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Trump administration relaxes U.S. sanctions on Russia imposed under Obama
By Rebecca Shabad
Updated on: February 2, 2017 / 3:32 PM / CBS News
The Trump administration appeared to loosen U.S. sanctions Thursday that the Obama administration had imposed against Russia in response to its cyberattacks in the 2016 presidential election.
The Treasury Department published a license that authorizes certain transactions between U.S. companies and the FSB, Russia’s security service and for the importation, distribution or use of “certain information technology products in the Russian Federation.” Such transactions had been prohibited under Obama administration sanctions imposed on Russia in late December. At the time, the U.S. sanctioned nine entities and individuals including the FSB and GRU. The Obama administration said that the FSB had assisted and provided material support to the GRU in its efforts to interfere with the U.S. election.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer was asked at his daily press briefing about why the U.S. is easing sanctions against Russia, but he said that the move is a “fairly common practice” in which the Treasury Department looks for “specific carve-outs” for certain industries after sanctions are put in place. He said it’s a “regular course of action that Treasury does quite often.”
A recent story from The Moscow Times said RBC newspaper warned that the sanctions could affect the importation of electronics to Russia. The report said it would affect devices with an encryption feature including cell phones and tablets.
A senior Treasury official said Thursday that the license allows very limited interaction with the FSB in coordinating exports to Russia of cell phones and tablets with low-level encryption software like consumer devices and consumer software. The official said that it took the department until now to make the exception because officials needed time to engage with the private sector.
The Trump administration’s move on Thursday comes after the president spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday by phone. On Friday, Mr. Trump said it was still “too early” to consider lifting sanctions on Russia. Last month, Mr. Trump was briefed by then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan, NSA Director Admiral Mike Rogers and FBI Director James Comey. After the briefing, the president seemed to accept the fact that Russia had interfered with the election, but said that the cyberattacks “no effect on the outcome of the election.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, told Politico last week that he is “against lifting any sanctions on the Russians.”
“These sanctions were imposed because of their behavior in Crimea, eastern Ukraine and now we know they’ve been messing around in our elections as well,” he said, according to the report.
Rebecca Shabad
Rebecca Shabad is a video reporter for CBS News Digital.
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Shriver Services
Maria Shriver and her brother Anthony Shriver speak after accompanying the casket of their mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, into St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Barnstable, Mass., Friday, Aug. 14, 2009. Shriver, the sister of President John F. Kennedy and Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, died Tuesday morning at Cape Cod Hospital at age 88.
Stevie Wonder listens during the funeral of Eunice Kennedy Shriver at St, Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church inBarnstable, Mass., Friday, Aug. 14, 2009.
North of the Border
Director Quentin Tarantino gestures while on the red carpet for the Canadian premiere of the film "Inglourious Basterds" in Toronto on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009.
Director Quentin Tarantino, right, holds a figurine of himself while posing for photos with actor Eli Roth at the Canadian premiere of the film "Inglourious Basterds" in Toronto on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009.
New York Red Carpet
Actress Rachel McAdams attends the world premiere of her new movie "The Time Traveler's Wife" at the Ziegfeld Theater on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009, in New York.
Executive producer Brad Pitt attends the world premiere of "The Time Traveler's Wife" at the Ziegfeld Theater on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009, in New York.
Actor Eric Bana and his wife, Rebecca Gleeson, attend the world premiere of his new movie "The Time Traveler's Wife" at the Ziegfeld Theater on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009, in New York.
Movie Promotion
Actor James Brolin poses for a portrait durig an interview to promote his new movie Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, in New York.
Hollywood Premiere
Emmy-winning actor Jeremy Piven arrives at the premiere of his new movie "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard" at Planet Hollywood on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009, in Las Vegas.
Actor Dane Cook arrives at the premiere of "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard" at Planet Hollywood on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009, in Las Vegas.
Holly Madison arrives at the premiere of "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard" at Planet Hollywood on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009, in Las Vegas.
Jonathan Sadowski arrives at the premiere of "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard" at Planet Hollywood on Wednesday Aug. 12, 2009, in Las Vegas.
Singin' in the Park
Country singer Kenny Chesney performs in Central Park, on ABC's "Good Morning America" show, in New York, on Friday, August 14, 2009.
Ashley Tisdale performs during the Donate Life Concert Series in Glendale, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009.
Newlywed actress Anna Faris, left, Missi Pyle, center, and Rachel Harris pose together during the Malibu and Reef Check party hosted by Anna Faris in Beverly Hills on Aug. 11, 2009.
Credit: Casey Rodgers/AP Images for Malibu
Kristina Kots-Gotlib, Miss Ukraine 2009, plays in the sand at Coral Sands Hotel in Harbour Island, Bahamas, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009. She will compete in the Miss Universe competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009.
Miss Germany Martina Lee poses during a fashion show event at the Miss Universe 2009 competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. Contestants from 84 countries will compete for the coveted crown on August 23.
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CCH Health Connect 2016 July July 2016 Department Discovery: Behavioral Health Services
July 2016 Department Discovery: Behavioral Health Services
The June 2016 Department Discovery shines a light on Behavioral Health Services.
Campbell County Health’s Behavioral Health Services (BHS) provides the northeastern Wyoming community with compassionate, confidential and comprehensive treatment of behavioral disorders, mental illness, and substance abuse treatment following detox.
With over 50 staff, BHS consists of licensed therapists, providers, and compassionate support staff to help with your mental health needs. BHS and Campbell County Medical Group Kid Clinic offer daily therapeutic scheduling with Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, Psychologist, marriage and family therapist, an array of case managers, and providers ranging from highly qualified Physician Assistants to Board Certified Psychiatrists, some of which are providing the Campbell County community support through Telemedicine technology.
Treatment at BHS begins with an initial screening, followed by a team of professionals who work with the patient to develop an individualized treatment plan, which could include group therapy, education and other support options. For patients who may be experiencing severe episodes of mental illness, BHS offers an eight-bed adult and adolescent unit to provide monitored care.
“Paired with a new facility and a very supportive executive team, BHS is staffed with great therapists and qualified people who are driven to do the best that they can for our patients. We are always striving to do better to reach people who truly want and need our help,” says Jeff Rice, BHS Director.
This year, the department is focusing on suicide prevention efforts. Despite a prevalence of mental health and substance use problems, many people go without treatment—often because their disorders are undiagnosed. Regular screenings in primary care and other healthcare settings enables earlier identification of mental health and substance use disorders, which can translate into earlier care. With this in mind, BHS is working with the Campbell County Medical Group Walk-in Clinic on a more effective suicide screening process for patients seen there. In addition, the department has implemented an assessment within to better screen patients for suicidal thoughts and the severity of those thoughts. They have also implemented a tool that will track a patient in treatment, from beginning to end, and measure the reduction in the likelihood of the patient completing suicide.
A big round of applause to the Behavioral Health Services Department staff! Thank you for all that you do for keeping our community healthy and safe.
Categories: Behavioral Health Services, Campbell County Medical Group, Campbell County Medical Group Kid Clinic, Employee Recognition
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America’s Got Talent RECAP 6/3/14: Season 9 Episode 2 ” NY and LA Auditions” #TurnUpTheTalent
BY Amanda Austin on June 3, 2014 | Comments: one comment
Related : America's Got Talent, Reality TV, Recap, Television
Tonight on NBC their hit reality talent show AMERICA’S GOT TALENT returns for a second episode of it’s ninth season where the audtions continue in New York and Los Angeles.
For those who don’t know and are new to the show, America’s Got Talent is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of one million dollars. With the talent search open to acts of all ages, “America’s Got Talent” has brought the variety format back to the forefront of American culture by showcasing performers from across the country.
On last week’s episode, there were some great acts and some really weird acts. One of the most memorable acts was Jaycob Curlee, an 18 year old Alabama native. He grew up in foster care without his parents, until he was eight years old and was adopted by a family. His dream is to sing and he sang John Mayer’s ” Waiting on the World to Change.” Mel B gave him a big hug, Heidi Klum thought he sounded like Ed Sheeran, Howie wanted to adopt him and Howard said he would invest in him. Jaycob did an amazing job; all the judges loved him and put him through to the next round. Did you watch last week’s episode? If you missed it we have a full and detailed recap, right here for you.
On tonight’s show celebrity judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howard Stern continue auditions around the country. Nick Cannon hosts this variety competition series which features a colorful array of hopeful future stars as they compete for a chance to perform at the famed Radio City Music Hall and win the $1 million prize.
We will be live blogging America’s Got Talent. So make sure to come back to this spot and watch the show with us. Make sure to refresh often so you get the most current info! While you wait for the episode let us know what you think of the show!
Tonight’s episode begins now – Refresh Page for Updates
Tonight’s episode of America’s Got Talent kicks off with a performance of “A Few Of My Favorite Things” by a family of twelve siblings. Mel B thinks their performance was great but they need to do more harmonies. Guest judge Heidi Klum thinks that “they are inspiring.” Howard Stern says they are “exactly what he is looking for.” All four judges vote “yes,” and give the family their tickets to the next round.
The next act to audition on America’s Got Talent is a team of magicians called David & Leeman. They take the AGT stage and have Howie join them. They press on Howie’s head and tell him that they are taking away his ability to read. They show him cards and tell him to read aloud, and just like David & Leeman announced, Howie is unable to read the simple words. The judges love their act, and love the fact that they made Howie look like an idiot, so they all vote the magicians in.
15 year old Julia Goodwin auditions in front of the America’s Got Talent judges next, and sings “New York State Of Mind” for them. The judges are blown away by her performance and all four of them give her a standing ovation. Mel B says, “Wow, your voice is so different and so unique. Wow! Loved it!” Howard says she has “tremendous talent and it was magnificent audition.” Howie says, “You listen to your voice and it comes out with such passion. If I have to define passion, it’s the sound of your voice.” The judges are unanimous, Julia is moving on to the next round of America’s Got Talent.
The next act to take the stage is a tap dancing duo, 17 year old Sean and 18 year old Luke. Heidi says, “the two of you are very talented. I really enjoyed it, especially your facial expressions.” Howard jokes that they aren’t much younger than Heidi’s boyfriend. Mel B is sure that the girls are going to go crazy for them. Howard says he “doesn’t know if it is something he needs to see again, because they seemed too ordinary. Howie, Mel, and Heidi all vote “yes.” However, Howard votes “no.” Sean and Luke are moving on to the next round of America’s Got Talent.
A Kung Fu Master Qi Fellong takes the stage next, unfortunately he doesn’t speak English, nor does his interpreter. Nick stakes the stage and helps the master explain what he is doing. First he uses his energy to stop a clock and then he slices a string with a dollar bill. Next he tells Nick to “kick him in the nuts” and he does. Howard and Heidi vote “no,” so unfortunately Kung Fu Master won’t be returning.
The next act to audition for America’s Got Talent is a team of motocross stunt men called Real Encounter. Nick and the judges follow the men outside where they have ramps set up. The team proceeds to do stunts on ramps, doing flips in the air reaching up to 75 ft . The judges give them a standing ovation. Heidi screams that the team is “bonkers.” The judges are unanimous, Real Encounter is moving on to the next round of AGT. The judges also push forward a jump-roping team, a basketball stunt team, and a pogo-stick stunt team.
Up next is a group of 8 year old triplets who will be performing “card throwing.” Phoenix shocks the audience and the judges when begins slicing celery with his cards and throwing them all the way up in to the balcony. The audience immediately begins cheering “Put Them Through.” Mel says the triplets are “just adorable.” Heidi says she “really really loved it and their presentation.” Howard thinks they are “inspirational.” The judges are unanimous, and all four of them vote “yes.”
A magician tries his luck next, and has Howard come up on stage and has him draw a card, and then place it back in the deck. He then turns around and reveals that the card is in his butt. He hands Howard a rubber glove to fish it out, but Howard refuses. It’s safe to say he isn’t going through to the next round.
A young musician named Miguel takes the stage next, to sing for the judges. The crowd goes wild before he even begins auditioning. The judges are blown away by Miguel. Howard declares he “has a great look and a great sound and he is going to go far in the competition.” Heidi announces her “heart just melted.” The judges are unanimous, Miguel is going through to the next round of America’s Got Talent.
33 year old Abigail takes the AGT stage next to perform an aerial act, during the day she is a teacher and she practices her aerial routines in her free time. She tells the judges that her act is an “example of her imagination coming to life.” The judges loved her performance, and Heidi dubbed it “truly original.” Howard says, “you have figured out a way to take something that we have seen a million times and animate it.” Abigail gets teary eyed and the judges are unanimous, they all vote “yes” and she is going on to the next round of America’s Got Talent.
John and Andrew audition for America’s Got Talent next, and perform a salsa dance for the judges. The judges are intrigued by two male dancing partners, although John stresses the fact that he is straight. The judges give John and Andrew a standing ovation after their dance. Howard says they are “terrific dancers and an exciting addition to the competition.” Mel confesses that they makes her “want to dance again.” Howie and Howard join John and Andrew on stage for salsa lessons. They return to their judge chairs breathless and vote “yes” to John and Andrew, they are moving on to the next round of America’s Got Talent.
America’s Got Talent LIVE RECAP: Season 9 Episode 1 – NY and LA Auditions 5/27/14 #TurnUpTheTalent
America’s Got Talent RECAP 6/18/13: Season 8 Episode 3
America’s Got Talent RECAP 7/2/13: Season 8 Episode 5
America’s Got Talent RECAP 7/17/13: Season 8 “Las Vegas, Night 2”
America’s Got Talent RECAP 8/6/13: Season 8 “Live from Radio City, Week 3 Performances”
America’s Got Talent RECAP 9/3/13: Season 8 “Live Semifinals, Week 2 Performances”
America’s Got Talent RECAP 9/10/13: Season 8 “Finals, Week 1”
America’s Got Talent RECAP 9/18/13: Season 8 Finale
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Pablo Puyol
Life Path #33
Personality #11
Maturity #11
Pablo Puyol - a male celebrity - born on Friday December 26th 1975, in Malaga, Malaga, Andalucia, Spain,.
Pablo Puyol has the potential within him to become a spiritual teacher, and if he will find the opportunity and inner resources to reach his full potential, he will be remembered for generations. But even if not, Puyol will still have a strong, spiritually empowering influence on others.
Pablo is blessed with musical talent, as well as in the visual and performing arts. However, his creativity may well be suppressed due to his willingness to sacrifice, or his inability to fully appreciate his talents. He has also enormous talent in business. He is blessed with a great deal of charm and charisma, which he uses effectively to attract the people and support he needs.
Pablo possesses great compassion and seeks to be of service to others. He is a healer and a helper to others, and holds deep concern for the weak and the neglected. He is capable of giving comfort to those in need and will frequently offer a shoulder for others to cry on. However, Pablo Puyol's mission in life is to develop the tools necessary to be truly helpful to others, rather than to simply be a sympathetic ear. He must find the balance between help and interference, and in the same way, should learn the delicate art of the counselor who knows when to leave the struggle to others and when to avoid taking away the necessary experiences and lessons of life. Pablo Puyol must contain his tendency to see himself as the savior of the world, carrying the burdens of others on his shoulders.
When young, Puyol must be careful not to choose partners for the wrong reasons. He should not let sentimentality influence his decision, especially those involving the choice of a spouse. Pablo Puyol needs to be needed, but must learn to discriminate between those he can help and others who are made weaker by his care. After all, it is in Pablo's nature to be attracted to the weaker brothers and sisters among us.
He is generous, kind, and attractive. Yet, he is baffles by the admiration and adoration bestowed upon him. He moves well and gracefully, must seek out physical exercise and limit the sweets and dairy he craves to keep himself from becoming plump and round.
Pablo Puyol seeks marriage and is often a wonderful parent, offering warmth, protection, and understanding to his children. More...
More flavors to Pablo's personality
Entrepreneurial and progressive, Pablo Puyol is ever-striving, heading for the top, and enjoying an enterprising, ambitious and determined personality to do things well, and an unyielding dedication to his plan until the goals are achieved.
There is danger, however that his trait of determination and dedication will shift to stubbornness, making Pablo cling to ideas and projects well past their fruitious season. It is a good idea for him to keep fresh pipeline of ideas to make it easier to replace outdated plans by new and better ones.
Patient as he is towards his goals, Pablo's flying, ravaging temper endangers his relationships with the very same people that will help him to accomplish those goals. He should use his strength of will to study and practice anger management.
Tour Pablo's menu and gain more insight into his personality traits, relationships, strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, compatibility with you and with others, and much more.
July 18th 2019 finds Pablo Puyol optimistic and upbeat.
Pablo wakes up this morning motivated, excited, and looking forward to the challenges of today.
Scattered but creative - Puyol might find himself lacking focus at times. These are the moments in which he must remember how crucial communication is for him today.
You and Pablo
Other male celebrities born on the same day as Pablo Puyol
Jared Leto (1971)
An American actor and singer-songwriter, known for his constant devotion to and research of his roles, and recipient of an Academy-, Golden Globe-, and a Screen Actors Guild-Award for his transgender woman role in Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Kit Harington (1986)
An English actor who studied acting at drama school, while starring in the National Theatre's adaptation of War Horse, and is best known for playing Jon Snow in HBO television series Game of Thrones, became one of the highest paid actors on television
Hugo Lloris (1986)
A French professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper and captains both English club Tottenham Hotspur and the French national team, and is described as a goalkeeper who "boasts lightning reflexes and good decision-making"
Andy Biersack (1990)
An American singer, pianist, and founder, lead vocalist and the only remaining original member of the rock band Black Veil Brides, who runs a solo music project called Andy Black, and released his debut album The Shadow Side in 2016
Lars Ulrich (1963)
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Mao Tse Tung (1893-1976)
David Sedaris (1956)
A Writer and Comedian
Frank Broyles (1924)
Glenn Davis (1924-2005)
Henry Miller (1891-1980)
An American writer, known for developing a new sort of semi-autobiographical novel style that blends character study, social criticism, philosophical reflection, explicit language, sex, surrealist free association and mysticism
Pablo Puyol personality profile | © Copyright 2009-2019 Celebrities Galore and Master Numerologist Hans Decoz
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Hani Rashid - Cersaie 2004
Architecture, art and design all are confrontations and dialogues with nature and the its dynamic and chaotic forces. The ceramic tile is at its essence a reconciliation between the manmade artifact and the perfection of the materiality of nature. The ongoing struggle to create, design, envision is always one with the hopes of yielding infallible beauty, which at its limits is obviously nature itself. Today the struggle is as it always has been to find precision, elegance, beauty and above all perfection, and in this way the manmade artifice is nothing but an attempt to traverse the ambiguous space between the real ( natural ) and the virtual ( architecture ).
Hani Rashid is an architect involved in the fields of architectural design and theory, digital interactive environments and spatial experimentation.
In 1989 he co-founded with Lise Anne Couture Asymptote, an architectural practice in New York city.
Since 1989 he has been a Professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture where he has been engaged in research regarding new design technologies and their application to architecture, co-developing the Schools Advanced Digital Design program in 1995.
Hani Rashid has also been a Visiting Professor and lecturer at numerous universities including the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen, the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles, the University of Lund, Sweden, the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University and the Städelschule in Frankfurt.
His practice, Asymptote, has produced an extensive body of work including the Guggenheim Virtual Museum, the Virtual Trading Floor and Advanced Operations center for the New York Stock Exchange a new office system for Knoll International as well as the award winning HydraPier constructed in the Netherlands in 2002.
Hani Rashid's work has been featured in numerous publications including Time Magazine, Esquire, Domus, Frame, Architectural Record, ArtByte, Interview, and Wired.
He has received several awards and in 2000 represented the United States at the American pavilion of the Architecture Biennale in Venice and in 2002 exhibited Flux 3.0 at Documenta XI in Kassel.
Hani Rashid received a Master's Degree in Architecture from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1986.
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Statistics and Demographics+
Population and Income Information
Economic Information
Visitor Information-
About Us » Visitor Information
Many people find North Carolina’s climate, especially the central part of the county, a nice compromise between the long, snowy winters of the northern states and the long, steamy seasons of the more tropical locations. While we can have icy cold period with snow and a few sweltering summer days, these rarely don’t last for long periods of time. We get the benefit of experiencing a change of seasons without having to deal with long periods of extreme weather. The information below is provided by the State Climate Office, based at North Carolina State University.
Generally, the weather allows residents to use local recreational lakes for swimming and water skiing from early May to late September. Golfers also find they can often get in one or two games of golf even in the harshest winter months when we will have a day or two of balmy weather.
AVERAGE HIGHS: The average highs range from 49 degrees in January to 71 degrees in April to 88 degrees in August and 53 degrees in December.
AVERAGE LOWS: The average lows range from 29 degrees in January to 46 degrees in April to 67 degrees in July to 32 degrees in December.
MONTHLY PRECIPITATION: Monthly precipitation varies widely. The four wettest months, based on the records, are: July, May, January and March. So the wet weather moves around a bit. However, October through December tend to be the driest period.
SNOW AND ICE: Most states south of Virginia are prone to have more ice incidents than snowfall, but serious ice storms causing major power outages are rare. We typically have at least some minor snowfall each year, but some years may include one or two major accumulations of six inches or more.
For more information on North Carolina’s climate, click here.
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Further Hugo Thoughts
I’ve had a little time for things to percolate through the brain now, and also my shoulder is getting more used to typing, so here goes with a bit of Hugo analysis.
I should start by congratulating all of the winners. I may not have voted for you all, but you won and that’s what matters. I am not going to complain that this is somehow unfair. I will, however, also congratulate all of the nominees as well, because it really is an honour to be nominated.
The first thing of note in the stats is that out of 2100 people who participated in the final ballot, only 14 did so by regular mail. I’m pleased that we keep the mail option, but really the number of people who use it is very small.
In the Campbell I was cheering for Lauren as she’s a friend, and I’m really impressed with both Moxyland and Zoo City. With my PR hat on, however, Lev’s win is a very good thing because he’s so well known. I note also that despite all of the “not a Hugo” jokes that people make, the message still doesn’t get through. Step forward, the New York Observer, which proudly proclaims: “Lev Grossman Wins a Hugo Award”.
Fan Artist continues to be a fairly static category, but I was pleased to see Mo Starkey get a mention. Poor Spring Schoenhuth missed the ballot by just one nomination. The final result was as tight as it can be, with Brad Foster beating Randall Munroe by just one vote. I gather there is some story that fandom had it in for Munroe because he’s not “one of us”. I don’t know where that came from. As far as I was aware, the issue with Munroe was that he was being recognized for XKCD which people believed to be a business, not fannish activity.
I am delighted that Claire Brialey has finally won Fan Writer. Hopefully Steve Silver, James Nichol and James Bacon will get their turns too, and they have all done great work. I’m not sure that Worldcon can handle another Garcia win, though Chris’s triumph in Fanzine was undeniably one of the highlights of Hugo history (and the video has apparently gone viral so I don’t need to point you at it). Yay! Go BASFA! And well done James Bacon for staying calm through it all.
Semiprozine. We won. Thank you all, again. 🙂
I was pleased to see that Salon Futura got 42 nominations, placing 7th. It is actually eligible next year, though I doubt that anyone will remember unless I can afford to get a few more issues out between now and next March.
Artist. John Picacio has to win soon, people. Possibly next year when a whole lot of GRRM fans will be voting for the Game of Thrones TV series and John will have his work on the GoT calendar in the voter pack. Kinuko Craft was 6th in the nomination lists, but well short of making the ballot.
The mystery of all of the nominees in Editor: Long Form has been solved. Lots of people are still nominating David Hartwell and Patrick Nielsen Hayden even though they have withdrawn from competition. Consequently we had to go down to 6th and 7th places, and there was a 3-way tie for 7th. It might be good if Chicago posted a list of people who were withdrawing for next year, and regular nominees who are ineligible (Juliet tells me she has only edited 2 genre books this year, so she’s not in the running).
Editor: Short Form is the place to recognize Clarkesworld next year with the magazine having withdrawn. This year Neil Clarke placed 7th, only 9 nominations short of the ballot. We can do this, people.
I am delighted for both Lou and Sheila. They are excellent editors and thoroughly deserving of the recognition. Poor old Stan Schmidt is still a bridesmaid. That’s what happens when a small, dedicated group love what you do but everyone else is unconvinced.
I don’t have much to say about the Dramatic Presentation categories, save to note that the voting pattern in Short Form is a classic example of why having multiple nominees on the ballot does not “split the vote”. The three Doctor Who nominees supported each other very well.
There’s nothing that can be said about Graphic Story. I know that Phil and Kaja have ruled themselves out of the running for next year, but the sunset clause vote is due up at the WSFS Business Meeting in Chicago and I can’t see more than a handful of people wanting to persevere with the category.
Related Work was a real mixed bag this year. I guess the huge popularity of Doctor Who won out.
Short Story and Novelette were disaster zones for me this year. Clearly my taste does not match that of the voters. The mystery of the missing 5th place nominee is now solved. Hannu Rajaniemi missed getting on the ballot by just one vote. Take note, please, Finland. We almost got there. If only a few more of the 48 people who nominated The Quantum Thief had voted for the short story as well. Anyway, the eligibility extension has been passed again, so The Quantum Thief will be eligible again next year thanks to its Tor publication.
Novella was a lot better. I know hard core Chiang fans don’t like this year’s story, but I’m happy with it as a winner. I’m also very pleased to see Al Reynolds doing so well.
There was never much doubt about the Novel category. Everyone expected Connie to win and she did. I’m delighted for Seanan/Mira, who did very well indeed, and also delighted to see Nora on the ballot. I’m sure you all know that I think The Dervish House was head and shoulders above everything else on the ballot.
There has, of course, been the expected outcry about the result. Personally I though that Kirsten and Mondy on The Writer & The Critic had the most sensible approach. There are things that Connie does incredibly well, and if the woefully shoddy history doesn’t bother you the books are a fun read. There’s just not a lot of substance there.
What does bemuse me is the fact that some people have been complaining that allowing the two books to be voted on as one was somehow unfair, and by implication that “they” (the infamous “Hugo committee”, no doubt) had rigged the contest in Connie’s favour. Look folks, Blackout/All Clear is clearly a single narrative, with about the same number of pages as A Dance with Dragons. Length should be no indicator of quality. Indeed, the fact that the publishers split it in two so they could charge more for it, and only put the first half in the voter packet, should have counted against it. Besides, think what would have happened if people had been forced to vote on the two books separately. Both would have got on the ballot, Connie would still have won, and one fewer author (actually Lois Bujold) would have got a nomination.
It is worth noting that none of the categories produced an outright winner this year. I’m very pleased with that. There were also seven categories in which the candidate with the most first place votes did not win.
The final thing that occurs to me about this year’s results is that for years people have been complaining that the Hugo results are bad because the awards are voted on by a small, unrepresentative group of fans. This year we have had more people than ever participate in the process, and guess what? Yes, the results are more populist. What did you expect?
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11 Responses to Further Hugo Thoughts
Steven H Silver says:
I would like to offer a loud second to Cheryl’s comment “Artist. John Picacio has to win soon, people.”
John has one of the greatest palettes among modern science fiction and fantasy artists and a unique style which no other artists emulate.
I’ve pitched several projects to John over the years and was ecstatic when he was finally able to make the time to create the covers for two books I worked on for NESFA Press.
Nominate and vote for John Picacio!
Andrew Trembley says:
Yeah, I nominate John every year. Not only is he a nice guy with a high profile, he’s got a very distinctive style and impeccable craft in his work.
Julia Rios says:
Thank you for posting this, Cheryl. It’s really interesting to see your analysis of the awards. Though people are divided in a lot of other ares, everyone I’ve spoken to about the novella category seems to agree that even if they connected with one of the stories more than the others, they also felt strongly that this year’s list was a particularly good overall. Nice when that happens.
Neil in Chicago says:
In Drama/Short, “Ray Bradbury” walked away with the first place votes . . . but everyone else put it so low that it didn’t quite make it. A very clear pattern.
Jeff Orth says:
Cheryl said:
“It might be good if Chicago posted a list of people who were withdrawing for next year, and regular nominees who are ineligible (Juliet tells me she has only edited 2 genre books this year, so she’s not in the running).”
While it is something the Hugo Administrator and myself (WSFS DH) might consider, I think that it comes under the heading of per-certifying candidates. I would be loath to do that, and think it would set a poor precedent. Potential nominees, who have withdrawn, have the right to change their minds, and while some may publicly claim that they are ineligible on some ground, I think that these folks should use the current networks (Fannish, natch.) to get the word out.
“Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion”
JeffO
John Chu says:
_All Clear_ did eventually make it into the voter’s packet as an update. I suspect not everyone realized that the packet had been updated though.
Thank you for an analysis that does not privilege the standings after the first round. I think the tendency to treat the first round as being somehow more representative or more important than subsequent rounds is one reason why it’s hard to get this sort of balloting in our votes for government.
Great to read your further thoughts, Cheryl.
As far as winners and losers, I’m very happy with several wins, very disappointed by a couple, and yes, I vote for John Picacio. (I pref’d him second this year.)
I feel we should know who’s taken themselves out of the running so we don’t waste nominations . . . but Jeff Orth makes good points, too. Hmm.
On the other paw, I don’t particularly like people taking themselves or their publications out of the running. I’ve heard some reasons why they do and some reasons why they shouldn’t. I lean a bit more towards the “please, don’t” side.
Seems like our round table podcast discussion on other relevent graphic novel works for consideration didn’t make much of an impression, did it?! 🙂 Absolutely nothing against Girl Genius and it is great for them, but rather disappointed that none of the other relevant works made it to the top this year instead. Starting to look like as a category, much as I want graphic fiction to be in there (and it seems odd if it isn’t a Hugo category), that it simply isn’t getting much attention from the voters, or else many of them simply haven’t read much comics work and so have no idea about who to vote for. Sad when there is so much fascinating work out there…
SimonW says:
As a distant observer of the Hugos, for me the Campbell is the Hugo for Best New Writer in the same way the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel is the Nobel Prize for Economics.
The Campbell is, for those of us who pay attention, equal in status to a Hugo. It’s administered through the Hugo selection process, voted on by the same people, and awarded at the same ceremony. The whole “not a Hugo” thing (when expressed to the winners) is a bit of kind ribbing.
But that it’s not a Hugo is important. The Campbell award is essentially licensed to WSFS by its sponsor, Dell Publishing (yes?). It’s politically important to recognize that, while we see it as equal, we acknowledge it’s Dell’s.
Now if Dell ever wants to stop sponsoring the award, I expect there would be a groundswell of support for “converting” the category to a Hugo. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Pingback: SF Signal: The Hugo Award As Cultural Object
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Thursday, May 09, 2019 11:48 AM
Bears100 Celebration to feature d-linemen
The last six decades of Bears football will be represented during a special defensive line panel at the Bears100 Celebration June 7-9 in Rosemont.
Ed O’Bradovich, Dan Hampton, Chris Zorich, Tommie Harris and Akiem Hicks are slated to participate in the discussion next month when the Bears commemorate their centennial season at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
Known by younger generations as a fiery Bears post-game radio host, O'Bradovich displayed that same temperament on the field for 10 seasons with the team from 1962-71. He made a key play in the 1963 NFL title game against the Giants, intercepting a Y.A. Tittle pass and returning it 10 yards to the New York 14 to set up the winning touchdown. A Chicago native, O’Bradovich attended Proviso East High School and the University of Illinois.
Star safeties to unite for Bears100 Weekend
Hester to appear at Bears100 Celebration
McMahon, Trubisky featured on panel together
Hampton played all 12 of his NFL seasons with the Bears after the team selected him with the fourth pick in the 1979 draft out of Arkansas. He was named first-team All Pro four times, voted to four Pro Bowls, named to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1980s and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hampton was an integral part of a 1985 Super Bowl championship defense that many consider as the best in NFL history.
The bond between O’Bradovich and Hampton was evident in 2002 when Hampton chose O’Bradovich to serve as his official presenter at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Zorich played his first six NFL seasons with the Bears after arriving as a second-round pick from Notre Dame in 1991. The Chicago native appeared in 79 games with 49 starts with his hometown team and recorded 316 tackles, 15.5 sacks, six fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. Zorich’s only career touchdown came on Dec. 27, 1992 when he returned a fumble 42 yards against the Cowboys in Mike Ditka’s final game as coach.
Harris was chosen by the Bears with the 14th pick in the 2004 draft out of Oklahoma. He appeared in 104 games with 90 starts over seven seasons, registering 213 tackles, 28.5 sacks, 51 tackles-for-loss, one interception, seven fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles. Harris was voted to three straight Pro Bowls from 2005-07 and helped the Bears win three division championships and one conference title.
Hicks is entering his fourth season with the Bears. Last year he led the defense with 12 tackles-for-loss while ranking second with 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 16 quarterback hits. Hicks has performed exceptionally well since signing with the Bears as a free agent in 2016. While he made the Pro Bowl for the first time in seven NFL seasons in 2018, his numbers were even better in 2017 when he registered 8.5 sacks and 15 tackles-for-loss.
Other panels at the Bears100 Celebration will include Hall of Fame middle linebackers Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher; quarterbacks Jim McMahon and Mitchell Trubisky; and safeties Gary Fencik, Doug Plank, Mike Brown and Eddie Jackson.
The Bears100 Celebration will feature the ultimate gathering of fans and players. The entire 2019 team and coaching staff, along with Bears Hall of Famers and alumni, are scheduled to attend. The weekend will include autograph sessions, photo opportunities, panels, memorabilia and merchandise sales, interactive games, kids activities and a walk-though Bears history zone.
Click here to purchase tickets to the Bears100 Celebration.
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Cancer Talks and Lectures, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Leukemia
What Are the Common Symptoms of CLL?
http://youtu.be/QjckUMNPatc While some chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients are asymptomatic, the disease can cause a wide range of symptoms—and indicate disease progression. Dr. Stephen Spurgeon, from the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, describes common CLL symptoms and their implications. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo
Understanding the Basics of CLL
Detecting, Identifying and Treating Subtypes of CLL
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Historic Preservation and Green Building: A Lasting Relationship
by Tristan Roberts
Trinity Church in Boston is an international architectural landmark built in 1877. A major rehabilitation of the building employing both historic rehabilitation and green building practices was completed in 2005 under the leadership of Goody Clancy.
Photo: Peter Vanderwarker
It’s a common saying in the green building movement that “the greenest building is the one that isn’t built.” This ideal may be great, but with growing demand in many parts of the U.S.—and the world—for buildings, it’s often ignored. Meanwhile, millions of buildings already exist but are not being used to their full potential, despite their historic character and environmental features. Built for a purpose that no longer exists or has changed and often lagging behind today’s performance standards, those buildings are strong candidates for rehabilitation.
When rehabbing a historic property, taking an unmoving stance as either a green building advocate or as a historic preservationist can lead to considerable differences with the other camp. There is, however, a growing desire within both communities to align their agendas, as demonstrated by several recent events. Participants in the Greening of Historic Properties National Summit in Pittsburgh in October 2006 contributed to a ground-breaking white paper that is currently circulating as a draft among the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and The American Institute of Architects (AIA). That initiative comes on the heels of an increased focus on sustainability by the Association for Preservation Technology International and USGBC’s interest in applying its LEED® Rating System to historic properties.
Participants in the October 2006 Greening of Historic Properties National Summit in Pittsburgh assembled for a reception at the Heinz History Center.
Photo: Pittsburgh History
In the midst of this activity, a new saying has been going around: “The greenest building is the one that is already built.” This article examines that claim, looking at the most common historic preservation standards and at some of the challenges and opportunities that owners, designers, and contractors face in handling historic property. Several case studies address common areas of concern, including energy efficiency, and recommendations follow.
Historic Building Rehabilitation Standards
A nationwide system in the U.S., from the federal level down to the state and local levels, works to protect historic buildings—and to offer incentives for building owners to take on major rehabilitation projects.
The National Register
At the federal level, the National Park Service (NPS), part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, oversees the National Register of Historic Places. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is the official federal list of districts, sites, structures, buildings, and objects deemed worthy of preservation. The register includes all National Historic Landmarks and historic sites administered by NPS. A building may be included in the register either individually or as part of a complex of buildings or a historic district.
Buildings on the National Register are generally at least 50 years old and are associated with historic people or events; significant for their architecture, craftsmanship, or design; or, as with an archeological site, of value for historical research. With about 80,000 listings, the National Register includes well-known national and state landmarks as well as properties of local renown. According to Sharon Park, FAIA, chief of technical preservation services for NPS, with many of those listings encompassing multiple buildings, there are about 1.3 million National Register buildings, the majority of them in private hands.
The National Register is first and foremost a tool for
recognizing historic properties—not for mandating how they must be treated. A listing helps protect a property from adverse affects of federally funded projects but does not, in itself, restrict private property owners in any way. However, state and local regulation may add restrictions to a listed property. State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs, often pronounced “shippoes”) were federally mandated to carry out provisions of the Act of 1966. SHPOs in each of the 50 states have several responsibilities, including locating and recording historic resources, nominating historic resources to the National Register, and providing technical assistance and consultation. Some states have also enacted state historic registers, which come with their own regulations, and many municipalities recognize local historic sites or districts. These programs often go beyond federal regulation in restricting what private property owners can do.
According to Ralph DiNola, Assoc. AIA, a principal with Green Building Services, Inc., in Portland, Oregon, “a lot of people misinterpret National Register status. Because a project is listed, they feel that they can’t do certain things to that property,” he said. Noting that for private property owners, state or local regulation is likely to be more restrictive than federal regulation, DiNola recommends contacting the local planning office and the SHPO to see if a property is listed nationally or locally and if local historic property regulations are relevant.
In addition to identifying and recognizing historic properties, the National Register is relevant to building owners and developers because of the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit. Owners of a National Register property who follow certain standards for rehabilitation while going through a three-part application process are eligible for a federal tax credit equal to 20% of the construction cost. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a set of financial and ownership requirements for obtaining the credit; most significantly, the construction cost must exceed the building’s cost basis and the building must be income-producing.
According to Park, those restrictions mean that most projects earning the tax credit are substantial renovations. “Most projects are in the range of $250,000 to $5 million of capital improvement,” she said, noting that the minimum project size is $5,000, and one of the largest recent projects, San Francisco’s Ferry Building, was valued at $94 million. Despite the restrictions, including some complex timing requirements, the program is popular. Each year about 1,200 projects are proposed, and about the same number are completed. “The capital investment in the completed projects is around $2.8 billion of private-sector investment every year,” Park said.
A 10% tax credit is available not only to National Register properties but also to any property built before 1936. (Buildings older than 50 years are generally eligible to be called “historic”; legislation setting the 1936 date was passed in 1986 and has not been updated.) According to Park, this credit is obtained relatively automatically through income tax filing, but, due to eligibility limitations by the IRS, it is not very popular.
The Secretary’s Standards
The major standards document in the U.S. preservation community, promulgated by NPS since 1977, is the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The Secretary’s Standards, as they are commonly known (actually one of four distinct Secretary’s Standards—see below), were originally developed to help determine the appropriateness of proposed work on registered historic properties. The standards are used to determine if a project qualifies as a Certified Rehabilitation eligible for the 20% federal tax credit. The standards also guide the work of federal agencies, and historic district and planning commissions across the U.S. have adopted them. Widely respected in the preservation community, their significance transcends the individual programs that require them.
The standards define rehabilitation as “the process of returning a property to a state of utility, through repair or alteration, which makes possible an efficient contemporary use while preserving those portions and features of the property which are significant to its historic, architectural, and cultural values.” The standards are summarized in ten points, and respecting the “historic appearance” and “character-defining features” of a historic property is mentioned again and again. Along with the Secretary’s Standards, the NPS publishes an application guide, available on its website, dealing with various aspects of rehabilitation, including considerations for masonry, wood, and metal; roofs, windows, entrances, porches, and storefronts; structural systems, interior spaces, and mechanical systems; site and setting; and energy, new additions, accessibility, and health and safety. The standards outline each of these topics with
recommended and
not recommended practices and photos representing both scenarios. Summarizing the Secretary’s Standard for rehabilitation, Park said, “If you’re going to make modifications to upgrade a building or modernize certain parts of it, do it consistently, don’t rip out any of the really good stuff, and preserve as much as possible.”
Three other Secretary’s Standards guide preservation, restoration, and reconstruction projects. The standard for
preservation is the most protective of existing features. Park summarized it as: “You keep everything you’ve got,” including existing contemporary features, “and you keep it going.”
Restoration means taking a building back to an interpretation of a certain historic period. “That’s a pretty aggressive standard,” Park said. “You’re ripping off a lot of historic fabric that some people would consider significant.” Reconstruction of a lost building element can occur under rehabilitation standards, but the
reconstruction standards apply to documented reconstruction of a whole structure, as deemed necessary for interpretive purposes.
The Secretary’s Standards for rehabilitation are by far the most commonly applied, especially in private projects, said Park, but they are often misunderstood as being very rigid. “There’s inherent flexibility in the standards,” Park told
EBN. “You can make modifications as long as they are consistent with the character of the building,” she said, noting, “It’s a challenge to architects to have a sense of design that’s appropriate to the building.”
Applying the Secretary’s Standards
In practice, adaptive reuse—or maintaining an old building for a new function without damaging its “character-defining features,” in the language of the Secretary’s Standards—gives owners and architects a great deal of latitude. Two LEED-certified projects in Portland, Oregon, show some opportunities—and pitfalls—and illustrate the amount of flexibility available in historic rehabilitation projects.
The Gerding Theater, the former Oregon National Guard Armory, built in 1891, became the first building on the National Register of Historic Places to earn LEED Platinum certification following a major renovation completed in 2006.
Photo: Green Building Services, Inc.
With thick masonry walls and more gun-slits than windows, the Oregon National Guard Armory, built in 1891, might not seem like a good candidate for green rehabilitation. The developer, Gerding Edlen Development Company, LLC, wanted to make the building into a home for Portland Center Stage. That required a 600-seat main stage, a 200-seat studio theater, dressing and technical areas, reception space, and theater offices—in a National Register landmark previously encompassing none of those uses. Reopened in October 2006, the 55,000 ft2 (5,100 m2) building provided those spaces, earned the 20% federal tax credit, and became the first National Register building to achieve LEED Platinum certification.
To meet the need for theater space—and volume—that was not provided in the existing building, the project team excavated the building to below the level of the original basement. Even as the floorplan went through significant changes, a large oculus (an eye-shaped opening) in the second-floor floorplate maintains views from the first floor to the exposed roof trusses that were identified as a “character-defining feature.” The distinctive exterior appearance of the building was not altered, apart from the addition of several skylights, which were part of the historic design. The newer spaces are distinctly contemporary in appearance—and in function, with excellent lighting, air quality, and energy efficiency (modeling predicts a 30% improvement over ASHRAE standards), which all contributed to the LEED rating. NPS’s approval of the changes as required for the 20% tax credit demonstrates how the Secretary’s Standards provide flexibility for a building to be an evolving artifact.
A former warehouse, the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center in Portland, Oregon was rehabilitated and LEED-certified in 2001.
Photo: Melissa Tatge, courtesy Ecotrust
Also in Portland, Ecotrust, a nonprofit supporting sustainability in the Pacific Northwest, took a similar path of adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center, a National Register building. (Published by Ecotrust,
Rebuilt Green discusses the project in detail—see review in EBN
Vol. 13, No. 7 and case study in
BuildingGreen Suite.) The project rehabbed a warehouse, built in 1895 to store building supplies and a classic example of Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture. Ecotrust added space and earned LEED certification, but it had less success convincing NPS that it had followed the Secretary’s Standards.
The project, completed and certified LEED Gold in 2001, transformed the neglected building into 70,000 ft2 (6,500 m2) of retail space and offices. In the rehabilitation, steel towers erected alongside the building serve a dual purpose as seismic support and fire stairs. The towers, located on an exterior wall that is less “character-defining” than the other façades, were added to prolong the life of the building and improve its safety. They would likely have been approved under the Secretary’s Standards, said DiNola. A penthouse addition, however, changes the appearance of the whole building and was a key factor in preventing the building from earning the 20% federal tax credit (it earned the less rigorous 10% credit). Better communication with the historic preservation authorities might have resulted in changes to the design that would have been more palatable historically, said DiNola.
What’s Green About Historic Buildings?
Performance-based energy-efficiency benchmarks are usually expressed in terms of improvement over relevant standards. New buildings typically accomplish these benchmarks using technologies, products, and materials that weren’t available when historic properties were built. Also unavailable, however, were air conditioning and other crutches that discourage architects from using passive, energy-saving design strategies. The Secretary’s Standards can bar changes that a green project team might be inclined to make, but teams should think twice anyway before scrapping the old strategies.
Old buildings and sustainability
Rather than rushing into a building project with preconceived notions of what needs to happen, many professionals working on historic buildings advocate for a gradual approach. Jean Carroon, AIA, principal for preservation at Goody Clancy in Boston, said that when her firm rehabilitated Trinity Church, an 1877 masterpiece by Henry Hobson Richardson (the only American architect, says Carroon, to have a major architectural style, Richardsonian Romanesque, named for him), she approached the building as an artifact. “Our first mandate was to do no harm,” she said. The firm monitored temperature and humidity conditions in the building, which were a concern relative to the interior artwork, for a year before beginning construction.
In the historic rehabilitation of Boston’s Trinity Church, a shallow undercroft space was expanded into a 13,000 ft2 (1,200 m2) meeting and activity space using contemporary materials and designs.
Mark Webster, senior staff engineer at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Inc., in Boston, said that besides respecting the historic features of a building, there are good reasons for treading lightly. “I think of these older buildings as laboratories for how to do things sustainably. They tend to be simpler, more long-lasting and durable,” he said. “One hundred years ago we didn’t automatically reinforce all our slabs-on-grade with mesh or rebar. Having those examples is helpful from a design standpoint.”
Matthew Bronski, a senior staff engineer who works with Webster, agreed: “There are technical benefits of traditional building design and materials that aren’t always widely recognized or appreciated today.” As an example, Bronski points to windows. “On old windows you tend to get dense, old-growth lumber that holds up well,” he said. While acknowledging the environmental benefits of lower-quality, finger-jointed wood often used in today’s windows, “their durability in exterior environments can be poor,” Bronski said. “I’ve seen low-quality finger-jointed wood windows deteriorate and rot in less than five years. You’ve more than lost any initial environmental benefit there.” Although new windows may boast double- or triple-pane sealed insulated glass units (IGUs), and glass with high energy efficiency, Bronski said the quality of the factory hermetic seal in the IGU can vary greatly, and this ultimately tends to limit the useful life of the IGU, as the hermetic seal fails and the IGU “fogs,” or allows condensation inside the panes. “I worked on a job where we rejected about 25% of the IGUs that showed up on the site because of voids or defects in the hermetic seal,” he noted.
Webster acknowledged many problems with older buildings, too. “Many older buildings don’t perform well in earthquakes,” he said. “You can generally retrofit them, but there are going to be some extra costs there.” Depending on the era of a building and construction type, it may not be very well built. For example, Bronski noted that “early 20th-century buildings with steel frames embedded in masonry often have corroding structural steel and can be really costly to rehabilitate.” With more recent buildings up for consideration as historic with every passing year, building professionals will find greater diversity and greater challenges as buildings based on newer technologies need historic rehabilitation.
Embodied energy in old buildings
Despite the environmental qualities of many older buildings, concerns about energy efficiency are common. “There’s an incredible bias throughout the green building agenda that if you want to achieve energy efficiency in a building, you have to start over,” said Michael Jackson, FAIA, chief architect for preservation services at the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Jackson, like many in the historic preservation community, touts the
embodied energy of historic buildings as a way of balancing the desire within the green building community for
operating energy efficiency improvements that may be difficult to achieve. According to Jackson, in order to realize life-cycle savings in a new building, compared with renovating an old building, “the timeframes you need are longer than the predictable life of some of the buildings being built today.”
Jackson supports his view with studies claiming that the embodied energy associated with upgrading or replacing old buildings would take three decades or more to recoup from reduced operating energy in more efficient new or renovated buildings. The study that
EBN examined, however, appeared to significantly overstate its case because it failed to differentiate between site energy and source energy for building operations. The study also used outdated embodied-energy numbers rather than current information from environmental life-cycle assessment (LCA) databases.
Many historic buildings contain materials and features that are valuable from several perspectives: the energy and materials expenditure that reuse of existing materials displaces; the architectural features and workmanship that may be impossible to replace; and the societal value of maintaining artifacts. LEED for New Construction awards up to three points for building reuse, and, although numerous historic projects have been awarded the first of those points, for partial reuse of existing walls, floor, and roof elements, buildings are rarely awarded all three points, which require nearly full reuse of the shell and at least 50% maintenance of interior nonstructural elements.
Some historic preservation advocates suggest that LEED should be amended to award more credits for building reuse, and especially for reuse of historic buildings. At the same time, some in the green building community argue that the historic value of existing buildings and materials should not be confused with their environmental value. In the end, practical, case-by-case considerations will take precedence. Does the owner have a use for the existing building? Does the building have one foot in the grave, or is it structurally sound? Does the economic benefit of reusing the existing building—which may include grants or other incentives—balance the cost of rehabilitation? Do the client’s goals support preserving historic attributes of the building?
Operating energy
Whatever the reason for reusing a historic building, reducing energy use is usually at the top of the rehabilitation agenda. Fortunately, neither preservationists nor sustainability advocates believe that older buildings necessarily are, or need to be, energy hogs. “In doing energy modeling on an older building, you might find it’s better than you thought it would be,” said Bronski.
Marc Rosenbaum, P.E., of Energysmiths in Meriden, New Hampshire, has worked on several historic buildings for educational institutions in New England, and he said he has a strong message for his clients: “Here you’ve got a building that has served this institution and community for a century. Given how we are entering a vastly different resource climate, how do you make this building serve the community for another century?” Rosenbaum added, “If you preserve a historic building as an untouched object, then you can’t use it anymore.”
Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts recently renovated its Operations Services headquarters building, improving its energy performance dramatically by installing new windows and insulating the roof and the inside of the masonry walls.
Photo: Bruner Cott
In Cambridge, Massachusetts, Rosenbaum consulted on the Harvard University Operations Services headquarters building on Blackstone Street. In this building, Rosenbaum focused on improvements to the building envelope, taking on the contentious issue of whether and how to insulate the building’s load-bearing brick walls. With monolithic masonry load-bearing walls, many building-science professionals believe that adding insulation is problematic. Adding insulation to a wall tends to reduce its drying potential by reducing movement of air and heat through and around the wall. These walls do not have the protection of the drainage plane common on today’s brick veneer walls, and, with increased exposure to freeze-thaw cycles with insulation added to the interior of the walls, they can degrade. “You’d love to insulate them on the outside,” said Rosenbaum, which would allow the introduction of a drainage plane and insulation from freeze-thaw cycles, “but if it’s a historic building, this is in direct conflict with the preservation intent.”
At Harvard, Rosenbaum and building scientist John Straube, Ph.D., of the University of Waterloo, Ontario, convinced the project team to insulate from the inside with sprayed, open-cell urethane foam. Recognizing the reduced drying potential of this arrangement, Straube advocated for a preventive approach, which involves keeping the brick dry from the outside with careful detailing of flashing, windows, and parapets so that there is no concentrated wetting of the wall. The team also installed rigid foam insulation across the building’s low-slope roof and energy-efficient replacement windows (the windows had been replaced previously in the early 1990s, reducing historic preservation concerns). The project is aiming for LEED Gold certification with targeted 30%–35% energy savings over ASHRAE standards. The building is on the National Register, so the Secretary’s Standards were used, but as a tax-exempt nonprofit, Harvard did not seek the federal tax credit.
Built in 1893 and part of a National Register historic district in South Royalton, Vermont, Debevoise Hall recently underwent a major rehabilitation that made it relatively energy efficient while employing historic standards.
Photo: GBH Studios
An educational building in central Vermont is another exemplar in energy performance in historic structures. Debevoise Hall at Vermont Law School in South Royalton, Vermont, was built in 1893 as the town’s first central “graded school.” The wood-framed building with a distinctive belfry is a town landmark, part of a National Register historic district, and a striking example of Queen Anne-style architecture.
Among the more challenging aspects of Debevoise Hall from a green and a historic standpoint were the original double-hung wooden windows, which, according to Rosenbaum, who served as a consultant to the $6.5 million renovation and expansion project, were “in terrible condition.” The windows were restored, however, complete with sash weights. The building team installed fiberglass interior storm windows with low-emissivity, argon-filled glazing and dealt with the air gap containing the sash weights by adding insulation to both sides of the weights. Due to structural problems and general deterioration, most areas inside the building required a total gut, making insulation relatively easy. The work paid off, said Rosenbaum, with air leakage being reduced by four-fifths, even with a 26% increase in the building’s area. Total energy use could not be compared before and after construction, but energy use for heating dropped by two-thirds.
Although, like Harvard, Vermont Law School did not seek federal tax credits for its work, Lyssa Papazian, a historic preservationist based in Putney, Vermont, was retained for the job. “My job was to ensure that it met the Secretary’s Standards, and I feel that it did,” she said. The building’s most important historic feature, its exterior, was maintained. Historic preservation proceeded on the interior with a “zone system,” Papazian said. Two first-floor classrooms retained their many historic features. That proved more difficult elsewhere due to the need for structural work as well as an unexpectedly broken historic fabric, with renovations having been made over the years that weren’t sensitive to the building’s history, but key features were maintained wherever possible. Cautioning that “the devil’s always in the details with preservation projects,” Papazian noted that, despite carefully thinking through the installation of the storm windows, their visual impact on the original windows from the inside looking out was higher than expected.
Debevoise, the Harvard Operations Services headquarters, and numerous other green historic rehabilitation projects demonstrate that older buildings can compete with new buildings, even high-performing new buildings, in terms of energy performance.
Opportunities and Challenges
Old and historic buildings are often environmentally friendly, and they contain opportunities for becoming greener. The sidebar provides recommendations for teams working on historic rehabilitation projects. It is intended as a selective, not exhaustive, list. Resources such as
EBN and USGBC provide many more ideas for environmental measures, such as reducing stormwater runoff and potable water use, that design teams are implementing on historic buildings.
Considerations for Green Building and Historic PreservationModel existing buildings using software programs such as Energy-10 or, for larger buildings, DOE-2. Modeling can provide valuable information about how well or poorly an existing assembly is performing and can help the project team overcome biases.
Green and historic conflicts
The range of historic buildings grows with every passing year. This 1955 ranch in Portland, Oregon illustrates the “atomic ranch” home style, which has its own preservation movement, exemplified by a magazine of the same name.
Photo: Jim Brown, Atomic Ranch, Inc.
Rehabilitation standards generally encourage the preservation of existing materials or replacement of them with similar materials that don’t disrupt a building’s character-defining appearance. Recycled-content and otherwise green products that are increasingly available for roofing, cladding, and decking are unlikely to be approved under current rehabilitation standards.
But even in areas where green and preservationist agendas come into direct conflict, compromise is possible. According to Walter Sedovic, AIA, who has worked on projects combining preservation and green building, many of the earliest incandescent light fixtures showed off dozens, if not hundreds, of bare bulbs, which at the turn of the twentieth century were a “fabulous new sight.” Those fixtures can use an enormous amount of energy, yet in many cases it would be historically inappropriate to remove those fixtures or to retrofit them with compact fluorescent bulbs.
Faced with massive chandeliers in the Eldridge Street Synagogue restoration project in New York City, Sedovic engineered a compromise. “We’ve outfitted it with incandescents that are period appropriate, and we’ve incorporated a dimmer on that and many other light fixtures like it,” he said. “We have the ability to present the original light fixtures using far less energy than the first time around.” Modern energy-efficient fixtures were installed to supplement that light, and the incandescent lights were wired to come automatically to full brightness in an emergency, fulfilling the need for emergency lighting. “Elements should reflect the time in which they were conceived and manufactured,” said Sedovic, explaining the choice, consistent with the Secretary’s Standards, to install unobtrusive contemporary fixtures alongside historic ones.
Similar challenges—and opportunities to compromise—await architects in the bathroom. “If you look at most early sanitary plumbing fixtures,” said Sedovic, “you’ll see the piping is oversized, the faucets need to be shut off by hand, the urinals can be so large you can step into them and the toilet tanks are massive 8–12 gallon (30–45 l) affairs.” Rehabilitation approaches differ even among preservationists. Said Park, “In most cases, bathrooms and kitchens are considered areas where modernization goes on,” unless “you have something that is really extraordinary.” Sedovic agreed, but recommended trying to maintain historic fixtures, reducing waste by keeping them in good working condition, considering retrofits that can reduce their water use, and replacing potable water with rainwater or graywater.
The integrated design process has been established as an important component of green building, and examples like these demonstrate that the innovative approaches reached through that kind of process are needed just as much, if not more, in green historic rehabilitation. In fact, as in the case studies already discussed, teams need to involve historic preservationists as well as building-science professionals. The shortage of professionals who can navigate both green building and preservation has been an obstacle in the advancement of this field. There’s nothing like learning on the job, however—discussing the success of the Debevoise renovation, Papazian gave credit to the architect on the project, Stephen Rooney, AIA, of Truex, Cullins & Partners, who, she said, “transformed himself into a historic preservationist” during the project.
A shared outlook
Despite inherent conflicts in the environmental and preservationist movements, shared opportunities dwarf those concerns. The greatest enemy of both movements—in the public and in building owners—is short-term thinking, in which buildings are designed and built for the moment, without thought of the long-term consequences of design choices. Both the environment and cultural heritage suffer when buildings are treated as disposable. While green builders who value energy efficiency may not always see eye to eye with preservationists who treasure old windows and other existing features, both groups share a great deal of common ground and have a lot to teach each other.
The American Institute of Architects
Historic Resources Committee
www.aia.org/hrc_default/
The Association for Preservation Technology International
www.apti.org
Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives
www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/tax
The National Park Service
Technical Preservation Services
www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/
The National Trust for Historic Preservation
www.nationaltrust.org
National Trust listing of state tax credits:
www.nationaltrust.org/help/taxincentives.pdf
Embodied Energy
BuildingGreen Basic Member
Embodied Energy online calculator.
http://www.thegreenestbuilding.org/
Now, this embodied energy calculator is based on the "Concept Model" presented in the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation report, ASSESSING the ENERGY CONSERVATION BENEFITS of HISTORIC PRESERVATION: Methods and Examples. Not sure if this is the one EBN examined or not.
For the report:
http://tinyurl.com/3lxx7q
Study Reinforces Carbon Benefit of Renovation
Harvard First University to Boast 50 LEED Certifications
Reuse or Build New? Group to Gather Hard Environmental Data
Retrofits (Usually) Greener Than New Construction, Study Says
Faade Retrofit Puts An Efficient New Face on Old Buildings
ThermaRock Brings Advanced Insulation to Wallboard
Toledo Museum Is State-of-the-Art at a Century Old
Retrofit (Usually) Greener Than New Construction, Study Says
A Concrete Phoenix Rises: Meet the Brutalist Tiny House
Young Residents, New Businesses Flock to Old Neighborhoods
Sustainability in Preservation Gets Its Own Guidebook
Michigan Building First to Earn Double LEED Platinum Certification
Rebuilt Green: The Natural Capital Center and the Transformative Power of Building
Green Design: What’s Love Got to Do with It?
Exterior Paints: Long-Term Protection and Environmental Tradeoffs
Cost-Effective Green Retrofits: Opportunities for Savings in Existing Buildings
Passive Survivability: A New Design Criterion for Buildings
Durability: A Key Component of Green Building
Future-Proofing Your Building: Designing for Flexibility and Adaptive Reuse
Interior Window Panels
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Gov. Phil Murphy signs bills to assist 9/11 first responders
David Levinsky @davidlevinsky
The bills are named after two New Jersey residents who both became ill after responding to Ground Zero.
Firefighters and other first responders didn’t have to be inside the World Trade Center on 9/11 to suffer debilitating or even life-ending injuries.
New Jersey recognized that tragic reality Monday, as Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law a pair of bills to help first responders qualify for workman’s compensation and disability benefits for health conditions linked to exposure to harmful carcinogens like those present at Ground Zero following the terror attacks.
“We now know that the air at Ground Zero posed just as much risk as the tangled remains of two once proud buildings and slowly over the ensuing 18 years the effects of breathing toxic fumes and particulates in the moments and days following the 9/11 attacks have taken its toll on too many of these heroes,” Murphy said during the bill-signing ceremony at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, which was a launching point for many police, firefighters and rescue workers who responded to the attacks nearly 18 years ago.
The Thomas P. Canzanella 21st Century First Responders Protection Act was named for the late Hackensack firefighter who spent days working on “the pile” after 9/11 and then spent years lobbying lawmakers to approve legislation to protect them.
The legislation, which was vetoed by Murphy's predecessor Chris Christie, changes New Jersey’s workers’ compensation law for public safety workers who suffer cancer or other illnesses likely related to exposure. For firefighters with seven or more years of service, the measure changes the law so they are presumed to have become ill because of exposure from their work unless their employer can prove otherwise. Other first responders, such as police, first aid and rescue squad members, are required to provide evidence of exposure but are not required to demonstrate “causation of illnesses.”
National research has shown that firefighters have an elevated risk of becoming sick from certain cancers, possibly because of exposure to toxic smoke and chemicals.
Canzanella advocated for the change for several years before he died 12 years ago of a heart attack.
“I’m so proud to be his daughter every day,” said Allison Canzanella during the ceremony.
Similarly, the Bill Ricci World Trade Center Rescue, Recovery and Cleanup Operations Act specifies that first responders who became ill after volunteering at the World Trade Center should be able to qualify for accidental disability retirement rather than ordinary disability, even though they were volunteering at the Ground Zero site and not technically on the job.
The measure is named in honor of Ricci, a professional firefighter from Clifton, Passaic County, who responded to the World Trade Center on 9/11 as a volunteer but was unable to qualify for accidental disability after contracting sarcoidosis, a respiratory ailment that forced him into early retirement.
During the ceremony, Murphy said first responders like Ricci should not be punished for their bravery.
“Before the dust had a chance to settle and before our shock had a chance to turn to sorrow, our first responders were at Ground Zero ushering people to safety, securing streets and neighborhoods and beginning the heart-breaking search for survivors; in short, doing everything they were trained to do. They didn’t think of themselves, they only thought of others. They didn’t ask to go, they just went,” he said.
Ricci, who attended the bill-signing ceremony, said it was difficult enough to be forced into retirement by his lung condition. But when he learned he would not qualify for the larger accidental disability payments, he was both “shocked and angry.”
“I saw it as an oversight that these 9/11 injuries would not be covered by disability,” he said, adding that he was thankful for lawmakers and Murphy for making the change. “My family will not forget what you’ve done not just for us, but all civil servants who may need this legislation.”
Murphy said the state has a duty to strengthen protections for first responders, particularly those who put themselves at risk responding to Ground Zero.
“Our message is crystal clear. We remember. We honor. We act. New Jersey may not have been the target on 9/11 but we paid a tremendous price both in the more than 700 of our neighbors lost and the many first responders who rushed to the scene and have battled illnesses in the years since,” the governor said. “We remember their sacrifice, we honor their service, and today we act to help them when they need that help the most.”
