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__label__cc	0.54183	0.45817	Lightbulb Haiku The National Post is appalled, appalled I say, that their federal Conservatives are going to ban incandescent light bulbs by 2012. They're so appalled, they've decided to run a contest, asking readers to write a poem in the form of an ode to the light bulb. Here's my entry, I slaved long and hard to assemble my haiku (well, at least a minute or so): National Post confused? Brown vote like Post revenue: shrinking. Steve reads polls. 'Steve' is Prime Minister Stephen Harper. There are many things that can be said about Harper; stupid is not one of them. The confluence of the IPCC reports, "An Inconvenient Truth", and public discussion about Kyoto has clearly resulted in a significant shift in public opinion towards environmentalism. Harper, in turn, has reacted to this. His rapid shift seems to have left some of his supporters in his dust as they continue to recycle year-old talking points. Environmentally, the incandescent bulb ban is a small step. Symbolically, it is a much bigger thing. What is says is, "Yes, you all will need to make some little sacrifices for the greater good." The negative response thus far has been incredibly whiny. Cry more neophytes. Posted by Robert McLeod at 4/30/2007 1 comment: CFL and Battery Safe Disposal Much hay has been made recently in the energy blogosphere and the mainstream media about the milligrams of Mercury vapour contained in compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Mercury is used in the lamps because it's a strong emitter of blue light; street lamps used to be based on mercury vapour until the much more efficient yellow sodium bulbs came into effect. CFLs shouldn't be thrown into the garbage or bluebox, for the sake of the health of sanitation workers who could build up their cumulative exposure around newly broken tubes. Fortunately, rechargable battery manufacturers have had to deal with similar issues with Nickel-Cadium cells. As such, they've created a database (http://www.rbrc.org/call2recycle/dropoff/index.php) of hazardous waste return sites. I've looked at the list for my area and a lot of these venues will accept not just batteries but also compact fluorescent lamps and presumably other small hazardous items, like old-style mercury switches used in thermostats and the like. On the issue of electronic waste, you're probably still going to have to do some hunting to find an appropriate depot. So, next time you see a discussion of CFLs on the web, proffer up this link. Posted by Robert McLeod at 4/27/2007 No comments: Carbon Tax Scaremongering Environmental policy is turning into a new battleground in Canadian politics, with the positions of the major parties rapidly shifting in response to the general solidification of global warming consensus. Prior to the Conservative's election victory in which they won a minority government, the Liberal's ratified Kyoto. Then, the Liberal party nominated the green former-environment minister Stephen Dion to their leadership position. The Conservative government evidently decided they were fighting a losing battle on environmental policy (and votes) and fired back with a major six-point plan named 'ecoAction' and replaced the existing environment minister with John Baird to provide new blood at the position. ecoAction was a major program, involving several billion dollars in spending, and acted to steal much of Dion's thunder. I am still in the process of reviewing ecoAction to determine how much is real reform and how much is green washing (to be the subject of a future post). Politically it was a big win for the Conservatives. The Liberals, in conjunction with the New Democratic Party (social-democrats) and Bloc Quebecois (Quebec nationalists) decided to hit back by introducing a bill (C-288) that would require Canada to meet the Kyoto greenhouse gas emission targets. Since the Conservatives are in a minority, the other parties can potentially force the bill through parliament. If it passes the Conservatives have implied that they may consider it a vote of no confidence (and hence it would result in a new election being called). The Conservative government is strongly against any sort of carbon taxation or trading scheme. As a result, they commissioned a study which was released on Thursday that interpreted the proposed bill as narrowly and inflexibly as possible, claiming that the bill would plunge Canada into a recession. The report makes a number of interesting charges, most of which are very sensational: The unemployment rate would rise by 25% with about 275,000 Canadians losing their jobs by 2009; The cost of electricity would increase by 50% after The price of gasoline would rise by 60%; The cost of natural gas would more than double; Real disposable income for a family of four would fall by $4,000. The study claims that a carbon tax of $195 would be necessary to generate 75 % of the required 30 % greenhouse gas emissions reduction, with the remaining 25 % fraction of the carbon pie coming from market purchases of carbon credits from other countries. That 25 % of carbon credits in turn is said to reflect 75 % of the world market of carbon purchases. The supposition is that with Canada purchasing the supermajority of credits, a bull market on credits with result and potentially prices skyrocketing. Sounds responsible right? Unfortunately, there's a credibility gap here: the study specifically eliminates credits resulting from those eastern European countries whose economies crashed after 1990 and have the majority of the world's carbon credits to sell. Why? Because, "EU countries are expected to generate very few, if any, excess AAUs for sale internationally that would represent real GHG reductions." Fair enough, but why play the stupid numbers game if that's your primary point? Afterall, the real objective of the Kyoto protocol is to put a dollar value on greenhouse gas emissions and establish a basis for a worldwide market in carbon. Media coverage has been amusing, ranging from pure support from CanWest Global (complete with stock photos from the Depression), to a little more skeptical from CBC. CBC's article by Robert Sheppard quotes Simon Fraser University's Mark Jaccard as pointing out: "As someone who studies capital stock, this is an insane discussion," Jaccard says. To meet Kyoto in the short run, he says, we're talking about forcing the turnover of about 30 per cent of our old cars, housing and inefficient machinery in the space of just a few years. The whole exercise basically amounts to cooking up numbers that have little basis in reality. Kyoto clearly has a couple of huge problems for Canada: one, the moving five-year average terminating in 2012 means that meeting any targets requires changes to begin years ago, and as a consequence meeting Kyoto de facto implies buying carbon credits from the crashed economies of former Soviet-bloc countries. The Conservative study has essentially eliminated this as a possibility, which as a result it reaches implausible conclusions. I think it's pretty clear that Canada can't meet its Kyoto commitments, particularly if it has to compete against a non-regulated USA marketplace in the short-term. Energy efficiency and clean-tech programs in general seem to offer short-term pain for long-term gain. Purchasing foreign carbon credits seems to be the only way to actually meet Kyoto targets, but will it actually accomplish a global reduction in CO2 emissions? I don't see it happening — the market is diluted by what the Eastern European countries can sell and still stay under their 1990 numbers — and in any case it is better politics and policy to keep that capital in Canada and use it for Canadian energy programs. Canadian politicians need to be saying, "No, we aren't going to meet Kyoto, but we don't feel that absolves us of our responsibility to act as a good global citizen. In order for both Canada and the world to resolve the climate change crisis, we will both need to curtail our emissions and develop technology and policy that we can share with less well-to-do nations and avert future calamity." Instead we get a doomsday scenario. In short, it appears both parties are acting dishonestly. The Liberals are attempting to force-feed the Conservatives a piece of poison-pill legislation that would see the country spend large amounts of capital to purchase carbon credits internationally with dubious environmental benefits. The Conservative, in turn, are taking their marching orders from the oil and gas industry (Alberta is responsible for 43 % of the growth in GHG emissions since 1990) and being exceedingly inflexible in their efforts to stave-off a carbon tax. As a result they've painted themselves into a corner by not allowing themselves room to reach a compromise and claim victory. Rather than placing blame on the previous Liberal governments for doing nothing, they're still stuck in the old denialist camp of claiming nothing can be done due to the potential expense without recognizing the benefits of a green economy can be considerably greater than the costs of a brown one. Posted by Robert McLeod at 4/20/2007 2 comments: Organic Photovoltaics Photovoltaic cells are large-scale electronic junctions that absorb sunlight and generate electricity. The most typical type under commercial production today is the polycrystalline Silicon cell. It is typically a 300 μm thick wafer of polycrystalline silicon that has been doped to have an excess of positive electrical charge carriers (positive or p-type) on the back surface and an excess of negative charge carriers (negative or n-type) on the facing surface. [Reminder: a hole is a pseuodo-particle commonly seen in semiconductor materials that represents an absence of an electron and behaves very similarily to a positively charged electron.] An aluminium surface acts as the cathode while a transparent conductive oxide layer such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) is applied to the sunward face as the anode for the purposes of collecting holes and electrons, respectively. Commercial Silicon solar cells typically convert incoming solar radiation (insolation) to electricity with an external efficiency of 12 % under Air Mass 1.5 Standard illumination. The cost of generating electricity via photovoltaics is generally not competitive with conventional thermal power generation except for sites isolated from the existing grid. The high cost of photovoltaics is generally not due to the low efficiency but rather the cost of semiconductor-grade silicon and the extensive material processing required. The high capital cost of photovoltaics also constitutes a barrier to their entry to market as they must be amortized over their forty year lifespan. One of the main hopes of organic photovoltaics is that they can be produced using simple, low-tech, low-energy input techniques. In an effort to reduce the quantity of zone-refined material required for photovoltaic production a number of thin-film technologies have been proposed. These include: hydrogenated amorphous and microcrystalline silicon, Cadmium Telluride, Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) and various organic semiconductor concepts. The organic photovoltaic family includes systems based on short-chain polymers (Yoo et al., 2004) and/or conjugated polymers paired with carbon fullerenes (also known as Buckeyballs) (Yu et al., 1995) or dye-sensitized inorganic nanocrystals (McDonald et al., 2005; Petrella et al., 2004). [Aside: Some of the early literature on short-chain conductive polymers such as pentacene (Schon et al., 2000) was later retracted (Schon et al., 2003). Due to the difficulty of disentangling legitimate research from the tainted results I will not discuss those materials in this review. ] Conventional photovoltaics absorb photons in order to generate electron-hole pairs and then collect the generated charges at their appropriate terminals in order to generate a photocurrent. Hence, fabrication of photovoltaic cells is generally an act of optimizing the thickness to maximize absorbance (which increases with thickness) and conductance (which decreases with thickness). In organic semiconductors the photogeneration of electron-hole pairs is complicated by the fact that they are generated in a bound electron-hole pair state known as an exciton. Thus organic photovoltaics need to manage the additional step of charge separation via some sort of charge transfer mechanism. Fortunately the absorption coefficient for organic photovoltaics is typically very high (~ 105 cm−1) (Hoppe and Sariciftci, 2004) which allows very thin active areas. In comparison (indirect band-gap) Silicon is an order of magnitude worse while (direct band-gap) GaAs has a similar absorbance. In organic photovoltaics, the site that participates in photogeneration of charge carriers and that which transports charge to the terminals is often not of the same material. The material which transports holes may also be different from that which transports electrons. Conduction in Polymers Conjugate polymers consist of a long-chain alternating single and double-bond saturated hydrocarbons. A common example used in organic photovoltaics is polyphenylenevinylene (PPV) (Yu et al., 1995) and its derivative methoxy-ethylhexyloxy-phenylenevinylene (MEH-PPV). The simpliest possible example would be the allyl-chain shown in Fig.1. Figure 1: Schematic representation of conjugate allyl chain (N = 3) showing pz-orbitals only (taken from Salem, 1966). The Conduction is accomplished by the series of π-bonds at lie along the backbone of the carbon chain. π-bonds consist of parallel pz-shell electrons that have bonded. When electrons bond their orbitals merge to form a delocalized electron cloud, and either electron may freely move about inside. When a series of electrons form a continuous chain of π-orbitals, they form a conductive pathway along which conduction may occur. The sp2-hybridized σ-orbitals that are involved in hydrogen bonding are not considered to take part in conduction. Typically the π-orbitals are not completely delocalized as rotations in the backbone cause breaks in the conjugation on the order of 100 cm−1 (Scholes and Rumbles, 2006). Charge carriers require some sort of assistance, such as phonon-assisted band hopping, to jump from one localized state to another. The conductivity in conjugate polymers is obviously anisotropic (not the same in every direction), being highest along the direction of the backbone. As a result, the macroscopic conductivity (or charge carrier mobility) of a disordered conjugate polymer is quite poor compared to bulk inorganic semiconductors. Conjugate polymers have much poorer mobility than inorganic semiconductors and are typically better at conducting holes than electrons. Typical hole mobilities (μ) range from 10−5 to 0.1 cm2V -1s-1 (Dimitrakopoulos and Mascaro, 2001). Figure 2: Molecular ’band’ structure of a two-phase organic photovoltaic cell with the donor acting as the site of exciton generation. In a dye-sensitized system the sensitizer lies between the donor and acceptor while acting as the generation site. The analogues to the valence and conduction band in conjugate polymers are known as lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) (depicted in Fig. 2). The literature also uses 'π-orbital' as a synonym for HOMO and 'π*-orbital' for LUMO. The difference in energy between LUMO and HOMO can be considered to be the bandgap analogue in conjugate polymers. The bandgap in conjugate polymers is typically around 2 eV (Hoppe and Sariciftci, 2004), which corresponds to a wavelength of 620nm. This figure is considerably far away from the optimal value of 1.4 eV for photovoltaics (Shockley and Queisser, 1961) and means that a large portion of red and infrared radiation will go unutilized. The poor overlap between photoconductive polymers and the radiation spectrum produced by the sun (as shown in Fig. 3) remains a significant problem for organic-based photovoltaics. Figure 3: Absorption coefficients of common conjugate polymers used in organic photovoltaic cells incomparison to the Air-Mass 1.5 solar radiation spectrum(taken fromHoppe and Sariciftci, 2004). Note the poor absorption in the red and infrared regions of the spectrum. Human eyesight is sensitive from about 700 nm (red) to 400 nm (blue). Conjugated polymers can be doped, although by a different process compared to inorganic semiconductors. Typically p-type materials are enhanced by oxidizing the material with iodine or some other agent (Chiang et al., 1977). The oxidizing agent accepts an electron from the polymer, rendering its net charge more positive. Application of n-type doping is more difficult as it requires reduction by hydrogen. Since the atmosphere is a net oxidizing environment, n-type doping needs to be ruggedly encapsulated to prevent reversal of the doping over the lifetime of the solar cell. Excitons and Charge Transfer When a photon is absorbed in a semiconductor it can be generally said that it promotes an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. This creates a mobile negative charge in the conduction band—the electron—as well a corresponding lack of an electron—known as a hole—in the valence band which is also mobile. Initially there is a static electric (Coloumb) attraction between the electron and hole which creates a quasi-particle known as an exciton. In inorganic semiconductors the exciton binding energy is of the same order as room-temperature vibrations so dissociation is typically extremely swift. Conjugate polymers, in comparison, have very high exciton dissociation energies, varying from 0.3 to 1.0 eV depending on the material and chiral orientation (Scholes and Rumbles, 2006). These tightly bound excitons are sometimes known as Frenkl excitons. This implies that charge seperation in organic semiconductors is a non-trivial event and functional optoelectronic devices based on conjugate polymers should be designed to optimize the process. For conjugate polymers and other nanoscale materials the size and orientation of the polymer chains themselves influences the opto-electronic properties of the material. This is due the role quantum confinement plays in the static electric interaction of excitons (Scholes and Rumbles, 2006). The higher exciton binding energy in conjugate polymers is thought to be largely due to the one dimensional confinement imposed by them compared to bulk inorganic semiconductors (Kohler et al., 1998). This effect also manifests itself as peaks in the relationship of absorption coefficient as a function of wavelength. Dispersed Heterojunction Devices The first organic photovoltaic devices used a homojunction consisting of a thin organic layer between two electrical contacts (Nelson, 2002). The inherent electronic field of the device was used to separate charge carriers and drive them to the appropriate terminal. However, the efficiency of these devices was extremely low (<< 1%) due to the combination of poor mobility and fast exciton recombination time. Ultrafast photoluminescence studies of PPV found a diffusion rate of3·10−3 cm2 s−1 with a corresponding migration radius of 6 nm (Haugeneder et al., 1999; Markov et al., 2005). Haugeneder et al. reported that excitons could hope from state to state every 1 ps and conducted a total of 45 hopes on average before recombining. A breakthrough came when researchers figured out how to create devices where ’acceptor’ and ’donor’ material was randomly dispersed in the bulk between the two electrical contacts (Halls et al., 1995). The device considered of a mix of PPV and a solvented fullerene which was then spin-coated to form a thin-film. This greatly increased the surface area between the two phases, thereby increasing the likelihood that a photogenerated exciton would be able to diffuse to a boundary and be separated before it decayed and recombined. The morphology of the material is critical as it determines if an exciton created at any potential location will be able to diffuse to the boundary and undergo charge separation (Moons, 2002). As such it is highly desirable that clusters as in Fig. (4) have a radius similar to that of the exciton diffusion length. An experiment using a bilayer C60/PPV cell found an optimal thickness of 23 ± 4 nm for the PPV layer and 27 ± 2 nm for the C60 layer (Stubinger and Brutting, 2001). The thickness dependence is thought to be an optical interference effect. This result suggests that the morphology of organic solar cells effects not only their electronic properties but also the optical properties. Characterization of organic thin film morphology is complicated by the fact that they are typically susceptible to damage when irradiated by an electron beam used in scanning electron microscopy or transmission electron microscopy. It is more common in the literature for scanning probe techniques to be used, although they can only provide information regarding the surface properties and cannot provide information about the bulk of a material. Figure 4: SEM images of conjugate polymer (polyphenylenevinylene) : fullerene (propylphenyl-C61) ratios (by weight) spin-cast from toluene. The clusters of fullerene material becomes visible as the proportion of fullerene is double that of the conjugate polymer. The dimensions of the nanoclusters is critical as they should be less than the exciton diffusion length to ensure a high probability of charge carrier seperation (taken from Hoppe et al., 2004). The concept of having two phases co-currently led to the concept where the hole and electron conductor are composed of two different materials. The most common variant is composed of MEH-PPV and the polymer-fullerene complex propylphenyl-C61 (abbreviated PCBM). The fullerene is highly electronegative relative to the conjugate polymer matrix and hence acts as an electron acceptor. The addition of the phenyl chain acts to make the fullerene soluble so that it may be spin cast. Dispersed heterojunction organic photovoltaics are typically produced by spin coating with the two phases being suspended in a solvent such as toluene (Hoppe and Sariciftci, 2004). Alternatively they can be evaporated at low temperatures, relying on the low density of such films to encourage diffusion between donor and acceptor materials. Such devices are of course disordered and rather amorphous; as such quality control is quite difficult. One hope for organic photovoltaics is to use the potential for chemical and biological nanostructuring techniques to achieve a more ordered result with superior electrical properties. One active area of research is the use of self-assembly to orient the backbones parallel to the direction of charge carrier transport (Nelson, 2002). The issue of relative electron affinities is also relevant in designing interfaces between the active layers and the electric contacts. For the contact to be nearly ohmic the work function of the anode should be close to but less than the LUMO of the electron acceptor. Similarly the cathode should be close to but greater than the HOMO of the electron donor to allow conduction of holes. The difference between the work function of the electrical contacts is a good indication of the potential generated by the cell (Gregg and Hanna, 2003). An overly large potential change at the interface between the contact and active material can not only lead to a loss of power through charge carrier thermalization but also form a Shockley barrier. In a typical homojunction solar cell the difference in work function between the anode and cathode generates an electric field that causes the charge carriers to drift towards their appropriate terminal. When the cell is illuminated, charge carriers collect at their appropriate terminals and reinforce this built in electric field. Logically in a Silicon pn−junction the material adjacent to the cathode is p−doped and that adjacent to the anode is n−doped to assist in the sweeping out of charge carriers. However, in a dispersed polymer heterojunction donor material may be in contact with the cathode in places. One potential solution towards improving the electrical characteristics of the cell is to use buffer layers between the electrical contacts and the active dispersed layer (Peumans et al., 2000). These layers are not strongly optically absorbing but are effective conductors of their associated charge carrier. Complementary Acceptor Materials The difficulties associated with n−doping of conjugate polymer has lead to the development of a variety of alternative materials to use as the electron acceptor in organic photovoltaic devices. These materials are often inorganic in nature and not distributed homogenously throughout the active layer with the result that electrons must use vibration assisted hopping or tunnelling to move from one site to another as they progress towards the electrode. These processes tend to be slow and hence lead to a greater likelihood of recombination and poor conductivity. The orginal acceptor material was a the fullerene based propylphenyl-C61 (Yu et al., 1995). The phenyl chain is able to bond itself to the polymer matrix while the fullerene is electronegative compared to the polymer. Fullerene based cells hold most of the records with regards to performance, with external efficiency in excess of 2.5 % being reported (Shaheen et al., 2001) and the current certified record of 3.0 % (Green et al., 2007). Note that literature claims of higher efficiency are often under short wavelength monochromatic light. The improved efficiency was concluded to be due to the finer morphology generated by the use of chlorobenzene solvent in the spin casting process. Toulene cast films had feature sizes on the order of 0.5 μm whereas the chlorobenzene cast films had features on the order of 0.1 μm. The chlorobenzene also suppressed cluster formation of the fullerene, which would reduce electron conductivity in the bulk due to segregation of conductive volumes. A similar approach was taken with TiO2 nanocrystals embedded in a matrix of PPV (Salafsky, 1999). The TiO2 nanocrystallites act to improve the absorbance of the material in short wavelengths. However, the bandgap of TiO2 is quite high (3.2 eV) which limits the wavelengths the nanocrystals will interact with. In this case the crystallites are on the scale of 20nm in diameter which is generally considered to be outside of the quantum confinement regime. At sufficiently high concentrations the TiO2-PPV cells acts in a similar fashion to a dispersed heterojunction with the TiO2crystallites providing an alternative conduction pathway for electrons. Devices of this type showed considerable improvement in performance over and above what would be expected from increased absorbance. This provided evidence that the heterogenous interface assisted charge separation and lead to more greater interest in other nanocrystalline material that could be used as a complementary acceptor. One of the more recent and sophisticated attempts to use an acceptor material to complement the material properties of conjugate polymers involved the use of PbS quantum dots embedded in MEH-PPV (McDonald et al., 2005). Due to quantum confinement effects, the range of wavelengths that quantum dots will interact with can be controlled by varying their size. In particular, this allows conjugate polymer based devices to interact with infrared light that they would otherwise be insensitive to. Bulk PbS only has a bandgap of 0.4 eV but the quantum dots used by McDonald et al. had absorption peaks at 1.3, 1.03, and 0.92 eV . The efficiency of these early devices was poor (~ 3% internal quantum efficiency and very low external efficiency). Still this experiment was considered important as it offered the potential to allow organic photovoltaics to be better matched to the solar spectrum. A review of the literature shows that the most predominate strategy for modern organic photovoltaic schemes involves the use of conjugate polymers acting as the exciton generation site and electron donor paired with a complimentary electron acceptor. The most common conjugate polymer seen in the literature is polyphenylenevinylene (PPV) and its derivative methoxy-ethylhexyloxy-phenylenevinylene (MEH-PPV). The fullerene propylphenyl-C61 (PCBM) complex is the most commonly used acceptor, although there is also considerable interest surrounding the use of inorganic nanocrystallites. Scientifically organic photovoltaics is a very diverse field that offers a researcher a great many research paths in order to optimize cell performance. The nanomorphology of the donor and acceptor materials is critical in determining whether an exciton will be able to diffuse to a donor/acceptor boundary and undergo charge separation. 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Yoo, S., B. Domercq, and B. Kippelen, 2004, Applied Physics Letters 85(22), 5427. Yu, G., J. Gao, J. C. Hummelen, F. Wudl, and A. J. Heeger, 1995, Science 270(5243), 1789.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6800
