models to inspire the next generation.
Closing the gap
The gender disparity in STEM is a reality and completely closing the gender gap will continue to be a tall order. But by addressing the image of STEM subjects and tech careers at an early stage in education, by encouraging strong role models to illustrate what a career in tech might look like, and by promoting open and supportive working environments, we might just start to bridge the gap and prove that we have left the mindset of the 50s well and truly behind.
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Mag By So Press
The tennis news (but not only) of the week: Holidays for Murray
davis cup by bnp paribas
Monday, September 24th
A great start of the week for this young Indonesian man who was rescued by a panamanian vessel after drifting for 49 days. It was a worst Monday for the directors of the Italian football club Vicenza, who were severely criticized for dressing their underaged female ball girls with mini-shorts in their latest home game. On his side, Gilles Simon had a great day as he started the week ten spots higher at the ATP ranking, after winning a title on Sunday. He’s now the world number 29. The worst fall was for Dzumhur, who’s now the world number 39 and who fell down eleven spots. Ouch. A bad day as well for Tsonga, who had to withdraw from the Challenger tournament where he was meant to make his comeback. Finally, the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final will be played in Lille, just like last year, and on clay. No grass, no Mbappé, or Griezmann. Croatia might win this time.
Tuesday, September 25th
The British tabloids are stating that Meghan Markle is getting bored in her new life, far from her american family. At the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, Donald Trump made everyone laugh while bragging about his achievements. In other news, there was tennis being played this week. And it was all happening in Asia: in Chengdu, where Fognini was the top seed, and in Shenzen, where Goffin was defending his title. In Tashkent, there was a women’s tournament, with no member of the top 20 in the draw, and in Wuhan, where there was many big names on the menu (Halep, Wozniacki, Kerber, Garcia, Kvitova, etc.). The race for the Masters at the end of the year is officially on.
Wednesday, September 26th
Incredible: the fifteen best-ranked players at the Wuhan women’s tournament lost before the quarter-finals! A week where women’s tennis was being played for nothing, or almost, as the money time of the season is approaching. In men’s tennis, the top-seeds didn’t have it easy either, with Tsitsipas losing early on in Shenzhen, where he was defeated by Herbert. The quote of the week came from Carlos Sainz Jr, who payed a beautiful hommage to one of his good friends: « Rafael Nadal should be a subject studied at university (…), everyone of us should learn from him. » The History of his career? Medical studies around the numerous injuries suffered by the Spaniard along his career? Maths and finance to calculate all of his earnings? Manuel Valls, on his side, chose to study Catalan and Spanish. The ex-French prime minister is currently running for Barcelona Mayor.
Happy birthday Simona Halep! The world number 1 is celebrating her 27th birthday today. Another player is also turning 27 today: Andy Murray, who displayed a convincing performance in Shenzhen, as he defeated David Goffin. On his side, Fognini is carrying on with his journey in Chengdu. Otherwise, it’s now official: the 2.0 Davis Cup will be played in Madrid for the next two seasons. Finally, the shirt worn by Zinédine Zidane during the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil will soon be put up for auction. The auctioneer explained that there are still sweat stains on the shirt. Here’s the real Turin Shroud!
Friday, September 28th
At the Ryder Cup, the American team dominated the first morning session, but Team Europe reacted in the afternoon by winning 4-0, and take the lead at the end of the first day. But let’s head back to the courts, with Murray’s defeat in the quarter-finals in Shenzhen. The hype around the Scotsman was a short one, as he announced straight after the match that he was putting an end to his season. Serena Williams is also on holidays as she withdrew from the Beijing Open and confirmed that her season was over. In other news, French players are whining on this September 28th. Alizé Cornet complained about an early-morning doping test and Richard Gasquet got angry at the new format of the Davis Cup: « Who’s going to go to Shanghai to watch France-Russia? No one! It’s great to see Gerard Piqué putting money into tennis, but this is nonsense, he said. When the institution is weak, you end up paying the price. »
Ryder Cup, Day 2: Europe confirmed its good form against jet-lagged Americans, such as Tiger Woods who didn’t have a great day. As for tennis, everything was still happening in Asia with the Beijing Open kicking off for women. And the first big result quickly came in, as Georges defeated Konta. Meanwhile, the two other tournaments of the week ended with Margarita Gasparyan’s triumph in Tashkent and Aryna Sabalenka’s victory in Wuhan. But the two real champions of the day are Martina Hingis, who announced her maternity, and Serena Williams, who posed naked to raise breast cancer awareness.
It was a huge Sunday for every sports fan. Tiger Woods lost his fifth match in five played at the Ryder Cup and Europe confirmed its triumph. In the world of cycling, abnegation payed off for the Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, who won his first World Championships. In Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton won the Russian Grand Prix, and can thank the strategies imagined by his team. In basketball, the Americans won the Women’s World Cup against Australia, while Poland won the Volleyball World Championship against Brazil. In the middle of all that, tennis was quite discreet: Bernard Tomic defeated Fabio Fognini in the final in Chengdu (the Australian won his fourth title, the first in more than 3 years!), and Yoshihito Nishioka triumphed over Pierre-Hugues Herbert in Shenzhen (the Japanese won his first title). In Beijing, Simona Halep had to withdraw in his first game and confirmed her stroke of bad luck. And finally, Macedonia is now named « North Macedonia », which puts an end to the ongoing conflict with its Greek neighbor. Revise your atlases!
By Régis Delanoë
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Abacus earns rave reviews ahead of its theatrical premiere at IFC Center in NYC
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, the latest release by director Steve James, has garnered wide acclaim in anticipation of its theatrical premiere tomorrow, May 19 at the IFC Center in New York City.
Director Steve James and the Sung family will be present all opening weekend, participating in Q&A's post-screenings. Full opening weekend schedule:
Purchase tickets HERE.
Find a full list of Abacus screenings happening nationwide HERE.
Praise for Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
"A stunning David-and-Goliath epic." – Film Journal International
"James spins a fascinating and complex web involving lies, fraud, a months-long trial with a hung jury, and cultural biases against Abacus and the immigrant Chinese community it serves." - Village Voice
"Some of the most striking scenes in "Abacus" are unrelated to the trial itself. They just show the Sungs sitting around a kitchen table or a table in a Chinese restaurant, talking about money, the law, the movies and each other. They talk over each other, interrupt each other, talk over each other. They crack jokes, tease, apologize and compliment one another. The physical fact of their existence onscreen is inspiring. So is the film's impressive array of archival images, documentary film snippets and bits of TV news reports, showing Chinatown through the ages. There is history here. An entire world. And we finally get to see it. What happened to the Sungs seems horribly unfair, but this film is a silver lining. Everyone needs to see it." - RogerEbert.com
"The craft on display in Steve James’s new film Abacus: Small Enough to Jail is so sturdy and comforting that the experience of watching it almost feels like a hug... I have a hunch the people in Abacus will be rattling around in my skull for a long while." - Reverse Shot.
"Abacus: Small Enough to Jail has rightly been called a highly dramatic David versus Goliath tale. But it is much more than that. It is another exploration of the dysfunctional state of the American justice system with its inability to deal with rampant white collar crime and the many important ethical issues surrounding our financial institutions." – Spirituality and Practice
"Steve James may be incapable of directing a bad documentary...With Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, James continues his record as one of America's most reliable non-fiction filmmakers." – Flixist
"The film works at once as a compelling, tangled legal story, a depiction of Chinatown's world within a world, and a portrait of those who live there and shape it as they try to bridge the gap between one world and the other, even if that task sometimes comes with as many risks as rewards." – Uproxx
To stay up to date on all things Abacus and find out when it's screening near you, you can follow the film on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Friday, May 19 - 6:20PM: Showing followed by Q&A with James and the Sung family, moderated by Heidi Ewing
Friday, May 19 - 8:25PM: Introduction by James and the Sung family
Saturday, May 20 - 6:20PM: Showing followed by Q&A with James and the Sung family, moderated by Morgan Spurlock
Saturday, May 20 - 8:25PM: Showing followed by Q&A with James and the Sung family, moderated by Ursula Liang
Sunday, May 21 - 4:15PM: Showing followed by Q&A with the Sung family, moderated by Ti-Hua Chang
Julia Martin May 18, 2017
Abacus gets extended run at IFC Center; expands to Brooklyn!
Abacus wins Audience Award at #SDAFF Spring Showcase
Julia Martin April 28, 2017
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Dementia tied to hormone-blocking prostate cancer treatment
by: LINDSEY TANNER, Associated Press
Posted: Jul 5, 2019 / 01:26 PM EDT / Updated: Jul 8, 2019 / 03:06 PM EDT
CHICAGO (AP) — Alzheimer’s disease may be a risk for older prostate cancer patients given hormone-blocking treatment, a large, U.S. government-funded analysis found.
Previous evidence has been mixed on whether the treatment might be linked with mental decline. But experts say the new results stand out because they’re from a respected national cancer database and the men were tracked for a long time — eight years on average.
Among 154,000 older patients, 13% who received hormone-blocking treatment developed Alzheimer’s, compared with 9% who had other treatment or chose no therapy, the study found.
The risk for dementia from strokes or other causes was higher: It was diagnosed in 22% of those who got hormone-blocking treatment, versus 16% of the other patients.
The results, using perhaps one of the largest and most reliable databases, suggests there truly may be a connection, said Dr. Sumanta Pal, a prostate cancer expert with the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Pal was not involved in the study.
The analysis from University of Pennsylvania researchers was published Friday in JAMA Network Open.
The results aren’t proof but experts say they underscore the importance of discussing potential risks and benefits when choosing cancer treatment.
The researchers analyzed data from a National Cancer Institute database of cancer cases and treatment and covers almost 30% of the U.S. population. The study focused on men in their 70s, on average, with local or advanced prostate cancer diagnosed between 1996 and 2003. They were followed until 2013. Medicare records indicated dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Hormone-blocking treatment can include testes removal to reduce levels of testosterone, which fuels prostate cancer growth. But it more typically involves periodic drug injections or implants that achieve the same result.
Most U.S. men who receive this treatment are in their 70s or older. It’s sometimes used in men who might not be healthy enough to tolerate other cancer treatments including surgery to remove the prostate and radiation.
It’s unclear how the treatment might be linked with mental decline. The researchers noted that it can lead to diabetes, which also has been linked with dementia — perhaps because blood vessel damage from diabetes can restrict blood flow to the brain. Hormone treatment also raises risks for heart disease and depression, which both have been linked with dementia.
Researcher Grace Lu-Yao of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia, said the potential dementia risks from hormone-blocking treatment may outweigh any benefit for younger, healthier patients with longer expected life spans.
While the study doesn’t prove that the treatment causes dementia, she said, it is important to tell patients “because of the potential impact of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia on the quality of life of patients and their family.” She was not involved in the study.
Follow AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner at @LindseyTanner.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
More Health Stories
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) - It's important to watch for signs of heat exhaustion this weekend.
The symptoms are tiredness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and headaches.
by CANDICE CHOI, Associated Press / Jul 18, 2019
Florida can limit who gets to give dietary advice, a federal court ruled.
The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by a health coach who was fined for practicing without a dietary license. Heather Del Castillo had argued Florida's law violated her First Amendment right to free speech, noting dietary advice is ubiquitous online, in books and on TV.
ATLANTA (WHTM) - Ninety-three people have been sickened by multidrug-resistant salmonella infections linked to contact with pig ear dog treats, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Forty-eight illnesses have been reported since the treats were recalled on July 3. Pet Supplies Plus recalled bulk pig ears stocked in open bins because the treats might be contaminated with salmonella.
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Top 10 Dwarf Rabbit Breeds - With Pictures
Rating: 5 (1 vote) 1 comment
By Eduarda Piamore, Expert in canine and feline psychology, education and training.. Updated: March 6, 2019
Dwarf rabbits are becoming increasingly popular as pets. There is a trend in animal companions to have smaller and smaller pets, sometimes causing health problems such as with teacup dogs. However, dwarf rabbits are known to actually have a longer lifespan than larger rabbit breeds[1]. They are also particularly adorable, not to mention intelligent and able to create strong bonds with humans.
It's important to know that just becuase they are small and cute, doesn't mean the responsibility of their guardians is any less. We need to take care of all their basic needs as well as known some specific characteristics and health issues they may need addressed. AnimalWised brings you the top 10 dwarf rabbit breeds to help you know what to expect when adopting one of these beautiful lagomorphs into your family.
You may also be interested in: Caring for a Dwarf Rabbit
Netherland Dwarf rabbit or Dutch Dwarf rabbit
Columbia Basin pygmy Rabbit
Mini English Angora rabbit
Jersey Wooly rabbit
Britannia Petite rabbit
Lionhead rabbit
Miniature Cashmere Lop rabbit
Other breeds of dwarf rabbits
1. Mini Lop rabbit
The Mini Lop, sometimes known as the dwarf lop rabbit, is one of the most popular dwarf rabbit breeds, despite being relatively new. Some theories affirm that this is a French rabbit breed, while others claim it is descended from the Flemish Giant rabbit. This would give it a Belgian origin, but some believe it was truly developed in Germany in the 1970's.
They are characterized by a short and wide body with a rounded shape. For a small rabbit breed, they have a strong musculature and their head is relatively big when compared to the rest of their body. The name ‘lop’ refers to their ears which hang down the side of their head. They have a rounded tip, but are not as long as some lop rabbit breeds.
The cat of the Mini Lop is dense, soft and of medium length. They have quite a large proportion of guard hairs, the hairs which make up their outer coat. A wide range of colors is accepted when showing Mini Lop in rabbit shows, which can be in either solid or patched patterns. Their body weight should vary between 2.5 and 3.5 kg in adult individuals and their life expectancy is between 5 and 7 years of age.
2. Netherland Dwarf rabbit or Dutch Dwarf rabbit
Even among the small dwarf rabbit breeds, the Netherland Dwarf rabbit is particularly diminutive. Their body weight weighs from around 0.5 kg (a mere 1 lb) to 1 kg. Despite this compact size, they are strong and muscular, allowing for great flexibility in their movements. Their head is also large in relation to the rest of their body, but they have a very short neck. Unlike the lop breeds, their ears are small and stand erect. Their fur is shiny and soft, making them particularly popular lap pets.
As their name suggests, this rabbit breed's origins lie in the Netherlands. The specimens we know today may differ greatly from their ancestors which were developed at the beginning of the 20th century. After export to other countries (they were particularly popular in England), these small lagomorphs underwent numerous cross-breeding programs to obtain their small stature and to vary the color of their coat.
We should not confuse them with the similarly named Dutch rabbit. This is a medium sized rabbit which, perhaps confusingly, has its origins in England.
3. Columbia Basin pygmy Rabbit
The Columbia Basic pygmy rabbit is one of the smallest of all dwarf or toy rabbit breeds. Adults barely exceed 500 g in weight.
During the 1990's, the breed was almost declared completely extinct. Unfortunately, no purebred Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits exist, but the breed does still continue to some degree. Still, they are one of the rarest rabbit breeds in the world. Part of the problem is their reluctance to breed, something relatively uncommon to rabbits in general.
4. Mini English Angora rabbit
The English Angora rabbit is a rabbit breed which became very popular for its tender appearance and thick coat. Initially its breeding what dedicated to exploiting its fur for wool, which is why you may have heard of them from the famous angora sweaters made from their wool. However, they are now very popular as pets. Due to its abundant coat, they need a lot of care and grooming. This is to avoid knots, hairball and general hygiene problems.
Not all Angora rabbis are small. The Giant Angora rabbit, you might imagine, is anything but. Although smaller than most rabbits, the English Angora isn't really a dwarf rabbit. However, in New Zealand, a breeder named Norma Spencer has bred the Mini English Angora rabbit. They gained their small stature by breeding with Netherland rabbits, but they are very rare, even in their homeland.
5. Jersey Wooly rabbit
Continuing our list of dwarf rabbits, we have the Jersey Wooly rabbit, another which is not well known and a little peculiar. The breed was developed in the United States, specifically in the state of New Jersey where their name is derived. Their appeal as a pet is much more than their adorable appearance. They are also extremely docile and affectionate by nature.
In its place of origin, the Jersey Wooly is known as ‘the rabbit which does not kick’. They are very balanced in temperament and hardly ever show signs of aggression, being very firendly in their daily life.
This dwarf rabbit breed was first developed in the 1970's from crosses between the French Angora rabbit and the Netherland Dwarf rabbit. The Jersey is characterized by their compact and muscular body, small erect ears on a square head. These ears only measure around 2". Adult individuals can weigh up to 1.5 kg and their life expectancy is between 6 and 9 years.
6. Holland Lop
You may be getting the picture that the Dutch are generally fond of rabbits (even if that is a wide generalization). What is not a generalization is that one particular Dutch person is a superfan. His name is Adrian de Cock and he created the Holland Lop by making selective crosses between the English Lop, the French Lop and the Netherland Dwarf rabbit breeds during the 1940's.
The Holland Lop usually weighs between 0.9 and 1.8 kg, displaying a compact and solid body entirely covered by abundant smooth and soft fur. The head is noticeably flattened with their lopped ears being medium length and giving them an adorably cute appearance. The breed standards of the Holland Lop accepts different colors for their coat, also recognizing bicolor and tricolor varieties.
7. Britannia Petite rabbit
The Britannia Petite is another breed of rabbit originally developed in England, from rabbits brought over from Poland. It is one of the oldest breeds of dwarf rabbit as their development dates back to the 19th century, mainly due to animal exhibitions which were very popular at the time.
Its most characteristic feature is its arched body which has made it very popular in rabbit shows. This arch runs from the base of its neck to its tail in a single arch, almost as curved as a quarter of a circle. The belly is also slightly raised, adding to this arched look. Its head is a wedge shape and their eyes protrude slightly. Their ears are short and pointed with a tendency to stand erect.
These dwarf rabbits stand out for their great amount of energy, so they need a lot of daily exercise to maintain both physical health and stable behavior. Thanks to their small size, they do not need a massive hutch to keep them in, but they do need a large run to be able to expend their energy. It is recommended, where possible, to have an open space where they can run freely, jump and play with their families.
8. Lionhead rabbit
The Lionhead rabbit is one of the most striking dwarf rabbit breeds. Its name refers to its most characteristic feature, the mane of long fluffy hairs on its head which resemble that of a lion. However, many individuals lose this mane when they reach adulthood.
Another striking feature of these dwarf rabbits are their ears which can exceed 7 cm in length. This makes them large in relation to the rest of their body, although they can sometimes be obscured by their furry mane. There is, however, a variety of Lionhead rabbit with shorter and more erect ears.
Lionhead rabbits are one of the breeds of dwarf rabbits which can weigh up to 2 kg. They are robust, but can seem larger than they are thanks to the fluff which can be a wide variety of colors. The eyes are rounded and well separated from each other. They have a rounded head and a somewhat elongated snout.
This breed can be seen to have shared origin as it was first developed in Belgium, but was finished to the standard we see now in England. Little precise information is known about their ancestry, but it is believed to be derived from the rare Swiss Fox and the Belgian Dwarf breeds.
9. Miniature Cashmere Lop rabbit
The Cashmere Lop is one of the most popular rabbit breeds, but there is also a mini version which is gaining in popularity. These small lagomorphs of English origin have a broad, compact and muscular body with an equally wide and slightly curved head (when in profile). They have large bright eyes which give them such a mesmerizing look.
Their most striking feature is their long, dense and abundant fur. This can have various solid and differentiating color patterns. Its long drooping ears give the Mini Cashmere Lop its tender appearance. Their delicate coat is very soft to the touch, but they require careful maintenance to avoid knots, the accumulation of dirt and digestive problems associated with hairballs in the gastrointestinal tract.
10. Dwarf Hotot
We finish our top 10 dwarf rabbit breeds with the Dwarf Hotot rabbit, a breed attributed to Mme Eugenie Bernhard. She bred this particular rabbit in France, specifically Hotot-en-Auge where they derive their name. Since their origin in 1902, these dwarf rabbits have gained enormous popularity around the world for their beautiful appearance and gentle affectionate temperament.
The most characteristic feature of this dwarf rabbit is the juxtaposition of completely white fur and their brown eyes enshrined in a stark black ring. This contrast in color highlights the beautiful eyes of the Dwarf Hotot, giving the impression they are even bigger than they already are. We should, however, not forget their cute little ears which rest atop their head which are relatively uncommon in rabbit breeds.
Despite their small size, the Dwarf Hotot has a large appetite, so their guardians need to be especially vigilant in case they develop obesity.
Although we have brought you the top 10 dwarf rabbits (in our humble opinion), we have not yet exhausted the list. So, for a little extra dwarf rabbit action, here are some more of these adorably diminutive breeds for you to explore:
Mini Satin rabbit: a dwarf rabbit breed originally from the United States in the mid-20th century, it likely originates with the Havana rabbit. They have gained popularity due to their distinctive fur which shows an attractive satiny appearance. It is estimated that this textural characteristic first appeared as a spontaneous genetic mutation. it is a recessive gene, meaning that Mini Satin rabbits are usually very rare and register a high consanguinity (descended from the same ancestor).
American Fuzzy Lop rabbit: the story of this dwarf rabbit breed is intertwined with that of the Holland Lop. Its first specimens emerged thanks to the attempt to incorporate new patterns and color combinations of the Holland Lop. For many years, the American Fuzzy Lop was considered a woolly version of the Holland Lop, not earning its official breed recognition until 1988 by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ABRA). The American Fuzzy Lop has a compact and well-proportioned body with a rounded head and flat face. You can barely see their neck through the fuzz and their ears hang straight. Despite their abundant fur, they do not resemble the Angora rabbit.
Mini Rex/Dwarf Rex rabbit: the Mini Rex rabbit has been developed in France, more precisely in Luché-Pring commune during the 1920's. When the breed first appeared, all specimens were tan colored. Subsequently, several selective breedings were made to obtain a variety of solid colors and patterns which can now be seen in this dwarf breed. Despite their small size, they are robust and muscular with large erect ears and a velvety texture to their fur.
Polish Dwarf rabbit: little is known about the exact origins of this dwarf rabbit breed. Although the name implies they are from Poland, this is probably a reference to the breed's ancestors. There are many theories about the origins of this breed, some claiming it was developed in England, others pointing to possible German or Belgian roots. Its most outstanding features are its elongated and arched body (around 20 to 25 cm in length). Before becoming popular as a pet, the Polish Dwarf was created for its meat which had a very high market value in Europe.
Dwarf Lop rabbit: this breed of dwarf rabbit has a maximum weight of about 2.5 kg in adulthood. The Dwarf Lop has a short and compact body with a rounded back, broad shoulders and a deep chest. The legs are strong and the head is particularly well developed in males. Their ears are broad and hang like all lop breeds. They are also covered in abundant fur, so it is particularly important to check them properly for otitis or ear mites.
If you want to read similar articles to Top 10 Dwarf Rabbit Breeds - With Pictures, we recommend you visit our Comparisons category.
1 https://rabbit.org/fun/life-span.html
Online database of the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA), available on the website www.arba.net
Database and online standards of the Spanish Association of Dwarf Rabbit Breeders (AECCE), available on the website www.aecce.org/standards
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thank you so much! the article was very helpful. 👍😉
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Hi Josie,
We are so glad we could be useful to you, it's why we're here!
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Updated: Aug. 2018 by David Ferraro
In 1956, the .458 Winchester Magnum was introduced to the public as a means of competing with the .450 and the .470 Nitro Express cartridges.
A cartridge refers to a harmful and belted rifle bullet, which perfectly suits the needs of hunters.
The first rifle, which featured the cartridge, was the Winchester Model 70. Note, however, that presently, you can find several rifles for the cartridge, giving you several options.
A lot of ammunition manufacturers choose to offer .458 cartridge.
The main reason is that it is considered to have the most useful features for those who wish to hunt animals during hunting seasons.
.458 Winchester Magnum Specifications
.458 Winchester Magnum Performance
.458 Winchester Magnum and Its Sporting Usage
.458 Winchester Magnum Benefits
Some .458 Winchester Magnum Drawbacks
My Hunting Experience
The Most Ideal Rifles for .458 Winchester Magnum
CZ 550 American Safari Bolt Action Rifle
WTHBY DGM458NR4O MKV DGR 458WIN
Ruger No. 1 Centerfire Rifle
This cartridge is popular among dangerous game hunters in Africa because of its excellent performance.
It has a strong outlet plus it is capable of hitting animals even those from a far distance when you’re shooting.
You can also find .416 cartridges designed for hunting but note that many still consider the .458 Winchester Magnum as the best.
It works well, especially if you’re planning to hunt in the wildlife, as you can use it to hunt heavy-skinned animals.
Its manufacturers say that you’ll enjoy the 2,150 feet/second or 600 meter/second capacity of the cartridge.
This makes it a fantastic and powerful bullet, capable of hitting your target animal on the specific area you intend to hit him.
This 33-gr bullet is capable of shooting from a 660-mm or 26-inch rifle barrel.
Its reduced 2.5-inch case is also an advantage as it aids in making it easier for the user to adjust the bullet within the case.
Note that this bullet is the longest one produced and introduced by Winchester.
You can find the cartridge in various sizes, but take note that all of them just have similar features and functions.
Moreover, take note that there are no major differences on the length.
.458 Winchester Magnum can deliver an excellent performance – starting from its featured bullet to the actual rifle.
As an authentic 510-gr bullet, it can also fire a velocity 2,150 feet per second. If you plan to want to choose one, which can deliver an excellent performance then go for the 60-mm or 26-inch barrel rifle as this is ideal for shooting.
However, take note that you also need to choose between barrel rifles of 24 and 26 inches for the cartridge.
This is to ensure that your choice will deliver the highest level of shooting accuracy and performance once you start to hunt.
Other bullets are capable of delivering high-density shooting but note that the bullets in the .458 Winchester Magnum can also produce harmful shooting effects, so killing your target animal, if that’s what you prefer, is possible.
With its power and impressive shooting range, hunters like you will be given the opportunity to handle wild lives when the hunting season arrives.
The fact that the bullet weighs reasonably – they’re not too heavy – also ensures that nothing will distract you once you start to hunt and shoot.
However, you may also find this a disadvantage as this may be the reason why you can’t hit an animal at an extremely long range.
Other models don’t offer the kind of weight and accuracy provided by .458 Winchester.
Presently, you get the chance to utilize modern powers as a means of launching a powerful bullet and hitting the target.
.458 has an excellent sporting usage and bullet performance, so it’s always a good choice if you’re planning to target heavy animals with thick skin in your next hunting adventure.
It has a high velocity and performance level, making it effective in killing African animals, such as the African Cape buffalo, rhinoceros and elephant.
Rifles made for the bullets weighing 11 pounds, particularly the .458 cartridge, perfectly suit you if you’re planning to use it to hunt in the African continent.
Its power is strong enough that you can expect to target and hit even lions and leopards in Africa.
Note, however, that the cartridge does not work that well on wild lives with thick skin. Still, it’s a good choice, especially if you are unfamiliar with the hunting area.
Just ensuring that the rifle and cartridge is around when you’re hunting is already enough to help you shoot a heavy animal during the hunting sessions.
You can also use it to improve your hunting experience.
Its bullets’ weight plus its velocity level are among the major reasons why many prefer to use it. It can also make the process of hunting Alaskan and polar bear even easier.
However, note that its bullets don’t suit long-distance shooting due to several conditions.
If you intend to use it to shoot a heavy-skinned animal at over 150 yards away from you, then you can’t expect it to produce your desired results.
Its shooting range is only around fifty to eighty yards.
One remarkable thing about it is that you can choose to integrate reloading dies into the rifles. It’s mainly because it can significantly lessen the problem linked to reloading the rifle.
It’s also important for you to spend more time on manual and hand loading when you’re hunting. The good news is that the adjustable dies can help promote fast and accurate reloading choice.
The reloading dies is also capable of converting the rifle’s chambers. This makes it easier for you to utilize the .458 Lott rifle for the .458 bullets.
The die is also a huge help in solving issues related to the case budge affecting bullets.
Whether you are a hunting professional, or just someone who is passionate about this activity, it is crucial for you to pick a cartridge based on your target.
However, some find the cartridge unnecessary because it is incapable of doing long-distance shooting. Still, rest assured that it also has several benefits.
For one, it boasts of its high velocity (around 2,150 feet per second using a 500-grain bullet.
It’s also light in weight, which is a good thing because it makes it easier for you to reach your target without being influenced by the wind and other outdoor elements. If you’re interested in African hunting, then this cartridge is a good choice.
Most hunters prefer the .458 Winchester Magnum because aside from its high velocity and lightweight bullet, it also has a high level of accuracy.
Take note, however, that the cartridge only works ideally on short-range, heavy-skinned animals.
The high accuracy rate of the cartridge also makes it possible for you to target various animals like African buffalo and elephant, provided they are around 100 yards.
Also, note that one cartridge is often enough to block the production of oxygen in a heavy-skinned animal.
Because all cartridges have their individual flaws and they don’t suit all types of hunting, expect the same from the .458 Winchester Magnum.
One drawback is its inability to provide you with a great experience when shooting at a long distance. When shooting at long distances, it won’t be as accurate when doing it at a short distance.
The cartridge does not also work that well on thick-skinned animal. Some examples are lion or leopard – both of which are not ideal hunting targets if you’re using 500-grain bullet.
Another drawback is that it is not good for those who are planning to use a cartridge for practice hunting.
It’s not good for that purpose as it only works for real hunting session. Using it for practice is also costly as one round bullet may already cause you to spend between $120 and $140.
That said, it would be best to go for the more budget type, so you won’t waste too much money when practicing.
There are also certain cases and areas where the cartridge is not ideal. For instance, you shouldn’t buy it solely for hunting deer.
Because this animal is thick-skinned, you can expect bullets of standard caliber to work for them. The .458 cartridge is more ideal for dangerous hunting.
African hunting is always a challenge, and the result is always dependent on the right choice of bullets.
It’s often advisable for hunters to bring 2-3 hunting rifles with various caliber bullets to make their experience easier and more unforgettable.
I decided to buy one classic rifle and the .458 cartridge rifle. The latter costed me around $560 including two rounds of bullets.
For three years, I enjoyed hunting. In fact, I already hunted seven buffalos within that period.
I chose the .458 cartridges to hunt for African buffalos because they are heavy-skinned. I tried various calibers before, but sadly, I didn’t get the results I wanted.
That’s not the case for my newly purchased .458 as its shooting range can hit a buffalo within a 50-yard distance with just one bullet.
Since the cartridge always performs well, there is no need for me to utilize a rifle to hunt. One bullet is often enough to block the production of oxygen on my target animal.
The problem is that I never used it to hunt thick-skinned animals. It’s mainly because their bullets are not ideal for them.
The many rifles currently available for the cartridge may cause confusion on your part. Fortunately, four of the rifles that work perfectly for the .458 Winchester Magnum are indicated in this article.
CZ 550 American Safari Bolt perfectly suits the .458 bullet, making it work well for anyone who wishes to experience a more challenging and tougher hunting experience.
It’s a good choice with its American pattern stock feature. It’s also available in three laminate color combinations, so picking one, which you really like is possible.
It has a 24-inch barrel rifle, making it ideal for the cartridge. It’s also a good choice for traditional African hunters.