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This Grocery Store Joe 'Bachelor In Paradise' Clip Will Make You Love The Chicago Native Even More — VIDEO
Paul Hebert/ABC
There are a lot of former Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants who manage to find their way onto Bachelor in Paradise, but none of them have as unique of a story as Grocery Store Joe, real name: Joe Amabile. Never has someone garnered so much popularity with so little screen time, and yet when Becca sent Joe packing on the first night of her Bachelorette season, fans immediately rallied behind him at the injustice of it all. But if you thought you loved him then, this new Bachelor in Paradise clip of Grocery Store Joe will give you an even greater appreciation for the Chicago native.
As a way to help promote the Season 5 premiere, which kicks off Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET, the official Bachelor in Paradise Twitter account posted a video of Joe's arrival into Paradise. As per usual, he was greeted by the show's host, Chris Harrison, who attempted to get some insight into where Joe's head is at now that he's back on TV looking for love. Joe proved during Becca's "Men Tell All" special to be a man of very few words, but in the clip, he did offer up a few details on his day on The Bachelorette and what he hopes to get out of the experience in Paradise.
"I'm ready," Joe says upon officially meeting Harrison, who wasted no time in vocalizing exactly what we're all collectively thinking: "Well, hopefully this stint in Paradise will last longer than your stint on The Bachelorette." And while Joe admits that he was nervous during his first go in the Bachelor Nation realm, he's ready and willing to give on-screen love another shot, even though he thought for sure that his early departure from The Bachelorette would signify the end of his love life for good. "Honestly, after the first episode I thought I'd never have a girlfriend again," he admits to Harrison in the clip. "Because I'm like, 'This is pretty bad, no one is ever talking to me again.'"
Obviously, that did not turn out to be the case at all, but will he succeed in finding love in front of the cameras this time around? Fans will just have to tune into for the season to find out one way or another. For his part, though, Joe says he's just hoping to last at least more than a day. Also revealed in the clip: he's very much aware of the fact that his Bachelor nickname is Grocery Store Joe and he seems totally fine with it. (Not that he has much say in the matter, but still, it's good to know he's a good sport.)
Meanwhile, Joe's fellow Bachelor stars are just as curious about him as he is about them. "I'm curious to talk to him to figure out, like, what happened," Bibiana chimes in. Perhaps the two of them will end up hitting it off. You never know what to expect on a show like Paradise, but Joe definitely seems to be one of the good guys. Let's just hope that this time he gets the appreciation he so deserves and ends up sticking it out for the long run.
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Dr. Elizabeth James, 1939-2019
Jan 6, 2019 at 12:01 AM
Dr. Elizabeth Joan James, 79, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, at her home in Columbia.
Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, at Memorial Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, at the Newman Center on the MU campus, with Fr. Reginald Wolford officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Dr. James was a longtime University of Missouri neonatalogist and founder of the university's neonatal intensive care unit
Dr. James was born on Jan. 15, 1939, in Jefferson City to the late Joseph and Maxine Plogsted. On Aug. 25, 1962, she married Ronald James in Jefferson City. He preceded her in death on March 8, 2006. She was a member of the Newman Center.
In 1960 she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Lincoln University. After earning her medical degree from the MU School of Medicine in 1965, she remained at the university for her internship and residency in pediatrics, as well as a National Institutes of Health fellowship in neonatalogy. She completed a research fellowship in perinatalogy at the University of Colorado-Denver before joining the faculty in MU's departments of child health and obstetrics and gynecology as an assistant professor in 1971. She was named professor emeritus in 2007 and continued to work part time in a consulting role for several years after that.
The founder of MU's neonatal-perinatal medicine program who also led the formation of the neonatal transport service, she saved the lives of hundreds of vulnerable newborns during her long career. A number of these grateful families stayed in contact with Dr. James over the years.
For 12 years, she also directed the child health department's education programs, influencing the careers of scores of medical students and resident physicians, many of whom also remained close to her through the years.
In 1995 she traveled to the country of Georgia and spent time training physicians there. Her husband, Ron, along with A Call To Serve International founder Dr. Patricia Blair, created a diabetic education camp for Georgian children modeled after Camp Hickory Hill. She served a term as president of ACTS International and was vice president at the time of her death. She had a tremendous
Dr. James was a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served on the board of Missouri Medicine, the Missouri State Medical Association's Journal, for many years.
In 1982 she became the first recipient of the Young Physician Award bestowed by the MU Medical Alumni Organization, and in 1996 she was awarded its highest honor, the Citation of Merit. She received the MU Alumni Association's Distinguished Faculty Award and the Boone County Medical Society's Doctor of the Year Award.
Survivors include two children, Susan James (Ryan) and Jason James (Sarah), both of Columbia; two grandchildren, Taylor Freeman and Jedi James; a sister-in-law and caregiver, Kathleene James of Columbia; and several extended family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to A Call To Serve, c/o Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 West, Columbia, MO 65202.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com
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Six-time all-star and 2011 Grey Cup champion Jovan Olafioye retires
The Detroit native spent most of his CFL career with the Lions after signing with the team in 2010
B.C. Lions offensive lineman Jovan Olafioye walks onto the field after being introduced before a CFL football game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Vancouver on September 22, 2018. Veteran B.C. Lions offensive lineman Jovan Olafioye, a Grey Cup champion and a six-time CFL all-star, has announced his retirement from the league. The Detroit native spent most of his CFL career with the Lions after signing with the team in 2010. He started every game for the Lions between 2010 and 2016, helping the Lions win the Grey Cup in 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck —>
Veteran B.C. Lions offensive lineman Jovan Olafioye, a Grey Cup champion and a six-time CFL all-star, has announced his retirement from the league.
The Detroit native spent most of his CFL career with the Lions after signing with the team in 2010. He started every game for the Lions between 2010 and 2016, helping the Lions win the Grey Cup in 2011.
READ MORE: CFL rules committee recommending second challenge for head coaches
He earned six consecutive CFL all-star nominations from 2011 through 2016 and was named the CFL’s most outstanding lineman in 2012.
The Lions traded Olafioye to the Montreal Alouettes before the 2017 season in exchange for the rights to Canadian lineman David Foucault and Vincent Brown.
He played in 12 games in his lone injury-plagued season with the Alouettes and was released the day before the start of 2018 training camp. He signed a contract to return to the Lions shortly after his release.
“I’m incredibly grateful for my time in the CFL and as a member of the B.C. Lions,” Olafioye said in a statement. “There are so many people who have left a lasting impression on me from my time in Canada, but no more than (former Lions head coach and GM) Wally Buono and (former Lions offensive line coach) Dan Dorazio.
“My thanks also to former teammates and Lions fans everywhere. I could not have dreamed of anything more than the amazing experience I had in Vancouver.”
Valley basketball player ups his game after rookie season
CV Ringette Association AGM April 23
Comox Valley residents demand a televised debate on climate crisis
Rally held at Comox Marina Park Wednesday
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On October 20th, most of the province will head to the polls to elect new city leaders. In Vancouver we’re voting to elect 1 mayor, 10 councillors, 7 Park Board commissioners and 9 School Board trustees.
But what does that mean? When we vote for a new mayor, how will that impact us day-to-day? Does our one vote really matter?
Student organizers at #WhyVoteVancouver.
At CityStudio, we believe cities are better when we build them together. We’re about connecting students, City staff and community to engage in innovative problem solving for the city.
Students in the current SFU Semester in Dialogue at CityStudio cohort have been doing this work by tackling the issue of voter engagement together with the City and community.
They created experimental social media campaigns and hosted an event called #whyvotevancouver to engage with young voters – particularly those aged 18-24 – to encourage them participate in the Vancouver election this October.
They’ve also explored why it’s important for everyone to hit the polls.
“When we take the position that one vote doesn’t matter, we start to lose our voice,” observes SFU student Renee McMillen. “When we vote, we are telling city officials what we need to live and flourish as Vancouverites.”
But you don’t need to be a student to have a voice in your city. Voting is one of the simplest ways any citizen can engage in the growth, shaping and development of our city.
We vote more than we think
Voting isn’t new to most of us; we probably vote without even thinking about it – by putting our tip in a ‘Batman vs. Superman?’ jar at the coffee shop or responding to a poll posted by our favourite Instagrammer.
There’s something satisfying about contributing our two cents (sometimes literally) to an issue and feeling part of the collective. Even if we vote differently than others, we are still part of a group of folks who are passionate about a similar topic.
Voting in the municipal election on October 20th is just the next step.
City Hall 101: What are we voting for?
Credit: City of Vancouver
When you vote in Vancouver, you are voting to elect a new mayor and 10 councillors as well as 7 Park Board commissioners and 9 School Board trustees.
Collectively, these individuals oversee our city, parks and schools. It’s no small feat.
The City of Vancouver is responsible for the overall running of our city. (Makes sense, right?) It looks after a number of operational activities, like maintaining our roads and sidewalks, safe delivery of water to our homes, emergency services like police and fire, etc.
But the city also oversees things like building and development which can directly impact what our neighbourhoods look like. It also decides on matters relating to housing and transportation. You may have an opinion on bike lanes or struggle to find parking close to home; either way, the outcomes are related to the work of the City.
So who makes these decisions?
The City of Vancouver is led by City Council which is made up of the mayor and 10 councillors. Together they determine the strategic direction and priorities for the city. They also create bylaws, decide how the city spends its money and how land is used. (Watch this video to learn more.)
The Vancouver Park Board is the only elected body of its kind in Canada. It oversees our city’s parks, pools, community centres, marinas, playing fields and more.
You can start to see why voting is so important.
It’s true that voting isn’t the only way to participate in the shaping of the city – there are also public consultations, hearings, committees, neighbourhood grants, etc. – but it’s good to think of these activities as complementary to voting.
With your one vote, you have the opportunity to make your voice heard on a whole range of activities that contribute to the growth and development of our city.
Every vote counts
Sharing our reasons to vote at the #WhyVoteVancouver event.
Have you ever caught yourself thinking your vote doesn’t make a difference? “What’s the point, it’s one vote?” You’re probably not alone; it’s thought to be one of the most common reasons why people don’t participate in elections, particularly if it’s expected to be a landslide victory.
But change can only happen when we take action, big or small. Exercising your right to vote is a perfect example of a small action that can lead to real change.
Sometimes elections are won by only a handful of votes.
Most recently in the 2017 BC provincial election, all eyes were on Courtenay-Comox where, after the initial count, 9 votes were all that separated the two sides vying for one remaining seat. (The final count a few days later put the separation at 189 votes.)
Let’s get you to the polls
There are MANY reasons why it’s important to have your say at the polls this October, only a few of which we mentioned here. If you’re feeling ready and want to learn more, we put together a list of helpful resources including links to information about who is eligible to vote, what you need to bring, where to find the polling stations, etc.
You can also learn more at vancouver.ca/vote and use the Plan Your Vote tool to help you navigate the new randomized ballot, choose a polling station and more.
Election Day: October 20th. Mark it in your calendars and see you at the polls!
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Political journalists reacted with smart, thoughtful coverage following Antonin Scalia’s death
By David Uberti
Antonin Scalia’s passing over the weekend was just the second death of a sitting Supreme Court justice since 1954. What’s more, it comes during a presidential election year, a fact that is invigorating judicial activists and propelling both Republicans and Democrats into a breakneck feud over who should get to nominate Scalia’s replacement. It holds the potential to not only reorient power in an ideologically divided court, but also to extend significantly President Obama’s legacy.
From a standing start on Saturday afternoon, Washington media quickly vaulted into nuanced examinations of the complex legal philosophy of Constitutional textualism, popularized by Scalia and influential in the country’s legal framework. The media’s analysis was remarkably even-handed despite the jurist’s far-right ideology. And the breadth of their coverage: of the man, the judicial system, the political fallout, and the country was universally impressive. For their collective performance on a surprise weekend story, news organizations deserve special recognition for the efforts: a CJR Hit.
Outside of especially contentious rulings, the judiciary is the forgotten branch of government in much national political coverage. It lacks the confrontation inherent to Congress and the power and celebrity of the presidency. Still, news organizations have reacted nimbly to Scalia’s unforeseen passing, providing legal, historical, and political analyses to remind Americans how the judicial branch—and the Supreme Court in particular—interacts with its oftentimes more entertaining counterparts.
It’s unlikely another jurist’s death would have led to such educational coverage. Scalia led an effort to wholly alter how the nation’s laws are interpreted, favoring a strict adherence to the Founders’ words. That legal framework may be difficult to convey to an audience through abstract historical accounts. But obituaries and first-day analyses deftly referenced three decades of Scalia arguments en route to explaining this broader philosophy through clear, specific examples and in graphics, video, radio and television.
Despite the complexity of the topic, early analysis also touched on real-life policy implications of this legal philosophy. A number of outlets dissected how Scalia’s death might affect forthcoming rulings in the court’s current session, such as the White House’s proposed policy to counteract climate change. Such coverage serves as a reminder of both the power of the Supreme Court and how legislative gridlock has led to governance through executive action.
Political reporters have focused on what Scalia’s death means for the 2016 presidential campaign. While such pieces risk falling blindly into the election-year horse race, they illustrate what votes in November mean in practice. “[U]ltimately Obama—or the next President—will have no more consequential role than choosing Scalia’s replacement,” The New Yorker’s Jeffrey Toobin wrote in one of many pieces plainly stating the news’ importance.
All of these strains of analysis have been advanced by academics writing for mainstream news organizations, one of the more interesting publishing trends in recent years. The Washington Post’s Monkey Cage blog may be the best example of this digestible expert analysis. Scalia’s death was like many other breaking news situations in that it illustrated the value of such quick commentary, which tends to focus on where a particular event fits into history. That’s all the more important given how unfamiliar most news consumers are with legal trends or the high court’s changing political dynamics.
Such subject matter is not particularly easy to report on and analyze. Yet media outlets did an admirable job of reacting this weekend, informing the public on integral, if not made for virality, functions of government.
David Uberti is a writer in New York. He was previously a media reporter for Gizmodo Media Group and a staff writer for CJR. Follow him on Twitter @DavidUberti.
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Lessons on overcoming polarization from Bowling Green and Ohio County, Kentucky
By Andrea Wenzel and Sam Ford
A statue of Big Red, the mascot of Western Kentucky University, in Bowling Green. Photo: Andrea Wenzel
Executive Summary | Introduction | Key Findings | Challenges and Recommendations
Political polarization. The so-called urban-rural divide. A growing sense of distrust for journalists. In the wake of a contentious presidential election, how are these national issues playing out in everyday media use?
This pilot study examines what political polarization looks like at the local level, and provides recommendations for how local journalists and community members might bridge the divides of party and demographics. By diving into the media consumption of a small group in Bowling Green and Ohio County, Kentucky, we were able to get a sense of how residents in a region largely considered rural, red, and “flyover”—and either Midwestern or Southern, depending on who you ask—are interpreting and adapting to the current political moment.
Through a series of focus groups, story diaries, and interviews, we asked Bowling Green and Ohio County residents how they decide what news to trust, what to verify, and what to avoid. We also talked to them about how their reading of the news affects how they engage with neighbors of different political persuasions—who they may see at a soccer game or on a Facebook page, but with whom they may not have any meaningful interaction.
Based on these conversations, our recommendations for local media and other community members to foster a more inclusive political dialogue include:
Explore local issues and local angles on national issues, with a solutions journalism approach (which looks for responses to problems)
Collaborate with outlets that residents are already reading, watching, or listening to
Provide opportunities for community engagement and participatory journalism.
This report is the first part of an ongoing project in the region. This initial research will set the agenda for a workshop with journalists, citizens, and community groups in Kentucky. Through that workshop, we hope participants will design initiatives to guide local news outlets in engaging meaningfully with regional community issues across divides.
There is a growing concern, among the public and in national media, that the US is becoming increasingly politically polarized. A range of recent studies support this. Attitudes towards news media vary widely by party, and a growing number find it stressful to even talk with friends who differ in opinion on the Trump administration. The Reuters Institute’s 2017 Digital News Report finds that, while concerns regarding fake news abound, “the underlying drivers of mistrust are as much to do with deep-rooted political polarization and perceived mainstream media bias.” Other research suggests geographic migration based on lifestyle and views—the so-called “big sort”—is responsible for divisions. (The growth of in number of counties experiencing electoral landslides in 2016 also supports this.)
Studies of the rural US point likewise to how a shared identity can form based on where people live, and influence how they see politics. Political scientist Katherine Cramer has tracked the emergence of a “rural consciousness,” which can lead rural residents to resent their urban peers and harden urban-rural divides. And we all see how geographic stereotypes—Main Street versus Wall Street, coastal elites versus “flyover” states, urban cosmopolitans versus “real America”—come to shape how different parts of our country relate to one another.
But how do these national trends resonate in local homes and communities—particularly when it comes to engagement in and around journalism? No one is a passive “consumer.” People interpret what they find on Facebook pages or television screens from within a network of interpersonal relationships, community groups, and media—what we call a local storytelling network. We wanted to understand whether the current political environment is changing these networks and, if so, how residents in politically mixed communities are adapting their news engagement and communication practices. Are there any shared spaces left for people to engage with different news to engage with news? Do residents with different backgrounds and beliefs still read the same local papers, go to the same churches or social functions, or have conversations that break the ranks of the culture wars, online or off?
Starting in April 2017, we’ve sought to take a snapshot of polarization at the local level through a qualitative case study focused on a predominantly Republican region of Kentucky. While the area appears red on the map, it includes the purple college town of Bowling Green, home of the infamous, fake “Bowling Green massacre.” We selected this area of Kentucky because we wanted to understand what polarization looked like in rural communities and smaller cities where pockets of blue and purple were woven into a sea of red. It also hosted a range of local media outlets. And what better site than a region where these tensions were brought to the national stage in the midst of the controversy around Kellyanne Conway’s remarks about the “Bowling Green Massacre,” in the early weeks of the Trump administration?
In fact, the so-called massacre highlighted several reasons why this moment is so polarized. The city of Bowling Green, Kentucky’s third largest, lies within Warren County, which voted 59 percent for Donald Trump, compared to 35 percent for Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 presidential election. The city is home to Western Kentucky University, which has grown its international student population in recent years and brings a diverse range of political views to the town through faculty, staff, and students from around the country and world. Bowling Green is also home to the International Center of Kentucky, which has since 1981 resettled more than 10,000 refugees to the area. (The population of Bowling Green is around 65,000.)
As the WKU College Heights Herald notes, Bowling Green’s 2014 foreign-born population was 12.7 percent, compared to 6.4 percent for Louisville and 8.6 percent for Lexington, the two (much) larger cities in the Bluegrass State. At least 10 percent of Bowling Green’s population is Muslim, driven by a large Bosnian refugee community and a significant Saudi student population at WKU. Bowling Green is also home to several international corporate headquarters and plants that have brought a range of workers from throughout the country, and the world, to the city.
Our study also includes the more rural Ohio County, the fifth largest in size in Kentucky, with a population of around 24,000. The county voted 76 percent for Trump in the 2016 election, compared to 20 percent for Clinton. White Ohio County is 94 percent white non-Latinx, its minority population has grown significantly in the past few years to approximately 2 percent African-American and 4 percent Latinx. The number of residents from Bowling Green and elsewhere who travel the parkway to work at the county’s chicken processing plant is also significant, and isn’t reflected well in the county’s residential demographic representation.
We selected a convenience sample of residents, including roughly equal numbers of Bowling Green and Ohio County residents, Republicans and Democrats, and genders and ages. Following a questionnaire and series of three focus group discussions about news and social media practices, we invited 21 participants to keep a “story diary” for a week. In this process, they noted not just what media they used, but why particular stories resonated with them, and whether they discussed or shared the story with anyone on or offline. These were followed by in-depth interviews.
In the interviews, we talked to residents about their attitudes towards news media (both local and national). We asked them how local news could play a role in expanding spaces for dialogue across lines of politics and demographics, and what their attitudes towards interactions across ideological and demographic lines are. Ultimately, we wanted to understand how this information might inform future interventions and projects. We also met with six media outlets that cover Bowling Green and/or Ohio County about their current challenges and opportunities.
Below is a sampling of our key findings and recommendations.
Trust in media: “I don’t really believe anybody.”
Unsurprisingly, participants largely relied on distinct national media outlets, depending on whether they leaned right (Fox and Drudge Report) or left (CNN). A few outlets—including The New York Times, NPR, and Yahoo—had users from both sides of the aisle.
One universal sentiment expressed across Ohio County and Bowling Green residents, age groups, and political leanings was that almost all participants expressed frustration not only with media that they associated with a perspective other than theirs (which was to be expected), but also with the outlets with which they felt more aligned. As Christy explained, “There’s not one source that I would necessarily trust more than another just because I think everyone has their own opinions and everyone is influenced by something.” While many participants said they did have sources they thought were better than others, numerous participants referred to all news outlets as biased (especially television)—even the outlets they relied on and continued to use.
For many, the problem was a surplus of opinion:
Even if you’re just reporting on the facts, they’ll bring in a news correspondent from somewhere, and then they’ll bring in a correspondent from somewhere else—and they’ll debate about it. That’s part of the reason that I’m not really interested in it. I don’t want to watch people argue about things because that doesn’t solve anything. You’re just yelling at each other.
A number of participants said they wished news could offer objective facts alone. One participant even quoted Dragnet: “Just the facts, ma’am; just the facts.” She suggested, “I wish there was a way to where you could make it that they couldn’t put any opinions into the stories.” She, and several others, suggested that she would prefer an outlet that was more “in the middle.”
However, a few said that a more realistic solution might be greater transparency about an outlet’s point of view:
There is nothing wrong in a site or a paper saying, “Okay, we believe in this kind of approach to self-government. We are going to give you the news from that perspective.” At least you are honest. At least you are treating me like an adult. When you have the news outlets both on the left and the right pretending like they don’t have an ideological bent, that is insulting the intelligence of the American leaders and people, in my opinion. I think that’s the way they are losing their credibility.
Given the dissatisfaction expressed by participants, it is perhaps unsurprising that many had altered their news and communication habits to respond to what they saw as a less-than-ideal system. Many fluctuated between strategies to verify information and strategies to reduce tension by disengaging, echoing past studies of how people respond to uncertain and ambiguous situations.
Verification: “Don’t let the media do your thinking for you.”
Participants seeking to verify information referred to a variety of strategies, depending on the nature of their doubt. Sarah’s experience was fairly common. She explained how she checked the information she came across on social media, given concerns with “fake news.” She said, “You’ve got to go to the source.” She explained how, if she saw a story that didn’t seem right, she would look at who the publisher was. If she wasn’t sure whether the source was legitimate, she would then go to the local newspaper’s website for local stories, or Today’s website for national stories. She and others spoke of considering who had shared a given story on social media, and checking with personal contacts considered to be knowledgeable to get their input.
Like other participants, Sarah also said she sometimes politically crosschecked stories. She would look at outlets she associated with the “other side” to see how they were covering an issue. For Sarah, as a Trump supporter, this meant looking at CNN (while participants on the left spoke of checking Fox News). “You got to know what other people are saying to get a broad range of information,” she explained. “You’ve got to do your own research. That’s what I tell everybody. Don’t just take things at face value.” Other participants, both on the left and the right, spoke of occasionally looking to UK sources like the BBC and The Guardian to offer a perspective they found to be more credible.
For some, verification was also about the absence of particular narratives. Scott, for example, explained how he often used Reddit but now felt that it had been politically censored, with some right-leaning content removed. He shared the example of stories about terrorist attacks in Europe. He argued that these were not covered by the mainstream press, and the only place he could find out what was really happening was by checking 4Chan. While he conceded that 4Chan had unsavory racist and sexist content on it, he said it also had news he couldn’t find elsewhere. Scott said he also checked Drudge Report: “If I want to know what conservatives are going to say or what they think, then you can go to Drudge because that’s where they get their information. If it’s on Drudge, it will be on Fox in two days.”
Disengagement: “I’m over it.”
While verifying information was seen as a necessary step for many participants, some of those same participants suggested that, at times, the news simply became too overwhelmingly negative or frustrating in its tone or bias. Numerous participants, across the ideological spectrum, spoke of how they either had reduced the amount of news they exposed themselves to, or intended to.
Tricia felt torn. She was a politics junkie, but lately she said she “lost faith” in politicians and the news:
You know, (I’m) seeing people just behave horribly to the point where there’s no trust anywhere. So I’ve decided—and I seriously thought about it last night—saying, “You know what? We’re going to get rid of cable. We’re going to go to like Netflix and something else, and we’re going to watch what we want to watch.” And if I want to get news, I can opt in and opt out. But I also see my sense of well being is—there’s a correlation between the amount of news I’m taking in and a sense of well being.
Scott similarly lamented how much time and energy he had spent on political news and volatile exchanges on social media. He said that, after the election, he quit Facebook:
You have to self-censor. I’m pretty bad at it …You know, to the point where my wife is like, “Delete that.” So what’s the point in even having it? Same way with Twitter. Same way with everything. It’s just like, just delete it all, and don’t even talk about stuff to people.
Ramin said he encountered this news avoidance not just online but also in offline life. He would often talk to other parents waiting in line to pick up their kids from school, and said that since the election, one of the parents that volunteers to help with the line has sworn off news: “So when I would tell him, ‘Did you hear about this?’ or ‘Did you hear about that?’ He’s, ‘No, no, no, don’t tell me; I don’t want to know.’”
Christy, who is a recent college grad, said that, for her, she avoids news because of its negativity:
It’s so depressing because there’s not a lot of happy things in the news. It’s always sad. And I just get so bogged down with school …by the time like I have any time to look at anything, I just don’t need anything else on my plate. I just need to kind of chill and just relax and rest and get away from all the craziness.
She explained that she still got some news secondhand, through word of mouth and incidental exposure. But, when she could help it, she tried to avoid it.
Brianna, who was also in her 20s, said that she’d rather read celebrity gossip about the Kardashians than news about Donald Trump: “Things are so weird in the world that I don’t want to wake up in the morning and look at bad news. So I don’t. I purposely, like, stay away from it, and just read, like, fun things.”
Attitudes towards local news
For residents, local news often stood apart from this cycle of verification and avoidance. The local news outlets referenced by participants varied more by place than political affiliation. Residents from both the left and right referenced using some of the same outlets—though of course Bowling Green naturally had more residents on the left than Ohio County did.
At the same time, a number of participants expressed feeling disengaged from local news—usually not due to a sense that local news was too biased or negative, but rather a sense that there was not much local news to report, or that local journalists were often inexperienced. Several critiqued the quality of the writing or the presentation of broadcasts, and suggested they mostly got their local paper to check obituaries. Others said it seemed obvious that the outlets are under-resourced. As one participant noted, he saw the same reporter’s byline listed four times in one issue of a daily paper—“That’s a lot of articles to write in a day.”
Local news was not immune from local political controversy; a few mentioned dissatisfaction with the editorial stances of certain newspapers. Others suggested outlets at times tiptoed around local powers like churches, elected officials, or the university in Bowling Green.
However, overall, participants expressed fewer concerns about bias in local news reporting. Some said they found the local news more trustworthy—“a lot better than the big national news networks.” Tom explained that he felt less compelled to verify the news coming from the local outlets as he did with national outlets. Several participants praised one of the hyperlocal outlets for doing “a pretty fair job of reporting.” In particular, they appreciated how the outlet seemed to avoid mixing opinion and news. Tom shared the example of how the outlet covered local government meetings—giving basic info about a proposed ordinance on trash coming out of the fiscal court.
A few suggested they’d like to see the outlets do more to engage residents. “I’d like to see more community involvement,” said Lisa, who thought more could be done with features like the local calendar of events that might connect the different small towns in the area.
A few participants expressed dissatisfaction with the dominance of negativity and gossip in their local papers in particular—where it was not uncommon to report details of recent arrests and infractions. In response, several suggested they’d like to hear more about positive or at least constructive initiatives. Rachel referenced a local effort where volunteers built a house for a homeless resident of the community. She said that, when the local paper didn’t cover it, she offered to write something herself. They said they would take it, but that, if she wanted to post a photo, they would charge her. “And it’s like, ‘But I’m doing your job for you,’” she laughed. Meanwhile, Christy suggested it might be interesting for residents of her rural area with a growing Latinx community to learn about what Bowling Green had been doing by developing an international school that offered services for English-language learners.
Online and offline social networks
Of course, residents don’t process the media they read, watch, and listen to in isolation; they do so in ways rooted within their various communities: interpersonal networks, community organizations, and institutions.
How has the political climate shaped this part of the storytelling network? For many residents, polarization took a personal toll on family and social networks.
Rachel had fond memories of time spent with her nephew. “We were together a lot,” she said, recalling various outings built on waking up early in the morning to take nature photography. But that all changed with the election. She said that, while they never talked politics, he assumed he knew how she voted. “And so, on Facebook, the day after the election, he starts talking about how he shakes at the thought of seeing his Republican stepfamily. Excuse me, I’m a registered Democrat.”
Rachel was a registered Democrat who happened to vote for Trump. Her experience was one of many that illustrate the messiness belied by color-coding of states and counties as “red” or “blue.” While the area leaned Republican and conservative, almost everyone knew someone from the “other side.” Numerous participants reported having difficult interactions from social media bleed into their offline lives in ways that had not been the case prior to the 2016 election.
These were not just distant Facebook friends, but rather people, like Rachel’s nephew, that they would run into at the local diner, Walmart, or gym, or in their homes. Participants shared stories of lost friendships and alienated family members. One participant even reported breaking up with their romantic partner due to disagreement over Trump. For most participants, dealing with this new polarized climate in relatively small towns meant self-censorship was a necessity. As Scott reported, “It’s better to censor yourself and have friends from the limited pool of people around you than to not do that, to have no friends.”
Many shared examples of how they avoided discussing or posting anything political for fear that professional colleagues or customers would encounter it, judge them as a member of the “wrong” side, and hold it against them in their work relationships or business transactions. This was particularly the case for participants who leaned left in an overwhelmingly Republican area. However, it was also mentioned by some Trump-supporting participants, particularly within the university community, where they said almost all of their colleagues leaned left. In their story diaries, participants did note talking to people about various political stories—but almost all were talking to others who agreed with them.
Social media was often cited as exacerbating polarization and contributing to silence, if not conflict:
The old rule of thumb about not talking about religion and politics in person… People feel completely free to do so on Facebook, and very vocally. And it does kind of make you look at people that you’ve known for a long time that were your friends. You’re like, ‘Oh, gosh, I didn’t know that’s the way they felt.’ But, given the strength of what they post on Facebook sometimes, I wouldn’t even begin to be presumptuous enough to try to change their minds or even engage in conversation.
Several participants underlined that things had not always been this way. Dev explained:
It was never this intense, and (with) this dislike of people having different point(s) of view. It was never like this. I mean, you just go to a bar and have all kinds of arguments, talk about any kind of things, and you go home—shake hands, and go home—and, next day, you’re back to work and friends like ever, nothing happened. You cannot have that kind of interactions anymore.
Dev, and several other participants, expressed a sadness bordering on fear about where this polarization was leading. As Lynn shared:
I think our media and our government has put such a great divide between people, and it’s very worrisome when you think, like I said, you’re either on this side, or you’re on this side. Both people think they’re right. That’s when you start having to fight for what you feel like you believe in, and that’s very scary.
She suggested that changing the situation required change on the part of the media, and a willingness for both sides to “sit down and talk and realize that I think we all want the same thing.”
Community groups and spaces
Despite this polarization, residents reported using many of the same community resources, community groups, and institutions. In smaller towns and rural areas—where there were a finite number of gyms, restaurants, and children’s sports clubs—people from different political identities did cross paths and share spaces.
Sharing space, however, did not necessarily lead to meaningful interactions.
One of the most common activities participants of all political leanings recalled was taking their children to various sporting activities—be it gymnastics or soccer. Ramin said that, in the past, he’d get into conversations with other parents, even though they generally seemed to be more conservative than him. But, during the 2016 campaign, he got into a heated conversation with one of the other fathers, “and my wife said, ‘Can you just not talk about politics or the news with these people?’” Ramin complied with her advice, with the exception of two Latinx mothers who were also on the sidelines. He’d switch to Spanish to talk with them about their fears and concerns about their own immigration status and the future. So, while parents of varied backgrounds shared a space, the storytelling network was bounded along lines of politics.
Almost all participants referenced belonging to a church, unsurprisingly given Kentucky’s Bible Belt location. Church, however, did not seem to be a space where participants encountered diverse political views. Jim shared an example of how his pastor had spoken out against Trump’s travel ban:
He spoke very openly about his distaste for the idea that we are, as Christians, neglecting people. And the guy behind me during it was so enraged, and he was saying, “I’m going to have to find another church. Now I have to find another church.” And I never saw him again.
Another participant, Jenny, shared her frustrations feeling like a political outsider in her more conservative church:
The week before, it’s so terrible, the week before election, I didn’t go to church because I was tired of hearing it. I was just… I go to church to worship, not to listen to the… it’s my one hour to not listen to all this other. They’re trying to tell us who to vote for.
Jenny said she was almost always the only Democrat at work or at home, and it had become too much to face at church as well.
Participants did share some examples of spaces where residents from different backgrounds were able to connect. Several referenced university settings, including recent students who spoke of having developed friends with different views from classes or student groups. Others spoke of long-time coworkers or friends that they had managed to maintain an understanding with over time, though it often involved not discussing politics. One participant spoke of an experience getting to know someone with different views from volunteering for a community organization. A Latinx participant shared that, while there generally was not a lot of interaction between members of his community and other residents, he was encouraged to see at least fleeting interaction with white residents that came to shop at a Latinx grocery store.
Challenges, Opportunities, and Recommendations
For residents of this region of Kentucky, political polarization was taking a toll on the local storytelling networks that link residents with media and community groups. National media was a source of frustration for many participants who cycled between deploying verification strategies and turning away from the news. Local news held more promise but was seen as limited by resource constraints and a lack of engagement opportunities. Community organizations and spaces were shared between residents with different views, but self-censorship generally prevented substantive interaction—keeping communication networks bounded by partisan affiliation.
Nearly all participants saw this status quo—where communication with “others” was limited—as problematic. While some were skeptical that this could change, most expressed interest in the concept of initiatives aimed at bridging differences.
For media and other organizations considering what might be done to improve connection with and between residents in polarized communities, we offer some considerations based on the reflections of participants.
Place matters—and place is complicated
Situating our study in Kentucky, we deliberately included two areas in close proximity where residents had interconnected, yet somewhat different, place identities. As Katherine Cramer’s work on rural consciousness underlines, place identity can play a significant role in influencing how residents conceptualize how they see themselves in relation to their larger state or country. For both Bowling Green and Ohio County, residents’ sense of place shaped their local storytelling networks—in terms of which media outlets and community groups they connected to.
We are particularly interested in how those varied senses of place shape people’s identities, as well as the intersections within the region across urban and rural places. On the “red/blue” map, areas like the small metropolitan area of Bowling Green and the more rural counties around it (including Ohio County) are all swathed in red. But, of course, the realities are complex within each of these communities. Communities that voted 59 percent or 76 percent for a particular candidate are of course not “in themselves” actually solidly red (nor does that take into account the approximately 39 percent each of eligible Ohio Countians and Warren Countians who didn’t vote, nor the many residents of the area ineligible to vote).
And even thinking carefully about the complications of the proportions/concentrations of political views within each spot in the region still doesn’t capture the various types of interconnectivity across the region. Bowling Green residents engage with college student populations from more rural areas. Refugees from the city travel to work in rural places. Rural residents travel to the city for shopping, dining, or other recreation. These are deeply connected ecosystems where these cultural differences and their various senses of place are constantly navigated. For instance, Michelle came to Bowling Green to attend the university from a town an hour away, but she feels the difference:
I feel like there’s a lot more open-minded people here, as opposed to my hometown, and it could just be the people that I surround myself with. We’re on a college campus, types of things like that. In my hometown, it’s more farmers. Everybody knows each other. Like that typical small town Kentucky.
Rachel felt that there was no need to look far for cultural differences in this part of Kentucky—where a relatively small number of residents were often dispersed over a relatively large geographic space:
What a lot of people don’t understand—we say cultural barriers, they think you’ve got your Hispanic, you’ve got your Czechoslovakian, you’ve got… No, no, no. It’s just the dynamics of different communities, even though they’re only separated by 20–30 miles. It’s just different.
Scott suggested a lot of these complicated dynamics had to do with people leaving the small towns they grew up in. He said he was one of the few people who went away to college and then came back. He suggested it may have had something to do with his more conservative political views, because he saw more of his friends with more liberal views moving to Lexington or Louisville, or leaving the state. Other participants, who leaned to the left of Scott, also said they had moved back to their smaller communities, but acknowledged they, at times, grappled with both local attitudes and external assumptions about their community.
Issue priorities
Participants were invited, in answering open-ended questions, to share up to three issues which they saw as the most pressing facing their area, as well as up to three facing the US. Key national issues were clustered and included: international issues/security; jobs/economy; polarization/attitudes towards politics/leadership; health care; immigration; education; race/police relations; drugs; and environment. The top local issues included: local development/local government; economy/jobs/poverty; drugs; education; and immigration.
Overall, issues appeared to have as much to do with place as party affiliation. For example, residents of Ohio County were more likely to prioritize issues such as jobs and drugs—irrespective of ideology. This may be due to the area’s relatively higher unemployment rate (6.1 percent in Ohio County versus 3.4 percent in Bowling Green, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016) and potentially greater challenges with the opioid crisis. (Ohio County’s annual average was 26 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people from 2012–15, as opposed to the 13 deaths per 100,000 people on average over that period in Warren County, where Bowling Green is located. This puts Warren County in the least severe of the five categories, while Ohio County was in the second most severe, as outlined by the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy.)
Some issues, such as international security, were mentioned evenly across place and party. However, through interviews, we learned that the narratives circulating around these issues were often partisan; for example, some emphasized Trump’s role in a naval ship going the opposite direction of North Korea, while others downplayed this aspect of the story. Similarly, narratives around shared issues such as immigration and sanctuary cities varied widely, mostly along party lines.
Local-issue priorities often held interest across party lines. For example, residents across ideological divides expressed an interest in solutions-oriented stories, and followed stories about issues such as local development and tourism. At the same time, some local stories were politicized, reflecting national partisan rhetoric. For example, an effort by WKU’s student government to seek reparations for African-American students divided participants along political and demographic lines.
Place identity also influenced how participants reflected upon media coverage of people they saw to be “like them.” For many, distrust in media went beyond a sense of media bias or fake news; it also spoke to a sense that they did not see media representing their community, or others like them, in ways they believed to be fair or respectful. Many expressed resentment toward media institutions and the journalists who worked for them, who were seen as smug, and far removed from their realities. This sentiment was expressed more frequently on the right. However, participants from more rural areas expressed a sense of marginalization in how media portrayed them, regardless of party. They felt they were often depicted using stereotypical frames, if at all.
Rachel shared her dissatisfaction with how she felt reporters offered stereotypical representatives when they covered rural communities like hers:
I get the feeling that they stand back and they wait and they watch and find the person that’s got about four teeth, you know. I feel like they look for the person that looks the worst physically and probably is not very articulate and would come across as being uneducated, you know.
Lisa similarly felt that she could not recognize her reality in media depictions:
I didn’t vote for Trump, but I live in Kentucky. So, from a national standpoint, I’m clumped in with a bunch of hillbillies. Right? And I didn’t vote for Clinton, either so it’s kind of on the political side, or there’s always going to be that, “Are you red or blue?” And some of us fall in the middle.
She worried that misrepresentations of her rural area as “dumb and backwards” had real consequences in terms of deterring economic growth and investment opportunities.
Seeking solutions
Negative news may not have been a new development for participants, but there was a sense among many that they were reaching a threshold where they could no longer process it. As mentioned, some even avoided news or social media entirely, due to what they labeled negativity.
It’s worth noting that, in addition to a general concern about negativity, there was also a political dynamic. Many participants mentioned what they saw as disproportionately negative coverage of Trump. This even included participants, like Brianna, who identified as opposing Trump:
So, anything bad—it’s like, “Oh, this is what Trump did today.” Guess what? We’re going to remind you an hour from now, too, and we’re going to remind you the hour after that. Actually, all hour long we’re going to talk about how bad he is.
Even if Brianna agreed with criticism of Trump, she found the tone and delivery style unhelpful. For those who supported Trump, this perceived negativity was listed as one more piece of evidence of media bias.
Christy suggested that, while she currently avoided news, she might be inclined to reconnect if the news took a more solutions-oriented approach:
Just focus more on what is actually happening, and, then, if it’s something negative—because there are certain things that I mean it’s people who are dying or if someone is—if there’s illness or if something is clearly wrong, like focus on what people can do to help, or what can be done to make things better, rather than placing the blame on something. Because you usually spend so much time placing blame, you spend so much time arguing about who’s right, that you forget about the fact that people are hurting, and people need help.
This idea of focusing on “what can be done to make things better” aligns with the concept of solutions journalism—or reporting on responses to social challenges. Several participants brought up the idea of wanting more constructive reporting, as opposed to only learning about what is wrong. Upon doing so, they were introduced to the idea of solutions journalism—to which all responded favorably and were curious to learn more.
Many participants shared that, while they could no longer talk about national politics with their neighbors or coworkers, or even many friends, they were generally still able to talk about local news and issues.
Of course, the division between local and more partisan national issues was fluid. Many national issues were local issues, and vice versa. Local coverage and discussion about health care, immigration, or racial justice could be difficult and politically sensitive. But at least some participants shared an interest in trying to defuse polarized issues like immigration by exploring local dimensions of the issue and experiences with fellow residents.
When sharing a wish list of what they would like to see from local news, many suggested additional resources might help outlets do more in-depth local coverage and include coverage featuring positive developments in community life. While they didn’t have the term “solutions journalism,” some suggested doing essentially these kinds of local stories (e.g. reporting on an innovative education initiative in Bowling Green that might offer ideas for residents in Ohio County, etc., or a theater and community development project in another Midwestern state that might offer a model to adapt locally.)
Still, a fair number of participants did not use local news. How could these potential audiences be engaged to feel a greater sense of belonging to their local community, or a sense that local news is offering valuable information?
Some suggested local news could make more of an effort to appeal to younger generations; a few suggested that the local newspapers were really mostly geared towards older people, both in the kinds of stories they covered and the media they used (often print, with more limited online or mobile offerings). A few suggested they would be open to getting involved as community reporters or participating in engagement activities.
Of course, addressing any of these calls for new journalism practices or engagement strategies requires resources that many local news outlets lack. In our discussions with local media professionals, it became clear that, for many in local and rural journalism in this area, staff time to work on initiatives was not a luxury they had. Often, one or two journalists would be responsible not only for reporting and writing stories, but also for editing them or running the website. In operations that were often run on a shoestring budget, any additional demand on their time would require additional resources to support their work.
Through discussions and media diaries, we have taken a qualitative snapshot of an area of the US where polarization is felt strongly at the personal level—even in a region that people might imagine as being monochromatically red, as being rural, as being Midwestern, Southern, hillbilly, or flyover. (Kentuckians can wear quite a few different culturally stereotyped hats.)
Here, residents have created their own strategies to either verify or avoid news, and many self-censor or limit their engagement in community groups where they may encounter political “others.” At the same time, almost every resident we spoke with was open to learning more about potential initiatives that would seek to build connections across difference.
For these reasons, we recommend the following for local media, organizations, and foundations positioned to act in this or similar regions:
For local media producers, consider how you might explore local community issues from a solutions angle. This might mean looking at responses to this or similar problems happening in your community, nearby, or in other parts of the country or globe. By taking a constructive look at efforts to address challenges such as health care, economic development, initiatives working on integration of immigrants and refugees, or any other issue faced by your residents, newsrooms can shift polarized narratives from “who is to blame” to “what can be done.” Solutions journalism also may appeal not only to audiences across the political spectrum but also to audience members who have become disengaged from news and civic issues more generally, in part due to polarization and negative news coverage.
Providing a regional and local lens to national stories that is not partisan in tone might engage local audiences across divides in thinking productively about key issues. Many of the residents raised concerns about seeing national issues primarily through a partisan national filter, while at a local level there’s a realization that everyone is “in it together,” so to speak. How could local outlets find ways to engage people through understanding international and national issues through a local lens, rather than a partisan one?
Collaborations between local outlets in the region may offer opportunities for residents to better understand how complex issues play out in their region, and the connections between them. (For example, regarding immigration issues, as we’ve noted, Ohio County and Bowling Green have very different populations, but immigrants travel between the two.) There will be valuable lessons to be exchanged between outlets of different scope and size. Journalists from small outlets may also benefit from the experience and resources of their colleagues at larger outlets, while journalists from larger outlets may have the opportunity to learn about communities more deeply that often only get covered when big controversies erupt because of their size compared to the population centers of their coverage area—through finding ways to rely on and draw from the cultural knowledge and focus of hyperlocal partners.
News outlets, individually or in partnership, could potentially play a significant role in providing spaces for productive community engagement across divides. Our conversations along the way brought with them a discussion of local traditions in the region like literary or current events clubs that brought people together to discuss pressing issues, often hosted in individual members’ homes, as well as the longstanding dominance of “liars tables” in local diners and general stores, where residents (traditionally men) would gather to discuss and debate issues of the area. (This is the coffee shop of Habermas’ public sphere, with a healthy dose of distrust in the veracity of the pontificators.) How could such traditions—that often have found themselves feeling displaced as communication moves to virtual spaces and as chains have replaced local joints—be revived and made more inclusive across political views, gender identity, age, and positioning within the region? Such solutions might include a mix of online and offline spaces as solutions. Whatever the case, at the heart of any engagement effort is listening—so, before starting any project, local outlets must try and find ways to give residents an opportunity to weigh in on their interests and preferences.
Participatory journalism offers potential avenues to rebuild trust in media as well. Particularly in communities that have felt marginalized and misrepresented by the media, narrowing the distance between journalists and the public can create opportunities for people to feel more connected, confident, and invested in local media. This also helps bridge divides when local outlets lack sustainable financial resources to give the coverage they would ideally provide on issues. This might mean offering training for community reporters, or inviting residents to participate in crowdsourcing projects where they share story ideas, or join the process in some other way. It may also mean evoking the longstanding local tradition of community reporters in the form of columns from local experts or “society columns,” providing weekly social news from each small community in a rural area, and finding twenty-first-century twists on these rooted practices.
For foundations and organizations supporting media initiatives, consider how you can meet audiences where they are by working with existing local media outlets, and facilitating/enabling collaborations between them. While there has recently been a number of excellent regional journalism initiatives, many struggle to reach beyond relatively elite or already engaged audiences. Working with existing entities, including commercial outlets, presents complications, but we argue these are outweighed by the possibility of reaching a wide range of residents, and tapping into hyperlocal knowledge.
Going forward, supporting local and rural engagement initiatives may become a vital part of bolstering local journalism and encouraging the retention of talent in small outlets. Certainly, the shrinking budgets of newsrooms leads to fewer resources to cover news in regions like this, growing the distance between these audiences and the journalists who may occasionally cover their communities but who don’t live there. However, much more research and work is needed to develop models for sustainable local journalism, particularly in rural communities, coming out of work like the projects in which we’ve engaged.
We hope this initial research is a catalyst for additional work. The next step, for us, is a workshop we are hosting in Bowling Green connecting local media from Bowling Green and Ohio County, regional media, residents, community groups, and actors working on local and rural journalism and engagement, to discuss this work to date and to build on ideas for solutions. We look forward to exploring these issues, learning from participants, and brainstorming possible pathways to create spaces for dialogue that bridges boundaries of party and demographics. We hope to come out of that process with experiments these outlets can conduct with one another, and with outside partners, to test potential solutions. And we welcome the opportunity to think about how what we are learning in this area might connect with work being done elsewhere and might be adapted for other areas tackling similar tensions, issues, and divides.
Andrea Wenzel and Sam Ford are fellows at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism. Andrea Wenzel is an assistant professor at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication. Sam Ford is a media/journalism strategy consultant, research affiliate with MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing, and adjunct faculty member in the Western Kentucky University Department of Communication.
About the Tow Center for Digital Journalism
The Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism is a research center exploring the ways in which technology is changing journalism, its practice and its consumption — as we seek new ways to judge the reliability, standards, and credibility of information online.
Tow Reports
a Wednesday, June 26th, 2019
The Audience in the Mind’s Eye: How Journalists Imagine Their Readers
James G. Robinson
a Friday, June 7th, 2019
A Guide to Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)
Michael Edison Hayden
a Monday, May 6th, 2019
Can Report for America build trust in local news? A view from two communities
Andrea Wenzel, Sam Ford, Steve Bynum, and Efrat Nechushtai
a Thursday, March 28th, 2019
Sharon Ringel and Angela Woodall
a Thursday, March 21st, 2019
What is credibility made of?
Aviv Ovadya
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Home / 2009 / May / CLIR Issues Number 69
Number 69 • May/June 2009
Plans Afoot for African Frye Institute
Report Links Tool Accessibility to Sustainability
CLIR to Fund Rare Book School Scholarships
DLF Transition Advisory Committee Named
Hollie White Named Zipf Fellow
IN LATE MAY, a multinational planning committee met at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt, to explore the possibility of establishing a professional development program for librarians and information technology (IT) specialists in sub-Saharan Africa. The program would be modeled on the Frye Leadership Institute in the United States. CLIR is a partner in the new planning effort, which is organized by Stanford University and chaired by Stanford University Librarian and CLIR Senior Presidential Fellow Michael Keller.
Among those attending the meeting were 23 representatives from 14 African nations, as well as representatives from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The two-day meeting was funded by a grant from the Hewlett Foundation.
A variety of topics made for an unusually rich agenda and lively discussions. The meeting began with a presentation on the background and goals of the Frye Institute. Attendees then developed a rationale for the creation of a leadership program in Africa, discussing the major challenges facing universities in retaining and attracting the next generation of librarians and IT specialists. Areas of particular curricular interest for the proposed institute included personal leadership effectiveness, mentorship, change management, and understanding the impact and implications of technology. Toward the end of the meeting, a task force was appointed to continue the group’s work. Chaired by Kay Raseroka of the University of Botswana, the task force will meet electronically over the summer and present a more detailed description of the proposed institute and its goals by early September.
Throughout the conversations, participants cited the Frye Institute as a successful paradigm—a model offering many strengths that could be translated to an African institute, albeit with some differences. While program details remain subject to further deliberation, attendees generally concurred that an African version of a leadership program would be anchored by a team of two people—one librarian and one IT person—from each of the participating universities. In its application, each team would propose a research project that it would conduct the year following attendance at the African institute. These projects would be fully supported by the host university, and those of exceptional merit would be recognized by the institute and possibly awarded a prize. The teams would communicate from one university to another to avoid redundancy and to help create an interoperable research and teaching environment.
The general terms of the proposed African Frye Institute were imbued with practical goals and deliverable projects; had a distinctly transnational character; and insisted on librarians and information technology experts working in tandem. Many felt that the Bibliotheca Alexandrina would be the ideal location, at least for the inaugural years, for the institute, in light of its advanced technologies and contributions to the digital expression and promulgation of cultural heritages. Several attendees noted the desirability of inviting alumni of the U.S.-based Frye Leadership Institute to communicate and work with their African counterparts, with an eye to building an international community of leaders for the next generation of information specialists.
by Kathlin Smith
TOOLS—SOFTWARE DEVELOPED for the creation, interpretation, and communication of digital humanities resources and collections—are a critical component of the cyberinfrastructure supporting digital humanities research. The 2006 American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) report, Our Cultural Commonwealth, identifies five factors that make such tools valuable to users: accessibility, sustainability, interoperability, the ability to support collaboration across disciplines, and the ability to support ongoing experimentation.
In 2008, CLIR commissioned Lilly Nguyen and Katie Shilton, of the Department of Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, to examine the first of these factors in a report evaluating more than 30 digital humanities tools for accessibility.1
Shilton examines the second factor—sustainability—in a new report from CLIR, Supporting Digital Tools for Humanists: Investigating Tool Infrastructure. She finds a positive correlation between the accessibility of a digital humanities tool and the quality of its supporting infrastructure. “A successful combination of accessibility, longevity, and support add to the value of a tool to researchers. . . . Sustainability is, in many ways, a time-oriented measure of tool accessibility,” she notes.
And sustainability can indeed be a major problem. The author notes, for example, that several tools have been abandoned in the year since the original Digital Tools for Humanists research. Some have been replaced by new commercial or academic tools; others have disappeared owing to loss of interest, time, or funding.
Of the 38 tools reviewed for the recent report, the five highest scores went to George Mason University’s Scribe, Web Scrapbook, and Zotero; Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities’ Virtual Lightbox; and the Institute for the Future of the Book’s SOPHIE.
The link between accessibility and sustainability suggests several best practices for digital humanities centers (DHCs) seeking to create and maintain tools for digital humanities:
• Web site design: Tool authors deciding how a tool is mounted and displayed should inform researchers of its support and longevity. Centers should keep users abreast of updates, new funding, and new staff. They should also make it easy to contact developers. These steps can assure scholars who have worked with a tool for months or years that their work will not be in vain if a tool is abandoned.
• Professionalism: Tools should not be envisioned as “one-off” programming projects, but as products to support rigorous and long-term scholarship. Professional tool development requires dedicating ongoing institutional funding to tool support. If a DHC uses grants to support tool creation, it should consider a sustainability plan for user support, repair, and updates. Shilton notes that stewardship, though it requires resources, does not have to rely solely on large budgets. “A tool with great potential for the humanities community, shared and edited widely, can persist over time with the help of volunteers. The thriving Zotero community is just one example of this possibility.”
Shilton suggests three areas of research, development, and funding that could help digital humanities cyberinfrastructure move toward a more sustainable future.
1. An evaluation of the utility and fit of digital humanities tools. Describing the array of tools currently available to digital humanists and assessing how well they fit the needs of humanities research would improve our knowledge of existing toolkits. Mapping the tool landscape could also help prioritize funding for curation, maintenance, and new development.
2. Imagining an institutional infrastructure to support the digital one. Maintaining tool visibility, interoperability, and sustainability may not be a job for DHCs alone. Some type of curated infrastructure that supports sharing and reuse would help make existing tools more widely available and new tools more viable and sustainable.
3. Engaging tool designers with issues of accessibility and sustainability will help strengthen the digital humanities cyberinfrastructure by training the people who drive it. Funders should finance train-the-trainers sessions for DHC affiliates interested in tool development.
The report is available here.
1 Lilly Nguyen and Katie Shilton. 2008. Tools for Humanists. Pp. 58-73 in Diane Zorich, A Survey of Digital Humanities Centers in the United States. Washington, DC: Council on Library and Information Resources.
THE COUNCIL ON Library and Information Resources will fund 10 scholarships for the Rare Book School (RBS) at the University of Virginia. Recipients of the awards will be designated the CLIR-RBS Director’s Scholarship Fund scholars.
The CLIR-RBS awards will be offered as part of a larger Director’s Scholarship Fund, which was recently established at RBS in honor of Terry Belanger, who will step down as director of RBS this summer. In addition to providing much-needed scholarships, the fund will provide interim support for the school in the period before Belanger’s successor launches a new fundraising effort.
In announcing the gift, CLIR President Charles Henry said, “We are delighted to support RBS, which has become the world’s principal institution in its field and an essential part of humanities research libraries. . . . We see these scholarships as an effective means to build a wider community of professionalism and expertise in service to research and teaching.”
The Rare Book School offers about 30 five-day courses each year on subjects ranging from medieval manuscripts to modern fine printing. Founded by Belanger at Columbia University in 1983, the school moved to the University of Virginia in 1992. A course at the school is widely accepted as the equivalent of a semester-long course in an advanced professional program.
CLIR will support this effort through the Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives Program, which it administers through funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The scholarships will be awarded to students whose interest in rare books and archives complements the mission and goals of the cataloging program.
More information about the Rare Book School and the new scholarship program can be found at www.rarebookschool.org.
The following individuals have been appointed to
the Digital Library Federation (DLF) Transition Advisory Committee:
Fred Heath
Vice Provost, University Libraries
Geneva Henry
Center for Digital Scholarship
and former DLF Distinguished Fellow
Paula Kaufman
University Librarian and Dean of the Libraries
Professor, Library and Information Science
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Rick Luce
Vice Provost and Director
James Neal
Vice President for Information Services
University Librarian
Winston Tabb
Dean, University Libraries
In the coming months this committee will review and make recommendations about the future direction of DLF; address issues pertaining to sponsorship criteria, benefits, fees, and promulgation of mission; articulate the qualities and skills requisite for the next program officer; plan for the near term forums; more sharply define the relationship with CLIR; and explore other aspects of an evolving federation.
HOLLIE WHITE, a doctoral student in information science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been selected to receive the A. R. Zipf Fellowship in Information Management for 2009. She holds master’s degrees in library and information science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and in English from the University of Georgia.
White’s dissertation research focuses on the role that knowledge organization plays in large data and information environments. She has already completed one study examining the personal organizational practices of scientists and has collected data for a second study. White is a member of the Dryad Repository Development team, a group that is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services and aims to preserve, discover, and share data underlying published materials in evolutionary biology.
Named in honor of A. R. Zipf, a pioneer in information management systems, the $10,000 fellowship is awarded annually to a student who is enrolled in graduate school in the early stages of study and shows exceptional promise for leadership and technical achievement in information management. For more information and a list of previous fellowship recipients, visit https://clir.wordpress.clir.org/fellowships/zipf/
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Johns Hopkins apologizes for yanking prof's NSA blog
After a professor's blog post was censored based on claims it linked to classified government documents, the university says it reacted "too quickly" on "inadequate" and "incorrect information."
Dara Kerr
Johns Hopkins University is now aiming to prove it made a mistake in trying to censor a professor's blog post about the National Security Agency. After a back-and-forth on Monday, the dean of the university's Whiting School of Engineering wrote an apologetic letter to the professor.
"I write to apologize for any difficulty I caused you yesterday over the post on your blog. I realize now that I acted too quickly, on the basis of inadequate and -- as it turns out -- incorrect information," Dean Andrew Douglas wrote. "I requested that you take down the post without adequately checking that information and without first providing you with an opportunity to correct it."
The whole debacle began after major news stories spread across the Web on Thursday detailing claims that the NSA has been setting up a clandestine program to break digital encryptions for everything from users' smartphones to everyday e-mails to medical records.
Professor Matthew Green, who is a well-known cryptographer and research professor at Johns Hopkins, penned a blog post about the NSA's alleged capabilities to defeat encryption on that same day -- it was published both on his personal Google Blogger site and the university's mirror site. On Monday, Green was asked by Hopkins to take down the mirror site's post because it allegedly linked to classified NSA documents.
However, hours later, when the school realized Green was just linking to news articles -- he was allowed to reinstate the blog post. Green's post was strongly worded as he wrote, "the NSA has been doing some very bad things" and speculated that the government agency is indeed working to weaken or break digital encryptions.
Douglas wrote in his letter that he respect's Green's work in the field of information security and he did not mean to "undeservedly undercut" Green's reputation as a scholar and scientist.
"As an academic and as a member of the faculty at Johns Hopkins for 30 years, I am wholly supportive of academic freedom and keenly aware of its centrality to our enterprise," Douglas wrote. "I am also aware of the contributions you are making to your field of information security and of the relevance of your comments to the important public debate that is now under way."
NSA reportedly collected US call data without authorization… again
Stolen NSA hacking tool now victimizing US cities, report says
NSA reportedly recommends retiring phone surveillance program
Controversial NSA phone data collection program shut down, aide says
Twitter messages to Russian cybersecurity firm helped NSA leak probe
For his part, Green seems satisfied with the apology. He tweeted earlier today, "I just received a very kind formal apology from the Interim Dean of JHU Whiting School of Engineering."
Green also wrote a new blog post about the NSA, the Edward Snowden document leaks, and what he feels the country needs to do to fix the problem.
"The NSA has made a terrible set of mistakes. These range from policy decisions to technical direction, all the way to matter of their own internal security. I believe there may have been a time when these mistakes could have been mitigated or avoided, but that time has passed..." Green wrote. "Downplaying the extent of the damage, or trying to restrict access to (formerly) classified documents does nobody any good. It's time to start fixing things."
(Via The Wall Street Journal)
Discuss: Johns Hopkins apologizes for yanking prof's NSA blog
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Author Title Index
Operations Subject Index
vol9no3
Scientific Estimating
APPROVED FOR RELEASE
CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM
22 SEPT 93
Problem of ranging technical possibilities in due policy perspective.
Wayne G. Jackson
Those of us in the estimating business have a troublesome time with the problem of incorporating scientific or technical contributions into a finished estimate. To make the point, a hypothetical case relating to missiles and nuclear warheads is discussed below, but the example might as well be any complicated piece of military hardware or other technical subject.
Technical Possibility
An estimate on the advanced weapons program of Upper Volta is started. In the normal routine a contribution is asked from the Guided Missiles and Astronautics Intelligence Committee. In due course, the estimators receive a contribution which concludes that, on the basis of an examination of the evidence, "Upper Volta could have an IRBM system ready for production in 1967-68 and carry out deployment in 1968-69." The economists submit a contribution saying that, given a high enough priority, the economy of Upper Volta could support such a program. The political analysts find that Upper Volta thinks it has an urgent requirement for such a weapons system. So the estimate comes out saying that "Upper Volta could start deploying an IRBM system in 1968-69."
The Joint Atomic Energy Intelligence Committee also submits a contribution, one on nuclear developments. Upper Volta has conducted a few atmospheric tests of nuclear devices, something is known of its general level of technical competence and production facilities; and so JAEIC states that warheads compatible with the IRBM's could be produced by the time GMAIC says the missiles could be ready for deployment. So the estimate adds to its sentence on deployment of the missiles the words "with compatible fission warheads." In the course of this exercise, what started out to be very special statements of raw capabilities get transformed into USIB-approved estimates that have an aura of probability. While the word "could," in the estimating business, is understood to be purely a statement of possibility, the mere fact that the possibility is stated with no further qualification gives it something more of substance. The reader is apt to think, "If there is not a good chance that the possibility will be realized, why mention it?"
Hypotheses on Thin Ice
It is possible that the estimate could be handled with so much emphasis on its being a mere statement of potentialities that the reader would not be confused into taking it as having any significant element of probability. But it is doubtful if drafting could convey the tenuousness of the many technical components of the estimate. For instance, the estimate that Upper Volta could have compatible nuclear warheads involves in itself at least two estimates, each based on a number of subsidiary estimates. What is the maximum weight of the warhead -- including guidance, firing mechanism, etc. -- which the Upper Volta missile can carry? What is the likely actual weight of each of these components? What are the warhead's dimensions? It is highly unlikely that anyone can make more than crude guesses on these questions, even if we had seen a missile in the Army Day parade in Ougadougou.
Similarly, we probably know little about the probable size, weight, and shape of the nuclear component of the postulated warhead, how much fissionable material would be in it, its yield, or even its general design. Yet some hypotheses on all these questions underlay the estimate that a warhead compatible with the missile could be available. The estimators ask the technicians for opinions, and they oblige. Indeed, the estimators often ask for even more speculative data, as for the CEP and reliability of missiles. Comparable estimative problems arise in all technical subjects, e.g., capabilities for CW and BW, specifications for most kinds of complicated hardware such as aircraft, naval vessels, etc.