__label__cc	0.664765	0.335235	Assessment of tumor redox status through (S)-4-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)-L-glutamic acid positron emission tomography imaging of system xc- activity McCormick, P. N. et al. (2019) Assessment of tumor redox status through (S)-4-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)-L-glutamic acid positron emission tomography imaging of system xc- activity. Cancer Research, 79(4), pp. 853-863. (doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-18-2634) (PMID:30401715) (PMCID:PMC6379064) Restricted to Repository staff only until 6 November 2019. The cell's endogenous antioxidant system is vital to maintenance of redox homeostasis. Despite its central role in normal and pathophysiology, no non-invasive tools exist to measure this system in patients. The cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc- maintains the balance between intracellular reactive oxygen species and antioxidant production through the provision of cystine, a key precursor in glutathione biosynthesis. Here we show that tumor cell retention of a system xc--specific positron emission tomography radiotracer, (S)-4-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)-L-glutamic acid ([18F]FSPG), decreases in proportion to levels of oxidative stress following treatment with a range of redox-active compounds. The decrease in [18F]FSPG retention correlated with a depletion of intracellular cystine resulting from increased de novo glutathione biosynthesis, shown through [U-13C6, U-15N2]cystine isotopic tracing. In vivo, treatment with the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin decreased [18F]FSPG tumor uptake in a mouse model of ovarian cancer, coinciding with markers of oxidative stress but preceding tumor shrinkage and decreased glucose utilization. Having already been used in pilot clinical trials, [18F]FSPG PET could be rapidly translated to the clinic as an early redox indicator of tumor response to treatment. Lewis, Dr David and Zhang, Mr Tong and Maddocks, Dr Oliver McCormick, P. N., Greenwood, H. E., Glaser, M., Maddocks, O. D.K., Gendron, T., Sander, K., Gowrishankar, G., Hoehne, A., Zhang, T., Shuhendler, A. J., Lewis, D. Y., Berndt, M., Koglin, N., Lythgoe, M. F., Gambhir, S. S., Årstad, E., and Witney, T. H. College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > Institute of Cancer Sciences Copyright © 2018 American Association for Cancer Research First published in Cancer Research 79(4): 853-863 Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6801
__label__cc	0.631135	0.368865	Woman stabbed for feeding dogs in Delhi As hatred for animal lovers increase and the government doesn't care one bit, such hateful cases of ... Dog with Massive Tumour Rescued A WhatsApp group made by Mr Amit Chaudhery worked together cohesively like an animal loving group... Dog beaten to death at Jahangirpuri Every morning I wake up, I know that the day before must have been full of cruelty. One such horrid ... Stop the savage slaughter The mass murder of seals in Canada, which has the support of powers that be, must come to an end. Th... In Dante’s footsteps In Dante’s footsteps A new book chronicles a hi-tech Hell, which is very different from what one fi... Don’t destroy Aravallis Don’t destroy Aravallis Saturday, 02 March 2019 \| Hiranmay Karlekar ... 2 nursing students arrested in Kolkata for killing... I think the new Kerala is West Bengal , where people kill puppies because the poor wretches tried to... CCAWT ANIMAL AMBULANCE SERVICE🚑🐕 Care and Compassion Animal Welfare Trust is glad to inform you that we're starting our ambulance ser... Activists cry foul after civic body allegedly poisons... https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/civic-issues/article/tamil-nadu-chennai-corporation-stray-st... Lucknow Municipal Corporation Picks up pet dogs of... LMC picks up pet dogs of an old lady because she had stopped the displacement of some street dogs by... Saw a beautiful graphic online about animal activism... Ban animals in circuses Ban animals in circuses Saturday, 08 December 2018 \| Hiranmay Karlekar The Environme... Written by Hiranmay Karlekar A new book chronicles a hi-tech Hell, which is very different from what one finds in the sacred texts, and echoes our times Charles Patterson’s recently published novel, In Dante’s Footsteps: My Journey to Hell: A Modern Divine Comedy, unfolds at two levels. At one, it is a set of intertwined narratives about the life of a young man, Thomas Aaron Reed III, who becomes a priest, leaves priesthood, journeys to Hell and returns. At another, it is an exploration of human conduct, values, emotions and aspects of morality. The narratives unfold, smoothly and elegantly, around several themes. One of them is Thomas’s relationship with his parents and another with Father Edward Tyler, who taught him Latin in school and accounted for his deep and abiding interest in Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, became his adviser and conveyed to him the invitation to travel to Hell under a newly-launched visitor’s programme. The third is his reluctant entry into priesthood in deference to the expectations of his family; his father was a clergyman, his maternal grandfather a Bishop and paternal grandfather the dean of a theological seminary. An account of his life as a parish priest in north Connecticut and his departure from there on leave of absence to study theology in New York follows. Next comes the narrative about his life in the Big Apple, renunciation of priesthood and return to lay life as the writer of publicity material for an insurance company. Intermittently throughout, there are references to his relationship with Beatrice, his college girlfriend, who goes off his life and marries someone else, but is re-united with him on his return from Hell. The most striking subject, of course, is his visit to Hell and back. Thomas does not get to see the “pure” Hell, the terrible place where doers of evil spend their days in suffering, and which is covered in thick mist. His tour is confined to what is called the administrative area, the tech room and the purgatories. There are besides visits to his father, conversations with Edward, meetings with God, referred to as the “Chief” by the spirits administering Hell, and Satan, and his trial by the Crusaders, a bigoted lot to whom almost everybody else is a heretic, and escape therefrom. Thomas’s description of the parts of Hell he sees is very different from what one finds in the sacred texts of various religions, myths and epics. It is a happening place. A conference of tall eminences from all ages — from Socrates to Karl Marx — was going on during Thomas’s visit. It is computer-age Hell. The Tech Room, the hub of communications within Hell and without, has an array of computers and electronic surveillance and communication equipment, and every visitor has to be “logged-in.” The Crusaders can photograph and record everything happening on earth on video, and have an “electronic sub-verbal monitor that picks up both thoughts and voices.” There are helicopters (called Beetles) for travel and the Satan appears “wearing jeans, boots, a lavender shirt and a brown felt cowboy hat.” Nor is he the discernibly fork-tongued evil described by the biblical texts. He argues persuasively and says that the difference between him and God is that while he is a realist, God is an idealist. The essence of realism, he holds, lies in the saying, “might is right.” It is might that, while causing wars, crimes and violence, has also triggered the massive material progress that civilisation has made through the exercise of power, which is at the core of might. Here we are at the heartland of morality which, in turn, is at the core of the other issues the novel explores — human conduct, values, emotions and morality. Can progress justify the wars that have devastated lives and lands, the Holocaust, the sustained subjugation of women and the savage treatment of all non-human living beings throughout the ages? There is doubtless punishment in the hereafter. Child and animal abusers, for example, go to “Pure Hell” “Wall-to-Wall” as do bystanders who watch and do nothing. Nevertheless, the world as it is, is moving more in the direction of material progress rather than frowning upon greed, crime, violence. It is celebrating power and turning its face away from compassion. In this sense, Satan is right in claiming before Thomas and Rachel, another visitor from earth, that he is winning and God is losing out. God himself recognises this and tells Thomas that he is sad and depressed. He, along with his companion Naomi, has left Heaven, which has become a very lonely place for dearth of people making it and come to live in a cave in the region of the purgatories. Yet, he tells Thomas, he has not given up hope as there are still many good, courageous and caring people doing their best to make the world more just and compassionate. Compassion is at the heart of Patterson’s concerns and an important part of it encompasses all non-human living beings. This has been most tellingly underlined in his landmark work Eternal Treblinka: Our Treatment of Animals and The Holocausts. It is very clearly manifest in the book under review. To cite just one example, on a hoarding in the purgatories is written, “As long as men kill animals, they will kill each other.”. Rarely have truer words been written. (The writer is Consultant Editor, The Pioneer, and an author)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6803
__label__wiki	0.805267	0.805267	Matches 51 to 100 of 1,343 «Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 ... 27» Next» 51 Address: Bybee, Drowning Creek Road Highest grade of education received: 1 year high school Worked all 52 weeks in 1939 Occupation: Laborer, hand made pottery Income in 1939: $500 KAYLOR, Jerry Samuel (I1426) Highest grade of education received: 7 Occupation: Farmer, farm KAYLOR, Thomas Ledger (I1425) 53 Address: Hamilton Street, Fort Madison, Lee Co., IA Renting home Can read/write Occupation: Laborer, Coal co. SMITH, George W. (I1133) 54 Address: McDonough Co., IL Occupation: Farmer Employer: Emi Rankin, Media, Warren Co., IL (note Media actually in Henderson Co., IL) Nearest relative: Wife, Emma C. White, Blandinsville, McDonough Co., IL Appearance: Medium height, medium build, blue eyes, brown hair WHITE, Elmer C. (I173) 55 Address: RR #2, Blandinsville, IL Appearance: 6 ft tall, 180 lbs, blue eyes, bald, light complexion Interesting that the Registrar who signed Wilbur's registration is Erma Farris, a cousin to Wilbur's father's first wife Nancy E. Farris, and to his aunt Mary Ann (Farris) Fisher FISHER, Wilbur Roy (I1144) Martial status: Single Appearance: Tall, medium build, light brown eyes, light hair FISHER, Wilbur Roy (I1144) 57 Address: State Road #63 Renting home; rent $15/month; farm Education: Graduated high school (H4) Home in 1939: Rural, Warren Co., OH Occupation: Household WARD, Sarah Ethel (I647) Education: Highest grade achieved 8th Occupation: Farmer, Farm CORWIN, Louis Mounts (I659) 59 Adelaide listed as Addie and Ancelet spell phonetically by census taker. WALLET, Adelaide (I1323) 60 Adelaide listed as Adeline in this census. HULIN, Adelaide Josephine (I1258) 61 Adelaide living next door to son August Ancelet's family. WALLET, Adelaide (I1323) 62 Adelaide would be age 68 in this census not 67 as listed. WALLET, Adelaide (I1323) 63 Adonis listed as 36 in this census but by birth date should be about 40 years of age. ANCELET, Adonis (I1305) 64 After bequest of ninety acres to Mary McDowel, Abel Fisher inherits the remaining interest in his uncle Abel Fisher Sr's land on his uncle's death in 1838: "I give and bequeath to my niece Mary McDowel ninety acres of the plantation or tract of land whereon I now reside and the same held in common with my brother Mathias and myself containing altogether two hundred and eighty two acres. The said ninety acres to be struck off the south west side or part of the whole adjoining the heirs of Michael Fry lands of James Campbell and lands of George Kern to be enjoyed by her the said Mary McDowel her heirs and assigns forever. And the balance of my right title interest and claim of in and to said land I bequeath to my nephew Abel Fisher his heirs and assigns forever." FISHER Abel (I211) 65 Age at census 3 - 10/12 FISHER, Dorothy M. B. (I18) 66 Age at death should read 61. Source (S32) 67 Age at first marriage: 18 Occupation: Laborer, railroad Renting current home, not on a farm Census-taker made two errors: Cora should read Carrie and "Julia, Daughter" should read "Julian, Son." SMITH Thomas Grant (I170) Can read and write Occupation: none STOVER, Nellie R. (I1558) 69 Age should read 24 not 22. FISHER Elizabeth (I1037) 70 Ages for all family members in this census are two to four years off when compared to ages in 1870 census. SMITH, Anna L (I1130) 71 Ages for all family members in this census are two to four years off when compared to ages in 1870 census. SMITH Thomas Grant (I170) 72 Ages for all family members in this census are two to four years off when compared to ages in 1870 census. SMITH, William (I1131) 73 Ages for all family members in this census are two to four years off when compared to ages in 1870 census. SMITH, Minnie (I1132) 74 Ages for all family members in this census are two to four years off when compared to ages in 1870 census. SMITH, George W. (I1133) 75 Ages for all family members in this census are two to four years off when compared to ages in 1870 census. PARKER, Edith Ann (I962) 76 Ages for all family members in this census are two to four years off when compared to ages in 1870 census. SMITH, Abraham or Abram (I959) 77 Ages for son Wesley and daughter Mary are incorrect in this census. GIBSON Mary Ann (I306) 78 All references to Rachel Hoowe's surname being Whoowee are incorrrect according to Hoowe family records In the Friends Historical Library, Dublin, Ireland. HOOWE Rachel (I200) 79 Also known as Kaylor Cemetery. KAYLOR, Jeremiah Mirah (I658) 80 Ancelet spelled phonetically by census takers. ANCELET, Lillie E. (I1328) 81 Ancelet surname spelled wrong by census taker. LEFEVRE, Genevieve Elisabeth (I1302) 82 Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1880. T9, 1,454 rolls. Source (S164) 86 Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Source (S162) 89 Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Source (S158) 90 Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Source (S90) 91 Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Source (S130) 92 Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Source (S89) 94 Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. Source (S182) 96 Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910. T624, 1,178 rolls. Source (S195) 98 Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Source (S247) 100 Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Source (S248)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6804
__label__wiki	0.552255	0.552255	BOOKS BY FRANCES H. CASSTEVENS Yadkinville, NC 27005 For autographed copies of my books, Send check or money order to above address. Prices listed below beside each individual book. Return to my Home Page: The Yadkin County Country Store [Note: All North Carolina residents please add .0675% N. C. sales tax to base price of book, before adding postage.] REGIONAL HISTORY: Featuring North Carolina’s Piedmont Counties Death in North Carolina’s Piedmont: Tales of Murder, Suicide and Causes Unknown.* Price $20 (plus $4.00 postage). Paperback, published 2006 by The History Press, Charleston, SC. 123-page book includes 10 true crime stories, some of which achieved nation-wide fame. Among the fascinating stories is the murder of Captain James West, February 1863), in the skirmish at the Bond School House; the murder of hired-hand Will Kelly in the barnyard of the Dalton-Hunt house; the murder of Laura Foster for which Tom Dula was hanged; the murder of “Poor” Ellen Smith near the first Zinzendorf Hotel in Winston(-Salem), NC; the Lawson family murders on Christmas day, 1929; and the mysterious death of Zachary Smith Reynolds at Reynolda House in Winston-Salem in 1932. This book is a must for collectors of local history. Winner of the Willie Parker Peace Award presented by the North Carolina Society of Historians, Inc. Regional Folklore and Ghost Stories Ghosts and Their Haunts: The Legends and Lore of the Yadkin River Valley. Price $15 (plus $4.00 postage). 2nd Edition. Paperback published in 2007 by Catawba Publishing Co., Charlotte, NC. This 158-page book is an assortment of ghost stories, legends and folklore from all the counties that border the Yadkin River: Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes, Watauga, Surry Stores, Yadkin, Forsyth, Davie, Davidson, Iredell, Rowan, Cabarrus, Montgomery, and Mecklenburg. There are many previously unpublished stories, including the legends surrounding the famous “Hunt House.” Great book for old and young alike. The War Between the States, a.k.a. the Civil War Note: All of my Civil War Books are thoroughly researched, annotated, referenced and indexed. The Civil War and Yadkin County, North Carolina. Price $32 (plus $4.00 postage). 2nd edition, paperback, published in 2005 by McFarland & Co. This was the first in my series about the War Between the States (1861-1865). It provides the reader with an overview of life in Yadkin County before, during, and after that terrible conflict. Included in an appendix is a listing of near 1,200 men who served in the CSA, CSN, Militia, or Home Guard, with a short description of their service, and other valuable information. One entire chapter focuses on the events at the Bond School House, in which four were killed (2 militia men, 2 draft-dodgers in the school). The raid of General George Stoneman’s Federal cavalry in the spring of 1865 through Jonesville, Hamptonville and Huntsville, is chronicled. Civil War Trails markers are scheduled to be erected at those places, and several others in the county in the spring of 2008. Capt. Reuben Wilson, shown on the cover, remained “unreconstructed “ the rest of his life. *Winner of the Willie Parker Peace Award from the North Carolina Society of Historians, Inc. Clingman’s Brigade in the Confederacy, 1862-1865. Price $45.00 (plus $4 postage) Hardcover only, published 2002 by McFarland & Co. Thomas L. Clingman, born in Huntsville, Yadkin County, attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was one of their outstanding students. He moved to Asheville to practice law and enter politics. He served in both houses of the U. S. Congress. When South Carolina fired on Ft. Sumter, Clingman resigned to serve the Confederacy. Clingman raised his own company, and was elected colone of the 25th Regiment. He was promoted to brigadier general, in charge of the 8th, 31, 51st, and 61st North Carolina regiments. Although the regiment never received any fame, they were in the middle of some of the worst battles of the war: Battery (Fort) Wagner on Morris Island, Drewry’s Bluff below Richmond, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Globe Tavern, Fort Harrison, Fort Fisher, and the last bettle in North Carolina—Bentonville. The book focuses on the regiments of Clingman’s brigade. Included are two of Clingman’s order books which show in detail the myriad of problems a brigadier general faced ever day in the management of a brigade. Edward A. Wild and the African Brigade in the Civil War. Price $37 (plus $4 postage). Published in 2003 by McFarland & Co. Hardcover, 325 pages, photos, endnotes, bibliography, index. Despite being one of those hated “Yankees,” this was a man I cam to admire. He accomplished much with the most severe handicaps—he lost his arm at South Mountain in September of 1862, and the fingers of his right hand were injured badly. Before the war, he was a doctor, but could not return to that profession after his injuries. A staunch abolitionist, Wild was enlisted to help train free blacks and former slaves for a regiment of entirely black soldiers. He did so and he astonished the nation when, with his leadership, his African Brigade defeated the Confederate cavalry of General FitzHugh Lee at Wilson’s Wharf on the James River in Virginia. Wild seemed to have a talent for getting in sticky situations. After a raid into the northeastern counties of coastal North Carolina, he was criticized for taking three women hostage. For that reason, and a combination of infractions of the rules and disobedience to his superior officers, Wild was court martialed several times. He could have been facing prison had not General Benjamin F. Butler intervened on his behalf. After the war, Wild joined the Freedmen’s Bureau in Georgia. There, too, he got into trouble when he used excessive force against members of the Chenault family in Wilkes County, Georgia, in an attempt to learn the location of the missing Confederate gold. General U. S. Grant was informed and he telegraphed orders that Wild was to be removed immediately. Edward A. Wild is one of those unforgettable characters who has been overlooked by historians. George W. Alexander and Castle Thunder: A Prison and its Commandant. Price $42, hardcover; $32 paperback. Originally published in 2004. reprinted in paperback in 2007. 263 pages , photos, partial listing of prisoners held in Castle Thunder. George Washington Alexander served in the U. S. Navy as an officer under Commodoer Perry in the history-making voyage to Japan in the 1850. When he returned, and war broke out, Alexander resigned. He joined Richard Thomas (“Zarvona’) and several men in a scheme to capture ships in the Chesapeake Bay for the Confederacy, After successful captures, the men were recognized, captured, and put in Ft. McHenry. Alexander stayed as long as he could stand being confined, then escaped—the first recorded escape of a Confederate prisoner from a Federal prison. He returned to Richmond and joined the provost marshal’s office. When a new prison was opened, he was appointed commandant of Castle Thunder. This prison held Confederate deserters, spies, runaway slaves, women, and a variety of criminals. Sometimes he instituted harsh measures of discipline, but Castle Thunder was the cleanest prison the nation. This was probably due to his training in the Navy where ships are kept spotless. Alexander had other talents. While running the prison, he wrote a play, Virginia Cavalier, which was performed in Richmond. To the delight of the audience, during each performance, Alexander, dressed in his black provost marshal’s uniform and black hat, rode his big black horse across the stage, followed by his huge black dog, Hero. His outfit was made even more severe by his black beard. After the war, Alexander was on the 10-Most-Wanted list, and he fled to Canada. He returned several years later when the amnesty laws were enacted during Grant’s presidency. Of interest to Civil War buffs, a partial listing of prisoners housed in Castle Thunder is included. Tales from the North and the South: Twenty-four Remarkable People and Events of the Civil War. Price. $35.00 (plus $4 postage). Shown on the cover is a statue that was erected at Fredericksburg, VA to honor the heroic efforts of Sgt. Richard Kirkland, who risked his own life to take water to injured Union soldiers who lay on the battlefield. This is one of the many stories of unexpected gallantry and heroism exhibited by ordinary men and women, soldiers and civilians, during the Civil War. A chapter is devoted to Brigadier General Stand Watie, a Cherokee Indian who fought bravely for the Confederacy. Miss Elizabeth Van Lew, a Richmond socialiate, was also a spy for the Union.Union Colonel Thomas Rose was the mastermind behind the tunnel dung under Libby Prison that allowed 109 Federal officers to escape. General John Turchin and wife Nadine traveled together during the war. She tended the sick and even took command of his army when her husband was ill. They had migrated from Russia, learned English and attended college her. Former slave, Mrs. Susie Baker King Taylor, taught blacks to read, and later was involved in the Women’s Suffrage movement. Dr. Mary Walker, the first woman doctor in the Union army, was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor (and had it recalled). These are just a few of the stories in this book. It is an interesting and readable book, suitable for people of all ages. “Out of the Mouth of Hell:” Civil War Prisons and Escapes. Price $55 (plus $4 postage). Hardcover, published 2005, McFarland & Co. This highly acclaimed book examines both Confederate and Federal prisons, a total of 27. Conditions in all were horrible, disease rampant, and the food bad to non-existent. Each chapter features a prison, gives its location, capacity, and description of the facility. Included are true stories of daring escapes and failed attempts. Some plans were shear genius. Only about 12 prisoners escaped from the Federal prison on Johnson’s Island in Lake Erie . One of those who did was Lt. Colonel John R. Winston from North Carolina. He and his companions made their way across the ice to safety in Canada. They then took a ship to Bermuda, and a blockade runner to Wilmington, then made it home to rejoin their units, a very long journey. Some of the prisons are famous (Andersonville, Libby, Castle Thunder), while others are scarcely known (Danville, VA; Camp Davidson at Savannah, GA; Rock Island, IL; and Alton Military Prison, Alton, IL, Gratiot Street Prison, St. Louis, MO). The escape of Confederate cavalry officer, John Hunt Morgan, and a few of his men, from the Ohio State Penintentiary is one of the more interesting stories. The ability of men to survive in the most horrible conditions, much less escape, is almost unbelievable , as can be seen from some of the stories in this book. The 28th Regiment, North Carolina Troops is available now.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6805
__label__cc	0.712205	0.287795	Upcoming Events and News Running Deep Learning Models on Smartphones as Real-Time Apps for Signal and Image Processing Applications Speaker: Prof. Nasser Kehtarnavaz, Univ. of Texas at Dallas Social Hour: 6:00 p.m. Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Presentation: 7:15 p.m. The Doubletree Club Orange County Airport 7 Hutton Centre Drive, Santa Ana, CA, 92707-5794 Please RSVP at http://oc-comsig.eventbrite.com/ Cost: First 10 early-birds (first-come-first-serve) are free! After that, $20 for non-members with dinner, $10 for IEEE members with dinner, $5 for student-members with dinner, free for presentation only For more information on current and future events, please visit Orange County ComSig chapter website at: http://comsig.chapters.comsoc.org/ In many signal and image processing applications, deep learning models or deep neural networks have provided superior performance compared with conventional machine learning solutions. This talk covers how deep learning models can be turned into apps running in real-time on smartphones (both Android and iOS). One signal and one image processing application are presented. The image processing application involves real-time implementation of a deep learning model as a smartphone app to detect retinal abnormalities in an on-the-fly manner as retina images are captured by the smartphone camera through commercially available lenses. The motivation behind this application is to use smartphones as an alternative to fundus cameras providing a cost-effective and widely accessible approach to first-pass eye examination. The signal processing application involves real-time implementation of the speech processing pipeline of hearing aids as a smartphone app. The components of the implemented pipeline include a deep learning-based voice activity detection, noise reduction, noise classification, and compression. The motivation behind this application is to use smartphones as an open-source, programmable, and portable signal processing platform to conduct hearing enhancement studies in realistic audio environments. Speaker Biography: Prof. Nasser Kehtarnavaz is an Erik Jonsson Distinguished Professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His research interests include real-time signal and image processing, machine learning and deep learning, and biomedical signal and image analysis. He has authored or co-authored 10 books and over 380 journal papers, conference papers, patents, manuals, and editorials in these areas. He is a Fellow of IEEE, a Fellow of SPIE, a licensed Professional Engineer, and is serving as Editor-in-Chief of Springer Journal of Real-Time Image Processing. Dr. Lan Nguyen IEEE OC ComSig Chapter Chair lan.nguyen@linquest.com Privacy & Opting Out of Cookies © Copyright 2019 IEEE Communications Society - All rights reserved. Use of this Web site signifies your agreement to the IEEE Terms and Conditions. A not-for-profit organization, IEEE is the world's largest professional association for the advancement of technology.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6807
__label__cc	0.712052	0.287948	Coniston and Thirtleby Parish Council Minutes 2019 Minutes 2016 -2018 Register of Intrest Welcome to the Coniston & Thirtleby Parish Council Web Site We hope to give you an insight into the workings of the Council. Your Councillors are: Cllr. Edmund Stead (Chairman), Roger Hobson, Mrs. Barbara Higginbotham, Philip Bannister and Mrs. Kath Stead. Parish Clerk: Jayne Ramsden Tel: 07835071019 . The clerk is employed for 2 hours per week and will return your call during these working hours Parish Council meetings are held on a bi-monthly basis on the second Tuesday of that month , the next meeting is 12th March 2019, at 7pm in the Village Hall.Please come along and join us. Agenda's are available to view on this site and are posted in the Notice Board usually within 3 working days of the meeting. Council Vacancy: There is currently a vacancy on the Council however as the next election is due in May 2019 we cannot fill the vacancy until then, if anyone is interested in becoming a Parish Councillor please contact the Clerk who will be happy to assist you, we are keen to have new members who wish to support the village. The forms to enter yourself as a candidate can be obtained from The Clerk here at the Parish Council or by contacting ERYC. The forms must be completed and handed in in person at Beverley County Hall again the clerk can provide you with the details, the details will also be on the ERYC website and will appear in the local press in due course. The Parish Council has appointed Mrs. Jayne Ramsden as Clerk to the Parish Council and Jayne will take up her duties from 8th January 2019. The Parish is formed by the village of Coniston and the Hamlet of Thirtleby. The 2011 UK census states Coniston had a population of 319.Coniston is situated approximately 6 miles north-east of Hull city centre, it lies on the A165 road. the Village boast a village Hall that is used by many local groups and a Public House the Blacksmiths Arms where the areas DEFIBRILLATOR is located , the owner of the pub has kindly agreed to take over the costs of maintaining the defibrillator in the future . Chairman's Annual Report 2012/2013 2014/2015 2016/17 Annual Statement of Governance 2017/18 Site Map \| Printable View \| © 2008 - 2019 Coniston and Thirtleby Parish Council	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6808
__label__wiki	0.584156	0.584156	F-35 Critics: Same Sht, Different Century Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One Before (Update with the missing bits filled in and additional content after the original post below) Fill in the Blanks: Despite its ability to dominate the XX arena, the F-XX attracted a vocal and influential group of detractors who continued to fight a battle for small, cheap dogfighters. Gathering advocates from several walks of life, a splinter group of congressmen, journalists, aircraft designers, former fighter pilots, and military analysts marched under the banner of XX XX XX XX to demonstrate the folly of the F-XX… ...The XX who focused on money saw the F-XX as too expensive at $XX million, seven times the cost of an F-XX and twenty times the cost of an F-XX. They further argued that the airplane was XX XX and easy to XX that the pilot of a XX F-XX XX fighter could easily get inside the F-XX pilot’s OODA loop and wreak havoc. Ironically, the very argument XX XX used proved the case against them. The XX was XX, but its XX and superb XX not only gave the F–XX pilot the first chance to observe, orient, and decide, they also gave him the first chance to act. The XX had good arguments, but they were based on old information. A new paradigm XX XX, and it was the paradigm of a very large battlefield, with reliable missiles that could truly “reach out and touch someone.” Hint: There is no correlation to word length and number of X's, 'XX' was used for every blank. I’ll fill in the gap and blanks, along with the paragraph that followed and a link to the source tomorrow night. Everything about warfare changes over time,,,,except 'man' And yes, I meant for the panorama pic to 'go wide'. Everything was too small otherwise ******End of Original Post :: Update Below******* The original of the excerpt above at the source reads: Despite its ability to dominate the aerial arena, the F–15 attracted a vocal and influential group of detractors who continued to fight a battle for small, cheap dogfighters. Gathering advocates from several walks of life, a splinter group of congressmen, journalists, aircraft designers, former fighter pilots, and military analysts marched under the banner of the Military Reform Caucus to demonstrate the folly of the F–15. James Fallows eloquently expressed their credo in his best-selling book, National Defense. The reformers who focused on money saw the F–15 as too expensive at $20 million, seven times the cost of an F–4 and twenty times the cost of an F–5. They further argued that the airplane was so big and easy to see that the pilot of a small F–5-sized fighter could easily get inside the F–15 pilot’s OODA loop and wreak havoc. Ironically, the very argument the reformers used proved the case against them. The Eagle was big, but its radar and superb missiles not only gave the F–15 pilot the first chance to observe, orient, and decide, they also gave him the first chance to act. The reformers had good arguments, but they were based on old information. A new paradigm was emerging, and it was the paradigm of a very large battlefield, with reliable missiles that could truly “reach out and touch someone.” From: SIERRA HOTEL: FLYI NG AIR FORCE FIGHTERS IN THE DECADE AFTER VIET AM by C.R. Anderegg., Pg 164. What immediately followed the above was of interest as well: This did not mean that the day of the dogfight was over—far from it. Aggressors often found a way to deceive and befuddle Eagle pilots, and the huge F–15s could end up in a tiny furball with the little F–5s. Nonetheless, the battle arena was getting larger, and the training was improving as dissimilar air combat training spread to every Air Force fighter unit. To many, the issue was starting to change from who had the best hands to who had the best head. A new fighter force with new jets, new missiles, and new ideas was starting to define the parameters for aerial combat at the end of the twentieth century. I've never heard anyone knowledgeable on the subject ever claim that the close in dogfight will never happen - It's just that now it will happen only after a lot of other things that you have to worry about first, that will kill you first, just to even get to the 'merge' “If you come straight down the snot locker today, I will shoot two Sparrows at you and call you dead. If I am out of Sparrows, I will rip your lips off with a Lima [AIM-9L]before you can get to the merge. Questions?” In reading Anderegg's accounts (written in 1999) of the relative dogfighting capabilities of the F-4, F-16 and F-15, there is a passage (pg.163) of particular interest to me: At the F–4 Fighter Weapons School, Larry Keith and his band of radical, firebrand tactical thinkers—led by Joe Bob Phillips, Ron Keys, John Jumper, Dick Myers, Buzz Buzze, Tom Dyches, Jack Sornberger, Dave Dellwardt, and others—pressed hard to devise scenarios that honored the threat of a Sparrow streaking out at long range. Theirs was a losing battle, though, because the Sparrow’s record was dismal on the F–4. In the early 1970s, if an F–4 pilot briefed his adversary that a Sparrow shot from ten miles would be counted as a kill, he would be laughed out of the briefing room with hoots of “Get a grip,” or “You need a tally on reality.” Gradually, though, the impact of the F–15’s combat capabilities started to sink in across the fighter forces. When F–15s from Langley went to Eglin to shoot missiles in WSEP over the Gulf, the AIM–7F success rate was four to five times higher than it had been on the F–4. Even more astounding was the success rate for the AIM–9L, which confirmed the engineers’ hopes for a one-shot-one-kill weapon. It was a good thing the F–15 systems proved to be reliable at long range, because the aircraft sometimes did not do well in the classic, roiling dogfights. The F–15 was more powerful and more agile than any other fighter in the world. However, it was also the biggest fighter and very easy to see. When nose on, it had a relatively low visual profile, but as soon as it began turning, its enormous wing could be seen for miles. Some called it the “flying tennis court;” others called it “Big Bird.” F–4 pilots and WSOs licked their chops at the opportunity to get in a fight with Eagles before the F–15 got the Lima. The WSOs especially made no effort to hide their disdain for the new, single-seat jet. One Langley F–15 pilot went on a tour of F–4 bases to brief crews on what the new Eagle could do. He was stunned to find that F–4 back-seaters at every stop could only focus on how the new jet would die wholesale in combat because it did not have that extra set of eyes to watch for threats. Ultimately, the Eagle pilots could not be denied. They started walking into briefing rooms and telling their adversaries, “If you come straight down the snot locker today, I will shoot two Sparrows at you and call you dead. If I am out of Sparrows, I will rip your lips off with a Lima before you can get to the merge. Questions?" In response, adversaries studied the lessons learned by AIMVAL-ACEVAL pilots on how to survive in an all-aspect missile environment. As the reliability of the missiles improved, the culture of long-range missiles slowly spread throughout the fighter force. Of course, clever pilots developed ways to defeat some of the long-range shots, but as they devised one counter, the F–15s developed new techniques based on the lessons of formation discipline, radio discipline, radar discipline, and shot discipline learned in the weapons schools and at ACEVALAIMVAL. The cycle of counter vs. counter vs. counter continued, but the fight did not start at 1,000 feet range as in the days of “40-second Boyd.” The struggle was starting while the adversaries were thirty miles apart, and the F–15 pilots were seriously intent on killing every adversary pre-merge. The above (and the rest of Sierra Hotel) was interesting to me this time around for different reasons than the first time I read it. It is a fair summary of the difference between air combat capabilities in John Boyd's era and the present. If you read the whole book and a few other sources, you come to start clicking off in your mind things about the F-22 and F-35 that bring the fight to an even higher level. Things like what enables F-16s to even find F-15s in the first place to get a first visual is the radar and ground/AWACs control. This is not an option against the F-22 or F-35 if you are not flying in a 5th Gen fighter. Another is the ability of the F-35 to track, sort, an maintain contact with far more targets at one time without losing lock in the merge: the F-35's sensor fusion removes the ability of one 'Red Force' opponent to 'sneak by' while their opponents are otherwise occupied. I've said elsewhere that a plane with the F-35's capabilities (systems, range, stealth) won't be 'fought' like fighters of the past. Think of F-35s being fought as a pack of "wolves" or "velociraptors": the opponents will see what the F-35 drivers want them to see... and get shot down by the F-35 they don't see. I 'do' game theory. One of the most important facets of any game is 'who gets the last move?' Low observability, while employing techniques and hardware that enable you to keep situational awareness at all times, virtually assures you get the 'last move', and outside of bad luck or negligence you should get the first move as well. Bonus! Know Your Reformer Sidebar: James Fallows: Just another Liberal, Know-Nothing, Blowhard. If you had to pick one person to blame for the lingering after effects of the so-called Military Reform Movement, you might have to pick James Fallows, I am in agreement with these parts (and most of the rest) of Marshall L. Michel III's Doctoral Thesis as it frames James Fallows' role in bringing the Reformer Pox into the public domain and upon us (emphasis mine): The problems with the F-15 led to heavier and heavier criticism from a small but vocal group of defense Critics who maintained America needed larger numbers of less costly systems, but their calls generally went unheeded until the liberal journalist and neoliberal James Fallows joined the Critics ranks in 1979. Fallows was anti-military and a perfect example of Samuel Huntington's thesis of significant tension between American liberal beliefs and the naturally conservative military establishment. At the time, Fallows was researching an article for The Atlantic Monthly considering new ideas about how to cut the military budget, and to find those who agreed with this view he went out on the fringes of the defense establishment. He became interested in the Critics, whom he found kookie but convincing. In the resulting October 1979 article, Muscle Bound Superpower, and later works Fallows decreed the Critics were military combat experts and unquestioningly took up their basic arguments: the American national defense strategy was flawed because the military leadership was incompetent, the weapons acquisition process corrupt, and high defense budgets were linked to high inflation; what America needed was a new strategy that embraced a much greater number of simple, reliable, and less expensive systems. Unspoken was the idea that the money saved would go into social programs. (Pgs 8-9) Because Fallows believed that the large defense budgets were caused by experts, he eschewed anyone who was seriously associated with the defense establishment because they would understand, if not agree with, the philosophy behind the weapons the military was procuring. He also knew -- or sensed as a reporter that as Samuel Huntington noted, Americans love defense iconoclasts and military mavericks. To find them, Fallows later said he deliberately left the mainstream of defense analysis and moved towards the fringe.(Pgs 295-296) What a schmuck. Labels: 'Reformers', Aerospace, Airpower, F-35, History, National Defense, Politics, Revisionism, The Anointed, The Left, Useful Idiots I know where the paragraph is from and comparing the aircraft mentioned in it with the F-35 is like night and day. The other aircraft would eat the F-35 for lunch every day of the week. 1. Yes, the paragraph is from a rather well known (in certain circles) source so it is no surprise you may have read it before. I read it about 10 years ago, but am rereading it with new eyes. 2. Bzzzt. Sorry, though no doubt you wish otherwise, there is NO authoritative information available to support your claim. There IS significant information to the contrary (exchange ratios anyone?)... But you're getting ahead of me ;-) Wed Aug 28, 07:28:00 AM sferrin said... Sounds like the F-15. The same jokers who attacked the F-22 for being too, well, everything a fighter is, and attack the F-35 regularly, got their start on the "Gold Plated" F-15. Those would be Sprey, and Riccioni. Have to love people like Fallows. What we need are large numbers of crappy weapons. Just like the Commies. I guess they want to turn every part of the country into a Marxist Paradise. (The beets & toilet paper line starts over there, sir.) Seems our gold-plated weapon systems have done fairly well. The armchair generals with zero military, engineering or technical experience really get old sometimes. New rule, no more commenting on military aircraft without the most basic grasp of physics, or, logistics for that matter. As we all (should) know wars are really won through logistics not a given weapons system. -LP	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6812
__label__wiki	0.675819	0.675819	It’s tempting to imagine that when the Armistice was declared on the 11th November 1918 that our soldiers, seamen and airmen all came home straight away. Sadly this was not the case and for many of them the journey home would take a year of more. We don’t have accurate records about the individual men of our villages, but an analysis of the Norfolk Regiment records shows three distinct patterns of arrival. Prisoners of War (POWs) The wounded Demobilisation The first concerns Prisoners of War (POWs). The treatment and eventual return of prisoners of war was very different depending on the theatre of war they had been involved in. In most areas the return was best described as chaos with inadequate record keeping and organisation left to individuals or groups. Of the 1,406 Norfolk Regiment POWs, 376 were captured by the Turks following the surrender at Kut. 237 of the these men, including the men of the 8th Battalion died in captivity either during forced marches; forced labour on the Baghdad railway or through malnutrition and ill treatment. The Armistice with Turkey came into force on the 30th October. However, there were no immediately available ships or transport and the Turks did not always obey the terms of the Armistice, putting their own men before the needs of the often sick and hungry British. Eventually most were transported or walked to ships organised by their officers to bring them home over the next two months. 694 Norfolks were taken prisoner in European campaigns. British soldiers taken prisoner in France and Belgium were usually moved to Germany and placed in a POW camp although some were retained near the battlefields to provide manual labour. Again at the end of the war most were simply released or abandoned by the Germans. Around 75,000 British prisoners reached our own lines within 1 month of the Armistice and a similar number reached ports in Germany and surrounding countries and made their way back to England. It was reported that in January 1919 there were still 36,000 POWs yet to come home. The second concerns the wounded. The treatment and care of the wounded had evolved during the war as the weaponry and the muddy terrain posed new challenges. One aspect remained clear – that survival depended on being evacuated and getting treatment as soon as possible. More importantly it meant that soldiers could be returned to the battle front quickly to maintain an effective fighting force. The ‘Evacuation Chain’ as it became known consisted of a relay of events and personnel that men from our villages would have experienced- some staffed by medical professionals and some staffed by civilian volunteers. The ‘Chain” worked as follows for a wounded soldier – It is likely therefore that any wounded at the end of the war would be treated in the same way and either returned to England as a casualty requiring hospital treatment or returned to their units to await demobilisation. The casualty would receive initial treatment at an aid post near the front line, staffed usually by a medical officer, orderlies and trained stretcher bearers. Basic medical supplies were available along with comforts such as brandy and cocoa. The casualty would then either walk or be carried to a Collecting or Bearer Post and then onwards to an Advanced Dressing Station where limited medical care was given and men returned to their units if possible. The next stage was a move to a Main Dressing station usually around a mile from the front. The casualty would be further assessed and labelled and prioritised as to treatment. He would remain there until able to be evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station by horse down ambulance or lorry. These were usually several miles from the front and positioned near to railways or canals for easy connection to Base Hospitals. The Casualty Clearing Station usually consisted of a minimum of 50 beds and could cater for around 200 men – increasing to up to 1,000 later in the war. The position of these stations are often marked by large military cemeteries reflecting the serious nature of the wounds suffered by the men arriving there. Next was a move, usually by train, ambulance or barge to a Base Hospital nearer the coast. The chances of survival on getting this far in the ‘Chain’ were much higher. Here the casualty would remain until fit or sent to hospital at home for further specialist treatment. On leaving the base hospital our casualty would be transported to the coast and then by boat to England where they would be allocated to either a military or civilian hospital. On discharge they would be sent to a Convalescent Home for a period before either being discharged for the army or returned to the front. The story of John ‘Jack’ Pestell, born and raised in Irstead, who was injured on service during WW1, returned home to bring up his family on a meagre pension having had his arm amputated. The third section concerned demobilisation. In August 1917 the government created a Ministry off Reconstruction charged with the task of rebuilding national life once the war was over. One of the issues it considered was the impact of returning soldiers on the existing civilian workforce. Apart from the logistical problems there were fears that returning soldiers could be rallying point for labour unrest. The first mobilisation scheme called for the early release of the men involved in key areas of industry. However such men were invariably those called up as last resorts towards the end of the war. This meant that the men with the longest service records would be the last to be demobilised. The original scheme was therefore the source of much unrest involving small scale mutinies and a large demonstration in London. In early 1919 Churchill changed the system to give priority based on age; length of service and the number of times wounded. The scheme reduced the number of British men at arms from 3.8 million in November 1918 to 900,000 a year later and 230,000 by 1922. Reports suggest that the process was relatively trouble free and the extensive post war turmoil envisaged in 1917 over occurred. Soldiers returning from the battlefield to their home countries across the empire had further challenges as they had to wait for ships and travel much further. The experience for the individual Norfolk Regiment soldier would have been the same as for all soldiers as follows – The soldier was assessed against the criteria for early release or otherwise He was medically examined and given a form to allow him to make a claim for any disability He received another form entitling him to civilian clothes He would receive a Certificate of Employment and a Dispersal Certificate The soldier would then be transferred to a Transit Camp near to the French coast On sailing home he would be moved to a Dispersal Centre – usually in huts or tents. He then was given a Protection Certificate / Identity Certificate and a rail warrant home. In addition to his final pay he was also given an Out of Work Policy which insured him against unavoidable employment of up to 6 months in the 12 months following demobilisation. He also got a Demobilisation ration book. He would then go home, still in uniform. If he returned his greatcoat with 28 days he was paid £1! Most men were then placed on Army Reserve and could be called up in event of a national emergency.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6815
__label__wiki	0.71599	0.71599	Paying homage Gosha Rubchinskiy drops a new collection dedicated to legendary Russian band Mumiy Troll Text Alex James Taylor Designer Gosha Rubchinskiy has released a new capsule collection, teaming up with cult Russian band Mumiy Troll to mark the 20th anniversary of their debut album Morskaya. Formed in the early 1980s in Vladivostok – Russia’s biggest Pacific port – Mumiy Troll exploded onto the scene during the last years of the Soviet Union, performing illegally and were even jailed on several occasions. Released in May 1997, Morskaya (Russian for “nautical”) firmly placed the quartet on the global map. Rubchinskiy has frequently cited the band as a major influence on his childhood and career path. In homage to the band the Russian designer-slash-photographer shot his new lookbook at a marina in Vladivostok, casting young local kids alongside his friends and Mumiy Troll frontman Ilya Lagutenko’s two young daughters. The limited edition drop consists of an oversized crew neck sweatshirt and two T-shirts. 