The rifle features a wooden pattern, which provides a hundred percent assurance that its structure is solid, making it last for a long time. It can also result to a smoother shooting experience.
>> Check It Price at Cabelas.com <<<
Despite being more expensive than the other versions, expect this rifle to be a premium choice with its several useful feature.
This features a 24-inch barrel, as well as 3+1 capacity. Furthermore, it is bolt actioned and boasts of a black and blue finish.
It also has an adjustable trigger. This means that you can make adjustments to it while also providing you with an excellent shooting experience.
The fact that you can make the necessary adjustments is also a good thing, as this can provide you with adequate shooting space. It also makes it useful for short range shooting.
If you are an avid hunter, then you will also definitely fall in love with the Ruger® No. 1 Centerfire Rifle.
It features a rigid and sculpted receiver, which offers adequate support to the breech block, stock and barrel.
It also features an adjustable ejector mechanism designed to provide ease of extraction.
Furthermore, it makes use of the scope-mounting system, which takes pride of its integrated, quarter-rib scope bases.
With this rifle, each shot will be worth it. It has a high level of accuracy plus prevent casings from hitting the ground during reloads.
The system used in this rifle also prevents you from shooting loose.
With its sliding tang safety feature, you will also know whether it’s the perfect time for the rifle to shoot. It also features a sophisticated grip cap, offering protection to the base.
.458 Winchester Magnum is indeed one of those cartridges, which boasts a lot of power. It works well for harmful and challenging hunting games.
This is the main reason why you shouldn’t compromise when making your choice among the many harmful hunting sessions in Africa.
The cartridge has several useful features plus it delivers an excellent shooting performance, so expect it to be a major help in improving your hunting experience and career.
Just make sure to pick the most suitable rifle for it. Choose those that are ideal for short-range hunting as this is the field where the .458 Winchester Magnum thrives the most.
The good news is that experienced hunters will no longer have a hard time finding the most ideal rifles for it, as they are already skilled in this area.
However, if you’re still a beginner, avoid choosing rifles of at least 26 inches as this is over the required length.
That said, it might cause a huge problem when hunting as this also means inaccuracies and inefficiencies in the range.
Ammo Related Post
Top 5 Best Progressive Reloading Press – Buyer’s Guide & Reviews
Centerfire VS Rimfire Ammunition: What is Difference?
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The bikini was banned on the French Atlantic coastline, Spain, Italy,[6] Portugal and Australia, and was prohibited or discouraged in a number of US states.[81][82] The United States Motion Picture Production Code, also known as the Hays Code, enforced from 1934, allowed two-piece gowns but prohibited the display of navels in Hollywood films.[83] The National Legion of Decency, a Roman Catholic body guarding over American media content, also pressured Hollywood and foreign film producers to keep bikinis from being featured in Hollywood movies.[84] As late as 1959, Anne Cole, one of the United States' largest swimsuit designers, said, "It's nothing more than a G-string. It's at the razor's edge of decency."[85] The Hays Code was abandoned by the mid-1960s, and with it the prohibition of female navel exposure, as well as other restrictions.[86] The influence of the National Legion of Decency also waned by the 1960s.[87]
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Looking great and feeling your best is easy when you have cute bikini swimsuits & two-piece swimsuits. With a stylish selection of on-trend women’s bikini tops, bikini bottoms & bikini sets, we’ve got your next look covered (at prices you’ll love). First, start with supportive styles you’ll wear again & again. Great-fitting underwire bikinis, push-up bikinis and bra sized swimwear will be new your vacay faves. Looking for the latest swimwear styles? Try popular bandeau bikinis or crochet bikinis. Plus, you can find swimsuits in your favorite colors, like trending pink bikinis. Make any day a beach day when you style up with Target.
The uniform made its Olympic debut at Sydney's Bondi Beach in the 2000 Summer Olympics amid some criticism.[178] It was the fifth largest television audience of all the sports at the 2000 Games. Much of the interest was because of the sex appeal of bikini-clad players along with their athletic ability.[179] Bikini-clad dancers and cheerleaders entertain the audience during match breaks in many beach volleyball tournaments, including the Olympics.[177][180] Even indoor volleyball costumes followed suit to become smaller and tighter.[177]
Hey Jeroen! Are you and your girlfriend still digital nomading in Mauritius?? My fiance and I are taking our digital nomad leap this year, and we are set to come over to Mauritius in June, July, Aug this year. We will be working online and kitesurfing the rest of the time (we will be staying near Le Morne). Would love to ask you a few more details about being a digital nomad in Mauritius, plus, if you are still around, we could meet up! What is your internet upload and download speeds over there? My website is freshlifejourneys.com, launching an online clean eating program in the coming weeks – we’re starting as health and wellness website, which will eventually also share our digital nomad adventures and other fresh life adventures :)))
For hanging with Europeans I’d say Thailand, Bali or India. It’s an easy flight from Europe to those places, similar to how Latin America or the Caribbean is a quick flight for Canadians and Americans to get some sunshine in the winter. Generally, I find you meet the epic people off-the-beaten-path, which usually means expat communities a couple hours from an international airport, away from all the drunken idiots and touristy consumerism. I haven’t been to Puerto Rico, it sounds like a decent place.
What is it about the islands that make life better? Is it the tropical breeze coming in from the ocean? Is it the sound of the waves crashing on the shore? Maybe its the laid back vibe or the perfect sunset that you see no matter what island you are visiting.When I think of our times in the islands, nothing but perfection springs to mind. All the complications and stresses of life completely melt away in the tropical heat and are instantly replaced by the tranquility of a deserted beach or seaside cabana.
It's no surprise that the Maldives tops your list of best islands to snorkel. A chain of 26 atolls and over 1,000 islands in the Indian Ocean, it's the world's most geographically dispersed of countries, and can't be beat for underwater exploration. Seeing as each island is barely the size of a small estate in the Hamptons, we're hard-pressed to pick a top spot, but consider the Anantara Kihava Villas Maldives your first stop.
The cultural center of the Island (and the expat scene) is the town of Ubud in the interior mountains. If you like spiritual hippies and yogis, you will find your tribe here. If you want to surf (or safely watch the pros doing it) you will want to check out the southern Bukit Peninsula that has legendary breaks like Dreamland, Uluwatu and Padang Padang.
In 1951, Eric Morley organized the Festival Bikini Contest, a beauty contest and swimwear advertising opportunity at that year's Festival of Britain. The press, welcoming the spectacle, referred to it as Miss World,[70][71] a name Morley registered as a trademark.[72] The winner was Kiki Håkansson of Sweden, who was crowned in a bikini. After the crowning, Håkansson was condemned by Pope Pius XII,[6][73][74] while Spain and Ireland threatened to withdraw from the pageant.[75] In 1952, bikinis were banned from the pageant and replaced by evening gowns.[76][77] As a result of the controversy, the bikini was explicitly banned from many other beauty pageants worldwide.[78][79] Although some regarded the bikini and beauty contests as bringing freedom to women, they were opposed by some feminists[6][80] as well as religious and cultural groups who objected to the degree of exposure of the female body.
In Europe, 17-year-old Brigitte Bardot wore scanty bikinis (by contemporary standards) in the French film Manina, la fille sans voiles ("Manina, the girl unveiled"). The promotion for the film, released in France in March 1953, drew more attention to Bardot's bikinis than to the film itself. By the time the film was released in the United States in 1958 it was re-titled Manina, the Girl in the Bikini. Bardot was also photographed wearing a bikini on the beach during the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. Working with her husband and agent Roger Vadim she garnered significant attention with photographs of her wearing a bikini on every beach in the south of France.[92]
Unlike its luxurious Caribbean neighbors, here you’ll only find more budget-friendly hotels and guesthouses. Everything needs to come by ship or airplane, so it’s not super cheap. However, since no non-natives can own property there is no influx of overdevelopment, keeping the island simple but beautiful. For a more rustic, non-touristy getaway, this might be the island for you!
Training Requires training in how to use the breathing equipment, safety procedures and troubleshooting. Although no centralized certifying or regulatory agency many dive rental and sale shops require proof of diver certification. Requires no training. Snorkelers favor shallow reefs ranging from sea level to 3-12 feet. Deeper reefs are also good, but repeated breath holding to dive to those depths limit the number of practitioners and raises the bar on fitness and skill level.
The smaller Turks and large Caicos Islands combine to form the two archipelagos which make up this breathtaking location. These islands are British Overseas Territories, known world over for their fantastic reefs, magnificent beaches and gentle welcoming people. Located in the North Atlantic Ocean and about 620 miles from Miami, the islands are an incredibly popular vacationing spot which offer excellent snorkeling, diving, fishing and water sports.
Goa is a state in India with some of the best beaches in the world. India is a place that you either love or hate, there is no in-between. Stepping off an international flight in a big Indian city is probably the most intense “culture shock” you will experience anywhere in the world. But if you spend enough time exploring India, you learn to love its ancient culture and the unique charm of the birthplace of so many of the world’s greatest religions.
The scuba diving equipment is more complex and heavier compared to that of snorkeling. It comprises a pressurized gas tank filled with Enriched Air Nitrox with extra oxygen: 36% oxygen and therefore less nitrogen to reduce decompression sickness. In the "single-hose" two-stage design, the first stage regulator reduces the cylinder pressure of about 200 bar (3000 psi) to an intermediate level of about 10 bar (145 psi). The second stage demand valve regulator, connected via a low pressure hose to the first stage, delivers the breathing gas at the correct ambient pressure to the diver's mouth and lungs. The diver's exhaled gases are exhausted directly to the environment as waste. The first stage typically has at least one outlet delivering breathing gas at unreduced tank pressure. This is connected to the diver's pressure gauge or computer, in order to show how much breathing gas remains.
Monokini 1964 A monokini (also called topless swimsuit, unikini or numokini) is a women's one-piece garment equivalent to the lower half of a bikini.[142] Originally a specific design conceived by Rudi Gernreich in 1964, the term is now used to describe any topless swimsuit,[143] particularly a bikini bottom worn without a top.[144] An extreme version of the monokini, the thong-style pubikini (which exposed the pubic region), was also designed by Rudi Gernreich in 1985.[145][146]
People head out to OB for the nice, wide, swath of sand. There's also the Ocean Beach pier—the longest pier on the West Coast—where you can try your hand at pier fishing. If you have a four-legged friend, go to Dog Beach, just north of the main beach, and unleash your pup to romp in the sand and surf. Or, stroll along Newport Avenue, the main drag in OB's business district, and take in the small-town feel.
At first, visitor numbers remained behind original estimates. For a cost-effective operation, 1.25 million visitors per year are required. In 2005, the resort lost between 10 and 20 million euros. By October 2006 there were about 600,000 visitors. The initial lack of visitors has been attributed to various reasons, including the relatively remote location of Tropical Islands. In addition, in Berlin, South Brandenburg, the direct surrounding area of the resort, the disposable income is below the national average. The target demographic of the resort was extended to attract visitors from further away, including Poland.
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Sister to neighboring Vieques, this tiny island 17 miles off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico is about as chill a place as you'll ever find. There are no big resorts, fancy restaurants, or pricey boutiques. What the place does have is empty beaches and fantastic snorkeling. The beaches of Carlos Rosario, Tamarindo Grande, Tamarindo, and Melones are all a part of the Luis Peña Channel Natural Reserve and a feeding ground for sea turtles and stingrays.
ah, The Canadians from Edmonton are definitely used to the cold. They’re hearty people, it gets even more freezing than here in Toronto. We’ve already dug into our winter wardrobe and our friends have been laughing at us wearing our winter coats. We can’t help it, it’s our first winter in 3 years. And it’s only just beginning. Luckily we have a lot of trips lined up.
Local events include the Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cookoff in late June, a jazz festival at the foot of Newport in late September, the Ocean Beach Christmas Parade in early December, the Ocean Beach Kite Festival on the third Saturday of May, and the Ocean Beach Canine Carnival on the third Saturday in October. On Wednesday afternoons two blocks of Newport Avenue are closed for a farmers' market.[27]
One of the more unusual highlights of a trip to Grand Cayman Island is the chance to snorkel at Stingray City, surrounded by a virtual fleet of 50 of one of the ocean's most fascinating and friendly creatures. The water is shallow (less than five feet deep) and crystal clear, making it great for beginners. Visitors are given ray-appropriate treats, and snorkel gear is included in the price of admission.
Fury allows service animals only. A service animal is any dog that has been trained to perform tasks to benefit an individual. The work performed must be directly related to the individuals disability. According the ADA service animals for emotional support, therapy, comfort or companionship are not considered service animals.
You may think that crochet is just boho chic textile, but thanks to the hottest designers in swimwear, there's more to the fabric than flower crowns and #dumpsterfyres . Aussie label She Made Me is reinventing the trend with crop tops you can wear off the beach, while Kiini is trimming their neoprene styles with brightly woven details. See how crochet's association with festival style is officially done with the best bikinis, monokinis, and more, featured here.
I’m a digital nomad editor currently living on Koh Phangan, Thailand, which is an absolutely beautiful, relaxed, wonderful place to live with lots of affordable, comfortable, furnished houses and bungalows to choose from (I currently pay about $300 month for a house with a large bedroom, full western-style bathroom, separate kitchen, and large outside living room just minutes from the beach). I would probably stay forever if it wasn’t for the changes to the visa laws.
By mid-morning, all the seafront beach chairs were overlaid with people or place-saving towels, so I checked out the upstairs sundeck. For such a large complex, the sandy beach was actually quite narrow, just a spit of sand ringing the wading pool in front of the sea. It reminded me of million-dollar Malibu beachfront homes where erosion has taken almost all of the sand, leaving behind just the idea of a beach. Still, I wasn’t immune to the satisfaction of being in a bikini in the indoor-outdoor world while regular, old February raged on outside, and there was a particular joy in swiping sand from my ankles as I readjusted.
Despite the garment's initial success in France, women worldwide continued to wear traditional one-piece swimsuits. When his sales stalled, Réard went back to designing and selling orthodox knickers.[67] In 1950, American swimsuit mogul Fred Cole,[38] owner of mass market swimwear firm Cole of California, told Time that he had "little but scorn for France's famed Bikinis."[68] Réard himself would later describe it as a "two-piece bathing suit which reveals everything about a girl except for her mother's maiden name."[69] Fashion magazine Modern Girl Magazine in 1957 stated that "it is hardly necessary to waste words over the so-called bikini since it is inconceivable that any girl with tact and decency would ever wear such a thing".[9][38]
This is the official star rating given to the property by an independent third party - the Hotelstars Union. The property is compared to the industry standard and scored based on price, facilities and services offered. Use the star rating to help choose your stay! Great for two travellers. Location and facilities suited to those travelling in pairs Great for two travellers
There is a range of distinct bikini styles available — string bikinis, monokinis (topless or top and bottom connected), Trikinis (three pieces instead of two), tankinis (tank top, bikini bottom), camikinis (camisole top, bikini bottom), bandeaukini (bandeau top, bikini bottom), skirtini (bikini top, skirt bottom), "granny bikini" (bikini top, boy shorts bottom), hikinis (also hipkini), seekinis (transparent), minikinis, microkinis, miniminis, slingshots (or suspender bikinis), thong bottoms, tie-sides (a variety of string bikini) and teardrops.[23]
String bikinis and other revealing clothes are common in surfing, though most surfing bikinis are more robust with more coverage than sunning bikinis.[202][203] Surfing Magazine printed a pictorial of Kymberly Herrin, Playboy Playmate March 1981, surfing in a revealing bikini, and eventually started an annual bikini issue.[204] The Association of Surfing Professionals often pairs female surf meets with bikini contests, an issue that divides the female pro-surfing community into two parts.[205] It has often been more profitable to win the bikini contest than the female surfing event.[206]
In a vast ocean dotted with infinite lagoons, perhaps the most striking of them all is to be found in Aitutaki. A short flight from the main island of Rarotonga brings you to a quiet little ‘half island half atoll’ – where nothing seems to happen and where the word ‘rush’ simple doesn’t exist. The main reasons to visit Aitutaki is to detach from the stresses of life and to explore its magical lagoon. Once you’ve completed a circle island tour on a rented scooter, head to the small motu (islets) that hug the outer reaches of the lagoon. Out here, you’ll snorkel in coral gardens and make landfall on beaches where fine white sand simply blinds your eyes on a sunny day. If you’ve always wondered where pictures of that perfect beach you see in travel magazines, posters and screensavers were taken – the answer probably lies in Aitutaki!
Snorkeling requires much less equipment; a mask that allows you to see the wonders of the underwater world, and a snorkeling breathing tube, typically 16 inches long, that allows you to submerge your face in the water while still being able to access the air above. Some snorkelers may want to use foot fins as well to move faster and with less effort on the surface.
Just bought the Super Snorkel and brought it to Montauk last weekend. Boy was it a hit! Everyone wanted to try out the snorkel. We even had people who had been snorkeling for years there. They were blown away by the performance. It is amazing to be able to go underwater WITHOUT anything in your mouth. No more jaw tightness from calming on the snorkel mouthpiece. I can't wait to use it again on our next trip, or even at the pool.
OB reminds me of the days of old in San Francisco. This beach along with its surrounding neighborhood (the sunset) are a lovely time capsule of this ever changing city. Sure, the parking lots are a little gritty and full of transient vans, beach bums but, there's something charming about it. The best parts of this beach are the surfing, ability to build a bonfire and parts of the beach that are dog friendly. Plus, you have close access to Beach Chalet and other neighboring small businesses. It definitely feels like you're in a small beach town with an ever present surfing community. Do yourself a favor and visit this spot on a sunny day. Although rare, they do exist and it makes for a wonderful day.
Canadian customers (and not Abercrombie & Fitch) will be the importers of record and will be responsible for the payment of all customs duties, including any duties, taxes and levies imposed on imported goods under the Customs Act, the Customs Tariff, the Excise Act, the Excise Tax Act, the Special Import Measures Act, the Export and Import Permits Act, or any other law relating to customs, as well as any penalties, interest or fines imposed under any of the aforementioned statues (the “Customs Duties”).
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Flushing Academy Is Recipient of a DeSales Media Center
By Antonina Zielinska
Msgr. Kieran Harrington, vicar for communications, blesses the new media center at Most Holy Redeemer Academy. (Photos: Antonina Zielinska)
Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Academy in Flushing is starting the school year with an $86,000 new media center thanks to the efforts of the Catholic Telemedia Network (CTN).
CTN, the original television effort of the Diocese of Brooklyn, celebrated its 50th anniversary April 18, and wanted to commemorate the occasion by making a real difference for a Catholic school in the diocese, said Gina Krainchich, the director of educational media services for CTN.
“The capabilities of technology are so often underestimated,” said Art Dignam, CEO of DeSales Media Group at the blessing ceremony of the new lab. “Technology is something you have to respect in order to get the maximum out of it.”
He said technology can be used to grow personally, spiritually and academically. Msgr. Kieran Harrington, chair of the board of DeSales Media Group echoed his sentiments. He explained that technology is a powerful tool to learn about God, not only in religion class, but also by understanding the world He created through English, science, math and every other academic subject.
Originally, CTN paved the way for New Evangelization Television (NET-TV). Today, both groups, along with The Tablet and all diocesan mass-media communications are under the auspice of DeSales Media Group. Although CTN started out as a way to get educational content into the diocese’s Catholic schools through television, the organization has now transitioned into providing all its content online. Therefore for students to be able to utilize the many programs available to them courtesy of CTN, they need technology that can connect them to the Internet.
Gina Krainchich, director of educational media services for Catholic Telemedia Network, addresses the students.
The new media lab at Most Holy Redeemer has a full set of laptops and a large touch screen at the front of the classroom. The classroom itself has been remodeled to stimulate learning, replacing dark walls with bright colors and incorporating furniture best suited for learning in front of laptops.
Maureen Rogone, principal, said she is grateful for the donation to the school, which nicely complements the SMART Boards in the classrooms.
“You’ve got to be updated technologically to be competitive and to make the students competitive as global citizens,” she said.
It was the academy’s technology teacher, Erick Wong, who qualified the school for the CTN raffle. He completed a web quest about CTN.
“I figured, why not,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d win.”
But he is thankful that he did, he said. The school has relied on donated technology for its media labs, which tended to be outdated, Wong said.
Now the students have fast, powerful computers available to them, said Fidel Sciortino, head of the information technology department of DeSales Media.
“Challenge. That’s the key,” he told the students at the blessing. “Challenge your teachers. Ask what’s new, what’s next.”
Wong said he has already started teaching the schools eight graders programing with Python, and hopes to expand his efforts to the other grades. He said coding will soon be a skill required to be competitive in the job market.
Father Edward Kachurka, pastor of Mary’s Nativity-St. Ann parish, Flushing, said this technology is an incredible equalizer for the students at the academy, some of whom do not have access to reliable technology at home.
Dignam encouraged the students to remember and cherish the positive feelings of that day and their entire experience at their school. So that, they, like their technology teacher who came back to his alma mater to teach, will never forget their school.
Tags: Catholic Telemedia Network CTN, DeSales Media Group, Mary’s Nativity-St. Ann – Flushing Queens, Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Academy
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Vale Paul Darvodelsky, 1961 to 2018
By ERWIN CHLANDA
A man who found in Alice Springs fulfilment of his love for nature, of his devotion to competitive orienteering on foot and on a mountain bike, and a place, in partnership with his wife and fellow scientist Catherine Vero, to practice their profession on a national and international scale, died from cancer on Sunday.
This morning family, friends and dozens of mountain bikers gathered to celebrate his rich life under the brilliantly blue sky, facing that rocky hill opposite the Telegraph Station, which Andrea Martin, one of the friends paying tribute, described as a place where “thousands of generations of people lived and loved and died here, and gathered to mourn and celebrate people who have passed away, with song and dance and stories”.
The stories told there today about Paul Darvodelsky – chemical engineer, expert in sewerage systems, owner of the Alice Springs Cinemas, fan of fast and big cars (“he once had a car bigger than my first apartment,” according to his brother Mark) – were of love, ambition, generosity, courage and fun that filled the 56 years of his life, the last eight of them in Central Australia.
“Don’t be mean and don’t do stupid things” was his life’s philosophy, Ms Vero told the people gathered.
And “life works better if we all look after each other,” added a friend, recalling his generous mentoring of her: “It was important to Paul that I was the best person I could and wanted to be. With his support and guidance I have become braver, a better communicator, more assertive, more loving, better expressing my love of community – and also a lot fitter.”
His wife, whom he “met and wooed on top of a sewage tank in Wagga,” according to a quip from brother Mark, quoted Paul: “Joy is a timid creature. Leave space in your life for joy and it will come out to play.”
Paul wasn’t doing things by halves – a candle burning twice as bright burns only half as long, as one speaker put it.
His sports were more than a pastime – he successfully represented Australia overseas.
He didn’t just enjoy orienteering – he became a founding member of the Big Foot Orienteering Club at Sydney University.
He didn’t just like films – he bought the Alice Springs Cinemas and fitted them with leading-edge digital projection equipment. Locally made “Sweet Country” premiered there, for example.
Attracted to the region in part by its mountain biking potential, he was instrumental in starting Easter in Alice that now brings hundreds of competitors to The Centre from around the nation.
“Paul seemed to instinctively get that while we are all busy doing and trying to win at life, the most important thing is to cherish the beautiful simplicity of just being,” reminisced a friend.
“Paul was very excited when he got his first real engineering job. And the first thing he did was to calculate how long it would take him to earn enough money to buy a Mars Bar. Then he bought himself a Mars Bar. So simple – and so cool.”
Alex Darvodelsky said he has to confess that his brother’s deep fondness for The Centre had infected him as well, “and I find myself wanting to come back here almost as soon as I get back to Sydney”.
He recalled: “Paul had a very enlightened perspective on his illness. Only a few months ago we went for a mountain bike ride, and we stopped in a nice spot, out in the desert, and he said to me in some ways he was grateful that he has cancer, because it really helped him to focus on what was most important in his life: His love for Cath, and his family, and his Alice Springs family who are here today.
“He absolutely loved it here, and it just fed his soul in a way that no other place could.”
Posted: June 27, 2018 at 6:18 pm ⋅ ⋅ Post a comment
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Mike Gillam
Posted June 30, 2018 at 4:03 pm
Incredibly sad news, our condolences to his family and friends. Maria Giacon and Mike Gillam.
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There are many different forms of dementia of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common. Dementia is not actually a disease but rather a set of symptoms (or a syndrome in medical terms). It involves progressive damage to the brain and causes a gradual deterioration of people’s functional capacity as well as changes in their roles, responsibilities and social relations. All these changes and losses affect the person’s identity and sense of self. Dementia affects other people too i.e. relatives and others in the person’s social network. As the disease progresses, effects become increasingly evident and the person with dementia becomes more dependent on other people for help and support.
There are currently over 6 million people with dementia in the European Union[1] and it is predicted that this number will double in the next 20 years[2] along with the ageing of the population. There are also millions of carers, often elderly people with limited resources, who care for people with dementia at home to the best of their ability with varying levels of support from the State. In some countries, support from the State for people with dementia and carers (e.g. in the form of services, allowances and care structures) is quite well developed whereas in others, it is virtually non-inexistent. Alzheimer Europe has carried out a survey in the framework of the 3-year EC-funded “EuroCoDe” project to investigate the kind of social support[3] available to people with dementia and carers in Europe and to write recommendations to policymakers on the basis of its findings.
The EuroCoDe survey was carried out in 2007 with the help of its national member associations and a few external experts. Individual national reports[4] were produced as well as a comparative document[5] of the overall findings. These findings reflected the general availability of services and support at that time; they were not a measure of the number of individual services or the quality of such services. Nevertheless, respondents provided additional information about problems linked to the provision of such services e.g. barriers to access, overall availability, how services are funded and the extent to which available services are suited to the specific needs of people with dementia.
It should be noted that the responses to the survey reflected the views of representatives of Alzheimer associations and in some cases external experts who were nevertheless linked to the associations. As such, it could be argued that these were subjective views but on the other hand, the Alzheimer associations and associated experts are ideally placed to understand the kind of support that people with dementia and carers need and to consider these needs in the light of the available services.
We recognise that policy makers in Europe are at various stages in the development of good quality social support to people with dementia and carers. These recommendations should be understood as representing an optimal situation which policy makers should aim to achieve.
This document contains an executive summary of the recommendations to improve the provision of social support to people with dementia and carers. This is followed by a more complete presentation of the important issues which we feel should be considered when providing such support and finally a collection of examples of good practice.
[1] Alzheimer Europe (2006), Dementia in Europe Yearbook 2006, Alzheimer Europe
[2] Ferri et al. (2005), Global prevalence of dementia: a Delphi consensus study, the Lancet, vol. 366, 2112-2117
[3] Please refer to Section 6 for a brief glossary containing definitions of social support and carers and for a list of the members of the working group.
[5] Alzheimer Europe (2008), Comparative report on the level of social support provided to people with dementia and their carers in Europe, Alzheimer Europe
Last Updated: Thursday 13 August 2009
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Even though you are a Linux neophyte, there is little doubt you must not have heard of Ubuntu. Launched back in 2004, Ubuntu started to make an easy to use Linux based operating system that was both hardware compliant, easy to use, and a real alternative to Windows. Although you might find plenty of linux-based distributions to build your mobile app, there is more to building apps then just depending on a linux-based operating system. In this blog, we’ve compiled a few best Linux alternatives which can ease your chances of building high-quality apps.
You must be thinking that why it is important to use other Linux distribution? Ubuntu is best, isn’t it? The truth is that there are two sides to every coin. Ubuntu must be a great option for mobile app development, but it still might be challenging for most of the developers who find it quite confusing. Moreover, sometimes you find out that Ubuntu is too slow on the hardware, which is available to you.
You may want a Linux distribution where you can get really hands-on and get to the mechanics of what is going on. No matter what your reason is using Ubuntu, the following list of alternatives will help you find the optimal Linux alternative.
Here is a list that provides you a number of different options. There would be a few lightweight options that can run on older hardware with familiar interfaces, highly customizable distributions, and distributions that are not derivative of Ubuntu. We bet you will find these alternatives as good as ubuntu. So, let’s dive in!
1. Zorin OS
Zorin OS is a personal computer operating system based on Ubuntu. It is designed for users who are new to Linux-based computer systems. Zorin OS is based on the Ubuntu LTS release that means you as a user will get all the best features of Ubuntu with a unique look and feel.
Zorin OS is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution and its aim to be user-friendly and be fully compatible with Ubuntu’s own base.
The characteristics of Zorin are its intuitive and familiar layouts, functionality, and installation process. When it comes to security, Zorin OS comes with the uncomplicated firewall by default.
User can customize many of the desktop features by using a built-in Zorin look changer. Zorin OS embraces everything the average needs to get started including Chromium web browser, GIMP image editor, LibreOffice office suite, Rhythmbox audio player, and PlayOnLinux and Wine.
The latest version of Zorin is its 15th version, which is great. The previous version was very stylish but a little buggy. The bugs have been completely eradicated. Zorin has become as good as Linux Mint.
2. Linux Mint
There is one common reason why people switch from Ubuntu because of its Unity desktop environment.
Linux alternative is Linux Mint, which is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions. The purpose of Linux Mint is to produce an elegant, modern and comfortable operating system that is both powerful and easy-to-use. There are some of the reasons, which are behind the success of Linux Mint are:
Free, open source, safe, reliable & easy to use
It works out-of-the-box with full multimedia support.
Based on Debian and Ubuntu, Linux Mint provides approx. 30,000 packages. It is also one of the best software managers.
A community-driven Linux Mint is encouraged to send feedback to the project so that their ideas can be used to improve it.
Linux Mint requires very little maintenance (no regression, no antivirus, and no anti-spyware)
This Linux alternative, Linux Mint, gives users the power of Ubuntu but with simple user interface called Cinnamon. However, simple does not mean not powerful. The Cinnamon desktop possesses a stylish look and feels. It has the ability to customize many aspects of the desktop.
Linux Mint has rebranded and forked a number of key applications. This way, users can add their own touch to them. It also provides a full set of applications for everyday use, including LibreOffice Suite, Firefox web browser, Banshee audio player, and Thunderbird email client.Linux Mint is a good alternative for those who like the stability of Ubuntu and still want a more traditional user interface.
3. ChaletOS
ChaletOS is a new operating system, which comes with complete and unique customized with more consistency and extensively via the operating system. This Linux alternative aims to steal you completely from Windows. It is aesthetically pleasing of the bunch out of the box.
If you thought Windows 10 was quite the looker, you can give a try to ChaletOS and you will almost never look back. The Linux alternative is ChaletOS comes with a complete and unique customizability set, which is comparable to Zorin OS but much more extensive and consistent through the operating system.
ChaletOS is a beginner-friendly Linux distribution based on Xubuntu. The name ChaletOS is derived from Swiss mountain houses whose concepts of simplicity, beauty, and recognizability inspired the creation and design of ChaletOS.
It is not too different from Xubuntu, ChaletOS is appealing and it has impressive speed. This is what you will fall in love with this Linux alternative quickly.
The latest ChaletOS is based on Ubuntu 14.04.03 LTS that means you will continue to receive updates and security fixes for the next three years. A good Linux alternative, which has a wide range of pre-installed apps like multimedia, security, work, and weather. ChaletOS is really fast and provides the best service.