The intellectual philosophy of a scientist leads him to consider his scientific statements, however couched in language, as hypotheses -- the most satisfactory synthesis that he can make of the available data at hand. If and as evidence changes, he will adjust the hypothesis accordingly, or even abandon it, without any feeling that he is changing previously established truth. Estimative intelligence judgments are of a different kind, even though they are based in large part on analysis of the known facts. The intelligence estimator feels instinctively that he should state what he believes true, qualifying the estimate to indicate his qualms about its validity. When it turns out to have been wrong, even though it was the most reasonable one he could make on the basis of available evidence (as on the missiles in Cuba), he feels that he failed. The biological researcher is not much upset when his hypothesis doesn't work out in laboratory tests, but the doctor is when the treatment he prescribes for his patient doesn't work and the patient dies. This analysis or analogy cannot be pressed too far, but it is part of the difference between scientific and intelligence estimating.
Worst-Casing
The scientist, in making an intelligence estimate, must have in mind the purpose for which he is making it -- as do all estimators. The temptation to estimate the "worst case" is just as strong with him as with anyone else. If U.S. security plans are to be made on the basis of his estimate, it seems better that they be based on the worst that is reasonably possible, not on hopes which may turn out to be false. This is not necessarily the phenomenon of "Pearl Harbor insurance," wherein one estimates the worst, secure in the knowledge that if his dire predictions do not turn out, no one will blame him for an unexpectedly favorable course of events. It is rather a judgment that when all hypotheses are shaky, the reader had best be prepared for the worst. In respect of other nations' weapons, this worst is often arrived at by taking the best skills, experience, and technology known to the estimator, discounting them by a relatively small factor, and coming out with an estimate of raw capability.
The non-technical estimator is at a great disadvantage in dealing with such technical contributions. He can be nowhere nearly as familiar with the evidence as the technician or as well equipped to deal with it. If he questions the hypothesis, he can often be silenced when his ignorance is pointed out. (This pointing out of his lack of competence to deal with technical subjects is most often done by people who serve on technical bodies but are at best amateur scientists. The vigor with which hypotheses are defended as truth often seems inversely proportional to the technical competence of the defender.) The non-technical inquirer can unearth, without too much prodding, the vast areas of uncertainty in our evidence on advanced weapons systems. But he is hard put to it to offer a more defensible judgment.
Taking into account what we know (which is little enough) about Upper Volta's experiments, technical and economic resources, and what we believe to be its national objectives, attributing to it a fair amount of the best technology we know (usually U.S. technology), and considering that it is better to over-warn the U.S. policy maker than to engender any degree of complacency by a judgment which cannot be documented, we thus come up with the estimate that "it is possible that Upper Volta could deploy IRBM's with nuclear warheads in three years."
Yet the estimator, technical or non-technical, feels in his bones that this worst case is highly unlikely. Does he estimate as above and add "but it might just as well be three or four years later, or even longer?" This hardly looks as if he's earning his living. He is also affected by a conscious or unconscious desire to avoid the bias that if it took the United States ten years to develop an IRBM it will take those foreigners longer.
Ways Out
Does the calling in of a consulting panel help? In most cases it is doubtful. The two- or three-day panel has not kept up with the evidence, could not possibly have done so. Just the classification of much of the evidence precludes this. The panel is briefed by the technicians, who under the best of circumstances feed into the mechanism the same data which formed their own views. The panel has many of the same compulsions as the original technical group and is apt to produce some variation of the "worst case." The consultant does not have to act or budget on the basis of the judgments he makes, and while the government estimator doesn't either, he does feel a longer-term responsibility for his advice to the budgeter.
A formal intelligence estimate should whenever possible give a judgment as to the most likely contingency. The scientist often says that there is no basis for determining the most likely. The estimator is therefore in a dilemma for which there may be no solution. Perhaps such estimates can only be so clothed with caveats and qualifications as to make them seem ethereal, and certainly annoying to the reader who craves certainty. (Incidentally, the use of footnotes to call attention to uncertainties is of limited value. Especially when numerical tables are given, the footnote, usually in microscopic type, is easily overlooked or forgotten.)
Perhaps it should be the rule that the non-technical estimator ingest the scientific contribution, append it as an annex to his estimate, and present his layman's best judgment with all the deprecating language he can think of as to the difficulty of making confident estimates. This is what sometimes happens. But in most cases, those participating in the coordination meetings on an estimate include the technicians, professional and amateur alike, and the pressure they exert on the chairman of the coordinating group to accept the scientific contribution's language is great. The chairman can, and often does, retreat to a strict interpretation of "could," "possible," "might" and not try to fight the experts. In this process the reader is likely to be given an impression of probability and firmness which is not warranted.
Historical Document
Last Updated: Aug 05, 2011 08:26 AM
Internet: Send a message here. We go to great lengths to keep this channel secure, but any communication via the internet poses some risk. Using a virtual private network and/or a device not registered to you can reduce some risk.
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Third jury trial in Apple-Samsung patent dispute in California postponed indefinitely
Judge Lucy Koh is concerned that the outcome of the trial could be questioned after a Supreme Court review
John Ribeiro (IDG News Service)
A third jury trial in a patent dispute between Samsung Electronics and Apple in a court in California has been postponed, pending a review by the U.S. Supreme Court of the principle for the award of damages for infringement of design patents.
The third trial in the case that dates back to April 2011 had been set for March 28 to reassess the damages to be paid by Samsung on five products that were earlier found to infringe certain Apple patents and dilute its trade dresses, which refer to the overall look and feel of the product. An appeals court had earlier struck down the damages on trade dress dilution relating to these devices, as the court decided they were not protectable.
But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld damages for utility and design patent infringements by these products. In general, utility patents protect the way an article is used and works, while a design patent protects the way an article looks, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The third trial was called to recalculate the damages payable by Samsung.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear an appeal on the procedure for calculation of damages is significant because Samsung is questioning whether it has to pay as damages all the profits from the sale of infringing products even though the patented designs are only minor features of the product. A number of tech companies and industry trade groups are supporting Samsung on this issue.
Samsung has already paid up US$548 million conditionally in damages out of a total award to Apple of $930 million by a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The third jury trial was to reassess the remaining $382 million in damages. Samsung’s challenge in the Supreme Court, if successful, would impact $399 million in damages.
The Supreme Court partially granted Samsung’s petition, limiting itself to the question: Where a design patent is applied to only a component of a product, should an award of infringer’s profits be limited to those profits attributable to the component?
Samsung asked the district court to stay proceedings including the damages retrial until the decision of the Supreme Court. “All three of the design patents at issue in the 2016 damages retrial are also at issue in the Federal Circuit opinion that will be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court,” wrote District Judge Lucy H. Koh in her order late Tuesday.
“The question of the proper measure of damages for these design patents is central to the 2016 damages retrial, as design patent damages make up the bulk of Apple’s damages claims,” Koh added.
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Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2013
Committee on Education and Labor
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Committee on the Judiciary
Committee on Ways and Means
Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security
IntroducedDecember 12th, 2013
Rep Tim Murphy
(R - PA)
To make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals diagnosed with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes.
Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2013 - Creates in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) an Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, who shall supervise and direct the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Directs the Assistant Secretary to establish a National Mental Health Policy Laboratory to: (1) identify and implement policy changes and other trends likely to have the most significant impact on mental health services; (2) collect information from grantees; and (3) evaluate and disseminate to such grantees evidence-based practices and services delivery models, using the best available science shown to reduce program expenditures while enhancing the quality of care furnished to individuals by other such grantees. Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to require the Assistant Secretary to establish: (1) an Interagency Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee; and (2) a four-year pilot program to award up to 50 grants each year to counties, cities, mental health systems, mental health courts, and any other entities with authority under state law to implement, monitor, and oversee assisted outpatient treatment programs. Directs the Assistant Secretary to establish a program of tele-psychiatry and primary care physician training grants to states to promote the use of qualified telehealth technology for the identification, diagnosis, mitigation, or treatment of a mental health disorder. Directs the HHS Secretary (Secretary), in coordination with the Assistant Secretary, to award planning grants to enable up to 10 states to carry out 5-year demonstration programs to improve the provision of behavioral health services by federally qualified community behavioral health clinics. Requires the Assistant Secretary to certify federally qualified community behavioral health clinics that meet specified criteria. Requires the caregiver of an individual with a serious mental illness to be treated as the individual's personal representative with respect to protected health information, even though the individual has not consented to disclosure of such information to the caregiver, when the individual's service provider reasonably believes it is necessary for protected health information to be made available to the caregiver in order to protect the individual's health, safety, or welfare or the safety of one or more other individuals. Amends the General Education Provisions Act to allow an educational agency or institution to disclose to such a caregiver the individual's education record in certain related circumstances. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to make available: (1) Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants for mental health programs and operations by law enforcement or corrections officers, and (2) public safety and community policing grants to provide specialized training to law enforcement officers to recognize and intervene properly with individuals who have mental illness. Reauthorizes and revises requirements for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to: (1) establish or expand veterans treatment court programs; and (2) enhance the capabilities of a correctional facility to identify, screen, and treat inmates with a mental illness, as well as develop and implement post-release transition plans for them. Requires any data prepared by or submitted to the Attorney General or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with respect to homicides, law enforcement officers killed and assaulted, or individuals killed by law enforcement officers to include data about the involvement of mental illness in such incidences, if any. Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to detail the cost of federal. state, or local imprisonment for persons who have serious mental illness. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to prohibit a state medical assistance plan from prohibiting payment for a same-day qualifying mental health service or primary care service furnished to an individual at a federally qualified community behavioral health center or a federally qualified health center on the same day as the other kind of service. Allows states the option to provide medical assistance for inpatient psychiatric hospital services and psychiatric residential treatment facility services for individuals age 21-65. Amends both SSA titles XIX and XVIII (Medicare) to cover prescription drugs used to treat mental health disorders. Amends the PHSA to increase funding for the brain initiative at the National Institute of Mental Health. Transfers responsibility for the administration of community mental health block grants to the Assistant Secretary from the Director of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). Revises requirements for the funding agreement under a formula block grant to a state for community mental health services to prescribe the general standard under state law for court ordered inpatient or outpatient mental health treatment as well as assisted outpatient treatment. Requires the Assistant Secretary to evaluate the combined paperwork burden of certain community mental health centers as well as of certified federally qualified community mental health clinics. Directs the Secretary of Education, along with the Assistant Secretary, to organize a national awareness campaign to assist secondary school students and postsecondary students in: (1) reducing the stigma associated with serious mental illness; (2) understanding how to assist an individual demonstrating signs of a serious mental illness; and (3) understanding the importance of seeking treatment from a physician, clinical psychologist, or licensed mental health professional when a student believes the student may be suffering from a serious mental illness or behavioral health disorder. Amends the PHSA to include as health care providers any behavioral and mental health professionals, substance abuse professionals, psychiatric hospitals, certain community mental health centers (including one operated by a county behavioral health agency), and residential or outpatient mental health or substance abuse treatment facilities. Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare), with respect to incentives for meaningful use of certified electronic health records (EHR) technology under the pay schedule for physician's services, to include as additional eligible professionals clinical psychologists providing qualified psychologist services and clinical social workers. Subjects any additional eligible professionals, including those under a MedicareAdvantage (MA) plan, to reductions in incentive payments after a certain date for failure to be a meaningful EHR user. Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to treat as Medicaid providers the following additional Medicaid providers: (1) public and certain private hospitals that are principally psychiatric hospitals, (2) certain community mental health centers, and (3) certain residential or outpatient mental health or substance abuse treatment facilities. Makes eligible Medicaid professionals certain clinical psychologists providing qualified psychologist services and certain clinical social workers. Amends the PHSA to accord health care professional volunteers at community mental health centers and federally qualified community behavioral health clinics the liability protections of Public Health Service employees. Requires the Assistant Secretary to transfer all functions and responsibilities of the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality to the National Mental Health Policy Laboratory. Revises the duties of the CMHS Director. Reauthorizes the Secretary's authority to address priority mental health needs of regional and national significance. Amends the PHSA to reauthorize and revise requirements for a youth interagency research, training, and technical assistance center to prevent suicides (the Suicide Prevention Technical Assistance Center). Expands the program's focus from youth suicides to suicides among all ages, particularly among groups that are at high risk for suicide. Repeals authority for grants to establish research, training, and technical assistance centers related to mental health, substance abuse and the justice system. Reauthorizes a program of grants for the development of state or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies. Reauthorizes and revises a grant program to enhance services for students with mental health or substance use disorders at institutions of higher education. Requires the Secretary (who currently is merely authorized), acting through the CMHS Director, to award grants to enhance such services and to develop best practices for the delivery of such services. Permits grant funds to be used for the provision of such services to students and to employ appropriately trained staff. Requires the Secretary to give special consideration to applications for grants that describe programs that demonstrate the greatest need for new or additional mental and substance use disorder services and the greatest potential for replication. Requires the Assistant Secretary, before making a grant to a public entity for comprehensive community mental health services to children with a serious emotional disturbance, to consult with the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to ensure that the grant recipient will use evidence-based practices. Reauthorizes funding for such grants. Repeals current authority of the Secretary to carry out directly or through grants, contracts or cooperative agreements with public entities a program to assist local communities in developing ways to assist children in dealing with violence. Reauthorizes the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Amends the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act to reduce corresponding funding for protection and advocacy systems for mentally ill individuals. Prohibits lobbying by any such systems accepting federal funds to protect and advocate the rights of individuals with mental illness. Prohibits the SAMHSA Administrator from hosting or sponsoring any conference that will not be primarily administered by SAMHSA without giving at least 90 days prior notice to specified congressional committees. Prohibits the SAMHSA Administrator also from establishing (and the Secretary from delegating to the Administrator responsibility for) any program or project not explicitly authorized or required by statute. Terminates by the end of FY2014 any SAMHSA program or project not so explicitly authorized or required.
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Protest filed over bid process
Insurers Wanted for 2015
The official invitation from the New York State of Health for plans to participate in next year's health exchange does not include a requirement that plans offer an out-of-network benefit, to the relief of health insurers—though it "encourages" plans to do so. But insurers will still need to follow rules for disclosure and mediation around out-of-network treatment. The rules, passed in the state budget, take effect April 1, 2015. "I think it was felt that those provisions already gave strong new protections to consumers … instead of mandating a new benefit that could have had significant impact on the cost of insurance," said a spokeswoman for the New York Health Plan Association. But while there's no mandate, premium costs will rise by 6% or 7%, she said. The increase comes from graduated taxes written into the Affordable Care Act that are designed to cover a number of ACA provisions, including a reinsurance program for high-cost patients, as well as taxes to participate on the exchange. The invitation also allows new plans on the exchange if they participate in Medicaid Managed Care or are designed to replace plans that are ending.
Sequestration Cuts
CMS has adopted an analysis by HANYS that the 2% Medicare payment reduction under federal sequestration did not change Medicare fee-for-service rates or fee schedules but apply only to payment. HANYS, the Multi-State Managed Care Coalition, and the American Hospital Association sought this clarification last summer after hospitals reported that some Medicare Advantage Organizations "were inappropriately passing their sequestration cuts on to providers, by automatically passing on the cut without looking to the terms of each contract and/or in reliance on the belief that Medicare rates, rather than payments, had been reduced," HANYS said to members on Friday. A new CMS letter, said HANYS, "appears to provide a compelling basis for rejecting the passing along of payment reductions to providers based on the premise that Medicare rates had changed."
Towers at LICH?
Brooklyn Health Partners envisions raising at least two soaring residential buildings of up to 50 stories on the campus of low-rise buildings that comprises LICH. BHP has plans to build a 40- to 50-story condo tower on the site of a large parking garage on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Hicks Street that is part of the LICH campus, according to emails obtained by Crain's. The building would be 80% market rate and 20% affordable. Brooklyn Health Partners' financing group, HKS Capital Partners, indicated in the bid proposal that it plans to raise the roughly $600 million to acquire the hospital, keep it running and refurbish it. The story is online here.
The winning bidder for Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn Health Partners, is a regrouping of people who had unsuccessfully bid for LICH earlier in the process. They had been involved in a proposal by the Chinese Community Accountable Care Organization, the Eastern Chinese American Physician IPA and Brisa Builders Corp.
California investor Merrell Schexnydre, BHP’s CEO, became involved with LICH in late January after he was approached by Larry English, a Harlem-based lawyer, developer and former chairman of Community Board 9. Mr. Schexnydre is a distant relative of Derek Oubre, who initially was a part of BHP and earlier proposals. In a January email sent to Mr. Oubre, Mr. Schexnydre describes Mr. English: “Larry is a friend and homeboy. He works the political side of public funded deals in NYC to get minority participation. In this deal he and his associates have been selected as one of the two finalists and is the preferred entity. Larry has asked me to see if I can bring the capital in to complete the deal, so let’s put our heads together to see what can be done."
But differences erupted, and Mr. Oubre left the group March 14. Mr. Oubre, a Harvard Business School graduate, submitted his own bid through his company, private-equity firm Trindade Value Partners.
On April 14, Mr. Oubre lodged a formal protest with SUNY over Brooklyn Health Partners’ bid, as well as other losing bids. He alleges that the winning bid should be dismissed because the group wildly underestimated the cost of renovating LICH’s Fuller and Othmer buildings to create a 300- to 400-bed facility. Francis Cauffman, a firm of architects well known for its work in health care, worked with Brooklyn Health Partners until early March. It estimated the cost of constructing a 400-bed hospital with ambulatory care services at $800 million. Without on-site ambulatory care, a 400-bed hospital could be built for $618 million. Additional soft costs would add 50% to the total, pushing the total cost above $1 billion—far exceeding the $300 million originally estimated.
Through a spokeswoman, Mr. Schexnydre and Mr. English declined to comment. "Because there has been a formal protest filed, on the advice of counsel, BHP cannot speak to that issue," she said.
“Mr. Oubre raises some serious allegations that we will take seriously, and withhold further comment until we gather additional information,” said Jim Walden, the Gibson Dunn & Crutcher lawyer who represents a coalition that took SUNY to court over LICH.
Mr. Oubre said he filed the protest in hopes that SUNY will reopen the LICH bidding. His bid included a full-service hospital. “I just want a fair process and outcome,” he said.
ACA CASH: Two Bronx health care providers received a funding boost to expand services and enroll low-income residents in public health insurance plans. The Bronx Community Health Network and Bronx-Lebanon Integrated Services System will get a combined $5.6 million in federal assistance under the Affordable Care Act, effective in fiscal 2014. The two centers serve some 200,000 patients a year.
Pfizer still wants AstraZeneca after bid rejected
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Digenes Akrites: New Approaches to Byzantine Heroic Poetry
Roderick Beaton, David Ricks
Series: Publications of the Centre for Hellenic Studies, King's College London
Called variously the ’Byzantine epic’, the ’epic of Modern Greece’, an ’epic-romance’ and ’romance’, the poem of Digenes Akrites has, since its rediscovery towards the end of the nineteenth century, exerted a tenacious hold on the imagination of scholars from a wide range of disciplines and from many countries of the world, as well as of writers and public figures in Greece. There are many reasons for this, not least among them the prestige accorded to ’national epics’ in the nineteenth century and for some time afterwards. Another reason must surely be the work’s uniqueness: there is nothing quite like Digenes Akrites in either Byzantine or Modern Greek literature. However, this uniqueness is not confined to its problematic place in the literary ’canon’ and literary history. As historical testimony, and in its complex relationship to later oral song and to older myth and story-telling, Digenes Akrites again has no close parallels of comparable length in Byzantine or Modern Greek culture. Whether as a literary text, a historical source, or a manifestation of an oral popular culture, Digenes Akrites remains, more than a century after its rediscovery, persistently enigmatic. This Byzantine ’epic’ or ’romance’ has now become the focus of new research across a range of disciplines since the publication in 1985 of a radically revised edition based on the Escorial text of the poem, by Stylianos Alexiou. The papers in this volume, derived from a conference held in May 1992 at King’s College London, seeks to present and discuss the results of this new research. Digenes Akrites: New Approaches to Byzantine Heroic Poetry is the second in the series published by Variorum for the Centre for Hellenic Studies, King’s College London.
Contents: Digenes Akrites and Byzantine literature: the 12th century background to the Grottaferrata version Paul Magdalino; Digenes Akrites: Escorial or Grottaferrata? An overview Stylianos Alexiou; The Grottaferrata version of Digenes Akrites: a reassessment Elizabeth Jeffreys; The primacy of the Escorial Digenes Akrites Catia Galatariotou; An epic in the making? The early versions of Digenes Akrites Roderick Beaton; Digenes Akrites and the Old Spanish epics David Hook; Armenia and Armenians in Byzantine epic Hratch Bartikian; The historian'sDigenes Akrites Anthony Bryer; Digenes = Alexander? The relationships between Digenes Akrites and the Byzantine Alexander Romance in their different versions Ulrich Moennig; Digenes Akrites in prose: the Andros version and its Modern Greek literature George Kechagioglou; The Akritic hero: socio-cultural status in the light of comparative data Theodore Papadopoullos; Is there such a thing as an ’akritic song’? Problems in the classification of the narrative songs Guy Saunier; None but the brave deserve the fair: abduction elopement, seduction and marriage in the Escorial Digenes Akrites and Greek heroic songs Peter Mackridge; Digenes Akrites as literature David Ricks; Bibliography; Indexes. 14 studies in English
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Poetry, Politics, and Culture: Argument in the Work of Eliot, Pound, Stevens, and Williams
Harold Kaplan
ISBN 9781315126500 - CAT# YF12540
July 5, 2017 by Routledge
A salient feature of modern poetics is its direct connection with cultural history and politics. Among the great American poets of the twentieth century, Wallace Stevens and William Carlos Williams offer a significant contrast with T. S. Eliot and Ezra Pound. Where the latter advocated a theocentric or reactionary response to the cultural crises of modernity, the former affirmed an essentially humanist and democratic social and aesthetic ethos. In Poetry, Politics, and Culture, Harold Kaplan offers a penetrating comparative study of these representative and distinctively influential poets.
All four poets wrote in an atmosphere of cultural crisis following World War I, caught as they were between outmoded belief systems and various forms of artistic and political nihilism. While each believed in poetry as a source of cultural values and beliefs, they nevertheless experienced loss of confidence in their own vocation in a world characterized by scientific, rationalist thinking and the mundane struggle for survival. For each, therefore, the poetic imagination was a means of restoring order, or building a new civilization out of chaos. In trying to define a revitalized culture, the four exemplified the perennial quarrel between Europe and America.
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Primordial and mature germ cells overview
Embryonic germ cells are a new pluripotent cell line derived from primordial germ cells. In recent years, it has been found that it has many of the same characteristics as embryonic stem cells (SE cells, derived from pre-embryo embryos such as mulberry embryos, blastocyst inner cell masses), and is therefore also called embryonic stem cells. The concept of therapeutic cloning provides a new way of thinking for overcoming rejection in organ transplantation, giving special value to pluripotent stem cell research.
Primordial germ cells
Primordial germ cells (PGC): There are few reports on the morphology of PGCs. The horse's PGCs are about 8μm in diameter. In addition to the nucleus, the whole cell cytoplasm has many deeply stained circular regions. The shape of the cells is rounded, and pseudopods are common. They are similar in morphology and staining to other species of PGCs. The kangaroo's PGCs are mononuclear large cells with characteristic elliptic mitochondria and abundant ribosomes. Therefore, the cytoplasm appears dense, and the cytoplasm contains very few contents, which are in PGCs and surrounding somatic cells. There is no permanent connection complex between them. The migrated PGCs are mainly located in the tissues of the dorsal mesenteric and near gonads of the gonads. The PGCs in migration has many finger-like, blunt pseudo-foods, micro-filaments in the pseudo-food, and many PGCs are dumbbell-shaped. Polar cytoplasmic, indicating that PGCs move toward the genital warts in the form of amoebic movement, and once the PGCs reach the reproductive ridge, they are oval. There are different opinions about the origin of PGCs. The currently accepted viewpoints of PGCs are derived from the tail yolk sac endoderm, which then migrates from the posterior intestine germ layer and the base of the allantoic sac to the left and right genital warts through the dorsal mesenteric. Ginsburg and his colleagues confirmed that the mice were born 7 days after mating (7dpc), when the rats were born to the midgut. The PGCs are 8 large alkaline phosphatase positive cells, and the cells gradually migrate into the embryo and pass through the allantois to the endoderm. 8 dpc is located in the hindgut endoderm and the base of the allantoic sac, and then the PGCs migrate to the left and right genital warts through the posterior mesentery in two parts. Most PGCs reach genital warts at 10 dpc and then lose their ability to migrate, stopping in the mitosis (testis) or meiosis (ovary). However, they did not observe the situation of PGCs before 7 dpc. Mouse PGCs proliferated very actively during the migration and within two days after reaching genital warts, increasing from less than 100 to 25,000. Alkaline phosphatase staining followed the migration of 8.5 to 13.5 dpc mouse embryo PGCs and found that most of the PGCs were located at the yolk sac layer of the urinary sac and the end of the primitive stalk, ie the edge of the posterior intestine combined with it. A small amount of PGCs are located at the bottom of the yolk sac and the allantoic sac, and most of the cells are buried in the hindgut (usually in the mesoderm). The cells begin to migrate from the hindgut into the developing mesentery that hangs from the dorsal wall and then enter the bilateral genital warts. A small number of PGCs reached genital warts at 10.5 dpc, mostly at 11. 5 dpc. At 12 to 13 dpc, PGCs begin to differentiate into identifiable male or female gametes. The alkaline phosphatase activity of PGCs in females decreased by 14 dpc, while in males it was 15 dpc. In vitro studies have shown that it takes about 4 days (8-12 dpc) for mouse PGCs to migrate, and eventually, all PGCs are in genital warts. Currently, PGCs gradually lose their ability to exercise, and their morphology is also different from that of migrated cells. Significant changes in cell surface properties; reduced adhesion to fibronectin many cell surface antigens, such as stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1), have lost alkaline phosphatase activity. There are limited data on the dynamics of mouse PGCs, and the results are not the same due to the differences in mouse species and counting methods. The study on Q mice found that 8.5 dpc, the number of PGCs was about 145, the number of cells increased to 364 at 9.5 dpc, 10.5 dpc, 1012 for PGCs, and 2999 for PGCs. At 13.5 dpc, the number of cells reached 26791, and the germ cells of the reproductive genital cloning were formed. At this time, 8 replication cycles were completed and the proliferation of PGCs was completed. The migration of PGCs is affected by many factors, and its mechanism of action is still unclear. It is generally believed that before the formation of the hindgut, the migration of PGCs is mainly carried out passively through morphological changes. From the hindgut to the genital warts, it is an active migration process. This migration is closely related to the cells passing through the migration pathway. Through the arima movement, over the single or multi-layer cells below. This deformation movement is directional and is carried out in strict accordance with the above route. The exact factors that control and guide the migration of germ cells are as follows. Chemotaxis (development of the gonads produces a substance that attracts PGCs); Studies have shown that genital ticks release chemotactic substances that attract PGCs to move toward genital warts. The mouse embryonic genital cells produce a diffusible transfer growth factor TGF-β1 for PGCs, and the PGCs carry the TGF-β1 receptor, so they can migrate along the concentration gradient of the growth factor; TGF-β1in vitro can block the chemotaxis of genital warts. Another chemokine is the steel factor, and keshet et al. describe the expression of SLF during PGC migration, regulating PGCs and “homing” through the chemotaxis of SLF. Contact guidance (PGCs move along pre-formed molecular pathways): During the migration process, surrounding cells and matrices affect the movement of PGCs, and laminin and fibronectin guide the movement of PGCs. Experimental observations revealed that PGCs began to migrate out of the intestine once they adhered to fibronectin, and this effect was attenuated at the end of the migration. This suggests that fibronectin plays an important role in the migration of PGCs. In situ hybridization and histological methods have demonstrated that PGCs in migration does not contain fibronectin mRNA and cannot synthesize and secrete fibronectin. This protein is synthesized by the endoplasmic reticulum of the mesenteric cells and is rarely present in genital warts. Therefore, PGCs do not migrate after reaching genital warts. PGCs gradually lose their ability to adhere to fibronectin during development, thereby exhibiting active migration from the passive migration of the posterior intestine to the endoderm. Differential adhesion (adhesion of PGCs to intercellular contact): Contact between PGCs cells has the greatest effect on cell migration.
Mature germ cells
Germ cells, also known as gametes, are a general term for cells that can produce offspring in multicellular organisms, from primordial germ cells to finally differentiated germ cells (sperm and egg cells), all haploid cells containing a sex chromosome. This term was proposed by A. Engler and K. Planter in 1897 to distinguish it from somatic cells. Somatic cells will eventually die, and only germ cells have the opportunity to survive to the next generation. Species rely on germ cells for continuation and reproduction. Long-term natural selection allows each organism's structure to provide the best conditions for its germ cell survival. There are signs of germ cell differentiation in the single-celled organism population. For example, the four small cells of the genus algae have lost their ability to divide, specializing in exercise and metabolism, called nutrition individuals, and the remaining have the ability to divide, called reproductive individuals; A small number of large germ cells appear between cells. Extremely large, in which small particles rich in ribonucleic acid are called polar particles. After fertilization, cleavage, cells containing polar particles are called polar cells, which are the primordial germ cells of Drosophila. If the original posterior pole is injected into the anterior part of the egg, the cells that are intended to develop into somatic cells can be developed into germ cells. A similar situation can be seen in the eggs of the locust. There is evidence that amphibious germ cells may be determined in the same way. But it is not known what factors determine the development of certain cells into germ cells in mammalian embryos. Only know that the germ cells are determined, they need to migrate to the gonads and differentiate there.
Hayashi K, Ogushi S, Kurimoto K, et al. Offspring from Oocytes Derived from in Vitro Primordial Germ Cell–like Cells in Mice. Science. 2012, 338(6109):971-975.
Dyce P W, Toms D, Li J. Stem cells and germ cells: microRNA and gene expression signatures. Histology & Histopathology. 2010, 25(4):505-513.
Brieñoenríquez M A, Garcíalópez J, Cárdenas D B, et al. Exposure to endocrine disruptor induces transgenerational epigenetic deregulation of microRNAs in primordial germ cells. Plos One. 2015, 10(4)e0124296.
Tada H, Mochii M, Orii H, et al. Ectopic formation of primordial germ cells by transplantation of the germ plasm: direct evidence for germ cell determinant in Xenopus. Developmental Biology. 2012, 371(1):86-93.
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Home / A$AP Ferg / ASAP Rocky / DJ Mustard / MUSIC / Tyga / YG / Mustard Feat. A$AP Ferg, Tyga, YG & A$AP Rocky "On God"
Mustard Feat. A$AP Ferg, Tyga, YG & A$AP Rocky "On God"
King Nel 2:05:00 PM A$AP Ferg, ASAP Rocky, DJ Mustard, MUSIC, Tyga, YG
The city of Los Angeles recently declared June 19 "Mustard Day," in honor of his creative success and community-based endeavors.
"I never would have imagined having a day in the city I was born and raised in," Mustard said. "I am just super grateful and happy that I could even be named, or have a day in this city, because everything I do is for the city."
The veteran DJ producer celebrates the news with the release of a new Perfect Ten single titled "On God." The high energy record features Mob members A$AP Ferg and A$AP Rocky, as well as Tyga and YG.
Due June 28, "Perfect Ten" features additional appearances from Migos, Meek Mill, 21 Savage and more.
Mustard Feat. A$AP Ferg, Tyga, YG & A$AP Rocky "On God" Reviewed by King Nel on 2:05:00 PM Rating: 5
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Haseeb Azam
Alistair Bushe, Newsletter
The NCU club have confirmed the signing of Haseeb Azam, a Pakistani all-rounder, as the successor to Shaheen Khan, who was not able to return because of eligibility issues. The reigning Irish Cup, Challenge Cup and Twenty20 Cup holders had initially signed up South African paceman Corné Dry but they turned to Azam because Dry was going to be unavailable for a significant portion of the summer. Captain Greg Thompson said: “It’s great to have Haseeb at the club. Shaheen was with us for the last two years, three years in total, and did a fantastic job. From what I have seen and heard about Haseeb, it looks like we have got another top performer.
“Hopefully he will fit in well at the club and help us push for further honours. I know he’s also a keen coach, so he’ll be a real asset with the juniors programmes.” Azam’s signing has already been ratified by Cricket Ireland he will be arriving in Northern Ireland before the start of the new season next month. The 32-year-old plays for Rawalpindi. He was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, with 32 dismissals in six matches. He has taken 199 first-class wickets in 54 matches with an average of 21.37. He averages 21.54 with the bat, having made seven fifties and one century.
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Home » Crime Library » Crime in the Media » Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC began airing on NBC in 1992 and has been running for 25 seasons. The show is hosted by Lester Holt, although a rotating cast in the past has included famous names such as Katie Couric and Maria Shriver. The investigative reporting on behalf of the show surpasses what is usually seen in news programs. The stories they run on the show are mostly focused on true crime. Witnesses are interviewed as well as victims and survivors, and the coverage is in-depth. They even bring experts in when necessary.
Each hour is devoted solely to one story. They deliver these stories to the public with catchy titles, like “Twelve Minutes on Elm Street” and “The Secrets of Cottonwood Creek.”
Dateline NBC has been nominated for 76 awards and has won 30.
Their website offers interactivity for viewers, including updates on crimes they’ve covered, previews for upcoming episodes, and full episodes. For the truly interested, they include documents from some court cases, as well as security camera videos of crimes. They also provide links to NBC news stories when relevant. On a more somber note, they also include memorials to remember victims who have not been lucky enough to escape with their lives.
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Home Documentation and Resources Conferences The Y-Connect Project: Using Arts partnerships and pedagogies to create connections and...
The Y-Connect Project: Using Arts partnerships and pedagogies to create connections and expand horizons
This panel reports on findings from the Y-Connect project, a three-year collaboration between researchers from Griffith University, the staff and students of a culturally diverse Brisbane state high school, several arts organisations and a group of independent artists
Benjamin Waters
This panel reports on findings from the Y-Connect project, a three-year collaboration between researchers from Griffith University, the staff and students of a culturally diverse Brisbane state high school, several arts organisations and a group of independent artists. The project, which involves six extended and exploratory case studies, examines the impact on young people when artists, arts-based pedagogies and partnerships with arts organisations are employed. In this presentation we will focus on just two of the cases: 1) the overarching impact on belonging and connectedness, and 2) the impact on teaching and learning in Arts classrooms. Emerging themes suggest that the tyranny of distance (between students and students, students and teachers, students and the community, and students and the Arts industry) is lessening as students begin to feel a stronger sense of belonging and connectedness. In addition, horizons of expectation are also being expanded as the young people’s pathway perceptions begin to broaden and they identify new “possible selves”.
Julie Dunn, Penny Bundy, Linda Hassall and Natalie Lazaroo:
Researchers and educators in the Griffith Institute for Educational Research, Griffith University. Between them they have published extensively in the fields of drama education, applied and contemporary theatre, and are nationally and internationally recognized for their innovative research.
Adrianne Jones and Sanaz Hamoonpou:
Teachers at Yeronga SHS, and are also co-researchers on the Y-Connect Project. Adrianne is the Project Manager. This team has come together to collaborate on this exciting longitudinal study funded by the Queensland Government through its Collaborative Innovation Fund.
Ben Waters is political adviser and consultant in the UK and Australia advising senior politicians on a variety of policy and political issues. Ben has worked in a variety of project, policy and political roles for Australian and British politicians and not-for-profit organisations. Ben has an interest in the link between drama theory and political activism, particularly Boal's techniques using theatre as means of promoting social and political change. Ben has a degree in Politics and History from the University of Adelaide and has a keen interest in Australian and British national politics as well as international development and refugee issues.
Exploring Techniques and Practices from the IDIERI 9 Workshops (Part 4)
Elizabeth Anderson and Marsha Finlay: But that’s not right, is it Miss? Colonisation and conscientious objection through drama.
Wendy Mages: Theatre-in-Education, Language, and Perspective Taking in Early Childhood Education
Martha Lamont: ‘Drama makes my brain healthy’: An inquiry into the...
Laura Dean (Associate Director)
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Home/World News/Oil-Backed Cryptocurrency is at the Final Stage of Development in Russia
Oil-Backed Cryptocurrency is at the Final Stage of Development in Russia
Scott Cook February 24, 2019
As per sources, Russia’s lower house of the Federal Assembly, otherwise known as the State Duma, is planning to review and adopt a law related to crypto currency’s legal status in March.
Oleg Nikolaev, a member of the Economic Policy Committee at the State Duma, says that the process is on the final stage and that, once approved; it would provide grounds for further development of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies.
As per Russia’s former Energy Minister, Igor Yusufov, the proposed project by the head of Energia Corporation for creating an oil-backed cryptocurrency will be the one with high emphasis.
According to the former minister, the roadmap for this project is nearing its final stage.
Yusufov holds that a cryptocurrency of the kind would help Russia along with its allies to avoid costs associated with the unpredictability in the exchange rate of the US dollar, trade restrictions, currency exchange commissions, and more.
The ex-minister also thinks that there are two options in regard to the cryptocurrency’s physical peg – it could either be tied to a ton of conditional fuel or to the value of conditional CO2 emissions. As per him, a cryptocurrency of the kind would facilitate traceability, verifying the origin of each barrel of oil without any additional costs.
Following Venezuela-
Russia’s reported plan seems very similar to Venezuela’s Petro. The Petro is a cryptocurrency, supposedly tied to Venezuela’s mineral resources, with the primary emphasis on oil. The Petro was launched in October 2018and it too was means of bypassing international trade sanctions.
Venezuela’s President – Nicolas Maduro, even went so far as to deliberately increase its exchange rates in the country’s fiat currency – the sovereign bolivar (VES), multiple times in the last few months.
But, it should be noted that even Russia has denied accepting Petro payments, saying that they’re “not happening.”
It’s worth noting, though, that Russia’s Head of the Federal Securities Commission – Igor Kostikov, has stated that not only an oil cryptocurrency can be created, but generally any resource which is exchangeable can be the base for a cryptocurrency.
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk is Once Again Pushing the Limits and Conjuring Its Staff
Licenses For Two Australian Crypto Exchange Revoked Following the Arrest of a “Serial Entrepreneur”
A Suspected Group Arrested by the German Police for Electricity Theft for Plumbing their Crypto Mining Farms
Can a Single Tweet be Powerful Enough to Forge a Alliance Between Mercedes- Benz and Tesla?
‘DATO’ to be governed by new set of regulations by Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA): the Philippines government
Several Tech Stocks had a Bad Start This New Year Except For One
U.S and Denmark Based Firm has been Getting Robbed off $1 Billion for Many Years by 2 Groups- ‘Alpha and Beta’
Q4 Earnings Call Gains in North America, Despite Interest Dip in China and Europe: Ford
Mastercard Gets fined with $650 Million by European Commission
Last Year’s Crypto Market’s Collapse Couldn’t Shake New York’s Faith In The Digital Ledger Technology
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London is awash with hotels. There are over 70,000 hotel rooms in the city and we only partner with the best to ensure our clients enjoy the most comfortable and affordable stay possible. as London is such a huge city with so much to see and do, we have split it into six separate districts to make it easier to decide which hotel is right for you.
Aside from being able to book single attractions, we can also book day tours for you around London and some tours that visit attractions outside of London for the day.
We can also book The London Pass, a sightseeing pass which gives you free access to 60 attractions around London. It is perfect for anyone on an extended stay in London.
Our tours include seeing London by bus, black taxi, or on foot and go as far as Bath, Stonehenge, the Cotswolds and even Paris... Read more
Transport, Travel & Theatre Tickets
We like to ensure that we have every aspect of your vacation covered before you go. This way, you can concentrate on enjoying yourself and not have to worry about how you will get around. We can organize your transport around London and your transfers to and from any London airport so that you don't have to worry about it when you land.
Take a look at all of your options... Read more
The London Pass is a sightseeing pass which gives you free access to 60 attractions around London. It is perfected for anyone on an extended stay in London.
The London Pass is a smartcard that records when and where you first use the card, and how long the pass is then valid for.
Attractions | London
London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. Located on the River Thames, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium.
London has been described as a world cultural capital. It is the world's most-visited city and has the world's largest city airport system. London's 43 universities form the largest concentration of higher education in Europe. In 2012, London became the first city to host the modern Summer Olympic Games three times.
London has a diverse range of peoples and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries.
Get to know London a little better with these landmarks:
Classic Attractions
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England, United Kingdom. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England.
The castle was used as a prison since at least 1100, although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat.
The Tower of London was besieged several times and controlling it has been important to controlling the country. Under the Tudors, the Tower became used less as a royal residence, and despite attempts to refortify and repair the castle its defences lagged behind developments to deal with artillery.
In the First and Second World Wars, the Tower was again used as a prison, and witnessed the executions of 12 men for espionage. After the Second World War, damage caused during the Blitz was repaired and the castle reopened to the public. Today the Tower of London is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. It is cared for by the charity Historic Royal Palaces and is protected as a World Heritage Site.
The collective term Crown Jewels denotes the regalia and vestments worn by the sovereign of the United Kingdom during the coronation ceremony and at other state functions.
Many of these descend directly from the pre-Reformation period and have a religious and sacral connotation. The vestures donned by the sovereign following the unction, for instance, closely resemble the alb and dalmatic worn by bishops, although the contention that they are meant to confer upon the sovereign an ecclesiastical character is in dispute among Christian scholars.
Houses of Parliament & Westminster Abbey
The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Its name, which derives from the neighbouring Westminster Abbey, may refer to either of two structures: the Old Palace, a medieval building complex that was destroyed by fire in 1834, and its replacement New Palace that stands today. For ceremonial purposes, the palace retains its original style and status as a royal residence.
The Palace is one of the centres of political life in the United Kingdom; "Westminster" has become a metonym for the UK Parliament, and the Westminster system of government has taken its name after it. The Elizabeth Tower, in particular, which is often referred to by the name of its main bell, "Big Ben", is an iconic landmark of London and the United Kingdom in general, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and an emblem of parliamentary democracy.
Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower, officially named the Elizabeth Tower, as well. Elizabeth Tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower.
It celebrated its 150th anniversary on 31 May 2009, during which celebratory events took place. The tower was completed in 1858 and has become one of the most prominent symbols of both London and England, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.
Hyde Park covers 142 hectares (350 acres). To the southeast, outside the park, is Hyde Park Corner. Hyde Park is the largest of four parks which form a chain from the entrance of Kensington Palace through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, via Hyde Park Corner and Green Park (19 hectares), past the main entrance to Buckingham Palace and then on through Saint James's Park (23 hectares) to Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall.
Piccadilly Circus & West End
Piccadilly Circus is a road junction and public space of London's West End in the City of Westminster, built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly. In this context, a circus, from the Latin word meaning "circle", is a round open space at a street junction.
Its status as a major traffic intersection has made Piccadilly Circus a busy meeting place and a tourist attraction in its own right. The Circus is particularly known for its video display and neon signs mounted on the corner building on the northern side.The Circus is close to major shopping and entertainment areas in the West End.
The West End of London contains many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment venues (including the commercial West End theatres). Taking a fairly broad definition of the West End, the area contains the main concentrations of most of London's metropolitan activities apart from financial services, which are concentrated primarily in the City of London.
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, built around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of contemporary art. The square is also used for political demonstrations and community gatherings, such as the celebration of New Year's Eve.
The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars over France. The original name was to have been "King William the Fourth's Square", but George Ledwell Taylor suggested the name "Trafalgar Square".
Nelson's Column is a monument in Trafalgar Square in central London built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The monument was constructed between 1840 and 1843 to a design by William Railton at a cost of £47,000. It is a column of the Corinthian order built from Dartmoor granite.
It was refurbished in 2006 at a cost of £420,000, at which time it was surveyed and found to be 14 ft 6 in (4.4 m) shorter than previously supposed. The whole monument is 169 ft 3 in (51.6 m) tall from the bottom of the pedestal to the top of Nelson's hat.
The four identical bronze lions at the column's base were not added until 1867. They were originally supposed to be carved from granite.
In 2011, consultants for the Greater London Authority reported that tourists climbing onto the backs of the lions have caused considerable damage and recommended banning tourists from climbing them.
The column also had a symbolic importance to Adolf Hitler. If Hitler's plan to invade Britain, Operation Sea Lion, had been successful, he planned to move it to Berlin.
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence and principal workplace of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focus for the British people at times of national rejoicing and crisis.
Originally known as Buckingham House, the building which forms the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1705 on a site which had been in private ownership for at least 150 years.
The Buckingham Palace Garden is the largest private garden in London.
The state rooms, used for official and state entertaining, are open to the public each year for most of August and September, as part of the Palace's Summer Opening.
South Bank & London Eye
The South Bank is an area of Central London, England located immediately adjacent to the south bank of the River Thames. It forms a significant tourist district in central London, stretching from the Design Museum in the east to the London Eye in the west. A series of central London bridges connect the area to the northern bank of the Thames, including the more recent Golden Jubilee and Millennium pedestrian bridges.
The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames in London, England. It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually.
Science & Natural History Museums
The Natural History Museum and Science Museum are two of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington.
The natural History museum is home to life and earth science specimens comprising some 70 million items within five main collections: Botany, Entomology, Mineralogy, Palaeontology and Zoology.
The museum is particularly famous for its exhibition of dinosaur skeletons, and ornate architecture.
The Science Museum attracts 2.7 million visitors annually. Like other publicly funded national museums in the United Kingdom, the Science Museum does not charge for admission. Temporary exhibitions, however, do usually incur an admission fee.
The Science Museum now holds a collection of over 300,000 items, including such famous items as Stephenson's Rocket, Puffing Billy (the oldest surviving steam locomotive), the first jet engine, a reconstruction of Francis Crick and James Watson's model of DNA, some of the earliest remaining steam engines, a working example of Charles Babbage's Difference engine (and the latter, preserved half brain), the first prototype of the 10,000-year Clock of the Long Now, and documentation of the first typewriter. It also contains hundreds of interactive exhibits. A recent addition is the IMAX 3D Cinema showing science and nature documentaries, most of them in 3-D, and the Wellcome Wing which focuses on digital technology. Entrance has been free since 1 December 2001.
Borough Market is a wholesale and retail food market in Southwark, Central London, England. It is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London, and sells a large variety of foods from all over the world.
The wholesale market operates on all weekday mornings from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m., but the retail market operates only on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The market, which has focused historically on fruits and vegetables, has in recent years added stalls dealing with the fine food retail market, including some of the market's most famous traders Artisan Bakers DeGustibus, Furness Fish & Game Supplies, Peter Gott and Sillfield Farm, and the Spanish company Brindisa.
Modern Attractions
The Shard is an iconic, landmark building on the London skyline, designed by Master Architect Renzo Piano. At a height of 1,016ft (310m), the tallest building in Western Europe, The Shard redefines London’s skyline and will be a dynamic symbol of London, recognisable throughout the world.
The View is situated at the top of The Shard, on floors 68, 69 and 72, and almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in London. Prepare to embark on a multi-sensory journey to 244m (800ft) above one of the greatest cities on Earth. On arrival at Level 00, you will be drawn into the tapestry of London with glimpses of the city laid out before you. Travelling skyward in two high-speed ‘kaleidoscopic’ lifts, you’ll swiftly reach Level 68 - a cloudscape above the world.
Then journey to Level 69 where the view is revealed and London opens out before you. Here, in the sky above London, you’ll experience an astonishing 360 degree, 64km (40mile) view over the city and beyond where the past, present and future of London will be unfurled beneath you, brought to life in multimedia displays.
For the best view in town, ascend to Level 72, at 244m, the highest public level of The Shard. You’ll be exposed to the elements with sounds of the city around you. Looking up, you’ll see the shards of glass that form the top of this skyscraper as they disappear upwards into the sky.
The View is currently open from 9am-10pm daily until October 2013. From October 2013 the opening hours will be: Sunday-Wednesday, 10am-7pm; and Thursday-Saturday, 10am-10pm. All tickets are dated and timed, so we advise pre-booking to ensure an unpressured, premium quality experience.
The entire experience is enjoyed at your leisure, queue and crowd free with no time restriction on your stay.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
People the world-over have been enchanted by the Harry Potter films for nearly a decade. The wonderful special effects and amazing creatures have made this iconic series beloved to both young and old – and now, for the first time, the doors are open for everyone at the studio where it first began. You'll have the chance to go behind-the-scenes and see many things the camera never showed. From breathtakingly detailed sets to stunning costumes, props and animatronics, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides a unique showcase of the extraordinary British artistry, technology and talent that went into making the most successful film series of all time.
Secrets will be revealed.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter offers visitors the ultimate opportunity to step on to authentic sets, discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter film series. Walk the original stone floor of the iconic Hogwarts Great Hall, encounter animatronic creatures and wander down Diagon Alley.
Located at the Studios where all eight films were produced, the Studio Tour showcases the incredible British talent, imagination and artistry that went into making the impossible a reality on screen. Visitors will relive the magic through the eyes of the filmmakers who brought the Harry Potter film series to life.
There's so much to see and discover at St Paul's. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Climb the Dome
Climb up the dome to the Whispering Gallery and try out its unique acoustics; a whisper on one side can be heard clearly 100 feet away. Climb 271 more steps and reach the Golden Gallery at the very top of the dome where you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views across London.
Go on a touchscreen multimedia tour
Fly-through videos of the dome galleries and zoomable close-ups of breathtaking mosaics and paintings will help you see more of St Paul’s than has ever been possible before. Multimedia Guides and Guided Tours reveal all about the history, architecture and daily life of the cathedral.
Discover the crypt
Make your way underground and explore the Cathedral’s foremost burial place. In the crypt lie some of the nation’s heroes including the Cathedral’s architect Sir Christopher Wren as well as the magnificent tombs of Admiral Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington.
Travel back in time in an immersive film experience
Our 270° film exhibition, Oculus; an eye into St Paul's,brings 1400 years of history to life. Oculus takes you on a journey through the history and daily life of St Paul's Cathedral.Virtual access films take visitors up to the dome and galleries without leaving the ground.
Treat yourself to afternoon tea
Relax after your visit with quintessentially English afternoon tea in The Restaurant at St Paul’s. You can enjoy delicate sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, a sumptuous variety of cakes and perhaps a glass or two of English sparkling wine.
Tower Bridge Exhibition
A visit to Tower Bridge Exhibition is the most exciting way to explore and experience the most famous Bridge in the world. Within the Bridge's iconic structure and magnificent Victorian Engine rooms there is plenty to see and do!
After watching a new animated video about why Tower Bridge was built, guests can walk into the high level Walkways, 42 metres above the River Thames. This offers visitors the chance to admire stunning panoramic views of London, spying such popular landmarks as St Paul's Cathedral and the Monument to the west and St Katharine's Dock leading to Canary Wharf to the east.
The East Walkway houses the exhibition 'Great Bridges of the World' - this photographic exhibition features over 20 Bridges, each of which represents a breathtaking feat of engineering. In the south tower a short video shows the construction of the Bridge, before guests proceed to the West Walkway where they can view our brand NEW exhibition, 'This is London'. Here, visitors can admire copies of over 60 iconic illustrations and excerpts from painter and illustrator, Miroslav Sasek's classic children's book, 'This is London'.
Continue on to the original lifting machinery in the Victorian Engine Rooms, complete with sounds and smells that transport you back in time to the Bridge's origins. You will also experience a virtual Bridge lift, providing you with a unique view of the Bascules being raised. And currently on display is 'Art at the Bridge #4', our brand NEW exhibition in partnership with Southwark Arts Forum.
A final visit to the Gift Shop before leaving allows the chance to take home a memento of your day.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! London
At Ripley’s Believe It or Not! London visitors can marvel at an unbelievable collection of jaw dropping artefacts from across the globe – many of which were collected by the ultimate explorer Robert Ripley himself.
With over 700 astonishing exhibits, galleries and interactive experiences spanning across 6 floors, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! London celebrates the weird, wonderful and bizarre in all its forms, which are sure to excite, delight and thrill the whole family.
Want to see how will you measure up to the world’s tallest man? Or come face to face with a rare collection Amazonian shrunken heads? Will you dare to venture into Ripley’s Marvellous Mirror Maze and defeat the Impossible LaseRace?
Fun Things to do at Ripley's Believe it or Not
- Checking your height against the world’s tallest man
- Taking a peek at real fossilised dinosaur eggs
- Losing your friends and family in Ripley's Marvellous Mirror Maze
- Testing your skills in London's largest LaseRace
- Marvelling at an 8-foot match stick model of the Titanic
- Coming face to face with a prehistoric shark jaw
- Pulling funny faces next to the 'mule faced lady' and 'the crocodile man'
- Laughing as you try to conquer the spinning Black Hole
The Emirates Air Line (cable car)
The Emirates Air Line (also known as the Thames cable car) is a cable car link across the River Thames.The Emirates air line not only provides a much needed river crossing in east London, but it also affords spectacular bird's eye views of the city. The cabins provide 360 degree views taking in the City, Canary Wharf, historic Greenwich, the Thames Barrier and the Olympic Park.
The Emirates Air Line has a cable span of 1,100 metres boasting three soaring helix towers. Passengers cross the River Thames travelling at heights of 90 metres between two terminals, improving connections between two world class attractions - the O2 and ExCeL, whilst in close proximity to existing Tube and DLR systems.
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum & Tour
Explore the game's evolution from a garden party pastime to a multimillion dollar professional sport played world-wide: with exciting interactives and films, easy-to-use touch screens, and audio guides in 10 languages, people of all ages can experience the artistry and athleticism that is modern tennis.
Highlights of the Museum include:
- The glittering Championship Trophies.
- A 'ghost' of John McEnroe which appears in the very changing room he once used! Watch as he speaks about the game and his legendary opponents. See a 360° panoramic preview of the McEnroe Exhibit.
- Film and video footage, which take visitors right into the action of some of the most memorable and exciting tournament matches.
- An extensive, unsurpassed collection of tennis memorabilia dating back to 1555.
- Museum Gallery with fascinating displays drawn from the vast collection.
- CentreCourt360 the new viewing experience of Centre Court, located right by the grass, with touch screen interpretation and two fun interactive galleries.
- Take a 360° panoramic preview of the Museum, the Museum Entrance, The Tunnel and the Interactive Consoles.
The brand new 3D art film 'Viewpoint',a unique cinematic experience which captures the sights, sounds and people of Wimbledon through its split narrative. The film opens on Centre Court during the final game of the 2012 tournament, focusing on the players in action. The audience is then seamlessly led from this central scene to the world of some of the rich characters that make The Championships the magnificent occasion that it is.
Treasures from the first Championship in 1877 to the most recent are on display, including equipment, clothing, and mementos belonging to the greatest players to set foot on Centre Court.
See the generous donations from the great players of today, as well as the outfits of the most successful champions of the Wimbledon Singles tournament, including Pete Sampras and Martina Navratilova. Spot the outfits from Roger Federer and Andy Murray, as well as from the 'Woodies', one of the greatest doubles tennis partnerships of all time.
Hampton Court Palace is a story of two palaces: a Tudor palace magnificently developed by Cardinal Wolsey and later Henry VIII, alongside a Baroque palace built by William III and Mary II.
Tudor Palace and Henry VIII
When he died in 1547 Henry VIII had more than 60 houses, but – in the second half of his reign – none were more important to him, nor more sumptuously decorated, than Hampton Court Palace. Today you can visit as one of Henry’s courtiers, adorn a Tudor cloak to visit Henry’s Apartments, see his stunningly recreated Imperial Crown in the Royal Pew before sneaking below stairs to visit his vast Tudor Kitchens where banquets were prepared for 1,000 people at any one time. Discover Young Henry in the exhibition charting his relationship with his first Queen, Katherine of Aragon.
Baroque Palace and William & Mary
The splendid apartments of William and Mary who ruled jointly at the end of the 17th century are a beautiful and elegant reminder of the decadent Baroque period. They offer tremendous views of the magnificent gardens.
Relax in over 60 acres of the beautiful Hampton Court Palace gardens that run down to the River Thames, featuring sparkling fountains, glorious displays of over 200,000 flowering bulbs and 750 acres of tranquil royal parkland.
There is much more to see such as the Young Henry exhibition, the Triumphs of Caesar by Andrea Mantegna and our costumed interpreters.
Madame Tussauds London is a major tourist attraction located in Central London, housed in the former London Planetarium. It is famous for recreating famous people and celebrities, in wax.
Set up by wax sculptor Marie Tussaud, it is the original Madame Tussauds attraction, having been situated on Marylebone Road since 1884.
Madame Tussauds London houses wax sculptures of all of the world's major celebrities, with new figures being added all the time.
London & the Royal Family
Kensington Palace unveils a palace of secret stories and public lives. Visitors arrive through beautiful landscaped gardens evoking a past when Kensington was countryside. Arrive in the entrance hall to start your journey through the magnificent Kings and Queen’s State Apartments. Filled with stories of two royal courts; the Stuarts and the Hanoverians, uncover what you would have worn, how you should behave and how to succeed in the heady atmosphere of the palaces state apartments.
Victoria Revealed, a fascinating exhibition, set within the rooms Victoria grew up in as a child, explores her life and reign through her own words. Imagine how she felt at just 17 years old on her first day as Queen at Kensington Palace, discover her romantic side through letters and gifts exchanged with Prince Albert and take a peep at moments of family life with her children and grand-children.
A new glossy and glamorous exhibition, Fashion rules: dress from the collections of HM Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret and Diana Princess of Wales explores the story of the monarchy in the 20th century featuring rare and exquisite dresses from The Queen, Princesses Margaret and Diana, discover how the royal figures and fashions were representative of the spirit of each decade. Surrounded by contemporary photography, film and music the visitor will get a real sense of the 1950’s through to the 1980s, decades in which the clothes were worn and how they reflected and inspired everyday fashions.
The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace
The Queen's Gallery hosts a programme of changing exhbitions from the Royal Collection. It was constructed forty years ago out of the bomb-damaged ruins of the former private chapel. The Gallery underwent extensive refurbishment and expansion to celebrate The Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002 and was reopened by Her Majesty on 21 May that year.
The £20-million expansion of The Queen’s Gallery was the most significant addition to Buckingham Palace in 150 years. The project was funded entirely by the Royal Collection through public admissions to the official residences of The Queen (Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse) and through associated retail activities. The project involved stone masons, wood carvers, fibrous plaster and scagliola workers, copper and bronze workers, specialist joiners, blacksmiths, specialist painters and cabinet-makers.
The Queen’s Gallery was opened by Her Majesty The Queen in May 2002, as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. It hosts a programme of changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection.
Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace
A Royal Mews is a mews (i.e. combined stables, carriage house and in recent times also the garage) of the British Royal Family. In London the Royal Mews has occupied two main sites, formerly at Charing Cross, and since the 1820s at Buckingham Palace.
A 45 minute tour introduces the work of the Royal Mews and are led by the Wardens, dressed in their striking red and navy livery. The staff are responsible for all road travel by The Queen and members of the Royal Family, whether by historic carriage or modern car. You hear how the Mews serves The Queen in the performance of her official duties and prepares for major State and ceremonial occasions, from the State Opening of Parliament to royal weddings.
Carriage Horses
During your visit to the Mews, you will see some of The Queen’s horses that draw the coaches and carriages in the Mews. The Cleveland Bays are used to escort newly appointed High Commissioners and Ambassadors to their audience with The Queen, when they present their formal credentials from their country’s Head of State.
Coaches & Livery
The Royal Mews houses the royal collection of historic carriages and coaches, which you may see in use during your visit. Among the vehicles on display are the Irish State Coach, in which The Queen travels to the State Opening of Parliament, and the Australian State Coach, which combines traditional craftsmanship with 20th-century technology to provide heating and remote-controlled windows.
Available in 10 languages the tour introduces the fascinating history of the Royal Mews and provides a lively insight into how the Mews operates today. Along the route, staff who live and work at the Royal Mews talk about the roles they play in the day-to-day activities of the Royal Household.
World War II London
Visit Churchill War Rooms to discover the original Cabinet War Rooms, the wartime bunker that sheltered Churchill and his government during the Blitz. Explore the historic rooms to experience the secret history that lives on underground. Discover the stories of those who worked underground as London was being bombed above them, and then find out more about the life and legacy of Winston Churchill in the interactive Churchill Museum.
Undercover: Life in Churchill's Bunker
Find out what it was really like in the Cabinet War Rooms during the war. Hear about the conditions underground, the camaraderie, the secrecy, the fear of attack, and the experience of working in close proximity to Churchill. Undercover: Life in Churchill’s Bunker uses oral histories, film interviews and personal objects to tell the stories of some of the hundreds of staff who worked in the secret headquarters.
The Churchill Museum
Uncover the man behind the image at the Churchill Museum, the only major museum in the world dedicated to the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. Using cutting-edge technology and multimedia displays, Churchill’s story is brought to life, starting at the high point of his career – his appointment as Prime Minister on 10 May 1940.
Hear extracts from Churchill’s rousing wartime speeches as you stand on the squares to activate Churchill’s voice delivering now-familiar phrases such as ‘Blood, toil, tears and sweat’ and ‘We shall fight them on the beaches’. Nearby stands the original No. 10 door that Churchill walked through after becoming Prime Minister.
The Cabinet War Rooms
You’ll begin your journey at the War Cabinet Room, where Churchill and his inner circle plotted the war. See the chair in which Churchill presided over meetings, the scratch marks on the arms bearing witness to the intense pressure he was under at these times.
As you go deeper into the warren of rooms, you’ll discover how life and work continued underground, from top-secret conversations between Churchill and Roosevelt in the Transatlantic Telephone Room to more domestic concerns in the Churchills’ Kitchen.
Explore HMS Belfast’s nine decks to discover the stories of life on board this warship during the Second World War and beyond. Imagine sleeping in one of the tightly packed hammocks during duties in Arctic waters, or being stationed deep in the bowels of the ship when she opened fire in support of Allied troops on D-Day. Venture into the interactive Operations Room, and immerse yourself in the midst of a battle in our Gun Turret Experience.
Life at War
While on board, you can discover what it was like to serve in the far-flung places HMS Belfast visited during her years in active service. From convoy duties in icy Arctic conditions during the Second World War to patrolling waters in support of retreating troops during the Korean War, delve beneath the surface of the ship’s history to explore her adventures at sea.
Don’t miss our thrilling Gun Turret Experience: A Sailor’s Story, 1943, which transports you back in time to the Battle of North Cape on Boxing Day 1943, in which the German battle cruiser Scharnhorst was sunk by Royal Navy warships, HMS Belfast among them. You can experience what it would have been like to be in the heart of the action on the day of the battle as lights, imagery, smoke effects, vibrations, sounds and smells recreate the intense atmosphere inside a cramped gun turret.
During her time at sea, HMS Belfast was home to crews of up to 950 sailors. Today, you can discover what life on board was like for them. From eating and sleeping to healthcare and dentistry, the ship functioned as a floating community as well as a mighty warship, providing for the daily needs of her crew during long months at sea.
Among the many rooms where domestic tasks such as laundry and baking bread took place, the Ship’s Company Galley (kitchen) was the most important of all, churning out hundreds of meals daily for a hungry crew.
Inner Workings
Discover how HMS Belfast works, from the Engine Room deep in the bowels of the ship to the Operations Room and Compass Platform, the nerve centre where the captain controlled the ship at sea.