20 View gallery The collection will be available to buy from 15th September at Dover Street Market London, New York, Ginza and Singapore, Paris Trading Museum and Comme des Garcons Seoul shops, as well as online. Music View all Music	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6818
__label__cc	0.7406	0.2594	BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC - FORM 8-K - EX-1.1 - March 9, 2017 EX-5.1 - EX-5.1 - BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC d312695dex51.htm 8-K - FORM 8-K - BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC d312695d8k.htm Execution Version Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC As Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein (the Underwriting Agreement), between the Company on the one hand and you, as Representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the Underwriters), on the other hand, to issue and sell to the Underwriters the Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the Securities). All provisions contained in the document entitled Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions (Debt Securities), a copy of which is attached hereto (the Standard Provisions), are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Standard Provisions are used herein as therein defined. The Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses referred to in Section 6(a) of the Standard Provisions are set forth on Schedule III hereto, and any additional documents incorporated by reference referred to in Section 2(d) of the Standard Provisions are set forth on Schedule III hereto. The form of final term sheet referred to in Section 5(a) of the Standard Provisions is attached hereto as Schedule IV. Each reference to the Representatives herein and in the Standard Provisions shall be deemed to refer to you. The Representatives are to act on behalf of each of the Underwriters of the Securities. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Standard Provisions, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the Time of Delivery (as specified in Schedule II hereto) and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto, the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following information is the only information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter for use in the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus: a. The second paragraph of text under the caption Underwriting in the Prospectus Supplement, concerning the terms of the offering by the Underwriters; b. The second sentence of the third paragraph of text under the caption Underwriting in the Prospectus Supplement, concerning market making by the Underwriters; and c. The fourth, fifth and sixth paragraphs of text under the caption Underwriting in the Prospectus Supplement, concerning stabilization and short positions created by the Underwriters. [Remainder of page intentionally left blank] If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us one counterpart hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof. /s/ Julie A. Piggott Name: Julie A. Piggott Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Accepted as of the date hereof: /s/ Som Bhattacharyya Name: Som Bhattacharyya Title: Executive Director /s/ Yurij Slyz Name: Yurij Slyz /s/ Carolyn Hurley Name: Carolyn Hurley On behalf of itself and each of the other Underwriters Schedule I Principal Amount of 2027 Debentures to be Purchased $ 85,000,000 $ 127,500,000 85,000,000 127,500,000 Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Goldman, Sachs & Co. Academy Securities, Inc. PNC Capital Markets LLC U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. $ 500,000,000 $ 750,000,000 Schedule II-1 3.250% Debentures due June 15, 2027 Title of Securities: 3.250% Debentures due June 15, 2027 (the 2027 Debentures) Aggregate Principal Amount: Price to Public: 99.747% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, from March 9, 2017 Purchase Price by Underwriters: Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price: By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in immediately available funds Indenture: Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1995, between the Company (as successor-in-interest to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as successor-in-interest to The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee (the Trustee), as supplemented by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 11, 2010, among Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, R Acquisition Company, LLC and the Trustee, and the Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, to be dated as of March 9, 2017, between the Company and the Trustee Maturity: June 15, 2027 Interest Rate: 3.250% per annum Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15, commencing on December 15, 2017 Redemption Provisions: At any time prior to March 15, 2027, the 2027 Debentures will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Debentures to be redeemed or (ii) the sum of Schedule II-1-1 the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the 2027 Debentures to be redeemed (not including any portion of such interest accrued as of the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date semiannually (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points, plus in either case any accrued and unpaid interest on the 2027 Debentures to be redeemed to the date of redemption. The Independent Investment Banker will calculate the redemption price. At any time on or after March 15, 2027, the 2027 Debentures will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Debentures to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the 2027 Debentures to be redeemed to the date of redemption. Reference Treasury Dealer means each of (i) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and their respective successors and (ii) one other nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a Primary Treasury Dealer) specified from time to time by the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall replace that former dealer with another Primary Treasury Dealer. Change of Control Provisions: If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the 2027 Debentures as described above, the Company will be required to make an offer to each holder of 2027 Debentures to repurchase all or any part (in integral multiples of $1,000) of that holders 2027 Debentures at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of 2027 Debentures repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the 2027 Debentures repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase. Within 30 days following a Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Companys option, prior to a Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each holder of 2027 Debentures, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase 2027 Debentures on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed. The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the 2027 Debentures as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the 2027 Debentures, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the 2027 Debentures by virtue of such conflict. Sinking Fund Provisions: No sinking fund provisions Defeasance Provisions: Legal defeasance and covenant defeasance permitted upon compliance with conditions set forth in the Indenture Additional Terms: Except as otherwise provided in this Schedule II-1, such other terms are specified in the Pricing Prospectus. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings specified in the Pricing Prospectus. Time of Sale: 4:15 P.M., Eastern Time, on March 6, 2017 Time of Delivery: 9:30 A.M., Eastern Time, on March 9, 2017 Closing Location: Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10019-7475 Names and Addresses of Representatives: Designated Representatives: Address for Notices, etc.: c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk - 3rd floor c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC Attention: Investment Banking Division c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC 550 South Tryon Street, 5th floor Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 Attention: Transaction Management At any time prior to December 15, 2046, the 2047 Debentures will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the 2047 Debentures to be redeemed or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the 2047 Debentures to be redeemed (not including any portion of such interest accrued as of the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date semiannually (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, plus in either case any accrued and unpaid interest on the 2047 Debentures to be redeemed to the date of redemption. The Independent Investment Banker will calculate the redemption price. At any time on or after December 15, 2046, the 2047 Debentures will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2047 Debentures to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the 2047 Debentures to be redeemed to the date of redemption. Schedule III Materials in Addition to the Pricing Prospectus comprising the Disclosure Package: Final Term Sheet, dated March 6, 2017 Other Free Writing Prospectuses: Documents Incorporated by Reference: Schedule IV $500,000,000 3.250% Debentures due June 15, 2027 Final Term Sheet Issuer: Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC Note Type: Senior Unsecured Debentures Offering Format: SEC Registered Trade Date: March 6, 2017 Settlement Date: March 9, 2017 (T+3) Maturity Date: 2027 Debentures - June 15, 2027 2047 Debentures - June 15, 2047 Principal Amount: $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 3.250% Debentures due 2027 (2027 Debentures) and $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.125% Debentures due 2047 (2047 Debentures) Benchmark Treasury: 2027 Debentures - UST 2.250% due February 15, 2027 2047 Debentures - UST 2.875% due November 15, 2046 Benchmark Treasury Yield: 2027 Debentures - 2.498% Re-offer Spread: 2027 Debentures - T + 78 bps 2047 Debentures - T + 108 bps Re-offer Yield: 2027 Debentures - 3.278% Coupon: 2027 Debentures - 3.250% Price to Public: 2027 Debentures - 99.747% 2047 Debentures - 98.857% Coupon Dates: 2027 Debentures - June 15 and December 15 2047 Debentures - June 15 and December 15 Schedule IV-1 First Coupon Date: 2027 Debentures - December 15, 2017 2047 Debentures - December 15, 2017 Make-Whole Call: 2027 Debentures - T + 15 bps (at any time before March 15, 2027) 2047 Debentures - T + 20 bps (at any time before December 15, 2046) Par Call: 2027 Debentures - At any time on or after March 15, 2027 2047 Debentures - At any time on or after December 15, 2046 Day Count Convention: 30/360 Denominations: $2,000 x $1,000 CUSIP / ISIN: 2027 Debentures - 12189L BA8 / US12189LBA89 2047 Debentures - 12189L BB6 / US12189LBB62 Joint Book-Running Managers: Co-Managers: The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling J.P. Morgan Securities LLC collect at (212) 834-4533 or calling Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at (866) 718-1649 or calling or emailing Wells Fargo Securities, LLC at (800) 645-3751 or wfscustomerservice@wellsfargo.com. Standard Provisions (Debt Securities) From time to time Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company), may enter into one or more underwriting agreements that provide for the sale of debt securities (the Securities) to the several underwriters named therein. The standard provisions set forth herein may be incorporated by reference in any such underwriting agreement (an Underwriting Agreement). The Underwriting Agreement, including the provisions incorporated therein by reference, is herein referred to as this Agreement. Terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Securities shall be as specified in this Agreement and in or pursuant to the indenture (the Indenture) identified in this Agreement. 1. Particular sales of Securities may be made from time to time to the Underwriters of such Securities, for whom the firms as representatives of the Underwriters of such Securities in the Underwriting Agreement relating thereto will act as representatives (the Representatives). The term Representatives also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of the Underwriters and to Underwriters who act without any firm being designated as their representative. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement shall be several and not joint. 2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that: (a) An automatic shelf registration statement as defined under Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), on Form S-3 (File No. 333-211220) in respect of the Securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; such registration statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, became effective on filing; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or any part thereof has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company (the base prospectus filed as part of such registration statement, in the form in which it has most recently been filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter called the Basic Prospectus; any preliminary prospectus, including any preliminary prospectus supplement, relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act is hereinafter called a Preliminary Prospectus; the various parts of such registration statement, including all exhibits thereto but excluding Form T-1 and including any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission and deemed by virtue of Rule 430B to be part of such registration statement, each as amended at the time such part of the registration statement became effective, are hereinafter collectively called the Registration Statement; the Basic Prospectus, as amended and supplemented immediately prior to the Time of Sale (as defined in Section 2(c) hereof), is hereinafter called the Pricing Prospectus; the form of the final prospectus relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof is hereinafter called the Prospectus; any reference herein to the Basic Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the date of such prospectus; any reference to any amendment or supplement to the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and any documents filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and incorporated therein, in each case after the date of the Basic Prospectus, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act relating to the Securities and identified as such on Schedule III to the Underwriting Agreement is hereinafter called an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus); (b) The Company was a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (i) at the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purpose of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus filed pursuant to the Securities Act), and (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Securities Act; and the Company was not an ineligible issuer as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act at the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Securities; (c) For the purposes of this Agreement, the Time of Sale will be the date and time of day specified in Schedule II to the Underwriting Agreement; the Pricing Prospectus as supplemented by those Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses and other documents so specified in Schedule III to the Underwriting Agreement and by the final term sheet in the form attached to the Underwriting Agreement as Schedule IV, prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof, taken together (collectively, the Disclosure Package) as of the Time of Sale, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in the Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus; (d) The documents incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and no such documents were filed with the Commission since the Commissions close of business on the business day immediately prior to the date of this Agreement and prior to the execution of this Agreement, except as set forth on Schedule III to the Underwriting Agreement and except for such other documents as were delivered to you prior to the Time of Sale; (e) The Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the date thereof, do not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; (f) No order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission; (g) The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the Trust Indenture Act), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to each part of the Registration Statement and as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Securities through the Representatives expressly for use therein; (h) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capitalization or any material change in long- term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development that the Company has a reasonable cause to believe involves a prospective material adverse change, in the business, financial position, members equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus; (i) The Company has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority (limited liability company and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company for the transaction of business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the ownership or leasing of its property requires such qualification, except where failure to qualify would not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect upon the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and BNSF Railway Company (hereinafter referred to as the Significant Subsidiary) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; (j) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus, and all of the membership interests in the Company have been duly and validly issued, are non-assessable; and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Significant Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and except as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims; (k) The Securities have been duly authorized and, when the Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, which will be substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; assuming the due authorization and execution by the Trustee, the Indenture has been duly authorized and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, at the Time of Delivery for such Securities (as defined in Section 4 hereof), the Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors rights and to general equity principles; and the Indenture conforms, and the Securities will conform, to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus; (l) The issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the execution and delivery of the Indenture and this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject except for such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that will not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position, members equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Formation or Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of the Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties except for such violations (other than with respect to the Companys Certificate of Formation or Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement) that will not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position, members equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been, or will have been prior to the Time of Sale, obtained under the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters; (m) Other than as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, in either case, the Company has reasonable cause to believe will individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the financial position, members equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and, to the best of the Companys knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others; (n) Deloitte & Touche LLP is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; (o) The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by the Companys principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Companys internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting; (p) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is made known to the Companys principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective; and (q) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof, will not be an investment company, or an entity controlled by an investment company as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act). 3. Upon the execution of this Agreement and authorization by the Representatives of the release of the Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus. 4. Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement will be represented by one or more definitive global Securities in book-entry form which will be deposited by or on behalf of the Company with the Depository Trust Company (DTC) or its designated custodian. The Company will deliver the Securities to the Representatives for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of such funds as may be specified in Schedule II to the Underwriting Agreement, all at the place and time and date specified in this Agreement or at such other place and time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, such time and date being herein called the Time of Delivery. 5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters: (a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act not later than the Commissions close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Time of Delivery without giving you advance notice thereof and an opportunity to comment thereon; to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish the Representatives with copies thereof, if requested by the Underwriters; to prepare a final term sheet, containing a description of the Securities, in a form approved by you and to file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act within the time required by such Rule; to file promptly all material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act; to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities, and during such same period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement or any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus in respect of the Securities, of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, of the suspension of the qualification of such Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Securities or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal, and in the event of any such issuance of a notice of objection, promptly to take such steps including, without limitation, amending the Registration Statement or filing a new registration statement at the Companys expense, as may be necessary to permit offers and sales of the Securities by the Underwriters (references herein to the Registration Statement shall include any such amendment or new registration statement); (b) If required by Rule 430B(h) under the Securities Act, to prepare a form of prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such form of prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act not later than may be required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; and to make no further amendment or supplement to such form of prospectus which shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; (c) Promptly from time to time take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Securities, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign limited liability company or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction; (d) To furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as you may from time to time reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many written and electronic copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of any of the Securities at any time nine months or more after the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many copies as you may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (e) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including at the option of the Company Rule 158); (f) To pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act; (g) During the period beginning from the date of this Agreement and continuing to and including the Time of Delivery, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company which mature more than one year after such Time of Delivery and which are substantially similar to the Securities, without the prior written consent of the Representatives; and (h) That in accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients. 6. (a) The Company represents and agrees that, other than any final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof, without the prior consent of the Representatives, the Company has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and any such free writing prospectus the use of which has been so consented to is listed on Schedule III to the Underwriting Agreement. (b) The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending; and (c) The Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and prior to the Time of Delivery any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission; provided, however, that this covenant shall not apply to any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein. 7. (a) Each Underwriter represents and agrees that, other than one or more term sheets relating to the Securities containing customary information that do not require the filing of any material pursuant to Rule 433(d) except for the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a free writing prospectus (any such free writing prospectus referred to as an Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus); and (b) Each of the Underwriters has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act applicable to any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus prepared or used by it, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending. 8. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Companys counsel and its independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto, and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or reproducing this Agreement, any Indenture, and the Blue Sky Memorandum and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(c) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey; (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities; (v) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vi) the fees and expenses of any Trustee and any agent of any Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any Trustee in connection with any Indenture and the Securities (to the extent the Trustee does not pay such fees); (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Securities; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, Section 10 and Section 14 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make. 9. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Securities under this Agreement shall be subject, in the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company in or incorporated by reference in this Agreement are, at and as of the Time of Delivery, true and correct in all material respects, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions: (a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Securities Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; the final term sheet contemplated by Section 5(a) hereof, and any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and no notice of objection of the Commission to use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act shall have been received; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives reasonable satisfaction; (b) Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, using reasonable efforts, shall have furnished to the Representatives such opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery, with respect to the formation of the Company, the validity of the Securities, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters; (c) Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel for the Company, using reasonable efforts, shall have furnished to the Representatives such opinions, dated the Time of Delivery, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex I; (d) Dale A. Lisonbee, Senior General Attorney of the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives his written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex II; (e) On the date of this Agreement, at the Time of Sale, and at the Time of Delivery, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the date of this Agreement and a letter dated such Time of Delivery, respectively, to the effect set forth in Annex III hereto, and with respect to such letter dated such Time of Delivery, as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives; (f) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Prospectus, there shall not have been any change in the capitalization or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the business, financial position, members equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus; (g) On or after the Time of Sale, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Companys debt securities by Moodys Investors Service, or S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and (ii) neither organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Companys debt securities; and (h) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representatives at the Time of Delivery of the Securities a certificate or certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy in all material respects of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, and as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (f) of this Section. 10. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any issuer information filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement relating to such Securities or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and provided, further, that the Company shall not be liable to any Underwriter under the indemnity agreement in this subsection (a) to the extent that (i) any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any issuer information filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, (ii) the Company has informed the Underwriters of such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in writing at least 24 hours prior to the Time of Sale, (iii) the Company has filed on Form 8-K an amended Preliminary Prospectus or Pricing Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus with the Commission correcting such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission prior to the Time of Sale, (iv) the Company has provided to the Underwriters an amended Preliminary Prospectus or Pricing Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus correcting such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission at least 24 hours prior to the Time of Sale and requested in writing that the Underwriters deliver such amended Preliminary Prospectus or Pricing Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the persons to whom the Underwriters are selling the Securities, and (v) such loss, claim, damage or liability results from the fact that such Underwriter has sold Securities to a person to whom such Underwriter has failed to deliver such amended Preliminary Prospectus or Pricing Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. (b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or any such amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred. (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party, and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall more than one such separate counsel in each jurisdiction where an action is commenced be retained for all indemnified parties together and neither the indemnified party nor the indemnifying party, in the instance where the indemnifying party has assumed the defense of the indemnified party, shall settle any action, proceeding or investigation with respect to the indemnified party without the written consent of the other, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 10 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Securities on the other hand from the offering of the Securities. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and the parties relative intent, prejudice resulting from any failure to give notice of any action under sub-section (c), knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the applicable Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters of Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Securities and not joint. (e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 10 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 10 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and manager of the Company and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act. 11. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Securities which it has agreed to purchase under this Agreement, the Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase such Securities on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, or the Company notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, each as amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term Underwriter as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement. (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under this Agreement and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under this Agreement) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default. (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities, as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 8 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 10 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default. 12. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or manager or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. 13. This Agreement shall be subject to termination by the Representatives by notice to the Company if, on or after the Time of Sale, there shall have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York declared by either Federal or New York State authorities; or (iii) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war; if the effect of any such event specified in this clause (iii) in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus. 14. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 11 or Section 13 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Securities covered by this Agreement except as provided in Section 8 and Section 10 hereof; but, if for any other reason Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the Representatives for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the Representatives, including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel, incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of such Securities, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Securities except as provided in Section 8 and Section 10 hereof. 15. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be designated for such purpose in this Agreement. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in this Agreement; and if to the Company, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement: Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 10(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by the Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof. 16. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Section 10 and Section 12 hereof, the officers and managers of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase. 17. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, business day shall mean any day when the Commissions office in Washington, D.C. is open for business. 18. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arms-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction, each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto, or the financial, tax or other related consequences of the transaction for the Company. 19. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. 20. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. 21. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Form of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Opinions Annex I-A Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Legal Opinion [Letterhead of] [New York Office] $500,000,000 Principal Amount of 3.250% Debentures due June 15, 2027 We have acted as counsel for Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company), in connection with the purchase by the several Underwriters (the Underwriters) listed in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement dated March 6, 2017 (the Underwriting Agreement), among the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as Representatives of the Underwriters, from the Company of $500,000,000 principal amount of the Companys 3.250% Debentures due June 15, 2027 (the 2027 Debentures) and $750,000,000 principal amount of the Companys 4.125% Debentures due June 15, 2047 (the 2047 Debentures and, together with the 2027 Debentures, the Securities) to be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of December 1, 1995, between the Company (as successor to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Predecessor)) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor Trustee (the Trustee), the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 11, 2010, among the Predecessor, R Acquisition Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (subsequently renamed Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC), and the Trustee (the Indenture, as so supplemented, the Base Indenture) and the Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 9, 2017, between the Company and the Trustee (the Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture). In that connection, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion, including: (a) the Certificate of Formation of the Company (the Certificate of Formation); (b) the Annex I-A-1 Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of the Company dated as of February 12, 2010, as amended (the LLC Operating Agreement); (c) resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Predecessor on October 19, 1995 and February 11, 2010; (d) resolutions adopted by the Board of Managers of R Acquisition Company, LLC on November 2, 2009; (e) resolutions adopted by the Board of Managers of the Company on April 6, 2015 and April 18, 2016; (f) the officers certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 301 of the Base Indenture in connection with the Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Securities; (g) the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-211220) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) on May 6, 2016 (the Registration Statement), for registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act) of an indeterminate amount of debt securities of the Company, to be issued from time to time by the Company; (h) the related Prospectus dated May 6, 2016 (together with the documents incorporated therein by reference, the Basic Prospectus); (i) the Prospectus Supplement dated March 6, 2017, filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (together with the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus); (j) the documents and other information described in Annex A to this letter (together, the Specified Disclosure Package); (k) the Underwriting Agreement; (l) the Base Indenture; (m) the Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, and the forms of the Securities; and (n) the agreements specified on Annex B hereto (collectively, the Specified Agreements). In expressing the opinions set forth herein, we have assumed, with your consent and without independent investigation or verification, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or copies. We have relied, with respect to certain factual matters, on statements of public officials and officers and other representatives of the Company and the representations and warranties of the Company and the Underwriters contained in the Underwriting Agreement, and have assumed compliance by each such party with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement. In particular, we have relied upon the Companys representation that it has not been notified pursuant to Rule 401(g) of the Securities Act of any objection by the Commission to the use of the form on which the Registration Statement was filed. We have also relied upon advice from the Commission that the Registration Statement initially became effective on May 6, 2016. Our identification of information as part of the Specified Disclosure Package has been at your request and with your approval. Such identification is for the limited purpose of making the statements set forth in this opinion regarding the Specified Disclosure Package and is not the expression of a view by us as to whether any such information has been or should have been conveyed to investors generally or to any particular investors at any particular time or in any particular manner. Based on the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set forth herein, we are of opinion as follows: 1. Based solely on a certificate from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the Company is a limited liability company validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its businesses as described in the Prospectus and the Specified Disclosure Package. 2. The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. 3. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the Trust Indenture Act), and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Securities have been duly authorized and executed by the Company and, when authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). 4. The Securities and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the respective descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus and the Specified Disclosure Package and the statements made in the Prospectus and the Specified Disclosure Package under the caption Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences, insofar as they purport to describe the material tax consequences of an investment in the Securities, fairly summarize the matters therein described. 5. No authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to, consent of, order of, or filing with, any United States Federal, New York State or, to the extent required under the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware, Delaware governmental authority is required to be made or obtained by the Company for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, other than (i) those that have been obtained or made under the Securities Act or the Trust Indenture Act, (ii) those that may be required under the Securities Act in connection with the use of any free writing prospectus not listed on Annex A hereto and (iii) those that may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters. 6. The issue and sale by the Company of the Securities, the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement and the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement (i) do not violate the Certificate of Formation or the LLC Operating Agreement, (ii) do not result in a breach of or constitute a default under the express terms and conditions of any Specified Agreement, and (iii) will not violate any law, rule or regulation of the United States of America, the State of New York or the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware. Our opinion in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence relating to the Specified Agreements does not extend to compliance with any financial ratio or any limitation in any contractual restriction expressed as a dollar amount (or an amount expressed in another currency). We note that certain of the Specified Agreements are governed by laws other than New York law; our opinions expressed herein are based solely upon our understanding of the plain language of such agreements, and we do not express any opinion with respect to the validity, binding nature or enforceability of any such agreement, and we do not assume any responsibility with respect to the effect on the opinions or statements set forth herein of any interpretation thereof inconsistent with such understanding. 7. The Registration Statement became effective under the Securities Act on May 6, 2016, and, assuming prior payment by the Company of the pay-as-you-go registration fee for the offering of the Securities, upon filing of the Prospectus with the Commission the offering of the Securities as contemplated by the Prospectus became registered under the Securities Act; to our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Securities Act. We express no opinion with respect to compliance with, or the application or effect of, Federal or state securities laws except to the extent set forth in paragraphs 3, 5 and 7 above. We express no opinion with respect to compliance with, or the application or effect of, any laws or regulations relating to the ownership or operation of a railroad to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject or the necessity of any authorization, approval or action by, or any notice to, consent of, order of, or filing with, any governmental authority, pursuant to any such laws or regulations. We express no opinion herein as to any provision of the Indenture or the Securities that (a) relates to the subject matter jurisdiction of any Federal court of the United States of America, or any Federal appellate court, to adjudicate any controversy related to the Indenture or the Securities, (b) contains a waiver of an inconvenient forum or (c) relates to the waiver of rights to jury trial. We also express no opinion as to whether a state court outside the State of New York or a Federal court of the United States would give effect to the choice of New York law provided for in the Indenture or the Securities. We understand that you are satisfying yourselves as to the status under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code and applicable state fraudulent conveyance laws of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Securities, and we express no opinion thereon. We are admitted to practice in the State of New York, and we express no opinion as to matters governed by any laws other than the laws of the State of New York, the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware and the Federal laws of the United States of America. We are furnishing this opinion to you, as Representatives, solely for your benefit and the benefit of the several Underwriters. This opinion may not be relied upon by any other person (including by any person that acquires the Securities from the several Underwriters) or for any other purpose. It may not be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose. The several Underwriters listed in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement dated March 6, 2017, among the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as Representatives of the several In care of Capitalized terms used in this Annex A have the meanings given to them in the letter to which this Annex A is attached. 1. Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated March 6, 2017 (including the Basic Prospectus). 2. Final Term Sheet dated March 6, 2017. Annex 1-A-6 1. Replacement Capital Covenant, dated as of December 15, 2005, by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation in favor of and for the benefit of each Covered Debtholder (as defined therein). 2. Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1995, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee (the 1995 Indenture). 3. Indenture, dated as of December 8, 2005, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee (the 2005 Indenture). 4. Guarantee Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2005, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Guarantee Trustee. 5. First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 15, 2005, to the 2005 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee. 6. Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, dated as of December 15, 2005, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation and BNSF Funding Trust I. 7. First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 13, 2007, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation and Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 8. Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 14, 2008, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation and Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 9. Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 3, 2008, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation and Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 10. Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 24, 2009, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation and the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, including the form of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLCs 4.700% Notes due October 1, 2021. 11. Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 11, 2010, to the 1995 Indenture, by and among Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, R Acquisition Company, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. 12. Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 11, 2010, to the 2005 Indenture, by and among Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, R Acquisition Company, LLC and U.S. Bank Trust National Association. 13. Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 17, 2010, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 14. Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 10, 2010, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 15. Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 19, 2011, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 16. Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 22, 2011, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 17. Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 2, 2012, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 18. Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 23, 2012, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 19. Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 12, 2013, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 20. Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 22, 2013, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 21. Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 7, 2014, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 22. Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 18, 2014, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 23. Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 9, 2015, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 24. Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 20, 2015, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. 25. Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 16, 2016, to the 1995 Indenture, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. Annex I-B Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Disclosure Letter In that capacity, we participated in conferences with certain officers of, and with the accountants and counsel for, the Company concerning the preparation of the Prospectus Supplement dated March 6, 2017 (together with the related Basic Prospectus (as defined below), the Prospectus), relating to the Securities, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act). The Annex I-B-1 Prospectus was filed as part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-211220) filed with the Commission on May 6, 2016 for registration under the Securities Act of an indeterminate amount of debt securities to be issued from time to time by the Company (the Registration Statement), which Registration Statement includes a prospectus dated May 6, 2016 (together with the documents incorporated therein by reference, the Basic Prospectus), and we have assumed for purposes of this letter that the information in the Prospectus of the type referred to in Rule 430B(f)(1) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act was deemed to be part of and included in the Registration Statement pursuant thereto as of the Applicable Time (as defined below). The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Specified Disclosure Package (as defined below) and the Basic Prospectus were prepared and filed by the Company without our participation. For the purposes of this letter we have also reviewed the documents and other information described in Annex A to this letter (together, the Specified Disclosure Package). Our identification of information as part of the Specified Disclosure Package has been at your request and with your approval. Such identification is for the limited purpose of making the statements set forth in this letter and is not the expression of a view by us as to whether any such information has been or should have been conveyed to investors generally or to any particular investors at any particular time or in any particular manner. Although we have made certain inquiries and investigations in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Specified Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the limitations inherent in the role of outside counsel are such that we cannot and do not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the statements made in the Registration Statement, the Specified Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except insofar as such statements relate to us and except to the extent set forth in paragraph (4) of our opinion to you dated the date hereof. Subject to the foregoing, we confirm to you, on the basis of information gained in the course of the performance of the services rendered above, that the Registration Statement, at the time it was last amended or deemed amended, and the Prospectus, as of the date hereof, appeared or appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, except that we do not express any view as to the financial statements and other information of an accounting or financial nature included therein and the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Furthermore, subject to the foregoing, we hereby advise you that our work in connection with this matter did not disclose any information that gave us reason to believe that: (i) the Registration Statement, at March 6, 2017, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Prospectus, as of its date or at the date hereof, included or includes, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iii) the Specified Disclosure Package, considered together as of 4:15 p.m., New York City time, on March 6, 2017 (the Applicable Time), included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that, in each case, we do not express any view as to the financial statements and other information of an accounting or financial nature included therein. We are furnishing this letter to you, as representatives of the several Underwriters, solely for the benefit of the several Underwriters in order to assist the several Underwriters in establishing appropriate defenses under applicable securities laws. This letter may not be relied upon by any other person (including by any person that acquires the Securities from the several Underwriters) or for any other purpose. It may not be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose. Securities, LLC, as Representatives of the several Underwriters Specified Disclosure Package Form of Lisonbee Opinion [Burlington Northern Santa Fe Letterhead] As Representatives of the several Underwriters This opinion letter is being rendered to you by me, as counsel to Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company), pursuant to Section 9(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, dated March 6, 2017 (the Underwriting Agreement), between the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters listed therein (the Underwriters), relating to the purchase by the Underwriters from the Company of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Companys 3.250% Debentures due June 15, 2027 (the 2027 Debentures) and $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Companys 4.125% Debentures due June 15, 2047 (the 2047 Debentures and, together with the 2027 Debentures, the Securities). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have the respective meanings assigned such terms in the Underwriting Agreement. In rendering the opinions set forth below, I have examined originals or copies identified to my satisfaction of (i) the Underwriting Agreement; (ii) the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-211220) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 6, 2016 (the Registration Statement), for registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of an indeterminate amount of debt securities of the Company, to be issued from time to time by the Company; (iii) the Pricing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented; (iv) the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented; (v) the Indenture, as supplemented by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 11, 2010, among Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, R Acquisition Company, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor Trustee, (the Trustee), and the Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 9, 2017, between the Company (as successor-in-interest to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation) and the Trustee (as supplemented, the Indenture); (vi) the form of the Securities; Annex II-1 and (vii) an officers certificate establishing the terms of the Securities pursuant to the Indenture. In expressing the opinions set forth below, I have assumed, with your consent and without independent verification, the authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to me as duplicates or copies. With respect to certain factual matters, I have relied without independent investigation exclusively on statements or certificates of public officials and officers and other representatives of the Company. Any statements or opinions qualified by knowledge are limited to my actual, present knowledge, based on information provided to me pursuant to inquiry of officers and employees of the Company made in connection with the offering of the Securities. However, I have not undertaken any independent investigation to determine the accuracy of any such information. Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the other qualifications and limitations stated in this opinion letter, I am of the opinion that: 1. The Company has the capitalization set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all of the membership interests in the Company have been validly issued and are non-assessable; 2. The Company has been duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company for the transaction of business and is in good standing in the State of Texas; 3. BNSF Railway Company (BNSF Railway), a subsidiary of the Company, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of BNSF Railway have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims; 4. To my knowledge and other than as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which the Company has reasonable cause to believe will individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the financial position, members equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and, to my knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others; 5. Assuming due authorization and execution by the Trustee, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, to my knowledge, will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (other than the Specified Agreements, as defined in the opinion delivered to the Underwriters by Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP on the date hereof), the effects of which would, in the aggregate, be materially adverse to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and 6. The documents incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus (other than the financial statements, notes, schedules and other financial data therein, as to which I express no opinion or belief), when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, appear to have complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulation of the Commission thereunder. In addition, based on information provided to me by officers and representatives of the Company in response to due diligence inquiries conducted in connection with the offering of the Securities as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, I do not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to be filed or of any contracts or other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus or required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus which are not filed or incorporated by reference or described as required. In addition, I have, from time to time, reviewed certain documents incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and engaged in discussions with officers of the Company regarding those documents. However, except as specifically noted above, I am not passing upon and assume no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in those documents incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, nor do I make any representation that I have independently verified or checked the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing and based on information provided to me by officers and representatives of the Company in response to due diligence inquiries conducted in connection with the offering of the Securities, no facts came to my attention that caused me to believe that any of such documents (other than the financial statements, notes, schedules and other financial data therein, as to which I express no belief) contained an untrue statement of a material fact, or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such documents were so filed, not misleading. I am an employee of BNSF Railway and in that capacity serve as Senior General Attorney of BNSF Railway. I am executing and delivering this opinion letter only in such capacity, and in accepting this opinion letter you agree that I shall not have personal liability for the opinions expressed herein. This opinion letter is limited to the matters stated herein and no opinions may be implied or inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein. This opinion letter is limited to the Federal laws of the United States and the laws of the State of Texas, and I express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction. The opinions set forth in this letter are rendered as of the date hereof, and I undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to advise you of any changes in or new developments which might affect any matters or opinions set forth herein. This opinion letter is being furnished only to you, is solely for your benefit, and is not to be used, quoted, circulated, relied upon or otherwise referred to by any other person (including any person purchasing any of the Securities from you) for any purpose whatsoever or by you for any purpose other than in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement without my prior written consent. Annex III Comfort Letter of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC Page BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC Reports	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6819
__label__wiki	0.998988	0.998988	Listing Pricing: Featured links - (Yearly charge) + 5 Deeplink $49.95 Express Regular links -(Permanent) + 3 Deeplink $19.95 Submit Link: *Category: [Top] \|___Arts \| \|___Animation \| \| \|___Anime \| \| \|___Artists \| \| \|___Awards \| \| \|___Cartoons \| \| \|___Festivals \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Movies \| \| \|___Stop-Motion \| \| \|___Studios \| \| \|___Training \| \| \|___Voice Actors \| \|___Antiques \| \|___Architecture \| \| \|___Archives \| \| \|___Building Types \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Events \| \| \|___Experimental \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Landscape \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Preservation \| \|___Art History \| \| \|___Art Historians \| \| \|___Artists \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Journals \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Periods and Movements \| \|___Artists \| \|___Awards \| \|___Bodyart \| \| \|___Bodypainting \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Licensing and Regulations \| \| \|___Piercing \| \| \|___Schools and Instruction \| \| \|___Studios \| \| \|___Tattoos \| \|___Booksellers \| \|___Censorship \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \|___Classical Studies \| \| \|___Greek \| \| \|___Journals \| \| \|___Roman \| \|___Costumes \| \|___Crafts \| \| \|___3D Design \| \| \|___Antiques \| \| \|___Art and Soft Furnishings \| \| \|___Art Courses \| \| \|___Art Galleries \| \| \|___Artists \| \| \|___Arts Suppliers \| \| \|___Authors \| \| \|___Beading \| \| \|___Body Casting \| \| \|___Bush craft \| \| \|___Calligraphy \| \| \|___Candles \| \| \|___Caricaturists \| \| \|___Ceramics \| \| \|___Creative Arts Practitioner \| \| \|___Cross Stitch \| \| \|___Embroidery \| \| \|___Engravers \| \| \|___Fine art and Paintings \| \| \|___French Polishing \| \| \|___Gallery \| \| \|___Gilding \| \| \|___Greeting Card Design \| \| \|___Handcrafted Items \| \| \|___Illustration \| \| \|___Jewelery Design \| \| \|___Jewelery Findings \| \| \|___Knitting \| \| \|___Literary Agents \| \| \|___Metal Clay \| \| \|___Metalware \| \| \|___Mosaics \| \| \|___Murals \| \| \|___Patchwork and Quilting \| \| \|___Photographic Engraving \| \| \|___Picture Framing \| \| \|___Prints And Frames \| \| \|___Restorers \| \| \|___Scrap Booking \| \| \|___Sculpture \| \| \|___Silversmiths \| \| \|___Stained Glass \| \| \|___Teddy Bears \| \| \|___Theatrical Services \| \| \|___Upholstery \| \| \|___Watch Repair \| \| \|___Writing Services \| \|___Cultures and Groups \| \|___Dance \| \|___Design Arts \| \| \|___Designers \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Fashion \| \| \|___Furniture \| \| \|___Industrial Design \| \| \|___Interior Design \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \|___Digital \| \| \|___Events \| \| \|___Evolutive \| \| \|___Installations and Performances \| \| \|___Magazines \| \| \|___Net Art \| \| \|___Resources \| \|___Education \| \|___Events \| \| \|___Arcade Games \| \| \|___Archery Parties \| \| \|___Balloons \| \| \|___Barn Dancing \| \| \|___Boat Hire \| \| \|___Bouncy Castle Hire \| \| \|___Butler Services \| \| \|___Candle Parties \| \| \|___Candyfloss and Popcorn Machines \| \| \|___Casinos \| \| \|___Children Parties \| \| \|___Chocolate Fountain Hire \| \| \|___Dating \| \| \|___Entertainers \| \| \|___Event Furniture \| \| \|___Event Organizers \| \| \|___Face Painting \| \| \|___Fancy Dress \| \| \|___Fancy Dress Hire \| \| \|___Fireworks \| \| \|___Formal Wear Hire \| \| \|___Fun Fairs \| \| \|___Function Rooms \| \| \|___Go-Karting \| \| \|___Home Bars \| \| \|___Hot Tub Hire \| \| \|___Invitation Design \| \| \|___Jukebox Rental \| \| \|___Kissograms \| \| \|___Magicians \| \| \|___Marquee Hire and Sales \| \| \|___Mobile Casinos \| \| \|___Mobile Discos \| \| \|___Murder Mystery Parties \| \| \|___Occasion Cakes \| \| \|___PA Hire \| \| \|___Paintball \| \| \|___Personal Chef \| \| \|___Portable Toilet Hire \| \| \|___Quad Bike Hire \| \| \|___Race Nights \| \| \|___Ribbon \| \| \|___Security Staff \| \| \|___Simulator Rides and Inflatables \| \| \|___Speed Dating \| \| \|___Stag and Hen Parties \| \| \|___Stage Lighting \| \| \|___Tableware Hire \| \| \|___Ticket Production \| \| \|___Yacht Hire \| \| \|___Yurt \| \|___Graphic Design \| \|___Humanities \| \| \|___Literature in Art \| \| \|___Scholarship and Technology \| \|___Illustration \| \| \|___Caricature \| \| \|___Cartoons \| \| \|___Children's \| \| \|___Historic Illustrators \| \| \|___Illustrator Portfolios \| \| \|___Specialized \| \| \|___Stock and Clip Art \| \|___Institutes \| \|___Literature \| \| \|___American Literature \| \| \|___Authors \| \| \|___Awards and Bestsellers \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Children's Literature \| \| \|___Cultural \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Drama \| \| \|___Electronic Text Collection \| \| \|___Fiction \| \| \|___Genres \| \| \|___Journals \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Myths and Folktales \| \| \|___Online Reading \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Periods and Movements \| \| \|___Poetry \| \| \|___Reviews and Criticism \| \| \|___Short Stories \| \| \|___Titles \| \| \|___World Literature \| \|___Magazines and E-Zines \| \|___Movies \| \| \|___Adult Movies \| \| \|___Animation \| \| \|___Arts Films \| \| \|___Home Cinema \| \| \|___Movies Graphics \| \| \|___Movies Production \| \| \|___Promotional Movies \| \|___Museums and Galleries \| \|___Music \| \| \|___Anti-Music \| \| \|___Awards \| \| \|___Bands and Artists \| \| \|___Charts \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Classifieds \| \| \|___Clubs and Venues \| \| \|___Collection \| \| \|___Composition \| \| \|___Concerts and Events \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Disc Jockey (DJs) \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Instruments \| \| \|___Karaoke \| \| \|___Lyrics \| \| \|___Marching \| \| \|___Movies \| \| \|___Music Videos \| \| \|___Musicology \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Record Labels \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Reviews \| \| \|___Songwriting \| \| \|___Sound Files \| \| \|___Styles \| \| \|___Trading \| \| \|___Vocal \| \| \|___Women in Music \| \|___Organizations \| \|___Painting \| \|___People \| \|___Performing Arts \| \| \|___Arts Centers \| \| \|___Concert Venues \| \| \|___Dance \| \| \| \|___Accompaniment \| \| \| \|___Ballet \| \| \| \|___Ballroom \| \| \| \|___Butoh \| \| \| \|___Chinese \| \| \| \|___Classical Indian \| \| \| \|___Dance Technology \| \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \| \|___Drill Teams \| \| \| \|___Education \| \| \| \|___Festivals \| \| \| \|___Flamenco \| \| \| \|___Folk Dancing \| \| \| \|___Historical \| \| \| \|___Ice Dance \| \| \| \|___Jazz \| \| \| \|___Latin \| \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \| \|___Middle Eastern \| \| \| \|___Modern \| \| \| \|___Morris Dancing \| \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \| \|___People \| \| \| \|___Regional \| \| \| \|___Services \| \| \| \|___Swing \| \| \| \|___Tango \| \| \| \|___Tap \| \| \| \|___Tribal and Tribal Fusion \| \| \|___Dance Agencies \| \| \|___Dance And Musical \| \| \|___Dance Schools \| \| \|___Dance wear \| \| \|___Drama \| \| \|___Musical Theater \| \| \|___Script Writing \| \| \|___Stage Schools \| \| \|___Talent and Model Agencies \| \| \|___Theater Costume \| \| \|___Theater Training \| \| \|___Theaters \| \|___Photography \| \| \|___Aerial Photography \| \| \|___Car Photography \| \| \|___Color Management \| \| \|___Corporate Photographers \| \| \|___Digital Photo Printing \| \| \|___Digital Reprocessing \| \| \|___Family Photography \| \| \|___Fashion Photography \| \| \|___Graphic Photography \| \| \|___Photo Developing \| \| \|___Photo Restoration \| \| \|___Photographers \| \| \|___Photographic Repair \| \| \|___Photographic Retouching \| \| \|___Photographic Supplies \| \| \|___Photography Courses and Training \| \| \|___Portrait Photographers \| \| \|___Press and Photography \| \| \|___Product Photography \| \| \|___Property Photographers \| \| \|___Stock Images \| \| \|___Studios \| \| \|___Virtual Tours \| \|___Shopping and Services \| \|___Television \| \| \|___Animation \| \| \|___Casting \| \| \|___DVD Rental \| \| \|___Freeware Installation \| \| \|___Motion Graphics \| \| \|___Post Production \| \| \|___Projector Hire and Sales \| \| \|___Prop Hire \| \| \|___Satellite \| \| \|___Sky TV Installation \| \| \|___Stock Footage \| \| \|___Television Installation \| \| \|___Television Repair \| \| \|___TV Graphics \| \| \|___TV Production \| \| \|___Video and DVD Production \| \| \|___Video Editing Software \| \| \|___Video Production \| \| \|___Voice Over Artists \| \| \|___Web TV \| \|___Video \| \| \|___Alternative Video \| \| \|___Community Video \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Magazines \| \| \|___Training \| \| \|___Video Editing \| \|___Visual Arts \| \| \|___ASCII Art \| \| \|___Assemblage Art \| \| \|___Calligraphy \| \| \|___Ceramics \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Collage \| \| \|___Collectives \| \| \|___Computer Graphics \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Drawing \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Galleries \| \| \|___Genres \| \| \|___Installation Art \| \| \|___Mail Art and Art Stamp \| \| \|___Multiple Media Artists \| \| \|___Native and Tribal Art \| \| \|___Object Based Art \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Painting \| \| \|___Performance Art \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Posters and Prints \| \| \|___Printmaking \| \| \|___Public Art \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Sculpture \| \| \|___Thematic \| \|___Writing \|___Blog \| \|___Advertising and Marketing \| \|___Arts \| \|___Automotive \| \|___Blogging \| \|___Business \| \|___Celebrities \| \|___Computers \| \|___Directories \| \|___Domain Names \| \|___Eclectic \| \|___Education \| \|___Entertainment \| \|___Fashion and Beauty \| \|___Female \| \|___Finance and Investment \| \|___Food and Drink \| \|___Games \| \|___Health and Medicine \| \|___Home and Garden \| \|___Internet \| \|___Internet Marketing \| \|___Literature \| \|___Music \| \|___News and Media \| \|___Personal \| \|___Photography \| \|___Politics \| \|___Programming and Development \| \|___Real Estate \| \|___Recreation \| \|___Regional \| \|___Religion \| \|___Science \| \|___Shopping \| \|___Society and Culture \| \|___Technology \| \|___Travel \| \|___Web Design and Development \|___Business \| \|___Aerospace and Defense \| \| \|___Aeronautical \| \| \|___Aircraft \| \| \|___Companies \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Defense \| \| \|___Equipment \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Space \| \| \|___Subcontract Manufacturing \| \| \|___Systems \| \|___Agriculture and Forestry \| \| \|___Aerial Application \| \| \|___Agricultural Chemicals \| \| \|___Aquaculture \| \| \|___Barns and Structures \| \| \|___Biologicals \| \| \|___Classifieds \| \| \|___Consultants \| \| \|___Dairy Industry \| \| \|___Equipment and Supplies \| \| \|___Farm Real Estate \| \| \|___Fencing \| \| \|___Field Crops \| \| \|___Forestry \| \| \|___Horticulture \| \| \|___Livestock \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Amusements and Attractions \| \| \|___Inflatable Arrangements \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Rides \| \|___Apparel \| \| \|___Accessories \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Footwear \| \| \|___Materials and Supplies \| \| \|___Services \| \| \|___Sports \| \| \|___Undergarments \| \| \|___Wholesalers \| \|___Arts and Entertainment \| \| \|___Agents and Agencies \| \| \|___Audio and Visual \| \| \|___Beauty Pageants \| \| \|___Fashion \| \| \|___Gaming \| \| \|___Media Conglomerates \| \| \|___Media Production \| \| \|___Museums and Fine Art \| \| \|___Music \| \| \|___Services and Equipment \| \| \|___Talent \| \|___Auctions \| \|___Automotive \| \| \|___Car Buying \| \| \|___Classifieds \| \| \|___Collectibles \| \| \|___Consumer Guides \| \| \|___Dealers \| \| \|___Driving Schools \| \| \|___Financing \| \| \|___Insurance \| \| \|___Makers \| \| \|___Motorcycles \| \| \|___Parts and Accessories \| \| \|___Recreational Vehicles \| \| \|___Rentals \| \| \|___Repairs and Services \| \| \|___Specialty Vehicles \| \|___Banking \| \| \|___Cash Management \| \| \|___Cheque Cashing \| \| \|___Credit Cards \| \| \|___Electronic Payment Systems \| \| \|___Investment Banking \| \| \|___Money Transfer \| \| \|___National Banks \| \| \|___Online Banking \| \|___Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Bio Engineering \| \| \|___Contract Research Organizations \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Pharmaceuticals \| \|___Business 2 Business \| \|___Business Opportunities \| \| \|___Automotive \| \| \|___Brokerages \| \| \|___Classifieds \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Franchising \| \| \|___Health \| \| \|___Home Based \| \| \|___Inventions \| \| \|___Networking-MLM \| \| \|___Resources and Networking \| \| \|___Telecommunications \| \| \|___Valuation Services \| \| \|___Vending \| \|___Business Services \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Event Planning and Management \| \| \|___Investigative Services \| \| \|___Office Services \| \| \|___Outsourcing \| \| \|___Security Services \| \| \|___Storage \| \| \|___Wholesalers \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \|___Chemicals and Allied Products \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Basic Chemicals \| \| \|___Biochemical \| \| \|___Catalysts and Adsorbents \| \| \|___Cleaning Agents \| \| \|___Coatings and Adhesives \| \| \|___Cosmetics \| \| \|___Custom Manufacturing \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Diversified Manufacturers \| \| \|___Engineering \| \| \|___Explosives \| \| \|___Fine Chemical Intermediates \| \| \|___Import and Export \| \| \|___Lubricants \| \| \|___Pigments \| \| \|___Polymers \| \| \|___Specialties \| \| \|___Suppliers and Distributors \| \| \|___Water Treatment \| \|___Classifieds \| \|___Communications \| \| \|___Answering Services \| \| \|___Broadcasting \| \| \|___Business Calling Cards \| \| \|___Business Data \| \| \|___Business Forums \| \| \|___Business Phone Systems \| \| \|___Business Toll Free \| \| \|___Call Centers \| \| \|___Cartographers \| \| \|___Conferencing \| \| \|___Delivery Service \| \| \|___Dial Around \| \| \|___Electronic Trading \| \| \|___Interpreting \| \| \|___IP Telephony \| \| \|___Land Line Providers \| \| \|___Mail Forwarding \| \| \|___Mailing Services \| \| \|___Mobile Phone Services \| \| \|___Phone Services \| \| \|___Podcasting \| \| \|___Radio Communication \| \| \|___Satellite Communications \| \| \|___Sms Services \| \| \|___Technical Authors \| \| \|___Telecom Consultancies \| \| \|___Telecommunications \| \| \|___Telephone Engineers \| \| \|___Telephone Equipment \| \| \|___Telephone Networking \| \| \|___Telephone Number List \| \| \|___Television and Av Systems \| \| \|___Transcription \| \| \|___Unified Messaging \| \| \|___Virtual PBX \| \| \|___Voice Mail \| \|___Communications and Networking \| \| \|___Cross-Cultural \| \| \|___Education and Training \| \| \|___Forums \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Satellite \| \| \|___Telecommunications \| \|___Computers \| \|___Construction \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Building Types \| \| \|___Commercial Contractors \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Design \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education and Training \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Estimating \| \| \|___Facilities Management \| \| \|___General Contractors \| \| \|___Landscaping \| \| \|___Marketplaces \| \| \|___Masonry \| \| \|___Materials and Supplies \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Preservation \| \| \|___Remodeling \| \| \|___Residential Housing \| \| \|___Restoration \| \| \|___Specifications \| \| \|___Tools and Equipment \| \| \|___Trenchless Technology \| \| \|___Wholesale and Distribution \| \|___Construction and Maintenance \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Business Formation \| \| \|___Marketplaces \| \| \|___Project Management \| \| \|___Research Services \| \|___Consumer Goods and Services \| \| \|___Beauty \| \| \|___Children \| \| \|___Clothing \| \| \|___Crafts \| \| \|___Eyewear \| \| \|___Firearms \| \| \|___Luggage and Bags \| \| \|___Office Products \| \| \|___Recreation \| \| \|___Toys and Games \| \| \|___Watercraft \| \|___Cooperatives \| \| \|___Administrative Support \| \| \|___Asset Management \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Corporate Relocation \| \| \|___Customer Management \| \| \|___Customer Service \| \| \|___Fire and Security \| \| \|___Government \| \| \|___Human Resources \| \| \|___Internet Services \| \| \|___Office Services \| \| \|___Outsourcing \| \| \|___rocurement Services \| \|___Credit Cards \| \|___Customer Service \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Education and Training \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Mystery Shopping \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Design \| \| \|___Graphic Design \| \| \|___Illustration \| \| \|___Interior Design \| \| \|___Product Design \| \|___Ecommerce \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Consultants \| \| \|___CRM \| \| \|___Developers \| \| \|___Education and Training \| \| \|___Marketplaces \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Strategy \| \| \|___Technology Vendors \| \|___Economics \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Business Development \| \| \|___Driving \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Finance \| \| \|___Health and Safety \| \| \|___Supplies and Equipment \| \| \|___Team Building \| \| \|___Technology \| \|___Electronics and Electrical \| \| \|___Audio \| \| \|___Batteries \| \| \|___Components \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Contract Manufacturing \| \| \|___Control Systems \| \| \|___Distribution \| \| \|___Electromechanical \| \| \|___Heating and Cooling \| \| \|___Human Interfaces \| \| \|___Instrumentation \| \| \|___Manufacturers Representatives \| \| \|___Optoelectronics and Fiber \| \| \|___Power Supplies \| \| \|___Production Equipment \| \| \|___Repair and Calibration \| \| \|___Retailers \| \| \|___Safety and Compliance Testing \| \| \|___Substation and Transmission \| \| \|___Surge Protectors \| \| \|___Test and Measurement \| \| \|___Transformers and Inductors \| \| \|___Wiring and Accessories \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Assessment \| \| \|___Career Management \| \| \|___Career Planning \| \| \|___CV Writing Services \| \| \|___Development Consultants \| \| \|___Disclosure Services \| \| \|___Employee Surveys \| \| \|___Employment Agency \| \| \|___Employment Training \| \| \|___Freelance \| \| \|___Handwriting Analysts \| \| \|___Headhunters \| \| \|___HR Consultancy \| \| \|___HR Outsourcing \| \| \|___Human Resources Software \| \| \|___Immigration Consultants \| \| \|___Job Search \| \| \|___Migration Services \| \| \|___Private Investigation \| \| \|___Qa Document Control \| \| \|___Quality Control \| \| \|___Recruitment Agencies \| \| \|___Recruitment Consultants \| \| \|___Resume Resources \| \| \|___Surveillance \| \| \|___Temporary Staff \| \| \|___Work Experience \| \| \|___Workforce Management \| \|___Energy and Environment \| \| \|___Biomass Fuel \| \| \|___Electricity \| \| \|___Electricity Suppliers \| \| \|___Energy Brokering \| \| \|___Fuel Saver \| \| \|___Generator Hire \| \| \|___Home Heating Oil \| \| \|___Solar Energy \| \|___Event Planning and Production \| \| \|___Conventions \| \| \|___Corporate Events \| \| \|___Entertainment \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Eyewear \| \| \|___Contact Lenses \| \| \|___Optical Accessories \| \| \|___Sunglasses \| \|___Finance Services \| \| \|___Accounting \| \| \| \|___Accountants \| \| \| \|___Accounting Firms \| \| \| \|___Accounting Systems \| \| \| \|___Asset Management \| \| \| \|___Bookkeepers \| \| \| \|___Budgeting and Forecasting \| \| \| \|___Chartered Accountants \| \| \| \|___Forensic Accounting \| \| \| \|___Managerial Accounting \| \| \| \|___Payroll \| \| \| \|___Tax Advice and Planning \| \| \| \|___Tax Investigation \| \| \| \|___VAT Consultants \| \| \|___Business Finance \| \| \| \|___Asset Finance \| \| \| \|___Business Brokers \| \| \| \|___Business Intelligence \| \| \| \|___Business Loans \| \| \| \|___Commercial Bankruptcy \| \| \| \|___Commercial Finance \| \| \| \|___Commercial Leasing \| \| \| \|___Commercial Lenders \| \| \| \|___Commercial Mortgages \| \| \| \|___Credit Control \| \| \| \|___Debt Recovery \| \| \| \|___Exchange \| \| \| \|___Factoring \| \| \| \|___Profit Improvement \| \| \| \|___Risk Management \| \| \| \|___Stock Brokers \| \| \| \|___Turnaround \| \| \| \|___Venture Capital \| \| \|___Cash Discounters \| \| \| \|___Annuities \| \| \| \|___Factoring \| \| \| \|___Viatical and Senior Settlements \| \| \|___College Education \| \| \|___Commercial Lending \| \| \|___Computer Financing \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Credit and Collection \| \| \| \|___Collection Services \| \| \| \|___Credit Reports \| \| \| \|___Employee and Tenant Screening \| \| \| \|___Repossession \| \| \| \|___Skiptracing \| \| \|___Currency Exchange \| \| \|___Field Service Companies \| \| \|___Financial Planning \| \| \| \|___Certified Financial Planners \| \| \| \|___Debt Consolidation \| \| \| \|___Estate Planning \| \| \| \|___Retirement Planning \| \| \|___Information Services \| \| \|___Insurance \| \| \| \|___Agricultural Insurance \| \| \| \|___Boat and Marine Insurance \| \| \| \|___Car Insurance \| \| \| \|___Caravan Insurance \| \| \| \|___Commercial Vehicle Insurance \| \| \| \|___Health Insurance \| \| \| \|___Home Insurance \| \| \| \|___Insurance Agents \| \| \| \|___Insurance Calculators \| \| \| \|___Insurance Claims \| \| \| \|___Insurance Quotes \| \| \| \|___Insurance Software \| \| \| \|___Liability Insurance \| \| \| \|___Life Insurance \| \| \| \|___Pet Insurance \| \| \| \|___Property Insurance \| \| \| \|___Small Business Insurance \| \| \| \|___Travel Insurance \| \| \|___Investment Banks \| \| \| \|___Investor Relations \| \| \| \|___Middle Market \| \| \| \|___Reverse Mergers \| \| \|___Investment Services \| \| \|___Leasing Services \| \| \|___Legal \| \| \| \|___Accident Investigation \| \| \| \|___Bailiffs \| \| \| \|___Barristers \| \| \| \|___Business Law \| \| \| \|___Clinical Negligence \| \| \| \|___Conveyancing Lawyers \| \| \| \|___Detective Agencies \| \| \| \|___Employment Law \| \| \| \|___Environmental Law \| \| \| \|___Family Law Solicitors \| \| \| \|___Immigration and Nationality Lawyers \| \| \| \|___Intellectual Property \| \| \| \|___Lawyers \| \| \| \|___Legal Investigations \| \| \| \|___Legal Services \| \| \| \|___Medico-legal Reporting \| \| \| \|___Notaries \| \| \| \|___Personal Injury Law \| \| \| \|___Process Servers \| \| \| \|___Property Law \| \| \| \|___Solicitors \| \| \| \|___Solicitors Agents \| \| \|___Medical Billing \| \| \|___Merchant Services \| \| \| \|___Alternative Payment Systems \| \| \| \|___Card Processing \| \| \| \|___Check Processing \| \| \| \|___Guides and Directories \| \| \| \|___Sales Agents \| \| \|___Mortgages \| \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \| \|___Buying and Selling \| \| \| \|___Calculators \| \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \| \|___Education and Training \| \| \| \|___Loan Processing \| \| \| \|___Mortgage Banking \| \| \| \|___News \| \| \| \|___Regional \| \| \|___Offshore Services \| \| \| \|___Banks \| \| \| \|___Fund Groups \| \| \|___Outsourcing \| \| \|___Payroll Services \| \| \|___Personal Finance \| \| \| \|___Bankruptcy \| \| \| \|___Bill Payment \| \| \| \|___Car Finance \| \| \| \|___Claims Management \| \| \| \|___Collection Agencies \| \| \| \|___Consumer Credit \| \| \| \|___Debt Advice \| \| \| \|___Debt Collection \| \| \| \|___Debt Management \| \| \| \|___Financial Advisors \| \| \| \|___Financial Calculators \| \| \| \|___Financial Consultancy \| \| \| \|___Financial Planners \| \| \| \|___HIP Provider \| \| \| \|___Insolvency Practitioners \| \| \| \|___Investment Advice \| \| \| \|___Loans \| \| \| \|___Mortgages \| \| \| \|___Pawnbrokers \| \| \| \|___Personal Injury Claims \| \| \| \|___Property Investment \| \| \| \|___Remortgage Quotes \| \| \| \|___Valuation Services \| \| \|___Surety Bonds \| \| \|___Venture Capital \| \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \| \|___By Region \| \| \| \|___Development Stage \| \| \| \|___Entrepreneurial Resources \| \| \| \|___Industry Specific \| \| \| \|___Technology \| \| \|___Wills and Trusts \| \| \| \|___Power Of Attorney \| \| \| \|___Will Writing \| \|___Floral \| \| \|___Flowers and Foliages \| \| \|___Materials and Supplies \| \| \|___Wholesale and Distribution \| \|___Food and Drink \| \| \|___Additives \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Baked Goods \| \| \|___Beverages \| \| \|___Brokers \| \| \|___Canned \| \| \|___Co-ops \| \| \|___Coffee \| \| \|___Condiments and Seasonings \| \| \|___Confectionery \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Culinary Institutes \| \| \|___Dairy \| \| \|___Distributors and Wholesalers \| \| \|___Frozen \| \| \|___Grains and Legumes \| \| \|___Halaal \| \| \|___Import and Export \| \| \|___Kosher \| \| \|___Manufacturing and Processing \| \| \|___Marketplaces \| \| \|___Meat and Poultry \| \| \|___Oils \| \| \|___Organic \| \| \|___Prepared \| \| \|___Produce \| \| \|___Restaurant Management \| \| \|___Retail \| \| \|___Seafood \| \| \|___Service Equipment \| \| \|___Snack Foods \| \| \|___Sweeteners \| \| \|___Tools and Equipment \| \| \|___Vegetarian \| \|___Gifts \| \| \|___Corporate Gifts \| \| \|___Gift Baskets \| \| \|___Gift Wrap \| \| \|___Novelties \| \| \|___Wholesale and Distribution \| \|___Government \| \| \|___Agencies \| \|___Health Care \| \| \|___Braille Signage \| \| \|___Detection Products \| \| \|___Drug And Alcohol Testing \| \| \|___Emergency Preparedness \| \| \|___Fire Protection \| \| \|___First Aid Kits \| \| \|___First Aid Training \| \| \|___Health And Safety Consultants \| \| \|___Health and Safety Signage \| \| \|___Health and Safety Training \| \| \|___Nurse Call Systems \| \| \|___Occupational Health \| \| \|___Occupational Road Risk Management \| \| \|___Playground Inspection \| \| \|___Safety Equipment \| \| \|___Safety Posters \| \| \|___Safety Software \| \|___Hospitality \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Bed and Breakfast \| \| \|___Companies \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education and Training \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Food Service \| \| \|___Hotels and Motels \| \| \|___Marketing and Advertising \| \| \|___Restaurant Chains \| \| \|___Software \| \| \|___Supplies and Equipment \| \| \|___Support Services \| \| \|___Travel \| \|___Industrial Goods and Services \| \| \|___Aerospace \| \| \|___Catering \| \| \| \|___Bar Equipment \| \| \| \|___Catering Staff \| \| \| \|___Catering Supplies \| \| \| \|___Company Staff Restaurants \| \| \| \|___Contract Catering \| \| \| \|___Hog Roast \| \| \| \|___Pig Roast Hire \| \| \| \|___Refrigeration Hire \| \| \| \|___Vending Machines \| \| \|___Containers \| \| \|___Controls and Instruments \| \| \|___Energy Suppliers \| \| \|___Farming \| \| \| \|___Abattoirs \| \| \| \|___Agricultural Contractors \| \| \| \|___Crop Consultancy \| \| \| \|___Ecology Management \| \| \| \|___Environment \| \| \| \|___Mobile Saw Mill \| \| \| \|___Tractor Parts \| \| \| \|___Woodland Management \| \| \|___General Engineering \| \| \| \|___Chain and Chain Assemblies \| \| \| \|___Civil Engineering \| \| \| \|___Energy Engineering \| \| \| \|___Engineering Training \| \| \| \|___Industry Magazines \| \| \| \|___Marine Engineering \| \| \| \|___Mechanical Engineering \| \| \| \|___Oil and Gas Engineering \| \| \| \|___Process Engineering \| \| \| \|___Robotics \| \| \| \|___Spring Manufacture \| \| \| \|___Structural Engineering \| \| \| \|___Supply \| \| \|___Industrial Automation \| \| \| \|___Assembly Equipment \| \| \| \|___Automation Jobs \| \| \| \|___Control Systems \| \| \| \|___Data Capture \| \| \| \|___Gas Springs \| \| \| \|___Gate Automation \| \| \| \|___Machine Vision \| \| \| \|___Motion Controls \| \| \| \|___Production Line Automation \| \| \| \|___Spring Components \| \| \|___Industrial Equipment \| \| \| \|___Access Equipment \| \| \| \|___Agricultural Equipment \| \| \| \|___Air Compressors \| \| \| \|___Air Conditioning \| \| \| \|___Air Grinders \| \| \| \|___Batteries \| \| \| \|___Browsers \| \| \| \|___Cable Reels \| \| \| \|___Cleaning Equipment \| \| \| \|___Conveyors \| \| \| \|___Drilling Equipment \| \| \| \|___Dust Control Systems \| \| \| \|___Electrical Control Gear \| \| \| \|___Electrical Test Equipment \| \| \| \|___Environmental Test Chambers \| \| \| \|___Excavating Equipment \| \| \| \|___Generators \| \| \| \|___Heat Exchangers \| \| \| \|___Industrial Magnets \| \| \| \|___Industrial Ovens \| \| \| \|___Industrial Sewing Machines \| \| \| \|___Industrial Storage Equipment \| \| \| \|___JCB Dealers \| \| \| \|___Laser Cleaning Equipment \| \| \| \|___Laser Marking \| \| \| \|___Lighting \| \| \| \|___Lubrication Systems \| \| \| \|___Measuring Equipment \| \| \| \|___Mining Equipment \| \| \| \|___Non-destructive Testing \| \| \| \|___Oven Profiling \| \| \| \|___Packaging Equipment \| \| \| \|___Photocopier Products and Repairs \| \| \| \|___Plastic Processing Equipment \| \| \| \|___Pneumatic and Hydraulic Supply \| \| \| \|___Process Controls \| \| \| \|___Quarry Plant \| \| \| \|___Refrigeration \| \| \| \|___Safety Equipment \| \| \| \|___Sampling Equipment \| \| \| \|___Scientific Equipment \| \| \| \|___Shock Absorbers \| \| \| \|___Solenoid Valves \| \| \| \|___Steel Equipment \| \| \| \|___Storage Equipment \| \| \| \|___Turf and Landscape Equipment \| \| \| \|___Used Machine Tools \| \| \| \|___Weighing Scales \| \| \| \|___Welding Equipment \| \| \| \|___Woodworking Machinery \| \| \| \|___Work Wear \| \| \|___Industrial Premises \| \| \| \|___Fire Risk Assessment \| \| \| \|___Gates and Barriers \| \| \| \|___Security \| \| \|___Industrial Services \| \| \| \|___Acoustic Consultancy \| \| \| \|___Aerial Installation \| \| \| \|___Air Pressure Testing \| \| \| \|___Air Purification \| \| \| \|___Asbestos Removal \| \| \| \|___Calibration Services \| \| \| \|___Cargo Inspection \| \| \| \|___Carpet Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Clothing and Textiles \| \| \| \|___Commercial Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Deep Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Diving Equipment \| \| \| \|___Diving Services \| \| \| \|___Drain Unblocking \| \| \| \|___Ecological Consultancy \| \| \| \|___Electrical Engineers \| \| \| \|___Electricians \| \| \| \|___Electro-Mechanical Engineers \| \| \| \|___Electronic Design \| \| \| \|___Electronic Services \| \| \| \|___Electronics Testing \| \| \| \|___EMI Shielding \| \| \| \|___Engineering Consultancy \| \| \| \|___Flooring \| \| \| \|___Forklift Training \| \| \| \|___Glass Consultancy \| \| \| \|___Glass Fittings \| \| \| \|___Health and Safety Testing \| \| \| \|___Ironing Services \| \| \| \|___Laser Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Laundry Services \| \| \| \|___Lifting Gear \| \| \| \|___Locksmith Training \| \| \| \|___Marine Electronics \| \| \| \|___Marine Rigging \| \| \| \|___Materials Handling \| \| \| \|___Mechanical Maintenance \| \| \| \|___Microwave Oven Repairs \| \| \| \|___Model Making \| \| \| \|___Noise Control \| \| \| \|___PCB Design \| \| \| \|___PCB Manufacture \| \| \| \|___Plant Hire \| \| \| \|___Plant Operator Training \| \| \| \|___Plumbing and Heating \| \| \| \|___Pneumatics \| \| \| \|___Portable Appliance Testing \| \| \| \|___Powder Coating \| \| \| \|___Power Protection \| \| \| \|___Power Supply Repairs \| \| \| \|___Pressure Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Product Design \| \| \| \|___Recycling Schemes \| \| \| \|___Scrap Metal Recycling \| \| \| \|___Security Containers \| \| \| \|___Smoking Control Products \| \| \| \|___Sprinkler Systems \| \| \| \|___Steel Piling \| \| \| \|___Tool Hire \| \| \| \|___Tool Repair \| \| \| \|___Tool Sharpening and Maintenance \| \| \| \|___Vacuum Cleaner Repairs \| \| \| \|___Washroom and Hygiene Services \| \| \| \|___Waste Management \| \| \| \|___Water Jet Cutting \| \| \| \|___Water Supply \| \| \| \|___Water Tanks \| \| \| \|___Water Treatment \| \| \| \|___Window Cleaning \| \| \|___Industrial Supplies \| \| \| \|___Bearings \| \| \| \|___Cleaning Supplies \| \| \| \|___Dental Equipment \| \| \| \|___Diesel Parts Suppliers \| \| \| \|___Domestic Appliance Spares \| \| \| \|___Electric Motors \| \| \| \|___Electrical Wholesalers \| \| \| \|___Electronic Component Supplies \| \| \| \|___Fasteners \| \| \| \|___Fire Extinguishers \| \| \| \|___Gas Products \| \| \| \|___Hotel Supplies \| \| \| \|___Hydraulic Engineering \| \| \| \|___Industrial Brushes \| \| \| \|___Interior Furnishing \| \| \| \|___Janitorial \| \| \| \|___Labels \| \| \| \|___Packaging Supplies \| \| \| \|___Pharmaceutical \| \| \| \|___Precious Metals \| \| \| \|___Pumps \| \| \| \|___Seals and Gaskets \| \| \| \|___Sign Making Supplies \| \| \| \|___Strapping Materials \| \| \| \|___Surveying Equipment \| \| \| \|___Switch and Control Panel \| \| \| \|___Tapes And Adhesives \| \| \|___Machinery and Tools \| \| \|___Manufacturing \| \| \| \|___Agricultural Chemicals \| \| \| \|___Aluminum Castings \| \| \| \|___Auto Parts and Products \| \| \| \|___Badge Manufacturing \| \| \| \|___Bed Manufacturers \| \| \| \|___Binding \| \| \| \|___Bottling \| \| \| \|___Business Services \| \| \| \|___Carbon Fiber \| \| \| \|___Catering Equipment \| \| \| \|___Chemical Manufacturing \| \| \| \|___Circuit Board Assembly \| \| \| \|___Clothing Manufacturer \| \| \| \|___CNC \| \| \| \|___Component Manufacture \| \| \| \|___Computer Aided Design \| \| \| \|___Concrete \| \| \| \|___Control Panel Manufacture \| \| \| \|___Conveyor Manufacturing \| \| \| \|___Cooling Systems \| \| \| \|___Door Manufacturers \| \| \| \|___EDM \| \| \| \|___Electronic Assembly \| \| \| \|___Envelopes \| \| \| \|___Fabrication \| \| \| \|___Fan Manufacturing \| \| \| \|___Flood Defense \| \| \| \|___Foams \| \| \| \|___Furniture \| \| \| \|___Glass Fiber \| \| \| \|___Grinding \| \| \| \|___Heat Treating \| \| \| \|___Hydraulic Equipment \| \| \| \|___Industrial Design \| \| \| \|___Industrial Machinery \| \| \| \|___Industrial Printing Equipment \| \| \| \|___Injection Mounding \| \| \| \|___Ink Manufacturing \| \| \| \|___Iron Castings \| \| \| \|___Kiln Manufacturers \| \| \| \|___Label Manufacturers \| \| \| \|___Laboratory Equipment \| \| \| \|___Lampshades \| \| \| \|___Machine Tools \| \| \| \|___Machining \| \| \| \|___Materials Handling Equipment \| \| \| \|___Metal Fabrication \| \| \| \|___Metal Finishing \| \| \| \|___Metal Forming \| \| \| \|___Metrology Equipment \| \| \| \|___Mobile Home Manufacture \| \| \| \|___Mould Toolmaking \| \| \| \|___Netting \| \| \| \|___Optical Lenses \| \| \| \|___Pallet Racking \| \| \| \|___Paper Products \| \| \| \|___Performance Fluids \| \| \| \|___Plastics \| \| \| \|___Polythene Manufacturer \| \| \| \|___Precision Engineering \| \| \| \|___Profile Cutting \| \| \| \|___Radiators \| \| \| \|___Rubber \| \| \| \|___Screen Printing \| \| \| \|___Sheet Metal \| \| \| \|___Shelter Manufacturing \| \| \| \|___Shopfitting \| \| \| \|___Signage \| \| \| \|___Special Purpose Machines \| \| \| \|___Stainless Steel Manufacturing \| \| \| \|___Textiles \| \| \| \|___Ultrasonic Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Valves \| \| \| \|___Water Heater Manufacturers \| \| \| \|___Waterjet Cutting \| \| \| \|___Welding \| \| \| \|___Wire Component Manufacturer \| \| \| \|___Workwear \| \| \| \|___Wrought Iron Work \| \| \|___Materials \| \| \|___Packaging \| \| \|___Product Development \| \| \| \|___New Energy Technologies \| \| \| \|___User Documentation \| \| \|___Safety Products \| \| \|___Science \| \| \| \|___Analytical Laboratories \| \| \| \|___Thermal Imaging \| \|___Information Technology \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Consultants \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Imaging \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Outsourcing \| \|___Intellectual Property \| \|___International Trade \| \|___Investigative Services \| \| \|___Background Verification \| \| \|___Investigators \| \| \|___Learning and Training \| \| \|___Missing Persons \| \| \|___Polygraph Services \| \| \|___Process Service \| \| \|___Public Records Research \| \| \|___Surveillance \| \|___Jewelry \| \| \|___Precious Metals \| \| \|___Watches \| \|___Labor \| \|___Major Companies \| \| \|___Company Information \| \| \|___Company Rankings \| \| \|___Public \| \|___Management \| \| \|___Benchmarking \| \| \|___Business Transformation \| \| \|___Communication Skills \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Education and Training \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Ethics \| \| \|___Leadership \| \| \|___Management Science \| \| \|___Organizational Change \| \| \|___Process Analysis \| \| \|___Project and Program Management \| \| \|___Strategic Planning \| \| \|___Strategy and Forecasting \| \| \|___Supply Chain \| \|___Manufacturing \| \|___Marketing and Advertising \| \| \|___Affiliate Marketing \| \| \|___Branding Consultants \| \| \|___Coupons \| \| \|___Data Cleansing \| \| \|___Digital Marketing \| \| \|___Direct Marketing \| \| \|___Email Marketing \| \| \|___Experiential Marketing \| \| \|___International Marketing \| \| \|___Internet Marketing \| \| \|___Marketing Consultants \| \| \|___Media Monitoring \| \| \|___Merchandising \| \| \|___Networking \| \| \|___Product Development \| \| \|___Promotional Products \| \| \|___Publishing Services \| \| \|___Sales Leads Generation \| \| \|___Sales Promotions \| \| \|___Search Engine Marketing \| \| \|___Student Marketing \| \| \|___Telemarketing \| \| \|___Viral Marketing \| \| \|___Voice Marketing \| \|___Materials \| \| \|___Ceramics \| \| \|___Composites \| \| \|___Metals \| \| \|___Nanomaterials \| \| \|___Pulp and Paper \| \|___Mining and Drilling \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Dredging \| \| \|___Mineral Exploration and Extraction \| \| \|___Tools and Equipment \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Magazines \| \| \|___Newspapers \| \|___Office Supplies and Equipment \| \| \|___Calendars \| \| \|___Computer Accessories \| \| \|___Copiers \| \| \|___Corporate Kits \| \| \|___Furniture \| \| \|___Seals and Stamps \| \| \|___Stationary and Paper \| \| \|___Time Recording and Management \| \| \|___Writing Instruments \| \|___Opportunities \| \|___Organizations \| \|___Packaging \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Bottles, Jars and Cans \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Corrugated and Paperboard \| \| \|___Envelopes \| \| \|___Flexible \| \| \|___Machinery and Equipment \| \| \|___Shipping Containers and Carrying Cases \| \| \|___Supplies \| \| \|___Thermoforming \| \|___Pet Supplies \| \|___Public Speaking \| \| \|___Corporate \| \| \|___Motivation \| \| \|___Speakers Bureaus \| \|___Publishing and Printing \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Prepress \| \| \|___Printing \| \| \|___Publishing \| \| \|___Retail \| \| \|___Services \| \| \|___Supplies and Equipment \| \|___Quality Control \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Real Estate \| \| \|___Auctions \| \| \|___Building and Construction \| \| \| \|___Acoustics and Sound Control \| \| \| \|___Air Conditioning \| \| \| \|___Architects \| \| \| \|___Architectural Design Services \| \| \| \|___Asbestos Removal \| \| \| \|___Basement Conversions \| \| \| \|___Bathroom Fitters \| \| \| \|___Bathroom Supplies \| \| \| \|___Bedroom Design \| \| \| \|___Bespoke Furniture \| \| \| \|___Blacksmiths \| \| \| \|___Brick Cleaners \| \| \| \|___Bricklayers \| \| \| \|___Builders \| \| \| \|___Building Contractors \| \| \| \|___Cabinet Makers \| \| \| \|___Carpenters \| \| \| \|___Carports \| \| \| \|___Central Vacuum Systems \| \| \| \|___Cladding Coatings \| \| \| \|___Clock Towers \| \| \| \|___Concrete Construction \| \| \| \|___Conservatories \| \| \| \|___Construction \| \| \| \|___Construction Consultants \| \| \| \|___Construction Equipment \| \| \| \|___Construction Project Management \| \| \| \|___Construction Software \| \| \| \|___Construction Training \| \| \| \|___Damage Restoration \| \| \| \|___Decking \| \| \| \|___Decorative Plasterwork \| \| \| \|___Decorators \| \| \| \|___Demolition \| \| \| \|___Double Glazing \| \| \| \|___Drains and Drainage \| \| \| \|___Drilling Contractors \| \| \| \|___Driveways \| \| \| \|___Dry Stone Walling \| \| \| \|___Drylining \| \| \| \|___Electricians \| \| \| \|___Energy Conservation \| \| \| \|___Fencing Contractors \| \| \| \|___Fibreglass Roofing \| \| \| \|___Fitting and Installations \| \| \| \|___Flatpack Furniture Assembly \| \| \| \|___Garage Conversions \| \| \| \|___Garden Buildings \| \| \| \|___Gardeners \| \| \| \|___Gas Engineers \| \| \| \|___Gate Manufacturing \| \| \| \|___General Maintenance \| \| \| \|___Glaziers \| \| \| \|___Groundworks \| \| \| \|___Guttering \| \| \| \|___Handymen \| \| \| \|___Heating and Lighting \| \| \| \|___Hoarding \| \| \| \|___Home Security \| \| \| \|___House Signs \| \| \| \|___Insulation Installers \| \| \| \|___Interior Design \| \| \| \|___Joinery \| \| \| \|___Kitchen Design \| \| \| \|___Kitchen Fitters \| \| \| \|___Kitchen Manufacturing \| \| \| \|___Lift Manufacture and Fitting \| \| \| \|___Lighting Design \| \| \| \|___Locksmiths \| \| \| \|___Loft Conversions \| \| \| \|___Log Cabin Manufacture \| \| \| \|___Meter Box Repairs \| \| \| \|___Modular Buildings \| \| \| \|___Office Fitters \| \| \| \|___Paint Stripping \| \| \| \|___Partitioning \| \| \| \|___Patios And Driveways \| \| \| \|___Pipe Installations \| \| \| \|___Plastering \| \| \| \|___Plastering Training \| \| \| \|___Plumber Training \| \| \| \|___Plumbers \| \| \| \|___Polishing \| \| \| \|___Precision Grinding \| \| \| \|___Property Development \| \| \| \|___Quantity Surveyors \| \| \| \|___Renewable Energy Installer \| \| \| \|___Renovations \| \| \| \|___Repainting \| \| \| \|___Road Construction and Surfacing \| \| \| \|___Road Marking \| \| \| \|___Roofing \| \| \| \|___Roofline \| \| \| \|___Sandblasting \| \| \| \|___Sanding \| \| \| \|___Satellite And Aerial Installation \| \| \| \|___Scaffolding Contractors \| \| \| \|___Scaffolding Hire And Sales \| \| \| \|___Screed \| \| \| \|___Sealant Installers \| \| \| \|___Self Build Consultancy \| \| \| \|___Shopfitting \| \| \| \|___Shopfronts \| \| \| \|___Skatepark Design \| \| \| \|___Smoking Shelters \| \| \| \|___Solid Surface Fabrication \| \| \| \|___Staircases \| \| \| \|___Stonemasons \| \| \| \|___Storage Solutions \| \| \| \|___Suspended Ceilings \| \| \| \|___Sustainable Energy \| \| \| \|___Swimming Pool Construction \| \| \| \|___Taping And Jointing \| \| \| \|___Temporary Structures \| \| \| \|___Tiling \| \| \| \|___Timber Frames \| \| \| \|___Turf Supplies \| \| \| \|___Underfloor Heating \| \| \| \|___Window Blinds and Shutters \| \| \| \|___Window Manufacture \| \| \| \|___Window Tinting \| \| \| \|___Woodcarvers \| \| \|___Building Materials \| \| \| \|___Builders Merchants \| \| \| \|___Concrete Products \| \| \| \|___Doors \| \| \| \|___Granite Supplies \| \| \| \|___Joinery Supplies \| \| \| \|___Plumbing And Heating Supplies \| \| \| \|___Roofing Merchants \| \| \| \|___Stone Merchants \| \| \| \|___Tile Showrooms \| \| \| \|___Tiles and Ceramics \| \| \| \|___Timber Merchant \| \| \|___Estate Agents \| \| \| \|___Abroad \| \| \| \|___Apartment Property \| \| \| \|___Commercial Property \| \| \| \|___Land for Sale \| \| \| \|___Residential Property \| \| \|___Letting Agents \| \| \| \|___Commercial Property \| \| \| \|___Inventory Clerks \| \| \| \|___Residential Property \| \| \| \|___Student Lettings \| \| \|___Online Property Listings \| \| \| \|___Bulgarian Property \| \| \| \|___Co-Buying \| \| \| \|___Cyprus Property Listings \| \| \| \|___Dubai Property Listings \| \| \| \|___Florida Property Listings \| \| \| \|___India Property Listings \| \| \| \|___Overseas Property Listings \| \| \| \|___Poland Property Listings \| \| \| \|___Romania Property Listings \| \| \| \|___Spain Property Listings \| \| \| \|___UK Property Listings \| \| \|___Overseas Property \| \| \| \|___Australian Property \| \| \| \|___Bulgarian Property \| \| \| \|___Canadian Property \| \| \| \|___Croatia Property \| \| \| \|___Cyprus Property \| \| \| \|___Dubai Property \| \| \| \|___Florida Property \| \| \| \|___Greek Property \| \| \| \|___Hungarian Property \| \| \| \|___Indian Property (0) \| \| \| \|___Lasvegas Property \| \| \| \|___Moroccan Property \| \| \| \|___Romania Property \| \| \| \|___Spain Property \| \| \| \|___Spanish Property \| \| \| \|___Turkey Property \| \| \| \|___Turkish Property \| \| \| \|___UK Property \| \| \|___Property Consultants \| \| \| \|___Archaeological Services \| \| \| \|___Asbestos Consultants \| \| \| \|___Chartered Building Surveyors \| \| \| \|___Conveyance \| \| \| \|___Electrical Inspection \| \| \| \|___Energy Performance Certificates \| \| \| \|___Estate Planning \| \| \| \|___Fractional Ownership \| \| \| \|___Ground Rent Consultants \| \| \| \|___Home Automation \| \| \| \|___Home Buyers \| \| \| \|___Home Inspection \| \| \| \|___Home Search Services \| \| \| \|___Home Staging \| \| \| \|___Interior Design \| \| \| \|___Lighting Consultants \| \| \| \|___Mapping Services \| \| \| \|___Planning Consultants \| \| \| \|___Property Appraisal \| \| \| \|___Property Associations \| \| \| \|___Property Consultants \| \| \| \|___Property Finders \| \| \| \|___Property Investment \| \| \| \|___Property Management \| \| \| \|___Property Valuation \| \| \| \|___Sound Insulation Testing \| \| \| \|___Structural Engineers \| \| \| \|___Surveyors \| \| \|___Property Maintenance \| \| \| \|___Appliance Repair \| \| \| \|___Architectural Conservation \| \| \| \|___Bath Resurfacing \| \| \| \|___Boat Maintenance \| \| \| \|___Boiler Repairs \| \| \| \|___Carpet Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Carpet Fitters \| \| \| \|___Central Heating Services \| \| \| \|___Chimney Sweeping \| \| \| \|___Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Conservatory Maintenance \| \| \| \|___Damp Proofing \| \| \| \|___DIY \| \| \| \|___Domestic Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Driveway Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Eco Cleaning Products \| \| \| \|___Electrical Contractors \| \| \| \|___Emergency Property Repairs \| \| \| \|___Energy Assessment \| \| \| \|___Fascias \| \| \| \|___Fire Alarms \| \| \| \|___Floor Restoration and Maintenance \| \| \| \|___Flooring \| \| \| \|___Forestry Consultants \| \| \| \|___Furniture Restoration \| \| \| \|___Garage Doors \| \| \| \|___Garden Design \| \| \| \|___Garden Irrigation \| \| \| \|___Gardening \| \| \| \|___Gas Safety Checks \| \| \| \|___Glass