4. Peppermint Linux OS
A cloud-centric OS based on Lubuntu, Peppermint OS is a derivative of the Ubuntu Linux operating system, which uses LXDE desktop environment. This Linux alternative aims to provide a familiar environment for newcomers to Linux that requires relatively low hardware resources to run. This is great for both modern and older hardware. It utilizes a mixture of XFCE and LXDE environment.
Peppermint OS is for every user, whether you use an older computer or a modern one. It is especially useful for people who mainly use the internet when using their computer as it integrates the web into the desktop.
The best feature of Peppermint OS is its ability to turn web apps such as Facebook, Gmail, and another website into a desktop application. This Linux alternative does a great job blending the best of the cloud with enough tools to get you started. The ICE tools are the key feature, which enables you to turn your favorite websites into desktop applications.
Peppermint OS is for everyone, whether you use an older computer or a modern one. It is especially useful for people who mainly use the internet when using their computer as it integrates the web into the desktop.
5. Q4OS
Q4OS is a fast and powerful operating system based on the latest technologies while offering highly productive desktop environment. It focuses on security, reliability, long-term stability and consecutive integration of verified new features. This Linux alternative is distinguished by speed and very low hardware requirements. It runs great on brand new machines and legacy computers. Q4OS is also applicable for virtualization and cloud computing.
It can be customized to look like the older versions of Windows such as Windows 7 and Windows XP. If you want the look and feel of Windows but you want to use the features of Linux, Q4OS is the best option for you.
This is a brilliant alternative for complete reason. Q4OS is incredibly lightweight and works really well on older hardware and netbook. Q4OS is not only an alternative to Ubuntu but a great alternative to Windows and any other desktop operating system. It is the best option for multiple reasons as it looks and feels like Windows. It is very lightweight and works well in older computers.
6. Elementary OS
This Linux alternative is fast, open, and privacy-respecting replacement for Windows and macOS. Elementary OS is considered as one of those Linux distributions that looks beautiful. This is the best option for those who like the look and feel of an OS designed Apple. Its every aspect of the Elementary user interface has been designed to pixel precision.
Elementary OS is for those who like a beautiful and elegant looking desktop. It is based on Ubuntu, but the applications have been carefully chosen to match the style of the distribution. The desktop environment is fairly lightweight so that the performance is very good.
You have read about six viable Linux alternatives, which you can use without any single thought. There are hundreds of Linux distributions available, but these alternatives are worth including if you want to develop apps without any hassle. Want to share some other Linux alternatives? Don’t forget to share your thoughts with us.
About Author (Bio)
Michael Williams is designated as Senior Project Manager at PromptBytes, an Atlanta-based Application development company. Throughout his career, he has extensively worked with various SMBs to startups and managed the software lifecycle from inception to the growth.
apps, development, Linux, mobile
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Kathryn Keane
Vice President, Public Programming & Director - National Geographic Museum
Kathryn Keane is Vice President of Public Programming at the National Geographic Society as well as Director of the National Geographic Museum. She manages a creative team of designers, curators and producers who develop unique and award-winning live programming, events and exhibitions that have become popular experience-based platforms for storytelling, audience engagement and educational outreach to millions of visitors each year.
As Director of the National Geographic Museum, Keane manages the museum and its visitor programs as well as overseeing and directing all aspects of National Geographic exhibitions, including exhibition development and partnerships. In addition, Keane oversees the development and implementation of original traveling exhibitions, which are designed to travel to museums, science centers, zoos and aquariums in the United States and around the world.
Keane joined the Society in 2006 as Director of Traveling Exhibitions and was responsible for overseeing the development of museum exhibitions that featured National Geographic photography and content.
The National Geographic Museum is a popular destination for tourists, residents and school groups in Washington, D.C. The exhibitions regularly feature the best of National Geographic history, talent, content, multimedia and photography and showcase the Society’s impact-driven nonprofit work in experiential and interactive ways. In the last decade, more than 40 million people have visited a National Geographic exhibition in over 40 countries.
Prior to joining National Geographic, Keane served as deputy to Director David Levy at the Corcoran Gallery of Art for more than a decade, overseeing the development of exhibitions and initiatives during a particularly dynamic time in that museum’s history.
Keane graduated with a B.A. in English from Georgetown University.
All presentations by Kathryn Keane
Keynote: Virtual 3D Technologies for Immersive Archeological Experiences
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Cravath, Swaine and Moore
Polish Central Anti-Corruption Bureau
SEC - Securities and Exchange Commission
SEC Division of Enforcement
Peter Barbur
Kyle DeYoung
Richard Leon
Purchase a Reprint of this Article
After a Protracted Battle About Reporting Requirements, Judge Leon Approves a $10 Million FCPA Settlement Between IBM and the SEC
Nicole Di Schino
Anti-Corruption Report
One of the most judicially contested civil settlements in FCPA history reached a conclusion on July 25, 2013, when U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia signed off on a $10 million agreement between IBM and the SEC. The agreement resolves civil FCPA charges arising from IBM’s alleged bribery schemes in China and Korea. The settlement agreement has been pending for more than two years, with Judge Leon accusing the SEC of “rolling over” during negotiation of the reporting requirements in the agreement, and warning IBM that if corruption problems arise in the future, it “won’t be a happy day.” See also “Judge’s Refusal to Approve Civil FCPA Settlement Raises Concerns for Future FCPA Settlements with the SEC,” The FCPA Report, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Jan. 9, 2013); “District Court Judge Modifies Demands in Push for Stricter Judicial Review of Civil FCPA Settlements,” The FCPA Report, Vol. 2, No. 3 (Feb. 6, 2013).
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MLB season preview: 2016 bold predictions
Parker Hurley
Apr 4th 2016 10:38AM
Baseball is a crazy sport. Every pitch can change an outcome of events and can sway games, series, and seasons.
We are talking about a sport where the Kansas City Royals, a team who went on a streak of 28 years without making the playoffs got to the World Series in 2014, and won the title the following season.
The Royals' run was only to top the Pittsburgh Pirates breaking a 21-year run of missed playoffs only to rattle off three straight Wild Card appearances from 2013-15. You then look at those streaks and laugh when thinking that the Chicago Cubs are the favorites to win the World Series, yet the last time that happened was 1908.
SEE MORE: Could baseball be returning to Montreal?
In fact, the odds-on World Series favorite has won the Fall Classic just once in the past 10 years. Since 2010, the World Series champion hasn't even had one of the eight best odds on the board before the season according to Las Vegas.
Here are five bold predictions that may come true:
Cleveland Indians will win the World Series
The City of Cleveland has yet to win any sports championship since 1964, and the Indians have not won a World Series since 1948. Brace yourselves Cleveland because it isn't Lebron James coming to break the curse, but Corey Kluber.
To start, there is a chance the Indians can have the best rotation in baseball. In 2014, the Indians dealt with some shuffling in their roster, specifically defensively and it got them out to a slow start. Yan Gomes, their emerging young catcher went down to injury, and he is one of the keys to the pitching staff.
It got some of their guys off to a slow start, namely Kluber, and while it wasn't his 2014 Cy Young season it was a respectable year. Kluber, Carlos Carassco, and Danny Salazar all pitched 180 innings this season, and all showed that in 2016 they could take a step forward and give the Indians a dominant rotation.
Carassco and Kluber ranked fifth and sixth respectively in strikeouts, and Salazar ranked 12th in K/9 for pitchers that threw 180 innings. Only Chris Sale, Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer had a lower BB/9 than Carassco and Kluber, while having a higher K/9. In total, Kluber is 11th in the league in BB/9, Carassco is 23rd and Salazar ranked 30th. With major strikeout potential and control, it wouldn't be a surprise to see all three put in a strong season in 2016.
SEE MORE: Indians miss mark on 'Chief Wahoo' logo
They will start the year without Michael Brantley but with him back soon, their lineup should be solid. Jason Kipnis and Fransisco Lindor at the top provide a combo of speed and average with a bit of power out of Kipnis, and they have a hard hitter behind Brantley in Carlos Santana with 20 home run potential and a solid average.
They also went out and added this year to fill their core with the additions of Mike Napoli, Juan Uribe and Marlon Byrd. Between Uribe and Napoli you have three World Series rings, and all three made the playoffs last year, with Uribe going to the World Series.
The overall thought is that the rotation is deadly, especially in a playoff scenario. The lineup with a healthy Brantley can produce. They have a veteran core, but a 22-year old Lindor who is expected to have a strong year, and the thought is with a full season of Lindor, and a healthy Gomes for a strong pitching staff this team may have what it takes to make a run at not only the division, but the World Series.
The Royals will miss the playoffs
If the Indians are on the way up, someone has to come down in the AL Central.
The Royals pitching has not necessarily been a strength during their run of dominance, and last year it was what everybody pointed to when saying their 2014 run was a sham, but here we go again.
They don't have the pitching to hold up to make a run. They seem heavily reliant on Yordano Ventura to be a young emerging ace, but he is erratic with a high walk rate. You look at the rest of the rotation and see Edinson Volquez, who clearly pitched over his head last year, especially in the playoffs. Then you have Chris Young at 37 years old coming off of a year with only 18 starts, as he was relied on as a bullpen option last year. Kris Medlen is also in a rotation for the first time since 2013 after only pitching 58 innings last year.
The lineup was able to survive a down year from Alex Gordon as well as a midsummer DL stint. However, a lot of that had to do with Ben Zobrist and his acquisition at the trade deadline. He is now gone, leaving to join the Cubs.
They still have a strong lineup and should have a good defense, but they do have flaws. With the earlier prediction on the Indians, and the Detroit Tigers adding in the offseason it is safe to say the division rivals are coming. They seemed to have a chip on their shoulder last year, and if they have a bit of a hangover this year, it may catch them in a wide open American League.
Gerrit Cole will win the NL Cy Young
It shouldn't feel like too bold of a call considering that he finished in fourth in the voting in 2015, but a quick scan of the 2016 odds and he ranks in a tie for ninth-best in the National League at 20/1 odds.
It seems odd that this would be the case for a former No. 1 overall pick that pitched 200 innings for the first time in his career at age 25, with a 2.60 ERA and peripherals to match. Cole has a career 3.07 ERA and has improved his walk rate every year. It seems like a no-brainer that as he is entering his prime at age 26 that you can get 200 innings out of him again with strikeout ability and control.
He isn't getting the buzz because the Pirates as a team are not getting publicity. They were somewhat quiet this offseason while division rivals like the Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals were further established as contenders. The Pirates are still a team with a great pitching coach in Ray Searage, and a team that uses analytics and defensive shifting to help their pitchers.
Cole plays right to that style with his command, and if he can get better than last season, than what are we expecting? The Pirates don't have a deep staff, but if they are contending this summer it is because Cole is putting in work, and is more than likely in discussion to start the All-Star Game. If the Pirates are in playoff contention, this year it will be Cole carrying the staff and getting recognition with a Cy Young.
Mookie Betts will win the AL MVP
This season could be known as the year of Mookie. Betts created a buzz about himself with strong minor league play in 2014. He then compounded that into an eye-popping rookie season that had the whole league buzzing about the 23-year-old star in the making. Now as he enters year two the only way to keep the hype increasing is to take his game even further and to bring home the MVP.
Betts is going to be in tough company though. There is this guy Mike Trout, who for the last four years has either finished in first or second for the award. Then there are previous winners, Miguel Cabrera and the reigning champion Josh Donaldson who will have something to say this year. Lastly, there is the sensation that is Carlos Correa, who essentially has more buzz than Betts as he enters his first full season in MLB.
They all bring a strong argument to the table, but the argument for Betts is that he is basically a combination of all of their skills. Betts last year hit .291 with 18 home runs and 21 steals. He posted a .340 OBP, and struck out just 12 percent of the time. He also happened to flash a strong glove in the field last year, and was a SportsCenter Top 10 nominee often in 2015. At 22 and as a rookie these numbers and plays may all be the low point of his career.
While he will not post the big time power numbers of the Trout, Donaldson or Cabrera, he can hit at least 20 home runs and be in respectable range. Add in his glove and speed, and Betts has an argument.
The Red Sox are a team a lot of people like to bounce back and potentially win the AL East. If they are back in that prominent light, Betts will be the one leading the way. If he can improve across the board you are thinking about an average over .300 with at least 20 home runs, and 25 steals all in play to go with strong defense. All that said, it could be hard to keep Mookie out of the conversation, and he could find himself as the surprise award winner.
Tyson Ross and Joey Votto will get traded
As we head to the trade deadline we always have our buyers and sellers. In the National League, there seems to be a decent gap between most of the contenders and the other teams who will more than likely be selling.
Two teams in the NL that will look to be selling this year are the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds. It would be somewhat shocking to see either of them in contention this July, and really for the next season or so moving forward either. With that said it would be in their best interests to load up on youth and hope that those players can held rebuild the franchise.
Tyson Ross is a guy who will generate a ton of interest and will be looked at as a piece to put a lot of teams over the top. Ross has made 64 starts in the past two years, and last year posted a 3.00 ERA in that time. He is 28 years old and is currently still in his arbitration years, although it is only until 2017. Without having him locked up, and with an age of a prime veteran putting up great numbers, how can the Padres not trade him?
Teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels and more would all be interested if they were in contention this summer. A lot of teams could view him as the piece to get them over the top.
Votto is locked down until 2023 which makes him a bit harder to move. That said, he is a veteran with playoff experience. He is also one of the better pure-hitting first basmean, and last year posted 29 home runs with a .459 OBP.
The Reds may not want to let him go for a price that isn't heavy, but it may have to happen. They have to look at the 32-year-old and see that he is tied down until he is about 40, and wonder if it is worth it to try to build a team around that for the next few years.
Teams in the AL however, see that he is a guy that can always hit for average and take walks, and could be a DH into his late 30's. Injury could force some teams into overspending to fill a hole, and a team like the Rays or Astros may just see him putting their roster over the top for a post season run. Either way it would be especially smart for the Reds to move on from him, so who will be interested and if they can send enough to acquire him will be interesting.
RANKING THE BEST MLB STADIUMS:
Ranking MLB stadiums
29. Rogers Centre, Toronto Blue Jays
The only things worse than this warehouse-looking place are the metric measurements on the outfield walls.
(Shutterstock)
23. Angel Stadium, Los Angeles Angels
Nothin’ like some fake rocks in center field to really set the mood for a baseball game.
22. Progressive Field, Cleveland Indians
The fact that it’s no longer Jacobs Field bumps this down at least five spots.
21. Busch Stadium, St. Louis Cardinals
Can this place just stay out of the playoffs just once?
19. Chase Field, Arizona Diamondbacks
Center field is the deepest part of the stadium, guys. The wall doesn’t need to be that high.
Clintus McGintus/Flickr
5. Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox
Relax, Fenway is definitely an amazing place to watch a game. But sitting directly behind a pole and/or facing the left-center field wall just isn’t always appealing.
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Home Parliamentary Business Bills and Legislation Browse Bills Digests Bills Digests alphabetical index 2008–09 International Monetary Agreements Amendment (Financial Assistance) Bill 2009
International Monetary Agreements Amendment (Financial Assistance) Bill 2009
Portfolio: Treasury
Commencement: Royal Assent
To amend the International Monetary Agreements Act 1947 (IMA Act) to establish a framework for Australia to provide financial assistance to a country in support of World Bank Group or Asian Development Bank programs.
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA) comprise the World Bank. The IBRD was originally conceived predominantly to fund post-war reconstruction and development in Europe. The IBRD of today specifically deals with middle income countries and creditworthy poorer countries to promote sustainable job creation and growth and to reduce poverty. The IDA was created in the 1960s, after a group of IBRD member countries, led by the United States of America, decided to form a specific multilateral agency that could offer more favourable terms than the IBRD to the world s poorest countries, so they could access capital to foster growth. The founders of the IDA recognised the need for developed countries to assist the world s poorest countries in the 1950s, but they were mindful of the need for the IDA to have the discipline of a bank. It was for this reason that the IDA was created under the umbrella of the World Bank. These two organisations also provide funding and technical expertise to improve governance in their respective spheres of influence.[1]
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) are associate organisations of the World Bank, and together with the IBRD and IDA, they form what is known as the World Bank Group.
The IFC was established in 1956 with a primary goal of fostering private sector involvement and investment in poor countries. Previously international corporations and commercial financial institutions lacked the interest and the sources of capital to invest in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. The IFC provides debt and equity funding as well as technical expertise in assessing projects for companies looking to invest in poor countries. The IFC also shares commercial risk, so as to provide incentives for private sector companies to become involved in development activities.[2]
The MIGA (established in 1988) aims to encourage foreign direct investment in the world s poorest countries by providing political risk insurance for foreign investments in order to induce both private investors and insurers into transactions they would not otherwise become involved in. It also provides technical assistance to improve investment environments and promote investment opportunities and dispute mediation services to remove potential obstacles to future investment in poor countries.[3]
The ICSID is an international organisation established under the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States. This convention entered into force in 1966. The ICSID has as its primary purpose the provision of facilities for conciliation and arbitration of international investment disputes. Recourse to these facilities is always subject to consent by the relevant parties.[4]
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is headquartered in Manila, Philippines was established in 1966 to provide assistance to Asian countries, which were at that time, predominantly based on agriculture. Its initial efforts were directed towards rural development and providing technical assistance aimed at increasing food production. Throughout the 1970s, the focus of the ADB shifted into education, health, infrastructure and industry. Concessional lending and co-financing also began. In the 1980s, the ADB focussed on improving private sector participation in development projects. Since then, the ADB has expanded into areas such as regional cooperation, poverty reduction and enhancing the effectiveness of development activities.[5]
This Bill refers to all of these organisations and establishes a standing appropriation to enable to Australian Government to make loans and currency swaps[6] in support of World Bank and ADB programs. The rationale for including the IFC, the MIGA and the ICSID in this Bill is somewhat unclear, as the primary functions of the IFC and the MIGA essentially relate to facilitating private sector investments in poorer countries. Similarly for the ICSID, its primary role is the voluntary settlement of disputes between nations or between a nation and foreign nationals. As stated earlier, these three organisations are not part of the World Bank proper, but do form part of the World Bank Group.
The existing framework in the IMA Act that establishes a standing appropriation enabling the Australian Government to provide funds in support of International Monetary Fund (IMF) programs, which this Bill seeks to emulate, is tailored toward cooperation between governments for the benefit of countries in financial distress. Thus, establishing a similar framework for activities in support of World Bank or ADB programs is sensible, although the relevance to the associate World Bank Group organisations is questionable.
Basis of policy commitment
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd MP announced at a Joint Press Conference with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Bali Democracy Forum on 10 December 2008 that Australia would provide a US$1 billion standby loan facility to the Indonesian Governmentas part of a broader facility of more than US$5billion from a range of other countries and multilateral organisations including the European Union, Japan, the World Bank and the ADB.[7]
At the time of writing, the Bill has not been referred to any committee for inquiry.
Coalition policy position
The Shadow Treasurer, Joe Hockey MP outlined the Coalition s position on this Bill in his second reading speech on 4 June 2009. He said that the coalition supports the Bill because we undertook similar activities in the past when we were in government . However, while acknowledging that Australia has the capacity to provide emergency assistance and support to our Asian neighbours (on the basis of our net debt, compared with that of other nations), he queried the sense of Australia borrowing money to fund our day-to-day activities while at the same time lending money offshore whether it be $1 billion through this initiative to Indonesia or $10 billion to the IMF potentially going to eastern Europe .[8]
Standing appropriations
This Bill seeks to establish a standing appropriation for funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for any loans or currency swap arrangements to which it applies. The extent of financial assistance will depend on what requests are made to and agreed upon by the Australian Government. As noted above, the Australian Government has already committed to a standby loan facility to the Government of Indonesia which could possibly result in a loan of up to US$1billion over the 2009 and 2010 calendar years.
As noted in the Explanatory Memorandum to this Bill, if the standby loan facility is used by the Indonesian Government there will be no impact on the underlying cash balance for the loan itself, however, interest payments received on the loan will affect the underlying cash balance.[9] In terms of the fiscal balance, there would be an upfront reduction and an improvement annually over the life of the loan as it was repaid. This impact on the fiscal balance arises due to the concessional nature of the loan. Thus, to the extent that loans made under this Bill are concessional, there will be an impact on the fiscal balance. If the non-repayment of the loan were to occur, the underlying cash balance and the fiscal balance could both be impacted, depending upon the circumstances in which the non-repayment occurs.
This Bill is being put forth because of a specific commitment made by the Prime Minister on 10 December 2008 to provide a standby loan facility to Indonesia. However, the Bill establishes a standing appropriation that would allow the Treasurer to commit to making loans to countries that have received pledges of financial assistance from any of the five World Bank Group organisations, the ADB or other governments. This would be subject to the requirement in section 8D of the IMA Act for the public release and tabling in each House of Parliament of a national interest statement, outlining the nature and detail of such an agreement and explaining why the agreement is in Australia s national interest (with particular regard to foreign policy, trade and economic interests). The overall framework embodied in this Bill closely replicates that built into the IMA Act in support of International Monetary Fund programs in 1998.[10]
It is unclear why the Government has chosen to include the three associate organisations (IFC, MIGA and ICSID) that are part of the World Bank Group, but are not part of the World Bank. It is the two World Bank organisations (the IBRD and the IDA) that facilitate international financial cooperation between governments of developed and less-developed countries, whereas the associate organisations are geared towards increasing private sector involvement in development and poverty reduction activities (IFC and MIGA) as well as voluntary settlement of international disputes (ICSID). Thus the relevance of these organisations to the intentions of Government in putting forth this Bill is not immediately obvious.
Schedule 1 to the Bill contains 5 items.
Item 1 amends the title of the IMA Act to include Australia s support of the World Bank organisations and the ADB and their programs as one of the purposes of the Act.
Item 2 inserts a definition of the Asian Development Bank into subsection 3(1) of the IMA Act, while item 3 inserts definitions of the five World Bank organisations (the IBRD, the IDA, the IFC, the MIGA and the ICSID) in the same provision.
Item 4 inserts proposed section 8CA after section 8C. Proposed subsection 8CA(1) sets out the requirements for Australia s involvement in providing assistance to another country. Specifically, it provides that the Minister may enter into an agreement for Australia to lend money or participate in a currency swap arrangement with another country if he or she is satisfied that at least one other government or organisation has provided, or intends to provide, financial assistance to the recipient country in response to the same or a similar program of the relevant World Bank organisation or the ADB: proposed paragraph 8CA(1)(b). Proposed subsection 8CA(2) eliminates the possibility of any doubling up of assistance due to the involvement of a second or subsequent World Bank organisation in support of an existing World Bank organisation program. Proposed subsection 8CA(3) provides for Australia to be able to require early repayment in the event of suspension or premature termination of the relevant program of assistance. Proposed subsection 8CA(4) provides for a standing appropriation from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Proposed subsection 8CA(5) absolves transactions in relation to any assistance provided by the Commonwealth from any Commonwealth, State or Territory taxation liability.
Item 5 inserts a reference to proposed section 8CA in subsection 8D(1).[11]
This Bill has been introduced in a specific context, namely to provide immediate assistance to the Indonesian Government as outlined by the Prime Minister on 10 December 2008 and also in a more general context by establishing a standing appropriation to provide future assistance to countries that are in receipt of, or have been pledged, assistance from one of the World Bank Group organisations, the ADB or another country, as part of a World Bank or ADB program. As previously mentioned, the inclusion of World Bank associate organisations in the Bill, such as the IFC, the MIGA and the ICSID are curious as these organisations, whilst having development‑related activities as part of their core functions, are more geared towards facilitating private sector involvement in development activities and international dispute resolution.
[1]. For more information on the IBRD, see: http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTABOUTUS/EXTIBRD/0,,contentMDK:21130269~menuPK:3168298~pagePK:64168445~piPK:64168309~theSitePK:3046012,00.html, viewed 4 June 2009.
For more information on the IDA, see: http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTABOUTUS/IDA/0,,contentMDK:21206704~menuPK:83991~pagePK:51236175~piPK:437394~theSitePK:73154,00.html, viewed 4 June 2009.
[2]. For more information on the IFC, see: http://www.ifc.org/about, viewed 4 June 2009.
[3]. For more information on the MIGA, see: http://www.miga.org/about/index_sv.cfm?stid=1588, viewed 4 June 2009.
[4]. For more information on the ICSID, see: http://icsid.worldbank.org/ICSID/FrontServlet?requestType=CasesRH&actionVal=ShowHome&pageName=AboutICSID_Home, viewed 4 June 2009.
[5]. For more information on the ADB, see: http://www.adb.org/About/serving-asia.asp, viewed 4 June 2009.
[6]. Currency swaps occur when two parties agree to swap principal and interest (in net present value terms) in one currency for another. As a hypothetical example, if Australia were to agree to a currency swap with Indonesia, it would not necessarily be restricted to the swap of Australian dollars for Indonesian rupiahs. Australia could agree to swap US dollars, Euros, Yen, or some other currency that it holds as part of its foreign exchange reserves, for the equivalent in any currency that Indonesia holds as part of its foreign exchange reserves. Under the proposed amendments, it possible that a currency swap arrangement with a country requiring assistance could be concessional in nature.
[7]. K Rudd MP, Joint Press Conference with His Excellency Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Bali, Indonesia, 10 December 2008, viewed 4 June 2009, http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Interview/2008/interview_0702.cfm
[8]. Joe Hockey MP, Second reading speech: International Monetary Agreements Amendment (Financial Assistance) Bill 2009 , House of Representatives, Debates, 4 June 2009,
pp. 56 57.
[9]. Explanatory Memorandum, International Monetary Agreements Amendment (Financial Assistance) Bill 2009, p. 2
[10]. For more information about the 1998 changes to the IMA Act see: K Guest and D Richardson, International Monetary Agreements Amendment Bill 1998, Bills Digest no. 165, 1997‑98, Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 1998, viewed 9 June 2009, http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbillsdgs%2FLN005%22
[11]. Section 8D deals with the public release and tabling of national interest statements.
Scott Kompo-Harms
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Towards a landslide victory for Catalonia’s independence movement
5 min. 24/06/2015 00:00 Traduccions: Cat Eng
JOAN M. TRESSERRAS
Two friends have heard rumours of war. One is willing to join the army on day one and fight for his country on the front. The other, though, becomes a conscientious objector and an anti-war activist because he does not want his friends --nor the friends of his friends-- to die. Which one is the greater patriot?
Two women grew up together. One of them works tirelessly, every single day, so that her country may be sovereign and politically free. The other strives and does everything within her means for her people to live decent, ever better lives. Which one is the greater patriot?
Some want to bring together, in a single representation, all the independence supporters in order to emphasise their shared longing for freedom and sovereignty. Others want a range of diverse representations so that every strand of the independence movement will find its fit, so that nobody will feel excluded and we are able to drum up as much support as possible. Which group is showing the greatest loyalty to the cause of Catalonia’s emancipation? Which group is making the greatest contribution towards Catalonia’s social unity?
The Catalan regional elections of September 27 will be a great opportunity for supporters of independence --and any Catalan who is not afraid of the future-- to generate a democratic mandate; a mandate for the new parliament elected at the polls and the Catalan government to start the journey towards independence and full political sovereignty without delay. September 27 will be our first chance to exercise our right to decide, a right that has been claimed by the vast majority of Catalan society. In such exceptional circumstances, it would be surprising and paradoxical if the election winners were those who do not acknowledge that right, or the ones who recognise it but will not lift a finger and are in no hurry to exercise it. Indeed, September 27 is a chance of a landslide victory for the independence process.
Still, it would be even more surprising and paradoxical if some people who have proclaimed their faith in independence and have supported or attended the Yes demonstrations in recent years, now had second thoughts or chose not to cast a ballot. With the excuse that the other ones --it’s always the other ones-- have a partisan intent. With the excuse that the leaders or the main political parties have not done the right thing. With the excuse that this is not the way they would have chosen to hold an election or the most effective one. With the excuse that the way it has become a plebiscite doesn’t sit well with them. Or with the excuse that the election result won’t send a crystal clear message to the media, the corridors of power or the intelligence community in Madrid, Berlin, Bangkok, Moscow, London, Washington, Beijing or Antananarivo. Getting this far was no mean feat. To date, we had never managed to get a democratic window of opportunity like this one. Therefore, we must help out with the campaigns run by the non-partisan groups and strive to make the electoral victory and the democratic mandate as great as possible.
No single individual or political party, despite their pedigree and the relevance they might have gained over time, can possibly expect to represent the whole nation or the entire independence movement by themselves. Anyone may join the independence movement when it suits them. But nobody, nor any single party, may claim to own it. Neither the oldest, nor the newest. Neither the most socially advanced, nor the most conservative. And nobody --not from any stance-- can tell the other supporters of independence that they must abandon or put aside their other political convictions. The total sum will not be the result of adding up temporary pretences, but aggregating authenticities. It will be the sum of who we truly are individually. The sum of whole votes, each one with all of its complexity and signification. The upcoming elections will be a plebiscite because they will be even more democratic than any previous election; because we will also be able to express what we had never been able to, because it had been denied to us.
In a scene of Unforgiven, the movie that Clint Eastwood directed in 1992, the character played by Eastwood himself (William Munny) explains that: “It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have”. Life is not just what we have, but our expectations, too. Most Catalans want independence so that we can exercise our right to freedom and our unrestrained responsibility against an unacceptable domination: to secure our capacity to make collective decisions about everything we have and everything that we and our descendants might have in the future. That includes the trouble and the contradictions; the differences and the disagreements; the conflicts and the strains.
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Malaysia Stumbles Toward Fiscal Crisis
By: John Berthelsen
A perfect storm of bad economic news appears about to inundate a rudderless government in Malaysia as political squabbling paralyzes leaders, according to sources in Kuala Lumpur. Fiscal revenues are going through the floor, the currency is diving and inflation has risen from 0.1 percent in February to 3.3 percent in July and is expected to rise.
With a huge projected fiscal deficit and steep bond indebtedness, the country may be faced with borrowing on the international markets. But with a sliding currency and allegations of massive corruption threatening the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak, borrowing costs are likely to be through the roof.
Most observers in Malaysia believe that Najib remains insulated from political overthrow by the paid for loyalty of the 192 United Malays National Organization cadres in the Barisan Nasional, or national ruling coalition. But a major financial crisis could change the equation.
Najib skips town
As the economy grows weaker and the scandals percolate, Najib has left the country, first to London for a trade show, then to the United Nations, where he was to address the general assembly. From there, he and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, were due to fly on an official private jet to Milan, Italy, where she is to sponsor an Islamic fashion show.
“Malaysia is quickly entering into the throes of a financial crisis,” according to Focus-Economics, a consensus website of leading global economists. “External factors, such as the slowdown in China, concerns over how sound Malaysia’s financial markets are, as well as uncertainty regarding the extent of the impending Federal Reserve rate hike, have forced the Central Bank to reduce its foreign reserves substantially in order to support the currency. Investor confidence is being further tested by the political situation in the country.”
Malaysia has been almost paralyzed by a lengthy corruption scandal in which unknown Middle Eastern sources were discovered to have poured US$861 million into the prime minister’s private account at AmBank in Kuala Lumpur in 2013, only to have it disappear back out to a Singapore account, and then to disappear altogether shortly after. At the same time, the country is being rocked by the RM42 billion 1Malaysia Development Bhd. financial scandal in which billions allegedly have been siphoned off from the state-backed investment fund and billions more have seemingly been lost to bad investments. There is concern that the magnitude of the projected losses faced by government-linked banks could threaten the country’s financial system.