The horsepower of HMS Belfast’s engines at top speed is equivalent to 1,000 family cars – visit the Engine Room to see the scale and intricate workings of the engineering needed to drive the ship. Also hiding deep beneath the ship’s waterline are the Shell Rooms, the most heavily protected of all the compartments on board from both shell fire and aerial bombs.
On the upper decks, as well as enjoying the elevated vantage points for fabulous views up the Thames, you can see the places where intelligence was gathered and decisions about enemy engagement were made.
100 Spring St, Boston MA, 02132 | 1.617.327.4242
Copyright©2019 Crystal Travel | Design & Development by Brave River Solutions
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Jefferson Area Tea Party
The Jefferson Area Tea Party was founded in 2009, as an organization of individuals who seek a reduced role for government at all levels in the United States. Taxed Enough Already (TEA) is the primary message of the Tea Party.
An article on Wikipedia has information about the Tea Party movement in areas beyond Albemarle County's borders.
In March, the group plans to begin sending volunteers to monitor Charlottesville City Council and the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors.[1] The Jefferson Area Tea Party is a color blind organization dedicated to the ideals promulgated by Thomas Jefferson: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
1 Tea Party Principles and Goals
5 George Allen endorsement controversy
Tea Party Principles and Goals
Constitutional Governance
Lower Taxes
Reduce the National Debt
Repeal and Replace Government-Run Health Care
American Sovereignty and Exceptionalism
The Rule of Law
Personal Liberty with Personal Responsibility
Jim Moore, President
Mike Basile
David Kardell
Roger Schweikert[2]
March 17, 2011: Forum on local sustainability issues. [3]
<play audio>http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/files/20110317-teaparty.mp3 </play audio>
The Jefferson Area Tea Party has been critical of City Council and City Manager Maurice Jones for the way they have handled Occupy Charlottesville. Their leaders have claimed city government has shown favoritism by allowing the group to stay in the Lee Park overnight. [4]
George Allen endorsement controversy
Leaders of the Jefferson Area Tea Party expressed opposition to U.S. Senate candidate George Allen's press release "Virginia Tea Party Patriots Endorse George Allen for U.S. Senate." Firstly, they said this implied the endorsement of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots federation, which JATP is a part of, and has not endorsed the candidate. Also, two JATP members were incorrectly listed as endorsing Allen, with their affiliation with the Jefferson Area Tea Party listed below their names. The two JATP members have been removed from the list, but the Allen campaign has not issued any apologies[5].
The Jefferson Area Tea Party has a "firm policy" of not endorsing any candidates as an organization[5].
↑ Web. Area tea party shifts focus to local government, Daily Progress, World Media Enterprises, January 18, 2011, retrieved January 18, 2011.
↑ Web. Mike Basile elected as President, others elected to the Executive Board, Jefferson Area Tea Party, April 14, 2014, retrieved April 11, 2014.
↑ Web. Tea Party hosting forum to review local sustainability initiatives, Brian Wheeler, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 17, 2011, retrieved March 17, 2011.
↑ Web. Political favoritism pre-occupies council, Carole Thorpe, Daily Progress, World Media Enterprises, November 21, 2011, retrieved November 21, 2011.
↑ 5.0 5.1 Web. JATP calls on George Allen campaign for retraction and apology for false claim of endorsement, Jefferson Area Tea Party, retrieved December 6, 2011.
Retrieved from "https://www.cvillepedia.org/index.php?title=Jefferson_Area_Tea_Party&oldid=34474"
Articles with Wikipedia information beyond Charlottesville-Albemarle
2009 establishments
Articles containing potentially dated statements from March 2011
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Town and Celtic go to battle for cup glory
Story by Brian Gillespie
Saturday, 27th October, 2018 2:18pm
The Connacht Gold Super Cup final between Ballina Town and Castlebar Celtic should be a cracker.
THE words might come back to haunt us, but we believe tomorrow's Connacht Gold Super Cup final has all the ingredients for a real classic.
We might have said similar to last year's decider between the same finalists, Castlebar Celtic and Ballina Town, but this year is different. For one thing, games between the teams this year have produced a lot of goals. For another, both have had good seasons.
Granted, Celtic would want to have finished higher than third in the league but there were mitigating factors, not least the loss of some key personnel at crucial points during the season.
Last year Town put a stuttering league start behind them to finish mid-table safety and ultimately win the cup final, and it seemed to give the side a huge filip ahead of this season, where they started like a house on fire and keep those fires stoked all the way through to win the league title with an incredible 16 wins from 18 games played.
Celtic might not have reached Town's great heights even with a full roster of players available this year – that's something we'll just never know – but they did get one over the champions in the last game between the teams, an FAI Junior Cup clash in Belleek a few weeks ago.
And it's that game – which resulted in a 5-4 win for the visitors – that really whets the appetitite for tomorrow. Put simply, both teams know how to attack with speed, precision and skill. All going well, there'll be plenty of goals and goalmouth action at Solar 21 Park tomorrow afternoon.
However, as Town manager Mick Duffy conceded, cup finals bring added pressure to players. “I've seen some players freeze in finals and some thrive,” he said. “The main factor for me was to keep doing what we have been doing and try to maintain some type of standard at training. It has been difficult with so many in college, a few injuries and lack of momentum with the league being over.”
Unlike last year, Town go into the final this year as favourites. “I suppose on paper, with us being Super League champions and Celtic finishing third, it's easy to see why people might say we are favourites. Anyone who watched Celtic play in Belleek a few weeks ago might tell you otherwise though. Celtic showed how dangerous they can be and we never got to grips with them. They gave our young lads a bit of a footballing lesson. This weekend it's another game between two good sides.
“Finals are always close affairs so sometimes it can be a kick of a ball that decides them. It would be disappointing if our lads didn't perform to their potential on the day.”
Celtic manager Michael McNicholas – who was Duffy's immediate predecessor in Belleek as Ballina Town manager – reckons the league champions deserve the favourites tag. “Ballina walked the league so if you look at it from that perspective they're firm favourites, no doubt about it,” he said.
But, as Celtic manager, he understands the pressure there is to capture some silverware. “We know we have to deliver, as Castlebar Celtic. We just have to deliver tomorrow. That is what we want as a team.
“We're hurting over the fact that we didn't do enough during the league season, though we know the reasons why we didn't. But we're not making excuses. We just want to deliver now.”
Celtic have been picking up good results of late, scoring many goals in the process. And given that Town are potent in attack too, McNicholas is expecting goals tomorrow afternoon. “I think it's going to be a shootout. It's going to be a bit like a boxing match, with both teams going toe-to-toe.”
The Connacht Gold Super Cup final between Ballina Town and Castlebar Celtic kicks off at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday, October 28) at Solar 21 Park, Milebush, Castlebar.
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Even at its weakest, the Government’s economic policy is stronger than Labour’s
In the aftermath of Britain’s ejection from the ERM, Norman Lamont, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, famously said “je ne regrette rien” – an off-the-cuff remark he surely came to regret when, not long after, he was sacked by John Major.
When, eventually, George Osborne publishes his memoirs it will be interesting to find out what the current Chancellor comes to regret. With the benefit of hindsight and free from the absurd political game that forbids its players from admitting the slightest self-doubt, what will he most wish he had done differently?
Time will tell, but his biggest regret may turn out to be not making a stronger distinction between current spending and capital spending. While there is no question that the former must be reduced, cutting the latter can be a false economy.
Writing for the Fiscal Times, the US economist, Mark Thoma, provides a good explanation of why capital spending on infrastructure, while increasing the deficit in the short-term, reduces debt in the long-term:
“When a household hits hard times due to unexpected expenses, it’s possible to delay routine maintenance on things such as the car that is needed to get to work each day. The same is true for a business. When times are tough, maintenance on the production line, the trucks needed to deliver goods, and so on can be put off. But it cannot be delayed forever, and the household or business may need to borrow money to pay for the maintenance and repairs even if debt burdens are already relatively high.
“Keeping the car running, the fleet of trucks on the road, and the production line in operation allows the worker and firm to earn the income needed to pay back the money borrowed for the routine maintenance, and to pay off other debt as well. That wouldn’t be possible – debts are unlikely to be paid off – if the maintenance is skipped and the car or production line breaks down catastrophically and suddenly there is no job or business at all.”
Similarly, a nation can build up a backlog of repairs if it fails to undertake necessary maintenance of, and improvements to, its essential infrastructure. This ‘infrastructure debt’ may not show up on our public accounts, but it does eventually undermine confidence and growth.
As the old proverb has it, one should ‘mend the roof while the sun shines’; but, failing that, a deep economic crisis isn't a bad time to spend money on infrastructure:
“We are in a situation where the costs of infrastructure construction are very, very low. Interest rates are near zero, a sign that the financial community has no worries about loaning us the money, so borrowing long-term has very little interest expense associated with it. In addition, high unemployment has reduced wage costs, and low demand for raw materials due to economic troubles in developed economies has reduced the price of the other inputs that are needed for infrastructure construction.”
Some economists would add that extra government spending in a recession pays for itself in a downturn by replacing lost demand, thus getting the economy growing again. However, even if one isn’t a signed-up member of the neo-Keynesian magic money brigade, the logic of upgrading infrastructure at a bargain price should be unanswerable.
George Osborne can, at the very least, console himself with this thought: It was his decision to cut infrastructure spending by less than Labour’s plans for this Parliament. So even at its worst, Government policy is still better than the alternative.
debt Economic policy infrastructure investment Work and Prosperity
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Home Articles After Abuse 'My Friend Told Me She's Being Abused'
'My Friend Told Me She's Being Abused'
The right and wrong thing to say at this moment
By domesticshelters.org
9.2k have read
Someone in your life has just entrusted you with a serious confession: She (or he) is being abused by their partner. They didn’t know who else to turn to, they says. At this pivotal moment, you want to say the exact right thing, but all you really want to do is tell them, in no uncertain terms, to GET OUT.
Janice Miller, director of client services at House of Ruth, an intimate partner violence center in Maryland, explains why this isn’t exactly what the survivor needs to hear right now.
“The goal in this conversation is not to get her to leave; the goal is to make sure she feels heard and validated. "The most important response a friend or family member can give is, 'I'm so sorry this is happening to you.' Acknowledge that this is a terrible thing they're expressing."
Then, you can share your concerns, says Miller, by saying something like, “I really want you to be in a safe relationship.” Keep the focus on her, not on her decision to stay in the relationship. “The problem with putting out a definitive statement like ‘You should leave,’ or ‘He’s no good,’ is that relationships are complicated and if there are good things about the relationship, it’s going to be difficult for the victim to walk away,” says Miller. If the survivor decides to stay in the relationship, says Miller, she will likely not go confide in that same friend in the future who told her, initially, to leave.
“Most people feel paralyzed when someone brings up intimate partner violence. So, they don’t act. This can leave a victim feeling like there’s no one to turn to,” says Miller. Remember that you don’t need to necessarily fix the situation; just listen. “They’re [the survivor] looking for someone to acknowledge that their situation is not OK. It sets up a counterpoint of view to the abusive partner who’s trying to put them down and isolate them. The victim can then start to compare who really has their best interest at heart.”
After listening, your next goal is to guide her to services that can help her, says Miller. Legal intervention, counseling or a shelter are good places to start. You can find services near you by entering your zip code here. We've also prepared this list of 25 Ways to Help Those Experiencing Abuse.
Ask Amanda: I Feel Sorry For My Abuser. Am I Crazy?
Write a Resume That Gets Noticed
Strangulation Can Leave Long-Lasting Injuries
Do I Need to Go to Rehab?
From Survivors to CEOs
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Chemical Engineering (General)
Woodhead Publishing Series in Textiles
The World Trade Organization and International Denim Trading
Authors: Yan Li K W Yeung Y Shen E Newton L Yao
Imprint: Woodhead Publishing
Published Date: 15th April 2003
View all volumes in this series: Woodhead Publishing Series in Textiles
Print - Paperback
International textile and apparel trading; China’s WTO entry and its impact upon the international textile and apparel trade; USA denim products trade; EU denim products trade; Japan denim products trade; Hong Kong denim products trade; China denim products trade; Strategic implications for denim manufacturers and traders.
The World Trade Organization and international denim trading is the first market report that focuses on analysing the international denim trading market and its key players. It discusses the important implications of China's entry into the World Trade Organization for the denim industry and analyses the denim trade in the major markets and the key players including USA, EEC, Japan, Hong Kong and China. Included are extensive and systematic primary data research; geographic distributions of denim trade; detailed description and analysis of major markets; comprehensive analysis of industry and its competitiveness and the impact of the World Trade Organisation.
The opening chapter covers international textile and apparel trading; this is followed by China's entry into the World Trade Organisation and its impact on the international textile and apparel trade. The main part of the book reports on denim product trade in specific international markets and the final chapters highlight strategic implications for denim manufacturers and traders.
The first market report that focuses on analysing the international denim trading market and its key players
Analyses the effect China's accession to the WTO will have on the denim trade and analyses the trade in its major markets, including the USA, EEC, Japan, Hong Kong and China
Highlights strategic implications for denim manufacturers and traders
Denim manufacturers and traders
© Woodhead Publishing 2003
Woodhead Publishing
Yan Li Author
Dr Y. Li is a Professor at The Institute of Textiles and Clothing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. He is a Fellow of The Textile Institute, a member of several professional bodies and has more than 350 scientific publications and patents.
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
K W Yeung Author
Yan Shen became a lecturer in international trade and trade-related law at Donghua University, China before moving to Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a research assistant under Dr. Li. She has participated in research into the World Trade Organisation and its possible effects on the textile industry.
Y Shen Author
E Newton Author
Edward Newton is Chair Professor of Fashion Marketing and Merchandising and Head of the Institute of Textiles and Clothing at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is Visiting Professor to many universities internationally and has worked extensively in Europe, India, China, the Far East and USA.
L Yao Author
L. Yao is currently a research and development manager in a garment manufacturing company. She obtained her BSc from Zhejiang University in 1995. Since 1998, she has carried out research in the area of strategic development of “Fashion: Design and Technology Innovation”, which is funded by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has published a series of research papers and books.
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Socio-Anthropological Aspects of Home Recovery from Severe Manutrition
By Adrienne Daudet and Carlos Navarro-Colorado
Morlaï, cured at home, at last weekly visit.
Adrienne Daudet is an agronomist and has an MA in anthropology. She has four years field experience working with ACF.
Carlos Navarro-Colorado is a medical doctor and is a research officer at Action Contre la Faim.
We would like to thank the families in Makeni that warmly received and hosted Adrienne during her field work, the ACF field workers and headquarters staff that supported this research, Jane Cobbi, CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) who has directed the anthropological research, and Charlotte Dufour for comments on the draft.
This article shares the experiences of a programme- based field study1 in Makeni, Sierra Leone, which looked at how home based rehabilitation of severe malnutrition was perceived, and whether it was more acceptable and beneficial than centre-based management in this context.
The recent development of strategies that allow rehabilitation of severely malnourished individuals at home, are largely thanks to the development of RUTF (Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods), and the experience accumulated on TFCs (Therapeutic Feeding Centres) and NRUs (Nutrition Rehabilitation Units). It is widely assumed that this type of treatment is more socially advantageous to families and the community. However, the assumption has never really been tested at field level. The social implications of treating severely malnourished children at household level need to be understood in order to improve home-based strategies, enabling us to adapt home-based strategies to each intervention in the field and informing choices between centre-based and home-based strategies (with its different options and own adaptations). We therefore decided to complement an ongoing clinical trial of home-based rehabilitation of severely malnourished children in Makeni (see box 1) with an anthropological evaluation.
Morlaï at Makeni TFC, starting phase II and ready to continue at home.
The objectives of the study were to evaluate both the day-to-day perception and acceptance by families of the treatment protocol, and the wider impact on the child's social group. Together with experiences from other settings, we also attempted to define socio-anthropological indicators to guide choice between existing treatment strategies for rehabilitation of severely malnourished children.
The study took place over three months, based in the Makeni area of the Northern Province in Sierra Leone. The area is largely Temne (one of the major ethnic groups of the country), and livelihoods are essentially based on subsistence agriculture. Limitations of the study included a small sample size (only 50 children were being treated at home in the clinical trial), as well as the period of the year for the fieldwork (which did not coincide with either agricultural labour peaks or hunger gaps).
Fieldwork took place in the TFC and in the weekly food distribution structures, using participant observation, open and semi-open interviews and focus groups. An important part of data collection was done in nine villages with children on treatment. More extensive anthropographical work was done in two of the villages, including overnight stays with the families. In these two villages, the food system (from production to final consumption), how the family implemented the nutrition protocol, and the effects that this had on the wider social group was studied through observation, focus groups and open interviews. Home based treatment of severe malnutrition: a randomised clinical trial in Makeni, Sierra Leone
Action Contre la Faim completed a Randomised Clinical Trial in Makeni (Sierra Leone) in the first half of 2003. The study compared TFC treatment with an alternative treatment based on an inpatient Phase I and recovery phase (Phase II) at home.
Caretaker feeding her infant Plumpy'nut in Makeni TFC.
Patients that presented with no severe complications, severe oedema (+++) or chronic associated disease, were randomised to one of the two treatments (50 patients in each group). The mothers of the patients placed in the home treatment group received health education and were trained to undertake the treatment at home. On arrival to Phase II, and once the appetite of the child was well established, the children were sent home. There, they received three meals a day of RUTF (Plumpy'nut, produced by Nutriset) and were followed up weekly in the closest SFC.
Recovery rates were 90 % in the TFC group and 95 % in the group that completed treatment at home (p = ns). Patients in the TFC had an average weight gain of 13.4g/kg/day and those recovering at home, 11.9 g/kg/day (p = ns). The study concluded that, under appropriate circumstances and with good management, treatment at home can obtain the same recovery rates as classical TFC treatment.
Perception of RUTF
Most of the children liked the Plumpy'nut product, ate it without difficulty and even played with it during the meal. Only the seriously sick children refused to eat it (confirming previous field observations). All the caretakers tested the product when giving it to the child and liked the taste of it. The caretakers in both the TFC and home treatment (HT) groups had the impression that Plumpy'nut makes the children grow more quickly than therapeutic milk (F100). This has not been confirmed by the clinical trial results.
The name that the field team gave to the product, "makantl" - which means [groundnut] in Temne language - was used by families, and only if needed, qualified as "makantl uma opoto" [groundnut of the white people], to avoid confusion with the local groundnut paste. The fact that the families have kept the name "makantl" indicates that they have appropriated the product. In response to whether they considered Plumpy'nut to be a food or a drug, all responded that it was BOTH - this suggests the messages of the nutrition team were understood and accepted, and may have played a large role in preventing sharing of the product with other family members.
Use of RUTF
Caretakers were advised to give the Plumpy'- nut three times a day (at 8 a.m., 12 and 6 p.m.), and to use a spoon, which was provided, to feed the child. We found that they adapted the meal hours to fit in with the family activities, and the manner of feeding according to individual preference. While some children held the spoon themselves, others let the caretaker hold the spoon, and some others preferred to eat in other ways. A preliminary phase of this study (not reported here) has identified the quality of the mother to child relationship, caring practices and the psychological health of the mother as some of the main causes of malnutrition in this area of Sierre Leone. Cases we encountered in this study (see case study) demonstrate how improvement in maternal selfesteem through this type of programme may help prevent further episodes of malnutrition, as well as strengthening the image of woman in the social group. The flexibility of use allowed by the product has been key in promoting the appropriation of the treatment by the families.
Home based treatment of severe malnutrition: a randomised clinical trial in Makeni, Sierra Leone
For further details of this trial, contact Carlos Navarro-Colorado,
email: navarro_colorado@hotmail.com
A young mother - an unmarried schoolgirl - was having difficulty treating her malnourished daughter at home. The little girl was losing weight, and the ACF nurse was considering taking her back to the TFC. The Plumpy'nut meal that was eaten in the distribution centre under the observation of the nurse took a long time and much effort from the child (crying and refusal to eat). The relationship between mother and child was tense in this setting.
On return the following week, the child had gained almost one kg, much to the satisfaction of the caretaker and nurses. The mother proudly showed the researcher and nurses what she had changed at home to obtain this improvement. At the beginning of the meal, she washed the hands and face of the child, and the plate. She placed the plate in front of her daughter and put the Plumpy'nut paste onto the plate. The child would eat directly with her hands, playing with the paste, and looking frequently at her mother. The atmosphere of the meal was much more confident, calm and jovial, and the whole meal was eaten much more quickly. The treatment in this specific case strengthened the self-esteem of the mother and the mother-child relationship.
Impact on the social group
According to the caretakers interviewed, the treatment had little negative impact on the housework, including care for the other children and elderly relatives. The strong social networks in the villages allowed others to take on some of the caretakers' domestic and work responsibilities, allowing her to concentrate on the treatment of the child. About half of the interviewed caretakers chose to go to the field with the malnourished child, taking the Plumpy'nut and water with them. The other half of the interviewed families had chosen that the caretaker should not to go to work on the farm, but stay at home until the child had recovered. Therefore, home treatment can affect agricultural production, though in different ways than TFCs. The social group also benefited from the presence of the woman in the household. In one case, the caretaker was the only Traditional Birth Attendant of her village. Had she needed to stay in the TFC for 3 or more weeks, her services would have been greatly missed.
Treatment strategy and care practices after treatment
Follow-up after end of treatment found that families that participated in home treatment continued applying some of the practices that they had adopted during the programme. These included feeding and washing the child in the mornings (this was not always done during the peaks of agricultural work) and spending more time with the child (i.e. the child was taken with the caretaker to the field). Our hypothesis is that adoption of new practices was facilitated as the family had been directly involved in the programme. This contrasts with a situation where health education messages given in a TFC are less integrated in the family context.
We also found that treatment preference depended on individual experience. Women who had treated their children at home would again choose home treatment, as they could continue to fulfil their social obligations and felt that Plumpy'nut is better for the malnourished child than the F100. However, women that had TFC treatment would not choose treatment at home. Despite having contact with caretakers from home treatment, they feared being alone in charge of the treatment at home (without the help of nurses, etc.). They also appreciated that they could rest in the TFC.
These findings indicate that when the treatment is completed at home, the mother becomes the main healer of the child, reinforcing self-confidence. In contrast, the TFC can undermine selfconfidence and self-esteem, by placing the women in a passive role. Our observations also suggest that the mother-to-mother education component of the programme does not automatically lead to acceptance of the new strategy by the wider community. Indeed, if the experience of some patients in home treatment was negative, mother-to-mother feedback could jeopardise the programme.
At the individual level, results from the clinical trial for the home-based treatment group are as good as those obtained in TFCs (in terms of recovery rates and weight gains) (see box 1). In addition, the new strategy is well accepted by the social group. Moreover, it seems that home treatment can have a more positive impact on mothers' psychological health than the TFC, a fact that may have important consequences beyond the treatment of the malnourished child.
Figure 1 summarises the key variables which contributed to the success of home based rehabilitation of the severely malnourished in this study. These variables could be taken into account when deciding on the best strategy to implement in a particular context (TFC, outpatient department, treatment at home, etc.). A good knowledge of these factors may be critical to help develop a home treatment strategy that is best adapted to a specific population. Each context is likely to pose different challenges so it is vital to remain flexible in applying any model. Such flexibility is key to the success of home-based strategies.
Can these positive results be extrapolated to other situations, and, is treatment at home the best option in all contexts? In order to consider this, we need to think especially about a number of factors which applied in this study, using a framework recently proposed by URD2 - namely the context, the population benefiting from the programme, and the agency implementing the programme.
Child eating Plumpy'nut under mother's watchful eye during weekly visit to SFC
In terms of context, the area was secure, most people were resettled, and there were no significant food shortages in the area (at least in quantity, if not always in quality). This partly explains why there was no sharing of Plumpy'nut. In situations of insecurity, there might be dangers of looting the Plumpy'nut, or sharing with other family members if the area was more food insecure. Furthermore, if the population had been displaced, it may not have been possible to establish the social support mechanisms which contributed to the success of the programme.
This study has shown how treatment at home has a positive impact on both the psychological health of the mother and the quality of the mother-child relationship. This, in turn, positively impacts on recovery. Treatment at home, and its impact on the whole social group, may have a different outcome when the main cause of malnutrition is related to food shortage, epidemic disease or displacement. The results of this study may not apply to these contexts.
ACF has been present in Sierra Leone and in the area for several years. The agency is well known and trusted by the population (most admissions to TFC are spontaneous). ACF has good knowledge of the area, and has been working in nutrition, water and sanitation, and food security with efficient logistics and skilled and experienced personnel. ACF had chosen this area for the trial precisely for these reasons.
Choices about the protocol were key to the success of the strategy in Makeni. The fact that all patients went through a stabilisation phase (Phase I), where life threatening conditions and complications were treated before being sent home, contributed to high recovery rates and good weight gains. The health education and information about specific treatments given to the caretakers during the initial phases of treatment on the TFC, as well as identification of an appropriate name for the product, helped the appropriation of the product and compliance with the protocols. Also, the food system in the area includes groundnut paste, which is very close in taste and appearance to the Plumpy'nut. This undoubtedly increased product acceptability.
Most significantly, the society in Makeni area has strong social networks including mutual support, landlord systems, traditional chiefdoms, secret societies, etc. During the rehabilitation phase, all the family and close community members mobilised to provide care to the child, or allow the mother to do so. However, it cannot be assumed that such social support capacity would always exist in an emergency affected area. Indeed, social and community disruption is a major characteristic in many disaster situations.
There is a need for similar studies in different contexts, specifically in situations where there is insecurity, displacement, lack of social cohesion, lack of access to water or food, etc. Other factors not studied here will also need to be considered, including coverage of the programmes, cost effectiveness of the intervention, and long-term impact on nutrition and health.
Home-based strategies are new tools to be added to the toolbox of potential interventions that can be applied in a particular context to address severe malnutrition. By shifting the treatment location from a centre (known and under control of the medico nutritional team) to the society itself (mostly unknown and definitely out of their control), the nutritionist needs to adapt him/herself to the local culture. Only a good understanding of the beneficiary population and context will allow us to choose the most appropriate strategy and tailor it to their particular needs and characteristics. No strategy works perfectly on its own in every context. The challenge ahead consists of learning from TFC and home based strategy experiences, in order to deliver the best quality of treatment in an appropriate, socially sensitive and respectful way, to as many malnourished children as possible, in a variety of contexts.
For further information, contact Adrienne Daudet, email: adrienne.daudet@voila.fr and Carlos Navarro-Colorado, email: navarro_colorado@hotmail.com
1This research was presented at the CTC workshop held in Dublin in October 2003, see summary this issue of Field Exchange.
2Groupe URD, "Practioners' Handbook - draft" for ALNAP's Global Study on Participation by crisis-affected populations in humanitarian action. London, Overseas Development Institiute, 2003.
FEX: Home Based Treatment of Severe Malnutrition in Kabul
By Muriele Therry Muriele Therry studied ethnology at Masters level. After two missions with ACF, one year in Sakhalin as food security officer and 6 months in Afghanistan as...
FEX: Community-based Approaches to Managing Severe Malnutrition
One nutrition worker's solution to childcare at a busy feeding distribution! A three day meeting was held in Dublin hosted by Concern and Valid International between 8-10th of...
FEX: Clinical Trial of BP100 vs F100 Milk for Rehabilitation of Severe Malnutrition
Child eating BP100 in Freetown TFC. By Carlos Navarro-Colorado and Stéphanie Laquière Carlos Navarro-Colorado is a medical doctor, with a MSc Epidemiology. He has ten years...
FEX: Home treatment for severe malnutrition in South Sudan
By Josephine Querubin, ACF-USA Josephine Querubin is a medical doctor who has been working in humanitarian work for the past 12 years. Beginning in her home country, the...
FEX: Locally produced RUTF in a hospital setting in Uganda
By Tina Krumbein, Veronika Scherbaum, and Hans Konrad Biesalski Tina Krumbein is a graduate nutritionist. This article forms part of her diploma thesis submitted to the...
FEX: Effect of short-term supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food or micronutrients for children after illness for prevention of malnutrition: a randomised controlled trial in Uganda
Summary of research1 Location: Uganda What we know: The potential for nutritional supplementation of sick children as a strategy for preventing malnutrition has not been...
FEX: Acceptability trial of a novel RUTF based on soy, lentils and rice
By Filippo Dibari, Valid International Filippo Dibari studied Food Science and Technology and more recently Public Health Nutrition at the London School of Hygiene Tropical...
FEX: Efficacy of three feeding regimens for home-based management of children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition
Summary of research Bhandari N, Mohan SB, Bose A, et al. Efficacy of three feeding regimens for home-based management of children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition:...
FEX: Nutritional Support Through HBC in Malawi
By Mieke Moens, MSF Mieke Moens is a paediatric nurse, and is responsible for the PMTCT and nutrition programme for MSF Thyolo, Malawi The author would like to acknowledge...
FEX: Letter on nomenclature used in malnutrition programmes, by Mike Golden
Nomenclature used in programs for tackling malnutrition Dear Editor, The following terms, inter alia, have been used in describing programs/centres. CTC Community...
FEX: A pragmatic approach to treating severe malnutrition in emergencies: is F75 always beneficial?
By Saskia van der Kam Saskia is the headquarters nutritionist in MSF Holland. This article describes MSF's experience of implementing a therapeutic feeding programme for...
FEX: Malaria Treatment in Severe Malnutrition in Angola
By Amador Gomez and Elisa Dominguez Amador Gomez is Technical Director of Acción Contra el Hambre (ACH). Previously he spent several years working on nutrition and medical...
FEX: Community-based Therapeutic Care (CTC)
Malnourished Child being fed with ready-touse therapeutic food (RUTF) Summary of published research1 Bedawacho Woreda is a district in Ethiopia, 350 km south of Addis Ababa,...
FEX: Case Studies (Special Supplement 2)
3.1 CTC in Ethiopia- Working from CTC Principles Isolated village in the highlands of South Wollo, Ethiopia. By Kate Golden (Concern Ethiopia) and Tanya Khara (Valid...
FEX: Technical and Management issues within CTC (Special Supplement 2)
4.1 CTC from Scratch - Tear Fund in South Sudan By Ed Walker (Tearfund) Beneficiaries collecting their general ration in South Sudan. Tearfund has been working in Northern...
FEX: Upcoming research shared at ACF research conference
At the ACF research conference, November 6th, 2016, experiences were shared from a number of studies where final results will be made available in 2017. A snapshot of what to...
FEX: CTC Approach (Special Supplement 2)
by Steve Collins (Valid International) 2.1 Main principles of CTC Community Therapeutic Care (CTC) is a community-based model for delivering care to malnourished people. CTC...
FEX: Follow-up of post-discharge growth and mortality after treatment for SAM in Malawi
Summary of research1 Location: Malawi What we know: There are limited data on long term outcomes following discharge from SAM treatment; what exists is largely pre-HIV....
en-net: edematous malnutrition
The current CTC guidelines recommend to treat uncomplicated SAM and MAM exclusively in outpatient, including children with grade 1 and grade 2 edema. I am interested in any...
SAM (Prevention & treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition)
Location: Sierra Leone
Article Type: Field Articles
Updated on 1 March 2004
Adrienne Daudet and Carlos Navarro-Colorado (2004). Socio-Anthropological Aspects of Home Recovery from Severe Manutrition. Field Exchange 21, March 2004. p23. www.ennonline.net/fex/21/socio
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EnterAsia Information Services
Review Eligibility Requirements
Check Availability of Business Name
Choose a Business Structure
Select a Business Location
Understand Business Permits and Licenses
Open a corporate bank account
Engage a Professional
Conventional Office Space
Warehouse and Industrial Spaces
Moving to Singapore
Open Corporate Bank Account
Visa and Passes
EntrePass
Singapore Government
In a Singapore limited (LP) would be attractive to investors who do not wish to take active roles in the management of business and who wish to entrust the management of business to someone else who assumes unlimited liability.
The LP consists of one or more general partners and one or more limited partners. General partners are fully liable with their personal assets and can participate in the management of the LP. Limited partners on the other hand are only liable up to the amount they have contributed and do not have the power to bind the LP.
If a limited partner engages in the management of the LP, he will be treated as a general partner and lose his limited liability regardless of whether a third party was aware of his participation.
An LP is registered under the Limited Partnerships Act and- in distinction to the LLP – does not have a legal personality separate from its partners, i.e. it cannot sue or be sued and does not have the right to own property in its own name.
Elements of the LP’s partnership agreement:
The responsibilities of the various partners for the running of the business
Obligations that the partners have to each other
Sharing of profits and liabilities of the firm amongst the partners
How a partner may leave the firm
Distribution of assets of the firm in case the partnership be dissolved
Note: LP is a relatively new business (2009) structure and many of the legal and tax issues have not yet been fully resolved.
Copyright © 2015 EnterAsia Information Services Pte Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Amy Schumer Says Husband Chris Fischer Is on the Autism Spectrum
by Jess Cohen | Mon., Mar. 18, 2019 11:54 AM
Amy Schumer has shared that her husband, Chris Fischer, has "autism spectrum disorder."
In her upcoming Netflix special, Amy Schumer Growing, the 37-year-old star opens up about her personal life, including her marriage to Fischer. The couple, who will welcome their first child together this year, recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary.
"I knew from the beginning that my husband's brain was a little different than mine," Schumer says in the Netflix special. "I have to start this over because I really want to get this right because I love him very much."
"My husband was diagnosed with what used to be called Asperger's. He has autism spectrum disorder. He's on the spectrum," Schumer continues. "And there were some signs early on."
Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer Wedding Photos
"Once he was diagnosed, it dawned on me how funny it was, because all of the characteristics that make it clear that he's on the spectrum are all of the reasons that I fell madly in love with him," Schumer tells the Chicago audience in her hour-long special. "That's the truth. He says whatever is on his mind. He keeps it so real. He doesn't care about social norms or what you expect him to say or do."
Amy Schumer Is Done Being Dirty...As Soon As She Stops Throwing Up
Schumer and chef Fischer married in a surprise ceremony in Malibu in Feb. 2018, just days after going public with their relationship. Jennifer Lawrence, Jake Gyllenhaal, Larry David and Judd Apatow were among the celeb guests in attendance at the wedding, during which comedian John Early presided over the ceremony.
Amy Schumer's Road to Motherhood
In late October, Schumer announced her pregnancy on friend Jessica Yellin's Instagram, writing "I'm pregnant—Amy Schumer" on a list of her candidate recommendation's for voters for the upcoming midterm elections.
You can watch Amy Schumer Growing on Netflix this Tuesday, March 19.
TAGS/ Amy Schumer , Couples , Apple News , Top Stories
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Demi Lovato's Dad Passes Away
by Brandi Fowler | Sun., Jun. 23, 2013 11:55 AM
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Demi Lovato's father has died.
A rep for the "Heart Attack" singer confirmed to E! News that Patrick Lovato passed away, after Demi's older sister Dallas tweeted, "Rest in peace daddy I love you," Saturday.
WATCH: Demi Lovato talks "the Place that saved my life" onstage in Chicago
Details regarding the circumstances of Patrick's death haven't been released, but he reportedly was battling cancer in the last couple of years, according to Radar Online.
The X Factor judge has yet to release a statement or comment about her father's death on any social networking sites, but her mother, Dianna De La Garza did, tweeting, "Thank you for the outpouring of love and prayers. Ya'll are amazing!'
Demi, who had been estranged from her father for years, told the New York Daily News in 2009 that she hadn't talked to her father since 2007.
"The last time I talked to him was two years ago," Demi said. "You try to have faith in somebody, even when you're the last person that believes in him. But when somebody lets you down after you've been the only one there for them, and so many times, you don't know what else to do. I had to cut off all connection. It was hurting me too much."
PHOTOS: Demi Lovato steps out looking like a Dynasty star
Demi also discussed her relationship with her father in her song "For the Love of a Daughter," singing in the lyrics, "It's been five years since we've spoken last and you can't take back what we never had," among other things.
According to the New York Daily News, Demi didn't attend a scheduled X Factor photo shoot Saturday after news broke.
Simon Cowell tweeted, "My thoughts are with you Demi," on Sunday.
—Additional reporting by Marcus Mulick
PHOTOS: Celebrity deaths—2013's fallen stars
TAGS/ Top Stories , Demi Lovato , Death , Family
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The Kaminkers. Sculptures for cities, villages and forests
14 April 2017 — 10 July 2017
The Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art is proud to present a show by two bright St. Petersburg sculptors — Dmitry Kaminker and his son Daniil Kaminker
Dynasty of artists who draw inspiration from nature
Variety of subjects and techniques
Total installation where the general statement does not negate a private one
They live and work in the “Artist’s Village”, founded by Dmitry 30 years ago in Shuvalovo, a suburb of St. Petersburg.
Most of the works selected for the show were born there, in the peaceful silence between a lake and a forest. The main materials are wood, stone, bronze, cardboard, paper and wax.
Dmitry Kaminker believes that an artist is not a showman, entertaining the public, but a shaman, who communicates with the spirits of ancestors and nature, and conveys their strength and values. This mystical component of the Kaminkers’ art comes along with the social aspects. As a result, the works by the father and the son receive not only plastic, but also mental expressiveness, and amaze the viewer with deep and paradoxical ideas, and laconic language.
The exhibition, which is a kind of visual philosophy, features Dmitry Kaminker’s works of different years and different techniques. Their thematic range extends from biblical subjects (“The Prodigal Son”, “Jacob Wrestling with the Angel”) to the absurd events of the XX century and the present days history.
The sizes of the works vary as well: from large-scale pieces to rather small ones. The small works are not intricate and self-sufficient sculptures, but the ideas for prospective urban sculptures — “minimonumentalism” as the author prefers to call them. Some of the projects have already been implemented in St. Petersburg, for example, “Oarsman”, “Blind Man”, “Organizer”. The monumental “Aviator” became the hallmark of Pulkovo Airport.
Daniil Kaminker has his own topics and mythology connected to nature: northern forests, swamps, roughly hewn timber. There are no obvious images of people in his works, but it is understood that “Compasses in the Swamp”, “Boot Stuck in the Quagmire” or “Ax” implicate the hidden presence of people.
“When a person enters a real forest he replaces compasses with overshoes. He has to plunge step and still gets bogged in the quagmire, — explains the artist's the absence of people. — A tree that was used for a sculpture, continues to live its life — it rots, cracks or on the contrary, sinks to the swamp bottom and get stained, freezes and petrifies”.
The dense, strange, gloomy and insecure world of Kaminker is inhabited not by people but by “Wolf-dog”, “Boar”, huge wooden “Lizard” and “Mosquito”. There you one also find a pickled cucumber made of a whole oak log.
These works are no longer crafts from the series “nature and fantasy”. Perhaps these are images of the unconscious, metaphors of the unknown and threats of the future, a philosophical reflection on the transience of life and the eternity of nature.
The show by Dmitry and Daniil Kaminker at Erarta Museum is designed as an installation, where large objects are combined with “minimonumentalism”, and the general statement does not negate the self-sufficiency of each work.
present exhibitions
31 May— 29 September 2019
Mario Testino: Superstar
14 June— 06 October 2019
Grame Studios: Signs and Sounds All Around
Georgy Frangulyan. Solid Line
15 May— 22 July 2019
Valeriy Pchelin & Igor Mikhailenko. Sacred Forest
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Crime And Punishment In The Civil War
By Robert Bateman
[link href='https://www.esquire.com/archives/blogs/politics/by_tag/Esquire%20Civil%20War%20Reenactment/15;1' link_updater_label='internal_full']
Long ago, when I was a commander, I had only a limited range of options to try and correct the behavior of soldiers who got out of line. The Uniformed Code of Military Justice (aka the UCMJ) precisely sets out the specifics of each of the laws that govern our behavior. From being "Absent Without Leave" (AWOL), to "Missing Movement," to "Disrespect to a Superior Non-Commissioned Officer," to "Cowardice in the Face of the Enemy," there are a whole host of laws that are unique to my profession.
Yell at your supervisor on the shop floor and he may dock your pay, depending upon the terms of your employment contract, but it is not a crime. A soldier who does the same to his battalion commander might find himself confined, working extra long days, his rank and pay permanently reduced. Each of our laws is designed for our abnormal existence.
Yet at the same time, the UCMJ is explicit in what punishments can be given out, and usually these are quite low level for almost all regular infractions. These might include a few days of working until 21:00 instead of 18:00 and losing your weekends for a month, perhaps being restricted to the barracks and the post for a week or two, or maybe a few hundred dollars taken from the paycheck for a month. Only for the most severe crimes, most of which are the same in the military as in the civilian world, does actual confinement enter the equation. And even then for anything of a serious nature, the full force and safeties built into the system come to the aid of the soldier. He gets a lawyer, who prepares a defense, and the number and depth of the protections of his rights is actually greater for a soldier than in just about any state or federal system of civilian legal process.
In the Civil War? Not so much.
I'll give you a typical first-hand account. This comes from the descriptions left by a man named Frank Wilkeson. He enlisted in the Army of the Potomac and served from late 1863 throughout the rest of the war.
"One punishment much affected in the light artillery was called 'tying on the spare wheel.' Springing upward and rearward from the center rail of every cassion was a fifth axel and on it was a spare wheel. A soldier who had been insubordinate was taken to the spare wheel and made to step upon it. His legs were drawn apart until they spanned three spokes. His arms were stretched until there were three or four spokes between his hands. Then the feet and hands were firmly bound to the felloes of the wheel. If the soldier was to be punished moderately then he was left, bound in an upright position on the wheel for five or six hours. If the punishment was to be severe, the ponderous wheel was given a quarter turn after the soldier had been lashed to it, which changed the position of the man from upright to horizontal. Then the prisoner had to exert all his strength to keep his weight from pulling heavily and cuttingly on the cords that bound his upper arm and leg to the wheel."
Men were also crippled by another not uncommon form of punishment known as "tying on the rack." This one also, obviously, involved bondage, but now the whole of a man's weight was focused on his chest, which was pressed against the edge of a piece of structural iron. In all cases, a gag was also used since the punishment was so painful that it always involved screaming. Wilkeson reported that he had seen men begged to be killed rather than be tied to the rack.
Then there was "bucking and gagging." Here the soldier would be forced to sit in the dirt and bring his knees up to his chest while his hands were brought around to the front where they were tied to his shins. Then they would take a stick or a rod and shove it over his arms but under his knees, gag him, and leave him there, often for hours.
And the list goes on and on. Tying men up by their thumbs for hours, for example, was another common means of "corrective discipline." There seems to have been no end to the potential for cruelty in the name of what the soldiers and officers of the era defined as "good order," and yet few of the memoirs of soldiers after the war mention any real disgust at what we would now consider torture. This, in part, was probably because of the changing nature of the armies.
In 1861 and 1862 both sides filled their ranks with volunteers. By 1863 the drain on manpower was so great that conscription came in and so-called "bounties" were being offered at both the state and federal levels.* Of course, those conscripted were not exactly happy about the issue, and those who "took a bounty" were often just as motivated to desert then go to another state and enlist for yet another bounty, repeating the process as much as they could. Discipline, therefore, went from a self-motivated one among men who had volunteered together for a cause, to one that was imposed by the system.
It is not our way anymore. In a way it shows how this period was "pre-modern" in many ways, despite the technologies beginning to appear everywhere.** Time and again in memoir after memoir, punishments like those I just described appear almost without comment. Indeed, in Wilkeson's case, with admiration, or at least resignation that this was just how it had to be to maintain discipline in the face of the worst war Americans have ever known.
*The "bounty" was usually a few hundred dollars, going up as time, and the war, went on. A similar trick was to act as a "substitute" for a rich man who had been drafted. This was permissible under the rules, and the going rate for that was often slightly more than that of a bounty.
**According to the OED, "modern" has a Latin root in a term which meant "just now." And there have been innumerable sociological, political, and historical arguments about the term and the concept of "modernity." But I particularly like one given to me by one of my advisers back in grad school. He pointed out the root of the word modern is, or at least could be, the Latin "modus," one meaning "to measure." And what are we measuring against? Well, ourselves of course. And so when you look at a particular era you can draw several possible interpretations by asking, "Were these people like us today?" (Or were their systems, or their politics, or their philosophies, etc.)
On Saturday I leave for several weeks of living in tents in warm and sunny rural Cornwall working with the British Army and many other nations. I may be difficult to reach beyond that point, but I will make sure that some of the upcoming fights and one speech are well covered next week. I can be reached at R_Bateman_LTC@hotmail.com.
The Man Who Literally Built 'Star Wars'
R2-D2: Star Wars ' Real Hero
Range War In Nevada
The Abortion Ministry of Dr. Willie Parker
The Esquire Guide to Sex: Positions, Tips and How-To Advice
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July 17, 2019 /in Uncategorized /by Lindsay
In funding led by Real Estate Technology Ventures, TurboTenant has raised $6.5 million in an effort to expand its marketing and development teams, and to fuel customer growth and product innovation.
Source: HousingWire Magazine
https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png 0 0 Lindsay https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png Lindsay2019-07-17 21:32:002019-07-17 21:32:00TurboTenant raises $6.5 million to support multifamily housing
Executives at the Minneapolis bank, who expect two Fed rate cuts this year, said they can rely on growth in noninterest income to soften the blow.
https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png 0 0 Lindsay https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png Lindsay2019-07-17 21:19:042019-07-17 21:19:04Fee momentum timely for U.S. Bancorp
While the mortgage industry is subject to more regulation today than ever before, the foundation of residential lending has not significantly changed. The system is still anchored around lenders and GSEs. Roostify aims to shift that focus with a customer-centric model that puts an emphasis on empathy and using customer data to create best-in-class experience.
https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png 0 0 Lindsay https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png Lindsay2019-07-17 21:15:002019-07-17 21:15:00The surprising benefits of designing a mortgage process based on empathy and data
The consumer bureau said banks are “uniquely positioned” to know if an elderly customer is being targeted by fraudsters.
https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png 0 0 Lindsay https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png Lindsay2019-07-17 20:20:192019-07-17 20:20:19CFPB urges financial institutions to report elder fraud cases
After FASB’s decision to give most banks extra time to prepare, lobbying groups are pushing for more.
https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png 0 0 Lindsay https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png Lindsay2019-07-17 20:16:182019-07-17 20:16:18Emboldened by CECL delay, industry seeks repeal
BofA's plan to sustain its consumer banking mojo
Bank of America says rate cuts could reinvigorate mortgages and that its digital and cards strategies will help it grab more market share to offset shrinking margins.
https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png 0 0 Lindsay https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png Lindsay2019-07-17 19:44:122019-07-17 19:44:12BofA's plan to sustain its consumer banking mojo
House lawmakers square off over Facebook's crypto plans
Democrats called on the social media company to halt its Libra project, while Republicans said Congress should keep the door open to innovation.
https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png 0 0 Lindsay https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png Lindsay2019-07-17 19:11:502019-07-17 19:11:50House lawmakers square off over Facebook's crypto plans
Illinois credit union buying Ben Franklin Financial
The former mutual, which had faced pressure from an activist investor, agreed to be sold to Corporate America Family Credit Union.
https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png 0 0 Lindsay https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png Lindsay2019-07-17 19:00:512019-07-17 19:00:51Illinois credit union buying Ben Franklin Financial
Ben Lane named Managing Editor of HousingWire
Ben Lane has been named Managing Editor of HousingWire, the nation’s leading source of news and information for the mortgage, real estate and fintech markets. In this leadership role, Lane will be responsible for HousingWire’s editorial strategy and execution. He will also play a highly visible role within the company and the housing industry in support of HousingWire’s mission of Moving Markets Forward.
https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png 0 0 Lindsay https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png Lindsay2019-07-17 18:43:002019-07-17 18:43:00Ben Lane named Managing Editor of HousingWire
Agricultural issues, borrower fraud to cut into Great Western's profit
The South Dakota company warned that it will charge off millions of dollars in loans to dairy and cattle farmers.
https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png 0 0 Lindsay https://www.esusa.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/equity-solutions-logo-red-q-resize-300x103.png Lindsay2019-07-17 18:38:452019-07-17 18:38:45Agricultural issues, borrower fraud to cut into Great Western's profit
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Oman Region
More choice to and from Paris
Etihad Airways expands codeshare agreement with Air Seychelles
Operated by Air Seychelles’ brightly-coloured Airbus A330-200 aircraft featuring 18 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 236 seats in Economy Class, the Air Seychelles flights will link the French capital’s Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport twice weekly with the Seychelles via Abu Dhabi.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has extended its codeshare agreement with Air Seychelles to include the island carrier’s new services between Paris and Abu Dhabi, scheduled to commence on 2 July 2014.
Etihad Airways will place its EY flight code on the new Air Seychelles services, providing guests and cargo customers with more travel options to and from France.
Etihad Airways flies twice daily between Paris CDG and Abu Dhabi, connecting to the Seychelles and more than 50 other destinations across the Gulf region, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Indian Subcontinent.
Beyond Paris CDG, the UAE flag carrier also offers connections with codeshare partners Air France and SNCF French Railways to more than 20 French domestic destinations and a further 10 European cities.
Kevin Knight, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “Our partner Air Seychelles’ return to Paris marks another milestone in its journey of growing its international operations by flying to and from more key destinations.
“France is also an important market for Etihad Airways, and providing more travel options between Paris and Abu Dhabi is central to our strategy of adding depth to our network.
“The new Air Seychelles twice weekly services will complement Etihad Airways’ existing twice daily operations between the two cities, facilitate more passenger and cargo traffic in both directions, and further cement the already strong trade, cultural and tourism ties between France, the UAE, and the Seychelles.”
Flights to Kuala Lumpur
https://www.etihad.com/en/deals/newsletter/
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Home Gateway Initiative smart home specifications published by ETSI
Sophia Antipolis, 29 November 2016
Three Home Gateway Initiative specifications have been published as Technical Specifications by ETSI. Following the closure of the Home Gateway Initiative in June 2016, work on the three specifications was transferred to ETSI. They have now been published using the ETSI Publicly Available Specification process.
The three specifications are ETSI TS 103 424, which deals with smart home architecture and system requirements, ETSI TS 103 425 which describes requirements for Wireless Home Area Networks (WHANs) supporting smart home services and ETSI TS 103 426 which contains requirements for HGI Open Platform 2.1 regarding modular software deployments on the home gateway. They are also available at http://www.homegatewayinitiative.org/links.
The ETSI Publicly Available Specification (PAS) process enables an organization which has signed an agreement with ETSI to submit one or more of its Publicly Available Specifications for adoption by ETSI as an ETSI Technical Specification or ETSI Technical Report. A Publicly Available Specification published as an ETSI Technical Specification benefits from ETSI's recognition as a European Standards Organization and reputation as a provider of standards for global use. Submitting a PAS to be published by ETSI can also be a first step towards it becoming a European Standard. These three specifications from the HGI are the first to be published by ETSI under its recently revised PAS process. Further information on the PAS process is available on the ETSI website.
Enrico Scarrone, chairman of ETSI SmartM2M Technical Committee, says: "HGI consulted closely with ETSI SmartM2M during the development of these key documents. This work complements our own work on smart appliances very well, and we're happy to integrate these HGI requirements into our family of specifications."
About ETSI
ETSI produces globally-applicable standards for Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), including fixed, mobile, radio, aeronautical, broadcast and internet technologies and is officially recognized by the European Union as a European Standards Organization. ETSI is an independent, not-for-profit association whose over 800 member companies and organizations, drawn from 66 countries, determine its work programme and participate directly in its work.
Claire Boyer
Mob: +33 (0)6 87 60 84 40
Email: claire.boyer@etsi.org
www.etsi.org
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News, Other, Webinars
4th EASLCE Webinar: Where is feminism in the environmental humanities?
Prof. Greta Gaard
September 28, 2013 – 4:00 PM Central European Standard Time
Host: Prof. Greta Gaard, University of Wisconsin
Moderator: Hannes Bergthaller, National Chung-Hsing University
Where is feminism in the environmental humanities and sciences? Was Rachel Carson a scientist, a creative nonfiction writer, or the foremother of environmental feminism? As Sandra Harding explains in her classic book, Whose Science? Whose Knowledge? (1991), “thinking from women’s lives” and women’s perspectives uncovers information that is often excluded by mainstream sciences—and climate change is a case in point. Within those nations and communities on the front lines of climate change, women bear the greatest hardships due to existing gender inequalities, poverty, lack of education and political voice. Yet, though organizations such as GenderCC, the Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), and even the United Nations regularly emphasize the critical importance of involving women’s experiences in planning strategies for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change, women—and their additional knowledge about climate change--are still largely excluded from leadership and participation in research and public policy decision-making.
This EASLCE Seminar is offered as a vehicle for exploring the role of feminism in the formation and development of the environmental humanities. Participants are invited to read a select set of essays with specific questions in mind, and to think critically, preparing themselves for an informed discussion, and noting other questions as they arise.
Participation is free and open to all EASLCE members, with preference given to graduate students.
Greta Gaard is an educator, writer, scholar and activist working at the intersections of literature, feminism, social and environmental justice. As an ecofeminist, Gaard worked within the U.S. Green movement for a decade, co-founding the Minnesota Green Party in 1993. Developments within the national movement, along with the contradictions between democracy and electoral politics, are described in her 1998 volume, Ecological Politics: Ecofeminists and the Greens. For the past decade, Gaard's activism has addressed issues of economic globalization, water democracy, maternal profiling, and interspecies justice. She is currently a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and a Community Faculty in Women's Studies at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, MN.
For more information about her work, please visit: http://gretagaard.efoliomn.com/
feminism, Greta Gaard, University of Wisconsin
2014 EASLCE-NIES Joint Conference: Framing Nature: Signs, Stories, and Ecologies of Meaning
Call for Papers: International Conference Encountering Australia: Transcultural Conversations (EASA)
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The MPI EVA Jakarta Field Station
Documentation of Betawi
The Javanese Dialect Mapping Project
Documentation of Kenyah
Language Contact in Indonesia
Linguistic Field Work in Riau Province, Indonesia
Documentation of Ternate Malay
Endangered Moluccan Languages: Eastern Indonesia & the Dutch diaspora
Traditional Jambi Malay
Acquisition of Jakarta Indonesian
The Phonology of Jakarta Indonesian
The Acquisition of Passive Voice in English and Indonesian
→→Linguistics→Past Research & Resources→Jakarta Field Station→The Phonology of Jakarta Indonesian
Uri Tadmor
Given the importance of Jakarta Indonesian, it was surprising that its phonology had never been systematically described and analyzed. This project aimed to correct this situation.
Of all varieties of Malay-Indonesian, Jakarta Indonesian probably has the largest number of native speakers. It is based on Betawi, the language of the indigenous inhabitants of Jakarta, but has been influenced by formal Indonesian. In addition to serving as an interethnic koine in and around Jakarta, it is also the first language of most people born in the city since the middle of the 20th century. Jakarta Indonesian is now rapidly becoming the language of choice for educated urban speakers throughout Indonesia, and is also widely used on radio and television as well as in films. A written style of Jakarta Indonesian is used in youth magazines, Internet chats, and even a daily newspaper.
It should be emphasized, however, that in addition to its intrinsic importance, Jakarta Indonesian also exhibits a number of unique phonological patterns not attested in other varieties of Malay-Indonesian. Often, these patterns are due to the influence of neighboring languages, such as Javanese and Sundanese. We aimed to describe the inventory of segments, allophonic and morpho-phonemic alternations, and prosodic system, as well as the major phonological processes of Jakarta Indonesian. Particular attention was paid to patterns of variation.
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Not Yet Ready for Prime Time, But Almost
By bbrown on June 10, 2001 at 12:00 am
Speeds 432Kbps (symmetric data channel /bidirectional) or 721Kbps (asymmetric/single direction)
Connection via 2.4GHz radio frequency
Rated distance between devices 10 meters (approx 33 feet)
Maximum number of devices 8
Adapter form factors available PC Card and USB. Later versions will be integrated. The first products available are Toshiba’s and IBM’s Bluetooth PC Cards. Ericsson sells a Bluetooth headset that works with specific model Ericsson phones with plug-in Bluetooth modules
Average adapter cost per PC $190 (PC Card versions), prices expected to drop to $100 per adapter this year. Eventually the incremental cost of integrated Bluetooth is expected to be less than $20, but not this year
Other components required None for communication between devices
Greatest advantages Best used for synchronization and short distance cable replacement for PCs, PDAs and other mobile devices, and peripherals
Greatest disadvantages Short range, slow speed. Potential problem with interference with other 2.4GHz devices and networks. Continued delays, Bluetooth is already two years late. While Microsoft and Intel have demonstrated limited Windows ME support for device discovery and management at trade shows in the past year, Microsoft has recently informed us there is no support for Bluetooth in any current version of Windows, including XP
Smart Move Wait until the price comes down before considering it and then don’t consider it for serious home networking. Possible use as a complementary technology to 802.11b and HomeRF
Questionable Move Spending a lot of money now for an over-hyped, low-performance technology to use for home networking
The Future A faster version of Bluetooth may be approved in the version 2.0 specification, but don’t hold your breath
Bluetooth wasn’t conceived for use as a home networking technology, but for short-range cable replacement with automatic device discovery. Excruciatingly slow time-to-market progress, growing questions about interference with other networks and devices, and cost of implementation in devices are major concerns. Bluetooth is probably inevitable for replacing cables, perhaps as early as mid-2001, but don’t consider it for home networking.
If you’re be-deviled by too many cables to connect your PC(s) with peripherals such as printers and scanners and to synchronize with or exchange data with PDAs and other mobile electronic devices, Bluetooth technology has promise for easing your pain. The concept behind Bluetooth was to establish a single standard for an integrated, short range, low-speed, low-cost, wireless technology that would be somewhat intelligent (devices would recognize each other automatically when in range). So far the short range (Bluetooth is rated to work up to 10 meters, or roughly 30 feet) and low data-rate capabilities have been demonstrated, but the first devices are external adapters rather than built in and those few that are available are fairly expensive.
The first Bluetooth PC card adapters from Toshiba and IBM cost just under $200, hardly the promised low cost solution. Other vendors should have PC card and USB adapters available in Q1 and Q2 2001, with expected prices averaging from $100 to $125 . In the long term, when Bluetooth radios are built into PCs, peripherals, phones, cameras, PDAs, and many other business, professional, and personal devices, the incremental cost is supposed to come way down–that was part of the design promise.
Bluetooth operates in the 2.4HGz radio spectrum and uses frequency hopping. The design goal is for devices to be recognized when they come in range of each other and be able to work together automatically–helpful, for example, for synchronizing data between your phone, PDA, PC, and devices in your car. The way this technology is supposed to work is that, for example, your personal devices would be automatically detected and would hop about the frequency range in the same sequence, effectively shutting out someone else’s devices. This technology has yet to be demonstrated.
A significant concern has been raised about conflict between Bluetooth and 802.11b wireless networks. Both technologies use the 2.4GHz spectrum. While WiFi (802.11b) is a DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) technology and Bluetooth uses frequency hopping, various test labs have demonstrated interference with transmission from an 802.11b access point when a Bluetooth radio is introduced within range of the access point. While the 802.11b network is not shut down by Bluetooth interference, the data transmission speed is affected. Some manufacturers have described the degradation as “elegant” or “graceful” and have said most home users won’t notice, while others have said network traffic will come to a near standstill. Several companies are working on solutions to this conflict, but none are shipping yet.
At this time, the eventual importance of Bluetooth can be compared to the slow evolution of Microsoft Windows: it took much longer than expected or promised and early versions didn’t deliver much, but eventually it became the ruling standard.
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Review: Canon EOS D30 Digital Camera
By lfreed on June 10, 2001 at 12:00 am
Canon’s EOS D30 ($3000 list price) is Canon’s first solo foray into the digital SLR market. (Previous Canon Digital SLRs were built under a joint marketing agreement with Kodak and sold under the Canon and Kodak names.) The D30 is an all-new design, taking styling and operational cues from other members of the EOS family. Unlike the Fuji S1 and Kodak/Canon cameras, the D30 was designed from scratch to be a digital camera.
As long as they were starting fresh, Canon’s engineers decided to develop a new and unique image sensor for the D30. Canon’s 3.25 megapixel CMOS image sensor measures 22 x 14.9mm, about 2.3 the size of a 36 x 24mm film frame. (See “CMOS vs. CCD Technologies” for more technical details on the CMOS sensor.)
The D30 is a significant product for several reasons. It is the first high-quality camera to use a CMOS imaging sensor. Now that Canon has broken new ground on the CMOS front, we expect to see more new CMOS-based products from Canon and other vendors. Second, Canon has used the D30 to attack three of the most common criticisms of digital cameras: Performance, complexity, and battery life. The D30 handles and feels just like a 35mm SLR and is easy to use, thanks to excellent ergonomics and a best-in-class menu system. Canon’s inclusion of a high capacity, fast-charging LiOn battery–coupled with the CMOS sensor’s reduced power consumption–gives the D30 outstanding battery life.
A Quick Tour
The D30 is exceptionally small for a digital SLR, but it weighs in at a hefty 30 ounces (with battery), significantly more than a typical film camera. The D30’s shape and size is almost identical to Canon’s new Elan 7 35mm camera. Users with large hands may actually find the D30 to be a bit difficult to hold. Canon offers an accessory grip ($250) that increases the camera’s size without adding much weight. The grip holds two battery packs (and doubles the camera’s operating time) and provides a second shutter release that is ideal for vertical shots.
From the front, the D30 looks like a 35mm film camera. Like other cameras in the EOS line, the D30 body features a rubberized handgrip on the right side, with key controls–including exposure lock, autofocus selector, and a multi-purpose control dial – grouped around the shutter release button. The camera’s top panel includes a large, readable LCD display (which is, unfortunately, not backlit for nighttime use), with buttons to control flash exposure, drive mode, autofocus mode, and white balance located next to the LCD. The LCD display shows just about everything you need to know about the camera’s settings at a glance and includes white balance mode, shutter speed and aperture, image size and compression settings, and a counter that shows the number of frames remaining on the storage media.
A pop-up flash sits atop the camera’s prism and is activated either automatically by the camera (in full-automatic mode) or manually by pressing a recessed button on the left side of the prism. A small white light next to the grip does double duty as an autofocus assist light and a red-eye reduction light. A knob on the top left side of the camera selects among 11 exposure modes, including fully manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, Program mode (camera selects optimal speed and aperture), and a fully automatic mode. The D30 also has five pre-programmed modes for common shooting situations like scenery, sports, nighttime shots, close-ups, and portraits.
As soon as you see the D30’s rear panel, it’s clear that this isn’t a film camera. A 1.8″ color LCD screen sits directly below the viewfinder, with a row of buttons along the left edge of the screen. The color screen is small but bright, and is easy to see in all but the brightest sunlight. A clever command dial to the right of the screen provides quick access to the D30’s menu options, and a button in the center of the dial makes it easy to select an option without taking your thumb off the dial. In normal shooting mode, the command dial functions as an exposure compensation dial; simply turning the dial one way or the other increases or decreases the camera’s exposure settings. An on/off switch next to the dial keeps you from accidentally changing the settings–if you remember to turn the switch to “off.”
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Airbnb goes Hollywood: Ahead of IPO, travel app to develop streaming shows
Chief executive Brian Chesky is reportedly the driving force behind developing creative content to advance Airbnb’s brand.