Stock market heads south
Attempts to prop up the stock exchange using RM20 billion from a revived government investment fund – regarded as too little, too late – bought a two-day bounce on Sept. 16 before the market slide resumed. At 1623.27, it is now 14.57 percent off its April peak, making it the worst-performing bourse in the region.
The ringgit fell in value against the US dollar from 3.5687 in August 2014 to 4.4570 this week before the central bank intervened, a 19.93 percent drop. The central bank has spent at least US$60 billion over the past several months buying ringgit – at least a third of the country’s international currency reserves.
1MDBecon-businessMalaysiaNajibpremium
Armenia: China’s Link to Get to Europe
UN Seeks More Accountability For Sri Lankan Civil War
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This article is about the Western Christian 40-day period. For Lent in Eastern Christianity, see Great Lent. For other uses, see Lent (disambiguation).
The liturgical colour of the season of Lent is purple. Many altar crosses and religious statuary are traditionally veiled during this period in the Christian Year.
Christmastide
Epiphanytide
Ordinary Time (1 & 2)
Pre-Lent / Shrovetide
Paschal Triduum
Eastertide
Weeks after Pentecost
Nativity Fast
Pre-Great Lent
Great Lent
Apostles' Fast
Dormition Fast
East Syriac Rite
Weeks of Annunciation
Weeks of Epiphany
Weeks of Great Fast
Weeks of Resurrection
Weeks of Apostles
Qaita or Weeks of Summer
Eliya-Sliba-Muse or Weeks of Eliyah, Cross and Muse
Qudas Edta or Weeks of Dedication of Church
Lent (Latin: Quadragesima, 'Fortieth') is a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, doing penance, mortifying the flesh, repentance of sins, almsgiving, and denial of ego. This event is observed in the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, Oriental Orthodox, Reformed, and Roman Catholic Churches. [1] [2] [3] Some Anabaptist and evangelical churches also observe the Lenten season. [4] [5]
Latin is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. The Latin alphabet is derived from the Etruscan and Greek alphabets and ultimately from the Phoenician alphabet.
Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer and fasting. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter. Ash Wednesday is traditionally observed by Western Christians. Most Latin Rite Roman Catholics observe it, as do some Protestants like Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, some Reformed churches, Baptists, Nazarenes and Independent Catholics.
Holy Saturday, the Saturday of Holy Week, also known as Holy and Great Saturday, the Great Sabbath, Black Saturday, Joyous Saturday, Hallelujah Saturday or Easter Eve, and called "Joyous Saturday" or "the Saturday of Light" among Coptic Christians, is the day after Good Friday. It is the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week in which Christians prepare for Easter. It commemorates the day that Jesus' body lay in the tomb and the Harrowing of Hell.
Duration and traditions
Protestantism and Western Orthodoxy
Eastern Orthodoxy and Byzantine Rite
Other related fasting periods
Associated customs
Omission of Gloria and Alleluia
Veiling of religious images
Pre-Lenten festivals
Fasting and abstinence
Holy days within the season of Lent
Easter Triduum
The last week of Lent is Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday. Following the New Testament story, Jesus' crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday, and at the beginning of the next week the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday recalls the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Holy Week in Christianity is the week just before Easter. It is also the last week of Lent, in the West, – Palm Sunday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday – are all included. However, Easter Day, which begins the season of Eastertide, is not. However, traditions observing the Easter Triduum may overlap or displace part of Holy Week or Easter itself within that additional liturgical period.
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in each of the four canonical Gospels.
Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang, perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.
In Lent, many Christians commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries in order to replicate the account of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ's journey into the desert for 40 days; [6] [7] [8] this is known as one's Lenten sacrifice. [9] Many Christians also add a Lenten spiritual discipline, such as reading a daily devotional or praying through a Lenten calendar, to draw themselves near to God. [10] [11] The Stations of the Cross, a devotional commemoration of Christ's carrying the Cross and of his execution, are often observed. Many Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches remove flowers from their altars, while crucifixes, religious statues, and other elaborate religious symbols are often veiled in violet fabrics in solemn observance of the event. Throughout Christendom, some adherents mark the season with the traditional abstention from the consumption of meat, most notably among Lutherans, Roman Catholics and Anglicans. [12] [13] [14]
Fasting is the willing abstinence or reduction from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast or dry fasting is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period. Other fasts may be partially restrictive, limiting only particular foods or substances, or be intermittent.
In economics, a luxury good is a good for which demand increases more than proportionally as income rises, so that expenditures on the good become a greater proportion of overall spending.
The four canonical gospels of the New Testament are the primary sources of information for the narrative of the life of Jesus. However, other parts of the New Testament, such as the Pauline epistles which were likely written within 20–30 years of each other, also include references to key episodes in his life such as the Last Supper. And the Acts of the Apostles (1:1–11) says more about the Ascension episode than the canonical gospels.
Lent is traditionally described as lasting for 40 days, in commemoration of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry, during which he endured temptation by Satan. [15] [16] Depending on the Christian denomination and local custom, Lent ends either on the evening of Maundy Thursday, [17] or at sundown on Holy Saturday, when the Easter Vigil is celebrated. [18] Regardless, Lenten practices are properly maintained until the evening of Holy Saturday. [19]
The Gospel According to Matthew is the first book of the New Testament and one of the three synoptic gospels. It tells how the promised Messiah, Jesus, rejected by Israel, is killed, is raised from the dead, and finally sends the disciples to preach the gospel to the whole world. Most scholars believe it was composed between AD 80 and 90, with a range of possibility between AD 70 to 110. The anonymous author was probably a male Jew, standing on the margin between traditional and non-traditional Jewish values, and familiar with technical legal aspects of scripture being debated in his time. Writing in a polished Semitic "synagogue Greek", he drew on three main sources: the Gospel of Mark, the hypothetical collection of sayings known as the Q source, and material unique to his own community, called the M source or "Special Matthew".
The Gospel According to Mark is one of the four canonical gospels and one of the three synoptic gospels. It tells of the ministry of Jesus from his baptism by John the Baptist to his death and burial and the discovery of the empty tomb – there is no genealogy of Jesus or birth narrative, nor, in the original ending at chapter 16, any post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. It portrays Jesus as a heroic man of action, an exorcist, a healer, and a miracle worker. Jesus is also the Son of God, but he keeps his identity secret, concealing it in parables so that even most of the disciples fail to understand. All this is in keeping with prophecy, which foretold the fate of the messiah as suffering servant. The gospel ends, in its original version, with the discovery of the empty tomb, a promise to meet again in Galilee, and an unheeded instruction to spread the good news of the resurrection.
The Gospel According to Luke, also called the Gospel of Luke, or simply Luke, is the third of the four canonical Gospels. It tells of the origins, birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.
Lent celebrants carrying out a street procession during Holy Week, in Granada, Nicaragua. The violet color is often associated with penance and detachment. Similar Christian penitential practice is seen in other Christian countries, sometimes associated with fasting.
The English word Lent is a shortened form of the Old English word lencten, meaning "spring season", as its Dutch language cognate lente (Old Dutch lentin) [21] still does today. A dated term in German, Lenz (Old High German lenzo), is also related. According to the Oxford English Dictionary , 'the shorter form (? Old Germanic type *laŋgito- , *laŋgiton-) seems to be a derivative of *laŋgo- long ... and may possibly have reference to the lengthening of the days as characterizing the season of spring'. The origin of the -en element is less clear: it may simply be a suffix, or lencten may originally have been a compound of *laŋgo- 'long' and an otherwise little-attested word *-tino, meaning 'day'. [22]
Old English, or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest historical form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers probably in the mid-5th century, and the first Old English literary works date from the mid-7th century. After the Norman conquest of 1066, English was replaced, for a time, as the language of the upper classes by Anglo-Norman, a relative of French. This is regarded as marking the end of the Old English era, as during this period the English language was heavily influenced by Anglo-Norman, developing into a phase known now as Middle English.
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, following winter and preceding summer. There are various technical definitions of spring, but local usage of the term varies according to local climate, cultures and customs. When it is spring in the Northern Hemisphere, it is autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. At the spring equinox, days and nights are approximately twelve hours long, with day length increasing and night length decreasing as the season progresses.
Dutch(Nederlands ) is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people as a first language and 5 million people as a second language, constituting the majority of people in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is the third most widely spoken Germanic language, after its close relatives English and German.
In languages spoken where Christianity was earlier established, such as Greek and Latin, the term signifies the period dating from the 40th day before Easter. In modern Greek the term is Σαρακοστή (Sarakostí), derived from the earlier Τεσσαρακοστή (Tessarakostí), meaning "fortieth". The corresponding word in Latin, quadragesima ("fortieth"), is the origin of the term used in Latin-derived languages and in some others: for example, Croatian korizma, French carême, Irish carghas, Italian quaresima, Portuguese quaresma, Albanian kreshma, Romanian păresimi, Spanish cuaresma, Basque garizuma, Galician coresma, and Welsh c(a)rawys.
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages, native to Greece, Cyprus and other parts of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea. It has the longest documented history of any living Indo-European language, spanning more than 3000 years of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the major part of its history; other systems, such as Linear B and the Cypriot syllabary, were used previously. The alphabet arose from the Phoenician script and was in turn the basis of the Latin, Cyrillic, Armenian, Coptic, Gothic, and many other writing systems.
Croatian is the standardized variety of the Serbo-Croatian language used by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina, and other neighboring countries. It is the official and literary standard of Croatia and one of the official languages of the European Union. Croatian is also one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a recognized minority language in Serbia and neighboring countries.
Irish is a Goidelic language of the Celtic and Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is spoken as a first language in substantial areas of counties Galway, Kerry, Cork and Donegal, smaller areas of Waterford, Mayo and Meath, and a few other locations, and as a second language by a larger group of non-habitual speakers across the country.
In other languages, the name used refers to the activity associated with the season. Thus it is called "fasting period" in Czech (postní doba), German (Fastenzeit), and Norwegian (fasten/fastetid), and it is called "great fast" in Polish (wielki post) and Russian (великий пост – veliki post).
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Some named days and day ranges around Lent and Easter in Western Christianity, with the fasting days of Lent numbered
Various Christian denominations calculate the 40 days of Lent differently. The way they observe Lent also differs.
In the Roman Rite since 1970, Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and finishes on Holy Thursday Evening (Before the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper). This comprises a period of 44 days. The Lenten fast excludes Sundays and continues through Good Friday and Holy Saturday, totaling 40 days. [23] [24]
In the Ambrosian Rite, Lent begins on the Sunday that follows what is celebrated as Ash Wednesday in the rest of the Latin Catholic Church, and ends as in the Roman Rite, thus being of 40 days, counting the Sundays but not Holy Thursday. The day for beginning the Lenten fast is the following Monday, the first weekday in Lent. The special Ash Wednesday fast is transferred to the first Friday of the Ambrosian Lent. Until this rite was revised by Saint Charles Borromeo the liturgy of the First Sunday of Lent was festive, celebrated in white vestments with chanting of the Gloria in Excelsis and Alleluia, in line with the recommendation in Matthew 6:16, "When you fast, do not look gloomy". [25] [26] [27]
The period of Lent observed in the Eastern Catholic Churches corresponds to that in other churches of Eastern Christianity that have similar traditions.
In Protestant and Western Orthodox Churches, the season of Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday to the evening of Holy Saturday. [19] [28] This calculation makes Lent last 46 days if the 6 Sundays are included, but only 40 days if they are excluded. [29] This definition is still that of the Anglican Church, [30] Lutheran Church, [31] Methodist Church, [18] and Western Rite Orthodox Church. [32]
Main article: Great Lent
In the Byzantine Rite, i.e., the Eastern Orthodox Great Lent (Greek: Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή or Μεγάλη Νηστεία, meaning "Great 40 Days" and "Great Fast" respectively) is the most important fasting season in the church year. [33]
The 40 days of Great Lent includes Sundays, and begins on Clean Monday and are immediately followed by what are considered distinct periods of fasting, Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, which in turn are followed straightway by Holy Week. Great Lent is broken only after the Paschal (Easter) Divine Liturgy.
The Eastern Orthodox Church maintains the traditional Church's teaching on fasting. The rules for lenten fasting are the monastic rules. Fasting in the Orthodox Church is more than simply abstaining from certain foods. During the Great Lent Orthodox Faithful intensify their prayers and spiritual exercises, go to church services more often, study the Scriptures and the works of the Church Fathers in depth, limit their entertainment and spendings and focus on charity and good works.
Among the Oriental Orthodox, there are various local traditions regarding Lent. Those using the Alexandrian Rite, i.e., the Coptic Orthodox, Coptic Catholic, Ethiopian Orthodox, Ethiopian Catholic, Eritrean Orthodox, and Eritrean Catholic Churches, observe eight weeks of Lent.
In Ethiopian Orthodoxy, fasting (tsome) lasts for 55 continuous days before Easter ( Fasika ), although the fast is divided into three separate periods: Tsome Hirkal, eight days commemorating an early Christian figure; Tsome Arba, 40 days of Lent; and Tsome Himamat, seven days commemorating Holy Week. [34] [35] [36] Fasting involves abstention from animal products (meat, dairy, and eggs), and refraining from eating or drinking before 3:00 pm. [34] Ethiopian devotees may also abstain from sexual activity and the consumption of alcohol. [34]
As in the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the date of Easter is reckoned according to the Julian Calendar, and usually occurs later than Easter according to Gregorian Calendar used by Catholic and Protestant Churches.
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, most notably by the public imposition of ashes. In this photograph, a woman receives a cross of ashes on Ash Wednesday outside an Anglican church.
A Lutheran pastor distributes ashes during the Divine Service on Ash Wednesday.
The number 40 has many Biblical references:
Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 24:18)
Elijah spent 40 days and nights walking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8)
God sent 40 days and nights of rain in the great flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4)
The Hebrew people wandered 40 years in the desert while traveling to the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33)
Jonah's prophecy of judgment gave 40 days to the city of Nineveh in which to repent or be destroyed (Jonah 3:4).
Jesus retreated into the wilderness, where He fasted for 40 days, and was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1–2, Mark 1:12–13, Luke 4:1–2). He overcame all three of Satan's temptations by citing scripture to the devil, at which point the devil left him, angels ministered to Jesus, and He began His ministry. Jesus further said that His disciples should fast "when the bridegroom shall be taken from them" (Matthew 9:15), a reference to his Passion.
Since, presumably, the Apostles fasted as they mourned the death of Jesus, Christians have traditionally fasted during the annual commemoration of his burial.
It is the traditional belief that Jesus lay for 40 hours in the tomb, [26] which led to the 40 hours of total fasting that preceded the Easter celebration in the early Church [37] (the biblical reference to 'three days in the tomb' is understood by them as spanning three days, from Friday afternoon to early Sunday morning, rather than three 24-hour periods of time). Some Christian denominations, such as The Way International and Logos Apostolic Church of God, [38] as well as Anglican scholar E. W. Bullinger in The Companion Bible, believe Christ was in the grave for a total of 72 hours, reflecting the type of Jonah in the belly of the whale. [39]
One of the most important ceremonies at Easter is the baptism of the initiates on Easter Eve. The fast was initially undertaken by the catechumens to prepare them for the reception of this sacrament. Later, the period of fasting from Good Friday until Easter Day was extended to six days, to correspond with the six weeks of training necessary to give the final instruction to those converts who were to be baptized.[ citation needed ]
Converts to Christianity followed a strict catechumenate or period of instruction and discipline prior to receiving the sacrament of baptism, sometimes lasting up to three years. [40] In Jerusalem near the close of the fourth century, classes were held throughout Lent for three hours each day. With the legalization of Christianity (by the Edict of Milan) and its later imposition as the state religion of the Roman Empire, its character was endangered by the great influx of new members. In response, the Lenten fast and practices of self-renunciation were required annually of all Christians, both to show solidarity with the catechumens, and for their own spiritual benefit.[ citation needed ]
Statues and icons veiled in violet shrouds for Passiontide in St Pancras Church, Ipswich, England
There are traditionally 40 days in Lent; these are marked by fasting, both from foods and festivities, and by other acts of penance. The three traditional practices to be taken up with renewed vigour during Lent are prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbours).
However, in modern times, observers give up partaking in vices and often invest the time or money saved in charitable purposes or organizations. [41]
In addition, some believers add a regular spiritual discipline, to bring them closer to God, such as reading a Lenten daily devotional. [10] Another practice commonly added is the singing of the Stabat Mater hymn in designated groups. Among Filipino Catholics, the recitation of Jesus Christ' passion, called Pasiong Mahal, is also observed. In some Christian countries, grand religious processions and cultural customs are observed, and the faithful attempt to visit seven churches during Holy Week in honor of Jesus Christ heading to Mount Calvary.[ citation needed ]
In many liturgical Christian denominations, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday form the Easter Triduum. [42] Lent is a season of grief that necessarily ends with a great celebration of Easter. Thus, it is known in Eastern Orthodox circles as the season of "Bright Sadness". It is a season of sorrowful reflection which is punctuated by breaks in the fast on Sundays.[ citation needed ]
The Gloria in excelsis Deo , which is usually said or sung on Sundays at Mass (or Communion) of the Roman and Anglican rites, is omitted on the Sundays of Lent, but continues in use on solemnities and feasts and on special celebrations of a more solemn kind. [43] Some mass compositions were written especially for Lent, such as Michael Haydn's Missa tempore Quadragesimae , without Gloria, in D minor, and for modest forces, only choir and organ. The Gloria is used on Maundy Thursday, to the accompaniment of bells, which then fall silent until the Gloria in excelsis of the Easter Vigil. [44]
The Lutheran Divine Service, the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, the Anglican Churches, and the Presbyterian service of worship associate the Alleluia with joy and omit it entirely throughout Lent, [45] [46] not only at Mass but also in the canonical hours and outside the liturgy. The word "Alleluia" at the beginning and end of the Acclamation Before the Gospel at Mass is replaced by another phrase.
Before 1970, the omission began with Septuagesima, and the whole Acclamation was omitted and was replaced by a Tract; and in the Liturgy of the Hours the word "Alleluia", normally added to the Gloria Patri at the beginning of each Hour – now simply omitted during Lent – was replaced by the phrase Laus tibi, Domine, rex aeternae gloriae (Praise to you, O Lord, king of eternal glory).
Until the Ambrosian Rite was revised by Saint Charles Borromeo the liturgy of the First Sunday of Lent was festive, celebrated with chanting of the Gloria and Alleluia, in line with the recommendation in Matthew 6:16, "When you fast, do not look gloomy". [25] [26] [27]
In the Byzantine Rite, the Gloria (Great Doxology) continues to be used in its normal place in the Matins service, and the Alleluia appears all the more frequently, replacing "God is the Lord" at Matins.
A United Methodist minister prostrates at the start of the Good Friday liturgy at Holy Family Church, in accordance with the rubrics in the Book of Worship. The processional cross is veiled in black, the liturgical colour associated with Good Friday in Methodist Churches.
A crucifix on the high altar is veiled for Lent. Saint Martin's parish, Württemberg, Germany
In certain pious Christian states, in which liturgical forms of Christianity predominate, religious objects were traditionally veiled for the entire 40 days of Lent. Though perhaps uncommon in the United States of America, this pious practice is consistently observed in Goa, Malta, Peru, the Philippines (the latter only for the entire duration of Holy Week, with the exception of processional images), and in the Spanish cities: Barcelona, Málaga, and Seville. In Ireland, before Vatican II, when impoverished rural Catholic convents and parishes could not afford purple fabrics, they resorted to either removing the statues altogether or, if too heavy or bothersome, turned the statues to face the wall. As is popular custom, the 14 Stations of the Cross plaques on the walls are not veiled.
Crosses were often adorned with jewels and gemstones, the form referred to as Crux Gemmata. To keep the faithful from adoring the crucifixes elaborated with ornamentation, veiling it in royal purple fabrics came into place. The violet colour later evolved as a color of penance and mourning.
Further liturgical changes in modernity reduced such observances to the last week of Passiontide. In parishes that could afford only small quantities of violet fabrics, only the heads of the statues were veiled. If no violet fabrics could be afforded at all, then the religious statues and images were turned around facing the wall. Flowers were always removed as a sign of solemn mourning.
In the pre-1992 Methodist liturgy and pre-1970 forms of the Roman Rite, the last two weeks of Lent are known as Passiontide, a period beginning on the Fifth Sunday in Lent, which in the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal is called the First Sunday in Passiontide and in earlier editions Passion Sunday. All statues (and in England paintings as well) in the church were traditionally veiled in violet. This was seen as in keeping with the Gospel of that Sunday (John 8:46–59), in which Jesus "hid himself" from the people.
Within many churches in the United States of America, after the Second Vatican Council, the need to veil statues or crosses became increasingly irrelevant and was deemed unnecessary by some diocesan bishops. As a result, the veils were removed at the singing of the Gloria in Excelsis Deo during the Easter Vigil. In 1970, the name "Passiontide" was dropped, although the last two weeks are markedly different from the rest of the season, and continuance of the tradition of veiling images is left to the discretion of a country's conference of bishops or even to individual parishes as pastors may wish.
On Good Friday, the Anglican, Lutheran, and Methodist churches traditionally veiled "all pictures, statutes, and the cross are covered in mourning black", while "the chancel and altar coverings are replaced with black, and altar candles are extinguished". The fabrics are then "replaced with white on sunrise on Easter Sunday". [47]
Main article: Shrovetide
Further information: Carnival, Mardi Gras, Swabian-Alemannic-Fastnacht, Maslenitsa, Pancake Day, and Baklahorani
The carnival celebrations which in many cultures traditionally precede Lent are seen as a last opportunity for excess before Lent begins. Some of the most famous are the Carnival of Barranquilla, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Carnival of Venice, Cologne Carnival, the New Orleans Mardi Gras, the Rio de Janeiro carnival, and the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.
The day immediately preceding Lent is variously called Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday"), Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday. Sometimes, it is the peak of the pre-Lenten festival, while sometimes it is largely occupied with preparations for Lent. The observances vary from culture to culture, and even from town to town.
Originally, in Lebanon and Syria, the last Thursday preceding Lent was called "Khamis el zakara". For Catholics, it was meant to be a day of remembrance of the dead ones. However, zakara (which means "remembrance", in Arabic) was gradually replaced by sakara (meaning "getting drunk" in Arabic), and so the occasion came to be known as Khamis el sakara , wherein celebrants indulge themselves with alcoholic beverages.
Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness (Jésus tenté dans le désert), James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum
Further information: Christian dietary laws
Fasting during Lent was more prominent in ancient times than today. Socrates Scholasticus reports that in some places, all animal products were strictly forbidden, while various others permitted fish, or fish and fowl, others prohibited fruit and eggs, and still others permitted only bread. In many places, the observant abstained from food for a whole day until the evening, and at sunset, Western Christians traditionally broke the Lenten fast, which was often known as the Black Fast. [48] [49] In India and Pakistan, many Christians continue this practice of fasting until sunset on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, with some fasting in this manner throughout the whole season of Lent. [50]
For Catholics before 1966, the theoretical obligation of the penitential fast throughout Lent except on Sundays was to take only one full meal a day. In addition, a smaller meal, called a collation, was allowed in the evening, and a cup of some beverage, accompanied by a little bread, in the morning. In practice, this obligation, which was a matter of custom rather than of written law, was not observed strictly. [51] The 1917 Code of Canon Law allowed the full meal on a fasting day to be taken at any hour and to be supplemented by two collations, with the quantity and the quality of the food to be determined by local custom. Abstinence from meat was to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays and Saturdays in Lent. The Lenten fast ended on Holy Saturday at noon. Only those aged 21 to 59 were obliged to fast. As with all ecclesiastical laws, particular difficulties, such as strenuous work or illness, excused one from observance, and a dispensation from the law could be granted by a bishop or parish priest. [52] A rule of thumb is that the two collations should not add up to the equivalent of another full meal. Rather portions were to be: "sufficient to sustain strength, but not sufficient to satisfy hunger". [53]
In 1966, Pope Paul VI reduced the obligatory fasting days to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, abstinence days to Fridays and Ash Wednesday, and allowed episcopal conferences to replace abstinence and fasting with other forms of penitence such charity and piety, as declared and established in his apostolic constitution Paenitemini . This was done so that those in countries where the standard of living is lower can replace fasting with prayer, but "...where economic well-being is greater, so much more will the witness of asceticism have to be given..." [54] This was made part of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which made obligatory fasting for those aged between 18 and 59, and abstinence for those aged 14 and upward. [55] The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference decided to allow other forms of Friday penance to replace that of abstinence from meat, whether in Lent or outside Lent, suggesting alternatives such as abstaining from some other food, or from alcohol or smoking; making a special effort at participating in family prayer or in Mass; making the Stations of the Cross; or helping the poor, sick, old, or lonely. [56] The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales made a similar ruling in 1985 [57] but decided in 2011 to restore the traditional year-round Friday abstinence from meat. [58] The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has maintained the rule of abstention from meat on Friday only during Lent. [59]
Many Lutheran Churches advocate fasting during designated times such as Lent, [8] [60] especially on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. [61] [8] [62] [63] A Handbook for the Discipline of Lent delineates the following Lutheran fasting guidelines: [12]
Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday with only one simple meal during the day, usually without meat.
Refrain from eating meat (bloody foods) on all Fridays in Lent, substituting fish for example.
Eliminate a food or food group for the entire season. Especially consider saving rich and fatty foods for Easter.
Consider not eating before receiving Communion in Lent.
Abstain from or limit a favorite activity (television, movies, etc.) for the entire season, and spend more time in prayer, Bible study, and reading devotional material. [12]
The historic Methodist homilies regarding the Sermon on the Mount stress the importance of the Lenten fast, which begins on Ash Wednesday. [64] The United Methodist Church therefore states that:
There is a strong biblical base for fasting, particularly during the 40 days of Lent leading to the celebration of Easter. Jesus, as part of his spiritual preparation, went into the wilderness and fasted 40 days and 40 nights, according to the Gospels. [65]
Good Friday, which is towards the end of the Lenten season, is traditionally an important day of communal fasting for Methodists. [66] Rev. Jacqui King, the minister of Nu Faith Community United Methodist Church in Houston explained the philosophy of fasting during Lent as "I'm not skipping a meal because in place of that meal I'm actually dining with God". [67]
Many of the Churches in the Reformed tradition retained the Lenten fast in its entirety. [7] The Reformed Church in America describes the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, as a day "focused on prayer, fasting, and repentance" and considers fasting a focus of the whole Lenten season, [68] as demonstrated in the "Invitation to Observe a Lenten Discipline", found in the Reformed liturgy for the Ash Wednesday service, which is read by the presider: [69]
We begin this holy season by acknowledging our need for repentance and our need for the love and forgiveness shown to us in Jesus Christ. I invite you, therefore, in the name of Christ, to observe a Holy Lent, by self-examination and penitence, by prayer and fasting, by practicing works of love, and by reading and reflecting on God's Holy Word. [69]
Good Friday, which is towards the end of the Lenten season, is traditionally an important day of communal fasting for adherents of the Reformed faith. [66]
During the early Middle Ages, eggs, dairy products, and meat were generally forbidden. In favour of the traditional practice, observed both in East and West, Thomas Aquinas argued that "they afford greater pleasure as food [than fish], and greater nourishment to the human body, so that from their consumption there results a greater surplus available for seminal matter, which when abundant becomes a great incentive to lust." [70] Aquinas also authorized the consumption of candy during Lent, because "sugared spices" (such as comfits) were, in his opinion, digestive aids on par with medicine rather than food. [71]
Jousting against Carnival is represented by a fat man on a beer barrel who wears a huge meat pie as headdress; Lent is represented by a thin gaunt woman on a cart (shown here) bearing Lenten fare: mussels, pretzels, and waffles. Oil painting The Fight Between Carnival and Lent by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (circa 1558–1559).
In Spain, the bull of the Holy Crusade (renewed periodically after 1492) allowed the consumption of dairy products [72] and eggs during Lent in exchange for a contribution to the cause of the crusade.
Giraldus Cambrensis, in his Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales, reports that "in Germany and the arctic regions", "great and religious persons" eat the tail of beavers as "fish" because of its superficial resemblance to "both the taste and colour of fish". The animal was very abundant in Wales at the time. [73]
In current Western societies the practice is considerably relaxed, though in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches, abstinence from all animal products including eggs, fish, fowl, and milk sourced from animals (e.g., cows and goats, as opposed to the milk of coconuts and soy beans) is still commonly practiced, so that, where this is observed, only vegetarian (or vegan) meals are consumed for the whole of Lent, 45 days in the Byzantine Rite.
In the tradition of the Western Catholic Church, abstinence from eating some form of food (generally meat, but not dairy or fish products) is distinguished from fasting. In principle, abstinence is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on every Friday of the year that is not a solemnity (a liturgical feast day of the highest rank); but in each country the episcopal conference can determine the form it is to take, perhaps replacing abstinence with other forms of penance. [55] [74] [75]
Even during Lent, the rule about solemnities holds, so that the obligation of Friday abstinence does not apply on 19 and 25 March when, as usually happens, the solemnities of Saint Joseph and the Annunciation are celebrated on those dates. The same applies to Saint Patrick's Day, which is a solemnity in the whole of Ireland as well as in dioceses that have Saint Patrick as principal patron saint. In some other places, too, where there are strong Irish traditions within the Catholic community, a dispensation is granted for that day. [76] In Hong Kong, where Ash Wednesday often coincides with Chinese New Year celebrations, a dispensation is then granted from the laws of fast and abstinence, and the faithful are exhorted to use some other form of penance. [77]
After the Protestant Reformation, in the Lutheran Church, "Church orders of the 16th century retained the observation of the Lenten fast, and Lutherans have observed this season with a serene, earnest attitude." [2] In the Anglican Churches, the Traditional Saint Augustine's Prayer Book: A Book of Devotion for Members of the Anglican Communion, a companion to the Book of Common Prayer, states that fasting is "usually meaning not more than a light breakfast, one full meal, and one half meal, on the forty days of Lent". [13] It further states that "the major Fast Days of Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, as the American Prayer-Book indicates, are stricter in obligation, though not in observance, than the other Fast Days, and therefore should not be neglected except in cases of serious illness or other necessity of an absolute character." [78]
In many Christian countries, religious processions during the season of Lent are often accompanied by a military escort both for security and parade. Ceuta, Spain
Traditionally, on Sunday, and during the hours before sunrise and after sunset, some Churches, such as Episcopalians, allow "breaks" in their Lent promises. For Roman Catholics, the Lenten penitential season ends after the Easter Vigil Mass. Orthodox Christians also break their fast after the Paschal Vigil, a service which starts around 11:00 pm on Holy Saturday, and which includes the Paschal celebration of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. At the end of the service, the priest blesses cheese, eggs, flesh meats, and other items that the faithful have been abstaining from for the duration of Great Lent.
Lenten traditions and liturgical practices are less common, less binding, and sometimes non-existent among some liberal and progressive Christians. [79] A greater emphasis on anticipation of Easter Sunday is often encouraged more than the penitence of Lent or Holy Week. [80]
Some Christians as well as secular groups also interpret the Lenten fast in a positive tone, not as renunciation but as contributing to causes such as environmental stewardship and improvement of health. [81] [82] [83] Even some atheists find value in the Christian tradition and observe Lent. [84]
During Lent, BBC's Radio Four normally broadcasts a series of programmes called the Lent Talks . [85] These 15-minute programmes are normally broadcast on a Wednesday and have featured various speakers, such as John Lennox. [86]
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See also: Easter Triduum
A Methodist minister distributing ashes to confirmands kneeling at the chancel rails on Ash Wednesday
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old Jerusalem on Golgotha, Mount Calvary, where tradition claims Jesus was crucified and died
There are several holy days within the season of Lent:
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in Western Christianity, such as the Lutheran Churches, Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, Methodist Churches, Reformed traditions, etc.
In the Ambrosian Rite and the Mozarabic Rite, there is no Ash Wednesday: Lent begins on the first Sunday and the fast begins on the first Monday.
The Sundays in Lent carry Latin names in German Lutheranism, derived from the beginning of the Sunday's introit. The first is called Invocabit, the second Reminiscere, the third Oculi, the fourth Laetare, the fifth Judica, the sixth Palm Sunday.
The fourth Sunday in Lent, which marks the halfway point between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, is referred to as Laetare Sunday by Anglicans, Roman Catholics, and many other Christians, because of the traditional Entrance Antiphon of the Mass. Due to the more "joyful" character of the day (since laetare in Latin means "rejoice"), the priest, deacon, and subdeacon have the option of wearing vestments of a rose colour (pink) instead of violet.
Additionally, the fourth Lenten Sunday, Mothering Sunday, which has become known as Mother's Day in the United Kingdom and an occasion for honouring mothers of children, has its origin in a 16th-century celebration of the Mother Church.
The fifth Sunday in Lent, also known in some denominations as Passion Sunday (and in some denominations also applies to Palm Sunday) marks the beginning of Passiontide.
The sixth Sunday in Lent, commonly called Palm Sunday, marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of Lent immediately preceding Easter.
Wednesday of Holy Week, Holy Wednesday (also sometimes known as Spy Wednesday) commemorates Judas Iscariot's bargain to betray Jesus. [87] [88] [89]
Thursday of Holy Week is known as Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, and is a day Christians commemorate the Last Supper shared by Christ with his disciples.
The next day is Good Friday, on which Christians remember Jesus' crucifixion, death, and burial.
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In the Anglican, Lutheran, Old Catholic, Roman Catholic, and many other churches, the Easter Triduum is a three-day event that begins Maundy Thursday evening, with the entrance hymn of the Mass of the Lord's Supper. After this celebration, the consecrated Hosts are taken solemnly from the altar to a place of reposition, where the faithful are invited to meditate in the presence of the consecrated Hosts.This is the Church's response to Jesus' question to the disciples sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Could you not watch with me one hour?" On the next day, the liturgical commemoration of the Passion of Jesus Christ is celebrated at 3 pm, unless a later time is chosen due to work schedules.
This service consists of readings from the Scriptures, especially John the Evangelist's account of the Passion of Jesus, followed by prayers, veneration of the cross of Jesus, and a communion service at which the hosts consecrated at the evening Mass of the day before are distributed. The Easter Vigil during the night between Holy Saturday afternoon and Easter Sunday morning starts with the blessing of a fire and a special candle, and with readings from Scripture associated with baptism. Then, the Gloria in Excelsis Deo is sung, water is blessed, baptism and confirmation of adults may take place, the people are invited to renew the promises of their own baptism, and finally, Mass is celebrated in the usual way from the Preparation of the Gifts onwards.
Holy Week and the season of Lent, depending on denomination and local custom, end with Easter Vigil at sundown on Holy Saturday or on the morning of Easter Sunday. It is custom for some churches to hold sunrise services which include open air celebrations in some places.
The chancel of a Lutheran church decorated with red paraments, the liturgical colour of the last week of Lent, Holy Week, in the Lutheran and Anglican Churches
In the Lutheran, Methodist, Reformed, Roman Catholic, and many Anglican churches, the pastor's vestments are violet during the season of Lent. Roman Catholic priests wear white vestments on solemnity days for St. Joseph (March 19) and the Annunciation (March 25), although these solemnities get transferred to another date if they fall on a Sunday in Lent or at any time during Holy Week. On the fourth Sunday in Lent, rose-coloured (pink) vestments may be worn in lieu of violet. Historically, black had also been used: Pope Innocent III declared black to be the proper color for Lent, though Durandus of Saint-Pourçain claims violet has preference over black. [91]
In some Anglican churches, a type of unbleached linen or muslin known as "Lenten array" is worn during the first three weeks of Lent, crimson is worn during Passiontide, and on holy days, the colour proper to the day is worn. [92] In certain other Anglican churches, as an alternative to violet for all of Lent except Holy Week and red beginning on Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday, Lenten array, typically made of sackcloth such as burlap and trimmed with crimson cloth, often velvet, is worn, even during Holy Week—since the sackcloth represents penance and the crimson edges represent the Passion of Christ. Even the veils that cover the altar crosses or crucifixes and statuary (if any) are made of the same sackcloth with the crimson trim.
Christianity:
Fasting in the Eastern Orthodox Church
Fasting and abstinence of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Fast of Nineveh
People's Sunday
Quinquagesima
Daniel Fast
Islam:
Judaism:
Counting of the Omer
Modern interpretations
Lent Event, asks people to donate the value of what they forego during Lent
Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important fasting season in the church year in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Byzantine Rite Lutheran Churches and the Eastern Catholic Churches, which prepares Christians for the greatest feast of the church year, Pascha (Easter).
The liturgical year, also known as the church year or Christian year, as well as the kalendar, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches that determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of Scripture are to be read either in an annual cycle or in a cycle of several years.
Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, and Black Friday.
Maundy Thursday is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Washing of the Feet (Maundy) and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, as described in the canonical gospels.
Ordinary Time comprises two periods of time in the Christian liturgical year that are found in the calendar of the ordinary form of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, as well as some other churches of Western Christianity, including those that use the Revised Common Lectionary: the Anglican Communion, Methodist churches, Lutheran churches, Old Catholic churches and Reformed churches. In Latin, the name of this time is tempus per annum translated as time during the year.
Septuagesima is the name for the ninth Sunday before Easter, the third before Ash Wednesday. The term is sometimes applied to the seventy days starting on Septuagesima Sunday and ending on the Saturday after Easter. Alternatively, the term is sometimes applied also to the period commonly called Shrovetide or Gesimatide that begins on this day and ends on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins.
In the liturgical calendar of the Western Christian churches, ember days are four separate sets of three days within the same week — specifically, the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday — roughly equidistant in the circuit of the year, that are set aside for fasting and prayer. These days set apart for special prayer and fasting were considered especially suitable for the ordination of clergy. The Ember Days are known in Latin as the quatuor anni tempora, or formerly as the jejunia quatuor temporum.
Easter Triduum , Holy Triduum, or Paschal Triduum, or The Three Days, is the period of three days that begins with the liturgy on the evening of Maundy Thursday, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with evening prayer on Easter Sunday. It recalls the passion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, as portrayed in the canonical Gospels.
The Feast of the Transfiguration is celebrated by various Christian communities in honor of the transfiguration of Jesus. The origins of the feast are less than certain and may have derived from the dedication of three basilicas on Mount Tabor. The feast was present in various forms by the 9th century, and in the Western Church was made a universal feast on 6 August by Pope Callixtus III to commemorate the raising of the Siege of Belgrade (1456).
Shrovetide, also known as the Pre-Lenten Season, is the Christian period of preparation before the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. Shrovetide starts on Septuagesima Sunday, includes Sexagesima Sunday, Quinquagesima Sunday, as well as Shrove Monday, and culminates on Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras. One hallmark of Shrovetide is the merrymaking associated with Carnival. On the final day of the season, Shrove Tuesday, many traditional Christians, such as Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Roman Catholics, "make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with."
The Friday Fast is a Christian practice of abstaining from animal meat on Fridays, or holding a fast on Fridays, that is found most frequently in the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican and Methodist traditions. According to Pope Peter of Alexandria, the Friday fast is done in commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. Abstinence is colloquially referred to as "fasting" although it does not necessarily involve a reduction in the quantity of food.
The Catholic Church historically observes the disciplines of fasting and abstinence at various times each year. For Catholics, fasting is the reduction of one's intake of food, while abstinence refers to refraining from meat. The Catholic Church teaches that all people are obliged by God to perform some penance for their sins, and that these acts of penance are both personal and corporeal. Bodily fasting is meaningless unless it is joined with a spiritual fast from sin. St. Basil gives the following exhortation regarding fasting:
The Copts, who belong mostly to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, observe fasting periods according to the Coptic calendar. These fasting periods are exceeded by no other Christian community except the Orthodox Tewahedo. Out of the 365 days of the year, Copts often fast between 180 to 210 days.
A Black Fast is a severe form of Christian fasting. It is the most rigorous in the history of Church legislation and is marked by austerity regarding the quantity and quality of food permitted on fasting days as well as the time when such food is legitimately taken.
The Lenten sacrifice refers to a pleasure or luxury that Christians give up for the liturgical season of Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday annually. The tradition of the Lenten sacrifice has its roots in Jesus fasting for forty days in the Judæn desert. When Lent is over and Easter Sunday arrives, the faithful are able to indulge in what they sacrificed during the Lenten season.
↑ Comparative Religion For Dummies. For Dummies. 31 January 2011. ISBN 9781118052273 . Retrieved 8 March 2011. This is the day Lent begins. Christians go to church to pray and have a cross drawn in ashes on their foreheads. The ashes drawn on ancient tradition represent repentance before God. The holiday is part of Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Episcopalian liturgies, among others.
1 2 Gassmann, Günther (4 January 2001). Historical Dictionary of Lutheranism. Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 180. ISBN 978-0810866201.
↑ Benedict, Philip (3 March 2014). Christ's Churches Purely Reformed: A Social History of Calvinism. Yale University Press. p. 506. ISBN 978-0300105070.
↑ Mennonite Stew – A Glossary: Lent. Third Way Café. Retrieved 24 February 2012. Traditionally, Lent was not observed by the Mennonite church, and only recently have more modern Mennonite churches started to focus on the six-week season preceding Easter.
↑ Brumley, Jeff. "Lent not just for Catholics, but also for some Baptists and other evangelicals". The Florida Times Union. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
↑ Burnett, Margaret (5 March 2017). "Students observe Lent on campus – The Brown and White". The Brown and White. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
1 2 Chisholm, Hugh (1911). The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and General Information. Encyclopaedia Britannica. p. 428. The Lenten fast was retained at the Reformation in some of the reformed Churches, and is still observed in the Anglican and Lutheran communions.
1 2 3 Gassmann, Günther; Oldenburg, Mark W. (10 October 2011). Historical Dictionary of Lutheranism. Scarecrow Press. p. 229. ISBN 9780810874824. In many Lutheran churches, the Sundays during the Lenten season are called by the first word of their respective Latin Introitus (with the exception of Palm/Passion Sunday): Invocavit, Reminiscere, Oculi, Laetare, and Judica. Many Lutheran church orders of the 16th century retained the observation of the Lenten fast, and Lutherans have observed this season with a serene, earnest attitude. Special days of eucharistic communion were set aside on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
↑ Hines-Brigger, Susan. "Lent: More Than Just Giving Up Something". Franciscan Media. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
1 2 Crumm, David. Our Lent, 2nd Edition. ISBN 978-1934879504.
↑ Ambrose, Gill; Craig-Wild, Peter; Craven, Diane; Moger, Peter (5 March 2007). Together for a Season. Church House Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 9780715140635.
1 2 3 Weitzel, Thomas L. (1978). "A Handbook for the Discipline of Lent" (PDF). Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
1 2 Gavitt, Loren Nichols (1991). Traditional Saint Augustine's Prayer Book: A Book of Devotion for Members of the Anglican Communion. Holy Cross Publications.
↑ This practice is observed in numerous pious Christian countries, although the form of abstention may vary depending on what is customary. Some abstain from meat for 40 days, some do so only on Fridays, or some only on Good Friday itself. By pontifical decree under Pope Alexander VI, eggs and dairy products may be consumed by penitents in Spain and its colonized territories.
↑ "What is Lent and why does it last forty days?". The United Methodist Church. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
↑ "The Liturgical Year". The Anglican Catholic Church. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
↑ "When does Lent really end? | Catholic Answers". www.catholic.com. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
1 2 Langford, Andy (4 January 1993). Blueprints for worship: a user's guide for United Methodist congregations. Abingdon Press. p. 96.
1 2 Akin, James. "All About Lent". EWTN. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
↑ Knowlton, MaryLee (2004). Macedonia. Marshall Cavendish. p. 125. ISBN 9780761418542. Traditionally, as in many Christian countries, the carnival marked the beginning of Lent, which ushered in a six-week period of fasting for Christians.
↑ "lente (voorjaar)". etymologiebank.nl. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
↑ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lent" . Encyclopædia Britannica . 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 427.
↑ Philippart, David. "If Lent is 40 days, why are there 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter?". U.S. Catholic. The Claretians. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
↑ OSV
1 2 "Il Tempo di Quaresima nel rito Ambrosiano" (PDF) (in Italian). Parrocchia S. Giovanna Antida Thouret. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
1 2 3 Herbert, Thurston (1910). "Lent" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia . 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company. See paragraph: Duration of the Fast
1 2 The "Secret of the Mass" in the First Sunday of Lent – "Sacrificium Quadragesimalis Initii", Missale Romanum Ambrosianus
↑ The Roman and the Lutheran Observance of Lent. Luther League of America. 1920. p. 5.
↑ What is Lent and why does it last forty days?. The United Methodist Church. Retrieved 20 April 2014. Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter" and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.
↑ Kitch, Anne E. (10 January 2003). The Anglican Family Prayer Book. Church Publishing, Inc. p. 130.
↑ The Northwestern Lutheran, Volumes 60–61. Northwestern Publishing House. 1973. p. 66.
↑ Fenton, John. "The Holy Season of Lent in the Western Tradition". Western Rite of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
↑ "Fasting and Great Lent – Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese". Antiochian.org. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
1 2 3 James Jeffrey (22 March 2017). "Ethiopia: fasting for 55 days". Deutsche Welle . Retrieved 24 March 2017.
↑ "Tsome Nenewe (The Fast of Nineveh)". Minneapolis: Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. 28 January 2015. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
↑ Robel Arega. "Fasting in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church". Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Sunday School Department – Mahibere Kidusan. Why Fifty-Five Days?. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
↑ Lent & Beyond: Dr. Peter Toon—From Septuagesima to Quadragesima (web site gone, no alternate source found, originally cited 27 August 2010)
↑ Jesus Was Literally Three Days and Three Nights in the Grave, www.logosapostolic.org, retrieved 23 March 2011
↑ Burke, Daniel (13 April 2011). "Just How Long Did Jesus Stay in the Tomb?". www.huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
↑ Hinson, E. Glenn (1 January 1981). The Evangelization of the Roman Empire: Identity and Adaptability. Mercer University Press. ISBN 9780865540149. Like its parent, Judaism, earliest Christianity had a catechism for its converts, as much recent study has proven. ... Hippolytus required up to three years' instruction before baptism, shortened by a candidate's progress in developing Christian character.
↑ "Lent—disciplines and practices". Spirit Home. Retrieved 27 August 2010. [ self-published source? ]
↑ "General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, 19". Catholicliturgy.com. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
↑ General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 53
↑ Roman Missal, Thursday of the Lord's Supper, 7
↑ "Why don't we use alleluias during Lent?" (PDF). Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
↑ Weaver, J. Dudley, Jr. (2002). Presbyterian Worship: A Guide for Clergy. Geneva Press. p. 106. ISBN 9780664502188. The alleluia is traditionally not sung during Lent, and, here at the first service of Easter, it is at last reintroduced to the church's liturgy.
↑ Bratcher, Dennis (2015). "The Days of Holy Week". CRI.
↑ Cléir, Síle de (5 October 2017). Popular Catholicism in 20th-Century Ireland: Locality, Identity and Culture. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 101. ISBN 9781350020603. Catherine Bell outlines the details of fasting and abstinence in a historical context, stating that the Advent fast was usually less severe than that carried out in Lent, which originally involved just one meal a day, not to be eaten until after sunset.
↑ Guéranger, Prosper; Fromage, Lucien (1912). The Liturgical Year: Lent. Burns, Oates & Washbourne. p. 8. Retrieved 7 February 2019. St. Benedict's rule prescribed a great many fasts, over and above the ecclesiastical fast of Lent; but it made this great distinction between the two: that whilst Lent obliged the monks, as well as the rest of the faithful, to abstain from food till sunset, these monastic fasts allowed the repast to be taken at the hour of None.
↑ "Some Christians observe Lenten fast the Islamic way". Union of Catholic Asian News. 27 February 2002. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
↑ O'Neill, James David (1909). "Fast" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia . 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
↑ "CIC 1917: text – IntraText CT". Intratext.com. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
↑ Gregson, David. "Fasting". EWTN. Eternal Word Television Network . Retrieved 9 February 2015.
↑ "Paenitemini (February 17, 1966) – Paul VI". w2.vatican.va. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
1 2 "Code of Canon Law – IntraText". Vatican.va. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
↑ "Friday Penance resource from ICBC". Catholicbishops.ie. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
↑ "Fasting and Abstinence. Statement from the Bishops of England and Wales on Canons 1249–1253" (PDF).
↑ "Catholics asked to abstain from meat for Friday penance". BBC News. 16 September 2011.
↑ "EWTN Q & A, Response". Ewtn.com. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
↑ What is the holiest season of the Church Year? Archived 9 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 3 February 2010. Archived copy at the Internet Archive
↑ Hatch, Jane M. (1978). The American Book of Days. Wilson. p. 163. ISBN 9780824205935. Special religious services are held on Ash Wednesday by the Church of England, and in the United States by Episcopal, Lutheran, and some other Protestant churches. The Episcopal Church prescribes no rules concerning fasting on Ash Wednesday, which is carried out according to members' personal wishes; however, it recommends a measure of fasting and abstinence as a suitable means of marking the day with proper devotion. Among Lutherans as well, there are no set rules for fasting, although some local congregations may advocate this form of penitence in varying degrees.
↑ Pfatteicher, Philip H. (1990). Commentary on the Lutheran Book of Worship: Lutheran Liturgy in Its Ecumenical Context. Augsburg Fortress Publishers. pp. 223–244, 260. ISBN 9780800603922. The Good Friday fast became the principal fast in the calendar, and even after the Reformation in Germany many Lutherans who observed no other fast scrupulously kept Good Friday with strict fasting.
↑ Jacobs, Henry Eyster; Haas, John Augustus William (1899). The Lutheran Cyclopedia. Scribner. p. 110. By many Lutherans Good Friday is observed as a strict fast. The lessons on Ash Wednesday emphasize the proper idea of the fast. The Sundays in Lent receive their names from the first words of their Introits in the Latin service, Invocavit, Reminiscere, Oculi, Lcetare, Judica.
↑ Abraham, William J.; Kirby, James E. (24 September 2009). The Oxford Handbook of Methodist Studies. Oxford University Press. pp. 257–. ISBN 978-0-19-160743-1.
↑ "What does The United Methodist Church say about fasting?". The United Methodist Church. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
1 2 Ripley, George; Dana, Charles Anderson (1883). The American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary for General Knowledge. D. Appleton and Company. p. 101. The Protestant Episcopal, Lutheran, and Reformed churches, as well as many Methodists, observe the day by fasting and special services.
↑ Chavez, Kathrin (2010). "Lent: A Time to Fast and Pray". The United Methodist Church. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
↑ "The Liturgical Calendar". Reformed Church in America. 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
1 2 "Ash Wednesday". Reformed Church in America. 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
↑ "Summa Theologica Q147a8". Newadvent.org. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
↑ Richardson, Tim H. (2002). Sweets: A History of Candy. Bloomsbury USA. pp. 147–148. ISBN 978-1-58234-229-0.
↑ Alejandro Torres Gutiérrez, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. "Millennium:Fear and Religion". Archived from the original on 18 August 2002.
↑ "Baldwin's Itinerary Through Wales No. 2 by Giraldus Cambrensis". Gutenberg.org. 31 December 2001. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
↑ "Catholics United for the Faith – Lent – Discipline and History – Teaching the Catholic Faith". Catholics United for the Faith – Catholics United for the Faith is an international lay apostolate founded to help the faithful learn what the Catholic Church teaches.
↑ Colin B. Donovan, Fast and Abstinence. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
↑ Engber, Daniel (15 March 2006). "Thou Shalt Eat Corned Beef on Friday: Who Sets the Rules on Lent?". Slate. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
↑ "Penitential Days – Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong".
↑ "The Church's Discipline as to Fasting and Abstinence". Anglican Communion. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
↑ "Ash Wednesday: What Is Ash Wednesday? How Do We Observe It? Why Should We?". Patheos.com. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
↑ "An Ecofeminist Perspective on Ash Wednesday and Lent". USA: Peter Lang Verlagsgruppe. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
↑ Hebden, Keith (3 March 2014). "This Lent I will eat no food, to highlight the hunger all around us". The Guardian.
↑ DiLallo, Matt (2 March 2014). "Believe it or Not, Catholics Observing Lent Save Our Environment". Fool.com. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
↑ Kellow, Juliette (4 March 2014). "Cut out one treat for Lent and your waistline could reap the benefits". Daily Express. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
↑ Winston, Kimberly (18 March 2013). "After giving up religion, atheists try giving up something else for Lent". Religion News Service. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
↑ "Programmes: Lent Talks". BBC.
↑ Lennox, John (27 March 2012). "John Lennox's Lent Talk for Radio 4". RZIM. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
↑ "spy, n.", OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2013, Spy Wednesday n. in Irish use, the Wednesday before Easter.
↑ Packer, George Nichols (1893). "Our Calendar: The Julian Calendar and Its Errors, how Corrected by the Gregorian". Corning, NY: [The author]. p. 112. Retrieved 15 December 2013. Spy Wednesday, so called in allusion to the betrayal of Christ by Judas, or the day on which he made the bargain to deliver Him into the hands of His enemies for 30 pieces of silver.
↑ McNichol, Hugh (2014). "Spy Wednesday conversion to Holy Wednesday". Catholic Online. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
↑ Gally, Howard E. (25 January 1989). Ceremonies of the Eucharist. Cowley Publications. p. 45. ISBN 9781461660521. In recent decades there has been a revival of the ancient use of red (crimson or scarlet) for Holy Week among both Episcopalians and Lutherans. The Roman rite has restored the use of red only on Palm Sunday and Good Friday.
↑ Kellner, K. A. H. (1908). Heortology: A History of the Christian Festivals from Their Origin to the Present Day Kegan Paul Trench Trubner & Co Limited. p. 430.
↑ The Church of England rubric states: "The colour for a particular service should reflect the predominant theme. If the Collect, Readings, etc. on a Lesser Festival are those of the saint, then either red (for a martyr) or white is used; otherwise, the colour of the season is retained." See page 532 here.
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Radonitsa
Rouketopolemos
Saitopolemos
Scoppio del carro
Sunrise service
Traditional Easter games and customs
Noted works
Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden
Christ lag in Todes Banden (BWV 4)
Easter Oratorio
Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen
Der Friede sei mit dir
Ein Herz, das seinen Jesum lebend weiß
Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret
Ich lebe, mein Herze, zu deinem Ergötzen
Russian Easter Festival Overture
Victimae paschali laudes
Hymns and songs
All for Jesus, All for Jesus
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
Aurora lucis rutilat
Christ ist erstanden
Christ lag in Todesbanden
Christ the Lord Is Risen Again!
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
The Christian Year
Das ist der Tag, den Gott gemacht
Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag
Gelobt sei Gott im höchsten Thron
Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing
Das Grab ist leer, der Held erwacht
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
Jesus Christus unser Heiland, der den Tod überwand (Schubert)
Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der den Tod überwand
Jesus för världen givit sitt liv
Lasst uns erfreuen
Lift High the Cross
List of Easter hymns
Ngắm Mùa Chay
Nun freue dich, du Christenheit
O filii et filiæ
Pascha Nostrum
Thine Be the Glory
This joyful Eastertide
Le tue mani
Wahrer Gott, wir glauben dir
Wir wollen alle fröhlich sein
Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones
Computus
Dionysius Exiguus' Easter table
Easter Epic
Ecclesiastical new moon
Paschal Full Moon
Reform of the date of Easter
Easter Tuesday
Easter Wednesday
Easter Thursday
Easter Friday
Easter Week
Mid-Pentecost
Octave of Easter
Pre-Lenten Season
Ēostre
Maslenitsa
Salzburg Easter Festival
Christianityportal
Liturgical year of the Catholic Church
In accordance with the General Roman Calendar (1969) for the Latin Church (Note: Eastern Catholic churches may differ)
Advent Sunday
Immaculate Conception^
Gaudete Sunday
(O Antiphons)
Christmas (Nativity of Jesus)^
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God^
Epiphany^
Baptism of the Lord
Ordinary Time I
Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (Candlemas)
Feast of the Annunciation
(Carnival)
Saint Joseph's Day^
Holy Week: Palm Sunday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday (Mass of the Chrism)
Maundy Thursday (Mass of the Lord's Supper)
Liturgy of the Word, Adoration of the Cross, Holy Communion
Easter Sunday: Resurrection of Jesus
Octave of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)
Feast of the Ascension^
Ordinary Time II
Corpus Christi^
Visitation of Mary
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul^
Transfiguration of Jesus
Assumption of Mary^
Nativity of Mary
Feast of the Cross
All Saints' Day^
Presentation of Mary
Feast of Christ the King
^ = Holy days of obligation (10)
Catholicismportal
See also: Computus
Liturgical colours
Older calendars: General Roman Calendar of 1960
General Roman Calendar of Pope Pius XII of 1950
General Roman Calendar of 1954
Tridentine Calendar
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Tag Archives: Stanley Demeski
Speed the Plough joins Bar/None’s July 24 farewell to Maxwell’s
Speed the Plough at Maxwell’s on Oct. 20, 2012. (Photo © 2012, Steven P. Marsh)
STP is part of a promised ‘cavalcade of mystery stars’ joining Headliners Freedy Johnston and Band, James Mastro’s Health & Happiness Show and Chris Stamey with Anton Fier and Gene Holder
Myrna and the Hangar Boys (Human Switchboard’s Myrna Marcarian, Jared Michael Nickerson, Dave Schramm and Ron Metz) join lineup
WFMU to broadcast live from the lounge
Even before Maxwell’s closing was announced, Speed the Plough was gearing up get active again. The band, which can trace its lineage back to The Feelies through The Trypes, became active in 2009 after a long hiatus, but has been picking up steam lately in anticipation of a new album — a compilation of some of its long-out-of-print music from the early days plus six brand-new tracks.
But now they’re preparing to say goodbye to the venerated Hoboken club with one last gig there, on Thursday, July 24, as part of a Bar/None record label lineup.
Posted in Concerts, Folk, Music, News, Pop and Rock, Recordings, RIP
Tagged Anton Fier, Bar/None, Brenda Sauter, Chris Stamey, Cindi Merklee, Dave Schramm, East Side Digital, Ed Seifert, Evan Davies, Folks & Fondue, Freedy Johnston, Gene Holder, Glenn Mercer, Golden Palominos, Guitar Bar, Health & Happiness Show, Hoboken, Human Switchboard, Jared Michael Nickerson, John Baumgartner, John Demeski, Jon Langford, July 24, Lianne Smith, Marc Francia, Maxwell's, Mexicali Live, Michael Carlucci, Mike Baumgartner, Myrna and the Hangar Boys, Myrna Marcarian, Rich Barnes, Rob Norris, Ron Metz, Speed the Plough, Stan Demeski, Stanley Demeski, Steve Wynn, Steve Wynn & the Miracle 2, Teaneck, The Bongos, The dB's, The Feelies, The Plough & The Stars, The Trypes, Toni Baumgartner, Toni Paruta, Tunes, WFMU, Winter Hours
Hanukkah with Yo La Tengo at Maxwell’s in Hoboken — Sunday and Monday
Yo La Tengo jammed with Fred Armisen on a second drum kit. (Photos © 2012, Steven P. Marsh)
Yo La Tengo continued its massively wonderful holiday tradition, kicking off the first of eight shows — one for each night of Hanukkah — on Saturday night. The proceeds from tickets and most merchandise goes to charity. (This year all the charities support Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts.)_
Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? managed to score tickets to four of the eight nights — not an easy thing to do the way TicketFly is set up.
Our first night was Night 2, when the amazing Sun Ra Arkestra (imagine a DOZEN musicians on the tiny Maxwell’s stage!) was the opener and Fred Armisen of “Saturday Night Live” and “Portlandia” was both the comedian and a musical guest.
Night 3 featured Hoboken’s hometown heroes The Feelies, which opened with a very strong set, and the members of which sat in at various points of YLT’s set. Guitarist and vocalist Glenn Mercer was absolutely on fire all night. And Brenda Sauter did a great job on vocals for “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.” “SNL” writer John Mulaney was the comic for Night 3.
We’ll be back tonight, but wanted to share some images of nights 2 and 3 with you now.
This is a tradition that has been going on for 11 years, YLT’s Ira Kaplan pointed out last night. We hope it continues for many years to come.
Click through to the jump for lots of photos from Sunday and Monday nights’ shows.
Posted in Concerts, Jazz, Music, News, Pop and Rock, Review
Tagged "Portlandia", Bill Million, Brenda Sauter, claves, Dave Weckerman, drums, Fred Armisen, Georgia Hubley, Glenn Mercer, Hanukkah, Hoboken, hurricane, Ira Kaplan, James McNew, John Mulaney, Marshall Allen, Maxwell's, menorah, Sandy, Saturday Night Live, Stanley Demeski, Sun Ra Arkestra, Superstorm Sandy, The Feelies, Yo La Tengo
The Feelies feeling independent
The Feelies at Maxwell's on Night 1 of the 2011 Independence Weekend. (Photos © 2011, Steven P. Marsh)
The Feelies kicked off Independence Weekend, as they’ve been doing for ages, at Maxwell’s in Hoboken last night (Friday, July 1)
It was a homecoming as always at Maxwell’s since that was the band’s home club for its entire existence.
Last night was the first of a three-night stand. The hometown crowd was not disappointed, with The Feelies starting just a bit after 9 p.m., the posted showtime, and playing until almost 12:30, with just one short intermission.
Click through to the jump for more photos and info about the first night show. Also, check out a great Paste Magazine slideshow of a day in the life of The Feelies from their recent Philadelphia show at World Cafe Live.
Posted in Concerts, Music, News, Pop and Rock, Review
Tagged Bill Million, Brenda Sauter, Dave Weckerman, Georgia Hubley, Glenn Mercer, Hoboken, Ira Kaplan, Janice Demeski, Katie Demeski, Maxwell's, Philadelphia, Stanley Demeski, The Feelies, World Cafe Live, Yo La Tengo
The Feelies gear up to play
The Feelies at Maxwell's in Hoboken, N.J., in 2009. (Photo copyright 2009, Steven P. Marsh)
Now who could possibly know better what The Feelies are up to than the daughter of one of the band members? (Well, maybe her dad, but don’t tell her that!)