[Photos: Toa Heftiba/Unsplash; Karl JK Hedin/Unsplash]
By Nicole LaPorte 1 minute Read
Move over Netflix, Amazon, and Apple: Airbnb is coming to Hollywood.
The home rental startup is making moves to enter the original content business, with the aim of creating TV shows and movies, according to a report in Reuters.
Airbnb cofounder and CEO Brian Chesky “wants to create a studio,” one source said. His mentality is, “Let’s do shows. Let’s do films, because we want to be travel-everything.”
The idea is to further distinguish the Airbnb brand, giving it an edge over competitors like Booking.com and Expedia, as the company–valued at $31 billion–prepares for an IPO next year.
It’s a page out of a now-familiar playbook, whereby tech companies (Apple, Facebook, Amazon) differentiate themselves and grow their user bases by offering original content to users. But as those companies have proven, it takes a lot of money–billions each year in content budget–and often involves a steep, creative learning curve (see: Apple). It has also not proven to generate profit margins (see: Netflix).
But Airbnb executives feel that original content could stoke interest in the homes featured on their app and website, and could encourage more travel plans. In other words, its market valuing could outweigh economic incentives.
Videos could also show users how simple Airbnb is to use. “The more we put content out there, the more you’re going to bring people to the platform,” Chris Lehane, Airbnb’s communications head, told Reuters.
As for the logistics of how Airbnb’s entertainment push would work, Lehane stressed, “We’re very much in the R&D phase here.”
Indeed, the shows and movies could be streamed on the Airbnb app. But they may wind up on other platforms as well. TBD!
Airbnb has already dipped its toe in original content. It developed and produced the documentary Gay Chorus Deep South, which follows the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus on a tour across the South. It is premiering at the TriBeCa Film Festival next week. And the company worked on Home, a show about different homes around the world and the people behind them. Home will debut on Apple’s new streaming service.
By creating entertainment, Airbnb will give its half a billion users even more reason to stay within the Airbnb ecosystem. Beyond renting homes, the Airbnb app now allows users to make restaurant reservations. It has said it will soon provide transportation booking services.
“It’s all part of the efforts to broaden the base,” said one source. “To make what they do more mainstream.”
Nicole LaPorte is an LA-based senior writer for Fast Company who writes about where technology and entertainment intersect. She previously was a columnist for The New York Times and a staff writer for Newsweek/The Daily Beast and Variety
Entertainment Newsletter
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Another big apartment project in the works
By Al Edenloff on Jul 8, 2019 at 11:05 p.m.
Make way for another big apartment complex in Alexandria.
Kinkead Apartments will be a four-story, 128,000-square-foot facility off of 50th Avenue, south of the Knute Nelson Grand Arbor campus. It will provide 103 units of mixed income housing with one, two or three bedrooms. Twenty percent of the units will be available to those with low to moderate incomes.
The $15.5 million project also calls for green space, a dog park, in-room laundry, a fitness center and garages.
The developer is Kinkead Apartments LLC — a partnership between James Deal, Pamela Deal and Matt Kuker. They also built the Runestone and Granite Manor apartments north of the new complex.
The developer agreed to cover the construction of a new public road, Arbor Crossing.
Since the project would provide some low-income housing, the developer is seeking tax increment financing to help pay for the road and some of the development costs. At its meeting Monday night, the Alexandria City Council scheduled a public hearing for the TIF request on Aug. 26.
Workforce housing was a driving force for the project.
"Douglas County and the city of Alexandria are substantially lacking on the number of affordable/workforce housing units available," the developer stated in the TIF application. "Currently, that need is in excess of 200 units."
The developer also expects the project to spur other development in the area, which also includes the Alexandria Area High School.
"This building, in addition to the first and second phases of apartments we have built and along with Knute Nelson, will drive traffic that will assist in the demand to develop the nine commercial acres across from the high school.
Another apartment project gets tax break
Also at Monday's meeting, the developer of another apartment project — a three-story, 36-unit building estimated to cost $5.6 million — received a tax break.
The council approved a tax increment financing request from Central Lakes Housing LLC, a partnership between D.W. Jones and the Alexandria Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
A public hearing was held before the vote but no one from the public spoke.
With TIF, property values are frozen at the current amount for a specified period of time and the new higher taxes that would normally be paid once the property is redeveloped are diverted to help cover some of the costs of the project.
This TIF request is a bit different because it does not yet have a specific time period when the TIF will be in place. Nicole Fernholz, director of the Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission, said a note of $539,402 will be issued to the developer and the length of the note will depend on the interest rate, market value and inflation rate. It will be added at a later date, she said.
The city benefits because the developed property will ultimately generate more taxes. In this case, the market value of the property, currently at $57,200, is expected to increase to nearly $4 million after it's developed.
The 50,000-square-foot apartment complex, known as Central Lakes Apartments I, will be constructed on two acres of vacant land the developer already owns on Runestone Place, west of Birch Avenue and Lake Geneva.
The developers said the project will provide both affordable and market rate workforce housing, which are in short supply.
Plans call for two studio apartments, 14 one-bedroom units, 17 two-bedroom and three three-bedroom units. Eight units will be income and rent restricted to those with incomes no more than 50 percent of the median income in Douglas County.
All units will have a deck or patio and the building will have a community room with kitchen. Plans also call for a shared playground area and 20 detached heated garages.
The project is being partially funded by a $1 million workforce housing grant the city received from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. It requires a $1 match for every $2 provided in funds. Establishing the TIF district will fulfill the city's match requirement.
Back in April, the council approved a TIF request for Central Lakes Apartments II, a $6.9 million project that includes 33 units, all for low-income and homeless people. Central Lakes II is applying for housing tax credits through the state.
This latest project is a different project that will be mixed-income housing. The two apartment buildings will be adjacent to each other and the buildings will look similar.
The project is expected to begin this September and be completed in July 2020.
Explore related topics:Newsgovernment and politicsAlexandria City CouncilapartmentsKinkead ApartmentsCentral Lakes ApartmentsTax increment financing
Al Edenloff
Al Edenloff is the news and opinion page editor for the Echo Press. He was born in Alexandria and lived most of his childhood in Parkers Prairie. He graduated with honors from Moorhead State University with a degree in mass communications, print journalism. He interned at the Echo Press in the summer of 1983 and was hired a year later as a sports reporter. He also worked as a news reporter/photographer. Al is a four-time winner of the Minnesota Newspaper Association's Herman Roe Award, which honors excellence in editorial writing.
AEdenloff@echopress.com
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Alycia Putnam
Alycia Putnam - The Gremlin (preview)
Genre: Celtic
Since being inspired at the age of nine when she saw Natalie MacMaster in concert, Alycia Putnam has been working on her fiddle chops and a deep repertoire of foot-stompin' tunes. The result of this dedication has been three solo albums and thousands of live performances spanning the globe from Pictou to Amsterdam, and back to Pictou.
Alycia's most recent album, the much anticipated Wired for Sound, includes 13 tracks of traditional to more eclectic fiddle music and the immense talent of 10 of the province's most well-known musicians.
Since her performing career took off in the late 90's, Alycia has amassed a network of artists she regularly adds to her live performances depending on what's needed for the gig. Her core family band (her dad, Robert, on guitar; her mom, Kelly, on bagpipes; and Matt MacLellan on percussion) can be expanded to feature bass, vocals, banjo, mandolin, and a suite of other sounds depending on who's footing the bill. Regardless of the band's composition, this live show has something for everyone and is a must-see for anybody who loves Cape-Breton-style fiddle music played by a mainlander.
Photo by Portraits by Johanna
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Notes of a Magaziner VIII
Issue #22 (June 1983)
One of my favorite rooms in the enormous (by today's standards) house on the Ohio River where I grew up was the library. In memory I can still see the polished mahogany bookcases, with their hinged glass doors which could be raised and slid back over the tops of the books. And such books! There was a run of bound volumes of The Century; several bound volumes of St. Nicholas, one of them containing Charles F. Carryl's wonderful story, "Davy and the Goblin, or What Followed Reading 'Alice's [quoteright]Adventures in Wonderland'." (It contained the original version of "A Capital Ship for an Ocean Trip...," once a familiar - and much sung - selection in high school song books). There was an autographed copy of Ben Hur, by Lew Wallace; my foster father, General Healy, was his fellow officer during the Civil War. And the romantic novels of Winston Churchill, no relation to the Prime Minister. And that marvelous volume, "Wit and Wisdom of the Ages" - still funny, even today...
It naturally follows, then, that one of my favorite essays is one that appeared in Appleton's Journal (December 1881), titled On the Buying of Books. The author analyzed private libraries into types, and claimed that "a very short examination of a library is sufficient to enable one to describe the owner in general and unmistakable terms."
"Everyone, for instance, knows the great, solid mahogany bookcase, perhaps two or three such cases -- filled from top to bottom with inherited books which once belonged to a scholar of the family long deceased... All the books of the original collection which were not handsomely bound have long since been sent away and sold at a shilling a volume, sorted out. Those in leather backs were retained to stand in rows and act as furniture... But the soul of his collection is gone: the duodecimos which he read in daily, the tattered old volumes that helped his research and stimulated his thought, the actual food of his brain - these have vanished; what is left is the mere shell. This is the Furniture Library...
"The Furniture Library never gets a new book added to it. But even this poor dead and dispirited thing is better than the Flimsy Library, common among persons who have had no scholar in their family... They are the books that used to be presented to young ladies - ten, twenty, thirty, forty years ago, according to the age of the house. The titles vary, but the taste remains the same: they are books on the domestic affections, the immortal works of Mesdames Ellis, Hemans, Sigourney, Sewell, and Yonge... and there are one or two "Handbooks." The Flimsy Library can go no further.
"A third class of library, and a very common one, may be called the Railway Library. It consists of two-shilling novels - nothing else - each one representing a railway journey... There is the Fashionable Library, in which every volume marks a passing phase in literary fashion in genre printing, or binding, from the Minerva school down to a ballade or villanelle; there is the Casual Library, in which the books seem to have been bought by the yard, just to fill up the shelves; the Technical Library, in which the seeker after literature finds the Dead Sea apples of scientific and professional works.. the Milk-and-Water Library, most of the books in which are at least thirty years of age, and were written by ladies who wore a velvet band about their brows, and were great on morals, and knew how to value their Christian privileges.., and finally, the Good Library, in which one may sit among the best, the wisest, the most delightful, the wittiest, the tenderest men who have ever lived and written for our solace and instruction - happy heaven be their lot! And oh, dear me! how rare it is to find such a library!"
In a later section of the article, the author deplores the practice of book publishers of coming out with badly assembled editions of the classics, often containing inferior or wholly inappropriate illustrations. Pernicious as this practice was, it seems to me insignificant when compared to the modern practice of one publisher (The Franklin Library -- a branch of the Franklin Mint) who, not content with the ridiculous practice of printing on the spine of its leather-bound volumes "First Edition," has now escalated to "Autographed First Edition." It must be clear to everyone that such volumes are, indeed, intended for a Furniture Library with which to impress the plebs, and which will vastly amuse, if not disgust, the cognoscenti. One can only marvel that any reputable author can be found willing to lend his name -- and signature - to so debased a practice. O, tempora, O mores!
Paul W. Healy. Notes of a Magaziner VIII. Issue #22 (6/1983) The Ecphorizer (www.ecphorizer.com)
Ecphorizer: Notes of a Magaziner VIII
One of my favorite rooms in the enormous (by today's standards) house on the Ohio River where I grew up was the library. In memory I can still see the polished mahogany bookcases, with their hinged glass doors which could be raised and slid back over the tops of the books. And such books! There was a run of bound volumes of The Century; several bound volumes of St. Nicholas, one of them containing Charles F. Carryl's wonderful story, "Davy and the Goblin, or What Followed Reading 'Alice's [quoteright]Adventures in Wonderland'." (It contained the original version of "A Capital Ship for an Ocean Trip...," once a familiar - and much sung - selection in high school song books). There was an autographed copy of Ben Hur, by Lew Wallace; my foster father, General Healy, was his fellow officer during the Civil War. And the romantic novels of Winston Churchill, no relation to the Prime Minister. And that marvelous volume, "Wit and Wisdom of the Ages" - still funny, even today... It naturally follows, then, that one of my favorite essays is one that appeared in Appleton's Journal (December 1881), titled On the Buying of Books. The author analyzed private libraries into types, and claimed that "a very short examination of a library is sufficient to enable one to describe the owner in general and unmistakable terms." "Everyone, for instance, knows the great, solid mahogany bookcase, perhaps two or three such cases -- filled from top to bottom with inherited books which once belonged to a scholar of the family long deceased... All the books of the original collection which were not handsomely bound have long since been sent away and sold at a shilling a volume, sorted out. Those in leather backs were retained to stand in rows and act as furniture... But the soul of his collection is gone: the duodecimos which he read in daily, the tattered old volumes that helped his research and stimulated his thought, the actual food of his brain - these have vanished; what is left is the mere shell. This is the Furniture Library... "The Furniture Library never gets a new book added to it. But even this poor dead and dispirited thing is better than the Flimsy Library, common among persons who have had no scholar in their family... They are the books that used to be presented to young ladies - ten, twenty, thirty, forty years ago, according to the age of the house. The titles vary, but the taste remains the same: they are books on the domestic affections, the immortal works of Mesdames Ellis, Hemans, Sigourney, Sewell, and Yonge... and there are one or two "Handbooks." The Flimsy Library can go no further. "A third class of library, and a very common one, may be called the Railway Library. It consists of two-shilling novels - nothing else - each one representing a railway journey... There is the Fashionable Library, in which every volume marks a passing phase in literary fashion in genre printing, or binding, from the Minerva school down to a ballade or villanelle; there is the Casual Library, in which the books seem to have been bought by the yard, just to fill up the shelves; the Technical Library, in which the seeker after literature finds the Dead Sea apples of scientific and professional works.. the Milk-and-Water Library, most of the books in which are at least thirty years of age, and were written by ladies who wore a velvet band about their brows, and were great on morals, and knew how to value their Christian privileges.., and finally, the Good Library, in which one may sit among the best, the wisest, the most delightful, the wittiest, the tenderest men who have ever lived and written for our solace and instruction - happy heaven be their lot! And oh, dear me! how rare it is to find such a library!" In a later section of the article, the author deplores the practice of book publishers of coming out with badly assembled editions of the classics, often containing inferior or wholly inappropriate illustrations. Pernicious as this practice was, it seems to me insignificant when compared to the modern practice of one publisher (The Franklin Library -- a branch of the Franklin Mint) who, not content with the ridiculous practice of printing on the spine of its leather-bound volumes "First Edition," has now escalated to "Autographed First Edition." It must be clear to everyone that such volumes are, indeed, intended for a Furniture Library with which to impress the plebs, and which will vastly amuse, if not disgust, the cognoscenti. One can only marvel that any reputable author can be found willing to lend his name -- and signature - to so debased a practice. O, tempora, O mores!
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Think Equal: women's health, Nepal
08.03.2019 In: News, FIGO news, Family Planning, Women's Health & Rights
Well-being is not just the absence of illness and injury.
Gender equality, with investment in gender-responsive services and infrastructure that meets the needs of women and girls, is essential for a world where all women achieve the highest possible standards of physical, mental, reproductive and sexual health throughout their lives.
As the global voice for women’s health, FIGO believes that the challenges women face – in their choices, pathologies and safety – cannot be solved in clinical isolation.
We asked Dr Kusum Thapa, President of NESOG (Nepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists), National Coordinator for FIGO's PPIUD project in Nepal, and Senior Maternal Health Advisor at Jhpiego, about the barriers she sees to equal access of public services and sustainable infrastructure in Nepal, and innovations that are raising the status of women.
How can we work together to improve women’s health and gender equality?
Collective action is our shared responsibility, driving a gender-balanced world.
As women in medicine, we want to protect, promote and advance women’s health in general. To do this, we need to be able to gender balance the workspace: to design, plan and implement innovative solutions that address the emergent and intractable women’s health problems on a global scale.
Change should be based in the principles of integrated innovation, multisector collaboration, responsive design and rigorous evaluation of what is effective in the local context. Not only in maternal health, but women’s health in the broadest sense. We want to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women in all the sectors.
Access to public services is essential for health and wellbeing, particularly primary care: but there is often a dangerous gap between men and women, rural and urban. Please could you address the biggest challenge you see for women in Nepal when it comes to accessing public services?
Gender stereotyping and discrimination are the biggest challenges I see for women in Nepal when it comes to access. It creates obstacles, not only to reproductive health services like contraceptive and abortion, but public services in general.
Stereotyping women as mothers within marriages is seen in policy and practice across Asia and the deeply patriarchal structure we live in. Marital status remains a pre-requisite for women to obtain sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) services in Nepal. Single women, unmarried women and women with different gender identities are unable to access SRHR services to the same extent.
Women are still dying of traditional harmful practices like Chaupadi (menstrual hut) and around 41 percent of women are married before the legal age, further increasing the rate of teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality.
Lack of education, infrastructure, lack of commitment and strong political will to implement on the ground further perpetuates the magnitude of the problems, despite strong polices in paper.
How is NESOG working to advance gender equity when it comes to access to public services?
NESOG is committed to advancing gender equity and access to public services. We have trained our frontline providers in gender sensitivity, and our approach to women’s health has always been women-centred. We are constantly striving to attain target 5.6 of Goal 5 on the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and empower women to make informed decisions regarding health services.
Evidence demonstrates that where women’s right to health, including sexual and reproductive health, is upheld, they are more able to claim their education, work, and equality within the family and beyond. Approaching these issues in an integrated way is critical.
One of the ways we do this is through partnering with FIGO on the Postpartum IUD (PPIUD) Project. The project increases the capacity of healthcare workers to provide more comprehensive family planning options, specifically in the postpartum period.
OBGYNs are on the frontline of women’s health, and change. What is the most exciting innovation you have seen when it comes to accelerating progress for gender equality in your field?
The most gratifying and innovative work for me has been in response to gender-based violence in Nepal. Practices such as early marriage, forced marriage, non-spousal violence and other forms of exploitation still prevail, and I was lucky enough to take a lead in the healthcare response.
The Nepalese government has taken important steps to combat gender-based violence, and NESOG has been supporting a national protocol and training package on 'Health Response to Gender Based Violence for Frontline Health Workers' alongside Jhpiego and UNFPA. I feel fortunate to be working in an organisation which has these principles at heart. Nepal now has a Domestic Violence Act, government funding for programs on gender violence, and a hotline for survivors to register complaints.
We need to ensure that frontline health workers are equipped with the knowledge and skills to care for women suffering from gender-based violence. There is no unified training for health care workers to identify survivors, provide medical and emotional support, or carry out the necessary documentation and referrals. In many cases, medical evidence is not properly recorded, leading to low prosecution and conviction rates for rape cases.
Can you share a story that illustrates why healthcare systems must respond more directly to the specific healthcare needs of women and girls?
It is a chilly night in rural hospital in Nepal. I have been asked to attend a young woman who is lying in a pool of blood as nurses rush around her. A mother of three small daughters, she is four months pregnant and badly beaten. After resisting her husband’s demands to terminate the pregnancy, she has paid a heavy price.
The woman had visited the health facility twice before, once with a black eye, once with bruises all over her back and arms. She said that she had fallen down the stairs.
If the provider had spent more time with her to understand the situation, she might not have been a victim of a repeat incident. The role of medical staff in identifying violence and providing non-judgemental, supportive treatment is key - but all too often this is done poorly, if at all.
Fortunately, Sita survived. But despite all our efforts, we could not save her unborn child.
Gender-based violence is a grave social and human rights concern affecting virtually all societies. Effective plans to strengthen health facilities and equip health workers to deal with gender-based violence are of utmost importance and could save lives.
Think Equal: women's health, South Africa
06.03.2019 In: News, FIGO news, Health for All, Maternal Health
Dr Priya Soma-Pillay, South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, on the barriers she sees to equal access of public services and sustainable infrastructure.
Think Equal: women's health, USA
Dr Jeanne Conry, FIGO President Elect, on why investing in women is an investment in this and future generations.
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Will Brexit uncertainty fuel the remortgage market?: Barclays Quarterly Review
Craig Calder | Barclays
"Even stronger levels of Brexit uncertainty continued to fuel the remortgage market, with buyers keen to lock into the option of a lower rate."
In our Q3 remortgage market review I pointed to the £82bn worth of market maturities which were set to take place over the last four months of 2018, so how did such a wealth of opportunity translate into business volumes?
Before we delve into this, let’s take a whistle-stop tour of remortgage activity outside the English borders in Q3.
Remortgage activity showed steady gains, with 4,900 new Welsh homeowner remortgages completed in the third quarter, some 2.1% more than in the same quarter a year earlier. The £0.61bn worth of remortgage business was 8.9% more year-on-year.
Strong remortgage activity was cited as 9,200 new Scottish homeowner remortgages completed in the third quarter,13.6% more than Q3 2017. The £1.18bn of remortgaging was 18% more year-on-year.
1,800 new homemover mortgages were reported to have completed in Northern Ireland in Q3, a rise of 5.9% compared with the same quarter in 2017. The £0.24bn of new lending represented a 4.3% year-on-year increase.
This is according to data from UK Finance. In summary, remortgaging remained strong across the UK, reflecting the large number of fixed rate loans coming to an end as well as a strong customer desire to lock into new competitive rates.
Entering into Q4, remortgaging was reported to have hit its highest level in almost a decade. UK Finance’s Mortgage Trends Update for October 2018 revealed that there were 50,500 new homeowner remortgages completed in the month, some 23.2% more than in October 2017. The £9.2bn worth of remortgaging was suggested to have increased 22.7% year-on-year.
This performance certainly reflected the optimism and opportunities generated within the remortgage market. October was also a month when we released the findings from our 2018 Barclays Home Improvement Report. One of the main take-outs being that the average Brit now stays in their property for 19 years before moving, and regularly updates their home in this time. The report emphasised just how many homeowners are committed to doing up their homes. In fact, a huge 79% of homeowners made home improvements over the past two years, and 73% wanted to make improvements over the next 12 months. Figures which further underlined the potential attached to this sector.
In November, property buyers and sellers were suggested to have sat tight due to Brexit uncertainty, with sales expectations for the coming three months hitting the lowest level since the EU referendum result.
A report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said that the number of people looking for a new home fell in November, with the net balance of -21% down from -15% in October. It added that the number of new properties being listed for sale fell for the fifth consecutive report and the number of new appraisals by property valuers was also down in comparison to a year earlier.
But how did this affect the remortgage market?
Well, after reaching its highest level, data from UK Finance showed steadying levels of activity in November. Breaking this down there were said to be 39,600 new homeowner remortgages completed in the month, up 1.3% from November 2017. The £6.8bn worth of remortgaging business reported over the course of the month was the same year-on-year.
At the time of writing, there are no official figures released for December, but even stronger levels of Brexit uncertainty continued to fuel the remortgage market, with buyers keen to lock into the option of a lower rate before the end of March. To help highlight this, Moneyfacts reported that the motivation to remortgage is at an 11-year high, in part, due to the difference between a fixed rate two years ago and current SVRs.
The average two-year fix was 2.31% in January 2017, while the average SVR was suggested to be around 4.9% – a gap of 2.59%. According to Moneyfacts calculations, reverting to an SVR could lead to borrowers seeing a monthly increase in their mortgage bill of nearly £280 (based on a 25-year term £200,000 mortgage), or £3,352 a year. Remortgaging at an average two-year rate of 2.53% would decrease payments by nearly £260 a month, or just over £3,000 a year.
Seeing the potential pounds and pence value attached to remortgaging can really hit home with clients. Especially in times when more and more homeowners are looking to improve rather than move and lock into deals that not only save them money but also provide additional security.
Q1 will be interesting period for the financial services industry and the whole of the UK. Whilst I expect activity levels to be slow and steady, I don’t foresee any major let-up in the demand for the raft of highly competitive remortgage deals currently on offer.
More from Special Features
Latest from Property Reporter
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Spielberg's Ready Player One booting up in 2017
Steven Spielberg is gearing up to shoot Ready Player One, the long-awaited adaptation of Ernest Cline's sci-fi novel, for a 2017 release date. Warner Bros., Dreamworks and Village Roadshow will produce the film, as written by Zak Penn.
Cline's book is a detailed homage to '80s popular culture, framed through a virtual reality gaming portal called OASIS. Set in a futuristic America that's so run down people retreat within the simulation for sanctuary, the plot follows Wade Watts, a dedicated retro geek and gamer. His addiction to OASIS becomes more valuable when its creator, James Halliday, dies and leaves a series of puzzles and riddles encoded within the system.
What's deemed most troublesome about the adaptation is the nature of those riddles - they're all interwoven with real world pop culture icons from the '70s and '80s. If Spielberg's going to do the book justice, he's going to have to grease a few wheels to secure the rights to any relevant properties owned by other studios.
Ready Player One opens on December 15, 2017.
For more great film and TV news, head to our movie channel or subscribe to SFX.
All the video game release dates for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch
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Blue Origin, LLC
B-408823: Dec 12, 2013
View Decision
View Decision (PDF, 12 pages)
Ralph O. White
WhiteRO@gao.gov
Kenneth E. Patton
PattonK@gao.gov
Blue Origin, LLC, of Kent, Washington, protests the actions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in connection with its issuance of announcement for proposals (AFP) No. AFP-KSC-LC39A, for the lease of Launch Complex 39A (LC 39A) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Blue Origin maintains that the agency intends to misapply the terms of the AFP in evaluating proposals and selecting a prospective lessee for the facility.
We deny the protest.
Matter of: Blue Origin, LLC
File: B-408823
Kevin C. Dwyer, Esq., Kevin P. Mullen, Esq., and Ethan E. Marsh, Esq., Jenner & Block LLP, for the protester.
Richard J. Vacura, Esq., and Pablo A. Nichols, Esq., Morrison & Foerster LLP, for Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, an intervenor.
Richard J. McCarthy, Esq., Bradley W. Smith, Esq., and Geoffrey Swanson, Esq., National Aeronautics and Space Administration, for the agency.
Scott H. Riback, Esq., and Tania Calhoun, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision.
1. Government Accountability Office has jurisdiction to consider protest challenging terms of solicitation for the award of a lease of federal property where the record shows that the agency will receive benefits--both tangible and intangible--in connection with the award of the lease, such that the agency is, in effect, conducting a procurement for goods and services.
2. Protest that solicitation for the lease of a launch pad at Kennedy Space Center favors a multi-user approach over an exclusive user approach is denied where record shows that solicitation contemplates two possible approaches, but includes no preference for one approach versus another, and merely requires different information depending upon which approach is being offered.
LC 39A is an historic launch complex that NASA used throughout the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. With the conclusion of those programs, NASA determined that presently it has no foreseeable use for LC 39A, and no budget to operate and maintain the facility. The agency has determined that LC 39A potentially could be a useful launch facility for commercial space launch companies that would assume financial and technical responsibility for operation and maintenance of the facility. Accordingly, NASA issued the subject AFP to solicit proposals to enter into an agreement to use the facility for a minimum period of 5 years. AFP at BATES 6. The AFP describes NASAs intended transaction as follows:
NASA intends to establish a Public-Private or Public-Public Venture (PPV) to grant a partner(s) an interest in real property for a specified term through an instrument(s) such as a lease, a use permit, or other form of property out-grant term as authorized by the Commercial Space Launch Act (CSLA) [51 U.S.C. chapter 509 (Supp. IV, 2010)] or the Space Act [51 U.S.C. chapter 201 (Supp. IV, 2010)]. NASA KSC intends to grant the industry partner(s) sufficient rights to occupy, operate, modify and maintain the LC 39A as necessary to support the partners proposed use.
NASA expects the potential partner(s) to be fully responsible for the operations and maintenance of the facility, to include equipment, at their own expense, for the term of any agreement(s). The agreement(s) will fully define the roles and responsibilities of NASA and the Partner(s).
AFP at BATES 6.
The AFP contemplates two potential arrangements for the use of the launch facility. Under the terms of the AFP, firms are required to stipulate whether their proposed use will be exclusive--that is, only the proposing firm would be able to use LC 39A to launch its space vehicles--or whether they propose to make LC 39A available to multiple users. AFP at BATES 8. The question of an exclusive versus multiple user arrangement is at the heart of Blue Origins protest.
In response to the AFP, the agency received two timely proposals by the July 5, 2013, deadline for their submission, one from the protester and one from Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX). The agency currently is in the process of evaluating those proposals, and has not yet announced any conclusions. All parties acknowledge, and are aware of, the fact that Blue Origin has proposed a multi-user approach, whereas, SpaceX has proposed an exclusive use approach.[1]
After the submission of proposals, Blue Origin filed an agency-level protest with NASA in the wake of certain remarks made by NASAs Administrator. Specifically, by letter dated August 8, Blue Origin protested that the Administrators remarks demonstrated that NASA intended to evaluate proposals in a manner that was inconsistent with what Blue Origin viewed as the requirements of the AFP. Agency Report (AR) exh. 17, Blue Origin Agency-Level Protest. Blue Origin takes the position (discussed in detail below) that the AFP includes a preference for using LC 39A as a multi-user launch facility. In support of its position, Blue Origin noted that NASAs administrator had remarked publicly that NASA would prefer launch complex 39B (LC 39B, which is adjacent to LC 39A, is essentially a companion launch pad) to be the multi-user launch facility. According to the protester, this demonstrated that the agency would not evaluate proposals in accordance with the terms of the AFP for LC 39A.
By letter dated August 23, NASA denied Blue Origins protest. AR, exh. 18, NASA Response to Blue Origin Agency-Level Protest.[2] The agency expressed its view that the AFP did not include a preference for a multi-user approach for LC 39A. NASA further concluded that the comments of the NASA Administrator would have no effect or influence on the selection process for the successful concern under the AFP. Blue Origin filed this protest after its receipt of the agencys letter denying its agency-level protest.
As a threshold matter, NASA maintains that our Office lacks jurisdiction to consider Blue Origins protest. NASA argues that our jurisdiction is confined to protests challenging the award or failure to award a contract for the procurement of goods or services. According to the agency, it is not entering into a contract for the procurement of goods or services, but, rather, it intends to execute a lease by a private concern of federally-owned property.[3]
Blue Origin contends that, in fact, our Office does have jurisdiction to consider its protest. According to Blue Origin, although the contract is for the lease of LC 39A, it also includes elements of a procurement of goods or services. In this connection, Blue Origin points out that the successful lessee will be required to bear the expense of operating and maintaining LC 39A throughout the term of the lease. Blue Origin argues that, during the lease term, various elements LC 39A will be either maintained in a safe and operable condition or demolished.[4] Blue Origin maintains that, because NASA requires access to areas in and around LC 39A in connection with the agencys operation of LC 39B,[5] it will benefit from the lessees maintenance or demolition of these elements of the launch pad because the areas that NASA will need to access will be rendered safe.[6] Blue Origin points out as well that, at the conclusion of the lease, LC 39A will revert to NASA in at least a maintained, and potentially an improved, condition. The protester argues that we previously have taken jurisdiction in cases such as this where the contract contemplates a mixed transaction, that is, one where there are elements of both a sale or lease of government property, and also the procurement of goods and services are involved.
In response to the protesters arguments, NASA asserts that it has no current or future foreseeable need for LC 39A. According to the agency, if it is unable to lease LC 39A, it is prepared to let it rust to the ground. Agency Motion for Dismissal, Sept. 9, 2013, at 5 n.1. NASA contends that maintenance of the various elements of the LC 39A complex (such as the FSS and RSS) is unnecessary to ensure the safety of its workers. NASA also argues that it has no need for a maintained or improved launch facility. NASA summarizes as follows:
Protester concludes by speculating that there may come a time when the Agency needs LC 39A again--either in support of its commercial crew program or perhaps for a heretofore unthought-of program, highlighting that the Agency "is clearly conscious of this potential benefit, otherwise the AFP would not require a lessee to maintain Launch Complex 39 A." [Citation omitted.] The Agency is insisting that the ultimate operator of LC 39A operate and maintain LC 39A for the operator's benefit, not the Government's. Indeed, such an assumption of responsibility is the only thing that makes a lease legally permissible under the auspices of the CSLA [Commercial Space Launch Act]. See generally 51 U.S.C. § 50913 (stipulating that the authority to lease under the CSLA is only available if the government is providing "launch or reentry property of the United States Government that is excess or otherwise is not needed for public use). The Agency might also have a future requirement for flux capacitors and warp drives. But future requirements, whether ethereal or concrete, real or imagined, are not current bona fide needs. CICA jurisdiction does not attach absent a current requirement necessitating procurement for goods or services.
Agency Legal Memorandum, Oct. 21, 2013, at 8 (emphasis in original).
Under the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984 (CICA), we review protests concerning alleged violations of procurement statutes or regulations by federal agencies in the award or proposed award of contracts for the procurement of goods and services, and solicitations leading to such awards. 31 U.S.C. §§ 3551, 3552 (2006); see also 4 C.F.R. § 21.1(a) (2013). As a general matter, our jurisdiction does not extend to challenges concerning the sale or lease of government property since these activities, by their nature, are not procurements. Meyers Cos., Inc., B-275963 et al., Apr. 23, 1997, 97-1 CPD ¶ 148 at 4 (lease of federal land is not a procurement of property or services encompassed by GAOs bid protest jurisdiction, notwithstanding the lease requirement to erect and maintain fencing).
On the other hand, we have recognized that certain transactions can involve both a sale (or lease) of government property and a procurement of goods or services, and we have taken jurisdiction in these so-called mixed transaction cases. For example, in Armed Forces Hospitality, LLC, B-298978.2, B-298978.3, Oct. 1, 2009, 2009 CPD ¶ 192, we took jurisdiction over a protest where the Army sought to obtain renovated or improved transient housing facilities at specified installations. In effect, the transaction contemplated that the Army would transfer ownership of certain physical facilities, and provide a long-term lease of government land, at no cost to the contractor. In return, the contractor would be responsible to construct (or renovate) housing facilities that would be financed, owned, operated and maintained by the contractor at no cost to the government. In that case, we took jurisdiction over the protest because we concluded that the Army obtained a direct benefit from the transaction. Id. at 8.
These mixed transaction type cases fall into two broad categories. The first category is those cases where we have taken jurisdiction because the agency receives some direct, but arguably intangible, benefit that aids the agency in the discharge of its mission. For example, we have found that a benefit was conferred to the government through a concession for haircuts for new Air Force recruits (paid for by the recruits), because the concession agreement is a contract for services under which the [agency] will satisfy its need to obtain initial haircuts for its recruits--which the agency insists is an important aspect of the training experience. Gino Morena Enters., B-224235, Feb. 5, 1987, 87-1 CPD ¶ 121 at 4. Similarly, we have found that a benefit was conferred on the government through a concession for photocopy services at a U.S. District Court because the use of a concession-type contract aided the courts mission by reducing its workload and also providing a benefit to the public of more effective access to court records. West Coast Copy, Inc.; Pacific Photocopy & Research Servs., B-254044, B-254044.2, Nov. 16, 1993, 93-2 CPD ¶ 283 at 5-6; see also, New York Tel. Co.; New England Tel. & Tel. Co.; Bell Atlantic Network Servs., Inc., B-236023, B-236097, Nov. 7, 1989, 89-2 CPD ¶ 435 at 2-3 (concession to provide pay phone services to employees and visitors at a General Services Administration facility was subject to GAO protest jurisdiction where the services were intended to satisfy agency mission needs); Armed Forces Hospitality, LLC, supra, (discussed above).[7]
The second category is those cases where a more concrete or tangible benefit is conferred on the agency as part of a mixed transaction. These cases often are hybrid concession type arrangements that require the delivery of goods and/or services to the government that are of more than a de minimus value. See Shields & Dean Concessions, Inc., B-292901.2, B-292901.3, Feb. 23, 2004, 2004 CPD ¶ 42, recon. denied, B-292901.4, Mar. 19, 2004, 2004 CPD ¶ 71 (concessionaire required to provide maintenance, repair and other services for government facility as well as facility improvement valued at over $800,000); Starfleet Marine Transp., Inc., B-290181, July 5, 2002, 2002 CPD ¶ 113 (concessionaire for ferryboat services required to provide janitorial services for agencys docks and piers, equip ferries with public address systems for use by park rangers, and provide transportation for rangers).
We conclude that the transaction here falls into both of these categories. First, as noted by the terms of the AFP itself, the contemplated lease transaction will:
[F]urther support NASA in fulfilling its mandate to, seek and encourage, to the maximum extent possible, the fullest commercial use of space. 51 U.S.C. 20112(a)(4) [(Supp IV, 2010)]. Such use is also authorized under the Commercial Space Launch Act, 51 U.S.C. 50913(a)(1) [(Supp IV, 2010)], which encourages the acquisition by the private sector of launch or reentry property of the U.S. Government that is excess or otherwise not needed for public use.
AFP at BATES 5. Thus, the contemplated transaction will provide a benefit to NASA in the form of directly fulfilling its statutory mandate to seek and encourage the commercial use of space. The intangible benefit of directly assisting NASA in fulfilling its statutory mandate is adequate to confer jurisdiction on our Office. Armed Forces Hospitality, LLC, supra; Gino Morena Enters., supra.
Second, this transaction also confers a concrete benefit on NASA because the successful contractor will be required to operate and maintain LC 39A in some configuration. At a minimum, the successful contractor will be required to maintain the preexisting structures at LC 39A, notably the FSS and the RSS. More practically, since the FSS and RSS were designed specifically as a launch configuration to be used for space shuttle launches, the more likely scenario is that the successful contractor will either modify the FSS and RSS, or alternatively, will demolish the FSS and RSS and construct some other configuration in its place.[8] In all of these scenarios, NASA will be left at the conclusion of the lease agreement either with a well-maintained launch complex in its current configuration, or a reconfigured launch complex that will be useful in one manner or another.
In the final analysis, NASAs position essentially amounts to an assertion that it will not be benefitted by the transaction because it has no further use for LC 39A. Notably absent from the agencys position, however, is any explanation for why, if NASA truly has no further use for LC 39A, it simply does not sell it outright, as it is authorized to do under the CSLA. 51 U.S.C. § 50913. Absent such a sale, NASA will be left at the end of the transaction with a launch complex that is at least maintained in its current configuration, and may well be improved by the tenant contractor. Under these circumstances, we conclude that a concrete benefit that is more than de minimus is being conferred on NASA; correspondingly, we find that our Office has jurisdiction to consider Blue Origins protest because the transaction at issue constitutes a procurement for goods and services by NASA.
As noted above, Blue Origin filed an agency-level protest arguing that the NASA Administrators remarks (regarding the use of LC 39B as a multi-user facility) demonstrated that NASA intended to evaluate proposals in a manner that was inconsistent with what Blue Origin viewed as the requirements of the AFP. AR, exh. 17, Blue Origin Agency-Level Protest. Blue Origin maintained in its agency-level protest that NASA improperly intended to ignore what it views as the AFPs preference for a multi-user approach. Id. In response to the agency-level protest, NASA concluded, contrary to the position of Blue Origin, that the AFP did not include a preference for a multi-user approach for LC 39A. AR, exh. 18, NASA Response to Blue Origin Agency-Level Protest. After learning of the agencys views, Blue Origin filed the instant protest within 10 days of receiving NASAs response to its agency-level protest.
As an initial matter, we note that this case comes before us in an unusual procedural posture. On the one hand, challenges to the terms of a solicitation, to be timely, must be filed in our Office prior to the deadline for submitting proposals. 4 C.F.R. § 21.2(a)(1). This case, while apparently presenting a solicitation challenge, does not fall under that timeliness requirement because Blue Origin had no basis, prior to the submission of proposals and the remarks of the NASA administrator, to know that NASA interpreted the AFP in a manner that was inconsistent with Blue Origins interpretation.[9]
On the other hand, protests that maintain that an agency has evaluated proposals in a manner that is inconsistent with the terms of a solicitation typically are filed after the agency announces its source selection decision, consistent with the requirement that a protest must be filed within 10 days of adverse agency action. 4 C.F.R. § 21.2(a)(2). We typically dismiss as speculative and premature protests alleging that an agency intends to evaluate proposals in a manner inconsistent with the terms of a solicitation that are filed prior to the agencys actual evaluation of proposals. Cryo Tech., B-406003, Jan. 18, 2012, 2012 CPD ¶ 29 at 2 n.1.
Here, Blue Origin filed in our Office within 10 days of being expressly advised by NASA that the agency interpreted the AFP in a manner that was inconsistent with Blue Origins interpretation. The protest is not speculative or premature, because NASA effectively has announced how it intends to evaluate proposals--that is, in a manner that is inconsistent with Blue Origins reading of the AFP. The protest also is timely because it was filed within 10 days of Blue Origin being advised--through an adverse ruling on its agency-level protest--of NASAs position regarding its interpretation of the AFP. 4 C.F.R. § 21.2(a)(2). In addition, we conclude that this is the best possible time for our Office to consider the protest. NASA has made clear its intentions regarding how it will evaluate proposals and Blue Origin has made clear its position that it thinks the AFP requires something different in the evaluation of proposals. The most efficient, least intrusive alternative is for our Office to consider the issue now rather than to wait until the acquisition proceeds to a source selection decision.
Turning to the merits of the protest, Blue Origin maintains that the AFP includes a preference favoring a multi-user, rather than exclusive use, approach for LC 39A, but that NASA has made it clear that it does not intend to implement that preference in its evaluation of proposals. In support of its position, Blue Origin directs our attention to two provisions of the AFP. The first provision is included in the instructions to prospective offerors and provides as follows:
Proposers shall stipulate whether they intend to operate LC 39A as an exclusive or multi-user facility. If exclusive use is proposed, Proposers shall provide rationale explaining why exclusive use is needed. If a multi-user facility is proposed, the Proposer shall describe its methodology for accommodating and managing multiple users.
AFP at BATES 8. The second provision is included in the AFPs proposal evaluation section and provides as follows:
NASA will evaluate the proposed use of LC 39A (exclusive or multi-use) only in terms of meeting the Governments objective. If a multi-user facility is proposed, NASA will evaluate the proposed methodology for accommodating and managing multiple users. If an exclusive use is proposed, NASA will evaluate the sufficiency of rationale provided as to why exclusive use is needed.
AFP at BATES 11.
According to the protester these two provisions establish a requirement that an offeror proposing exclusive use of LC 39A provide its rationale for why such an arrangement is needed, and also require that NASA evaluate the sufficiency of that rationale. In contrast, according to the protester, offerors proposing a multi-user approach are not required to provide a rationale for their approach, and NASA is not required to evaluate any such underlying rationale.
The protester reasons that, because the AFP requires additional information and analysis with respect to a proposal for an exclusive use approach (what Blue Origin describes as an explanation for the need to use the launch pad exclusively), it follows that the AFP includes an inherent preference for a multi-user approach, because such additional information and analysis is not required for the latter approach. According to Blue Origin, an exclusive use approach--and the need therefor--will only be considered under the terms of AFP where there is no acceptable proposal for a multi-user approach; in effect, the protester maintains that the multi-user approach is the default approach envisioned by the AFP.
The agency responds that it will not ignore the terms of the AFP because the AFP, on its face, is agnostic regarding an exclusive versus multi-use approach. The agency explains that it is concerned only with achieving the best possible use of LC 39A, consistent with its objective to achieve the fullest commercial use of space. According to the agency, the AFP provisions identified by Blue Origin simply require information--and agency analysis of that information--that would be unique to an exclusive use approach. The agency contends that the AFP was not drafted to give a preference to one approach versus another, but simply seeks information specific to each approach that will enable the agency to assess the comparative merits of those approaches to meeting the governments objective.
We find that the agencys interpretation of its AFP is reasonable. Where a dispute exists as to the meaning of a particular solicitation provision, our Office will resolve the matter by reading the solicitation as a whole and in a manner that gives effect to all of its provisions; to be reasonable, an interpretation must be consistent with such a reading. Kevcon, Inc., B-406024.3, June 18, 2012, 2012 CPD ¶ 221 at 3. The interpretation that should prevail is the one that gives reasonable meaning to all provisions and does not render any part absurd or create conflicts among the solicitations provisions. Canupp Trucking, Inc., B-261127, Feb. 15, 1996, 96-1 CPD ¶ 137 at 4.
The AFP includes a declaration of the governments objective in awarding the lease as follows:
NASA will evaluate the Proposers overall understanding of the objective and the adequacy of the proposed approach to meeting that objective, i.e. the company which has the best demonstrated capability to assume full financial and technical responsibility for operations and maintenance of LC 39A for a term during which the company will make use of LC 39A in a manner that supports the fullest commercial use of space.
AFP at BATES 8. In effect, NASA seeks to determine which offeror demonstrates the best capability to assume responsibility for operating LC 39A in a manner that supports the fullest commercial use of space. In order to assist NASA in making this determination, the AFP elicits different information depending on which approach--multi-user versus exclusive use--is being offered.
In the case of an exclusive use approach, the AFP requires an explanation for why such an approach is necessary. This is a logical inquiry to be made in connection with an exclusive use approach, since such an approach necessarily will preclude other concerns from using the facility during the term of the lease. There could well be a strong case for an exclusive use approach depending upon information relating to variables that is not currently in the record before our Office, but we need not consider that question at this time.[10]
The AFP elicits different information from an offeror proposing a multi-user approach; the offeror must provide information relating to its proposed methodology for accommodating and managing multiple users. Like the information elicited from an offeror proposing an exclusive use arrangement, this information is logically related to the proposed approach, because such an approach poses technical challenges not present in an exclusive use setting. As with an exclusive use approach, there could well be a strong case for a multi-user approach depending upon information relating to variables that is not currently in the record before our Office, but we also need not consider that question at this time.[11]
In the final analysis, we agree with the agency that the AFP contemplates two possible approaches, but includes no preference for one approach versus another. The approaches are different--and require the presentation of different information to substantiate the plan being offered--but there currently is nothing in the record beyond the protesters arguments to show that either approach necessarily is better in terms of meeting the agencys objective of achieving the fullest commercial use of space. Simply stated, that question will be resolved based on the comparative strength of the business cases presented by the offerors.
However, the case at hand only concerns whether the agencys interpretation of the AFP is reasonable and, based on our discussion above, we conclude that nothing in the language of the AFP favors one approach over the other.
The protest is denied.
Susan A. Poling
[1] These differing approaches have been discussed publicly in various news sources. See e.g., http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/07/20/nasa-weighs-competing-blue-origin-spacex-proposals-for-pad-39-a/.
[2] The agency declined to characterize Blue Origins August 8 letter as a protest and also declined to characterize its response to the August 8 letter as a response to that protest because of what the agency described as a lack of jurisdictional prerequisites. AR, exh. 18, at BATES 429, 431. We discuss the question of jurisdiction in detail below.
[3] Although the AFP anticipates various possible arrangements ( . . . a lease, a use permit, or other form of property out-grant term . . . . AFP at BATES 6), the parties generally have used the term lease to describe the possible transaction here. This decision adopts the parties terminology.
[4] LC 39A includes two large steel structures known as the fixed service structure (FSS) and the rotating service structure (RSS). See AR, exh. 8, drawing package, at BATES 36. These large steel structures were designed for use in both launching and servicing the space shuttles.
[5] The AFP includes a list of facilities located within the LC 39A complex that NASA intends to use in connection with operation of LC 39B, including (1) AC Power, J8-1708 Launch Pad 39A HV; (2) a gaseous nitrogen battery, high pressure storage, pad A&B; and (3) a helium storage battery, high pressure storage, pad A&B. AR, exh. 4, list of NASA maintained systems at LC 39A, at BATES 18.
[6] Blue Origin also argues that the lessee will provide other benefits to NASA in connection with operating and maintaining LC 39A, including meeting NASAs obligations to provide responses to environmental issues existing as a consequence of past launches at LC 39A, and also preserving various historical artifacts that exist at LC 39A. NASA responds that it has discharged, or will discharge, all of its obligations relating to environmental remediation and historical preservation of LC 39A.
[7] In support of its position, NASA directs our attention to our decision in Rocketplane Kistler, B-310741, Jan. 28, 2008, 2008 CPD ¶ 22. According to the agency, this case stands for the proposition that our Office will not take jurisdiction in cases solely involving an intangible benefit to the agency. That decision is inapposite. The case did not involve a question concerning whether the agency was engaged in a mixed use transaction, but, rather, whether NASA was permitted to use its special, separate other transactions statutory authority rather than conduct a procurement.
[8] We note that LC 39B, the companion launch complex to LC 39A, is being reconfigured by NASA as a clean launch pad that does not include any launcher superstructure. LC 39B is described in the Kennedy Space Center Resource Encyclopedia (KSCRE) (which was incorporated in the AFP by reference), as follows:
As of press time, Launch Pad 39B was being reconfigured to support a clean pad concept. This concept will allow rockets to be transported to the pad on their own launcher, increasing versatility and flexibility and allowing the center to support multiple types of launch systems.
KSCRE at 273. See http://tdglobal.ksc.nasa.gov/servlet/sm.web.Fetch/KHB-1863?rhid=1000&did=35173&type=released&rev=$latest. Indeed, in the event that a clean pad technical approach is implemented by the successful contractor, the facility could be useful to NASA because, as described by the agency itself, such a configuration will increase the versatility and flexibility of the launch complex. Id.
[9] In effect, the solicitation included a latent ambiguity that was not evident until Blue Origin learned initially of the remarks of the NASA Administrator and, subsequently, the agency made its position known in responding to Blue Origins agency-level protest.
[10] For example, the comparative maturity of one concerns launch vehicle capabilities versus the maturity of another concerns launch vehicle capabilities could positively affect the number of launches possible during the lease term.
[11] For example, a robust demonstration of a concerns capability to manage the logistics and scheduling challenges posed by a multi-user approach also could positively affect the number of launches possible during the lease term.
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Advance voting begins for election
School tax lone issue
Updated: March 8, 2011, 2:53 p.m.
Where to vote early
Advance voting runs through Friday. The following locations will be open to all Forsyth County residents. Voters must bring a valid photo ID to cast a ballot.
• Voter Registrations and Elections Office
Forsyth County Administration Building
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Forsyth County Public Safety Complex
3520 Settingdown Road
8 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Midway Park
• Cumming Public Library
585 Dahlonega Hwy.
• Forsyth County property formerly known as Lakeland Community Church
2110 Sharon Road
Just a few days remain to vote on a 1-cent sales tax for the Forsyth County school system.
The early voting period has ended and advance voting runs through Friday.
The county has opened five locations for residents to vote. The tax extension is the only item on the ballot.
The last chance to vote will be election day, March 15.
As of Monday, 623 ballots had been cast, said Mandi Smith at the local elections office.
If approved by voters, the fourth round of the 1-cent sales tax would begin July 1, 2012, and would last five years, or until tax collections hit $195 million.
About $141.4 million of that money would go toward paying off voter-approved bonds from 2005 and 2007, which were used to build nine new schools, in addition to school improvements, updates and additions.
The remaining $53.6 million could be used, among other items, to buy land for future schools, improve technology at existing schools and renovate facilities.
The current sales tax, which expires on June 30, 2012, was expected to raise about $207 million to pay off the system's bond debts.
But with the slow economy, school system officials have said the actual collection likely will total less than $150 million by the time it expires.
If the sales tax referendum were to fail next week, school leaders have said the only other way to pay back the bond debt would be to raise property taxes.
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News and information from France
French Test
Discover France
Maps of France
Cities of France
Election 2017, News
The 2017 French presidential elections
April 16, 2017 Alister
Emmanuel Macron wins and is elected president. He is the youngest ever President of France (39 years old).
French citizens will vote to elect the 25th President of the French Republic. The elections take place in two rounds, the 23rd April and the 7th May.
Emmanuel Macron wins the election with 65% of “OUI” (YES) votes. He will be the French president for 5 years.
Results from round 1
The outgoing president is His Excellency François Hollande, in office since 2012. He decided not to be a candidate to his own succession although he is eligible. 11 candidates met the criteria required to run for the presidential office. With an average of 55 years, the candidates are relatively young and of diverse backgrounds.
For the first vote on 23 April, French voters will either abstain from voting, return a blank ballot vote (which is considered an invalid vote), or give their vote to one of the following candidates (in alphabetical order):
Nathalie Arthaud from the Worker’s Struggle (Lutte Ouvrière). Mrs. Arthaud claims to represent the workers and all those abandoned and/or oppressed by capitalism. A professor of economy by trade, she says she is the only true communist candidate. (radical-left)
François Asselineau of the Popular Republic Union (UPR). Mr. Asselineau’s candidacy came as a surprise, but he managed to meet all the criteria (the most difficult for “unusual” candidates is to secure the support of 500 mayors). His policy is based on anti-NATO, anti-American feelings. He also wants a FREXIT from the European Union. On the pollitical spectrum, Mr. Asselineau is difficult to place, although he is described as a far-right Eurosceptic.
Jacques Cheminade, of the party Solidarity and Progress (Solidarité et Progrès). Mr. Cheminade is famous to have predicted the 2008 financial crisis in the 1990s. He is a NATO and Eurosceptic, in favour of a controlled immigration which is considers necessary because of France demographic difficulties. Solidarity and Progress is generally conservative and wants to find a medium ground between liberalism, capitalism and Marxism.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, of the party Arise France (Debout la France). Mr. Dupont-Aignan claims to be the sole representative of the Gaullist legacy. His policy is based on French sovereignty which is according to Dupont-Aignan impossible with the current European Union (which he would like to be reformed), the current border policies and common Euro currency. He also wants to control immigration, establish a form of protectionism and improve France’s relation with Eurasian countries. Dupont-Aignan is categorized as a candidate of the right and he himself claims to be between the National Front and François Fillon.
François Fillon, of The Republicans party. Mr. Fillon is a former Environment and Prime Minister under Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidency. The policies he advocates are categorized as liberal economically speaking and conservative on moral issues. Mr. Fillon wants to work with the European nations to make the Union stronger against both American and Russian influences, he also wants to severely control immigration and help France find its “roots” back (Catholicism, opposes gay marriage) although he declared being able to disconnect his opinion from the principles of the Republican regime (secularism). (Right)
Benoît Hamon is the candidate of the Socialist Party, former minister of Education and then of Social Economy under François Hollande’s presidency. Mr. Hamon also became the representative of Les Verts, the Green-Ecology party. He is very critical of François Hollande’s government. His program offers to create a 6th Republic, to institute a universal income set between 600€ and 750€, decriminalize consumption of soft drugs. Hamon and the Socialist Party are strong supporters of the European Union. (Left candidate)
Jean Lassalle is one of the surprise candidates for the 2017 election. Mr. Lassalle does not have an important political career except being a delegate at the National Assembly and the mayor of his village for 40 years (a village with a population of 162). He claims to be the defender of rural France, to protect the presence of public services (such as police stations in remote areas). He is skeptical about the future of the European Union which he describes as lacking in democracy and reducing the national identities of its members. But he has not declared being opposed to it. He is against the TTIP agreement. Mr. Lassalle is famous for his 5,000 kilometers visit of France and of the French, on foot in 2013. (center/center-right)
Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front. Mrs. Le Pen is also a is a member of the European Parliament. Her program is based on economic protectionism, on a strict control of immigration and a certain skepticism about the European Union. She made the promise to hold referendums on the issues of a FREXIT, the re-institution of the death penalty, to abolish gay marriages and to change several aspects of the constitution. Mrs. Le Pen wants to increase the budget of national security, the secularism of France and reduce but not abandon nuclear energy.
Emmanuel Macron, leader of Forward! Party (En Marche!). Mr. Macron, the youngest candidate -39 years old-, is a former minister of the Economy under François Hollande’s presidency and a banker by trade. Originally a member of the Socialist Party, Mr. Macron recently created his own movement. He claims to be neither from the left or the right and wants to end the division between left and right which should be replaced by a “progressive/conservative” split. His program is based on a strong European feeling, the need to keep strong ties with the United States (although he opposed some aspects of the TTIP), to increase ties with Canada. He also stated that an open-door policy regarding immigration will benefit the French economy and help its relatively weak demographics. Although Mr. Macron refused the traditional left/right political spectrum, he is considered a central/central-right candidate.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the Unsubmissive France (La France Insoumise!) movement. Mr. Mélenchon, a former member of the Communist Party, is a member of the European Parliament and wants to gather the French left around him. His political program is based on an anti-capitalistic feeling and he wants to create a 6th Republic, reform the European Union, distribute wealth to all French citizens and to loosen the influence of the United States on France which he claims is not independent. (left/radical-left)
Philippe Poutou, representative of the New Anti-capitalistic Party (NPA). Mr. Poutou, a worker in a Ford factory and trade unionist, claims to represent the Trotskyist ideology and is one of the surprise candidates of the 2017 elections. A long time radical-left militant in the Revolutionary Communist Party, he desires to prevent politics from creating a social class of individuals who are raised and educated in the perspective of being politicians. He also denounces capitalism, a world split by borders and the European Union. He declared knowing very well that he is not going to be elected but the campaign is his way to spread his opinion and message. (radical-left)
The two candidates obtaining the most votes will run for a second round on 7 May 2017.
Note that the description given of the candidates’ political opinion and program are not exhaustive and are meant to be a broad summary of their programs which are available on their respective websites.
Round 1, voted on the 23rd April 2017
Mr. Emmanuel MACRON and Mme Marine LE PEN go through to the second round, all the other candidates are therefore eliminated.
Percentage of votes
Mr. Emmanuel MACRON 8 528 585 23,86
Mme Marine LE PEN 7 658 990 21,43
Mr. François FILLON 7 126 632 19,94
Mr. Jean-Luc MÉLENCHON 7 011 856 19,62
Mr. Benoît HAMON 2 268 838 6,35
Mr. Nicolas DUPONT-AIGNAN 1 689 686 4,73
Mr. Jean LASSALLE 433 996 1,21
Mr. Philippe POUTOU 392 454 1,10
Mr François ASSELINEAU 329 951 0,92
Mme Nathalie ARTHAUD 231 660 0,65
Mr. Jacques CHEMINADE 65 076 0,18
Voting figures supplied by the French Minister of the Interior.
The second round of votes is on the 7th May 2017
election 2017French presidentFrench presidential electionspolitics
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Blu-ray Review: Jeepers Creepers 2
By Adam Frazier | @ | June 14th, 2016 at 9:30 am
Jeepers Creepers 2
Blu-ray (Collector’s Edition)
Director: Victor Salva
Screenwriter: Victor Salva
Cast: Ray Wise, Jonathan Breck, Lena Cardwell, Drew Tyler Bell
Distributor: Scream Factory
Rated R | 104 Minutes
Disclaimer: In all good conscience, I cannot review Scream Factory’s new Blu-ray release of Jeepers Creepers 2 without mentioning filmmaker Victor Salva‘s past. In 1988, Salva was convicted of sexual misconduct with the 12-year-old star of Clownhouse, his first feature film. Salva pleaded guilty to lewd and lascivious conduct, oral copulation with a person under 14, and three counts of procuring a child for pornography. He was sentenced to three years in prison, of which he served 15 months. He completed his parole in 1992, nine years before the release of Jeepers Creepers. I leave it to you to decide if separating the art from the artist is applicable in this instance.
On to the review below.
Topics: Blu-ray, Movies, Reviews
Tags: Billy Aaron Brown, Diane Delano, Don FauntLeRoy, Ed Marx, Eric Nenninger, Jeepers Creepers, Jeepers Creepers 2, Jonathan Breck, Josh Hammond, Lena Cardwell, Ray Wise, Scream Factory, Thom Gossom Jr., Tom Tarantini, Travis Schiffner, Victor Salva
Blu-ray Review: Jeepers Creepers
By Adam Frazier | @ | June 13th, 2016 at 9:00 pm
Cast: Gina Philips, Justin Long, Jonathan Breck, Eileen Brennan
Disclaimer: In all good conscience, I cannot review Scream Factory’s new Blu-ray release of Jeepers Creepers without mentioning filmmaker Victor Salva‘s past. In 1988, Salva was convicted of sexual misconduct with the 12-year-old star of Clownhouse, his first feature film. Salva pleaded guilty to lewd and lascivious conduct, oral copulation with a person under 14, and three counts of procuring a child for pornography. He was sentenced to three years in prison, of which he served 15 months. He completed his parole in 1992, nine years before the release of Jeepers Creepers. I leave it to you to decide if separating the art from the artist is applicable in this instance.
Topics: Blu-ray, Blu-ray Review, Movies, Reviews
Tags: Barry Opper, Don FauntLeRoy, Ed Marx, Eileen Brennan, Gina Philips, Jeepers Creepers, Jonathan Breck, Justin Long, Scream Factory, Tom Tarantini, Victor Salva
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'I'm not supposed to electioneer': Did NOM's Ruth Institute head just violate her IRS constraints?
The National Organization For Marriage is a 501c4. NOM's Ruth Institute (a project of the NOM Education Fund) is a 501c3.
In her role as leader of the Ruth Institute, Jennifer Roback Morse is not really allowed to campaign for/against candidates. NOM must keep the two components separate. NOM/Morse/Ruth enjoy their tax breaks because they follow the rules.
Roback Morse understands this reality. On May 8, during one of her weekly appearances on the "Issues Etc." (Catholic) radio show, the NOM employee acknowledged her constraints (right after pretty much violating them):
FULL Audio: 5/8/12 [Issues Etc.]
But apparently Roback Morse didn't take her own self-realiztion to heart, since she did virtually the same thing on last week's appearance on this very same radio show. This time, Morse came as close as one can to endorsing the Ryan/Romney ticket ("how any Catholic could vote for that ticket when they have the choice of voting for a ticket that includes Paul Ryan, I just don’t see how you can do it") while also besmirching the name and faith of one Joe Biden ("felony stupid"; "embarrassing"). Here's the transcript of the key grafs (and link to full audio):
HOST TODD WILKEN: On a scale of zero to ten, zero being stupid and ten being brilliant, where would you put this pick of Paul Ryan?
JENNIFER ROBACK MORSE: Oh a ten for sure, Todd. For sure. This is a brilliant pick by Mitt Romney. It’s bold because Paul Ryan actually stands for something and the big problem with Mitt Romney is people aren’t sure what he stands for. And it’s brilliant because Ryan himself is brilliant and he’s got something of substance to say about the biggest fiscal issues of our time. And in addition to that, he’s an absolutely solid pro-life pro-marriage social conservative Catholic man. And so, therefore, all of the things people were afraid of about Romney, all of the things that the social conservative base and other conservatives, in fact fiscal conservatives, everything people were worried about, all the things people worried about, Paul Ryan shores up Romney in those areas and so honestly I think it’s a brilliant pick.
WILKEN: How would you respond to a Catholic voter, and many of them will do this knowing full well what it is the church teaches, they’re going to say something like “well, okay, Biden is wrong on abortion and marriage, but Ryan, he doesn’t understand the obligation to the poor and the vulnerable.” And so they’re going to say, “well, you know, I could really pick either one because both of them are wrong on some key issues. “ How would you respond?
MORSE: Within the whole general position of “gee, we’ve got to do something to help the poor,” there are all kinds of ways that are morally acceptable. The life issues, however, the marriage issues, however, euthanasia, stem cell research, those issues are absolutely not negotiable. There’s no right way to do abortion. There’s no right way to redefine marriage and declare gender to be irrelevant to marriage. There’s no right way to do that. There’s no morally acceptable way to do that. So that claim that people are making and saying “well, one is wrong on one subject, one’s wrong on the other subject, therefore I get to toss a coin and any Catholic may do so,” that is simply not true. That statement in itself is not consistent with Catholic teaching. And so the liberal Catholics of this country are going to have to wake up and make a decision. They can no longer hide behind “well, I’m going to vote for the Catholic guy because he’s a Catholic guy.” No, that’s just not going to fly in this election.
MORSE: Even if Ryan’s wrong about some part of his budget, it’s not the same order of wrongness as being wrong on the abortion issue in the way that, in the just repulsively dramatic way that Obama and Biden are. Besides, besides, if I could say this on the radio, poor old Joe Biden is just felony stupid, and Ryan’s got two brain cells to rub together. Actually more than two brain cells to rub together. He’s a very smart guy. So I think it’s going to be embarrassing to vote for Biden.
WILKEN: I wonder how excited you are… this is the first time since Roe v. Wade that the Republican party will have a pro-life Catholic on a national ticket. And I went back through my mental files and I thought “that’s right!” How excited are you?
MORSE: I think that’s pretty exciting, actually. He’s got a hundred percent rating from the pro-life groups and he’s got a zero rating from NARAL. And , you know, it’s not just that he’s Catholic, it’s that he’s pro-life. He’s that solidly pro-life. So I think that is a very exciting thing. And you know, when the Democratic party is tripping over itself to see how much it can pander to Planned Parenthood, when the Democratic party has put forth the HHS mandate which is a clear attack on not only Catholic teaching but on the whole Catholic social service infrastructure in this country, how any Catholic could vote for that ticket when they have the choice of voting for a ticket that includes Paul Ryan, I just don’t see how you can do it. I just can’t even imagine how someone’s going to talk themselves into that.
8/17/12 [Issues Etc.]
The IRS makes it all pretty clear:
Political campaign intervention includes any and all activities that favor or oppose one or more candidates for public office. The prohibition extends beyond candidate endorsements. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made by or on behalf of an organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition on political campaign intervention.
What is Political Campaign Intervention? [IRS.gov]
And just to be equally clear about Roback Morse's capacity on this show—she is always identified by her Ruth (aka NOM Education Fund) credentials. The Issues Etc site even links back to Ruth Institute's site. This is not something Roback Morse does on her own time as a lay Catholic. This is a professional appearance meant to promote her (aka NOM's) brand.
NOM is enjoying a 501c3 subsidy. It is in every taxpayer's interest to see that NOM and its actors play by the rules!
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Meineke Car Care Centers:
Local Businessman Expands Meineke Car Care in Virginia Beach
By: Meineke Car Care Centers | 0 Shares 20 Reads
Top-rated Auto Repair Franchise Opens New Location in Virginia Market
September 14, 2017 // Franchising.com // CHARLOTTE - Seeing the demand in the market, Meineke Car Care Centers, a nearly 1,000-unit franchise, has opened a new location in the Virginia market. Meineke Car Care Center No. 2739 is located at 1321 Diamond Springs Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.
The owner of the Virginia Beach facility is John Nowacek. This is his first Meineke center. Meineke Car Care Center No. 2739 is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Meineke offers total automotive repair services, including tune-ups, diagnosticanalysis, oil changes, tire and wheel services, exhaust and catalytic converter repairs, springs, batteries and air-conditioning service. In addition, Meineke offers fleet service, shuttle service and discounts for veterans and senior citizens, as well as the Meineke credit card that can help users get the auto repairs they need now.
For more information on Meineke’s Virginia Beach location or to book an appointment, please visit: www.meineke.com. And for more information of Meineke franchise opportunities, please visit: www.meinekefranchise.com.
About Meineke
Meineke Car Care Centers, LLC. is a division of Driven Brands, Inc., the leading automotive aftermarket franchisor in the world. Founded in 1972, Meineke has more than 900 centers that service approximately three million cars a year. Over the years, Meineke has expanded its product offerings to better meet the demands of its customers and a changing marketplace. Meineke continues to be ranked as one of the best franchise opportunities in the country and has recently won top franchise rankings from Forbes, Franchise Times and Entrepreneur Magazine. For more information, please visit meineke.com.
Deborah Robinson
Deborah.robinson@drivenbrands.com
SOURCE Meineke
Meineke Car Care Centers is a leader in the automotive aftermarket, providing high-quality, low-cost under-car repair services at more than 800 centers across North America.
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Detroit Red Wings on NHL draft, Day 2: G Carter Gylander in Round 7
New general manager Steve Yzerman drafted Moritz Seider in round one, Detroit Red Wings hold 9 picks on Day 2 of NHL draft
Detroit Red Wings on NHL draft, Day 2: G Carter Gylander in Round 7 New general manager Steve Yzerman drafted Moritz Seider in round one, Detroit Red Wings hold 9 picks on Day 2 of NHL draft Check out this story on Freep.com: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2019/06/22/detroit-red-wings-picked-day-2-2019-nhl-draft/1535150001/
Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press Published 1:57 p.m. ET June 22, 2019 | Updated 5:58 p.m. ET June 22, 2019
Detroit Red Wings draft pick Robert Mastrosimone on his skill set on Saturday, June 22, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Detroit Red Wings used the opening round of the 2019 NHL draft to add a mobile, puck-moving defenseman to their rebuild.
This is the first draft with Steve Yzerman as general manager. He enters Saturday’s conclusion holding nine picks spread across rounds two through seven. Three of the picks are in the second round, at 35th (the Wings’ own), 54th (the Islanders’ pick via Vegas, part of the 2018 Tomas Tatar trade), and 60th (from San Jose and part of the Gustav Nyquist trade). The rest of the picks come at 66th, 96th, 128th, 143rd, 159th and 190th.
Follow along here to see what the Wings do on Day 2 of the draft.
The Wings drafted defensemen Moritz Seider at sixth overall and defenseman Antti Tuomisto at 35th, their first pick in Round 2.
More: Steve Yzerman explains how Moritz Seider fits into Red Wings rebuild
Red Wings draft picks
1 (sixth overall) Moritz Seider, D, 6-foot-4, 207 pounds, Adler
2 (35th) Antti Tuomisto, D, 6-4, 194 pounds, 18, Assat
2 (54th) Robert Mastrosimone, a forward known for his competitive style and playing with a non-stop motor. He had 31 goals and 29 assists in 54 games with the Chicago Steel (USHL)
2 (60th) Albert Johansson, D, 6-0, 168 pounds, 18, Farjestad; a left-handed shot who recorded five gals and 24 assists in 40 games in the Swedish junior league.
3 (66) Albin Grewe, RW, 6-0, 187 pounds, 18, Djurgardents; known as a "strong skater" who shows a willingness to play well defensively, too. He models his game after Boston uber-pest Brad Marchand – loves to get under opponent's skin.
4 (97) Ethan Phillips, C, 5-9, 146 pounds, 18, Sioux Falls (USHL); scored 16 goals to go with 43 points in 50 games last season, right-handed shot committed to Boston University for next season.
5 (128) Cooper Moore, D, 6-1, 175 pounds, 18, Brunswick School; scored 13 goals among 31 points in 28 games; strong skater and left-handed shot who is committed to North Dakota but reportedly will play for the Chilliwack Chiefs in the BCHL next season.
6 (159) Elmer Soderblom, RW, 6-6, 219 pounds, 17, Frolunda; considering his size, he's a up-front net presence. Scored a goal in the World Junior Championship with Sweden.
6 (177) Gustav Berglund, D, 6-2, 194 pounds, 18, Frolunda; right-handed shot, scored a total of 13 goals in 37 junior games last season.
7 (190) Kirill Tyutyayev, LW, 5-9, 146 pounds, 18, Avto Yekaterinburg; scored 19 goals fand had 60 points in 60 games last season and had a plus-39 rating.
7 (191) Carter Gylander, G, 6-5, 171 pounds, 18, Sherwood Park (AJHL); had a 2.43 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage, committed to play at Colgate.
More: Steve Yzerman's surprise first Red Wings pick reminder of his own draft in 1983
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
Photos: Detroit Red Wings 2019 NHL draft picks
Robert Mastrosimone poses after being selected 54th overall by the Detroit Red Wings during the NHL draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver. Kevin Light, Getty Images
Matias Maccelli reacts after being selected 98th overall by the Detroit Red Wings during the NHL draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver. Bruce Bennett, Getty Images
Ethan Phillips reacts after being selected 97th overall by the Detroit Red Wings during the NHL draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver. Bruce Bennett, Getty Images
Robert Mastrosimone reacts after being selected 54th overall by the Detroit Red Wings during the NHL draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. Bruce Bennett, Getty Images
Moritz Seider poses for a portrait after being selected sixth overall by the Detroit Red Wings during the first round of the NHL draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. Kevin Light, Getty Images
Detroit Red Wings front office executives, including GM Steve Yzerman, center left, with draft pick Moritz Seider, center, at the NHL draft at Rogers Arena, June 21, 2019 in Vancouver. Anne-Marie Sorvin, USA TODAY Sports
Moritz Seider was selected sixth overall by the Detroit Red Wings during the first round of the NHL draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver. Bruce Bennett, Getty Images
Moritz Seider, center, with GM Steve Yzerman, left, after being selected sixth overall to the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the NHL draft at Rogers Arena, June 21, 2019 in Vancouver. Anne-Marie Sorvin, USA TODAY Sports
Moritz Seider puts on a team jersey after being selected sixth overall to the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the NHL draft at Rogers Arena, June 21, 2019 in Vancouver. Anne-Marie Sorvin, USA TODAY Sports
Moritz Seider reacts after being selected sixth overall by the Detroit Red Wings during the first round of the NHL draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver. Bruce Bennett, Getty Images
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman shakes hands with Moritz Seider after he was selected sixth overall by the Detroit Red Wings during the first round of the NHL draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver. Bruce Bennett, Getty Images
Moritz Seider played with the men in Germany's top league in 2018-19 and on the national team in May's 2019 World Championships. Martin Rose, Getty Images
Germany defender Moritz Seider (21) and Czech Republic's Dmitrij Jaskin battle during the IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championships quarterfinal match between Czech Republic and Germany on May 23, 2019 in Bratislava. Vladimir Simicek, AFP/Getty Images
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Badri Bajaj
Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, India
Catherine S. Daus
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, United States
Jody Hoffer Gittell
Theory and Hypotheses
Front. Psychol., 04 June 2019 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01310
I Hear You, but Do I Understand? The Relationship of a Shared Professional Language With Quality of Care and Job Satisfaction
Manuel Stühlinger1*, Jan B. Schmutz1,2 and Gudela Grote1
1Department of Management, Technology and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
2Department of Communication Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
In various industries, individuals from different professions have to work together in a team to achieve their collective goal. Having gone through different educations, team members speak different professional languages, which poses a challenge to communication, and coordination in interprofessional teams. A shared language is believed to improve collaboration. In this study, we examine if a shared language in interprofessional healthcare teams is associated with better relational coordination and if both are connected to higher quality of care as well as job satisfaction of the staff. We shed light on possible mechanisms between shared language, and quality of care and job satisfaction, respectively, investigating relational coordination and psychological safety as mediators. We surveyed 197 healthcare workers (HCWs) from different professions in three rehabilitation centers in Switzerland. Multiple regression analyses showed that shared language was positively related to perceived quality of care and job satisfaction. Moreover, we found evidence for a serial mediation of these relationships by relational coordination and psychological safety. We discuss implications for healthcare and other types of interprofessional teams.
Every year, a large number of people die in hospitals because of preventable adverse events. Estimations for the United States vary from 44,000 to 98,000 deaths (Kohn et al., 2000) up to 440,000 deaths per year that preventable adverse events contribute to (James, 2013). In various other countries around the world, comparable incidences are reported (e.g., Vincent et al., 2001; Davis et al., 2002; Aranaz-Andres et al., 2008; Zegers et al., 2009). Given that communication errors are found to be a root cause of many adverse events (e.g., Morris et al., 2003; Leonard et al., 2004; Lingard et al., 2004) such as medication error or delayed treatment (Rabøl et al., 2011), we can assume that several thousand patients die in the United States alone every year because of inadequate communication in interprofessional healthcare teams.
Today, interprofessional teams are used in a variety of industries, because work gets more and more complex and therefore, requires a wide range of knowledge and skills that cannot be provided by one profession alone (Fay et al., 2006). This is especially true for the healthcare sector, where interprofessional collaboration between nurses, physicians, and other healthcare workers (HCWs) is required. Having run through different educational paths, the members of these teams often develop different values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors (Hall, 2005). This includes differences in understanding of patient conditions and treatments and in terminology. Put simply, each profession develops its own language (Frank, 1961; Hall, 2005). This is illustrated by the finding that rehabilitation staff, when presented with a description of a patient and her performance in cognitive tests, labeled her cognitive state anywhere from “normal for her age” to “severely impaired” (Wanlass et al., 1992). It is obvious that such differences in the use of basic terminology can lead to severe misunderstandings, which can slow down processes and potentially cause critical errors.
The importance of creating a shared language in interprofessional healthcare teams for avoiding communication-based errors has been recognized (e.g., Swayne, 1993; Pamplin et al., 2011). To promote the development of a shared language, interprofessional education is one option (Priddis and Wells, 2011), although interprofessional education itself needs a shared language at its base (e.g., Thistlethwaite et al., 2014; de Vries-Erich et al., 2017). Another option is to introduce classification systems which provide clear guidance on the use of medical terminology and therefore, help to establish a shared language among HCWs. One example is the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) by the World Health Organization [WHO] (2001). The ICF is a manual which provides HCWs with a framework to define and evaluate disabilities and functions of patients by using common classifications and codes (World Health Organization [WHO], 2001). For example, the ICF defines what a body function is and differentiates between different types of functions such as voice and speech functions. Speech functions are further divided into different aspects like fluency and speed of speech. With these classifications and definitions the ICF provides HCWs with a universal language to discuss patients’ insufficiencies and needs (Jette, 2006). The World Health Organization [WHO] (2013) states about the ICF that using a shared language makes collaboration between people from different professions more efficient.
Despite common belief that a shared language has positive effects on collaboration in interprofessional healthcare teams, quantitative research on the topic is scarce. Intervention studies have evaluated some of the instruments which are supposed to affect shared language (e.g., Cheung et al., 2012). However, to our knowledge, no study has quantitatively investigated whether a shared language actually has the anticipated positive consequences. Closest to this, one study has found a positive relationship between social capital (i.e., social resources available to a person, Coleman, 1988) and relational coordination, where shared language is a part of the cognitive dimension of social capital (Lee, 2013).
Our study tests the assumption that shared language is associated with better collaboration in interprofessional healthcare teams. We further examine if shared language is related to patient and staff outcomes (i.e., quality of care and job satisfaction) and we look at potential intermediate mechanisms, namely relational coordination and psychological safety.
With our study, we contribute to research and practice in two ways. First, our study empirically tests the relationship of a shared language in interprofessional healthcare teams with patient safety and staff outcomes. We aim to advance the conversation about whether striving for a shared language through the implementation of instruments like the ICF is worthwhile. Second, we help to improve the understanding of how shared language is related to patient and staff outcomes by suggesting possible mediating mechanisms. These insights could offer decision-makers potential starting points for interventions to improve team collaboration, overall quality of care, and job satisfaction. We hope our results prove instrumental for the prevention of communication errors which still cost lives every day.
Effect of Shared Language and Mediation Through Relational Coordination
We are interested in understanding whether and how shared language is associated with quality of care and job satisfaction. We assume positive relationships between shared language and these outcomes. Furthermore, we hypothesize that these relationships operate through improved collaboration captured by the concept of relational coordination. Relational coordination comprises two basic components: communication quality and relationship quality among groups of people working together (Gittell, 2006). Communication quality includes frequent, timely, accurate, and problem-solving focused communication (Gittell et al., 2008a). Relationship quality includes shared goals, shared knowledge, and mutual respect (Gittell, 2006).
We suggest that a shared language (e.g., using the same medical expressions and definitions) improves both, communication and relationship quality, within the interprofessional healthcare team in several ways. For example, a shared language facilitates communication between HCWs by promoting a shared understanding of patient conditions and their demands. If HCWs can resort to the same terminology, this reduces the potential for misunderstanding and error, thereby increasing communication accuracy.
The relationship quality should also improve. For example, based on Nahapiet and Ghoshal’s (1998) take on social capital theory, shared language acts as a medium of social interaction through which members of an interprofessional team can exchange and combine knowledge. This leads to shared knowledge among the team members.
Previous studies have shown that relational coordination is related to increased quality of care (e.g., Gittell et al., 2000; Havens et al., 2010; Cramm and Nieboer, 2012) and higher job satisfaction of team members (Gittell et al., 2008a). High-quality communication allows team members to perform better. For example, frequent and timely communication gives team members more opportunities to update other team members regarding their actions, plans, and unexpected events, allowing them to adapt to the new situation. Also, fewer communication failures should occur, eventually translating into a better care quality (Williams et al., 2010). Furthermore, high-quality relationships, characterized by shared goals, shared knowledge and mutual respect, positively affect job satisfaction (Gittell et al., 2008a). Therefore, we hypothesize that shared language is positively related to quality of care and job satisfaction and that relational coordination in interprofessional healthcare teams acts as a mechanism for the two relationships.
Hypothesis 1: Shared language between HCWs is positively associated with (a) quality of care and (b) HCWs’ job satisfaction.
Hypothesis 2: Relational coordination between HCWs mediates the relationships of shared language between HCWs with (a) quality of care and (b) HCWs’ job satisfaction.
Mediation Through Psychological Safety
We argue that psychological safety mediates the relationships of relational coordination with quality of care and job satisfaction. Psychological safety can be described as team members’ belief that their team is safe to take interpersonal risks (e.g., to speak up about issues), without fearing negative reactions or consequences by the other members (Edmondson, 1999).
Relational coordination incorporates high-quality relationships and communication, which should foster psychological safety in interprofessional teams. According to social exchange theory, reciprocal exchange evoke trust between the exchanging individuals (Blau, 1964). Relational coordination, including mutual respect, knowledge sharing, frequent, and timely communication, is characterized by positive, reciprocal social exchange between members from the interprofessional team and should therefore promote an open and trusting working climate (Carmeli and Gittell, 2009). Social exchange also reduces uncertainty regarding the behavior of other team members, thereby diminishing their fear of unforeseen negative reactions by other team members (Siemsen et al., 2009). This suggests that relational coordination is positively associated with psychological safety, where team members feel safe to challenge the status quo by speaking about errors that occurred or making suggestions for improvement. Supporting our assumption, psychological safety has been found to mediate the relationship between high-quality relationships (operationalized by relational coordination’s relationship qualities) and learning from failures (Carmeli and Gittell, 2009).
Psychological safety, in turn, has been found to be positively associated with a number of desirable outcomes such as speaking up (e.g., Detert and Burris, 2007; Walumbwa and Schaubroeck, 2009; Liang et al., 2012; Bienefeld and Grote, 2014), learning behaviors (e.g., Edmondson, 1999; Carmeli and Gittell, 2009; Hirak et al., 2012), and performance (e.g., Baer and Frese, 2003; Kessel et al., 2012). We expect that these positive outcomes translate into increased quality of care in the healthcare context. For example, speaking up is considered an important factor in preventing medical errors (Okuyama et al., 2014). Psychological safety should therefore, help to improve quality of care.
Psychological safety also enables an open team atmosphere (Edmondson, 1999). This climate is beneficial for the employees’ well-being (Kark and Carmeli, 2009) and is associated with the confidence that even when taking interpersonal risks, team members will not react negatively (Edmondson, 1999). Moreover, psychological safety is negatively related to conflict frequency in a team (Bunderson and Boumgarden, 2010). Therefore, we expect that in a team with high psychological safety, members feel more comfortable working together, which improves team members’ job satisfaction. These thoughts taken together, we hypothesize that relational coordination within interprofessional healthcare teams is positively related to quality of care and job satisfaction and that psychological safety acts as a mechanism for the two relationships.
Hypothesis 3: Psychological safety mediates the relationships of relational coordination between HCWs with (a) quality of care and (b) HCWs’ job satisfaction.
Combining the above-stated hypotheses leads us to a serial mediation model, where shared language is positively related to relational coordination within interprofessional healthcare teams, which in turn is positively related to psychological safety, which in turn is positively related to quality of care and job satisfaction (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Serial mediation model showing the effect of shared language on (a) quality of care and (b) job satisfaction mediated by relational coordination and psychological safety.
Hypothesis 4: Relational coordination between HCWs and psychological safety serially mediate the relationships of shared language between HCWs with (a) quality of care and (b) HCWs’ job satisfaction.
Sample and Procedure
We gathered data from three Swiss rehabilitation centers. All three centers had, either recently or some time ago, implemented the ICF framework. The ICF was intended to facilitate the development of a shared language across professions. We expect that the development would only gradually be realized, therefore creating variance in the degree of shared language across professions. This created the opportunity to test the impact of shared language on the hypothesized outcomes, and the path through which shared language impacts those outcomes. We contacted currently employed HCWs from the three centers and encouraged them to complete our questionnaire either online or on paper.
In total, 237 employees started the questionnaire, of which we excluded 40 participants (16.9%) because their data was missing either for all (N = 29) or some (N = 11) of our model constructs completely, resulting in a final sample of 197 participants. Where we had item missing data, we used the remaining item data for scale means (Newman, 2014). From the final sample, 79 participants (40.1%) worked at rehabilitation center A, 59 participants (29.9%) worked at center B, and 59 participants (29.9%) worked at center C. We registered a response rate of 19.3% for center A and a response rate of 67.8% for center C.1
The final sample of 197 consisted of 150 women (76.1%) and 46 men (23.4%) with one participant not answering the question. The average age was 38.49 years (SD = 10.27), ranging from 22 to 66 years. Most participants were Swiss (71.1%) followed by German (20.3%), French (2.0%), Dutch (2.0%), Austrian (1.5%), and other nationalities (3.1%). Most participants were nurses and other care workers (55.8%) followed by occupational, physical and speech therapists (26.4%), social and psychological workers (7.6%), physicians (6.1%) and administrative staff (3%) with 2 participants not answering this question. Respondents from the nursing profession were slightly over- and the physicians under-represented. On average the participants had worked for 13.06 years (SD = 9.57) in their jobs and for 7.11 years (SD = 6.69) in their current institution. Table 1 provides a summary of sample characteristics segmented by study site.
Table 1. Sample characteristics segmented by rehabilitation centers.
Shared Language
Healthcare workers reported the degree to which a shared language is used with different professions. The measure was constructed to be similar to the measure of relational coordination (Gittell, 2002). Participants were asked “All in all, how uniformly do the members of the following professions speak a shared language?” and rated the degree of shared language with each of the professional groups that are involved in the rehabilitation process of the institution (e.g., physicians, nurses and other care staff, occupational therapists, and social workers) separately. The mean of all the ratings was used for data analysis. The response scale ranged from 1 = not at all to 5 = completely.
Relational Coordination
Relational coordination was measured using the items from Gittell (2002). They were slightly adapted to better suit our setting, e.g., by referring to “the patient” instead of “the status of joint replacement patients.” Five of the seven relational coordination qualities were included in our survey: mutual respect, shared knowledge, shared goals, communication frequency, and communication timeliness. The remaining two qualities, communication accuracy and problem-solving communication, were dropped due to constraints regarding the length of the questionnaire. Similarly to Gittell et al. (2008a), who also assessed only two communication qualities, we assume that the overall score still represents the relational coordination construct.
Similar to shared language, participants rated each relational coordination quality with regard to each of the professional groups involved in the rehabilitation process. Two sample items were: “All in all, how frequently do you communicate with the members of the following professions?” for communication frequency, and “All in all, how much do the members of the following professions respect you and the work you do with the patient?” for mutual respect. The two communication qualities included two ratings per profession, one referring to ad hoc communication, the other referring to communication using official communication platforms. Since we were interested in all communication channels, we averaged the two ratings. Answers were measured on a 5-point scale with anchors that matched the corresponding quality (α = 0.81).
To arrive at an overall relational coordination score, consistent with previous research (e.g., Gittell et al., 2008b; Havens et al., 2010), we first averaged the ratings for each quality, and then computed the mean of the five quality scores. Principal component analysis showed that the five quality scores yielded one factor with an eigenvalue of 2.86 and factor loadings for all dimensions ≥0.73.
We used four items by Edmondson (1999) to assess psychological safety. A sample item was: “All members of the team are able to bring up problems and tough issues.” The items were assessed with regard to the interprofessional team and the own profession. For our analysis, we used the mean of all eight ratings. The response scale ranged from 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree (α = 0.73).
To measure overall job satisfaction, we used one item similar to the one used by Scarpello and Campbell (1983). The item read: “All in all, I am very satisfied with my job.” Previous research showed that for global or overall job satisfaction, a single-item measure is appropriate, and has good psychometric properties (Scarpello and Campbell, 1983; Wanous et al., 1997; Wanous and Hudy, 2001). The response scale ranged from 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree.
We assessed quality of care with self-developed items based on the definition of quality care by Brook et al. (2000). As postulated by Brook et al. (2000), the two most important aspects of high quality of care are technical quality and respect toward patients. High technical quality means that treatments are performed in a professional way and based on the latest knowledge. Respectful treatment means to allow patients to participate in decisions regarding their therapy and, for example, incorporating their goals and obtaining their approval regarding the treatment. Quality of care was measured using 6 items: “The benefit of every treatment is evident”; “All treatments are performed in a professional way”; “All treatments are in accordance with the newest state of knowledge”; “The goals of the patient are considered when setting objectives”; “We take it very seriously that the patient agrees to the treatment objectives”; “In my opinion, the rehabilitation quality is very good here.” As with all the other measures, the items were rated by the HCWs and not the patients. The response scale ranged from 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree (α = 0.85).
Control Variables
We included participants’ affiliation to rehabilitation centers as a control variable, because we expected differences between centers for all our model variables. To control for affiliation to rehabilitation center we used dummy coding with the center with the highest subsample, center A, as reference group.
Confirmatory Factor Analyses
Since all model constructs were rated by HCWs, we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test if the items used to measure the constructs load on corresponding latent factors. We conducted the CFA using R 3.5.0 (R Core Team, 2017) and the R package lavaan (Rosseel, 2012), and specified a five-factor model including all items used to measure shared language, relational coordination, psychological safety, quality of care, and job satisfaction. For psychological safety, we used four parcels, each incorporating the same item asked with regard to the two different reference groups (i.e., interprofessional team and own profession). Four cases (2.5%) of our total sample of 197 had missing on at least one of the items or parcels and were excluded for this analysis. Results showed that all items loaded significantly on the corresponding latent factors (ps < 0.001) and our measurement model had a reasonable model fit overall: χ2(111) = 227.48, p < 0.001; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.90; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.07, 90% confidence interval (CI) [0.06, 0.09]; standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.05. This five-factor model had a significantly better fit than a one-factor model, where all items and parcels loaded onto one single latent factor: χ2(119) = 386.21, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.77; RMSEA = 0.11, 90% CI [0.10, 0.12]; SRMR = 0.08; Δχ2 = 158.72, p < 0.001.
We used SPSS 24 for data analysis. Intercorrelations, means, and standard deviations for key study variables are presented in Table 2. To test our hypotheses, we conducted multiple regression analyses with Hayes’ (2013) PROCESS macro for SPSS. Mediation was tested with PROCESS by computing an indirect effect and constructing a 95% bootstrap CI using 10,000 bootstrapped samples (Preacher and Hayes, 2008). We tested separate models for each of our hypotheses and our two outcome variables, quality of care, and job satisfaction. For missing data, we used pairwise deletion. All significance tests were two-tailed.
Table 2. Intercorrelations, means, and standard deviations for key study variables.
Test of Hypotheses
Hypothesis 1 proposed that a shared language between HCWs is positively associated with (a) quality of care and (b) HCWs’ job satisfaction. We found significant total effects of shared language on quality of care (β = 0.41, p < 0.001) and on job satisfaction (β = 0.17, p = 0.018). Therefore, Hypotheses 1a and 1b were supported.
Hypothesis 2 predicted that the relationships of shared language among HCWs with (a) quality of care and (b) HCWs’ job satisfaction will be mediated by relational coordination among HCWs. We found a significant indirect effect of 0.17, 95% CI [0.09, 0.26], from shared language through relational coordination (β = 0.54, p < 0.001) to quality of care (β = 0.33, p < 0.001). Similarly, we found a significant indirect effect of 0.12, 95% CI [0.01, 0.25], from shared language through relational coordination (β = 0.54, p < 0.001) to job satisfaction (β = 0.20, p = 0.020). Thus, Hypotheses 2a and 2b were supported.
Hypothesis 3 proposed that psychological safety mediates the relationships of relational coordination between HCWs with (a) quality of care and (b) HCWs’ job satisfaction. We found a significant indirect effect of 0.17, 95% CI [0.09, 0.28], from relational coordination through psychological safety (β = 0.39, p < 0.001) to quality of care (β = 0.30, p < 0.001). Similarly, we found a significant indirect effect of 0.25, 95% CI [0.14, 0.41], from relational coordination through psychological safety (β = 0.39, p < 0.001) to job satisfaction (β = 0.39, p < 0.001). Therefore, Hypotheses 3a and 3b were supported.
Hypothesis 4 predicted that relational coordination between HCWs and psychological safety serially mediate the relationships of shared language between HCWs with (a) quality of care and (b) HCWs’ job satisfaction. As depicted in Table 3 and Figure 2, We found a significant indirect effect of 0.04, 95% CI [0.02, 0.09], from shared language through relational coordination (β = 0.54, p < 0.001), next through psychological safety (β = 0.31, p < 0.001) to quality of care (β = 0.28, p < 0.001). Controlling for the two mediators reduced the total effect of shared language on quality of care (β = 0.41, p < 0.001) to a still significant direct effect (β = 0.18, p = 0.008). Thus, Hypothesis 4a was supported.
Table 3. Multiple linear regression analyses for the serial mediation models predicting quality of care and job satisfaction.
Figure 2. Serial mediation model showing the effect of shared language on quality of care mediated by relational coordination and psychological safety. Values depicted are standardized regression coefficients. The total effect of shared language on quality of care is written in parentheses. ∗∗p < 0.01. ∗∗∗p < 0.001.
Similarly, as depicted in Table 3 and Figure 3, we found a significant indirect effect of 0.07, 95% CI [0.03, 0.13] from shared language through relational coordination (β = 0.54, p < 0.001), next through psychological safety (β = 0.31, p < 0.001) to job satisfaction (β = 0.39, p < 0.001). Controlling for the two mediators reduced the total effect of shared language on job satisfaction (β = 0.17, p = 0.018) to a non-significant direct effect (β = 0.01, p = 0.929). Therefore, Hypothesis 4b was supported.
Figure 3. Serial mediation model showing the effect of shared language on job satisfaction mediated by relational coordination and psychological safety. Values depicted are standardized regression coefficients. The total effect of shared language on job satisfaction is written in parentheses. ∗p < 0.05. ∗∗∗p < 0.001.
The main goal of our study was to examine the role of shared language in the context of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare. To test the assumption of the ICF and other classification systems that a shared language among HCWs is vital, we investigated the relationship of shared language with important outcomes and underlying mechanisms. The results support our proposed models. We found a positive relationship of shared language with quality of care and job satisfaction. Both of these relationships were serially mediated by relational coordination and psychological safety.
The results indicate that the relationship with quality of care as the outcome was partially mediated whereas the relationship with job satisfaction was fully mediated. This suggests that in the case of quality of care, shared language explains variance which is not captured by relational coordination or psychological safety. One possibility is that shared language directly leads to fewer communication errors. For example, using the same terminology should eliminate certain types of communication problems, which might not be captured by relational coordination’s communication qualities, therefore exerting a direct effect on quality of care. In contrast, our two tested mediators explain most of the shared variance between shared language and job satisfaction, rendering the direct effect non-significant. Therefore, we may have caught the most important mediators with relational coordination and psychological safety.
Overall, our findings indicate that a shared language between HCWs is associated with better interprofessional collaboration in healthcare teams and with higher quality of care as well as higher job satisfaction of HCWs. Psychological safety in those interprofessional teams seems to play an important role in mediating these effects.
Theoretical Implications
Our study contributes to the existing literature in three ways. First, it provides quantitative evidence for a positive relationship between shared language, relational coordination, and beneficial outcomes, namely quality of care and job satisfaction. Previous literature on the potential positive effects of shared language in the healthcare sector has mainly used qualitative methods (e.g., Cedraschi et al., 1998; Cheung et al., 2012) without directly addressing the relationship between shared language and quality of care or job satisfaction. Our study therefore extends previous literature with quantitative and more specific support for the assumed beneficial effects of shared language.
Second, with shared language we have identified a valuable antecedent of relational coordination, extending the existing theory. Previous studies have explored a number of antecedents, for example, supervisory span (Gittell, 2001), high performance work practices (Gittell et al., 2010), boundary spanners, and team meetings (Gittell, 2002). However, this study is the first to explore the impact of shared language on relational coordination. Given the strong relationship between them, we think shared language is an important antecedent and might even be a prerequisite for developing relational coordination.
Third, we shed light on the mechanisms that act between shared language and outcomes. Besides relational coordination we found that psychological safety mediates said relationships. Based in part on previous findings (Carmeli and Gittell, 2009), we proposed psychological safety to be a mechanism between relational coordination, and our outcome variables. Whereas Carmeli and Gittell (2009) solely looked at the relationship quality of relational coordination, we considered the whole relational coordination construct, including communication quality. Communication quality, which includes frequent, timely, accurate, and problem-solving focused communication, is critical for a successful coordination in care. This is illustrated by the finding that communication failures (e.g., due to poor timing or inaccurate information) can lead to inefficiency, delay, and even errors (Lingard et al., 2004). Therefore, our study advances the work of Carmeli and Gittell (2009) by including care-critical communication quality. Our results are consistent with the notion that relational coordination could help to foster psychological safety in teams, enriching our understanding of how psychological safety is created in teams and organizations.
A limitation of our study is that we cannot rule out that the chain of causality between shared language, relational coordination, psychological safety, and quality of care and job satisfaction is different. For example, it is possible that a psychologically safe climate in an interprofessional team promotes the development of relational coordination, because in psychologically safe teams, individuals feel safer to share information, and knowledge (Kessel et al., 2012). Theoretically, one could also argue for a mutually enforcing relationship between relational coordination and psychological safety. To gain certainty over the causal processes, longitudinal data is necessary, with which developmental aspects can be captured.
Gathering all data from one source (i.e., the HCW) can lead to common method bias, resulting in statistically inflated or deflated observed relationships (Podsakoff et al., 2003). Yet, we sought to reduce the common method bias through psychological separation (Podsakoff et al., 2003) by using different response formats for shared language and relational coordination (items referring to each professions) on the one hand, and psychological safety, quality of care, and job satisfaction (items referring to team or general situation) on the other.
Finally, we used a new measure for quality of care. Our reliability test and CFA looked promising. However, to gain further confidence in the validity of this measure it should be tested in other samples and future studies should aim to include objective quality indicators (e.g., objective patient outcomes).
Future Research on Shared Language
Future research could take a closer look at the construct of shared language and try to further dissect it. In our study, we provided positive results by measuring shared language in a general way. It would be interesting to see what is needed to create shared language and which specific elements constitute a successful shared language. A more detailed look at the term “shared language” and its elements could help to gain further insights into what exactly is necessary to improve interprofessional collaboration.
Moreover, the implementation of interprofessional education or of frameworks such as the ICF, which are aimed at creating a shared language, should generally be accompanied by quantitative research to test its success more objectively (e.g., Cheung et al., 2012). Such studies would allow to gain further insights into the efficacy and practicability of interventions targeted at shared language.
Our study provides first evidence that a shared language in interprofessional healthcare teams is associated with better performance in the form of quality of care. Future studies could try to replicate and further develop our model in other contexts. There is an increasing number of organizational contexts today, where employees with different professions or different educational backgrounds have to work together. We expect that shared language in interprofessional teams from other industries such as research or product development works in similar psychological mechanisms and therefore also leads to higher quality work and higher employee job satisfaction via increased relational coordination and psychological safety. We hope that our research can be the starting point of further studies investigating shared language in interprofessional teams from a variety of industries.
Practical Implications and Conclusion
Our findings reinforce the calls for a shared language in the interprofessional healthcare sector (e.g., Swayne, 1993; Pamplin et al., 2011). The results provide quantitative support for the importance of shared language for interprofessional collaboration. Therefore, it is important to promote efforts to enhance shared language in interprofessional teams, for example by means of interprofessional education or the use of classification systems like the ICF.
Our findings also provide insights into possible mechanisms, through which a shared language may influence outcomes. For practitioners, these represent potential starting points for alternative interventions in areas, where a shared language might be very difficult to achieve. Supporting leaders in establishing relational coordination and psychological safety could be a possible course of action. For example, supportive (Edmondson, 1999) and inclusive (Nembhard and Edmondson, 2006) leaders who are open to and invite speaking up behavior have been shown to be associated with a psychologically safer climate.
In conclusion, we hope that our findings will engender a new research stream on shared language. Learning more about how shared language develops and what specific characteristics of shared language improves collaboration as well as psychological safety in interprofessional teams will contribute to enhance team performance and deliver better care. In healthcare, we believe that a new perspective and focus on shared language can help prevent at least some of the futile deaths caused by communication errors.
For this study, we gathered survey data. Participants received written information about the study prior to answering the questions and had the opportunity to decline to participate in the study without any negative consequences. Participants gave their consent by continuing with the study either by clicking on a button (online version) or by filling in the questionnaire (paper version). No personal health-related or patient-related data were assessed. Furthermore, the survey was completely confidential and the data anonymized after completion of the study. Therefore, in compliance with Swiss national law, no ethics approval was necessary.
MS was responsible for developing the theoretical model, analyzing the data, and drafting and revising the manuscript. GG contributed to project planning. GG and JS contributed to drafting and revising the manuscript and approved the submitted version.
This research was supported by the Schweizer Paraplegiker-Forschung (Swiss Paraplegic Research) and the Stiftung Suzanne und Hans Biäsch zur Förderung der Angewandten Psychologie (Suzanne and Hans Biäsch Foundation for the Promotion of Applied Psychology).
We thank Julia Belting and Mareike Haase for their work regarding the planning of the project and data collection. We also thank the three rehabilitation centers for taking part in our study and Jody Hoffer Gittell for her feedback on an earlier version of the manuscript.
^ Since the HCWs were contacted via a contact person from within the center, we do not have the exact number of HCW who have been contacted for the study for center B. Therefore, we cannot provide a response rate for center B.
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Keywords: shared language, relational coordination, interprofessional collaboration, teamwork, psychological safety, quality of care, job satisfaction, patient safety
Citation: Stühlinger M, Schmutz JB and Grote G (2019) I Hear You, but Do I Understand? The Relationship of a Shared Professional Language With Quality of Care and Job Satisfaction. Front. Psychol. 10:1310. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01310
Received: 05 September 2018; Accepted: 20 May 2019;
Published: 04 June 2019.
Badri Bajaj, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, India
Jody Hoffer Gittell, Brandeis University, United States
Catherine S. Daus, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, United States
Copyright © 2019 Stühlinger, Schmutz and Grote. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Manuel Stühlinger, mstuehlinger@ethz.ch
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Adrian Edmondson - Biography
Actor and comedian
Famous for: Playing loud-mouthed punk Vyvyan in TheYoung Ones
Bradford-born Adrian Charles Edmonson grew up in a variety of foreign locations, including Cyprus and Uganda, as his father was an instructor in the Armed Forces. He met future comedy partner Rik Mayall while they were both studying drama at Manchester University. They went on to collaborate on several projects, including cult student sitcom The Young Ones and 1991 series Bottom. In the early Eighties they established the Comic Strip Club, which included Absolutely Fabulous actress Jennifer Saunders. She and Ade wed in 1995 and have three daughters together, Ella, Beatrice and Freya. The couple divide their time between London and a five-acre, £1 million property in Devon. The actor's other small screen appearances include Jonathan Creek, Blackadder Goes Forth and 2008 series Teenage Kicks. He also had non-comedy roles in Holby City and the BBC period drama Miss Austen Regrets. Ade also starred in and co-wrote big screen comedy Guest House Paradiso and appeared in Robbie Coltrane flick The Pope Must Die.
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Google Daydream vs Samsung Gear VR: Which Mobile VR Platform is Best?
Getting a premium VR headset is a pricey endeavour, and even the relatively cheap PSVR requires a minimum of £550 to get the most basic experience. But there are other systems capable of using your smartphone, that thing you use every single day, to offer a VR experience. It's nowhere near as impressive as the uber-expensive stuff, but it's also a darn sight cheaper. The only question is, which platform is best?
The Gear VR (2016)
Lego Batman for scale
Samsung was the first real name to come out with a mobile VR system designed to be a premium product, rather than a cheap gimmick. Developed by VR bigwigs Oculus, four different versions of the Gear VR have been released since late 2014 - though only two of them were ever intended to be used by consumers.
The Gear VR is a self contained system, with built-in controls and a system that locks the phone into place. It's compatible with six Samsung Galaxy devices: the S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, Note 5, S7, and S7 Edge. The 2016 model was originally compatible with the Note 7, but for obvious reasons that was changed.
Price: £45 (2015 model), £65 (2016)
Daydream it's Google's second foray into the world of VR, after the launch of Cardboard back at I/O 2014. Rather than focussing on being a cheap and more inclusive product, Daydream is designed to be a premium VR service for more powerful phones. So far only two phone models are compatible: Google's own Pixel, and the Moto Z. Multiple variants of both phones are available, all of which are compatible. Expect this to change over the course of the year, as developers announce brand new devices.
Daydream's hardware consists of a fabric-covered headset that your phone is placed inside, with a separate remote used for control. It's clear from using it, however, that much of Daydream's asking price is for the remote rather than the headset itself. The headset is incredibly basic, and with the exception of a built-in NFC tag it has no advanced features of its own.
Hahahahah. I'm joking. Cardboard is pretty rubbish in comparison to the other two, and these days it's definitely more of a novelty than a serious piece of kit. There's a reason why Google has launched Daydream after all. I won't be looking at Cardboard since it's been done to death, and anyone who's curious can get themselves sorted out with a headset for less than a fiver. Go ahead, most of the apps are free to try anyway.
Price: Variable, but you get what you pay for. Available almost everywhere.
Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way right here. The Daydream headset's design is, well, weird as hell. The most obvious thing to note is that the exterior is covered in fabric, and while that might add some aesthetic and tactile advantages, it really isn't clever. Stuff gets dirty very easily. Even if you leave it lying around doing nothing it's going to end up with a layer of dust. The Daydream website claims that the headset is hand washable, but why does it need to be? With the exception of the straps and the face cushion, the Gear VR is made out of hardened plastic. If you want to clean that, you just wipe it with a damp cloth or sponge, which takes about two seconds.
The Daydream also has a lot more in common with the cheap VR headsets you can go out and buy, since you just open up the front and slap a phone in there. It's nice and simple, and I'm assuming this is because it's going to have to deal with multiple phones of varying different sizes and designs.
The Gear VR is a bit different in this respect. Putting the phone in takes a while to sort out, due to the fact you have to remove a faceplate and properly lock the phone in place. It's not overly complicated, but I did need to consult the instruction manual to make sure I was doing it right. The main problem? I didn't realise you could adjust the dock connecting the phone to the headset, since it has to be shifted forwards for anyone using a Galaxy S phone rather than a Galaxy Note.
But, that said, it feels much more comforting knowing your phone is always going to be in the right position. Sadly this security is due to the fact it's only designed for Samsung's premium-tier phones, so all the designers had to worry about was making sure that very specific Galaxy S and Galaxy Note models all fit properly. Daydream doesn't have that luxury.
<Update> At this point the original version of this article made comments about how, unlike the Daydream, you weren't able to charge a phone while it's inside the Gear VR, because the headset draws power directly from the phone's charging port. I've since been made aware of a USB-C port hiding in plain sight, on the bottom right-hand side of the headset. The original issue was a minor one at best, since charging up your phone during VR mode isn't particularly clever, but now those comments have been rendered moot. </Update>
One obvious advantage that the the more complex Gear VR design has over the Daydream Viewer's more simplistic approach is that you can adjust the headset to make things more comfortable on your eyes. While you can't move the lenses left and right to fiddle with the Interpupillary distance (IPD), there is a dial that lets you change how far the lenses and display are from your eyes. That way you can get the focus just right, and you don't give yourself a headache trying to squint. The downside is that the further away the display is, the smaller your field of view. Essentially meaning you see less of the screen and more of the headset's interior. Sadly there isn't really a solution for this at the moment, barring personalised prescription lenses inside the headset itself. A pricey alternative to a (mostly) non issue.
I didn't find focussing on the screen to be a problem with the Daydream, but it's worth pointing out that I have pretty good eyesight. I couldn't say how it might affect someone else, which means the Gear VR's adjustability is likely to be a more inclusive option.
The main downside to the Gear VR is that I did find it steams up quite easily - a problem I had with the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PSVR. I've come to the conclusion that breathing through my mouth blows air upwards slightly, which screws the whole thing up. But! I didn't experience that problem with the Daydream, which I didn't even realise until after I was done using it. It seems that, as annoying and stupid as it may seem, the gap on the underside of the headset provided enough ventilation to stop the lenses from fogging up. You did a good job there, Google, just in a very weird sort of way.
Apparently the original developer edition Gear VR had a miniature fan to prevent screen fogging, and I can't help but think that this would be a good thing to reintroduce. Provided people have the option to turn it off, however.
If you've ever used a cheap cardboard headset for extended periods of time, you know that things can get quite painful. Where it gets painful differs from person to person, but I tend to get it in the top of my forehead - especially if the headset in question is resting on my nose. It happened with the plastic headset I used very briefly, it happened with Microsoft's Hololens, and it happened with Daydream.
I should make it clear that the whole nose situation wasn't an issue here, because of the aforementioned gap between the bottom of the headset and the rest of my face. Despite that, however, extended periods of use did start to get a bit painful and fucked with my head a fair bit. It took longer than a dirt cheap headset, but nowhere near as long as the three ultra-premium VR headsets and, crucially, the Gear VR.
Why exactly this happened isn't clear, but my guess is that it's because a mix of different reasons. The first was because of the underside gap and the way I had to position the headset and the strap to compensate. The second is that, compared to the Gear VR at least, the 'rim' that actually comes in contact with your face is quite rigid and doesn't have much cushioning. The third, and final point, is likely down to the fact that the Daydream doesn't have an overhead strap to lock it in place a bit better. This exacerbated the first problem, since it was much less secure. But hey, at least Google realised that people want a headset with straps this time!
You can see that the Gear VR looks considerably more comfortable
The Gear VR, on the other hand was a totally different story. The rim of the headset had a decent amount of cushioning that kept the hard plastic well away from your soft and fragile face. It offers a very snug fit, and that lining is removable should it end up being some sort of problem. The Gear VR also has that third strap that goes over the top of your head, and that means it's a lot more stable during use.
It's not all hunky dory, however, since the Gear VR's controls could certainly do with some work. The Daydream headset's biggest draw is the remote control, which is a lovely piece of kit and lets you relax your hands and arms while retaining control of what's on scheme. The Gear VR's controls are built onto the right hand side of the headset, so if you want to do anything you end up feeling like X-Men's Cyclops. In short bursts this isn't a problem, but if you're doing anything for more than a very short period of time (like browsing the Oculus app store), your arm gets very tired very quickly.
Control is pretty simple on both counts, and if you've used a mobile VR headset before then things aren't going to feel unfamiliar. Both headsets rely on the phone's internal sensors to track the movement of your head, and with that you can just turn around to see a different portion of the screen. Plus, like Cardboard before them, Daydream and Gear VR have a system that lets you select options after pointing a small on-screen cursor at something for a set period of time.
I misplaced lobster-lovin' Batman, fairy ballerina Batman had to step up
The main difference is the way Google and Samsung/Oculus present the control mechanisms. Google has a separate remote control, with buttons, a touch sensor, and motion controls. The Gear VR has controls built into the right-hand side of the headset, including a touch-enabled D-Pad, and a small number of buttons. Aside from the comfort issues mentioned before, and users doing their best impressions of Scott Summers, the control situation is fairly balanced on both sides. Though obviously Google's inclusion of motion controls does mean Daydream has a distinct advantage.
Say, for instance, you're using your VR headset to browse the web. Maybe you're a masochist, I don't know. You need to navigate an on-screen keyboard to get to your digital destination, or else you're going to look at a blank page all day. Anyone who's attempted to use a keyboard on a games console or streaming box will know this situation.
With the Gear VR you have to scroll to each individual letter, which takes an age and kills off your arm in the process. The Daydream's motion controls makes this process infinitely easier, since you can just wave the remote around and save yourself from all that tedious scrolling. Heck, even using the touch pad to move around is a better option since it doesn't make your dominant arm feel as though you've just been to the gym.
Plus, it's really easy to hit the buttons on the Gear VR by accident and screw up whatever it is you were doing. The number of times I accidentally paused Netflix because I was trying to adjust the volume is ridiculous.
So in terms of control, Daydream is miles ahead of what Samsung is offering you. If I were a betting man, I'd put money on Samsung having a motion-enabled remote of its own sometime in 2017. I assume, however, that it will be a separate purchase, rather than being included in the core £100 (RRP) Gear VR package.
The main problem with the Daydream is that it's very early days, and there's not much content. This is a bit of a oddity given how Google was the only real pioneer in the world of affordable, inclusive mobile VR. Cardboard may be basic, with a lot of really quite terrible headsets out there, but you can't deny it opened the door for a lot of virtual reality apps and experiences. So, logically, you'd expect the Google's Daydream platform to have some links back to the old stuff - at the very least ensuring that there's some sort of headset compatibility.
But no. Daydream is totally separate. For some reason using Cardboard apps with the Daydream headset is harder than with the shitty £5 paper headsets you can buy online. The cardboard headsets have that bizarre magnet switch on the side, which functions as a way of activating things in a Cardboard-compatible app. Daydream doesn't have that, and from what I can tell the official controller doesn't work with Cardboard apps either.
You can still use Cardboard apps with the Daydream headset, but that's going to require turning off NFC (so the phone doesn't open the Daydream app as soon as you put it into the headset), and getting another Bluetooth controller to control what's going on on-screen. It's not the end of the world, but it's one of those things that makes you wonder what the hell Google was thinking. It released a new product that didn't work with its own platform. Even if it wants to phase out Cardboard (which it clearly does), give devs a bit of time to make their apps compatible with Daydream for crying out loud!
Thankfully we have been seeing that since launch, and Daydream's library of apps is steadily growing. It's slow moving, and Samsung had a couple of years to get ahead, but in time the content issue shouldn't be a problem.
The other problem with Daydream, for the time being, is that it's only compatible with two phone models: Google's Pixel and the Moto Z. Thankfully this doesn't sound like it'll be the case for long. Google has been working with phone makers to ensure future devices are Daydream ready (including Samsung), and it sounds like the only barrier is ensuring that the devices in question are fast enough to run the software. Hopefully, the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona will bring some new additions to the Daydream family. So in six months time you should find yourself with a lot more Google-approved options where VR is concerned.
Both systems have their own way of automatically opening up the VR content once the phone is in the headset, so you don't have to worry about sorting that out yourself. Daydream uses an NFC tag built into the headset, and the Gear VR uses a bit of software called 'Gear VR Services'. Both of these can be disabled if you want to use Cardboard-compatible apps from Google Play, though the Daydream's is much easier. Daydream users only have to switch off NFC or use a different headset, both of which take seconds to achieve.
The Gear VR requires you to disable Gear VR Services, which means going into your apps list and doing it manually. It's that much of a hassle to keep disabling and re-enabling it that there are a number of apps that do it for you with a single tap of the screen, though they do cost a little bit of money. These apps often let you use the Gear VR's built-in controls to click what's on-screen as well, taking over from the magnetic switch on Cardboard headsets. This means you can use Cardboard apps to their fullest without needing a separate controller - something you can't do with the Daydream headset/controller combo.
Winner: The Gear VR. For Now
There's no real question about it at the moment, despite its faults the Gear VR is the better headset and has the better system. It's more comfortable, has a headset with a better design, offers more content, is compatible with more phones, and costs less to go out and buy. But don't expect things to be this way for long, because Daydream has an awful lot of potential.
Samsung has a clear head start, so there's more content available for people to use right now - more so when you consider the sort-of compatibility with Google Cardboard apps. That's bound to change as time goes on, and we've already seen a number of developers make their apps compatible with the Daydream platform. Netflix is a very good example, since it was only available on Gear VR when I started working on this article. Now, though, it's available on both - a clear indicator that things will change in the future. It's also worth mentioning that Google's own suite of apps, like YouTube and Street View, are not available on the Gear VR. Not unless you're willing to use third party knock-offs, like Windows Phone users have had to deal with for many a year.
The future holds promise, though, and Daydream is picking up some steam out in the big bad world. Cardboard apps have already started transitioning to the new platform, and the controller is far superior to what the Gear VR has to offer. Having the controls built into the headset certainly has its perks, but it can get tiresome after a while. Literally. The only real advantage the Gear VR's controls have is that you don't need to charge them up separately, but this has the obvious downside of being extra taxing on your phone's battery.
A lot can change in a year, and by 2018 we might see Daydream leaving the Gear VR struggling to keep a hold on the mobile VR market (small as it may be). We might also see a Samsung device compatible with the Gear VR and Daydream, which would make the new device (s) far more appealing - something Samsung desperately needs after the Note 7 fiasco. The only way that situation could go wrong is if there isn't a controller compatible with Daydream and the Gear VR. Nobody wants to cough up the cash for a Gear VR headset and have to pay another £65 to access the other system.
The future is bright for mobile VR, and we're bound to find out more over the next couple of months with MWC and I/O 2017 arriving in February and May respectively.
Tom Pritchard
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Home > Features > Taxation in a digital age: Global Government Finance Summit, part 6
Taxation in a digital age: Global Government Finance Summit, part 6
The growth of remote working, labour mobility and “virtual migration” are, said Microsoft digital architect Harry Tsavdaris, set to leave a growing number of people outside the traditional tax system.
Individuals and businesses are increasingly generating value in the digital sphere, but governments’ systems of taxation remain rooted firmly in the physical world. At the 2018 Global Government Finance Summit, delegates discussed this existential threat to public sector revenues. Matt Ross reports
Like every other arm of government, taxation authorities can find some powerful tools among today’s digital technologies. But for government’s revenue generators, the social and economic shifts driven by digital innovation also represent a major threat – fostering footloose workforces and elusive value chains that are increasingly difficult for national governments to pin down and tax.
Earlier this year, senior civil service finance professionals from 11 countries debated these issues at the 2018 Global Government Finance Summit – hosted in Berlin by the German government, and supported by EY and Microsoft. “We already have 1% of the world population as digital nomads,” pointed out Dmitri Jegorov, the Deputy Secretary General for Tax and Customs Policy in Estonia’s Ministry of Finance. “They travel the world and no one can claim jurisdiction over their income.”
The growth of remote working, labour mobility and “virtual migration” are, said Microsoft digital architect Harry Tsavdaris, set to leave a growing number of people outside the traditional tax system. “You can have citizens in your country using services, but working and paying taxes in another jurisdiction,” he said. “So you have the burden but not the benefit.”
Digital as a tool
And it’s not, added Tsavdaris, as if tax officials haven’t already got enough on their plate – what with the long fiscal hangover of the 2008 financial crisis, the impact of demographic changes on tax revenue and public spending, and the need to safeguard their vast stockpiles of sensitive personal data. And on top of that, in many countries they’re being asked to use taxation to pursue social or environmental goals. “There’s a saying: ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast’,” Tsavdaris noted. “I could add that taxation can eat culture for breakfast. You can change culture by using the force of tax – it’s a powerful tool.”
As Tsavdaris pointed out, modern technologies can help tax professionals address some of the challenges filling their in-trays. “We can have quicker payments; we can offer new ways to interact with tax administrations; we can improve our operations, optimising workflows and processes,” he said. “We can forecast revenues; protect against fraud; open up our data to show taxpayers where their money is going.”
Estonia is well advanced in its digital services – and Jegorov outlined some of the new services it’s developing for taxpayers. “We’re planning to do financial and business analyses for companies, and display them in their electronic tax interface,” he explained. “We’ll show them how they compare to similar companies in the salaries and tax they pay, and the risk scores that the tax administration has assigned to them – so if their risk score is high in a particular field, they can adjust their behaviour.”
Digital as a danger
Such digital tools have been covered in depth in previous Global Government Finance Summits. But none are currently able to address the threats presented by digital technologies – in particular, the whittling away of both personal and business taxation as economies migrate from the physical to the digital world. Whilst ‘digital nomads’ undermine the income tax base, the growth of digital industries is leaving governments unable to effectively tax growing swathes of business income.
“International tax regulations are based on physical locations and on tangible assets, and none of that’s important for the digital economy: our regulations are out-dated and need to be modernised,” said Jegorov. This isn’t about tax avoidance, he added: the problem is that digital industries often generate much of their value in locations where they have no physical presence or taxable activity.
Some digital businesses may bump up individual users’ tax liabilities, pointed out Tsavdaris, but much of the value they create produces revenues taxed only in faraway countries. “Airbnb and Uber and Bitcoin are deregulated models,” he said. “How will tax administrations be able to regulate and tax these models?”
These changes have far-reaching implications for traditional models of taxation, argued Jegorov. “I believe that we’re witnessing the end of corporate income tax as we know it because of this increasing digitisation,” he said. “You can be an Irish citizen and an Estonian e-resident, with an Estonian-registered company, working with programmers from Ukraine and India to put a service on a cloud – which could be anywhere! – then selling the service to German and Finnish customers. Would someone tell me where the value is created?”
Taken together, said Martti Hetemäki, Permanent Secretary of Finland’s Ministry of Finance, these economic changes present an existential threat to aspects of the global tax settlement. The “pressures on the current system,” he said, raise questions over “whether it’s viable in the long run.”
“These economic changes present an existential threat to aspects of the global tax settlement.” Martti Hetemäki, permanent secretary of Finland’s Ministry of Finance
During Estonia’s presidency of the European Union Council in the second half of 2017, explained Jegorov, the country made “taxation of the digital economy one of the key focal points.” The model of ‘permanent establishment’ – the home of a business for income and VAT purposes – still works “as a central concept for global allocation of taxing rights,” he argued, “but it has to be tweaked a little bit to make room for aligned value creation where profit is taxed.”
A general consensus emerged in the Council, he added: long-term, global solutions are required that keep intact the main body of internationally agreed tax principles. Further, “we all agree that tax must be paid where value is created – but the value creation process is quite complicated, so the real arguments are there.”
As a broad principle, Jegorov continued, “user-generated content and data collection have become core activities for the value creation of digital businesses. So value created by users for these businesses in a particular jurisdiction should be considered as an economically significant function. And when users give data to a platform in exchange for a free service, this part of the transaction should be taxable in your country.”
Finding global agreement on changes to the long-standing arrangements for corporate tax liabilities is, of course, a major enterprise – so some EU leaders are keen to find a short-term remedy that can act as a stepping stone to a final settlement. “The economy is getting digitised day by day, so there’s great pressure to find an interim measure – a temporary one that will give us time to continue negotiations at the OECD to find a global, long-term solution,” commented Jegorov.
“We should not chuck more oil on the fire with this issue of the digital economy: we need the United States to come in.” Torsten Arnswald, head of the fiscal policy division in Germany’s Federal Ministry of Finance
In the short-term…
As a result the European Commission has, he said, set out proposals for two directives. There’s a short-term plan for “an indirect tax on turnover of certain digital services”: this involves taxing advertising revenue; the sale of user data; and the “platform revenue” – the fee charged by digital businesses to users such as Airbnb hosts and Uber drivers.
Then there’s “a long-term solution, which is basically a corporate income tax on significant digital presence.” This latter proposal introduces the concept of “virtual permanent establishment: you’re not physically present in the market, but you have a significant digital presence and therefore you must pay a corporate income tax based, in most cases, on user participation.”
The Commission’s goal is, Jegorov explained, to introduce its short-term solution across the EU. “The main idea is to keep the Single Market harmonised and avoid its fragmentation. We know that 11 EU members states have implemented or plan to introduce their own measures if this short-term measure fails, which is a lot out of the 28,” he said.
Only about 120 major businesses, with turnover of over €750m (US$880m) and taxable EU sales of over €50m (US$59m), would be liable for this tax, he added; and it would be deductible from corporate income tax. Nonetheless, charged at about 3%, it should produce about €5bn (US$6bn) of revenue. A single country – designated by each business – would collect the tax, disbursing it to other member states based on the location of user activity.
And in the long-term…
One danger, as Jegorov recognised, is that this ostensibly interim measure morphs gradually into a final settlement. “As we know, there is nothing more permanent than the temporary,” he said. “We need to make sure that the directive states that when there is a global agreement, these measures will lapse.” But those involved are aware that tweaking the existing tax structures in this way will create complexity; and they believe that, as digitisation spreads further through the economy, a more fundamental rethink will be required. The OECD general secretary and countries involved in the process have sped up their work on these long-term plans, he added, “perhaps to make sure that they find a long-term solution that renders the interim solution unnecessary.”
Under the European Commission’s proposals, this long-term solution would involve charging digital business a corporate income tax on their activities in EU states – even when they have no physical presence or staff based there. Companies would become liable for taxation if they have either €7m (US$8m) in sales, 100,000 users, or more than 3000 contracts in a member state; the tax would be imposed on online services deemed impossible to deliver without a digital platform, but exclude online retail.
User-generated content and data collection have become core activities for the value creation of digital businesses. So value created by users for these businesses in a particular jurisdiction should be considered as an economically significant function.” Dmitri Jegorov, the deputy Secretary general for Tax and Customs Policy in Estonia’s Ministry of Finance
Brokering agreement
It would be helpful in agreeing a long-term settlement, Jegorov said, if the EU agrees a common position. “When the US comes to the OECD, they know exactly what they want and they’re frank about it,” he said. “But the majority of EU member states are also members of the OECD and they represent themselves there; I would love to see more European unity. We ought to know better what we want.”
Yet there is also international competition between EU members, noted Hetemäki – pointing to the race to drive down corporation tax rates: “We live in an open world,” he added. “It’s hard to have a purely European solution.” And the USA’s goals are bound to diverge from those of European nations – which are often consumers of the services offered by America’s digital giants: the US houses “a number of the leading companies: the interests of the United States are different,” said one delegate.
In an era when President Trump is championing protectionist policies, commented Torsten Arnswald, Head of the Fiscal Policy Division in Germany’s Federal Ministry of Finance, the EU unilaterally introducing a digital tax could create a negative reaction: “We should not chuck more oil on the fire with this issue of the digital economy: we need the United States to come in.” Clearly, given disparate interests and the America-first instincts of Trump, winning global agreement will not be easy.
Nonetheless, Arnswald continued, “in principle the common interest in the international community finding a proper framework should be clear.” Our current international taxation model was built decades ago in a very different era; and as economies change radically with the introduction of digital technologies, our taxation system must try to keep up. “This is a real case, I think, for international cooperation,” he concluded.