With that in mind, I reached out to the delightful Katie Demeski, daughter of the great New Jersey band’s drummer Stanley Demeski and his wife Janice. One of Katie’s blogs, How Strange, Innocence, is a leading source of reliable information about what the band is up to. It’s not the quantity so much as the quality of her information that makes the blog worth checking.
But a day or two ahead of the release of Here Before, the band’s first new album in 19 years, I checked in and realized she hadn’t blogged about The Feelies since last Sept. 8, when she reported the band was going into the studio. Granted, she’s in college and holding down a job, so it’s not like she has a ton of free time.
Luckily, when I messaged her, she was just about to do a quick update. It’s live on her blog now, with pretty much everything you need to know about their upcoming shows, plus some info about Speed the Plough, a band that’s part of The Feelies’ extended family. .
Suffice it to say The Feelies aren’t in any huge hurry to hit the road simultaneously with the release of their album. In fact, the band’s first public show (not counting a students-only gig this month at SUNY Purchase) comes at The Bell House in Gowanus, Brooklyn, on May 13, a full month after the album’s release! That show, not surprisingly, appears to be sold out.
Please go to Katie’s blog for more details, including some tantalizing information about an outdoor gig in Brooklyn. I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Posted in Concerts, Music
Tagged Brooklyn, Gowanus, Hoboken, How Strange Innocence, Janice Demeski, Katie Demeski, Maxwell's, New Jersey, Speed the Plough, Stanley Demeski, The Bell House, The Feelies
Catching up with The Feelies
The Feelies
Since you landed on this post, you’ve probably already checked out the Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? post about The Feelies‘ Fourth of July weekend shows at Maxwell’s.
But if you’ve fallen behind on your Feelies news, here’s a collection of great items on the web about the shows, the band and the NEW ALBUM, for which the band has been writing new songs for a couple of years. Production is supposed to start any day. Read on for more.
Jim Testa‘s known The Feelies since Day One, so his voice in Jersey Beat is authoritative. Click here for his review and his insights about the new album.
Katie Demeski, daughter of Feelies drummer Stanely Demeski, blogs about a number of things, but mostly ruminates on her dad’s band. She posted some videos of her dad practicing here, gives her impressions of The Feelies demos here, talks about the in-the-works Feelies album here and weighs in on Feelies offshoot band Speed the Plough‘s new album here.
And The NJ Underground, a site aimed at younger music fans, did a good piece on The Feelies. Perhaps this accounted for the rather high percentage of young people in the audience at Maxwell’s last weekend.
Tagged Bill Million, Brenda Sauter, Dave Weckerman, Glenn Mercer, Hoboken, Katie Demeski, Maxwell's, Speed the Plough, Stanley Demeski, The Feelies
Tonight may be your last chance to see The Feelies this year!
Glenn Mercer and Bill Million of The Feelies at Maxwell's in Hoboken, N.J., on Saturday, July 3. (Photos copyright 2009, Steven P. Marsh)
As has been the habit of The Feelies since their comeback in 2008, they booked shows around a holiday — in this case the Fourth of July at the band’s musical home, Maxwell’s in Hoboken, N.J.
Glenn Mercer's singing: strong and clear
This year the band booked three shows starting Friday and ending tonight, on the holiday itself. If you love The Feelies and you haven’t seen them yet this year, now’s the time to book. Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? made it to last night’s gig, and we’re glad we did. The set was much the same as always — The Feelies have typically played the same set, with slight variations, at every show since the reunion. This is a band that likes predictability. But frontman Glenn Mercer‘s singing seemed stronger, clearer and more confident than ever, and the overall sound was crisp and clear —something that has not been a hallmark of many recent shows.
One thing worth noting, though. The band did do quite a few new songs — some of which have been in rotation for awhile, with a couple of other, even newer tunes, one of which remains untitled. It was a real treat to hear new material. It sounds strong and very much in keeping with what fans know and love The Feelies for without sounding like retreads.
Bass player Brenda Sauter played and looked great, and wasn't wearing the wrist brace she usually sports.
We’re hearing that it’s not clear when the band will play again, since no other gigs are booked so far this year. And a member of the band’s team says the quintet is going into the studio after tonight work on a new album.
Doors for tonight’s show are at 8 o’clock at Maxwell’s, 1039 Washington St., Hoboken, N.J. Showtime is 9 p.m. There’s no opening band, so get there by 9 or you’ll miss out. Tickets are $25, and still available here.
If you drive, allow extra time. It’s the Fourth of July, and there will be crowds of people out to watch fireworks. It’ll be hellish getting around, and parking will be extremely difficult, especially if you usually count on parking along Sinatra Drive, which is closed for the weekend. Take public transportation if possible.
Click to the jump for more photos from last night’s show.
Tagged Bill Million, Brenda Sauter, Dave Weckerman, Fourth of July, Glenn Mercer, Hoboken, Maxwell's, Stanley Demeski, The Feelies
The Feelies on the Fourth
Posted on July 7, 2009 | 2 comments
Glenn Mercer, Stanley Demeski and Bill Million of The Feelies at Maxwell's on July 4, 2009. (Copyright 2009, Steven P. Marsh)
It would be easy to get used to making a tradition out of celebrating the Fourth of July with The Feelies.
Although their long-awaited comeback started at Maxwell’s in Hoboken
Bill Million and bassist Brenda Sauter.
on June 30-July 2, 2008 (and those shows thrilled me) , they announced their return in a big way two days later, opening for Sonic Youth in NYC’s Battery Park on the Fourth of July. The sun, sweat, humidity and the huge crowd just made the experience more intense. The band did not disappoint.
Percussionist Dave Weckerman seems content to stay in the background.
As you’ve probably read here earlier, The Feelies took over Maxwell’s for three nights this month, from July 2-4.
On that last night, thousands crammed the streets and waterfront of Hoboken to see the Macy’s fireworks, while dozens of true believers ignored the holiday hoopla and chose to watch the guitar pyrotechnics of Glenn Mercer and Bill Million instead.
I didn’t mind missing the fireworks outside, not at all.
Glenn Mercer
The Feelies are a band that doesn’t offer too many surprises. Their shows are like your favorite jeans, well-worn, broken in and perfectly comfortable. They feel good — and just right. They don’t throw many curve balls — even the multiple covers they did as encores over the three nights had little variation from night to night. But none of that matters to a true Feelies fan. In fact, curve balls might ruin the equilibrium.
At the July 4 show, I was positioned very close to the stage. That made for clearer shots of individual band members or pairings of players, but didn’t give me a chance to shoot an overview. So this will give you a very different perspective than the previous night’s shots.
Rich Barnes of Wild Carnation (and Brenda's husband) helped out on keyboard.
My position made it tough to spot local heroes in the audience. But at the end of the night, I spotted Georgia Hubley and Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo returning to the music room as the majority of the crowd was filing out. You can always count on them being at a Feelies show. The only other face I wish had been in the crowd was filmmaker Jonathan Demme, who featured The Feelies as “The Willies” in his 1986 movie Something Wild. I guess that was his payback for making Stop Making Sense two years earlier about the Talking Heads instead of The Feelies!
Posted in Music, Pop and Rock
Tagged Bill Million, Brenda Sauter, Dave Weckerman, Georgia Hubley, Glenn Mercer, Hoboken, Ira Kaplan, Jonathan Demme, Maxwell's, Rich Barnes, Stanley Demeski, Talking Heads, The Feelies, Wild Carnation
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Employment effects of green energy policies
Does a switch in energy policy toward more renewable sources create or destroy jobs in an industrial country?
Nico Pestel
IZA and Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW), Germany
Many industrial countries are replacing conventional power plants with renewable energy sources. Green energy policies might affect employment in different ways. A policy shift toward a low-carbon green economy may create new and additional “green jobs” in renewable energy sources and energy-efficiency technologies. However, this may potentially come with the crowding out of employment in other sectors. In addition, energy prices may increase owing to feed-in tariffs subsidizing renewables. The resulting burden may in turn stifle labor demand in industrial sectors and reduce the purchasing power of private households.
A green energy policy creates more “green jobs” in renewable energy sectors.
A shift toward more renewable energy sources improves environmental quality by reducing emissions of ambient air pollutants, beneficial for health and labor productivity.
Subsidizing renewable energies by feed-in tariffs increases energy prices for firms and private households.
Rising energy prices put industrial jobs at risk when labor and energy are complementary inputs in industrial production.
Estimates of net employment effects are, though positive, small at best.
Empirical studies, especially on the specific German pathway (“energy turnaround”), reveal both positive and negative employment effects related to green energy policies. They are quantitatively moderate. Job creation and job destruction seem to cancel each other out, such that the overall net employment effect is rather limited. Neither the proponents nor the opponents of green energy policies should put forward job creation or destruction as an argument in the energy policy debate—whether in Germany or in other industrial countries.
employment, energy policy, renewable energy sources, energy turnaround
Environmental regulations and labor markets
Olivier Deschenes
Impacts of regulation on eco-innovation and job creation
Jens Horbach
Do product market reforms stimulate employment, investment, and innovation?
Fabio Schiantarelli
Does religiosity explain economic outcomes?
Olga Popova
Air pollution and worker productivity
Matthew Neidell
Does hot weather affect human fertility?
Alan Barreca
Couture et al. (2010-07)
Couture, T. D., Cory, K., Kreycik, C., Williams, E. A Policymaker’s Guide to Feed-in Tariff Policy Design National Renewable Energy Laboratory Technical Report NREL/TP-6A2-44849, 2010-07.
Frondel et al. (2010)
Frondel, M., Ritter, N., Vance, C. "Economic impacts from the promotion of renewable energies: The German experience" Energy Policy 38:8 (2010): 4048–4056.
[1] Greenstone (2002)
[1]Greenstone, M. "The impacts of environmental regulations on industrial activity: Evidence from the 1970 and 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments and the Census of Manufactures" Journal of Political Economy 6 (2002): 1175–1219.
[1]Census of Manufactures, USA
[1]Census/Microcensus data (Micro data) - Longitudinal or Panel
[2] Frondel et al. (2010)
[2]Frondel, M., Ritter, N., Schmidt, C. M., Vance, C. "Economic impacts from the promotion of renewable energy technologies: The German experience" Energy Policy 38:8 (2010): 4048–4056.
[1]Federal Asociation on Energy and Water, Germany
[2]Working Group on Energy Balances, Germany
[3]Federal Ministry of the Environment, Germany
[4]German Solar Industry Association
[5]Federal Network Agency, Germany
[3] Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (2013)
[3]Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century Renewables 2013 Global Status Report. Paris: REN21, 2013.
[4] Cox et al. (2013-12)
[4]Cox, M., Peichl, A., Pestel, N., Siegloch, S. Labor Demand Effects of Rising Electricity Prices: Evidence for Germany IZA Policy Paper, 2013-12.
[1]German Federal Statistical Office
[2]Eurostat
[3]IAB Linked Employer-Employee Data
[5] Lehr et al. (2008)
[5]Lehr, U., Nitsch, J., Kratzat, M., Lutz, C., Edler, D. "Renewable energy and employment in Germany" Energy Policy 36:1 (2008): 108–117.
[1]German Renewable Energy Federation
[6]Lehr, U., Lutz, C., Edler, D. "Green jobs? Economic impacts of renewable energy in Germany" Energy Policy 47:37 (2012): 358–364.
Macro-level analysis - Simulations
[7] Hillebrand et al. (2006)
[7]Hillebrand, B., Buttermann, H. G., Behringer, J. M., Bleuel, M. "The expansion of renewable energies and employment effects in Germany" Energy Policy 34:18 (2006): 3484–3494.
[8] Hamermesh (1993)
[8]Hamermesh, D. Labor Demand. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993.
[9] Kahn and Mansur (2013)
[9]Kahn, M. E., Mansur, E. T. "Do local energy prices and regulation affect the geographic concentration of employment?" Journal of Public Economics 101 (2013): 105–114.
[1]NBER Productivity Database
[2]US County Business Pattern
[10] Falk and Koebel (2002)
[10]Falk, M., Koebel, B. M. "Outsourcing, imports and labour demand" Scandinavian Journal of Economics 104:4 (2002): 567–586.
[1]IAB Employment Samples (IABS), Germany
[11] OECD/Cedefop (2014)
[11]OECD/Cedefop Greener Skills and Jobs. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2014.
[12] Walker (2011)
[12]Walker, W. R. "Environmental regulation and labor reallocation" American Economic Review: Papers and Proceedings 101:3 (2011): 442–447.
[1]Longitudinal Business Database (LBD), USA
[2]United States Environmental Protection Agency Air Facility System
[13]Walker, W. R. "The transitional costs of sectoral reallocation: Evidence from the Clean Air Act and the workforce" Quarterly Journal of Economics 128:4 (2013): 1787–1835.
[3]Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics, USA
Agnolucci (2009)
Agnolucci, P. "The effect of the German and British environmental taxation reforms: A simple assessment" Energy Policy 37:8 (2009): 3043–3051.
Bergmann, A., Hanley, N., Wright, R. "Valuing the attributes of renewable energy investments" Energy Policy 34:9 (2006): 1004–1014.
Berndt and Wood (1975)
Berndt, E. R., Wood, D. O. "Technology, prices, and the derived demand for energy" Review of Economics and Statistics 57:3 (1975): 259–268.
Deschenes (2012)
Deschenes, O. "Climate policy and labor markets" In: Fullerton, D., Wolfram, C. (eds). The Design and Implementation of US Climate Policy. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2012.
Henriksson et al. (2012)
Henriksson, E., Söderholm, P., Warell, L. "Industrial electricity demand and energy efficiency policy: The role of price changes and private R&D in the Swedish pulp and paper industry" Energy Policy 47 (2012): 437–446.
Kemfert and Welsch (2000)
Kemfert, C., Welsch, H. "Energy-capital-labor substitution and the economic effects of CO2 abatement: Evidence for Germany" Journal of Policy Modeling 22:6 (2000): 641–660.
Moreno and López (2008)
Moreno, B., López, A. J. "The effect of renewable energy on employment: The case of Asturias (Spain)" Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 12:3 (2008): 732–751.
Pindyck and Rotemberg (1983)
Pindyck, R. S., Rotemberg, J. J. "Dynamic factor demands and the effects of energy price shocks" American Economic Review 73:5 (1983): 1066–1079.
AG Energiebilanzen e.V. (2014)
AG Energiebilanzen e.V. Bruttostromerzeugung in Deutschland von 1990 bis 2013 nach Energieträgern, 2014.
Welsch and Ochsen (2005)
Welsch, H., Ochsen, C. "The determinants of aggregate energy use in West Germany: Factor substitution, technological change, and trade" Energy Economics 27:1 (2005): 93–111.
Greenstone, M. "The impacts of environmental regulations on industrial activity: Evidence from the 1970 and 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments and the Census of Manufactures" Journal of Political Economy 6 (2002): 1175–1219.
Frondel, M., Ritter, N., Schmidt, C. M., Vance, C. "Economic impacts from the promotion of renewable energy technologies: The German experience" Energy Policy 38:8 (2010): 4048–4056.
Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century Renewables 2013 Global Status Report. Paris: REN21, 2013.
Cox, M., Peichl, A., Pestel, N., Siegloch, S. Labor Demand Effects of Rising Electricity Prices: Evidence for Germany IZA Policy Paper, 2013-12.
Lehr, U., Nitsch, J., Kratzat, M., Lutz, C., Edler, D. "Renewable energy and employment in Germany" Energy Policy 36:1 (2008): 108–117.
Lehr, U., Lutz, C., Edler, D. "Green jobs? Economic impacts of renewable energy in Germany" Energy Policy 47:37 (2012): 358–364.
Hillebrand, B., Buttermann, H. G., Behringer, J. M., Bleuel, M. "The expansion of renewable energies and employment effects in Germany" Energy Policy 34:18 (2006): 3484–3494.
Hamermesh, D. Labor Demand. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993.
Kahn, M. E., Mansur, E. T. "Do local energy prices and regulation affect the geographic concentration of employment?" Journal of Public Economics 101 (2013): 105–114.
Falk, M., Koebel, B. M. "Outsourcing, imports and labour demand" Scandinavian Journal of Economics 104:4 (2002): 567–586.
OECD/Cedefop Greener Skills and Jobs. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2014.
Walker, W. R. "Environmental regulation and labor reallocation" American Economic Review: Papers and Proceedings 101:3 (2011): 442–447.
Walker, W. R. "The transitional costs of sectoral reallocation: Evidence from the Clean Air Act and the workforce" Quarterly Journal of Economics 128:4 (2013): 1787–1835.
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Susan Orfanos, whose son, Telemachus Orfanos, survived the Las Vegas mass shooting in 2017, but was killed in a mass shooting at a California bar on Wednesday, November 7, 2018. (Twitter)
Distraught mother of mass-shooting victim says she doesn’t want ‘thoughts’ and ‘prayers’
In a cruel twist of fate, it’s been discovered that many of those present at the recent mass-shooting at a crowded country music bar in Thousands Oaks, California, were also survivors of the horrific 2017 Las Vegas massacre. Telemachus Orfanos, 27, who was one of the 12 people killed at the Borderline Bar and Grill on Wednesday night, was one such survivor. And for Telemachus’ grieving mother, Susan Orfanos, empty words about how people are praying for her and the families of other victims aren’t doing her any good. Rather than prayers, she said, she wants people to actually do something to stop these tragedies from occuring again and again and again.
“My son was in Las Vegas with a lot of his friends and he came home. He didn’t come home last night, and I don’t want prayers. I don’t want thoughts. I want gun control, and I hope to God nobody sends me anymore prayers. I want gun control. No more guns,” said the distraught mother, fighting back tears.
The United States, despite making up less than 5 percent of the world’s population, nonetheless is in possession of 35 to 50 percent of the world’s civilian-owned guns. Unsurprisingly, it also has the highest homicide-by-firearm rate among developed nations. Despite repeated calls for increased gun control in the wake of countless mass-shootings, assault weapons and machine guns remain easily available across most of the country.
Watch video of Susan Orfanos talking to ABC7 in Los Angeles below.
Read the full story at ABC News.
College student, 19, describes horrific scene during mass shooting at Calif. Bar
Gun control activist Lucy McBath, who lost her son to gun violence, beats out Republican incumbent in Georgia
Lone student at high school participates in nationwide gun reform walkout
@womenintheworld
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A Big Win for Andy
Jens Voigt celebrates teammate Andy Schleck's Stage 8 win.
By jens voigt
Jens Voigt says Andy Schleck was ready for the mountains of stage 8. (James Startt).
That was one hell of a day. Fortunately I was ready for it today. It started out just so hard I was like, "Oh I think I'll just drop dead right here."
Heck, it didn't take me any time to think of my book of the day. Today it was easy, Norman Mailer's "The Naked and the Dead." It's just such a classic and today's stage was such a classic. I had to read it in high school in East Germany like all the kids and it was just one of those books you can never forget. Today's stage was so much like the book, at least for me and my team. I mean my teammate Andy Schleck won the stage, but there was just so much drama!
It was a tragic day for Lance. I was just behind him when he went down in that roundabout and had Andy on my wheel. First he touched a pedal and then his front wheel rolled and after that there was nothing he could do. Like I said I was just a couple riders behind and it was like, "Oh my God, Oh no!" And I'm thinking, "No, please no, Andy please don't go down!" and when I got past Lance and looked around and saw Andy still on my wheel I thought, "Oh yes."
Going into the stage, one of the worst kept secrets was that Alberto wanted to attack. I know he said he thought the leaders would really wait until the Pyrenees, yeah, yeah, yeah. This is Contador. Last night we were in the same hotel with Astana and I could just sense that they were motivated.
But Andy was just great today and I knew he would be. Yesterday at the foot of the last climb he told us he was not great, but by the end he could chase down anything, so obviously he had found his climbing legs. And today's stage was perfect for him. Astana was pacing the front group up the last two climbs and that worked out perfect for us because Andy was just on a good day.
At the team meeting this morning, we told him, "Andy, you're the leader. If you want us to pick up the pace, just tell us." And then midway through the Ramaz Pass he told us to accelerate and I was like, "Wow, somebody is feeling really good here!" So it was great to see him win.
He obviously was better than Contador today. Okay the time difference is only 10 seconds, but Alberto is not just going to give up time. First of all, Alberto is not calculating enough to let Andy go. He's Spanish, he would have won the stage if possible. And hey, this is the Tour de France. You don't just give up 10 seconds. Heck the Tour de France has been lost by eight seconds.
But what I think what we really saw today was that there are two riders, Alberto and Andy, that are just above the rest. Okay, Cadel Evans is in yellow tonight, and you have to take him seriously. He has twice finished second in the Tour and now as world champion he is just riding like a different rider. It's great to see really. But I just think he has too much muscle to stay with Andy and Alberto in the high mountains with all of this heat.
But right now it is kind of like a déjà-vu. Two years ago Cadel was in yellow going into the second week. And that was the year my teammate Carlos Sastre won. So now that Cadel is in yellow, hopefully my teammate Andy will win!
More From Tour de France
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Caleb Ewan (Finally) Wins Tour de France Stage 11
Who’s Left to Challenge Ineos?
What’s It Like to Shoot a Grand Tour?
The Helping Hands of Time
Easy Day
A Typical Stage 1
From Berlin to Brussels
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Siedah Garrett Reveals MS Diagnosis, Debuts New Song at Annual Fundraiser
5/7/2017 by Selma Fonseca
Paul Morigi/WireImage
Siedah Garret performs at the 2013 Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize Tribute Concert at the Thomas Jefferson Building on May 21, 2013 in Washington, DC.
On Friday (May 5), multiple sclerosis advocate and Center Without Walls founder Nancy Davis welcomed guests to the Beverly Hilton for the 24th Annual Race To Erase MS Gala, sponsored by Svedka Vodka. The event raised $1.6 million to benefit Race to Erase MS and its Center Without Walls program.
Kathy Griffin took to the stage to kick off the evening, introducing Nancy Davis. Nancy thanked singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett for being there to debut her new single, which she wrote for the event. Entitled “Carry On,” proceeds from the new song will benefit the Race to Erase MS. Davis spoke about this year’s honoree, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and the incredible impact she has had on the MS community by bravely sharing her diagnosis, and helping to bring awareness to the cause.
Lance Bass stepped onstage to present Jamie-Lynn Sigler with the 2017 Medal of Hope Award. After watching a tribute video by friends Lea Michele, JoAnna Garcia Swisher and Emmanuelle Chriqui, Sigler gave an emotional and inspiring speech, touching on the struggles she has encountered while living with MS; practically everyone in the audience was tearing up during it.
Quincy Jones introduced the first performer of the evening, saying: “My beloved baby lady sister Siedah Garrett!”
Before singing “Man in the Mirror,” the smash hit she co-wrote with Glen Ballard for Michael Jackson, Siedah said, “I am coming out tonight." Pausing, she continued: "Five years ago I was diagnosed with MS." Prior to the fundraiser, her MS diagnosis was not made public.
After that, Garrett sang her new single “Carry On” with David Foster, Shawn Hook, Olivia Keegan, David Osmond and Trevis Brendmoe.
Later, Siedah went backstage with Billboard and explained how she felt about the diagnosis. “I was devastated because I was past the time when you normally get, I was past the age group where MS shows up," Garrett says. "But when I think about it, I’ve been having symptoms for a long time and didn’t really know.”
But the diagnosis isn't slowing her down creatively. “I’m writing some music for a documentary film about an amazing man from Kenya," Garrett says. "His name was Dr. Charles Mully, and long story short, he was abandoned by his parents at six years old because they couldn’t afford to feed him. He went to bed one night with his brothers and sisters and his family and when he woke up the next morning, they had left. They had moved in the middle of the night and left him on his own. He would walk to the nearest village, spend his days begging for food because he was always hungry, and then at night, he would hide from predators. But he went on to have a very successful business and became a multimillionaire, but he said he would go to these villages every night and rescue these [abandoned] children and he would bring them home. First he brought two, then three, then eleven, then fifteen, then thousands -- tens of thousands of children are now under his care. He and his wife built out their house to make it a compound to accommodate all these children. So now he has a huge foundation that rescues these abandoned and neglected and just throw away kids in Africa. So they did a documentary film about his life, and he became so rich that he decided he didn’t want to work for money anymore, so he gave away all of his money. His family was thinking he was insane, but he didn’t want money to be the motivating factor in his life. So now he raises money only to care for the tens of thousands of children that he fathers. This documentary is just a testament to his life. It’s called Mully and will be released November of this year.”
That same night, Randy Jackson introduced Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Chicago, who brought down the house with a nine-song set: “If You Leave Me Now,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” “Just You 'n' Me,” “Make Me Smile,” “You’re the Inspiration,” “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,” “Saturday in the Park,” “Feelin' Stronger Every Day” and “25 or 6 to 4.”
Backstage, Billboard asked Jackson if he would go back to American Idol, which is possibly returning to TV. "If they go, I go," Jackson said, referring to the other original judges.
In what has become a Race to Erase MS tradition over the past 24 years, an uplifting rendition of “Lean On Me" was performed as the finale of the evening, led by Chicago and David Foster, who were joined on stage by Nancy Davis, Randy Jackson, Lance Bass, Trevis Brendmoe, Siedah Garrett, Shawn Hook, Olivia Keegan, David Osmond, Wesley Stromberg, and more.
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/content/basf/www/za/en.html
/content/basf/www/za/en/who-we-are.html
/content/basf/www/za/en/who-we-are/sustainability.html
/content/basf/www/za/en/who-we-are/sustainability/whats-new.html
/content/basf/www/za/en/who-we-are/sustainability/whats-new/sustainability-news.html
/content/basf/www/za/en/who-we-are/sustainability/whats-new/sustainability-news/2016.html
/content/basf/www/za/en/who-we-are/sustainability/whats-new/sustainability-news/2016/saling-iso-committee.html
Standardization defines many aspects of our lives. ISO standards regarding environmental management issues will be handled under the leadership of Dr. Peter Saling, Director Sustainability Methods, BASF.
Dr. Peter Saling will be heading the ISO committee in the future
Dr. Peter Saling, Director Sustainability Methods, BASF.
Standardization defines many aspects of our lives – for example it contributes to harmonizing our technical processes across the world. The Deutsche Institut für Normung (German Institute for Standardization – DIN), for example, defines standard sizes for letter formats – the so-called DIN standard. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is its international counterpart and sets internationally applicable standards: from the PDF format following ISO standard, over standardized sizes for container loads and up to bank cards that can be used all over the world. More than 18,000 of such standards not only make international trade easier, but also support many people in their every-day lives.
The beginning of September, Dr. Peter Saling, Director Sustainability Methods, BASF, has been appointed as president of an ISO committee that exclusively handles holistic environmental management issues. Representatives from more than 60 countries advocated his appointment beforehand. “It is a special honor for us, to take on the chair and collaborate with ISO as a partner” says Saling, who has experience of working in this field at BASF and in various working groups.
All ISO standards are developed by experts from industry, consumer protection, science, non-governmental organizations and policy makers in one joint international committee. The idea is to create a unified guideline that is internationally acceptable. Years can go by before a standard is actually enforced.
ISO committee regulates standards for Life Cycle Assessment
It is important that environmental compatibility is evaluated following the same global criteria. That is why there is a special series of standards for environmental management issues, ISO 14000. Among other things, this family regulates standards for environmental accounting. Life Cycle Assessment can be used as a tool to evaluate the impact products have on the environment. This is done systematically, throughout the entire lifecycle of a product, from production to use and disposal. International standards define which steps are part of this analysis and thus make the results comparable. For BASF this is an important instrument, to focus products as well as research and development of new products on the future.
“Many standards directly affect BASF. We advocate that all aspects are taken into account in a balanced way,” says Saling.
Find out more about Eco-Efficiency Analysis
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Politics selected
Nigel Farage offers to help UK 'get on with Trump'
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-37927270
Media captionNigel Farage: 2016 is the year of political revolution
Nigel Farage has said it is vital the UK "gets on" with Donald Trump and he is willing to help the government build bridges with the US president-elect.
The UKIP leader, who appeared with Mr Trump during the election, said he "liked" the UK and valued the special relationship between the nations.
He said reports that Mr Trump might give him a job were a "bit premature".
But the UK needed to "get cracking" in dialogue over trade and other issues and he was willing to help.
Prime Minister Theresa May has written to Mr Trump following his victory over Hillary Clinton, affirming the UK's commitment to work with him "to build on the enduring and special relationship between our two countries and to ensure our shared security and prosperity in the years ahead".
Clinton: Give Trump a chance to lead
Live: Trump wins US presidency
President Trump: British reaction
It has been reported that Mr Farage and other senior UKIP figures will meet Mr Trump this weekend after his victory.
The UKIP leader, who is due to stand down at the end of the month, met Mr Trump several times during the campaign and has been linked with a job in the Trump administration - potentially even as his envoy to the EU.
'Big pressure'
This, he said, was "somewhat premature" but he said he would be willing to play a role in facilitating links between the Trump administration and the UK before he formally takes office in January.
"I do have a relationship with Trump and his team," he told the BBC during a trip to Spain. "I think it is important that the British government gets on with this guy.
"If I can do anything to help the relationship between the UK and America, via Donald Trump, I will do that."
Media captionLabour MP 'appalled and terrified' by Trump win
He said he was confident that Donald Trump would strengthen the much-vaunted special relationship between the two countries, claiming his victory meant "at last we have a US president who likes our country".
There was a much greater prospect of the UK agreeing a free trade deal with the US after it leaves the EU with Mr Trump in the White House than either his opponent or the current incumbent.
"President Obama and Hillary Clinton have treated us with disdain," he claimed. "They thought we were a little country, not very relevant any more. Trump's mother was Scottish. He values the special relationship and he has told me that himself.
"Famously Obama said we would be at the back of the queue for a trade deal if we voted for Brexit. Donald Trump has said we would be at the front of the queue."
'Not outlandish'
Asked about Mr Trump's personality and what kind of president he would be, the UKIP leader accepted that the businessman could be a "bit brash and out there" on the campaign trail but that he was rather different in private.
"In private, one-to-one, I found him amenable and he will listen," he said, adding that the "success or otherwise" of Mr Trump's presidency would depend on the people he surrounded himself with.
While many of Mr Trump's policies - such as his pledge to deport illegal immigrants and build a wall between the US and Mexico - were not as "outlandish" as portrayed in the media, Mr Farage said he would have to make them happen.
"There is no question that there is going to be big pressure on Trump to deliver. Trump voters, the Brexit voters, want action. They don't want their votes, their overturning of the establishment to get kicked into the long grass.
"There is an element of anger among those voters. But it is more than that. It is about offering different policy solutions."
Ministers have congratulated Mr Trump on his election but his victory has not been universally welcomed, with former Labour foreign secretary Margaret Beckett saying she was "appalled and terrified" by the result.
Accusing the Republican of "lying every day" during the campaign, she said his triumph felt like "the end of the world".
Politics Live - Brexit and Trump latest
US election 2016 result: Trump beats Clinton to take White House
Theresa May leads UK congratulations for Donald Trump
Politics Sections
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Shark attack: Surfer killed off France's Réunion Island
Image caption Reunion Island has a reputation as a shark attack hotspot
A surfer has been killed in a shark attack off the coast of the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean.
The man, reported to be in his late 20s, was surfing off the small fishing town of Saint-Leu when the attack took place on Thursday.
The local government confirmed that a surfer had been killed as it called for vigilance in the sea.
Surfing and other water activities are heavily restricted on Réunion due to the high risk of shark attacks.
The attack took place at about 16:30 local time (12:30 GMT) off the coast of Saint-Leu, on the west of the island.
How to survive a shark attack
Reunion: What you need to know
A witness alerted rescue officials, telling them a surfer had disappeared from the surface of the water and that only his board was visible from the shore, the local government said in a statement (in French).
It gave no details about the identity of the surfer.
Rescue officials told French media that the shark tore off one of the surfer's legs, and his body was later recovered from the port of Saint-Leu, where he was pronounced dead.
Three other people surfing with the man got back to shore safely, they said.
The incident reportedly took place in an area where surfing is prohibited.
Ahead of the attack, the local government had issued a statement (in French) on Thursday morning urging caution in the sea, citing the risk of bull shark attacks amid shifting temperatures.
Réunion has historically been a popular destination for surfers.
However, in recent years it has also become known as a shark attack hotspot and surfing there is widely restricted.
Following the latest incident, the local government said the strict measures were necessary to keep people safe.
Thursday marked the 24th shark attack and the 11th fatal one reported on the French island since 2011, according to reports.
Shark attacks
Reunion profile
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Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus (d. 235)
Two men died for the faith after harsh treatment and exhaustion in the mines of Sardinia. One had been pope for five years, the other an antipope for 18. They died reconciled.
Pontian. Pontian was a Roman who served as pope from 230 to 235. During his reign he held a synod which confirmed the excommunication of the great theologian Origen in Alexandria. Pontian was banished to exile by the Roman emperor in 235, and resigned so that a successor could be elected in Rome. He was sent to the unhealthy island of Sardinia, where he died of harsh treatment in 235. With him was Hippolytus (see below) with whom he was reconciled. The bodies of both martyrs were brought back to Rome and buried with solemn rites as martyrs.
Hippolytus. As a presbyter in Rome, Hippolytus (the name means a horse turned loose) was at first holier than the Church. He censured the pope for not coming down hard enough on a certain heresycalling him a tool in the hands of one Callistus, a deaconand coming close to advocating the opposite heresy himself. When Callistus was elected pope, Hippolytus accused him of being too lenient with penitents, and had himself elected antipope by a group of followers. He felt that the Church must be composed of pure souls uncompromisingly separated from the world, and evidently thought that his group fitted the description. He remained in schism through the reigns of three popes. In 235 he was also banished to the island of Sardinia. Shortly before or after this event, he was reconciled to the Church, and died with Pope Pontian in exile.
Hippolytus was a rigorist, a vehement and intransigent man for whom even orthodox doctrine and practice were not purified enough. He is, nevertheless, the most important theologian and prolific religious writer before the age of Constantine. His writings are the fullest source of our knowledge of the Roman liturgy and the structure of the Church in the second and third centuries. His works include many Scripture commentaries, polemics against heresies and a history of the world. A marble statue, dating from the third century, representing the saint sitting in a chair, was found in 1551. On one side is inscribed his table for computing the date of Easter, on the other a list of how the system works out until the year 224. Pope John XXIII installed the statue in the Vatican library.
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Sportsbook > NCAAB > College Basketball Betting Lines for Wisconsin Badgers vs. Temple Owls
College Basketball Betting Lines for Wisconsin Badgers vs. Temple Owls
Posted by: Mike Davis Posted on: Wed, December 06th, 2017 12:57 PM
The 2017 college basketball betting season continues this evening with a spate of enticing matchups for players to try their luck on. Likewise, bettors wagering on Wednesday night’s action will want to take a peek at the action the sports parlay odds have thrown together for this evening’s Wisconsin Badgers vs. Temple Owls contest. Both teams match up pretty well, which means that tonight’s contest will come down to the wire.
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Temple Owls – Wednesday, December 6th
Where: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV: ESPN U
Stream: Watch ESPN
College Basketball Betting Lines:
Wisconsin Badgers +4 (-110) 135 ½ (-110)
Temple Owls -4 (-110) 135 ½ (-110)
3 games, 5 days, 3 cities…
what do you mean tired?#OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/HZsapqyqM3
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) December 6, 2017
The Badgers badger their way into this Wednesday night pairing with a 4-5 record that ranks the franchise 4th in the Big Ten. Wisconsin has posted a 1-1 record in conference play this season but will be looking to improve on that as the season rolls on. Additionally, the Badgers are 1-2 in their last three games, so it’s clear that the program has plenty of room for improvement. Nevertheless, the 64-63 upset win over the Penn State Nittany Lions a few days ago has left Wisconsin fans pretty excited about what this team is capable of. If the Badgers can pull off the sportsbook upset this evening, it would mark their second over a Pennsylvania-based program. And while that might not be that likely, it would without a doubt be a thrilling event to watch.
To help pull off the upset in this Wisconsin Badgers vs. Temple Owls matchup, the away team will be turning to none other than junior Ethan Happ. Happ currently leads the program in points as the youngster is putting up 15.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. Happ’s biggest help on the court has to be freshman Brad Davison since Davison is second in points for Wisconsin. The 1st-year Badgers is currently putting up 10.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. Those aren’t the most impressive numbers and both of those players will need to come up big this evening.
The Owls fly into this evening’s contest sporting an eye-raising 4-2 record that gives plenty of promise to this year’s roster. Since the Owls are coming off a 16-16 season, there’s no question that Temple will be striving to finish above the .500 mark once it’s all over. While that may be true, the fact that Temple is 2-2 in their last four games does not play in their favor. Temple will be looking to bounce back from their recent 71-67 loss to the George Washington Colonials that marked Temple’s second loss of the season. If the Owls fail to get the job done this evening, they’ll come one step closer to falling back to that .500 mark.
To help defend the home court this college basketball betting evening, the Owls will be hoping for a strong outing from sophomore Quinton Rose. Rose is averaging 19.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per matchup. In addition to Rose’s contribution, the Owls get plenty of help from junior Shizz Alston Jr., who is putting up 16.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists each time he takes to the floor.
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S. 2863 - National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Roy Blunt (R)
Bill Status: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint a coin in commemoration of the opening of the National Law Enforcement Museum in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the “National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act”.
SEC. 2. Findings.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) In 2000, Congress passed and President William J. Clinton signed into law the National Law Enforcement Museum Act (Public Law 106–492), which authorized the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc. to build the National Law Enforcement Museum on Federal land in the District of Columbia to honor and commemorate the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers in the United States.
(2) In April 2016, construction began on the National Law Enforcement Museum in the District of Columbia across the street from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Judiciary Square.
(3) The National Law Enforcement Museum will formally open in September of 2018.
(4) The National Law Enforcement Museum’s mission is—
(A) to honor and commemorate the extraordinary service and sacrifice of America’s law enforcement officers;
(B) to serve as an important bridge between law enforcement’s past and present, between the heroes of yesteryear and those who have followed in their footsteps, and between America’s peace officers and the public they serve; and
(C) increase public understanding and support for law enforcement and to promote law enforcement safety.
SEC. 3. Coin specifications.
(a) Denominations.—The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the “Secretary”) shall mint and issue the following coins:
(1) $5 GOLD COINS.—Not more than 50,000 $5 coins, which shall—
(A) weigh 8.359 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and
(C) contain not less than 90 percent gold.
(2) $1 SILVER COINS.—Not more than 400,000 $1 coins, which shall—
(A) weigh 26.73 grams;
(C) contain not less than 90 percent silver.
(3) HALF-DOLLAR CLAD COINS.—Not more than 750,000 half-dollar coins which shall—
(C) be minted to the specifications for half-dollar coins contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Legal tender.—The coins minted under this Act shall be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code.
(c) Numismatic items.—For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 4. Design of coins.
(a) Design requirements.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The design of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the National Law Enforcement Museum and the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers throughout the history of the United States.
(2) DESIGNATION AND INSCRIPTIONS.—On each coin minted under this Act there shall be—
(A) a designation of the value of the coin;
(B) an inscription of the year “2021”; and
(C) inscriptions of the words “Liberty”, “In God We Trust”, “United States of America”, and “E Pluribus Unum”.
(b) Selection.—The design for the coins minted under this Act shall be—
(1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc.; and
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
SEC. 5. Issuance of coins.
(a) Quality of coins.—Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
(b) Mint facilities.—Only 1 facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the coins minted under this Act.
(c) Period for issuance.—The Secretary may issue coins minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2021.
SEC. 6. Sale of coins.
(a) Sale price.—The coins issued under this Act shall be sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of—
(1) the face value of the coins;
(2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to such coins; and
(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping).
(b) Bulk sales.—The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
(c) Prepaid orders.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of such coins.
(2) DISCOUNT.—Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.
SEC. 7. Surcharges.
(a) In general.—All sales of coins issued under this Act shall include a surcharge of—
(1) $35 per coin for the $5 coin;
(2) $10 per coin for the $1 coin; and
(3) $5 per coin for the half-dollar coin.
(b) Distribution.—Subject to section 5134(f)(1) of title 31, United States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc., for educational and outreach programs and exhibits.
(c) Audits.—The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc., shall be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code, with regard to the amounts received under subsection (b).
(d) Limitation.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), no surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31, United States Code (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury may issue guidance to carry out this subsection.
Passed the Senate December 13, 2018.
Attest:
Vote on S. 2863
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Two Wings of a Bird
Despite the widespread acceptance of gender equality in principle—and the advancement of political and civil rights for women in many countries—full equality has not yet been achieved. In this statement issued in 1997, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States emphasizes the full and equal participation of women in all spheres of life.
The emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality between the sexes is essential to human progress and the transformation of society. Inequality retards not only the advancement of women but the progress of civilization itself. The persistent denial of equality to one-half of the world’s population is an affront to human dignity. It promotes destructive attitudes and habits in men and women that pass from the family to the work place, to political life, and ultimately to international relations. On no grounds, moral, biological, or traditional can inequality be justified. The moral and psychological climate necessary to enable our nation to establish social justice and to contribute to global peace will be created only when women attain full partnership with men in all fields of endeavor.
The systematic oppression of women is a conspicuous and tragic fact of history. Restricted to narrow spheres of activity in the life of society, denied educational opportunities and basic human rights, subjected to violence, and frequently treated as less than human, women have been prevented from realizing their true potential. Age-old patterns of subordination, reflected in popular culture, literature and art, law, and even religious scriptures, continue to pervade every aspect of life. Despite the advancement of political and civil rights for women in America and the widespread acceptance of equality in principle, full equality has not been achieved.
The damaging effects of gender prejudice are a fault line beneath the foundation of our national life. The gains for women rest uneasily on unchanged, often unexamined, inherited assumptions. Much remains to be done. The achievement of full equality requires a new understanding of who we are, what is our purpose in life, and how we relate to one another – an understanding that will compel us to reshape our lives and thereby our society.
At no time since the founding of the women’s rights movement in America has the need to focus on this issue been greater. We stand at the threshold of a new century and a new millennium. Their challenges are already upon us, influencing our families, our lifestyles, our nation, our world. In the process of human evolution, the ages of infancy and childhood are past. The turbulence of adolescence is slowly and painfully preparing us for the age of maturity, when prejudice and exploitation will be abolished and unity established. The elements necessary to unify peoples and nations are precisely those needed to bring about equality of the sexes and to improve the relationships between women and men. The effort to overcome the history of inequality requires the full participation of every man, woman, youth, and child.
Over a century ago, for the first time in religious history, Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, in announcing God’s purpose for the age, proclaimed the principle of the equality of women and men, saying: “Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God.”1 The establishment of equal rights and privileges for women and men, Bahá’u’lláh says, is a precondition for the attainment of a wider unity that will ensure the well-being and security of all peoples. The Bahá’í Writings state emphatically that “When all mankind shall receive the same opportunity of education and the equality of men and women be realized, the foundations of war will be utterly destroyed.”2
Thus the Bahá’í vision of equality between the sexes rests on the central spiritual principle of the oneness of humankind. The principle of oneness requires that we “regard humanity as a single individual, and one’s own self as a member of that corporeal form”3, and that we foster an unshakable consciousness that “if pain or injury afflicts any member of that body, it must inevitably result in suffering for all the rest.”4 Bahá’u’lláh teaches that the divine purpose of creation is the achievement of unity among all peoples:
“Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest.”5
The full and equal participation of women in all spheres of life is essential to social and economic development, the abolition of war, and the ultimate establishment of a united world. In the Bahá’í Scriptures the equality of the sexes is a cornerstone of God’s plan for human development and prosperity:
“The world of humanity is possessed of two wings: the male and the female. So long as these two wings are not equivalent in strength, the bird will not fly. Until womankind reaches the same degree as man, until she enjoys the same arena of activity, extraordinary attainment for humanity will not be realized; humanity cannot wing its way to heights of real attainment. When the two wings . . . become equivalent in strength, enjoying the same prerogatives, the flight of man will be exceedingly lofty and extraordinary.”6
The Bahá’í Writings state that to proclaim equality is not to deny that differences in function between women and men exist but rather to affirm the complementary roles men and women fulfill in the home and society at large. Stating that the acquisition of knowledge serves as “a ladder for [human] ascent”7, Bahá’u’lláh prescribes identical education for women and men but stipulates that when resources are limited first priority should be given to the education of women and girls. The education of girls is particularly important because, although both parents have responsibilities for the rearing of children, it is through educated mothers that the benefits of knowledge can be most effectively diffused throughout society.
Reverence for, and protection of, motherhood have often been used as justification for keeping women socially and economically disadvantaged. It is this discriminatory and injurious result that must change. Great honor and nobility are rightly conferred on the station of motherhood and the importance of training children. Addressing the high station of motherhood, the Bahá’í Writings state, “O ye loving mothers, know ye that in God’s sight, the best of all ways to worship Him is to educate the children and train them in all the perfections of humankind. . . .”8 The great challenge facing society is to make social and economic provisions for the full and equal participation of women in all aspects of life while simultaneously reinforcing the critical functions of motherhood.
Asserting that women and men share similar “station and rank” and “are equally the recipients of powers and endowments from God”9, the Bahá’í teachings offer a model of equality based on the concept of partnership.
Only when women become full participants in all domains of life and enter the important arenas of decision-making will humanity be prepared to embark on the next stage of its collective development.
Bahá’í Scripture emphatically states that women will be the greatest factor in establishing universal peace and international arbitration. “So it will come to pass that when women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world, when they enter confidently and capably the great arena of laws and politics, war will cease; for woman will be the obstacle and hindrance to it”.10
The elimination of discrimination against women is a spiritual and moral imperative that must ultimately reshape existing legal, economic, and social arrangements. Promoting the entry of greater numbers of women into positions of prominence and authority is a necessary but not sufficient step in creating a just social order. Without fundamental changes in the attitudes and values of individuals and in the underlying ethos of social institutions, full equality between women and men cannot be achieved. A community based on partnership, a community in which aggression and the use of force are supplanted by cooperation and consultation, requires the transformation of the human heart.
“The world in the past has been ruled by force, and man has dominated over woman by reason of his more forceful and aggressive qualities both of body and mind. But the balance is already shifting; force is losing its dominance, and mental alertness, intuition, and the spiritual qualities of love and service, in which woman is strong, are gaining ascendancy. Hence the new age will be an age less masculine and more permeated with the feminine ideals . . . an age in which the masculine and feminine elements of civilization will be more evenly balanced.”11
Men have an inescapable duty to promote the equality of women. The presumption of superiority by men thwarts the ambition of women and inhibits the creation of an environment in which equality may reign. The destructive effects of inequality prevent men from maturing and developing the qualities necessary to meet the challenges of the new millennium. “As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibilities,” the Bahá’í Writings state, “so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs.”12 It is essential that men engage in a careful, deliberate examination of attitudes, feelings, and behavior deeply rooted in cultural habit, that block the equal participation of women and stifle the growth of men. The willingness of men to take responsibility for equality will create an optimum environment for progress: “When men own the equality of women there will be no need for them to struggle for their rights!”13 The long-standing and deeply rooted condition of inequality must be eliminated. To overcome such a condition requires the exercise of nothing short of “genuine love, extreme patience, true humility, consummate tact, sound initiative, mature wisdom, and deliberate, persistent, and prayerful effort.”14
Ultimately, Bahá’u’lláh promises, a day will come when men will welcome women in all aspects of life. Now is the time to move decisively toward that promised future.
Bahá’u’lláh, from a Tablet translated from the Persian and Arabic, quoted in Women: Extracts from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice, comp. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice (Thornhill, Ontario: National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada, 1986), no. 54. ↩
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks delivered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912, comp. Howard MacNutt, 2d ed. (Wilmette, Ill.: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1982), p. 175. ↩
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization, trans. Marzieh Gail and Ali-Kuli Khan, 1st ps ed. (Wilmette, Ill.: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1990), p. 39. ↩
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 39. ↩
Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, trans. Shoghi Effendi (Wilmette, Ill.: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1939), p. 20. ↩
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Promulgation, p. 375. ↩
Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas, comp. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, trans. Habib Taherzadeh et al., 1st ps ed. (Wilmette, Ill.: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1988), p. 51. ↩
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, comp. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, trans. Committee at the Bahá’í World Centre and Marzieh Gail (Wilmette, Ill.: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1997), 114.1. ↩
Bahá’u’lláh,, Tablet translated from the Persian and Arabic, quoted in Women, no. 2; ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Promulgation, p. 300. ↩
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoted in Wendell Phillips Dodge, “Abdul-Baha’s Arrival in America,” in Star of the West 3 (April 28, 1912), no. 3, p. 4. ↩
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks: Addresses Given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris in 1911, 12th ed. (London: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1995), 40.33 ↩
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, 50.14. ↩
Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 40. ↩
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New Name, Same Focus
Home » Feature » New Name, Same Focus
By Bob Nigh
MCALESTER-The name may have changed, but the focus remains the same at CrossTimbers Children’s Mission Adventure Camp-teaching children about Jesus and those who dedicate their lives to spreading the Gospel around the world.
For 50 years, Camp Hudgens, located on 530 acres on the shore of Lake McAlester near here, taught first boys and later, both boys and girls, about missions. Now, CrossTimbers Children’s Mission Adventure Camp continues the goal of “educating, equipping and engaging children in a missions lifestyle with God through a unique camping experience.”
The new camp, which combined the programs of Hudgens and Camp Nunny Cha-ha located adjacent to Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center near Davis, has had an “extremely successful” first year, according to Mark Jones, children’s ministries specialist with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
“We have been thrilled overall with how camp has gone this year,” Jones said, adding, “The overwhelming popularity of the coed weeks has clearly shown that churches prefer this new format over only boys or girls weeks.”
Jones said attendance averaged 45 campers for the boys’ and girls’ weeks, while it was more than 150 during the other weeks. CrossTimbers caters to children who have completed the third grade through the sixth grade.
The camp not only got a new name, but its facilities also got a face lift during the past year, including remodeled cabins, new beds and mattresses, additional equipment and added programming.
Jones promoted the camp as well.
“I gave a few tours and talked to a lot of children’s ministers and it really paid off,” he said. “The evaluations and feedback we have been getting from those who have attended is really good and positive.”
Jones said the missions aspect-as great as it has been in the past-was actually improved.
“We’ve kicked it up several notches,” he said. “Everything we have is hands-on. We’re actually constructing a building down here, and the missions hike has been very popular. Anything we do the kids get to actually have a hands-on experience, which is much better than just sitting and listening to someone talk about it.”
The missions education aspect of camp has included a 1/4-mile hike to an “African village,” where campers help build a fire, grind coffee beans and brew a pot of coffee as Keith Badgett, Jones’ ministry assistant, shares his experiences of serving in Africa.
“Keith talks about his trip to Africa and encourages the kids to pray for the missionaries there,” Jones said.
Back at a missions center, Jones helps the campers cook an authentic dish from Bangladesh-rice pudding-along with chai tea, both of which they all get to taste. Jones also leads an interactive “Wheel of Fortune”-type game, which focuses on the Cooperative Program. Campers also have the chance to use a computer to visit Web sites of missionaries and learn more about them and the people groups they serve.
The camp schedule is a busy one.
“We divide the kids into tribes by gender and age groups,” Jones explained. “They do a Bible study in the morning, then in the afternoon we have ‘tribal chaos,’ which includes water games and other activities. In the evening after worship, they go and visit with their tribal leader in a small group to unpack what has happened during the day, and we share the plan of salvation in that small group setting.”
Daytime activities are not the normal basketball and soccer games, Jones said.
“They’re things that kids don’t get to do at home, such as the target sports, the archery and rifle range and shooting skeet with a 20-gauge shotgun. The canoes and paddle boats, the climbing wall and the zip line. Things they don’t get to do most other places. Some of the activities are challenging.”
Add to that special activities every night, and there’s not much chance for a child to get bored at camp.
As the first year draws to a close, Jones said, “It’s been a great first year. I have the most incredible staff ever. It’s just amazing how they work with the kids. Their energy level has remained high, and they care deeply about the kids understanding who Jesus is and how to walk with Him. That makes a huge difference. They have a great servant attitude.
Debra Stanley, who came to CrossTimbers from Oklahoma City, South Lindsay, agreed.
“I thought it was very good,” she said. “It went really smooth. I had never been to Camp Hudgens, but one of our men who had been to Camp Hudgens every year thought the youth who worked as staffers were the best they had ever had.
“The worship services were good and just in general, everything was run really well. They pretty much made sure the kids were ready to go to sleep when bed time came.”
Author: Bob Nigh
Special Correspondent
View more articles by Bob Nigh.
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Bonnet House Blog
Popular Concerts Under the Stars Series Returns on January 21!
By Bonnet House December 7, 2015 Bonnet House Blog
The 20th season of Concerts Under the Stars, one of Fort Lauderdale’s most popular music series, marks its thrilling debut on the third week of January at Bonnet House Museum and Gardens. Come enjoy the finest young musicians in South Florida showcasing their talents at the Young Artist Music series, starting with a performance by the Lynn University String Quartet from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday, January 21. The exciting new season continues with presentations on February 11 by the University of Miami Frost Opera Theater, followed by the Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble on March 10, and culminates with a performance by the Florida Grand Opera on April 7.
The Young Artist Music series, initially conceived as a community outreach program, has become one of Bonnet House’s most anticipated, successful and treasured programs. Each evening’s activities take place in and around the colorful and fascinating house, one of our nation’s most popular historic estates, with the concerts taking place on the veranda, under South Florida’s beautiful starry skies. All performances begin at 7pm.
Individual tickets for this long-awaited 20th Anniversary Season start at $35 per performance for members and $40 per performance for non-members. Accentuating the great value of a musical series that has been called “quite possibly the best entertainment deal in town,” the price of admission also includes wine, cookies and coffee for each performance. Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (954) 703-2614 or visit us at BonnetHouse.org/calendar.
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Bonnet House Museum & Gardens Announces its 100th Anniversary Workshop & Class Schedule
Bonnet House, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 65-0161955.
Funding for this organization is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council. Support for the educational programs is provided in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
900 North Birch Road Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304
www.bonnethouse.org
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Last tour begins at 3:30 P.M.
Closed Mondays, Holidays and May 4 & 5, 2019 for the Fort Lauderdale Air Show.
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Bonnet House is closed until further notice due to a citywide water outage. Please check back for updates.
Orchid Care Classes
Concerts Under the Stars
April 4 & 5, 2020
International Orchid & Garden Festival
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Books by Baratunde Thurston
Baratunde is a comedian, author and former director of digital for The Onion. His responsibilities included producing the "War For The White House" 2008 election coverage, helping the company adapt its storytelling to new digital platforms such as smartphones and social media, and expanding The Onion's public voice as well as relationships with the technology community. Baratunde is a best-selling New York Times author of How To Be Black. He regularly engages in "digital performance art" including being @The_Swine_Flu, running a real world campaign for his Foursquare mayorship and "live hate-tweeting" all Twilight movies. He's been a standup comedian for more than 10 years and is a highly sought-after public speaker addressing topics related to the media, politics, technology and marketing. Also black people. He was named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company magazine and has worked with the White House Office of Public Engagement as a digital advisor.
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How to Be Black
by Baratunde Thurston
New York Times BestsellerBaratunde Thurston’s comedic memoir chronicles his coming-of-blackness and offers practical advice on everything from “How to Be the Black Friend” to “How to Be the (Next) Black President”.Have you ever been called “too black” or “not black enough”?Have you ever befriended or worked with a black...
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How to Be Black (Enhanced Edition)
How To Be Black, the enhanced e-book edition, contains 14 author-conducted video interviews with individuals who exemplify "how to be black," an audio clip of the author delivering an essay to a live audience, links to a companion website with content created specifically for the enhanced e-book edition, and exclusive photos. Also, all...
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Patriots Notebook
Bill Belichick pleased with Patriots’ competitiveness vs. Saints
By Rachel G. Bowers and Ben Volin Globe Staff,August 23, 2015, 12:44 p.m.
Dion Lewis had eight touches for 48 yards and a touchdown against the Saints.(Derick E. Hingle/USA Today Sports)
The Patriots’ offense started slowly in Saturday night’s game preseason game, going nearly the entire first quarter against the Saints on Saturday night without a first down.
And the Patriots nearly went scoreless in the first half.
Trailing, 21-0, with 1 minute, 8 seconds left in the half, Jimmy Garoppolo strung together five completions to four receivers to drive the Patriots 80 yards in 54 seconds and get them on the board with a 24-yard pass to Chris Harper.
Belichick cracked during his Sunday conference call that though the Patriots “weren’t playing for the AFC Championship,” the competitiveness his team showed in clawing back for a 26-24 win was promising.
“Certainly a lot of things to work on, a long way to go, but I thought that that group competed well, especially after the slow start that we had in the first half, really until late in the second quarter,” he said. “We weren’t able to do too much, but from that point on, our execution was better, our confidence grew and we were able to be competitive. So those are all positives.”
Though it took nearly two full quarters for the Patriots to get it together, Belichick said the game in New Orleans was packed with situational football moments that can be used as teaching points.
“The ones that came up [Saturday] night, we worked through,” he said. “Some of it was what we wanted to do, some of it we need to go back and talk about and correct, both on the coaching end and the playing end. There was a lot of good learning experiences there for all of us. You just try to take advantage of whichever situations come up.”
He said the improvements on offense — the Patriots gained 364 yards against New Orleans compared with 211 against Green Bay — allowed for closer evaluation of how skill players create extra yardage. Since practices usually are not full contact, assessing a player’s shiftiness, and ability to shed tacklers and make defenders miss can be a guessing game.
“It was a good opportunity to see all of our skill players and we saw several of them I thought ran well with the ball in their hands,” said Belichick.
Among those was running back Dion Lewis, who drew Belichick’s praise after contributing in the passing and ground games Saturday night. Lewis had eight touches (three carries, five catches) for 48 yards and a touchdown.
“I thought Dion did a good job with his opportunities,” Belichick said. “He’s had a solid spring and camp for us, missed a few days there, but thought he ran well [Saturday] night.”
Wayne getting a look
The Patriots are dealing with myriad injuries at the wide receiver position, and on Sunday took a look at a future Hall of Famer and a longtime nemesis.
Former Colts receiver Reggie Wayne, a free agent after 14 NFL seasons with Indianapolis, was in Foxborough for a physical with the Patriots, according to ESPN. It is unclear whether Wayne also performed a workout for the coaching staff, or if the visit was strictly medical.
Wayne, 36, had surgery to repair a torn triceps in February, an injury he played through last season but severely limited his production. Wayne had 64 catches for 779 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season, and made just one catch for 12 yards in three playoff games combined, getting completely shut out against the Patriots in the AFC Championship game.
Wayne might not have much football left after compiling 1,070 catches, 14,345 yards, and 82 touchdowns with the Colts, who made Wayne their first-round pick in 2001. The Colts declined to re-sign Wayne when he hit free agency in March.
But the Patriots certainly could use some veteran reinforcements at wide receiver. Five receivers sat out of Saturday’s exhibition game against the Saints — Julian Edelman (lower body), Brandon LaFell (foot), Brian Tyms (foot), Aaron Dobson (hamstring), and Josh Boyce (unknown) — and Brandon Gibson limped off the field with a knee injury late in the game.
The only healthy receivers right now are veteran Danny Amendola, undrafted rookie Chris Harper, and roster longshots Jonathan Krause and Zach D’Orazio.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has long been an admirer of Wayne’s. Before the Patriots and Colts played last November, Belichick called Wayne “one of the best route runners maybe ever in the game.”
“He’s obviously just a tremendous wide receiver,” Belichick said. “A guy that’s extremely smart, very savvy wide receiver. Understands leverage, understands coverage, can read post-snap coverage disguises, has great hands. He’s really a very dependable and reliable guy. Obviously the bigger the situation, the more you would depend on him to be able to make the play.”
Of course, signing Wayne would also be a good way for the Patriots to fire back at the Colts, the team that prompted the Deflategate investigation in January.
The Patriots play at Indianapolis in Week 6 this season, which potentially will be Tom Brady’s first game back if he ends up serving his four-game suspension.
One thing the Patriots will consider when deciding on whether to sign Wayne: He is a “vested veteran,” meaning his entire 2015 salary will become fully guaranteed if he makes the Patriots’ Week 1 roster. But if the Patriots sign Wayne after Week 1, only 25 percent of his salary becomes guaranteed.
Belichick complimented the 45-yard touchdown pass that Drew Brees threw to Brandin Cooks in the first quarter and said the secondary “could’ve defended a little bit better.” He said the secondary’s communication has been good thus far, but needs to be refined, though that’ll be a work in progress since the group has been rotating players at different positions to help build depth . . . The Patriots play their third exhibition game Friday night at Carolina and wrap up the preseason Sept. 3 at home against the Giants . . . The Patriots will practice Monday through Wednesday in Foxborough before traveling to Carolina on Thursday.
Rachel G. Bowers of the Globe staff contributed to this reports. Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenVolin.
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Centre for Cultural Relations
The Future of International Cultural Relations, Conference, 21 January 2016
Posted on February 10, 2016 by Stuart MacDonald
The CCR held a conference on 21 January with partners from Scotland, the UK and Germany to discuss the future role of culture in international relations at a time of increasingly rapid change.
The conference brought together politicians, academics and practitioners in a day long event followed by a public lecture by Professor Hanns Maull titled: Germany, the last multilateralist?
The range of participants included representatives of the Federal Foreign Office, the Goethe Institut, IfA, academics, the Scottish Government, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council.
L-R: Professor Charlie Jeffery, Director of the CCR; Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Relations, Scottish Government; Jens-Peter Voss, Consul General of Germany.
The aim of the conference was to learn lessons from Germany’s long-term commitment to international cultural relations and from the way in which that commitment had helped shape its response to contemporary crises of migration, terrorism and the economic crisis.
It became clear, from the speeches and during the course of the discussion, that there were differences in how the UK and Germany approached the question of soft power. From the UK participants, from both the Scottish and UK Governments, there were similar emphases on Government-led promotional activities based on strategic communications around national “brands” – for example the “Great Britain” campaign although there were of course some notable differences.