This is part six of our report on the 2018 Global Government Finance Summit. Part one examined the Compact for Africa; part two explored the use of blockchain in public finance management; part three covered Finland’s reforms of health and social care delivery; and part four explored Australia’s use of digital technologies in policymaking and service delivery, whilst part five profiled Singapore’s dramatic advances in digital services and administration. The final part will be published soon.
Digitaldigital economyDmitri JegorovEstoniaEuropean CommissionEYFinanceGermanyGlobal Government Finance SummitHarry TsavdarisMartti HetemäkiMicrosoftOECDTaxTax avoidanceTorsten ArnswaldVAT
EU report warns of AI risks to human rights
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Home :: Military :: World :: Tunisia :: Ministry of National Defence ::
Tunisia - People
In 2010 it was estimated that Tunisia's population totaled 10,589,025. Based upon projections from the 1984 census that counted over 6.9 million Tunisians, this figure indicates that the population had nearly doubled twenty-five years, and nearly trippled in the three decades since 3.8 million were counted at the time of independence.
Modern-day Tunisians are a mixture of Berber and Arab stock. The Berbers, the indigenous people of North Africa, have no generic name for themselves. The Romans called them barbari, or "barbarians," the term applied to those peoples who lived outside the framework of Greco-Roman civilization and from which the designation Berber probably comes. Of stocky physique and having a high incidence of light hair and blue eyes, the Berbers are Caucasians akin to other Mediterranean peoples.
The Arab component of the society was introduced during the conquests of the seventh, the eleventh, and succeeding centuries. Racially, the Arabs brought a slender build, dark eyes and hair, and darker skin to the community from which most modern Tunisians are descended. The Berbers quickly accepted the religion, language, and culture of the invaders and intermarried with them. In modern times most Tunisians claim Arab ancestry, speak Arabic, profess Islam, and find only traces of Berber culture in their lives.
At an early date Tunisia became divided into two cultural regions, and the distinction between these two can still be readily observed. The first one consists roughly of the cities and the coastal rural zone, including the Sahil, and the second one encompasses the rural interior. The differences between these two regions correspond generally to the historical division between settled life and nomadism; and their roots go back to pre-Arab times when Berbers settled in the ancient cities under the suzerainty of Carthaginians or Romans.
In the more remote localities, values associated with tribal life have tended to survive. In the past the people of nomadic tribes were highly individualistic, and tribal and family loyalties were considered values of the highest order. Raids and counterraids were frequent. Tribal warfare was suppressed by the French, and over the years a majority of the nomads either became sedentary farmers or migrated to the cities. Values associated with tribal organization have persisted, however, and probably have contributed to the strong resistance encountered by the government in its efforts to aid landless farmers and to introduce modern farming techniques.
According to one estimate, one-third of the population at independence was clearly in the modern sector, which could be found almost entirely in the cities and larger towns and in the Sahil. Another one-third was transitional, moving out of the traditional stage and consisting principally of urban migrants. The remaining one-third, including the rural population of central and southern Tunisia, remained almost untouched by the modernizing social and economic forces that were changing the rest of the society.
Tunisia is a leader in the Arab world in promoting the legal and social status of women. A Personal Status Code was adopted shortly after independence in 1956, which, among other things, gave women full legal status (allowing them to run and own businesses, have bank accounts, and seek passports under their own authority). It also, for the first time in the Arab world, outlawed polygamy. The government required parents to send girls to school, and today more than 50% of university students are women and 66% of judges and lawyers are women. Rights of women and children were further enhanced by 1993 reforms, which included a provision to allow Tunisian women to transmit citizenship even if they are married to a foreigner and living abroad. The government has supported a remarkably successful family planning program that has reduced the population growth rate to just over 1% per annum, contributing to Tunisia's economic and social stability.
The decade from 1956 to 1966 witnessed a great expansion of the Tunisian middle class. This was an era of unprecedented social mobility, brought about by the departure of the French, Italian, and Jewish foreign communities. Because these groups had monopolized most important positions in business, commerce, and government, their departure opened up immense opportunities. In the first few years after independence, Tunisians scrambled to fill tens of thousands of jobs vacated by Europeans.
Over 40 percent of the population were under the age of 25 and posed a challenge to the government in terms of their impact on housing, education, and employment. Many young people found themselves without employment or the opportunity for social advancement and had become frustrated and resentful of the wealth and status of the middle class. They were also questioning the value of the elite's modernization policies. These discontented youth, particularly the educated among them, were instead finding in Islam and Tunisian identity an alternative to the West European-inspired values of the upper classes.
A vast generational gulf separates those under 25 years of age from the generation over 40 years of age. This split had its roots in contemporary demographic reality: more than one of every two Tunisians was under the age of 20. As with the regional dichotomy between the interior and the coast, this generational division was of enormous economic and political significance. From the point of view of the young, the age-group from 40 to 60 controlled the government and the economic life of the country and monopolized nearly all desirable positions associated therewith. While new positions were being created, they were far too few to satisfy the demands and expectations of those newly arrived on the employment scene. As a result, approximately one half of the population - overwhelmingly young, often educated, and aspiring to careers in statecraft, business, and commerce - saw itself as excluded from any meaningful role in the country for the indefinite future. Those under 25 increasingly seemed to have little in common with their elders.
High by any standard and characteristic of all agegroups and locales, unemployment and underemployment fell especially hard on young people and the poorly educated, running at rates of 20 percent and more among these groups. In many cases the young and the unemployed had despaired of ever finding satisfactory occupations. They survived on the margins of a society that often appeared not to care about them or their welfare, eking out a meager living incommensurate with their hopes, expectations, and education and resentful of the wealth and success of the middle classes and the elite.
An enormous gap in income existed between the elite and the middle classes on the one hand and the lower classes and the unemployed on the other. The general consensus since the mid-1980s was that both the differential in incomes and the level of poverty continued to grow. This disparity was well established at the time of independence, but it widened measurably during the 1970s when government-sponsored economic reforms caused an expansion of the middle class and fostered the emergence of a new class of small-scale entrepreneurs and business peopie. Wealthy upper-class Tunisians benefited disproportionately from public and private sector employment and government spending programs, and they were often accused of corruption, dodging taxation, using their positions for personal enrichment, and obstructing reforms. The gap in income and wealth between them and the poorer segment of the population played a major role in fomenting the violence that convulsed Tunisia in 1978 and again in 1984.
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Brazil: Federal Tribunal rejects statute of limitation on military era torture claim; allows lawsuit to proceed
The Regional Federal Tribunal (TRF-3), in a watershed judgment, ruled that prescription or statute of limitations was not applicable to claims of reparation by a victim of torture during the military regime in the 1970s. The Court accepted the arguments of ICJ Commissioner Belisário dos Santos Jr.
The hearing in the lawsuit against the Union and the State of São Paulo took place on Wednesday 22, after the case had been dismissed by the court first instance.
Belisário dos Santos Jr., Executive Committee Member of the ICJ, argued the case for the victim at the invitation of the Juridical Department of CA XI.
He noted: “On the one hand there could be no statute of limitation on torture claims, while on the other hand the the application of the statute of limitations which adopted by Decree 20.910 / 32 had to be considered.”
The lawsuit, which began in 2012, alleges political persecution and torture that took place beginning 1971 .
Belisário dos Santos Jr. argued that the rationale for the law and jurisprudence affirming the inapplicability of statute of limitation lies in the seriousness of the violation of torture, which had been committed on a widespread and systematic basis by order or with the knowledge of high-level State authorities in Brazil at the time.
“The obligation to provide reparation under the UN Convention against Torture could not be superseded by provisions of the domestic law of a State. In addition, the obligation to provide a remedy and reparation is a legal duty of the State which must not depend on the conduct or activity of the victims. For these reasons, the case could not have the same treatment of other lawsuits against the Public Treasury,” he said.
Belisário dos Santos Jr. also pointed out that, pursuant to article 14 of the UN Convention against Torture, which was ratified by Brazil in 1991, “the reparation must be fair and adequate, as recognized by the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court of Justice and TRF 3, itself in accordance with international human rights law and jurisprudence. ”
The TRF-3 decided by 3-2 majority that the statute of limitation was inapplicable and, unanimously, granted the appeal on merit, allowing the lawsuit to proceed.
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arts | weekend | pop culture
COLUMN: Recounting the good ‘ole days of fright
By Robert Mack
Published Apr 19, 2018 12:00 pm
Vincent Price stars in "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" in 1971. Movie Stills Database Buy Photos
Before computer generated imagery became a filmmaker’s go-to tool to create realistic, imaginative special effects, they relied on other means to create movie magic: cardboard, tape, clay and, of course, great acting.
In the early years of the horror film genre, a dominant few actors brought to life beloved conceptions of ghosts, haunted houses and vampires in ways that cannot easily be replicated today.
With their long, gaunt faces, penetrating stares and undeniable spooky charisma, their talent defined a genre.
Silent films buffs will surely be familiar with the gnarled, tormented characterizations of Lon Chaney.
Lon Chaney stars in "The Phantom of the Opera" in 1925. Movie Stills Database Buy Photos
Chaney was an actor and makeup artist who arrived on the Hollywood scene in 1912. He soon made a name for himself as the one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood and earned the epithet “The Man of a Thousand Faces,” which referred to his ability to transform from human to character using makeup techniques.
Tragically, many of his films are now lost, but his greatest performances still exist. These include the Quasimodo in a 1923 adaptation of Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and The Phantom in a 1925 adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s “The Phantom of the Opera.”
His performances as these famous horribly disfigured and hopelessly lovesick characters transcended any need for spoken dialogue.
On October 28, 2017, the IU Auditorium screened “The Monster,” which starred Chaney.
Of course, what would cinema be without its monsters? The great literature of the horror genre, such as Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein" and Bram Stoker's "Dracula," have not been strangers to the silver screen.
Actor Boris Karloff’s haunting portrayal of Shelley's iconic monster in 1931's "Frankenstein" and 1935's “Bride of Frankenstein” inspired generations of actors, notably Gene Wilder when he helped write the blockbuster parody “Young Frankenstein."
Boris Karloff stars in "Bride of Frankenstein" in 1935. Buy Photos
It secured Karloff’s reputation as one of the greatest horror actors of the decade. Some years later, Karloff even parodied himself in the hit play “Arsenic and Old Lace,” which was turned into a classic comedy film by director Frank Capra.
The same goes for actor Bela Lugosi in 1931’s “Dracula.” For decades, he was Dracula.
Bela Lugosi stars in the film "Dracula," which was released in 1931. Movie Stills Database Buy Photos
But there’s one horror actor who stands above them all. Still widely remembered today, namely as the iconic narrator in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Vincent Price is likely cinema’s most recognizable master of fright.
After studying art history at Yale University and the University of London, Price joined Orson Welles' critically acclaimed Mercury Players in 1935. After rave reviews, he made his Hollywood debut in 1938.
His first foray into horror films was a supporting part in 1939’s "Tower of London," a historical drama co-starring Basil Rathbone as the conniving future King Richard III of England and Boris Karloff as his trusty, club-footed executioner, Mord.
However, it wasn’t until 1953’s "House of Wax" that Price became the face of a genre reborn in the eyes of the American public. It’s also one of the earliest films to be produced and shown in 3-D.
Price plays Henry Jarrod, a master maker of wax figures whose “Chamber of Horrors” houses figures that bear a remarkable resemblance to his recently deceased business partner and his wife.
The legacy of “House of Wax” was not the over-hyped 3-D technological novelty, but the realization of Price's talents. He and the genre went on to produce some of the most beloved camp films of the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s.
Price was a classic. Audiences loved his long, angular face, a carefully cultivated voice and a persona that infused a tongue-in-cheek quality to his tremendous sense of pathos and theatricality.
His notable movies include collaborations with director Roger Corman on Edgar Allan Poe adaptations such as “House of Usher,” “The Raven,” and “The Masque of Red Death.”
In March, the IU Cinema hosted screenings of “The Masque of Red Death” and “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” and presented Price's daughter, author Victoria Price, to speak about her father’s legacy.
“The Abominable Dr. Phibes” is a perfect example of his art.
Price plays famed organist Dr. Phibes, who was horrendously mangled in a car accident while driving to meet his wife, who died during an operation. Presumed dead from the crash, Dr. Phibes uses his knowledge of theology to plot the murder of the doctors he blames for his wife’s death. Each murder is grisly and ingenious, all based on the Ten Plagues of Egypt from the Old Testament.
Both macabre and funny, the film’s nostalgic art deco sets and score are second only to Price’s performance. He never speaks on camera in the film, but conveys a magnificent range of pathos with simple twitches of his eyes.
Today’s average horror film has all the more horror, but it’s missing an important ingredient that the old masters of fright understood all too well, charm.
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James Jr., Harvey S. "Why Do Good People Do Bad Things in Business?: Lessons from Research for Responsible Business Managers." International Business Ethics and Growth Opportunities. IGI Global, 2015. 1-23. Web. 18 Jul. 2019. doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-7419-6.ch001
James Jr., H. S. (2015). Why Do Good People Do Bad Things in Business?: Lessons from Research for Responsible Business Managers. In R. Wolf, & T. Issa (Eds.), International Business Ethics and Growth Opportunities (pp. 1-23). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-7419-6.ch001
James Jr., Harvey S. "Why Do Good People Do Bad Things in Business?: Lessons from Research for Responsible Business Managers." In International Business Ethics and Growth Opportunities, ed. Ruth Wolf and Theodora Issa, 1-23 (2015), accessed July 18, 2019. doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-7419-6.ch001
Why Do Good People Do Bad Things in Business?: Lessons from Research for Responsible Business Managers
Harvey S. James Jr. (University of Missouri, USA)
Source Title: International Business Ethics and Growth Opportunities
Promoting ethical behavior in business requires an understanding of why and when seemingly good people do unethical things. Research on this issue consists of theoretical models of moral decision-making and empirical studies of ethical sensitivity, attitudes, and behaviors of people in various contexts. These studies reveal that explanations of unethical conduct include considerations of a person's psychological disposition as well as the circumstances in which they live. They also identify general principles that explain why individuals might engage in unethical conduct. This chapter reviews studies conducted over the past 50 years and articulates lessons that can help business managers improve the ethical climate of business and ethical behavior of employees. While it does not break new ground, this discussion is important because it synthesizes scholarship in simple language accessible to both scholars and business professionals. This chapter also identifies directions for future research that can enhance and supplement these lessons.
Although there can be many ways to think about and define unethical behavior, Armstrong (1977) suggests that unethical behavior is knowingly making a decision that harms others or that one feels, believes or knows to be irresponsible or wrong (see also Jones, 1991). Using this definition, the question of why good people do bad things is really a question of why people would knowingly make decisions that harm others or that they believe to be irresponsible or wrong.
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HomeBritish TV PremieresCall the Midwife Season 7 Premiere Dates
Call the Midwife Season 7 Premiere Dates
August 22, 2018 I Heart British TV British TV Premieres 0
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Call the Midwife Series 7 Premieres on Netflix September 10
If you've been keeping up with Call the Midwife on Netflix, there's no doubt you're eagerly awaiting the premiere of Season 7. After all, Season 6 had a pretty explosive finale (though we'll avoid going into that in case you're not caught up). If you're anxious to see the new season and you're here in the United States, you have two solid options depending on how patient you are.
As a side note, you'll want to be very careful about running into spoilers until you're able to watch this season. That's true of any season of Call the Midwife, but particularly with Series 7.
It's hard to say much about this new season without revealing anything too important, but rest assured there's a whole new set of interesting birth issues ranging from leprosy to tokophobia (pathological fear of pregnancy/childbirth) to more unmarried young mothers in challenging situations. We'll also see a new midwife getting settled in at Nonnatus House, along with more adventures in aging with dear old Sister Monica Joan.
As the women move into the 1960s, we'll also see a number of social issues woven throughout the episodes. It was a time of increasing independence for women, along with rapidly changing attitudes about race. With the first black midwife at Nonnatus House, race will definitely be in the spotlight.
Where to Watch Season 7 of Call the Midwife RIGHT NOW
If you absolutely can't wait for your Season 7 Call the Midwife fix, you can purchase the episodes here for immediate viewing online. If you're not concerned about HD viewing, you can save a little money by clicking the “More purchase options” button and buying it in standard definition. We usually do.
Where to Watch Season 7 of Call the Midwife After September 10th, 2018
On September 10th, Series 7 of Call the Midwife will become available on Netflix. All episodes will be released at once, so you'll have the option to binge or ration them as you see fit. We'll definitely have tea at the ready and a well-stocked cake tin.
About Call the Midwife
Call the Midwife premiered on BBC One in 2012, and since then it's gone on to receive numerous honors and awards, including a number of BAFTAS. The show features a largely-female cast overflowing with top female acting talent like Pam Ferriss, Jenny Agutter, Miranda Hart, Judy Parfitt, and Vanessa Redgrave. A number of central characters have come and gone, being gradually replaced in a similar fashion to popular British shows like Death in Paradise, Midsomer Murders, and Doctor Who.
In late 2016, BBC One ordered 3 more seasons and 3 more Christmas specials for Call the Midwife, so you can expect many more hours to come as the hardworking ladies of Nonnatus House move into the 1960s. There's no word yet on a Series 10 (!), but given the show's continued popularity, we have high hopes for 10 and beyond.
If you're getting to the party a bit late, you can catch up on Series 1 through 6 of Call the Midwife over at Netflix. All episodes for Series 1-7 are also available for purchase here. All 7 seasons are also available on DVD now.
Get your cake ready, Series 7 of Call the Midwife is almost here…
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IACL
IALS
Český národní komitét Mezinárodní akademie srovnávacího práva (IACL, AIDC)
(International Academy of Comparative Law, Académie Internationale de Droit Comparé)
The International Academy of Comparative Law was founded at The Hague on 13 September 1924.
The date itself is significant because it coincides with the prodigious movement towards a renaissance of law which followed World War I.
That the Academy was founded in The Hague is also notable because it had earlier been designated as the seat of the Permanent Court of International Justice and, in addition, was the place at which the Academy of International Law was founded.
Elemer Balogh was the architect of this union. For nearly forty years, and in spite of the catastrophes provoked by the war of 1939-1945, Elemer Balogh served as the Secretary General of the Academy, thereby devoting his very life to the success of the institution of which he had been instrumental in establishing.
The names of Roscoe Pound, Louis Milliot, Baron Frédericq, C.J. Hamson, Imre Szabo,
John Hazard, Paul Crépeau, who have served as presidents of the organization, are indicative of the prestige that the Academy has always enjoyed.
The International Academy of Comparative Law is a corps of scholars the principal aim of which is, according to article 2 of its By-laws, “the comparative study of legal systems”.
The Academy is composed of eighty Titular Members, elected by a two-thirds vote of the Titular Members preceding them. The candidates are proposed by one of six groups within the Academy.
Additionaly, the Academy comprises the associate members. This class is not limited in number.
They are elected by the Titular Members and in the same manner.
The Academy’s primary activity is to convene at intervals of four years an International Congress of Comparative Law.
The first International Congress of Comparative Law was held at The Hague in 1932. The second congress was also held at The Hague, this time in 1937. The war brought with it a suspension of activities and meetings were only resumed in 1950.
More www.iuscomparatum.org
Members IACL:
JUDr. Vladimír Balaš, CSc., JUDr. Jan Bárta, CSc., doc. JUDr. Josef Blahož, DrSc., JUDr. František Cvrček, CSc., prof. nzw. JUDr. Karel Klíma, CSc. (FPr ZČU v Plzni), prof. JUDr. Pavel Holländer, CSc. (Ústavní soud ČR), JUDr. František Novák, CSc., prof. JUDr. Monika Pauknerová, CSc. - chief, prof. JUDr. Jiří Přibáň, CSc. (Cardiff Law School), prof. JUDr. Alena Winterová, CSc. (PF UK v Praze), JUDr. Jaroslav Zachariáš, CSc.
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Appendix A – The Glossary 3
by Colin R. Singer / Wednesday, 16 November 2016 / Published in Immigrant Investor Venture Capital, Immigration, Immigration Manuals
Citizenship Ceremony (or Clerk of the Ceremony or Presiding Officer): This refers to the final step towards becoming a Canadian citizen. During the citizenship ceremony, the candidates for citizenship aged 14 years and over would need to take the oath of citizenship. After taking the oath, the new citizens would receive their citizenship certificates. For more details, refer to the definitions of the terms ‘Oath of Citizenship’ and ‘Citizenship Judge’.
Citizenship Commission: This denotes the administrative body that comprises all citizenship judges working across Canada
Citizenship Hearing: This refers to the interview with the citizenship judge. During the interview, the judge would assess whether an applicant meets the requirements for receiving a grant of citizenship.
Citizenship Judge: This refers to an independent, quasi-judicial decision maker. This decision maker is responsible for making legal decisions on residency requirements for some adult citizenship applications. In addition, the citizenship judge administers the oath of Canadian citizenship as well. Furthermore, the citizenship judge is also responsible for presiding over the citizenship ceremonies. For more details, refer to the definitions of the terms ‘Oath of Citizenship’ and ‘Citizenship Ceremony’.
Citizenship Officer (or Clerk of the Ceremony): This denotes a person authorised by the Minister to perform the duties of a citizenship officer as prescribed by the Citizenship Regulations. A citizenship officer would need to:
Review the applications to see whether a person meets the requirements for Canadian citizenship and conduct interviews and hearings with the applicants as necessary
Plan interviews, tests, hearings and citizenship ceremonies
Grant citizenship to applicants and,
Provide written decision of refusal to applicants including the reasons for the refusal
The Minister has the authority to authorise citizenship officers based on the provisions of the Citizenship Act.
Citizenship Test: Citizenship applicants would need to prove their knowledge of Canada. For this, they would typically need to take a citizenship test. The authorities require applicants between the ages of 14 and 64 years (on the date of application) to take the test. The test is usually a written test. On occasions, a citizenship officer could consider taking it orally as well. The citizenship test aims to assess the applicant’s knowledge of:
Canada and,
The responsibilities and privileges of citizenship
Client Identification Number: People also refer to this as a Unique Client Identifier (UCI). It can be found on any official document issued by a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) office, Case Processing Centre (CPC) or a Canadian visa office outside Canada. A client id will usually comprise four numbers, a hyphen i.e. (-) and four more numbers. An example could be 1234-1234. It is worth mentioning that a person who has never dealt with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) before will usually not have a Client Identification Number.
College (or Community College or Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec): This refers to a stage of higher education that typically comes right after high school. Many colleges usually offer one to three year diploma programs in academic or technical subjects.
Commitment Certificate: This refers to a certificate of commitment issued to an applicant by a designated private sector business. This certificate serves the purpose of confirming the agreement between the business owner and the applicant.
Common-law Partner (or Common-law Spouse): This refers to a person who has been living with another person in a conjugal relationship for at least one year. This term applies to both opposite sex and same sex relationships. For more details, readers would need to view the legal definition of common-law partner as specified by the authorities.
Community Sponsor: This denotes an organisation that usually sponsors refugees but has not signed a formal agreement with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). A community sponsor would usually sponsor fewer refugees than a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH).
Competency: This refers to a measurable skill or a set of skills, level of knowledge and behavioural practices that a person has gained through formal, non-formal or informal learning
Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) i.e. IMM 5292 or IMM 5509: Viewers would be able to find this number in the top right corner of their Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) document issued by a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) office or by the visa office where they submitted their applications. The Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) number will usually start with a ‘T’ followed by nine numbers e.g. T123456789.
Conjugal Partner: This refers to a person outside Canada who has had a binding relationship with a sponsor for at least one year, but could not live with the partner. This term applies to both opposite sex and same sex relationships.
Constituent Group (or Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH)): This refers to a group authorised in writing by a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH). This group thus receives the ability to sponsor refugees under the terms of the sponsorship agreement with the Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH). An example of a constituent group could be a local congregation or chapter of a national church or organisation that is a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH).
Consulate (or Mission): This denotes a Government of Canada office, which could be located in a major city other than a national capital. This mission or consulate typically provides services to Canadian citizens abroad. It may or may not provide any immigration services. For more details, refer to the definitions of the terms ‘Visa Office’, ‘High Commission’ and ‘Embassy’.
Contact Information: This refers to a person’s name, mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address and fax number (if any). For more details, readers would need to go through the legal definition of contact information.
Convention Refugee: This refers to a person who is outside of their home country or country where they usually live. These individuals will usually fear returning to that country because of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of:
Membership in a particular social group or,
Conviction: This typically occurs when a court of law or a tribunal finds a person guilty of an offence
Australia Contributory Parent Visa Immigration
Express Entry Manuals
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Home > Entertainment
I haven’t figured out comedy yet: Vidya Balan
Actress Vidya Balan, whose two comedy films "Ghanchakkar" and "Shaadi Ke Side Effects" turned out to be damp squibs at the box office, says she is more comfortable with intense roles and that she's yet to figure out the success formula in comedy.
Published: June 8, 2015 4:26 PM IST
By Indo-Asian News Service Email
Mumbai, June 8: Actress Vidya Balan, whose two comedy films “Ghanchakkar” and “Shaadi Ke Side Effects” turned out to be damp squibs at the box office, says she is more comfortable with intense roles and that she’s yet to figure out the success formula in comedy. Known for essaying complex roles with ease and finesse, Vidya will soon be seen in another intense role in “Hamari Adhuri Kahani”. (Read: Vidya Balan: I love relationship-based TV shows)
Asked if it’s intentional that she is back with an intense film after the failure of her comedy projects, Vidya said “No, it’s just how the scripts come to me. Intensity is my other name; I am an intense person… so I think that comes to me naturally. “I don’t enjoy any genre as much as I enjoy intense emotional dramas. I have been through comedies, and I have not figured out comedy yet.”
With Mohit Suri-directed “Hamari Adhuri Kahani” she says the plots and characters go into human complexity — much like writer-producer Mahesh Bhatt’s films. “I have always enjoyed his films. ‘Arth’ (1983) had a strong influence on me. I felt that there is someone who is unafraid to explore human frailty, complexity, insecurity, fears, love in its blossom and its madness,” she added. The film also features Emraan Hashmi and Rajkumar Rao.
Published Date: June 8, 2015 4:26 PM IST
ghanchakkarHamari Adhuri KahaniShaadi Ke Side EffectsVidya Balan
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Tag: India Australia Defence relations
India and Australia can be the strongest friends in the Indo-Pacific region: Australia envoy
July 15, 2019 July 15, 2019 - by India Writes Network
Against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical realignments and growing economic synergies, India’s multi-faceted relations with Australia are poised to move into a higher orbit. Building on their complementary strengths and …
India, Australia, set to bolster Indo-Pacific bonding, defence ties
The Indo-Pacific bonding between New Delhi and Canberra is set to get stronger amid China’s assertive posturing in the region during Defence Minister Kevin Andrews’ ongoing visit to India which will focus on bolstering security ties between the two countries.
Mr Andrews’ visit to India comes ahead of AUSINDEX, the first-ever joint maritime exercise to be held between India and Australia in mid-September. The joint naval exercise between both countries will be held at the Visakhapatnam port in the Bay of Bengal.
In a column for the Hindu, Mr Andrews spoke about how India is an important player and a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking about the relation between the two countries, he said as emerging powers both countries would seek to advance their own interests, while they would cooperate in some areas they would also compete in the other areas.
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‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: Why Episode 7 Took On a Different Point of View to Reveal ‘The Other Side’
Showrunner Bruce Miller and an unexpected guest star dig into the importance of making the latest episode a refugee tale.
Liz Shannon Miller
@lizlet
[Editor’s note: Spoilers for “The Handmaid’s Tale” Season 1 Episode 7, “The Other Side,” follow.]
It’s one of the biggest unanswered questions of Margaret Atwood’s novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” — what happened to the heroine’s husband, Luke, after their failed attempt to escape the religious dystopia in which she’s now imprisoned?
READ MORE: ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Cast Reveals What It Feels Like to Destroy America and Become Gilead’s Power Couple (Spoilers)
For over 30 years, fans of the book have learned to cope with this uncertainty, but in the current Hulu adaptation executive produced by Bruce Miller, we get an answer in Episode 7: Luke (O-T Fagbenle) lives. Not only that, “The Other Side” chronicles exactly what happened to him after he and his wife (named June in the series, played by Elisabeth Moss) were separated. It’s a brutal story of survival that does have something resembling a happy ending — at least, as far as that term can be applied to “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
According to Miller, the initial inspiration to give Luke his own episode was fairly simple: “First of all, O.T. Fagbenle is such a good actor,” Miller said. “He’s so interesting and thoughtful and really skilled, which was an influence on the idea.”
Plus, early in the development process, the idea of revealing that Luke was alive intrigued him. “I liked the idea that Luke was alive, because it played into the perspective aspect of the show,” Miller said. “We assume Luke’s dead because the way we hear it — we’ve watched TV before, we know what three shots in the distance means. So I really wanted it to be a surprise to the people who read the book.”
“From the start, I was told very early on that Luke was still alive and that there would be an episode which explained how he survived and what his story has been since then,” Fagbenle said to IndieWire (in a lovely British accent). “I just found it really moving and exciting, particularly because it shows another aspect to the world. And as a fan of the book it was so great to be able to explore bits not shown in the book.”
Telling Luke’s story, in fact, let Miller and the writers (Lynn Renee Maxcy is credited for “The Other Side”) open up the narrative on a whole other level, tracking the rise of Gilead with flashbacks showing Luke and June (Elisabeth Moss) trying to escape it.
“It gave us a sense of the world and what the world was like at that period, just as Gilead was taking over, and also to give us a sense of who else was fleeing the world,” Miller said.
Plus, it gave Luke additional dimension beyond basic plot points. “For a character like Luke, who plays a very modern normal guy who’s no braver or less brave than anybody else, it really showed the depth of his devotion to his family — that he would do anything, suffer anything to get back to them and it gave him not… not a crazy brave persona that doesn’t fit, but it gave him the kind of singular devotion that I thought the character had,” Miller explained.
READ MORE: ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: How a Classic Technicolor Technique Made the Color Red A Political Act
“Here’s a guy who in Episode 7 gets shot in the stomach and keeps going until he drops in an effort to find his way back to his wife and child — and there’s not even a good chance he’s going to find them,” he added. “It’s a wonderful story about strength and affection.”
It was a tricky secret for Fagbenle to keep, especially in this age of Twitter and Facebook. “It’s definitely one of the bigger reveals of the series and one of the biggest tangents off the original book,” he said. “So I’ve had to be careful with social media posts and how I phrase things. I mean, people assume you’re dead and you can’t correct them because you’ll give the game away. That’s been an interesting wire to balance on.”
But the importance of the story made the minor inconvenience worth it, especially the final scenes that depict Luke three years after being separated from June, living as a refugee in Toronto. “What I found most exciting was being able to tell a refugee story, and tell it from the perspective of an everyday American a father, somebody who’s got a job and then somebody whose life is upended,” Fagbenle said. “I think that story, told from a perspective that lots more people might be able to relate to, might help people relate to real stories that we hear on the radio and the news and such.”
Real life refugee stories are something the show does a powerful job of invoking, something Fagbenle credited to crew including production designer Andrew M. Stearn, art director Evan Webber, set decorator Christina Kuhnigk and costume designer Ane Crabtree, “who manage to create this space in which you can imagine this is what it would be like if America descended into this kind of situation, and if Canada was the only refuge,” he said. “It definitely helped acting in that because the environment felt so real.”
What does Fagbenle hope happens in the show’s future — especially with the knowledge that Hulu recently greenlit a second season? He admits that it’s hard for him to be objective — for in Fagbenle’s eyes, despite the fact that three years have passed, Luke hasn’t moved on. “I love Luke and June and I want them to be together. I want the family to get back together and that’s what I want people to want, as well.”
There are three more episodes left this season, and while of course Fagbenle wouldn’t reveal any spoilers, he did promise that “there is more Luke coming — and there is definitely a surprise which will shock some people.”
So far, with “The Handmaid’s Tale,” that feels like a given.
New episodes of “The Handmaid’s Tale” premiere Wednesdays on Hulu.
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This Article is related to: Television and tagged Bruce Miller, Hulu, The Handmaid's Tale
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In this east-side hamlet, 1 in 3 lack a diploma. Here’s how some adults are defying the odds.
Westminster Neighborhood Services is helping adults on Indy's east side get a leg up on their education and life goals.
In this east-side hamlet, 1 in 3 lack a diploma. Here’s how some adults are defying the odds. Westminster Neighborhood Services is helping adults on Indy's east side get a leg up on their education and life goals. Check out this story on IndyStar.com: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2019/06/14/high-school-graduation-indianapolis-nonprofit-helps-east-side-residents-get-diploma/3766622002/
Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star Published 6:46 a.m. ET June 14, 2019
How Westminster Neighborhood Services and Warren Township are helping east-side residents combat poverty and unemployment through adult education.
Devonta Tinsley, stands in front of an inspirational photo wall at Westminster Neighborhood Services, 2325 E New York St., on Saturday, June 1, 2019. (Photo: Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar)
Balloons and streamers brightened the blue classroom on a recent afternoon as students devoured a chocolate-and-vanilla sheet cake with the words "Congrats grads" swirled in blue icing.
It wasn't an extravagant event, but for some of the students in the adult education classes offered at Westminster Neighborhood Services, a small nonprofit serving the city's near-east side, Wednesday's celebration was years in the making.
Among this year's graduates is 20-year-old Devonta Tinsley, who told IndyStar his journey has included run-ins with the criminal justice system, bad teachers and former associates he called "rotten fruit."
U.S. News and World Report: Suburban schools shine in new ranking of top high schools in Indianapolis area
'We need to continue pushing': Girl Scouts throws weight behind first-of-its-kind STEM school in Indy
Instead of allowing it to hold him back, Tinsley has used his adversity as motivation. Any mention of a diploma paints a broad smile across his face.
"It feels unreal," Tinsley said.
Proving them wrong
Tinsley has spent his entire life on the city's east side — the majority of it on East 10th Street — and started high school at Crispus Attucks.
"I got caught up in some situations where I had to remove myself from school sophomore year," he said, alluding to a 2017 conviction of armed robbery.
He returned to the school during his senior year, he said, but quickly realized it wasn't an environment he was suited to thrive in. He remembers remarks a teacher made about his ankle monitor that were "highly disappointing."
"He was like, 'I see that you got your life made up.' And he looked down at my ankle, and ... it just stunned me," he said.
Westminster Neighborhood Services, 2325 E New York St., on Saturday, June 1, 2019. (Photo: Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar)
Through employment agency Keys To Work, Tinsley gained work experience at RecycleForce and was connected to Warren Township's adult education program, putting him on the path to a diploma.
Part of his motivation was to prove wrong those who may have doubted him throughout his journey. But perhaps more importantly, he sees it as his responsibility to set a good example for the youth in his circle.
"It's like a reverse psychology thing," he said. "Because if you do bad around young, or whatever, that don’t know right or wrong, they gonna do the bad with you. But if you do right, they gonna follow in your footsteps."
"They don’t know that, but you know that."
'Make your plan, work your plan'
Westminster's service area exists within a one-mile radius of its East New York Street office, bounded by Southeastern Avenue, Rural Street, 10th Street and the I-65/I-70 corridor.
More than 40% of residents in that service area are living below the federal poverty line, said Chrissy Petersen, Westminster's executive director, and 33% do not have a high school diploma. About four years ago, the site became a satellite classroom for Warren Township's adult education program, as a way to help residents combat some of the core issues contributing to poverty, unemployment and food insecurity.
A diploma can help residents drastically change their situations, Petersen said, as can continuing education. College may not be a natural next step for some of these residents, but a trade school might be.
"If you can get into a trade school, again, that's opening up even more resources — higher income, better health insurance — to where it does begin to break down some of those barriers that keep our neighbors in that cycle of generational poverty," she said.
Carolyn Stovall, who is employed by Warren Township, has taught continuing-education students as young as 16 and as old as 70. At Westminster, many of her students are juggling work and family and are struggling to make ends meet. Some of them are recovering from drug addictions. Some lack transportation. Some are food-insecure.
If you enjoy stories like this, please support the work of IndyStar reporters and visual journalists by becoming a subscriber today. Get unlimited digital access here!
Of the 22 students she started out with, Stovall said four have gone back to prison for violating the terms of their release. Several have stopped coming or slowed down because of work or family obligations.
It doesn't matter how long it takes, she said, but the important thing is that her students are setting goals.
"You may have to tweak it," Stovall said, "but make your plan, work your plan, every day."
Teacher Carolyn Stovall stands in her classroom at Westminster Neighborhood Services, 2325 E New York St., on Saturday, June 1, 2019. (Photo: Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar)
Elevating himself
It took Tinsley just two months to finish his high school coursework. He took the final exam twice — he missed the mark on math by just six points the first time — and was shocked to receive an email in March saying he'd passed.
"I just started screaming, running around the house," he said. "I was like, 'I graduated.'"
Tinsley was the kind of student who wanted to better his situation, Stovall said, but he also wanted to encourage those around him. For weeks after he passed his test, he'd come to class and work through the material with his peers.
"He came in the door expecting to elevate himself," Stovall said. "But also, he would like to share that with peers and with other young men, young women, whomever, that may feel like the world is against them, the system is against them, who feel oppressed in some ways, to just motivate them to do better."
Just a week before the graduation party, Tinsley interviewed for a job that would pay him twice the state minimum wage — the most he'll have ever made at a job. Eventually, he hopes to enroll at Ivy Tech or IUPUI to study business.
He wants young people in the community to know that it's important for them to surround themselves with people who lift them up instead of bring them down. It's up to them, he said, to decide how they define themselves.
"You gonna have somebody from each category nitpick at you, down you and make you feel like something you not," he said. "It’s on you to believe what they say."
Call IndyStar reporter Holly Hays at 317-444-6156. Follow her on Twitter: @hollyvhays.
Read or Share this story: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2019/06/14/high-school-graduation-indianapolis-nonprofit-helps-east-side-residents-get-diploma/3766622002/
Noblesville moving away from one lot homes
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The Night Sky In The Movie Titanic Was Corrected At Whose Behest?
Jocelyn Bell
Nevermind, A Psychological Horror Video Game, Uses What Technique To Increase Game Difficulty?
Answer: Neil deGrasse Tyson
Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American astrophysicist and outspoken defender of scientific accuracy in public discourse and communication. His passion for accuracy even extends to movies and throughout the 2000s he frequently used the inaccurate starscape of box-office hit Titantic as an example of poor research and delivery (in fairness, director James Cameron deserved this ribbing in light of his pitching the movie as an accurate representation of the ship and the time period).
In a 2012 interview with The Telegraph, Cameron explained:
Neil deGrasse Tyson sent me quite a snarky email saying that, at that time of year, in that position in the Atlantic in 1912, when Rose (Kate Winslet) is lying on the piece of driftwood and staring up at the stars, that is not the star field she would have seen, and with my reputation as a perfectionist, I should have known that and I should have put the right star field in. So I said ‘All right, send me the right stars for that exact time and I’ll put it in the movie.’
The revision to the starscape was the most significant change made for the 3D/Blu-ray re-release of the film.
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BioMed Research International
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Complete Special Issue
Volume 2015, Article ID 146840, 16 pages
Milk Proteins, Peptides, and Oligosaccharides: Effects against the 21st Century Disorders
Chia-Chien Hsieh,1 Blanca Hernández-Ledesma,2 Samuel Fernández-Tomé,2 Valerie Weinborn,3,4 Daniela Barile,3,4 and Juliana María Leite Nobrega de Moura Bell3,4
1Department of Human Development and Family Studies (Nutritional Science & Education), National Taiwan Normal University, No.162, Section 1, Heping East Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan
2Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación (CIAL, CSIC-UAM, CEI UAM+CSIC), Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
3Food Science Department, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
4Foods for Health Institute, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Received 21 October 2014; Accepted 21 December 2014
Academic Editor: Jinsong Ren
Copyright © 2015 Chia-Chien Hsieh et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Milk is the most complete food for mammals, as it supplies all the energy and nutrients needed for the proper growth and development of the neonate. Milk is a source of many bioactive components, which not only help meeting the nutritional requirements of the consumers, but also play a relevant role in preventing various disorders. Milk-derived proteins and peptides have the potential to act as coadjuvants in conventional therapies, addressing cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, intestinal health, and chemopreventive properties. In addition to being a source of proteins and peptides, milk contains complex oligosaccharides that possess important functions related to the newborn’s development and health. Some of the health benefits attributed to milk oligosaccharides include prebiotic probifidogenic effects, antiadherence of pathogenic bacteria, and immunomodulation. This review focuses on recent findings demonstrating the biological activities of milk peptides, proteins, and oligosaccharides towards the prevention of diseases of the 21st century. Processing challenges hindering large-scale production and commercialization of those bioactive compounds have been also addressed.
1. Introduction: Role of Milk in Human Health
Milk, as the first food for mammals, supplies all the energy and nutrients needed for the proper growth and development of the neonate. For all mammalians, the consumption of milk ends at the weaning period with the exception of humans that continue consuming milk throughout their life. Milk and derived dairy products are considered an important constituent of a balanced diet. Moreover, it is a source of many bioactive components, such as high-quality proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, lactose, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, hormones, immunoglobulins, and growth factors, among others. These components not only help meeting human nutritional requirements, but also play a relevant role in preventing various disorders such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases [1], obesity [2], osteoporosis [3], dental caries [4], poor gastrointestinal health [5], colorectal cancer [6], ageing [7], and others [8].
Milk proteins supply nitrogen and amino acids to young mammals and possess multiple physiological properties in the intact form. Moreover, studies carried out in the past decades have demonstrated the role of these proteins as a source of biologically active peptides. Bioactive peptides are inactive within the sequence of the parent protein but, once released by in vitro processing conditions or by in vivo gastrointestinal digestion, are capable of acting as regulatory compounds exerting a positive impact on body functions and ultimately promoting health benefits to the consumer [9].
Human milk is undoubtedly the most complete source of nourishment for the newborn. Breastfed infants have been shown to be less susceptible to diseases (i.e., diarrhea and respiratory diseases) than those that were not breastfed. This protective effect, which was previously attributed to human milk antibodies, is today strongly correlated with the presence of complex oligosaccharides (OS), the third most abundant component of human milk [10]. Human milk is composed of OS in concentrations varying according to different stages of lactation: 20–23 g/L in colostrum and 12–14 g/L in mature milk [11], being even more abundant than proteins (12 g/L) [12]. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) are complex sugars having 3 to 20 monosaccharide units [13] that are not digestible by human enzymes [14]. These compounds have important functions related to the newborn’s development and health at local and systemic levels, including prebiotic probifidogenic effects and antiadherence of pathogenic bacteria [15], brain development [16], and immunomodulatory properties [17], among others.
In the last fifty years, chronic disorders have become the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries, with increasing incidence also observed in developing countries. Chronic disorders include cardiovascular and neurological diseases, stroke, cancers, immune disorder and chronic respiratory disease, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome [18]. In Europe, 87% of all deaths occur due to chronic diseases and the number of people affected is expected to rise considerably over the next few decades. The majority of chronic diseases are caused by risk factors which are mostly preventable. Diet and lifestyle are two environmental factors that strongly affect these diseases; thus modifications of these habits are becoming a new strategy for disease prevention/treatment.
The aim of this paper is to review the recent literature on the physiological effects of proteins, peptides, and oligosaccharides with special emphasis on animal and human trials. Other aspects such as the limited availability of in vivo studies demonstrating the biological activities of OS from bovine and caprine milk and the current challenges associated with the recovery and commercial production of these compounds have also been addressed.
2. Impact of Milk Proteins and Peptides on the 21st Century Diseases
2.1. Milk-Derived Peptides against Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have become the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, representing an important medical and public health issue [19]. Although earlier studies associated the consumption of whole milk with higher incidence of CVD, it has been demonstrated that milk contains a plethora of bioactive substances which may contribute to the prevention of most of the risk factors of CVD [20]. Recently, bioactive milk peptides have gained interest because of their notable antihypertensive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypocholesterolaemic effects. In this section, the most current scientific information regarding in vitro and in vivo studies on the role of milk proteins-derived peptides on CVD is summarized and discussed.
2.1.1. Milk Peptides with Antihypertensive Activity
Epidemiological studies suggest that the dietary intake of milk and dairy foods is related to decreased risk of hypertension [21]. In addition to their high mineral content (e.g., calcium, potassium, and magnesium) that can lower blood pressure [22], other milk components, such as proteins and their hydrolyzed products, have been also linked to the antihypertensive effect of milk and dairy products. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a multifunctional enzyme that acts as one of the main regulators of blood pressure. Thus, ACE inhibition is currently considered as one of the best strategies for hypertension treatment. Most biologically active peptides generated from milk proteins have demonstrated ACE inhibitory activity. In the last two decades, antihypertensive effects of some of these peptides have been evaluated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and hypertensive humans, and the peptide sequences, doses, and maximum decreases of systolic blood pressure (SBP) have been summarized in several reviews [23–25]. The hydrolyzate obtained by the action of pepsin on casein, containing the -casein-derived peptides RYLGY and AYFYPEL, has been patented and commercialized under the name of Lowpept by its antihypertensive properties demonstrated in both SHR [26] and hypertensive humans [27] (Table 1). Pepsin has been also used to hydrolyze whey protein lactoferrin, with the release of peptides containing ACE activity and ACE-dependent vasoconstriction inhibitory properties [28]. Antihypertensive effects in SHR after short-term and long-term treatments have been also observed for those peptides [29, 30]. Trypsin is another gastrointestinal enzyme used to release the antihypertensive peptide -casein peptide f(23–34) from casein during the manufacture of the commercial ingredient peptide C12 [31, 32] (Table 1). In addition to the use of gastric and pancreatic enzymes, alone or in combination, to produce antihypertensive peptides, the use of food-grade enzymes derived from microorganisms has become common for the release of peptides with demonstrated SBP lowering effects in SHR [33–36].
Table 1: Commercial milk products containing peptides with proven antihypertensive activity.
Milk fermentation is another strategy to produce antihypertensive peptides by the proteolytic action of lactic acid bacteria on milk proteins. The most representative peptides are those derived from β-casein and identified in sour milk fermented by Lactobacillus helveticus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Calpis, Table 1). These tripeptides, with sequences VPP and IPP, have demonstrated an ability to exert potent decreasing effects on the SBP of SHR [37, 38]. A number of clinical trials have been conducted to confirm their antihypertensive properties in humans although controversial results have been found. Three meta-analyses performed with the published data of 17 [39], 12 [40], and 28 [41] clinical trials have reported an average decrease in SBP of 5.1, 4.8 mm, and 1.7 mm of Hg, respectively. However, no effects were found in Dutch and Danish subjects consuming fermented milk containing peptides VPP and IPP [42, 43]. A recent meta-analysis including 18 trials has reported higher antihypertensive effects for these two tripeptides in Asian than in Caucasian people [44]. Those findings suggest that genetics and/or dietary patterns might exert an important influence on the antihypertensive effects of peptides IPP and VPP. Similarly, the age has been described as another major influencing factor [45]. With the evidence presented to date, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) [46] concluded that there are no sufficient data to establish a cause/effect relationship between the consumption of peptides VPP and IPP and the control of hypertension, and further studies are thus required. Other peptides derived from β-casein during milk fermentation with Enterococcus faecalis, in which sequences are LHLPLP and HLPLP, have also shown antihypertensive effects in SHR [47]. In recent studies, fermented milk with Lactococcus lactis NRRLB-50571 and NRRLB-50572 has presented important SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate-lowering effects in SHR [48, 49] although the peptides responsible for the activity have not been identified.
Accumulating evidence built in animal and clinical studies is currently available on the antihypertensive activity of milk-derived peptides. However, much work is still needed. Identification of the active form reaching the target organs and elucidation of its bioavailability after oral ingestion and its complete mechanism of action are two of the main aspects required to be deeply investigated in the future to support health claims.
2.1.2. Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Milk-Derived Peptides
Oxidative stress is one of the main responsible factors for the initiation or evolution of CVD. The search of natural antioxidants providing additional benefits to the endogenous antioxidant defense system is gaining interest [50]. Among food-derived peptides with antioxidant properties without harm side effects, those derived from milk proteins are most frequently studied. The majority of the studies carried out to characterize antioxidant peptides derived from casein and whey proteins have only used in vitro chemical assays [51, 52]. However, their limited similarity to physiological conditions makes the in vitro assays very restrictive, and reported effects need to be confirmed by animal models and/or human trials. Nevertheless, to date, just few in vivo trials have been carried out to demonstrate the antioxidant effects of milk-derived peptides related to benefits on cardiovascular health. Zommara et al. [53] reported the antiperoxidative action of fermented milk on rats fed a vitamin-E deficient diet. The consumption of fermented milk by healthy subjects has been also demonstrated to lower the levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein, isoprostanes, and the glutathione redox ratio. Improvements of total plasma antioxidant activity and of the resistance of the lipoprotein fraction to oxidation have resulted in enhanced antiatherogenicity [54]. The compounds responsible for the observed effects have not been identified yet, although milk peptides liberated during fermentation process might have a crucial role. Thus, further studies focused on evaluating the potential of milk-derived peptides as antioxidant at cardiovascular level should be of great relevance.
Chronic inflammation is another responsible factor for the development of CVD. The downregulation of cytokines involved in the inflammation-associated endothelial dysfunction by food components, including peptides, may delay or alleviate inflammation, thus exerting favorable effects against CVD [55]. A recent study using lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated mouse macrophages has reported the ability of a yak casein hydrolyzate to reduce the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and the production of nitric oxide and to scavenge free radicals, suggesting a potential role as preventive agent against inflammation related disorders [56]. To date, only one human trial has been conducted to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory properties of milk peptides. This study reported an improvement in the vascular function through modulation of the glucose levels and inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers after the consumption of the commercial whey derived peptide NOP-47 by healthy individuals [57]. This finding opens a new door towards searching of new milk-derived peptides with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
2.1.3. Hypocholesterolaemic Milk Peptides
Blood lipids are represented in various forms including total cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoproteins (high-density lipoproteins or HDL, low-density lipoproteins or LDL, and very-low-density lipoproteins or VLDL), and free fatty acids. An inappropriate ratio of these lipids is one of the most important risk factors for developing CVD. Therefore, CVD therapy/prevention strategies focus on reaching an optimal lipid balance in order to achieve a positive cardiovascular health. Those therapies aim at increasing the physiological levels of desirable lipids (e.g., HDL cholesterol) while reducing the others associated with atherogenic functions (e.g., LDL cholesterol, triglycerides). Milk proteins, mainly whey proteins and derived hydrolyzates or peptides, have been reported to exert hypocholesterolaemic effects in different animal models. The ingestion of whey protein was correlated with a significant reduction of total cholesterol levels in rats fed with cholesterol-free and cholesterol-enriched diets [58, 59]. Nagaoka et al. [60] have reported similar effects for a β-lactoglobulin tryptic hydrolyzate administered to rats fed with a diet rich in cholesterol. The hydrolyzate reduced total cholesterol and increased HDL cholesterol and fecal steroid excretion. The fragment f(71–75) of this whey protein, known as lactostatin, with sequence IIAEK, has been reported as the main factor responsible for the observed effects [60]. β-Lactotensin, another β-lactoglobulin peptide, released by chymotrypsin hydrolysis, decreased total cholesterol, LDL, and VLDL cholesterol content in mice fed with a cholesterol-enriched diet [61]. Although the mechanism of action of those peptides has not been completely elucidated, preliminary results suggest a key role played by the amino acid composition [50]. Further studies are clearly needed to corroborate those results. The exact mode of this hypocholesterolaemic action needs to be determined in clinical trials.
2.2. Milk-Derived Hydrolyzates and Peptides on Intestinal Health
The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) serves as a specialized interface between the body and the external environment. The GIT is strategically covered by a monolayer of specially designed epithelial cells continually exposed to a high concentration of food components and substances along the gut luminal surface. Hence, the modulator effect of the diet on GIT functions has been accepted as essential for maintaining and improving the general health of the host [62]. Interestingly, more than 70% of the current “food for specified health uses products” (FOSHU) are related to GIT functions [63].
Dairy proteins, hydrolyzates, and peptides have been demonstrated to transform the dynamics of mucus mainly via influencing the mucin secretion and expression and the number of goblet cells. In ex vivo preparations of rat jejunum, casein hydrolyzates increased mucin secretion [64, 65]. The β-casein derived peptide β-casomorphin 7 produced the same effects which have been suggested to be mediated by interaction with opioid receptors. Also, this peptide has been reported to stimulate the expression of mucin Muc2 and Muc3 genes in rat intestinal DHE cells and MUC5AC gene in human intestinal HT29-MTX cells [66]. Another β-casein fragment, f(94–123), identified in commercial yoghurt, also had the ability to increase the mucin output and the mRNA levels of MUC2 and MUC4 genes in HT29-MTX cells [67]. Casein and whey proteins hydrolyzates have been reported to be a source of peptides with capacity to induce mucin secretion and MUC5AC gene expression in HT29-MTX cells [68]. Among these peptides, the -casein fragments f(143–149) and f(144–149) and the β-lactoglobulin fragment f(102–105) known as β-lactorphin were suggested as the major peptides responsible for the observed effects.
A few in vivo studies have also pointed out the regulation of the protective mucus layer by dairy proteins and products thereof. Rats fed with a diet based on casein hydrolyzates, as the exclusive source of nitrogen, were found to enhance their endogenous nitrogen flow and expression of mucin genes Muc3 and Muc4 in the small intestine and colon, respectively [69]. Plaisancié et al. [67] reported the capacity of the β-casein fragment f(94–123), once orally ingested by rats, to upregulate the Muc2, Muc4, rat defensing 5 and lysozyme mRNA transcripts expression, the goblet cells recounts, and the number of crypts containing Paneth cells in the rat small intestine. In the dextran sulphate sodium- (DSS-) induced model of rat colitis, the studies of Sprong et al. [70] and Faure et al. [71] demonstrated the gut-protective effects exerted by a cheese whey protein diet and a diet supplemented with Thr, Ser, Cys, and Pro residues, respectively. Moreover, this protection has been reported for a whey protein isolate and α-lactalbumin hydrolyzate against chemical-induced ulcerative gastric lesions [72, 73].
Enhancement of the mucosal immune response is also a dietary modulating strategy of the defense systems protecting the GIT. Animal models have proved the improvement of the mucosal immunity by promotion of gut-related immunoglobulin (Ig) levels after ingestion of lactoferrin or its derived peptides, lactoferricin and lactoferrampin [74, 75]. Likewise, immunomodulatory effects have been reported for a trypsin casein hydrolyzate in newborn calves [76] and casein phosphopeptides (CPPs) and peptides released from Lactobacillus helveticus R389-fermented milk in mice [77, 78]. Furthermore, Kitamura and Otani [79] demonstrated that ingestion by healthy humans of CPPs-enriched cakes induced an increase in the faecal IgA content, suggesting a positive effect on mucosal immunity.
Oxidative and inflammatory imbalances are both involved in the etiology of several human chronic gut-related disorders such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The search of natural preventive treatments against these imbalances is being prompted [80, 81]. Whey protein has been suggested to exert beneficial effects through enhancement of antioxidant enzymes and downregulation of both oxidative markers and proinflammatory cytokines [82]. These protective findings were found in animal [83, 84] and humans trials [85, 86]. The whey-derived peptide caseinomacropeptide has been proven to have protective properties in the 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) and DSS-induced model of rat ileitis and colitis, through immunomodulation of the regulatory T helper cells activation and interleukin secretions [87, 88]. Turbay et al. [89] demonstrated, in the TNBS-induced murine colitis model, the anti-inflammatory effects exerted by β-casein hydrolyzates generated by the cell envelope-associated proteinase of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. lactis CRL 581. However, peptides released and responsible for the observed bioactivity have not been identified yet.
2.3. Milk Proteins and Peptides against Metabolic Disorders
Diabetes mellitus is considered one of the most common metabolic disorders and one of the major health problems worldwide. It affects almost 6% of the world’s population, with type 2 diabetes representing approximately 90–95% of the diagnosed cases [90]. Diet and lifestyle interventions are the preferred treatment strategies for this metabolic disorder, with pharmacotherapy being prescribed only if supervised lifestyle intervention fails [91]. Epidemiological evidence supports that consumption of milk and dairy foods is associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes. These beneficial effects on metabolic and inflammation factors linked to diabetes and insulin resistance have been also demonstrated by cell and animal models, being multiple milk components, such as calcium, medium-chain fatty acids, linoleic conjugated acid, lactose, citrate, proteins, and peptides characterized as the main responsible factors for the observed effects acting through different mechanisms of action [92].
During the ingestion of a meal, the presence of nutrients at gastrointestinal level stimulates the secretion of two incretins hormones, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). Both hormones are implicated in the stimulation of the insulin secretion from the pancreatic β-cells, secretion of gastric and pancreatic enzymes, and modulation of gut motility and nutrient absorption, allowing the clearance of the absorbed glucose [93]. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by different disorders including progressive dysfunction of pancreatic cells, insulin resistance, and augmented production of hepatic glucose [94]. Continuous intravenous administration of GLP-1 has been demonstrated to normalize blood glucose levels in diabetic subjects [95]. However, the rapid degradation of this hormone by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and its consequent inactivation makes this type 2 diabetes treatment strategy impracticable. Currently, specific DPP-IV inhibitors are thus incorporated to GLP-1 analogues in new oral therapies against this metabolic disease [96].
Diet supplementation with whey protein is currently under preclinical and clinical trials as a promising alternative in the prevention and/or treatment of type 2 diabetes and related diseases [97, 98]. Several mechanisms of action have been suggested for whey protein, including the stimulation of insulin release, improvement of glucose tolerance in diabetic patients, reduction of body weight, and modulation of gut hormones such as cholecystokinin, leptin, and GLP-1 [99]. In the last years, the role of peptides released during the transit of whey proteins through the GIT on the observed effects has been hypothesized [100]. Cell culture and animal models have been used to confirm this hypothesis. A dose-dependent insulinotropic activity of whey protein hydrolyzates has been observed in a cell-based coculture using pancreatic BRIN-BD11 cells and Caco-2 cells monolayers [101]. These authors also observed that the oral administration of the hydrolyzates to obese mice evoked an improvement of blood glucose clearance, reduction of hyperinsulinemia, and restoration of the pancreatic capacity to secrete insulin in response to glucose. The main mechanism of action suggested for these hydrolyzates is the DPP-IV inhibitory activity exerted by the peptides contained in them [102]. Among the bioactive peptides described to date, sequences derived from β-lactoglobulin IPA and IPAVF are the most potent as DPP-IV inhibitors [103, 104]. Another β-lactoglobulin fragment with sequence VAGTWY has been also demonstrated to exert hypoglycemic effects in the oral glucose tolerance test in mice [105]. Likewise, both in vitro DPP-IV inhibitory and in vivo hypoglycemic effects have been reported for peptides released from caseins [106]. Recent in silico studies have shown that both caseins and whey proteins might serve as precursors of DPP-IV inhibitory peptides because of the high number of fragments contained within them that match DPP-IV inhibitory sequences [107, 108]. Thus, this research area holds a great potential, and currently a number of investigations are focused on the identification of new milk proteins-derived peptide with capacity to prevent diabetes and associated metabolic syndromes.
2.4. Chemopreventive Role of Milk Proteins and Peptides
Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality worldwide, and its incidence will continue rising in the next few years in spite of the important advances achieved in the development of cancer therapies. It has been estimated that, by 2020, approximately 15 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed, and 12 million cancer patients will die [109]. It is well known that 35% of cancer deaths are attributed to diet and its food components [110]. However, cell culture and animal and human trials results have shown that an important number of food constituents can lower cancer risk and even sensitize tumor cells against anticancer therapies [111]. In the last few years, food proteins and derived peptides have become one of the food components with the most promising preventive properties against cancer initiation, promotion, and progression stages [112].
Among the milk proteins, lactoferrin and its derived peptide lactoferricin are the most studied. For both compounds, their antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities are closely linked to their protective effects against cancer (Table 2). Lactoferrin acts by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis, and modulating carcinogen metabolizing enzymes, in addition to its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties [113]. Moreover, lactoferricin has shown potent anticancer properties in different cell lines, including breast, colon, fibrosarcoma, leukemia, and oral and ovarian cancer cells, without harming normal lymphocytes, fibroblasts, or endothelial or epithelial cells [114]. Also, animal models have confirmed the beneficial properties of this milk-derived peptide. The possible mechanism of bovine lactoferricin in anticarcinogenesis has been shown to be related to its ability to induce apoptosis. It is its strongly cationic nature that allows this peptide to target negatively charged cancer cells with the outer membrane [115]. The suppressed ability in angiogenesis of bovine lactoferricin was in vitro and in vivo demonstrated to contribute to its chemopreventive properties [116]. A significant inhibition of tumor growth and of liver and lung metastasis was reported after subcutaneous administration of bovine lactoferricin in both spontaneous and experimental metastasis mice models [117]. Similar results were observed after subcutaneous treatment and repeated injections of this peptide on Meth A fibrosarcoma xenografts mice and established neuroblastoma xenografts, respectively [118, 119].
Table 2: Chemopreventive properties of lactoferrin and its derived peptide lactoferricin against cancer demonstrated by cell culture experiments and animals models.
α-Lactalbumin is a whey protein with anticancer properties which has been reported when it forms a complex with oleic acid known as “human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells, HAMLET” or “bovine alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells, BAMLET.” It has been recognized that both protein and fatty acid are required to show cytotoxic activity against cancer cells [115]. Treatment of cancer cells with HAMLET provokes morphological changes typical of apoptotic cells through caspase activation and causes mitochondrial permeability transition resulting in mitochondrial swelling, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and cytochrome c release [120]. These authors also found that this complex induced autophagic cell death and changes in the proteasome structure and function. Similar effects resulting from chromatin condensation and cell shrinkage have been observed after treatment of cancer cells with the complex BAMLET. The efficacy of both complexes has been shown to be influenced by the type of cancer cell line [120]. In the last years, the therapeutic effects against bladder cancer have been studied in animal models as preliminary step for BAMLET use in human trials. It has been demonstrated that intravesical administration of HAMLET delays tumor progression in a murine bladder cancer model although no preventive effects on tumor formation were observed [121].
Intact caseins have not been characterized as chemopreventive proteins but they have been suggested as an important source of peptides with anticancer properties. CPPs are able to bind calcium, to inhibit cell proliferation, and to induce apoptosis of intestinal tumor HT-29 and AZ-97 cells through activation of voltage-activated calcium channels, which mediate the calcium flood according to the depolarization state of the cell [122]. However, in differentiated epithelial intestinal cells, a protective effect from programmed cell death is observed after treatment with these peptides [123]. β-Casomorphin 7 and β-casomorphin 5, two casein-derived sequences with opioid properties, have shown antiproliferative and cell cycle arresting activities on breast and colon cancer cells [115, 124, 125]. It has been suggested that these effects are mediated by interaction with specific opioid and somatostatin receptors although further studies confirming this mode of action are needed.