L-R: Michael Reiffenstuel, Federal Foreign Office; Hugh Elliott, FCO; Ronald Gratz, Secretary General, IfA.
From German speakers, on the other hand, much greater importance was given to the idea of a “foreign policy of societies rather than governments”. The impetus should come from civil society. Cultural policy should be the basis of foreign policy as it builds bridges, fosters exchange and creates networks. Good cultural relations were a “safety net” especially in times of difficulty.
It was important, however, to define goals more clearly in relation to the social power of culture. A good example was the refugee crisis and attempts to find a way to create opportunities for refugees to stay in their region by giving “aid for humanity” i.e. access to culture and education. Post-conflict repair will be essential for the future of Syria. Germany had started to fund scholarships for Syrian refugees, to create opportunity for Syrians to gain skills.
The centrality of culture to Germany’s external relations became very clear. One (German) speaker remarked that cultural categories were fundamental to political action, as culture shapes social discourse and includes all forms of social co-existence. Culture can cause conflict and help resolve conflict. Germany therefore involves cultural figures in political activity.
This approach was reflected within the frame of the German 2014 foreign policy review process, which maintained the view of the state as a social, rather than a political construct – the state does not have an interest of its own, but a responsibility to society.
Lessons for Scotland? The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Relations observed that cultural relations complement hard power and are becoming more important, as it becomes more difficult for hard power to resolve disputes and conflicts. We need a wider connective view of culture. This is important to Scotland where key issues are national identity and trust. In addition to this, there are instrumental benefits, both economic and promotional from the use of culture in external relations.
L-R: James Boyle, Chair, National Library of Scotland; Professor Helmut Anheier, President and Dean of the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin.
The conference discussions did not come to firm conclusions, rather they identified questions.
Does foreign policy need to change to respond to challenges to Western values from radical Islam? Was there a need for a new kind of political leadership, which went beyond the national? What would be the implications for traditional ideas of national identity? How can we think beyond short-term metric-driven activities?
Cultural relations offered a range of pre- and post-crisis cultural relations interventions. How should we engage with civil society when a state was resilient and opposed to its own civil society? Cultural relations activity was needed to monitor the health of state/civil society relations as a focus for crisis prevention and post-crisis reconciliation. Transient populations had neither state nor civil society, but were composed of individuals or networks eg in camps in Jordan. Key questions for cultural relations were how to turn humanitarian aid into “humanity” i.e. helping people beyond satisfying immediate needs, and cultural protection including digital protection.
Modern social media has a role to play in times of crisis. They are news media, but not reliable, which raised issues about the uses of social media around the official communication of information. Social media are good for local relevance and for engagement, but not to exert influence. What do we need to do to equip diplomats and practitioners of cultural relations to use social media effectively and positively?
Universities are a force for cultural engagement, but not if they’re complacent. They are good at being international and reaching out to people who share our values. They are also good at following the money. It was important they focused on shared problems not on their comfort zone. A key question for universities was how to be creative and work with people with whom they are not comfortable?
Specific cultural images of countries were resilient, and corporations used this to their advantage. In the VW scandal, behind the corporate scandals was a stable picture of Germany. In relation to nation branding, it was interesting to ask to what extent can politics’ use of culture be linked to the economy? There was a division of opinion as to the economic benefits of branding. Were they in country (investment) or abroad (exports)?
The key question in cultural relations was definition of outcomes. These could include social wealth and the common good, but under accountability pressures, we tended to end up with economic measures. There was, however, general agreement (even if it couldn’t easily be proved) about what worked: mutuality; cooperation; face to face encounters; independent or at least arms’ length institutions; a plurality of domestic voices; transparency; patience – cultural relations is a long-term practice; transnational strategies – eg to be a good global citizen. It was easy to agree all this but more analysis was needed – the question was how to incorporate this institutional experience into accepted policy and operational frameworks.
Following the conference, Professor Hanns Maull’s lecture started from Thomas Bagger’s nightmare dilemma for German foreign policy – that Germany could be forced to choose between its global competitiveness and its European vocation.
L-R: Professor Hanns Maull giving his lecture; Professors Maull and Professor Charlie Jeffery
Professor Maull then discussed his alternative nightmare dilemma: What does a committed multilateralist do when she does not find partners? This German foreign policy nightmare was now about to materialise around the issue of migration, which, in turn was part of a “mega-crisis” – that of the European project itself. What does it imply to be in the European Union, and in its inner circle, the Eurozone? What does solidarity mean? There is a lot of cheap talk about a “community of values”, and it is not clear what those shared values really are. Not only the UK, but all member countries will have to clarify their position towards membership in the EU. The mega-crisis of Europe is not just a mega-crisis of the old continent, it is a worldwide phenomenon. That phenomenon is the gap between expectations addressed towards political leaders and what they are able to deliver. The lecture, ended the day by stimulating a very lively and engaged discussion with an informed audience.
Posted in Cultural relations, Digital and data, EU, Policy and impact, Soft power, public and cultural diplomacy | Tagged cultural relations, public diplomacy | Leave a reply
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Randolph G. Jacoby, 58
Randolph "Randy" G. Jacoby, 58, of Spencer, Ind., died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, at Mission Hospitals in Asheville.
He was born in Maywood, Ill., on Nov. 6, 1949, to Clarence C. and the late Anna Graham Jacoby.
He graduated from UNCW in 1972. He retired from Baxter Healthcare in 2005 having worked in Marion, Round Lake, Ill., and Bloomington, Ind. He was employed by Boston Scientific in Spencer, Ind. He was an active member of Ellettsville Christian Church in Ellettsville, Ind. He loved camping, fishing, and hiking with his family.
In addition to his father, he is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Moser Jacoby; daughter Ryann; son David; sisters Jacqueline West and husband Donnie, Tracy Burns and husband Michael; brother Jeff Jacoby and wife Wilma; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral will be held at Thos. Shepherd's Church St. Chapel at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service.
Burial will follow at Shepherd Memorial Park.
A memorial service will be held at Ellettsville Christian Church in Indiana at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude's Hospital or the Cancer Research Foundation.
Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements. An online register book is available at www.thosshepherd.com.
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State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Reports Jump in Number of Students Earning Seal of Biliteracy
July 23, 2014 by Claudia Vizcarra
Nearly 25,000 graduating high school students across California this summer have earned state recognition for achieving proficiency in multiple languages, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today.
“Fluency in more than one language has always been an admirable skill, but it’s increasingly becoming one that’s highly sought after by employers,” Torlakson said. “In California, we encourage and recognize this accomplishment because it’s one more tool students have to help them succeed outside our classrooms.”
In the Class of 2014, 24,513 students earned these gold seals. In 2013, the number was 19,000. In 2012—the first year of the program—about 10,000 students received this special recognition.
Of the total number of gold seals, 74.49 percent were for Spanish, 9.81 percent for French, 3.88 percent for Mandarin, 1.97 percent for Japanese, 1.19 percent for German, and 0.29 percent for Cantonese. Altogether, students earned the seal for demonstrating proficiency in some 40 languages, including American Sign Language.
To qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy, high school graduates must meet certain criteria, including:
Completion of all English language arts requirements for graduation with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or above in those classes;
Passing the California Standards Test in English language arts administered in grade eleven at the “proficient” level;
Proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English, demonstrated by passing a foreign language Advanced Placement examination with a score of three or higher or an International Baccalaureate examination with a score of four or higher; or
Successful completion of a four-year high school course of study in a world language and attainment of an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above in that course of study.
For more information on which local educational agencies participated in the program and how many Seals of Biliteracy were awarded, visit the California Department of Education’s State Seal of Biliteracy – Resources Web page.
Categorized: Press Releases Area of Focus: Biliteracy, Seal of Biliteracy
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Beto O'Rourke, Cruz debates up in the air
U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Sen. Ted Cruz haven't agreed on debate times, formats.
Beto O'Rourke, Cruz debates up in the air U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Sen. Ted Cruz haven't agreed on debate times, formats. Check out this story on caller.com: https://arnne.ws/2BXgiGe
Madlin Mekelburg, El Paso Times Published 4:25 p.m. CT Aug. 28, 2018
The race for the U.S. Senate between Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and Democrat Beto O'Rourke will be decided Nov. 6.(Photo: USA TODAY Network)
AUSTIN — U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke said that a debate proposed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for Friday in Dallas won't happen.
“Friday in Dallas is not going to happen, but I’m convinced we will debate," O'Rourke, D-El Paso, said during an interview at the Texas Disability Issues Forum on Monday.
Both Cruz and O'Rourke, who are competing for Cruz's Senate seat, have expressed enthusiasm for debating and they have both issued a formal challenge to the other proposing a series of events. But it remains unclear whether they will actually meet for a debate.
“We’ve yet to have the O’Rourke campaign agree,” Cruz told reporters last Friday when asked if the two candidates would meet one-on-one.
Letters have gone back and forth between both campaign teams since April, when O'Rourke challenged Cruz to a series of six debates, including two in Spanish. Cruz's team did not acknowledge the invitation and instead issued its own challenge months later, asking O'Rourke to participate in five debates on specific dates in specific cities.
More: Ted Cruz accepts Aug. 31 debate, but Beto O'Rourke camp wants to negotiate details
All of Cruz's proposed debates were on Friday nights and had a specific topics and formats.
O'Rourke on Monday criticized Cruz for attempting to control every aspect of the debates.
"We’re working through those differences and we’re trying to introduce more of a collaborative style into the negotiations than he may be used to," he said.
O'Rourke's team responded to Cruz's letter by asking for one debate to be held in El Paso, the formats to be changed to allow the audience to ask questions at each event and for some to be moved to other days of the week.
Cruz's team replied, writing: "Our debate plan isn't an open negotiation."
Read or Share this story: https://arnne.ws/2BXgiGe
Texas Leaders: Pot hasn't been decriminalized
$25 million complex planned for Ocean Drive
Mom pleads to child endangerment in son's death
Pharoah Valley residents remain without power
Man involved in crash arrested for THC oil, wax
Understanding the new dog-friendly state law
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Social Sciences /
Contemporary Research and Analysis on the Children of Prisoners
Editor(s): Liz Gordon
In March 2017, researchers, advocates and NGOs from twelve countries came together in Rotorua, New Zealand, for the first conference of the International Coalition for the children of incarcerated parents. The Coalition had been formed the previous year to recognise that similar issues faced the children of prisoners all over the world. From the first arrest until release from prison, the system is stacked against the child. Justice systems are all about punishing individuals, and are, as one conference speaker noted, ‘child blind’.
The papers in this collection cover many of the themes in the wider literature on the children of prisoners. Advocacy themes include moving towards child-friendly prison systems, using mass incarceration to influence wider social change, the effects of pre-trial detention on families, the particular issues in Hawaii, and how arrest and detention procedures harm children.
A set of papers reflect contemporary research and analysis on the children of prisoners. One paper sets out ‘12 guiding principles’ for working with children and families of the incarcerated. Others look at how babies and young children react to parental imprisonment, as well as children who are resilient in the face of it. Two papers consider women: one on mothers involuntarily committed to psychiatric hospital and the other examining the difficulties in maintaining family ties when a mother is sent to prison. Another contribution looks at an initiative between university and community set up to ‘expand knowledge and inspire change’ for the children of prisoners. One paper examines the difficult issue of supporting families where a parent has been convicted of a sexual offence. Also discussed in this volume are the Tyro programme that works to break the cycles of self-destruction for the children of prisoners and case studies of prison staff ‘making a difference’ in child and family visiting.
View Extract
ISBN-13: 978-1-5275-0359-5
ISBN-10: 1-5275-0359-3
Pages / Size: 290 / A5
Liz Gordon, PhD, LLB, MRSNZ is a former university academic and a former politician in New Zealand. She now runs Pukeko Research Ltd, a private research organisation operating within the community and government sectors. She is an Adjunct Fellow at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, and President of Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou, a national organisation working with the families of prisoners. Her research focuses on intersectional work in the areas of justice, social policy and education, particularly exploring inequalities and poverty. In 2017, she organised the first conference of the International Coalition for the Children of Incarcerated Parents (INCCIP), which was held in Rotorua, New Zealand.
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The Washington Post’s”Live Letter File”: The Falsifications of Maen Areikat
By: Eric Rozenman January 16, 2014
The facts in the case are not in dispute. But some of the most important of them were buried—in The Washington Post’s “dead letter” file, so a serial prevaricator escaped correction.
In “War on Christians; Can Muslim lands learn tolerance of other faiths?” (Post print edition, Dec. 27, 2013) columnist Michael Gerson noted, two days after Christmas, that “in some parts of the world, Herod’s massacre of the innocents is a living tradition.” Those parts, according to Gerson, include Muslim-majority Iraq, Egypt and Syria. “Across North Africa and the greater Middle East, anti-Christian pressure has grown during the past few decades, sometimes subtle, sometimes overt,” Gerson wrote.
There is a direct correlation “between religious persecution and national security threats,” he asserted. Gerson quoted the University of Texas’ William Inboden that “every major war the United States has fought over the past 70 years has been against an enemy that also severely violated religious freedom.” Meanwhile, “there is not a single nation in the world that both respects religious freedom and poses a security threat to the United States.”
Maen Rashid Areikat, the Palestine Liberation Organizations chief representative in the United States, rushed into print to spin Gerson’s observations. The Post granted Areikat a letter to the editor to whitewash reality (“Christians belong in the Middle East,” January 2, 2014). This is the same PLO official who said in 2011 a West Bank and Gaza Strip “Palestine” would have to be empty of Jews, then, as CAMERA detailed, “clarified” his intolerance in response to unfavorable news coverage.
In his Post letter, Areikat claimed that “throughout history, Muslims have been tolerant of other faiths. For centuries, we have lived with Jews and Christians without compromising their rights; and contrary to what Mr. Gerson wrote, they have never been treated as ‘second-class citizens.’”
Does The Post know ‘dhimmi?’
This is laughable, as anyone familiar with the concept of “dhimmi,” or “protected peoples” under Islamic law knows. “People of the Book,” originally Jews and Christians, were “protected” from Muslim mistreatment so long as they kept their place and did not demand civic or legal equality with Muslims—second class status indeed—and paid a special tax, the jizya. When it suited rulers or the majority, such “protection” was withdrawn.
The record is long and well-documented; The Post’s “Fact Checker” feature (which doesn’t seem to peruse letters to the editor) would do well in this case to start with Bat Ye’or’s masterpiece on the subject, The Dhimmi; Jews and Christians Under Islam (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1985).
But Areikat, whose relationship with accuracy can be described courteously as estranged, had other fish to fry. He declared that “our strong opposition to actions by extremists against Christians is unwavering” and then threw dust, piously urging “let us not forget about Palestinian Christians who continue to suffer under Israeli occupation and rising attacks by extremists. They, too, must be protected as they continue to emigrate because of those hardships.”
At this point, CAMERA’s Christian Media Analyst, Dexter Van Zile, had enough. He wrote The Post the following letter to the editor, and copied Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt and Deputy Editorial Editor Jackson Diehl:
“As much as Maen Areikat would like to deny it, Christians in Muslim-majority countries have suffered terrible acts of violence in Muslim-majority settings for centuries. It is not a new phenomenon. One only has to read the histories of Armenian, Assyrian, Coptic, Maronite and other Christian communities in the Middle East to see a pattern of persecution that has been present since Islam’s founding. Christians, like Jews, have been periodically enslaved, ethnically cleansed, forcibly converted, and massacred by their Muslim conquerors for the past 1,400 years.
In the real world …
“This violence and oppression has been perpetrated with scriptural, juridical and theological sanction. 
;The status of Christians and Jews as “dhimmi,” “protected” people allows for tolerance only so long as these minorities among Islamic majorities keep to their inferior status. When Christians advocate for rights and equality, they violate their dhimmi status and render themselves legitimate targets for violence under Islamic jurisprudence. This explains why Christianity is on the verge of collapse in the Middle East.
“It’s a problem in Palestinian society as well. One only had to listen to the testimony offered by Palestinian Christians at the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference that took place in Bethlehem in 2012. Even at this conference, which was organized to focus attention on Israel, Palestinian Christians spoke, in sotto voce of course, about the hostility they are subject to in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. I was there. I heard them.
“The violence currently endured by Christians in the Middle East at the hands of their Muslim neighbors is not an aberration; it has been the historical norm. No amount of spin from Areikat can disguise this reality, which an increasing number of principled Muslims, such as those who have stood in solidarity with Copts in Egypt during their time of trial, are fortunately starting to acknowledge.”
Meanwhile, Israel is the only Middle Eastern country in which a Christian minority enjoys full civil rights in both law and fact.
Areikat, of course, is not one of those people standing in solidarity with Egyptian Copts, or, for that matter, any other persecuted Christians in the region. But The Post, which has published two other letters and an Op-Ed by Areikat in the past two years also contorting or simply inventing Israeli-Palestinian history, chose not to publish Van Zile’s letter. This allowed the PLO’s chief U.S. representative to get away once more with pretending to be a credible source.
You had to read it here first.
5 Things to Fix in CNN’s ‘5 Things to Know’ on Sharon
The Significance of Those Who Attended Ariel Sharon’s Funeral
Maen Areikat
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Wrong Again: Scowcroft and Brzezinski
By: Eric Rozenman December 3, 2008
In their November 21 Washington Post opinion column, “Middle East Priorities for January 21,” two foreign policy “realists,” Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brzezinski, argue that “the Arab-Israeli peace process is one issue that requires priority attention” from the incoming Obama administration. The pair claims that President George W. Bush’s successor should address perceptions of injustice to the Palestinian Arabs.
Brzezinski and Scowcroft call for the new United States administration to promote what the Palestinian leadership repeatedly has rejected. Scowcroft, national security adviser to former Presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush, and Brzezinski, who held the post under President Jimmy Carter, say that a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict should be based roughly on “the 1967 borders,” compensation for Palestinian Arab refugees, Jerusalem serving as the capital for two separate nations, and a non-militarized Palestinian state.
In order to deal with Israeli security concerns, the authors recommend international peacekeepers replace Israeli forces in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria).
The authors acknowledge, then discount, leadership questions, including the Fatah/Hamas rivalry and Israeli elections scheduled for February 10. They nevertheless assert that strong U.S. leadership could overcome internal Palestinian and Israeli divisions.
And Brzezinski and Scowcroft further claim that “if the peace process begins to gain momentum, it is difficult to imagine that Hamas will want to be left out ….”
This is “realism”? Hamas won the 2006 legislative elections not only because Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement was seen as corrupt and inefficient, but also because voters accepted Hamas’ claim to be better at “resistance” – that is, in conducting anti-Israeli terrorism. In 2007, Hamas (the Islamic Resistance Movement), ousted Fatah from the Gaza Strip in five days of fighting. Israeli intelligence reportedly doubts Fatah could hang on to the West Bank absent the heavy Israel presence.
Brzezinski omits his own experience, that American leadership can prod Arabs and Israelis but not replace them when it comes to reaching, let alone sustaining, a peace agreement. Egypt and Israel would not have made peace without the leadership of Anwar as-Sadat and Menachem Begin, respectively, no matter how involved Carter subsequently became.
As for Hamas, what’s difficult to imagine is that an organization that insists destruction of Israel is a religious duty and opposes peace negotiations with it would want to be included in peace negotiations. Hamas’ tactics let it agree to truces during which it can raise money, spread propaganda, rearm, recruit, and train for future battles. But its strategy requires “holy war,” not “peace processes.”
Brzezinski and Scowcroft are not unrealistic when it comes to Fatah, often portrayed as the “moderate” opposition to Hamas even though its own constitution and the anti-Zionist, antisemitic incitement prevalent in PA media, mosques and schools still echoes that of the Islamists. Instead, they just ignore its practical immoderation.
Scowcroft and Brzezinski claim that “the major elements of an agreement are well-known.” They don’t say that so is their rejection by the Palestinian leadership.
In 2000, Israel and the United States offered Yasser Arafat something close to an Israeli return to the pre-1967 armistice lines (not “borders”), and a state on more than 95 percent of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, with its capital in eastern Jerusalem. That was in exchange for peace between a Jewish state and an adjacent Palestinian Arab one. Arab refugees could return to “Palestine,” not Israel. Arafat and his Fatah-led Palestinian Authority rejected this two state solution and soon launched the terrorism war known as the “al Aqsa intifada.” They rejected the same deal with a slightly bigger state in 2001 and continued the violence.
“Compensation in lieu of the right of return for Palestinian refugees [Arab refugees from 1948 and their descendants],” another Scowcroft/Brzezinski recommendation as part of the “well-known” elements of an agreement, also has been offered before, beginning with U.N. General Assembly resolutions in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The Arab states always rejected it, in part because the resolutions included no “right of return.”
Brzezinski and Scowcroft call for a “non-militarized” West Bank and Gaza Strip. So did the 1993 Oslo Accords. Instead, as the al-Aqsa intifada demonstrated, the territories quickly were overrun by tens of thousands of armed men whose weapons included not just U.S. and Israeli-supplied automatic rifles intended for Palestinian police, but also rocket propelled grenades and short-range rockets. A demilitarized but sovereign Gaza Strip and West Bank state seems even less likely now, especially after smuggling by Hamas, U.S. training of PA forces and the foreseeable demand that “Palestine,” as an independent state, be permitted a military.
The authors’ belief that Israel’s security concerns could be met by replacing Israeli troops on the West Bank with international peacekeepers collides with experience. UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, first failed to curb Palestine Liberation Organization terrorism. More recently, it has failed to contain Hezbollah. Of course, Egypt’s ouster of U.N. peacekeepers from the Sinai Peninsula in 1967 helped set the stage for the Six-Day War.
Incomplete realism
A dash of realism did show up on The Post’s Op-Ed page in another column of advice for the new administration. It came from an unlikely source, former State Department Arab-Israeli specialist Aaron David Miller, one of the U.S. proponents of the Oslo process. In “Start With Syria; A Middle East Deal Obama Could Build On” (November 26), Miller notes that “President-elect Barack Obama will be bombarded with recommendations about how to approach Arab-Israeli peacemaking. One piece of advice he should not take is to make Israeli-Palestinian peace his top priority. There’s no deal there.
” …. The well-intentioned old college try, which was President Bill Clinton’s mantra at Camp David in July 2000, reinforced by his advisers, myself included, proved costly.” In other words, Brzezinski and Scowcroft’s advice is out of date, and wrong.
But Miller, having been disabused by the Palestinian leadership, advocates what sounds like “the old college try” with Syria’s leaders. Though he does not ignore it, Miller downplays Syrian rejectionism in a manner roughly similar to Scowcroft and Brzezinki’s avoidance of Palestinian rejectionism.
Not only does he, like the former national security advisors, see a role for international peacekeepers (this time on the Golan Heights), Miller assumes that Syria can be realigned from its Iranian-Hezbollah axis toward the United States. Israel would pay the price in the Golan and Jordan River/Lake Kinneret water.
But nearly 40 years of experience with t he Assad family’s minority Alawite dictatorship suggests otherwise. First Hafez al-Assad, and now his son, Bashar al-Assad, have thwarted U.S. interests, violently undermining prospects for a stable, democratic Lebanon and Israeli-Lebanese peace, and aiding Hezbollah (the Iranian-backed Shi’ite Party of God) and anti-U.S. Iraqi insurgents. The Damascus regime needs an external threat, Israel, to help legitimate its internal repression. This renders a U.S.-Syrian rapprochement – so long as the Assad dictatorship rules – unrealistic.
CAMERA previously has criticized the repeated opportunities for Miller, Scowcroft, Brzezinki and others of like views to opine on Arab-Israeli matters on Post Op-Ed pages without much counter-balance by outside contributors who differ. Readers should insist on such diversity among those offering Arab-Israeli advice to President-elect Obama.
Encounter Point (2006)
UPDATED: London Times Coverage of Mumbai Events Includes Anti-Semitic Remark
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Boy Swallows Universe: A Novel (Hardcover)
By Trent Dalton
Kobo eBook (April 2nd, 2019): $12.99
Library Binding, Large Print (August 28th, 2019): $31.99
“Boy Swallows Universe hypnotizes you with wonder, and then hammers you with heartbreak. . . . Eli’s remarkably poetic voice and his astonishingly open heart take the day. They enable him to carve out the best of what’s possible from the worst of what is, which is the miracle that makes this novel marvelous.” -Washington Post
A "thrilling" (New York Times Book Review) novel of love, crime, magic, fate and a boy’s coming of age, set in 1980s Australia and infused with the originality, charm, pathos, and heart of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Eli Bell’s life is complicated. His father is lost, his mother is in jail, and his stepdad is a heroin dealer. The most steadfast adult in Eli’s life is Slim—a notorious felon and national record-holder for successful prison escapes—who watches over Eli and August, his silent genius of an older brother.
Exiled far from the rest of the world in Darra, a neglected suburb populated by Polish and Vietnamese refugees, this twelve-year-old boy with an old soul and an adult mind is just trying to follow his heart, learn what it takes to be a good man, and train for a glamorous career in journalism. Life, however, insists on throwing obstacles in Eli’s path—most notably Tytus Broz, Brisbane’s legendary drug dealer.
But the real trouble lies ahead. Eli is about to fall in love, face off against truly bad guys, and fight to save his mother from a certain doom—all before starting high school.
A story of brotherhood, true love, family, and the most unlikely of friendships, Boy Swallows Universe is the tale of an adolescent boy on the cusp of discovering the man he will be. Powerful and kinetic, Trent Dalton’s debut is sure to be one of the most heartbreaking, joyous and exhilarating novels you will experience.
Trent Dalton is an award-winning journalist at The Weekend Australian Magazine. His writing includes several short and feature-length film screenplays. He was nominated for a 2010 AFI Best Short Fiction screenplay award for his latest film, Glenn Owen Dodds, which also won the prestigious International Prix Canal award at the world's largest short film festival, the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. Dalton's debut feature film screenplay, In the Silence, is currently in production.
“At times Boy Swallows Universe will grip your attention and then break your heart. It is a story of love, crime, and hope. It is written with love and told with joy. Trent Dalton is a powerful new voice in fiction.”
— Washington Book Review
“A marvelously plot-rich novel, which…is filled with beautifully lyric prose….Exceptional.”
— Booklist (starred review)
“A splashy, profane, and witty debut.”
“An electric novel. . . . a lively, funny affirmation of the human instinct for survival.”
-The Times (London)
— The Times (London)
“A captivating and quirky life story that leads the reader on an intense and rewarding journey; highly recommended.”
— Library Journal (starred review)
“An insightful coming-of-age novel.”
— Book Riot
“Joyous. Simply joyous. I hugged myself as I read it. My heart raced, swelled, burst; my eyes leaked tears; my stomach ached from laughter. Boy Swallows Universe is—I can’t think of a word more apt—magical. This vibrant, vital, altogether miraculous coming-of-age novel marks the debut of an exquisitely gifted storyteller. . . and what’s more, it’s transformative: After reading Trent Dalton’s book, you won’t be the same as you were before.”
— A.J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window
“A wonderful surprise: sharp as a drawer full of knives in terms of subject matter; unrepentantly joyous in its child’s-eye view of the world; the best literary debut in a month of Sundays.”
— The Weekend Australian
“Trent Dalton is the most extraordinary writer—a rare talent. A major new voice on the Australian literary scene has arrived.”
— Nikki Gemmell
“An astonishing achievement. Dalton is a breath of fresh air—raw, honest, funny, moving, he has created a novel of the most surprising and addictive nature. Unputdownable.”
— David Wenham
Fiction / Coming of Age
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New results on the net benefits of low-carbon electricity technologies
PlanetPolicy
Charles Frank Monday, October 17, 2016
In my paper, “The Net Benefits of Low and No-Carbon Electrical Technologies,” (2014 Global Economy and Development Working Paper) I estimated the net benefits of five different electricity technologies: wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, and natural gas combined cycle. Natural gas combined cycle generated the most net benefits under a wide range of assumptions, despite a penalty of $50 per metric ton of CO2 emissions. Wind and solar technologies consistently ranked fourth and fifth among the five technologies.
Charles Frank
Nonresident Senior Fellow - Global Economy and Development
Combined cycle natural gas plants generated more net benefits because the capital costs per megawatt of wind and solar were much higher and the capacity factors of wind and solar were much lower than those of natural gas. Combined cycle natural gas plants could be relied on to produce at full power up to 90 percent of the time. Put another way, they were able to achieve a capacity factor of up to 90 percent. By contrast, wind and solar projects typically utilized much less than half of their full capacity – in other words, they typically had capacity factors much less than 50 percent.
Reuters/Max Whittaker – Solar panels are seen in front of a natural gas power plant at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center in McCarran, Nevada, September 16, 2014.
However, much has changed over the past three years. The prices of oil and natural gas have plummeted, while both the cost and the performance of wind and solar technologies have continued to improve. How have these changes affected the analysis?
One year since Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement
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The capital cost of U.S. solar projects has fallen about 25 percent over the past three years, from about $3,600 per kilowatt in 2013 to about $2,700 in 2015. The 2015 weighted average capacity factor for solar has increased by about 10 percent for projects completed in 2014 compared to 2012. (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Utility-Scale Solar 2015, August 2016, p. 12 and p. 25).
The capital cost of wind projects has remained around $1,700 per kilowatt over the past three years. Capacity factors, however, have increased dramatically. The 2015 weighted average capacity factor for projects completed in 2014 was about 41.2 percent, compared to 33 percent for projects completed in 2012 (U.S. Department of Energy, Wind Technology and Market Report 2015, August 2016, pp. 42 and 53).
The latest available data for capital costs, capacity factors, and fuel prices have been incorporated into an updated version of the model used in my original working paper. The new findings are shown below:
Key assumptions used are:
A new low-carbon plant replaces a coal plant off-peak and a simple cycle gas turbine on-peak.
The price of natural gas is the 2015 average price paid by electric utilities.
The cost of carbon is $50 per metric ton of CO2.
The cost of capital is 7.5 percent.
Emissions from a new gas combined cycle plant are grossed up to account for fugitive emissions resulting from the production, transportation and distribution of natural gas.
Other costs include balancing costs for wind and solar and insurance and decommissioning costs for nuclear.
Natural gas combined cycle remains number one in terms of net benefits. However, because of improvements in capacity factors since 2014, wind rises from fourth to second, just behind natural gas combined cycle and ahead of nuclear, solar, and hydroelectric. Solar ranks well behind wind because its capital costs are substantially higher and its capacity factors are much lower.
If you care about climate change, natural gas combined cycle plants remain the most cost-effective way to reduce CO2 emissions costs at the present time.
The results are sensitive to the price of natural gas. For example, at a price for natural gas of $10 per million btu—more than three times the current price—wind ranks first. The results are also sensitive to the price of carbon. For example, if the cost of carbon dioxide is $150 per metric ton of CO2 or higher, nuclear power ranks first. For those interested in examining the model and its sensitivities in more detail, click here for the spreadsheet used in the analysis.
In conclusion, if you care about climate change, natural gas combined cycle plants remain the most cost-effective way to reduce CO2 emissions costs at the present time. However, at higher prices for natural gas and higher costs of CO2 emissions, wind and nuclear become more attractive alternatives.
The findings, interpretations and conclusions posted on Brookings.edu are solely those of the authors and not of The Brookings Institution, its officers, staff, board, funders, or organizations with which they may have a relationship.
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