3. Impact of Milk Oligosaccharides on Human Health
Despite the important role of HMO in infant health, the limited supply of human milk has hindered its use in commercial infant formula [126] and in large-scale clinical trials. Presumably, the health benefits provided by HMO to infants could be extended to humans of all ages if alternative sources of these complex OS are identified [127]. In that view, the need of finding other sources of human-like OS has prompted the identification, characterization, and quantification of unknown OS present in many other types of milk and their respective industrial streams [128, 129].
3.1. Alternative Sources of Oligosaccharides: Major Sources of Nonhuman Milk Oligosaccharides and Their Industrial Effluents
Increasing interest on plant- and lactose-derived OS has been observed in the past decade as an alternative source for complex HMO. Some of these OS include galacto-OS (GOS), fructo-OS (FOS), and lactulose, among others [130]. These indigestible OS are considered prebiotics due to their ability to confer health benefits to the host through the selective growth and activity of commensal bacteria [131]. One such example is inulin, an oligofructan with D-fructofuranosyl β(1-2) links that cannot be broken down by human digestive enzymes, thus exerting several intestinal physiological effects that contribute to the host health. GOS, commonly produced by transgalactosylation of lactose by β-galactosidases, are another example of a current available source of OS for use by the infant formula industry.
Despite the fact that some health promoting effects, such as improved bifidogenic activity, have been attributed to some of those OS [131], little similarity has been observed between commercially available GOS and HMO, except that they are both built on a lactose core [127]. GOS and FOS are composed of a simple linear core, being devoid of structures having high biological activity such as fucose, sialic acid, and N-acetyl glucosamine. Because GOS and FOS do not possess the intrinsic structural complexity observed in HMO, it is expected that domestic farm animals and their processing streams, such as whey permeate from cheese manufacturing, can be a source of OS more similar to the ones present in human milk [132].
World milk production is almost entirely derived from cattle (83%), buffaloes (13%), goats (2%), sheep (1%), and camels (0.3%) (http://www.fao.org/agriculture/dairy-gateway/milk-production/dairy-animals/en/#.VA95gvldXXs). Considering that cow milk accounts for 83% of the world milk production, the enormous interest of the scientific community to identify, quantify, and characterize the OS present in cattle milk and their industrial byproducts is not surprising. A comprehensive review by Urashima et al. [132] shows that approximately 25 bovine milk OS (BMO) structures had been characterized before 2011. The development of advanced analytic techniques, such as several mass spectrometric methods and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-high performance liquid chromatography, has enabled significant improvement in the identification of new BMO; as many as 40 BMO have been characterized [133, 134].
The low concentration of BMO makes it challenging to identify and characterize these compounds when compared with HMO. The OS concentration can reach values as high as 0.7–1.0 g/L in bovine colostrum or can be detected as just trace amounts in bovine milk [135], being much lower than the OS concentration in human milk. Caprine milk is another type of milk, which contains complex OS similar to HMO. The discovery of the presence of fucosylated and sialylated OS that are considered as prebiotics and which have the ability to reduce pathogen adherence to the intestine wall has opened up translational opportunities to human health [136]. Approximately 37 caprine milk OS (COS) have been identified, of which nearly half of them have had their structural complexity elucidated. Similar to bovine milk, COS are present in very small concentrations when compared with HMO. However, they have been found in concentrations of 0.25–0.3 g/L, which is 4-5 times higher than BMO [137].
From those two alternative sources of HMO-like OS (BMO and COS), industrial streams arising from cheese manufacturing and production of whey protein concentrates (WPC) and isolates (WPI) have been considered as a more realistic source of OS for future commercialization [129, 138]. Considering the enormous worldwide production of whey (180–190 × 106 tonnes/year; http://www.adpi.org/Portals/0/PDF/09Conference/TAGEAFFERTSHOLT.pdf) and the fact that the major industrial application of whey to produce WPC and WPI generates a new byproduct containing the target OS, the development of economically feasible processes to recover these compounds represents a key step in enabling the large-scale production of OS.
3.2. Biological Activities of Oligosaccharides
While a wide range of biological functions has been attributed to HMO, less information is available regarding the biological activities of BMO and COS. The limited availability of large quantities of OS with high degree of purity can be inferred by the limited number of in vivo studies with those compounds, with the majority of milk OS biological activities being described by in vitro studies. Recent reports of some of the biological activities of HMO, BMO, and COS are reported in Table 3.
Table 3: Biological activities of human, bovine, and goat oligosaccharides.
3.2.1. Prebiotic Activity
One of the main features of HMO is that they can only be consumed by very specific bacteria strains that possess the appropriate set of enzymes to cleave their complex structure. This prebiotic effect is associated with improved health outcomes. A prebiotic is “a selectively fermented ingredient that allows specific changes, both in the composition and/or in the activity in the gastrointestinal microflora, conferring benefits upon host well-being and health” [139]. Because HMO are only partially digested in the small intestine, they can reach the colon intact where they selectively stimulate the development of bifidogenic flora. A recent study has demonstrated the bifidogenic effect of major fucosylated and sialylated HMO when fed as a sole source of carbon to 25 major isolates of the human intestinal microbiota [140]. Most of the Bifidobacteria spp. and Bacteroides spp. were able to consume those OS and to produce short chain fatty acids, while common pathogenic bacteria were not able to grow on those OS. In vitro biological activities of HMO have been supported by in vivo studies. One of the newest publications in this topic demonstrated the ability of 2-fucosyllactose and 3-fucosyllactose to selectively increase some intestinal bacteria populations like Barnesiella, the major bacterial genus in mice [141], being this effect correlated with reduced level of colitis.
Prebiotic activities of COS, recovered from caprine whey, have been evaluated by in vitro studies [142]. The purified COS fraction favored the development of Bifidobacterium spp. and produced short chain fatty acids such as lactic and propionic acids but presented no inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli grown in human faeces.
3.2.2. Antipathogenic Activity
A second feature of OS is the ability to reduce pathogen biding to the intestinal mucosa. The intestinal mucosa is heavily glycosylated and covered with complex glycans including glycoproteins, glycolipids, and mucins, among others [143, 144]. Bacteria and viruses are able to recognize certain types of fucosylated and sialylated OS and adhere to them [130], therefore acting as anti-infective agents. Milk OS are also fucosylated and sialylated so bacteria and viruses, in presence of OS, will attach less to intestinal cells. The ability of pathogens to bind to specific OS seems to be intrinsically correlated with their structure. Neutral OS containing HexNAc block adhesion of pathogens that cause diarrhea (Vibrio cholerae) and pneumonia (Streptococcus pneumoniae) [15, 145], while neutral fucosylated OS have been shown to inhibit adhesion of other pathogens (i.e., Campylobacter jejuni and diarrheagenic E. coli) that cause gastrointestinal disorders [146]. Acidic OS containing sialic acid are able to block adhesion of Helicobacter pylori, which causes peptic ulcers and other gastric diseases [147], Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium botulinum [148].
Recent in vitro studies have demonstrated that BMO also possess antibacterial properties as observed for HMO. BMO from colostrum permeate proved to be effective in protecting HEp-2 cells from enteropathogenic E. coli, Cronobacter sakazakii, and Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium [149]. It has also been demonstrated that BMO can inhibit the pili-mediated adhesion of Neisseria meningitidis in vitro [150]. Several studies have demonstrated the inhibition of the attachment of enteric pathogens such as E. coli and Campylobacter jejuni and noroviruses with HMO [151]. This effect has also been demonstrated by in vivo studies in which isolated HMO were fed to suckling mice before and after infection with enteropathogenic E. coli. Mice that received HMO significantly reduced colonization of this species compared with untreated controls [152].
3.2.3. Anti-Inflammatory Activity
OS have been also considered as anti-inflammatory agents due to their prebiotic activities and their ability to act as receptors of microorganisms. In vivo studies have demonstrated that COS possess anti-inflammatory properties towards the development of experimental colitis in rats. Pretreatment of the rats with isolated COS reduced the typical signs of induced colitis, including less anorexia, better body weight gain, and less macroscopic intestinal lesions, among others [153]. Similar results were observed by Lara-Villoslada et al. [154], where COS were shown to play an important role in intestinal protection and repair after a damage caused by DSS in rats.
4. Future Prospects
Milk has long been recognized as a source of macro- and micronutrients. Recent identification of many important biologically active substances on milk and its derivatives has attracted much attention from the scientific community. Not only are many of these bioactive compounds associated with growth, but they also confer many health benefits that might support disease prevention. Milk proteins and peptides are usually well tolerated and demonstrate oral bioavailability. In this view, they have the potential to act as health promoting ingredients and to participate in auxiliary therapies to boost overall success in chronic diseases. However, this research area is only at its beginning and more peptides with physiological effects are to be discovered in the future. Confirming the health benefits of these bioactive compounds requires the design of clinical trials based on metabolomic genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, and epigenetic data, in order to explore new biomarkers related to the observed health benefits.
While larger data for in vivo biological activities of milk and peptides is observed, the same is not observed for OS. To date, few studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of OS supplementation [155, 156]. The reduced number of biological activities evaluated for BMO and COS reveals the challenges associated with the production of OS in adequate quantities and purity needed for clinical trials. The development of new synthetic pathways to produce highly purified OS and of large-scale processes to recover those OS from their respective industrial streams will likely improve the elucidation of their biological activities and determine their safety and efficacy in clinical trials with humans. Moreover, the development of more environmentally friendly processes that are also economically feasible not only will enable the production of a new generation of prebiotics but will address environmental issues associated with the disposal of OS-containing waste streams and poor economic viability of our food industry.
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.
The authors acknowledge funding from the National Institute of Health, the “Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,” and the Peter J. Shields Chair in Dairy Food Science at the University of California at Davis. Chia-Chien Hsieh acknowledges the Ministry of Science and Technology for National Science Council of Taiwan (MOST 103-2320-B-003-003-MY3). Samuel Fernández-Tomé and Blanca Hernández-Ledesma acknowledge the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) for their FPI fellowship and “Ramón y Cajal” postdoctoral contract, respectively.
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CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs, FX or any of our other products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Losses can exceed deposits on some products.
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About Saxo Group
FOREX 5 minutes to read
Loonie comes alive
Summary: USDCAD is on the move. It languished on the sidelines for four days, locked in a tight 1.3280-1.3360 range, but that changed this morning.
Traders took notice of a surge in WTI oil prices, which posted a new high for 2019, and whacked bids, driving the currency pair from a New York open of 1.3319 to 1.3253. The daily chart shows that the 1.3280 level was the last vestige of support until the long-term uptrend line comes into play at 1.3160. USDCAD may be undermined further if Wednesday’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting leads to US dollar selling against the major G-10 currencies.
Domestic traders will also take note of this afternoon’s Federal budget. The Liberal government has been pummeled in polls due to a series of miscues and scandals, and those same polls suggest they will lose badly in the October 21 election. USDCAD could be undermined further if the government opts for a fiscally stimulative budget to buy their way to victory.
Wall Street is perky. The DJIA, S&P 500 and Nasdaq extended yesterday’s rally, anticipating a benign FOMC meeting result.
“Gimme fuel, gimme fire, gimme that which I desire.” It’s not Metallica singing those words but ride-hailing service Lyft. Yesterday, it beat Uber off the line in the IPO race and announced plans for a $1.9-$2.1 billion public offering. It is issuing 30,770,000 shares with an IPO price of between $62.00-$68.00/per share, valuing the company at about 20 billion dollars. It will be a great payday for co-founders, CEO Logan Green and president John Zimmer. Their stakes will be worth around $6.0 and $4.0 billion, respectively.
Lyft claims 1.9 million drivers had 30.7 million riders in 2018 for a total of $8.1 billion in bookings, covering over 300 markets in Canada and the US.
Lyft plans “to use the net proceeds we receive from this offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, operating expenses and capital expenditures. Additionally, we may use a portion of the net proceeds we receive from this offering to acquire or invest in businesses, products, services or technologies.”
Chart: USDCAD daily. Source: Saxo Bank
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Chart focus on WTI crude oil, silver and copper
In this webcast, Saxo's global macro strategist Kay Van-Petersen examines the big issues for the week ahead, including the monetary policy of the United States.
COT: Speculators cut longs in oil and gold; Record copper short
The weekly Commitments of Traders (CoT) reports covering the week to July 9. The summary below highlights the major changes that occurred in commodities, forex, bonds and stocks. Please find the attached PDF’s for additional information.
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-gb/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)
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CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs, or any of our other products work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. The value of your investments can go down as well as up. Losses can exceed deposits on some margin products. Professional clients can lose more than they deposit. All trading carries risk.
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Westminster Italian Conservatives
Cities of London and Westminster Conservative Association
Dr. Tania Mathias
Dr. Tania Mathias was Member of Parliament for Twickenham from 2015 until 2017. She served as a member of the Science and Technology Select Committee of the House of Commons.
Twickenham has been her home for the last sixteen years, where she served as a local councillor and local school governor.
In 2010, Mathias was elected to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames as councillor for Hampton Wick. She was re-elected in 2014, but stepped down as a councillor shortly after becoming MP.
After graduating in Medicine and working as a medical doctor in the NHS, Tania also worked as a refugee officer for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip and treated HIV, AIDS and TB patients in Africa. She has also treated leprosy patients in North Bihar, India and South China.
Dr. Maurizio Bragagni MBA - Principal Patron
Dr. Maurizio Bragagni MBA
Born of Italian origin, Dr Maurizio Bragagni began his career working all over the world, from Europe to the Middle and Far East of Asia.
Alberto Costa MP
Alberto Costa, Member of Parliament for South Leicestershire
The only Member of Parliament of Italian descent currently sitting in the Commons, Alberto Costa is Conservative MP for South Leicestershire.
Robert Courts MP
Robert Courts, Member of Parliament for Witney & West Oxfordshire
Robert Courts lives in Oxfordshire. A West Oxfordshire District Councillor since 2014, Robert was elected to Parliament following the resignation of the Rt Hon David Cameron MP, in 2016.
Zac Goldsmith MP
Zac Goldsmith, Member of Parliament for Richmond Park and North Kingston
Zac Goldsmith was born in 1975, and grew up in Richmond where he has lived for most of his life.
He was first elected MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston in 2010.
Dominic Johnson CBE
Dominic is Founding Partner and Chief Executive of a Global Emerging Markets investment management firm.
Lord Leigh of Hurley
Howard Leigh, Baron Leigh of Hurley is a British businessman, Conservative Party politician, and since September 2013 a member of the House of Lords. He is the Co-founder and Senior Partner of Cavendish Corporate Finance.
Joe Ricotta
Joe has over 27 years experience in logistics. He started ‘PCL Transport 24/7 Ltd’ building it into one of the UK’s top chilled distribution specialists. He has since extended his interest in property development in both residential and commercial in the UK, Spain and his parents’ hometown in Sicily. He has opened two traditional Sicilian restaurants in the UK. Joe has recently developed Sicily.co.uk. This website explores the beauty of Sicily, and all it has to offer.
Tweets by tania_mathias
Westminster Italian Conservatives Cities of London and Westminster Conservative Association
Promoted by James Cockram on behalf of Westminster Conservatives’ Italian Group, all at 90 Ebury Street, London SW1W 9QD.
Copyright 2019 Westminster Italian Conservatives Cities of London and Westminster Conservative Association. All rights reserved.
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LEGO Hero Factory Savage Planet 3.0 hero video reviews - ALL
At long last YouTube has finished chewing on my Hero Factory Savage Planet hero set review videos, and here they are:
LEGO Hero Factory Rocka 3.0 review
LEGO Hero Factory Stringer 3.0 review
LEGO Hero Factory Bulk 3.0 review
LEGO Hero Factory Nex 3.0 review
LEGO Hero Factory Stormer 3.0 review
LEGO Hero Factory Furno 3.0 review
LEGO Hero Factory Rocka XL review
Savage Planet Heroes recap video (general thoughts)
Enjoy! Be sure to subscribe to LEGOJANG on YouTube to see all of the videos as they're posted (or as YouTube decides to make them available).
Jang, are you going to make the 3.0 combiner models? They have the instructions for them at herofactory.com
Bropro July 21, 2011 at 2:40 PM
I, personally think bulk 3.0 should be the rhino character because bulk 1.0 was the dumb-a@# tank and stormer 3.0 the eagle character because of his leaderthip role leaving furno 3.0 with the wolf but maybe a cheetah would fit him better because cheetahs are fast and leave a "blazing" trail. But, all in all kudos to LEGO for the best hero factory story so far :)+<
@ Bropro ya another thing that they should have done was make rocka xl four legged and actualy look like a lion. plus he could stand on his hind legs to slash and claw. Jang maybe u could make that
makuta July 22, 2011 at 6:49 AM
You can make a MOC of Evo with the Waspix head.
Bropro July 23, 2011 at 7:32 AM
Last night I got Rocka and stringer I was really disappointed neither r very cool and the colors r just bland. Now I think I should have waited and gotten Stormer and Nex.
hey legojang if your reading this you should try building a giant dragon or phinox for 3.0 u know becuse its jungle stuff or a raptor
I LOVE ROCKA
lego fan2000 August 1, 2011 at 7:24 AM
i love all of the new hero factory figures
ohhhhh man cool site
Is there a way to switch Rocka XL's claw hand to the right hand?
some people think that herofactory 4.0 is gonna be under water the others think its gonna be a prehistoric series
jang! you should tottaly make evo and surge 3.0! i think surge should be a pirahnah and evo should be, i dunno, a deer or something? anyway, just make em'!
cool furno 3.0 he is lush!
they look EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.totily awesome
COOL!make a moc of Furno XL!
MAKE BREEZ 3.0 WITH A SCORPIO HEAD!
Dude you have tho power of awesome!!!!!!! I am a fan of your MOCSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!Make a moc of a dinosuar thing or a ..... you know make a junge animal or hero MOC,if you want to
hey jang i am i big fan of yours, and i have a idea,why dont you make moc with witch doctors mask on it ,but not a chibi witch doctor
furno 3.0's bow is stupid.it needs to shoot something!
Bulk is the BEST!!!!!
THEY'RE EPIC
Ahh cant ait till christmas for MORE herofactory
CarlaCarlos December 10, 2011 at 8:15 AM
Why do not you make the XL version of all the characters? It will be very cool.
I LOVE YOUR MOCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
u should combine all of your hero factory hero's and villains together to make a massive figure!
u should an alba 3.0 or 4.0
you should try and make an evo 1.0
all u need is a rookie chestplate painted yello and yello 1.0 hands, you could use 2.0 boots
what would you use for a mask though
maybe one of the 1.0 mask or a bionicle mask i would use a yellow one for the mask
Michael Pearce January 22, 2017 at 2:16 PM
i really like your specter 2.0
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We love the sound of breaking glass
By Highway's Philip Milburn gets nostalgic about windscreen replacement 2000-04-27T00:00:00+01:00
In 1973, flares and kipper ties were the height of fashion, Sunderland beat Leeds in the FA Cup Final, and a song called American Pie was in the hit parade. In the same year, the idea of a national network specialising in roadside windscreen replacement was new. After a few short years, a concept that had been seen as highly innovative, soon became the norm, and the companies that had quickly sprung up began looking for newer pastures.
Some diversified into commercial and domestic glazing, and this move was to prove a master-stroke as insurers developed strategies for improving levels of customer care that had massive implications for glazing firms.
As service within the industry is again under the microscope, all of these big players are happy to put their reputation, and their policyholders' satisfaction, into one company's hands.
This can only happen when the relationship between insurer and supplier is built on trust, and there is little doubt that every time a glass fitter visits a policyholder, he or she is trusted with the responsibility of promoting that insurer's brand values.
Costs and expenses remain as critical now as ever, and using a single supplier for glass, frame, and lock damage has a number of knock-on effects on the final cost of a claim. Insurers can immediately expect to see a saving in their total outlay simply because of the scale of work being placed with one source.
Insurers should expect uniform costs across the country, with no variance in charges whether the work is carried out in Exeter or Edinburgh. This means that they can accurately estimate their liability for the forthcoming year.
Equally, as prices are agreed up front for the different specifications of work, insurers can be confident that the full amount of any excess will be recovered and that any suggestion of betterment at the insurer's expense will be resisted.
Brand protection is vital to companies who have spent millions of pounds and several years, building trust among brokers and policyholders about the way in which they operate and the service they offer. It is vital that any contact with the policyholder reflects these values, and establishing a close working relationship with one supplier can mean the difference between policyholders renewing or not. Highway Glass is one company that has developed rigorous service standards to support and complement insurers' brand values.
Technical expertise is another area that develops hand in hand with the scale of work undertaken. A significant number of policyholders have been the victims of burglary or vandalism and, therefore, it's absolutely vital that they are handled sensitively. The fitter will often be one of the first people on the scene and needs to have been trained to help householders who have been traumatised by the incident.
At the end of the claim process, it will be the insurance company that is remembered for such caring service and the benefit to them will be retained or renewed business.
It is often the small gestures that make a huge difference. Lending a sympathetic ear to a traumatised policyholder, or cleaning up efficiently when the job is finished, goes a long way to delight rather than just satisfy the customer.
As the insurance industry takes increasing advantage of the technology available to it, the next development must surely be for glass companies to use systems to improve the service that insurers can give to their brokers and customers.
Highway Glass is developing a facility that allows the insurer, and ultimately the policyholder, to pass a new lead via email. In the case of policyholders, they will register claims via their insurer's website and that will be linked to Highway's site.
Glass replacement has come a long way since its first windscreen, but then so too has the public perception of what to expect from its insurance company. And insurers have come to rely on big name suppliers for replacement white and brown goods.
Different companies operate to varying standards and the emergency glazing trade is no different.
I can reassure the industry, though, that the leading companies not only understand the three-way relationship between insurer, broker and customer, but they are continuously seeking ways to enhance it.
Will new driver restrictions slash claims payouts?
Government proposals are positive news for the insurance industry still reeling from the reduced Ogden rate rise
FCA proposes forcing insurers into signposting customers with pre-existing medical conditions
Proposals - which are out for consultation until September - drew criticism from the ABI
Inquiry criticises Ecclesiastical for handling of child sexual abuse claim
Advice came to light despite originally being redacted by the insurer
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Jessica horn feeds the two llamas at Double D-Lux Trailrides and Petting Zoo Friday.
Double D-Lux connects children and animals
The petting zoo is run by Smithers resident and animal lover Darlene Helkenberg.
Kendra Wong
Just off Hudson Bay Mountain Road sits a farm slightly secluded from the public eye.
Driving up the dirt road to Double D-Lux Trailrides and Petting Zoo, it becomes obvious why children love spending time at this hidden gem in Smithers.
Dogs roam around the 10-acre property freely, chickens cluck away, guinea pigs and rabbits hop together in their cages, goats and sheep lounge around, the two llamas rest peacefully and some 20 horses neigh in the background.
Not only is it a petting zoo, but it is also home to the Noble Spirit Program for special needs children in the Bulkley Valley.
“[The farm] is geared toward education,” said Helkenberg. “If you can learn compassion for animals, you can learn compassion for humans.”
Helkenberg has been running the trail rides and petting zoo for the past 15 years in various locations in the area and finally settled on the current property on Moncton Road recently.
“You can fit animals into just about anything that you do in life. It gives people the opportunity to leave real life and it’s something enjoyable that they can watch or be a part of,” said Helkenberg of the Noble Spirit program.
The program, named after one of the horses, has been running for the past few years. It uses animal- and equine-assisted therapy to help children with special needs such as autism.
“I try to make it something that will really benefit the kids but usually they come because there is an indication that they do like horses. Using horses as counsellors is such a nice way of putting it to kids that are saying ‘I don’t want to go to a psychiatrist’,” she said.
“It’s just making a safer environment where kids can be more comfortable talking and really helps them go a little deeper and look at some of the problems they’re having.”
They’ve had a wide variety of people coming up to the zoo, from people completing community service to students getting volunteers hours to people with addictions or fetal alcohol syndrome, as well as kids dropping in just to play with the animals.
According to Helkenberg, animals are generally accepting of everyone, which helps so many people connect with them.
“They’re not [judgemental.] They accept people and they’re very forgiving. If we make mistakes, they won’t hold it against us and there is something about fur, just being able to hold them, there’s something there that’s so rewarding,” she said.
Jessica Horn is on exchange from Germany and has been volunteering at the zoo for the past two weeks.
“I’ve learned so many new things like taking care of kittens and training llamas,” she said. “I think it’s good for kids. You can learn so much just from taking care of something that’s living and horses are really relaxed mostly.”
Kim Connors’ 10-year-old daughter Cassidy has been going to the farm for the past six years.
“It gives them lots of confidence and teaches them responsibility and it’s just great for them to be around animals,” said Connors.
“[Cassidy is] an animal lover; I think it’s the socialization that she likes. We’ve grown with Darlene as we’ve been there and we’ve ended up getting our own horses. We spend a lot of time up there.”
The farm has received lots of support from the community (one of the horse sheds was built by a volunteer while supplies were also donated), said Helkenberg.
However, the cost of running a farm full of animals isn’t cheap and space is becoming limited.
Helkenberg speculated the price of feeding the animals is upwards of $2,000 a month.
“We appreciate the support we’re getting from the community, but we are looking for some board members to turn this into something that is a lot better utilized,” she said. “We’ve just about outgrown this place.”
She said they are currently looking at an 180-acre property in between Hazelton and Moricetown where they could potentially turn it into more than just a drop-in program.
“I would love to see it like a school, something that’s ongoing and that should be a part of our life. There are some kids who hate sitting in school and if they can learn by living on the farm, I would love to see that,” said Helkenberg.
Police seeking driver of vehicle which knocked out power to Kitimat
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Diplomacy: A Velvet Glove, but on Which Hand?
By Henry Strong
In the international arena, zero-sum conceptions of security focused on hard power capabilities do not foster a stable environment. States can better further their interests by utilising the gentle coercion of diplomacy and acting cooperatively through multilateral organisations.
I recently had a frank discussion with a friend who works in the Australian public service. Like most frank discussions, it started small; a light disagreement over the implications of a Jeremy Corbyn Prime Ministership for the United Kingdom’s global standing, particularly with relation to the European Union. It then escalated into an impressive crescendo: what does “global standing” refer to, and does it matter? Does a country’s international reputation actually have any impact on the lives of its people at home?
In truth, the way in which any given country is perceived by others in the international system does nothing for its empirical hard-power capabilities. Being viewed favourably and having a “good reputation” has no effect on the strength or size of a country’s military. A small Pacific state might exceed all the expectations of good global citizenship, but it can still be overrun by a powerful neighbour in a single day. In short, the world of Hobbesian realism leaves little space for soft-power. In that world, where soft-power might appear is as the velvet glove on the hard hand of the state: to gently apply pressure, to manipulate and coerce, to quietly remove and replace as needed. But its purpose is to act exclusively as a soft means to facilitating hard ends.
In that world, the velvet glove is worn by the iron-fist. A smile conceals a curse. One hand offers friendship while the other draws a dagger. No exceptions. Machiavelli would be pleased to know that, even in this global age of complex interconnection, his oafishly simplistic world-view continues to resonate with an isolated few.
My own world-view differs greatly from that of the anarchic realist. I believe that being highly regarded internationally – far from bolstering a state’s military proficiency – gives a state a voice at the negotiating table when it matters. That state can cooperate. That state can pursue human progress. That state’s capabilities are not imaginary or merely conceptual: they are real, ongoing and collaborative. It can harness its international reputation to seek genuine quality-of-life improvement for its citizens. This is called multilateralism, and it is working.
Here’s a close-to-home example on a key topic: the environment. The Ross Sea in Antarctica, one of the last to remain unaffected by human activities, was in 2016 declared a Marine Protected Area after more than a decade of research and two instances of stalled negotiations. Russia and China voted against the declaration in 2013 and 2014 but came together in Hobart in October 2016 to sign the agreement, along with 22 other countries plus the European Union. At the time of signing, the Ross Sea was the largest Marine Protected Area on Earth.
Environmental multilateralism, it is clear, is the only way to address the climate emergency. A world purely of unilateral hegemony, of self-interest, will most likely shrivel and suffocate within the century. In the case of climate-change action, the velvet glove must be on the cooperative hand.
But what about security? State security must inherently be, at its core, linked with unilateral military power, right? Wrong. Force is linked with military power, but security is not a measure of force. Security and insecurity are measures of the threat of attack, not solely the capability of a state to avert one. In our region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum has acted as a platform for leaders to build a cooperative dialogue. Preventive diplomacy as a core regional security measure has featured at every meeting since the year 2000. Leaders are pursuing security for their states and for the region at large by developing meaningful diplomatic relationships with their neighbours.
The value of regional relationships should not be underestimated. The ASEAN Regional Forum’s Experts and Eminent Persons Group is considered by many to be a critical “early warning system” for conflict: the success and failures of the meetings foreshadow the maintenance or breakdown of international relationships. It is these multilateral conferences, establishing and promoting multilateralism as a security norm, that keep violent conflict in our region to a minimum – not hegemonic military might. Once again, the velvet glove is worn by the cooperative hand.
It is dangerous to see international relations in simple “winner-takes-all” terms. That view serves only to limit what one may understand about our world and turns a blind eye to the clearly evident value of building relationships across borders. Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and our other Pacific neighbours all have a role to play in ensuring lasting regional peace: we must not rely on the iron-fist of hegemonic allies to guard our interests. It is up to us to wear the velvet glove on our cooperative hand, and go about using diplomacy to foster progress, one tiny step at time, to achieve our goals. Be it with regard to security, trade, the environment or cultural and societal issues, professional and persistent diplomacy is the path to success – not brute strength.
Henry Strong is a Masters student in the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University. He has a degree in European Studies from The Hague University of Applied Sciences, where he specialised in Politics in Practical Application.
This article is published under a Creative Commons License and may be republished with attribution.
Environment Overlooked in Australia's Aid for Trade Program
By Brendan Garrett and Dr Thomas Wanner
Australia's Aid for Trade agenda does little to advance the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, treating the environment primarily as a tool for economic prosperity.
Building an Antibiotic Resistance Toolkit
By Anna George
With the launch of the new Indo-Pacific Health Security Initiative, Australia is taking antimicrobial resistance seriously as it seeks strengthen the region against disease outbreaks.
W20 Japan Summit: Closing the Gender Gap for Future Prosperity
By Zara Kimpton OAM
The head of the Australian delegation to the W20 Japan summit outlines what was achieved at the summit, but also how far there is still to go to achieve equality of opportunity for women around the world.
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Nest reveals lower charging structure than anticipated
Posted on November 25th, 2010 | Categories - Pensions
Nest will incorporate a contribution charge, which is lower than the 2% predicted.
Employees paying into a Nest pension scheme will have to meet a contribution charge.
The National Savings Trust (Nest) has unveiled a lower charging structure to its pension scheme than expected.
The scheme will include a combination of a 0.3% annual management charge (AMC) and a 1.8% contribution charge, which is 0.2% lower than had been indicated by the Nest Corporation in March this year.
This means that for every £100 saved by an employee, £1.80 will be deducted as part of the contribution charge.
The contribution charge, which is not incorporated in traditional pension schemes, will generate the cash needed to meet the costs of establishing the new pension system. Once these costs have been met the charge will be removed.
Helen Dean, Nest managing director of scheme development said: “We’re very pleased with the charges that we’re setting today. We believe that this is a very, very good charge level… We think this is great news. It means that the members of Nest will have access to a scheme that will charge a level approaching the best of those around”.
John Lawson, head of pensions policy at Standard Life said it is difficult to compare the structure of Nest with other existing schemes because they only have an AMC and not a contribution charge. He said: People in the short-term would probably be better off with a scheme that only has an AMC but if they are in a scheme for the long-term e.g. 20 years then they would be better off in Nest”.
“Nest said that the contribution charge will fall away within 20 years but this is dependent on many variables such as the amount of members it has, the average contributions etc”.
He added that “if not many people join, the contribution charge will form part of Nest’s charging structure for a lot longer”.
« Britons are neglecting to save for their future
Financial worries plague over two thirds of Brits »
Tags: contribution charge introduced to Nest scheme to meet costs, contribution charge set at 0.8% for Nest, Nest annual management charge, The National Savings Trust charges
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Mike Monteiro: Design is political
Shayna Hodkin • Apr 29, 2019
“There are professions more harmful than industrial design,” designer Victor Papanek once wrote, “but only a very few of them.”
And as seasoned designer, Mule Design Studio founder, and Papanek-follower Mike Monteiro adds, “Not only can a designer change the world, a designer should.”
Monteiro has a lot to say on the subject—enough to fill a book. Known as one of design’s most outspoken voices against big tech and in favor of protecting design ethics, his newest book Ruined by Design argues that design isn’t about aesthetics—it’s a political craft whose practitioners carry an ethical responsibility akin to that of a doctor or a lawyer. And in a world where there are questions about data use, dark patterns, and privacy concerns, the digital product designers tend to make a big difference.
We spoke to Monteiro about ethical design utopia, how you can challenge unethical projects (without losing your job), and how design leaders shape the future of design culture—one designer at a time.
Ethics might get you fired
At this point, you may be thinking, “Sure, I’d love to take a grand moral stand whenever I see something amiss, but I have bills to pay.”
But, as Monteiro says, if we’re going to get past the current mess, we need everyone to do their part.
“You have to decide who your community is,” he says. “Tight-knit communities take care of us, and companies have hijacked that. They’ll fire you if it means making more profit. But until then, they’ll tell you that this organization is your ‘home.’ Our new ‘neighborhoods’ are our desks and deskmates.”
“If a designer leaves a job because they were being asked to behave against their ethical code, and you take that job, you’re doing all of us a disservice.”
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Monteiro understands why one would be wary of taking on that fight on their own, and he’s quick to note that change doesn’t fall solely on you. He emphasizes the designers are all part of a community—one that isn’t organization-specific, but rather that binds together all designers.
“If we’re going to get past the current mess, we need everyone to do their part.”
You and the design community are part of the same organism. Monteiro writes:
“You are part of a professional community, and the way you do your job and handle yourself professionally affects everyone in that community. Just as a rising tide affects all boats, taking a shit in the pool affects all swimmers…If a designer leaves a job because they were being asked to behave against their ethical code, and you take that job, you’re doing all of us a disservice.”
Embrace your collective power
“A designer seeks to build their professional community, not divide it,” says Monteiro.
We are all tasked with the responsibility of doing the right thing, but when facing the corporate beast, it can be challenging to go it alone. Your power here lies in numbers: on the gamble that your voice will be the one to inspire others.
“Once you raise your voice, you’ll be surprised by how loud it is.”
Mike Monteiro
“Once you raise your voice, you’ll be surprised by how loud it is,” writes Monteiro. “Be the one who motivates those around you to behave their best. And if the person next to you should be the one who says, ‘Hey, this doesn’t seem quite right,’ be the one who backs them up. You’re not alone.”
“A designer uses their expertise in the service of others without being a servant.”
“The people doing the work have a tremendous amount of power in these situations. That’s you! Are there repercussions? Absolutely. You might lose your job, and in America, that’s likely to mean your health insurance as well…What you need to understand is that there are repercussions either way. As the employees of Microsoft found out, you can fight and win.”
The employees of Microsoft he mentioned are the ones who, in 2018, banded together to protest a $19.4 million contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for processing data and artificial intelligence capabilities. Within 12 hours, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella released a memo in which he called the immigration policy “cruel and abusive” and said Microsoft wasn’t working on any projects that would separate families. This was followed by a blog post written by Microsoft’s president Brad Smith titled “This country needs to get immigration right.”
Slide from How To Fight Fascism, a talk delivered by Monteiro. Photo by Esther Brunner
Losing a job for speaking up would have been a bummer—but much less of a bummer than contributing to technology that could be used to harm.
“Be the one who motivates those around you to behave their best. And if the person next to you should be the one who says, ‘Hey, this doesn’t seem quite right,’ be the one who backs them up. You’re not alone.”
Start making the right choice early on
Monteiro acknowledges that having an ethical backbone often comes with consequences, and when you’re trying to pay down debt and make sure your family has a roof over their head, the fear of the economic implications of ethical choices is real—and valid.
“If you go to college, you’re probably graduating with at least $100K in debt,” he says. “How can I blame you for taking a high-paying job?”
In a society where health insurance is a privilege and crushing debt is a burden many share, the added load of ethical responsibility can be too much to carry. It may be hard to align your job with your ethics this very second, but there’s room for individual designers to make change—or avoid conflict entirely.
Decide whether it’s worth the fight
Doing the right thing isn’t a guaranteed “win.”
Monteiro lays out the three questions to ask yourself before taking on this emotional, and economic, challenge:
Do I think I can change things here?
Do I have the energy to devote to this?
Should I just cut my losses?
This cause might not be worth your emotional investment.
Cover of Ruined by Design
“There needs to be a willingness to do the right thing,” Monteiro says. You can present plans and stage walkouts all the livelong day but if none of that “ethical duty, moral responsibility” talk interests your employer, then you’re going nowhere. Except, probably, out the door.
There are organizations that are too big, too monolithic, and too uninterested in doing what’s right to entertain any kind of change.
For the future: Choose your employer wisely
If you’re not interested in up-ending your career to try and create change at an organization where change isn’t welcome, you’d be best served working joining an organization that aligns with your values.
Especially when you’re not in the position to leave your current job before finding new employment, Monteiro recommends three tactics for picking an employer:
Talking to people who have left
The surest way to get a view into a company is to talk to folks who have been there. Whether via personal connections or LinkedIn or carrier pigeon, reaching out to folks who know the org from the inside is the most solid way to understand company leadership and their openness/willingness to ethical design culture.
Looking at past projects
The larger the company is, the less likely you’re going to be able to flip the system on your own. If you’d be uncomfortable working on projects in the company’s portfolio, don’t bank on being able to switch the corporate midset—run for the hills.
Making sure you’ll have a mentor
“Don’t go work somewhere there’s nobody to work from! If everyone else is 22, 23, 24, what will you learn? Work for somebody who can mentor you,” says Monteiro. Skilled designers can teach you how to ask hard questions from the beginning—before they’re hard.
Decide who you’re working for
Monteiro’s argument is that we’re not working for our employers—we’re working for the people using our products. Our best interest isn’t the success of the IPO, it’s keeping people safe from harm. Included in Mule Design’s contract is the non-negotiable statement:
“You may be hiring us, and that may be your name on the check, but we do not work for you. We’re coming in to solve a problem, because we believe it needs to be solved, and it’s worth solving. But we work for the people being affected by that problem. Our job is to look out for them because they’re not in the room. And we will under no circumstances design anything that puts those people at risk.”
The man, the myth, the headshot.
The designer’s job isn’t to do what they’re told, a designer’s job is to solve problems.
As Monteiro writes,
“A designer uses their expertise in the service of others without being a servant. Saying no is a design skill. Asking why is a design skill. Rolling your eyes and staying quiet is not. Asking ourselves why we are making something is an infinitely better question than asking ourselves whether we can make it.”
Want to read more about design ethics?
4 trends in designing for privacy and data collection
The legal and social responsibilities of being a designers
A guide to everyday design ethics
by Shayna Hodkin
Shayna is Managing Editor of InVision's design publication, Inside Design. She lives in Tel Aviv with two big dogs.
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Cochrane UK
Cochrane is a global independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers and people interested in health. We are a not-for-profit organization working together to produce credible, accessible health information that is free from commercial sponsorship and other conflicts of interest. We do this by producing reviews that summarise the best available evidence generated through research to inform decisions about health. Cochrane Reviews are systematic reviews of primary research in human health care and health policy and are internationally recognised as the highest standard in evidence-based health care. Cochrane Systematic Reviews are published online, in full text, in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in the Cochrane Library – www.cochranelibrary.com.
Cochrane UK is one of 14 Cochrane Centres around the world supporting the global work of Cochrane and maximising the use and impact of Cochrane reviews for the UK and Ireland. Cochrane UK is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and hosted by the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. The centre supports the production of Cochrane systematic reviews through a learning and development programme for Cochrane authors and other contributors. We aim to maximise the impact of Cochrane reviews by disseminating the findings widely to health professionals, researchers, commissioners, the public, charities and the media, through social media, events, presentations and partnerships.
Many of Cochrane’s contributors work in research or healthcare institutions, but many get involved because they are interested in a particular area of health, or in Cochrane’s work generally. Cochrane contributors come from everywhere – more than 130 countries around the world.
Cochrane UK produces a weekly blog, Evidently Cochrane, which aims to make Cochrane evidence accessible, and encourage discussion about it. The blogs usually feature new or updated Cochrane reviews on a health topic and often include the patient or professional talking about what this evidence means to them in the context of a health care decision. Evidently Cochrane is for everyone who is interested in finding and using the best quality evidence to inform decisions about health.
We use social media to share and discuss the Cochrane evidence. Our series Evidence for Everyday Health Choices (#EEHealthChoices) is for anyone wanting trustworthy health evidence to help them make choices. Health and research information can be hard to access and to help with this we produce short summaries of the main findings and let you know where you can find out more if you want to. The core of Evidence for Everyday Health Choices is blogs and blogshots, images with key information and a link to where you can read more. You can find our blogshots on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and in a blogshot archive on tumble, where you can download and share them.
Summertown Pavillion, 18-24 Middle Way, Oxford, OX2 7LG
Therese Docherty, Business and Programme Manager
Email: therese.docherty@cochrane.nhs.uk
Website: http://uk.cochrane.org/
Follow us on Twitter: @CochraneUK
Check us out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CochraneUK
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Former All Black Nonu dreaming of Super Rugby, World Cup comeback
Super Rugby / 12 February 2019, 10:45am /
The All Blacks' Ma'a Nonu scores a try during the RWC2015 final against Australia at Twickenham. Photo: REUTERS/Henry Browne
WELLINGTON – All Black legend Ma'a Nonu said Tuesday he was eyeing a World Cup comeback in Japan later this year but he first needed to prove himself at Super Rugby level with the Auckland Blues.
The two-time World Cup winner, aged 36, has returned from three years playing in Europe for his third stint with the Blues, where he will partner fellow veteran Sonny Bill Williams in the centres.
The last of Nonu's 103 Tests was New Zealand's 34-17 win over Australia in the 2015 World Cup final at Twickenham and he was coy when quizzed about a return to the international stage in Japan.
“I think it's there in everyone's minds. For me it's trying to make the Blues team first so one step at a time,” he told reporters.
Nonu brushed off further questions about his World Cup aspirations, joking: “All I'm thinking about is lunch right now.”
To make the All Blacks, he would need to muscle his way into contention among current midfielders such as Williams, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown and Ngani Laumape.
Ma'a Nonu, right, in action for his French club Toulon. Photo: AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu
He would also need to help turn around the fortunes of the Blues, who finished second to last on the overall table last year.
In the past, Nonu has been accused of coasting during Super Rugby and lifting his intensity for Test matches but he said he was fully committed to helping the Blues succeed this season.
“I haven't won Super Rugby before, I've come up short twice (in two finals) and played a lot of semi-finals for the (Wellington) Hurricanes,” he said.
“It's another driver this year.”
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Guardiola not giving up on title bid despite Newcastle loss
Premier League / 30 January 2019, 09:00am /
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez shakes hands with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after the match on Tuesday. Photo: REUTERS/Scott Heppell
NEWCASTLE – Pep Guardiola insisted Manchester City's title hopes were still intact despite admitting Liverpool are poised to take a significant lead in their two-way battle for the Premier League crown.
Jurgen Klopp's side can extend their advantage at the top to seven points with victory at home to Leicester on Wednesday after the reigning champions' shock 2-1 defeat at struggling Newcastle on Tuesday.
The Spaniard's 100th league game in charge turned sour at St James' Park despite Sergio Aguero putting City ahead in a mere 24 seconds with the fastest Premier League goal of the season.
Guardiola, however, is far from ready to throw in the towel with more than three months of the campaign to play, and predicted plenty more twists and turns in Liverpool's bid to end a 29-year wait to win English football's top prize.
“We're still in January,” said City manager Guardiola. “There's a lot of time but of course, when you're behind the leaders you don't want to drop points and every game is one less but there are still a lot of matches to play.”
“A lead of seven points is a lot but we're not in April or May. There are still many games left and anything can happen,” the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss added.
Sergio Aguero in action with Newcastle United's Fabian Schar on Tuesday night. Photo: Reuters/Lee Smith
“There are a lot of tough games to play against sides trying to stay in this division, or playing to get into the Europa League or the Champions League. In our case we will do our best to be there and not to give up.”
'Not our good night'
After surrendering an eight-game winning run at St James' Park, second-placed City return to action at home to Arsenal on February 3, and their Spanish coach added: “We didn't underestimate Newcastle - no way. We'd never do that and that's the reason why we're still in four competitions.
“That's why we recorded 100 points last season. It's just sometimes we don't play at the level we want to play and that can happen - it was not our good night, and that's something I understand completely.”
Newcastle moved five points clear of danger after securing back-to-back league wins for the first time since November after Salomon Rondon equalised midway through the second half before Matt Ritchie's penalty 10 minutes from time completed their comeback.
This victory came with the Magpies poised to clinch a club-record £20 million ($26 million, 23 million euros) move for Atlanta United's Paraguay forward Miguel Almiron.
Meanwhile, Monaco's Italian full-back Antonio Barreca is also set to join the northeast club, in a loan deal for the rest of the season ahead of the January 31 transfer window deadline.
After doing his old club a major favour in their title bid, Newcastle's former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez said: “It's nice to help Liverpool, fine, but saying that I don't want to disrespect Manchester City.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the match against Newcastle. Photo: REUTERS/Scott Heppell
“I can't talk about the transfer window but we're progressing with some names and if that happens it will be good news for us. The main thing is that we sign what we need, the price doesn't matter and it's not about breaking records, but the fact that it will be someone to help us to stay in this division.”
The Spaniard added: “We didn't get off to the best of starts with their goal, but we fought hard and worked for each other until the last minute and earned our rewards with a win that we can hopefully build on.”
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Engineers Ireland CPD Standard awarded to Purcell Construction
Tetrarch agrees sale of Westpark Apartments to Clúid Housing
Miesian Plaza achieves LEED Platinum v4 Certification
Living City Initiative encouraging people back to historic parts of Cork City
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Minister Donohoe opens refurbished Boyne Viaduct
December 14, 2015 December 14, 2015 The Editor 801 Views
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, attended a special event to mark the completion of the cross-border Drogheda Viaduct refurbishment project.
In receipt of €6.1 million worth of funding under the EU’s INTERREG IVA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), the project will ensure that existing journey times on the Dublin-Belfast railway line are maintained.
A significant refurbishment, the project has involved the installation of a new drainage system to capture and remove rainwater, steelwork repairs to replace sections of the bridge’s steel infrastructure and the relaying of track work over the viaduct itself.
Designed by Irish civil engineer Sir John MacNeill construction of the viaduct was originally completed in 1855 and at the time was considered to be one of the wonders of the age.
Iarnród Éireann was the lead partner for the delivery of the refurbishment project which will now ensure the safe and efficient operation of the railway line. It is an icon of the town of Drogheda, and of Irish civil engineering.
Speaking at the launch of the project Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive of the SEUPB, said: ‘This project will help to deliver upon one of the core objectives of the EU’s INTERREG IVA Programme, in terms of supporting infrastructure that will create a more sustainable cross-border region. The refurbishment of the viaduct will ensure continued levels of rail service within the Dublin to Belfast corridor, thereby safeguarding continued cross-border business and tourism development.’
Match-funding for the project has been supplied by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) in Ireland and the Department for Regional Development (DRD) in Northern Ireland.
Welcoming the completion of the refurbishment project Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe T.D, said: ‘The rail line connecting Dublin and Belfast provides a very important cross-border transport link. The refurbishment of the Drogheda Viaduct on the line will help ensure that we continue to enjoy safe, efficient and punctual rail services along this strategic transport corridor, which plays such a key role in supporting the development of trade and tourism between the two biggest cities on the island.’
The old paintwork covering the viaduct has been removed and replaced with a more suitable and modern protective paint system which will help to safeguard the stonework over many years.
Congratulating Irish rail on the refurbishment work Northern Ireland’s Minister for Regional Development Michelle McIlveen MLA, said: ‘I congratulate everyone involved in the successful completion of the Viaduct refurbishment project. This is a significant achievement which will ensure that our future plans for improved and modernised cross-border services between Belfast and Dublin are realised.’
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Mary McAleese: How Irish invigorated my life
Former Irish President Mary McAleese
Linda Ervine: I realised Irish belonged to me - a Protestant - and I fell in love with it
Former Irish president Mary McAleese who grew up in Ardoyne
ONE hundred years ago the Republican Movement and the Irish Language Movement were closely linked in the minds and hearts and lives of many Irish people.
“Not only free but Gaelic as well; not only Gaelic but free as well.” This was a familiar slogan at the time. To most of the founders of the Irish State, the Irish language was an intrinsic part of Irish identity.
The Irish language is an important part of my own Irish identity, and always has been, even before I could speak Irish. The language itself, its vestiges and influences, play a significant part in Irish life.
Our placenames are firmly rooted in the rich soil of our linguistic heritage. They surround us. Each Irish place name is the distillation of a long narrative, a history of our people, and enriches us linguistically and culturally.
The English we speak in Ireland is heavily influenced by Irish. Where else would you hear: “I’m only after doing it”, or “Is it yourself that’s in it?” These phrases come word for word from Irish and are a seamless part of everyday life, carrying with them a memory of times we did not live in; but those who did shaped us and our world.
I was born and reared in Ardoyne, in north Belfast. My father was from County Roscommon, and during his brief years at school he was educated through Irish. His parents’ English was liberally laced with Connacht Irish. I heard it before I heard Ulster Irish.
My mother did not speak Irish to us but her younger brothers, who were educated by the Christian Brothers, did. They often spoke it among themselves when speaking of things we children were not supposed to hear.
Irish was not taught in our parish primary schools at the time, so my parents sent us to schools outside the parish, where it was taught. The girls went to the Convent of Mercy and the boys to the Christian Brothers. Later I studied Irish at St Dominic's High School and spent many a wet summer in the Donegal Gaeltacht.
I lived in a part of Ardoyne that was predominantly Protestant/Unionist/British in its identity. The tensions between competing identities made for an unsettling conflictual environment, but did not prevent the growth of strong inter-religious friendships that endure to this day.
But there was a going of different ways, of looking to very different sources, drawing from other wells. I went to Irish dancing, took part in feiseanna, wore a fáinne, played camogie. My Protestant friends did none of these things.
Use of the cúpla focal was even more common in County Roscommon, where my father’s parents lived, and where I spent part of each summer. His cousin, the late Columban Father John Joe McGreevy, a wonderful Irish scholar, sometimes dropped by to chat.
When he did, no English was spoken. I remember being so proud of him, and knowing without understanding why, that in that tiny house on the Carrow Ard, something profound, beautiful and natural was happening... and changing.
Many years later, as President of Ireland, I incorporated Irish into every speech I made while on official visits abroad. I was often approached by expatriates who told me that hearing the Gaeilge again made them feel proud and close to home.
The cúpla focal can go a long way to make an exile feel connected to both today’s and yesterday's global Irish family.
Lots of Irish people have what they think is only a smattering of Irish. But it is remarkable how that seemingly small vocabulary quickly expands and develops when you decide to re-engage with the language. That is what happened to me.
After university my engagement with Irish was intermittent, but when I took it up seriously again, words, phrases and sentences came tumbling, stumbling back, as if awoken from sleep.
If you haven’t used Irish for some years, you may be afraid to take that first step; afraid of failure, of getting mired in the rules of grammar; afraid of the effort it takes to kick-start the learning. Don’t let those fears hold you back. You will have lots of support and encouragement along the way. The learning road is full of adventure and fun, new friendships, new insights; and the rewards are great.
My own efforts blossomed when I became president. I worked very hard to become as fluent as possible. I revelled in the literature, the poetry, the songs, the placenames, the narratives.
Comprehension of the language revealed so much that had been hidden from me except in translation. Now I saw the creativity, the beauty and the artistry at first hand. It was like transitioning from black and white television to colour. Irish life came into view in Technicolor.
My understanding of Irish identity was enhanced and enriched every step of the way. The skin of identity became more comfortable, a better fit. From the language, the discourse and the culture of Gaeilge there developed a sense of a circle completed, a wound healed.
Do I feel more Irish than when I spoke no Irish? No. Do I feel I know my identity more intimately and convincingly? Yes. Is my life better for re-engaging with the Irish language? Definitely.
It has been the gift of gifts, a remarkable source of endlessly renewable energy in my life; and I cannot imagine how poor my life would have been without these past twenty wet craic-filled summers in the Donegal Gaeltacht.
10 November, 2015 01:00 News
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UK to introduce 'one of world's toughest' ivory bans
Britain is set to introduce "one of the world's toughest" bans on ivory sales in a bid to protect elephants for futur...
Posted: Apr 3, 2018 12:31 PM
Updated: Apr 3, 2018 12:31 PM
Britain is set to introduce "one of the world's toughest" bans on ivory sales in a bid to protect elephants for future generations, the country's Environment Secretary announced Tuesday.
The prohibition will introduce tighter legislation covering ivory items of all ages, save for a few limited exceptions, the government said. The penalty for violating the ban could be up to five years in prison.
"Ivory should never be seen as a commodity for financial gain or a status symbol," Environment Secretary Michael Gove said in a statement. "The ban will demonstrate our belief that the abhorrent ivory trade should become a thing of the past."
The UK proposal is the latest move in the global fight against the ivory trade.
In 2016, the United States adopted a near-total embargo but exempted ivory items older than a century and containing less than 50% ivory, the UK government said.
China enacted its own ban on the sale of ivory products at the start of the year, but it exempts ivory "relics", according to the British government.
The UK claims its ban is stronger.
Exceptions include items made before 1947 that are comprised of less than 10% ivory, musical instruments made before 1975 with less than 20% ivory, and rarities that have been assessed by specialists and are at least 100 years old.
The government said it had received more than 70,000 responses during the consultation period, with more than 88% respondents in favor of the ban.
The move has been welcomed by activists.
"The end of the ivory trade in the UK removes any hiding place for the trade in illegal ivory. Ivory belongs on an elephant, and when the buying stops, the killing will stop," John Stephenson, CEO of Stop Ivory said in a statement.
In Africa, poachers kill tens of thousands of elephants a year for their tusks. Much of the demand for elephant tusks comes from China, where ivory is still seen by some as a symbol of luxury and wealth.
"Around 55 African elephants are killed for their ivory a day, their tusks turned into carvings and trinkets," Tanya Steele, chief executive at World Wildlife Federation, said in a statement.
"We hope the UK will continue to press countries where the biggest ivory markets are, most of which are in Asia, to shut down their trade too."
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Expert Latin Student Wins Scholarship
Greenbank student, Tony Shaw, has been awarded the National Latin Exam Scholarship, worth US $1000.
He became eligible for this award after receiving a gold medal in the 2015 National Latin Exam, and then had to write an application discussing a Latin quote and how it related to his personal philosophy.
For this he chose the College’s motto “Virtus Pollet”, which translates to “moral excellence prevails”. Of the 124 applicants, who had all received gold medals in the exam, there were 21 scholarship recipients.
Tony began learning Latin back in Year 9. He quickly developed a passion for both the language and the cultural and historical context, and decided it was a subject he wanted to continue studying throughout his time at King’s as well as at university.
Tony said, “I’ve found that by studying Latin I’ve gained far more than just knowledge of the language itself. I have also gained a better understanding of English grammar and vocabulary, languages such as French and Italian, and I’ve had great opportunities such as this scholarship.”
This is Tony’s fifth year of Latin and he has now participated in the National Latin Exam three times, winning a gold medal each time. In 2014 he received a Cambridge High Achievement Award after achieving 99% in the IGSCE Latin exam last year.
“This is also my fifth year of having Mr. Jackson as my Latin teacher. Mr. Jackson has been the most incredible teacher, as he has the extensive knowledge and experience to ensure that we achieve to the highest level in the exam, and also is extremely engaging and able to make Latin such a consistently enjoyable class. I am extremely grateful for all he has done over these years to make it possible for me to enjoy the benefits of these awards.I am very pleased and thankful to have received this scholarship, and to have had the opportunity at King’s to study such an amazing and rewarding subject.”
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US: Christmas comes early for Starbucks
just-drinks.com editorial team2 December 2004
Starbucks Corporation today (2 December) reported consolidated net revenues of US$486m for the four-week period to 28 November, an increase of 26% from consolidated net revenues of US$387m for the same period in fiscal 2004.
On a comparable store sales basis (stores open for at least 13 months), sales at company-operated stores increased by 13% for the four-week period, as compared to the same four-week period in fiscal 2004.
"The early launch of Starbucks holiday promotion, highlighted by this year's Christmas Blend, along with the continued popularity of Pumpkin Spice Latte and growth in our music business, all contributed to Starbucks outstanding November sales results," said Howard Schultz, chairman.
"I am very proud of our partners throughout the company for launching Starbucks holiday season with such great success.
"It is important to note, as we have said in the past, that comparable store sales growth of the extraordinary level achieved in November is not sustainable," Schultz added. "We continue to believe that 20% net revenue growth and approximately 3% to 7% comparable store sales growth is the right level for longer-term expectations."
For the eight weeks to 28 November, consolidated net revenues were US$940m, an increase of 25% from consolidated net revenues of US$750m for the eight weeks ended in fiscal 2004. Comparable store sales increased by 12% for the eight weeks to 28 November, as compared to the same eight weeks in fiscal 2004.
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Fort Lauderdale shooting victims include grandfather, grandmother
(CNN) -- Their lives ended suddenly, tragically, in a storm of gunfire at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
But those who died in the shooting Friday filled their lives up until that moment with love, ambition and achievement.
One of the five slain victims has not been publicly identified. Here is what we know so far about the other four:
Shirley Timmons
Steve Reineccius identified one of the dead in Friday's shooting as 70-year-old Shirley Timmons, a family woman whom he described as "an amazing daughter, wife, mother and grandmother."
Her husband of 51 years was her high school sweetheart. They met in eighth grade, Reineccius said.
"Together they built a close, loving family with their three daughters, three sons-in-law and eight grandchildren. For Shirley, family meant vacations, football games and holiday traditions," he said in a statement.
"She was the most loving, passionate mother who had a love for life and truly sparkled. She will continue to sparkle through her husband, mother, three daughters, and eight grandchildren. She touched many and was loved by all. She will live in our hearts forever and will be truly missed."
Michael Oehme
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa identified one victim as Michael Oehme of Council Bluffs and said his wife, Kari Oehme, was wounded in the shooting.
"Pray as I will for Oehme family of CouncilBluffs Iowa /Father Michael was killed and Kari the mother was wounded at FtLauderdale Massacre," Grassley said on Twitter.
Michael Oehme, 57, and Kari Oehme, 52, were at the airport preparing for a Caribbean cruise that was slated to begin Saturday, according to CNN affiliate WOWT. Kari Oehme suffered a shoulder wound and is expected to recover, her sister-in-law told WOWT.
Adam Angeroth, who has known the couple for eight years and is Kari Oehme's hairdresser, told the station the couple went on cruises every year and that he had just done her hair and nails in preparation for the trip.
Kari Oehme works for CommScope, a telecommunications company, across the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska. The company released a statement saying it was doing everything it can to help the Oehme family.
"Our deepest sympathy goes out to everyone affected by this tragic event," the statement said.
Terry Andres
Terry Andres was at the airport because he was vacationing with his wife, according to a close friend.
Andres, 62, died and his wife was uninjured, said the friend, who asked to remain anonymous.
"Terry was the kindest, sweetest and best kind of friend anyone could have. He was the ultimate family man," said the friend, who has known Andres since high school. "He and Ann were married for 40 years, and he absolutely adored his children and grandchildren."
Andres had two daughters, said the friend.
The New Jersey native and his family moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia, decades ago and raised their children in the coastal community, the friend said.
Andres worked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, said Terry Davis, a spokesman at the shipyard. According to Andres' Facebook page, he had worked at the shipyard since 1996.
Andres and his wife were members of Virginia Beach United Methodist Church. The church's senior pastor, the Rev. Ralph Rowley, posted news of Andres' death on the church's official Facebook page.
Olga Woltering
Olga Woltering and her husband, Ralph, had traveled from their home in Cobb County, Georgia, outside Atlanta, to Fort Lauderdale for a cruise.
The 84-year-old great-grandmother and loyal church member died and her husband escaped serious injury, according to posts on social media.
"Olga was one of the most joyful, loving, caring and committed people I have ever met," the Rev. Fernando Molina-Restrepo of the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration in Marietta, Georgia, told CNN. The Wolterings had been members of the church since 1978, Molina-Restrepo said.
"This is a horrible tragedy for everyone here at Transfiguration, especially because Olga was so loved," he said.
A posting on the church's website said the couple "could always be found at 5 p.m. Mass," and it added, "Olga was so charming, calling everybody 'Lovey' or 'Love' in her unmistakable British accent."
CNN's Sheena Jones and Eliott C. McLaughlin contributed to this report.
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- Wacker Presents the 2014 Silicone Award
Wacker Presents the 2014 Silicone Award
This year’s Wacker Silicone Award goes to Akira Sekiguchi, professor of organic chemistry at the University of Tsukuba in Japan. The award, which includes EUR 10,000 prize money, was presented last night in Berlin.
Professor Akira Sekiguchi of the Department of Organic Chemistry at the University of Tsukuba, Japan (center), received the 2014 Wacker Silicone Award. Wacker President and CEO Dr. Rudolf Staudigl (right) and Wacker Silicones President Dr. Christian Hartel congratulated (figure: Wacker Chemie)
In 2003, the recipient was the first to synthesize molecules with stable silicon-silicon triple bonds and to characterize them by means of X-ray crystallography. These and numerous other studies have made Sekiguchi a pioneer in the field organosilicon research, stressed Dr. Christian Hartel, president of Wacker Silicones, in his introductory speech. The award was presented at the Axica Conference Center in Berlin as part of the 17th International Symposium on Silicon Chemistry and the 7th European Silicon Days.
“Over the past 20 years, Professor Sekiguchi has presented an incredible wealth of new findings,” said Hartel before an audience of roughly 250. “His scientific studies have had a pivotal influence on silicon research and have given us a deeper understanding of structures containing low-valent silicon.” In more than 250 publications, Sekiguchi has described a large number of synthesis reactions and compounds. These include, among others, mixed five-membered aromatic rings that consist of three silicon and two carbon atoms each and that are of interest for applications in future lighting materials. The 62-year-old scientist was also the first to synthesize highly branched, tree-like polymers based on silicon. Surface catalysis represents one field of application for these molecules. Sekiguchi also described stable, cyclic radicals based on silicon that are of importance for developing future high-energy storage systems. The potential of these research results is currently under investigation in collaboration with Japanese automaker Toyota.
The Wacker Silicone Award is presented by the Munich-based chemical group every other year. Along with the Kipping Award, it ranks among the world’s most prestigious honors in the field of organosilicon chemistry.
Sekiguchi has received multiple awards. In 2004, he received the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Award. In 2006, he was honored with the Frederic Stanley Kipping Award of the American Chemical Society. In 2012, he won the Chemical Society of Japan Award. On May 16 of this year he received the Japanese Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon for outstanding academic and artistic achievement.
Wacker Chemie AG
Hanns-Seidel-Platz 4
DE 81737 München
Internet:www.wacker.com
E-mail: info <AT> wacker.com
1 articles in the archive
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