and Glazing \| \| \| \|___Graffiti Removal \| \| \| \|___Ground Maintenance \| \| \| \|___Home and Garden Maintenance \| \| \| \|___Home Improvement \| \| \| \|___Horticulture \| \| \| \|___Landscaping \| \| \| \|___Lawn Care \| \| \| \|___Lawn Mowing \| \| \| \|___Leather Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Loft Ladders \| \| \| \|___Mattress Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Meter Services \| \| \| \|___Odor Control \| \| \| \|___Oven Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Oven Valeting \| \| \| \|___Painters and Decorators \| \| \| \|___Paving \| \| \| \|___Pest Control \| \| \| \|___Pressure Washing \| \| \| \|___Property Refurbishment \| \| \| \|___Sash Window Services \| \| \| \|___Skip Hire \| \| \| \|___Smoke Alarms \| \| \| \|___Swimming Pool Maintenance \| \| \| \|___Tree Surgeons \| \| \| \|___Upholstery Maintenance \| \| \| \|___Wallpaper Removal \| \| \| \|___Wallpaper Supplies \| \| \| \|___Washing Machine Repairs \| \| \| \|___Water Systems \| \| \| \|___Weed Control \| \| \| \|___Wheelie Bin Cleaning \| \| \| \|___Window Cleaners \| \| \| \|___Windows and Blinds \| \| \|___Removals and Relocation \| \| \| \|___House Clearance \| \| \| \|___Man And Van \| \| \| \|___Relocation \| \| \| \|___Removals \| \| \| \|___Self Storage \| \| \|___Rentals and Sales \| \| \|___Security \| \| \| \|___Access Control \| \| \| \|___CCTV \| \| \| \|___Intruder Alarm \| \| \| \|___Locksmiths \| \| \| \|___Security Products \| \| \| \|___Security Services \| \| \| \|___Site Security \| \|___Religious Supplies and Services \| \| \|___Music \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Security \| \| \|___Alarm Systems \| \| \|___Armored Vehicles \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Education and Training \| \| \|___Guard and Patrol \| \| \|___Identification and Authentication Systems \| \| \|___Law Enforcement \| \| \|___Products and Equipment \| \|___Shipping \| \| \|___Cargo Handling \| \| \|___Postal Services \| \|___Signage \| \| \|___Electric \| \| \|___Magnetic \| \| \|___Promotional \| \| \|___Public Safety \| \| \|___Vinyl \| \|___Small Business \| \| \|___Business Advice \| \| \|___Business Funding \| \| \|___Business Ideas \| \| \|___Business Immigration \| \| \|___Business Loan \| \| \|___Business Networking \| \| \|___Business Plans \| \| \|___Business Sales \| \| \|___Company Formation \| \| \|___Company Incorporation \| \| \|___EPos Systems \| \| \|___Franchise Opportunities \| \| \|___Home Business \| \| \|___Minority-Owned Businesses \| \| \|___Small Animal Boarding \| \| \|___Wholesale Traders \| \|___Sports \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Event Planning \| \| \|___Marketing and Advertising \| \| \|___Scouting and Sports Agents \| \| \|___Sporting Goods \| \|___Taxes \| \|___Telecommunications \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Call Centers \| \| \| \|___Hardware \| \| \| \|___Products and Services \| \| \| \|___Providers \| \| \|___Carriers \| \| \| \|___Landline \| \| \| \|___Wireless \| \| \|___Colocation \| \| \|___Communication Providers \| \| \| \|___Long Distance Calling \| \| \| \|___Phone Card Distributors \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \| \|___Solutions Providers \| \| \|___Cost Management \| \| \|___Customer Management \| \| \|___Education and Training \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Equipment \| \| \| \|___Amateur and CB Radio \| \| \| \|___Antennas \| \| \| \|___Broadband \| \| \| \|___Business Systems \| \| \| \|___Central Office \| \| \| \|___Industrial Data \| \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \| \|___Messaging \| \| \| \|___Microwave \| \| \| \|___Satellite \| \| \| \|___Suppliers \| \| \| \|___Telephones \| \| \| \|___Testing \| \| \| \|___Towers \| \| \| \|___Vendors \| \| \| \|___Wireless \| \| \|___Information Providers \| \| \|___Location and Tracking \| \| \| \|___Technology \| \| \| \|___Vehicle \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Phone Services \| \| \| \|___1-800 Service \| \| \| \|___Callback \| \| \| \|___Conferencing \| \| \| \|___Messaging Services \| \| \|___Regulation \| \| \| \|___Agencies \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Services \| \| \| \|___Conferencing \| \| \| \|___Messaging \| \| \| \|___Phone Cards \| \| \| \|___Satellite \| \| \| \|___VoIP \| \| \| \|___Wireless \| \| \|___Two-Way Radio \| \| \| \|___Emergency Communications \| \| \| \|___Equipment \| \| \| \|___Mobile Data \| \| \| \|___Trunking \| \|___Textiles and Nonwovens \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education and Training \| \| \|___Fibers \| \| \|___Geotechnical \| \| \|___Industrial Yarns and Sewing Threads \| \| \|___Leathers \| \| \|___Machinery \| \| \|___Nonwovens \| \| \|___Resins and Chemicals \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Textiles \| \|___Trade \| \| \|___International Business and Trade \| \| \|___Retail Trade \| \| \|___Wholesale Trade \| \|___Training and Development \| \|___Translation Services \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Interpretation \| \| \|___Multiple Language \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Single Language \| \|___Transportation \| \| \|___Aviation \| \| \| \|___Aircraft \| \| \| \|___Airports \| \| \| \|___Charters \| \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \| \|___Helicopters \| \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \| \|___Parking Facilities \| \| \| \|___Simulation and Training \| \| \| \|___Supplies and Equipment \| \| \|___Buses \| \| \| \|___Equipment \| \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \|___Couriers and Messengers \| \| \| \|___Bike Messengers \| \| \|___Distribution and Logistics \| \| \| \|___Consulting \| \| \| \|___Distribution \| \| \| \|___Logistics \| \| \|___Electric Vehicles \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Fleet Services \| \| \|___Freight Forwarding \| \| \|___Maritime and Nautical \| \| \| \|___Boat Transport \| \| \| \|___Insurance \| \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \| \|___Parts and Accessories \| \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \| \|___Services \| \| \| \|___Ship Registries \| \| \| \|___Shipbuilding \| \| \|___Marketplaces \| \| \|___Moving Services \| \| \| \|___Auto Transport \| \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \| \|___Regional \| \| \| \|___Truck and Van Rental \| \| \|___Rail \| \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \| \|___Operators \| \| \| \|___Products \| \| \|___Towing and Recovery \| \| \|___Traffic Control \| \| \| \|___Barriers \| \| \|___Trucking \| \| \| \|___Education and Training \| \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \| \|___Parts and Repair Services \| \| \| \|___Software \| \| \| \|___Trailers \| \| \| \|___Truck Products and Services \| \| \| \|___Truck Sales \| \| \| \|___Truck Stops \| \| \| \|___Truck Transport \| \|___Wholesale Trade \| \|___Writing and Editing \| \| \|___Business \| \| \|___Editing and Proofreading \| \| \|___Technical \| \| \|___Writing \|___Computers \| \|___Algorithms \| \| \|___Compression \| \| \|___Pseudorandom Numbers \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Sorting and Searching \| \|___Artificial Intelligence \| \| \|___Academic Departments \| \| \|___Agents \| \| \|___Applications \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Bayesian Networks \| \| \|___Companies \| \| \|___Forums and Seminars \| \| \|___Games \| \| \|___Genetic Programming \| \| \|___Machine Learning \| \| \|___Natural Language \| \| \|___Neural Networks \| \| \|___People \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Robotics \| \| \|___Support Vector Machines \| \| \|___Vision \| \|___Artificial Life \| \| \|___Agents \| \| \|___Artificial Worlds \| \| \|___Cellular Automata \| \| \|___Lindenmayer Systems \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Particle Swarm \| \| \|___Research Groups \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Bulletin Board Systems \| \| \|___Fidonet \| \| \|___Individual Systems \| \|___CAD and CAM \| \| \|___2D Drafting \| \| \|___3D Modelling \| \| \|___AEC Design \| \| \|___Auto CAD \| \| \|___Cadkey \| \| \|___CATIA \| \| \|___Computer Aided Manufacturing \| \| \|___DataCAD \| \| \|___Development \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Drawing Exchange and Interoperability \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Electronic Design Automation (EDA) \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___IntelliCAD \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Mapping and GIS \| \| \|___Mechanical Design \| \| \|___MicroStation \| \| \|___Parts Libraries \| \| \|___PDMS \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Product Data Management \| \| \|___PTC Pro Engineer \| \| \|___Raster to Vector \| \| \|___TurboCAD \| \| \|___Unigraphics and Solid Edge \| \| \|___Viewers \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \|___Companies \| \| \|___Attribute Grammar Systems \| \| \|___Companies \| \| \|___Compiler Construction Kits \| \| \|___Cross Compilers \| \| \|___Data Warehousing \| \| \|___Generator Kits \| \| \|___GNU Compiler Collection \| \| \|___Lexer and Parser Generators \| \| \|___Product Support \| \| \|___Software Development \| \| \|___Theory \| \| \|___Transformation Tools \| \|___Computer Science \| \| \|___Academic Departments \| \| \|___Computer Graphics \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Database Theory \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Distributed Computing \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___People \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Reference \| \| \|___Research Institutes \| \| \|___Theoretical \| \|___Consultants \| \| \|___Business Systems \| \| \|___CAD Systems \| \| \|___Databases \| \| \|___Freelance \| \| \|___IBM Systems \| \| \|___Network \| \| \|___Regional \| \| \|___Systems Integrators \| \|___Content Management \| \|___Data Communications \| \| \|___Cable Modem \| \| \|___Digital Hierarchy \| \| \|___DSL \| \| \| \|___ADSL \| \| \| \|___Vendors \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Ethernet \| \| \| \|___Distributors \| \| \| \|___Gigabit \| \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \|___Installation \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___rame Relay \| \| \| \|___Telephony \| \| \|___Reference \| \| \| \|___Glossaries \| \| \| \|___Papers and Reports \| \| \| \|___Tutorials \| \| \|___Software \| \| \| \|___Simulation \| \| \| \|___Terminal Emulation \| \| \|___Telephony \| \| \| \|___Autodialers \| \| \| \|___Development and Test Tools \| \| \| \|___Recorders \| \| \| \|___Voice Response Systems \| \| \|___Testing and Tools \| \| \| \|___Bandwidth Tests \| \| \|___Unified Messaging \| \| \| \|___Fax Server \| \| \| \|___Services \| \| \|___Vendors \| \| \| \|___Distributors \| \| \| \|___Integrators \| \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \|___Wireless \| \| \| \|___802.11 \| \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \| \|___Bluetooth \| \| \| \|___Satellite \| \| \| \|___Security \| \|___Data Formats \| \| \|___ADO \| \| \|___Conversion \| \| \|___Document \| \| \|___Graphics \| \| \|___Markup Languages \| \| \|___ODBC \| \|___Desktop Publishing \| \|___E-Books \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Certification \| \| \|___Classes \| \| \|___Commercial Services \| \| \|___FAQs, Help, and Tutorials \| \| \|___Hardware \| \| \|___Internet \| \| \|___Programming \| \|___Electronic Books \| \| \|___Guides \| \| \|___Readers \| \| \|___Titles \| \|___Emulators \| \| \|___Acorn \| \| \|___Apple \| \| \|___Atari \| \| \|___Intel x86 \| \| \|___MSX \| \| \|___Sharp \| \| \|___Sinclair \| \| \|___Tandy \| \|___Ethics \| \| \|___Conferences \| \|___Graphics \| \| \|___Algorithms and Data Structures \| \| \|___Animation \| \| \|___Books \| \| \|___Clip Art \| \| \|___Companies \| \| \|___Libraries \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Web Graphics \| \|___Guides and Support \| \|___Hacking \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Conventions \| \| \|___Cracking \| \| \|___Ethics \| \| \|___Exploits \| \| \|___Groups \| \| \|___Merchandise \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Phreaking \| \| \|___Software Piracy \| \| \|___Tutorials \| \| \|___Viruses \| \|___Hardware \| \| \|___Buses \| \| \| \|___AGP \| \| \| \|___EIA232 \| \| \| \|___EIDE \| \| \| \|___EISA \| \| \| \|___Fibre Channel \| \| \| \|___HIPPI \| \| \| \|___HyperTransport \| \| \| \|___I2C \| \| \| \|___I2O \| \| \| \|___IEEE 1394 \| \| \| \|___ISA \| \| \| \|___iSCSI \| \| \| \|___MCA \| \| \| \|___PCI \| \| \| \|___PCI Express \| \| \| \|___PCMCIA \| \| \| \|___SCSI \| \| \| \|___USB \| \| \| \|___VME \| \| \|___Cables \| \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \|___Calculators \| \| \| \|___Casio Graphic Calculators \| \| \| \|___TI Graphing Calculators \| \| \|___Components \| \| \| \|___ASICs and Chips \| \| \| \|___BIOS \| \| \| \|___Cases and Chassis \| \| \| \|___Fans and Cooling Devices \| \| \| \|___Memory \| \| \| \|___Motherboards \| \| \| \|___Power Supply \| \| \| \|___Processors \| \| \| \|___Sound Cards \| \| \| \|___Video Cards \| \| \|___Computer Audio Visual Accessories \| \| \|___Custom-Built Computers \| \| \|___Data Storage \| \| \| \|___Data Recovery \| \| \| \|___Data Storage Services \| \| \| \|___Hard Drives \| \| \| \|___Optical \| \| \| \|___Retailers \| \| \| \|___Subsystems \| \| \| \|___Tape Drives \| \| \| \|___Technical Information \| \| \|___Desktops \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Embedded \| \| \| \|___Technical Information \| \| \|___Historical \| \| \| \|___DEC \| \| \| \|___IBM \| \| \| \|___Retrocomputing \| \| \|___Network Hardware \| \| \|___Notebooks and Laptops \| \| \|___Open Source \| \| \|___PDA \| \| \|___Peripherals \| \| \| \|___Audio \| \| \| \| \|___Portable Players \| \| \| \|___Bar Code \| \| \| \| \|___Labels and Equipment \| \| \| \| \|___Printers \| \| \| \| \|___Scanners \| \| \| \|___Desktop Video Cameras \| \| \| \|___Displays \| \| \| \| \|___Ergonomic \| \| \| \| \|___Flat Panel \| \| \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \| \| \|___Wearable \| \| \| \|___Keyboards \| \| \| \| \|___Dvorak \| \| \| \| \|___Qwerty \| \| \| \|___Modems \| \| \| \| \|___Vendors \| \| \| \|___Plotters \| \| \| \|___Pointing Devices \| \| \| \| \|___Mice \| \| \| \|___Printers \| \| \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \| \| \|___Repairs \| \| \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \| \| \|___Supplies \| \| \| \|___Projectors \| \| \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \| \|___Scanners \| \| \| \| \|___3D \| \| \| \| \|___Book \| \| \| \| \|___Document \| \| \| \| \|___Large Format \| \| \| \| \|___Portable \| \| \| \|___Switching Devices \| \| \|___Print Finishing \| \| \|___Printers \| \| \|___Product Reviews and Evaluations \| \| \|___Programmable Logic \| \| \| \|___CPLD \| \| \| \|___FPGA \| \| \|___Retailers \| \| \| \|___Mac \| \| \|___Scanners \| \| \|___Servers \| \| \|___Standards \| \| \|___Systems \| \| \| \|___IBM \| \| \| \|___Industrial \| \| \| \|___Kiosks \| \| \| \|___Notebooks and Laptops \| \| \| \| \|___Cards and Peripherals \| \| \| \| \|___Cases and Accessories \| \| \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \| \| \|___Vendors \| \| \| \|___Smartcards \| \| \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \| \| \|___Solution Providers \| \| \| \|___Sun \| \| \| \|___Wearables \| \| \| \|___Workstations \| \| \|___Tablet PCs \| \| \|___Technical Support \| \| \|___Test Equipment \| \| \| \|___Service and Rentals \| \| \|___Used Hardware \| \|___Help and Tutorials \| \|___History \| \|___Home Automation \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \|___Products \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Human-Computer Interaction \| \| \|___Academic \| \| \|___Companies and Resources \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Research \| \| \|___Software \| \|___MIS \| \|___Mobile Computing \| \| \|___Application Developers \| \| \|___EPOC Devices \| \| \|___News and Reviews \| \| \|___Research \| \| \|___Rugged Hardware \| \| \|___Symbian \| \| \|___Wireless Data \| \|___Multimedia \| \| \|___Companies \| \| \|___Demos \| \| \|___Digital Video \| \| \|___Flash \| \| \|___MPEG \| \| \|___Music and Audio \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Services \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Networking \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Books \| \| \|___Magazines \| \|___Open Source \| \| \|___Advocacy \| \| \|___Articles \| \| \|___Books \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Hosting \| \| \|___Licenses \| \| \|___News Services \| \| \|___Open Content \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Search Engines \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Committees \| \| \|___Non-Profit \| \| \|___Professional \| \| \|___Students \| \| \|___User Groups \| \| \|___Working Groups \| \|___Parallel Computing \| \| \|___Beowulf \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Programming \| \| \|___Projects \| \| \|___Vendors \| \|___Performance and Capacity \| \| \|___Benchmarking \| \| \|___Capacity Planning \| \|___Personal Digital Assistants \| \|___Product Review \| \|___Programming \| \| \|___Compilers \| \| \|___Component Frameworks \| \| \|___Contests \| \| \|___Databases \| \| \|___Disassemblers \| \| \|___Games \| \| \|___Graphics \| \| \|___Internet \| \| \|___Languages \| \| \| \|___ABC \| \| \| \|___Ada \| \| \| \|___Algol 60 \| \| \| \|___Algol 68 \| \| \| \|___APL \| \| \| \|___ASP \| \| \| \|___Assembly \| \| \| \|___Awk \| \| \| \|___BASIC \| \| \| \|___Befunge \| \| \| \|___bject-Oriented \| \| \| \|___C \| \| \| \|___C-sharp \| \| \| \|___C++ \| \| \| \|___CHILL \| \| \| \|___Clarion \| \| \| \|___Clean \| \| \| \|___Clipper \| \| \| \|___Cobol \| \| \| \|___Comparison and Review \| \| \| \|___Concurrent \| \| \| \|___Constraint \| \| \| \|___Curl \| \| \| \|___D Language \| \| \| \|___DATABUS \| \| \| \|___Delphi \| \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \| \|___Eiffel \| \| \| \|___ElastiC \| \| \| \|___Erlang \| \| \| \|___Euphoria \| \| \| \|___Expressions \| \| \| \|___Forth \| \| \| \|___Fortran \| \| \| \|___Fortress \| \| \| \|___Frontier \| \| \| \|___FTP \| \| \| \|___Functional \| \| \| \|___Garbage Collected \| \| \| \|___Icon \| \| \| \|___IDL \| \| \| \|___Intercal \| \| \| \|___Interpreted \| \| \| \|___Io \| \| \| \|___Java \| \| \| \|___JavaScript \| \| \| \|___Jovial \| \| \| \|___LabVIEW \| \| \| \|___Language-OS Hybrids \| \| \| \|___Limbo \| \| \| \|___Lisp \| \| \| \|___Logic-based \| \| \| \|___Lua \| \| \| \|___Mercury \| \| \| \|___Miva \| \| \| \|___ML \| \| \| \|___Modula-2 \| \| \| \|___Modula-3 \| \| \| \|___Multiparadigm \| \| \| \|___Mumps \| \| \| \|___Oberon \| \| \| \|___Obfuscated \| \| \| \|___Objective-C \| \| \| \|___Occam \| \| \| \|___Open Source \| \| \| \|___Oz \| \| \| \|___Pascal \| \| \| \|___Perl \| \| \| \|___PHP \| \| \| \|___Pike \| \| \| \|___PL \| \| \| \|___PL-SQL \| \| \| \|___Pliant \| \| \| \|___POP-11 \| \| \| \|___Procedural \| \| \| \|___Prolog \| \| \| \|___Python \| \| \| \|___REBOL \| \| \| \|___Refal \| \| \| \|___Reflective \| \| \| \|___Rexx \| \| \| \|___Rigal \| \| \| \|___RPG \| \| \| \|___Ruby \| \| \| \|___S-Lang \| \| \| \|___SAS \| \| \| \|___Sather \| \| \| \|___Scripting \| \| \| \|___Sisal \| \| \| \|___Smalltalk \| \| \| \|___Snobol \| \| \| \|___Specification \| \| \| \|___SQL \| \| \| \|___Synchronous \| \| \| \|___Tcl-Tk \| \| \| \|___Transcript \| \| \| \|___Turing \| \| \| \|___VHDL \| \| \| \|___Visual \| \| \| \|___Visual Basic \| \| \| \|___Visual FoxPro \| \| \| \|___Water \| \| \| \|___Wirth \| \| \| \|___Z \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Methodologies \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Software Testing \| \|___Robotics \| \|___Security \| \| \|___Advisories \| \| \|___Antivirus \| \| \|___Authentication \| \| \|___Biometrics \| \| \|___Consultants \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Firewalls \| \| \|___Help and Tutorials \| \| \|___Internet \| \| \|___Intrusion Detection Systems \| \| \|___Malicious Software \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Policy \| \| \|___Products and Devices \| \| \|___Public Key Infrastructure \| \| \|___Research \| \| \|___Unix \| \| \|___Virtual Private Networks (VPN) \| \|___Security and Encryption \| \|___Shopping \| \|___Software \| \| \|___Abandonware \| \| \|___Accounting \| \| \|___Accounting Software \| \| \|___Adware and Spyware \| \| \|___Anti Virus \| \| \|___Archives \| \| \|___Backup \| \| \|___Backup \| \| \|___Bar Code \| \| \|___Build Management \| \| \|___Business \| \| \|___Business Software \| \| \|___CAD \| \| \|___Communications \| \| \|___Configuration Management \| \| \|___Data Administration \| \| \|___Data Compression \| \| \|___Data Conversion \| \| \|___Data Recovery \| \| \|___Databases \| \| \|___Databases \| \| \|___Desktop Customization \| \| \|___Desktop Customization \| \| \|___Developer Tools \| \| \|___Device Drivers \| \| \|___Diagnostics \| \| \|___Disk Management \| \| \|___Document Imaging \| \| \|___Document Management \| \| \|___Drivers Software \| \| \|___earch Engines \| \| \|___Editors \| \| \|___Educational \| \| \|___Enterprise Application Integration \| \| \|___Enterprise Information Integration \| \| \|___ERP \| \| \|___File Management \| \| \|___File Manager \| \| \|___Font \| \| \|___Fonts \| \| \|___Freeware \| \| \|___Freeware \| \| \|___Globalization \| \| \|___Graphics Tools \| \| \|___Groupware \| \| \|___Help Desk \| \| \|___Human Resources \| \| \|___Industry Specific \| \| \|___Information Retrieval \| \| \|___Internet \| \| \|___Intranet \| \| \|___Licensing \| \| \|___Licensing \| \| \|___Management Software \| \| \|___Manufacturing \| \| \|___Marketing \| \| \|___Master Data Management \| \| \|___Multimedia \| \| \|___Office Suites \| \| \|___Online Training \| \| \|___Open Source \| \| \|___Operating Systems \| \| \|___Operating Systems \| \| \|___Platforms \| \| \|___Presentation \| \| \|___Product Reviews \| \| \|___Project Management \| \| \|___Recovery Tools \| \| \|___Scripts and Programs \| \| \|___Shareware \| \| \|___Software Engineering \| \| \|___Spell Checkers \| \| \|___Spreadsheets \| \| \|___System Management \| \| \|___System Utilities \| \| \|___Testing Services \| \| \|___Text Editors \| \| \|___Translator \| \| \|___Typesetting \| \| \|___Utilities \| \| \|___Word Processors \| \| \|___Workflow \| \|___Software Firms \| \|___Speech Technology \| \| \|___Hardware \| \| \|___Medical Transcription \| \| \|___Research \| \| \|___Resellers \| \| \|___Speech Synthesis \| \| \|___Telephony \| \| \|___Tool Kits \| \| \|___Voice Portals \| \|___Supercomputing \| \| \|___Companies \| \| \|___Cray \| \| \|___Directories \| \|___Systems \| \| \|___Amiga \| \| \|___Apple \| \| \|___Handhelds \| \| \|___HP 3000 \| \| \|___RISC OS \| \|___Usenet \| \| \|___Etiquette \| \| \|___FAQs \| \| \|___Feed Services \| \| \|___Hierarchies \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Individual Newsgroup Pages \| \| \|___Moderated \| \| \|___Newsgroup Creation \| \| \|___Newsgroup Directories \| \| \|___Public News Servers \| \| \|___Search \| \| \|___Web Based \| \|___Virtual Reality \| \| \|___Companies \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Haptics \| \| \|___Hardware \| \| \|___Human Interaction \| \| \|___Multi-User Systems \| \| \|___QTVR and Pre-rendered VR \| \| \|___Research Projects \|___Education \| \|___Alumni Directories \| \|___Bilingual \| \|___By Subject \| \| \|___Vocational \| \|___Cognitive Assessment \| \|___College and University \| \| \|___Admissions \| \| \| \|___International Students \| \| \|___Africa \| \| \| \|___Botswana \| \| \| \|___Egypt \| \| \| \|___Ethiopia \| \| \| \|___Kenya \| \| \| \|___South Africa \| \| \| \|___Zimbabwe \| \| \|___Asia \| \| \| \|___Afghanistan \| \| \| \|___Armenia \| \| \| \|___Azerbaijan \| \| \| \|___Bangladesh \| \| \| \|___Bhutan \| \| \| \|___China \| \| \| \|___Georgia \| \| \| \|___Hong Kong \| \| \| \|___India \| \| \| \|___Indonesia \| \| \| \|___Japan \| \| \| \|___Malaysia \| \| \| \|___Mongolia \| \| \| \|___Nepal \| \| \| \|___Pakistan \| \| \| \|___Philippines \| \| \| \|___Singapore \| \| \| \|___South Korea \| \| \| \|___Sri Lanka \| \| \| \|___Taiwan \| \| \| \|___Tajikistan \| \| \| \|___Thailand \| \| \| \|___Turkey \| \| \| \|___Uzbekistan \| \| \| \|___Vietnam \| \| \|___College Life \| \| \| \|___Student Information and Services \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Europe \| \| \| \|___Austria \| \| \| \|___Belarus \| \| \| \|___Belgium \| \| \| \|___Bosnia and Herzegovina \| \| \| \|___Bulgaria \| \| \| \|___Croatia \| \| \| \|___Czech Republic \| \| \| \|___Denmark \| \| \| \|___Estonia \| \| \| \|___Finland \| \| \| \|___France \| \| \| \|___Germany \| \| \| \|___Greece \| \| \| \|___Hungary \| \| \| \|___Iceland \| \| \| \|___Italy \| \| \| \|___Latvia \| \| \| \|___Lithuania \| \| \| \|___Luxembourg \| \| \| \|___Macedonia \| \| \| \|___Malta \| \| \| \|___Moldova \| \| \| \|___Netherlands \| \| \| \|___Norway \| \| \| \|___Poland \| \| \| \|___Portugal \| \| \| \|___reland \| \| \| \|___Romania \| \| \| \|___Russia \| \| \| \|___Serbia \| \| \| \|___Slovakia \| \| \| \|___Slovenia \| \| \| \|___Spain \| \| \| \|___United Kingdom \| \| \|___Financial Aid \| \| \| \|___Calculators \| \| \| \|___Scholarships \| \| \|___Graduate Education \| \| \|___Guides \| \| \|___Middle East \| \| \| \|___Arab Open University \| \| \| \|___Bahrain \| \| \| \|___Iran \| \| \| \|___Iraq \| \| \| \|___Jordan \| \| \| \|___Kuwait \| \| \| \|___Lebanon \| \| \| \|___Palestinian Territories \| \| \| \|___Qatar \| \| \| \|___Saudi Arabia \| \| \| \|___Syria \| \| \| \|___Turkey \| \| \| \|___Turkish Republic of North Cyprus \| \| \| \|___United Arab Emirates \| \| \|___North America \| \| \| \|___Canada \| \| \| \|___United States \| \| \|___Oceania \| \| \| \|___Australia \| \| \| \|___New Zealand \| \| \| \|___Papua New Guinea \| \| \|___Virtual Tours \| \|___Community Centers \| \|___Counselings \| \|___Distance Learning \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Correspondence Courses \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Journals \| \| \|___nstitutions \| \| \|___Online Courses \| \| \|___Online Teaching and Learning \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Services \| \| \|___Theory Research \| \| \|___Videoconferencing \| \| \|___Workplace Training \| \|___E-Learning \| \|___Early Childhood Education \| \| \|___By Subject \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Special Needs \| \|___Early Learning \| \|___Educational Supplies \| \|___Educators \| \| \|___Academic Dishonesty \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___K through 12 \| \| \|___Organizations \| \|___Extended Schools \| \|___Guardianship \| \|___Health Education \| \|___Holistic Training \| \|___Instructional Technology \| \| \|___Course Website Software \| \| \|___Evaluation \| \| \|___Higher Education \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Publications \| \|___International \| \| \|___International Baccalaureate \| \| \|___International Student Exchange \| \| \|___Language Schools \| \| \|___Projects \| \| \|___Study Abroad \| \| \|___Universities \| \|___Journals \| \|___K-12 \| \| \|___Counseling and Guidance \| \| \|___Curriculum \| \| \|___Gifted Youth \| \| \|___Home Schooling \| \| \|___Postgraduate Research \| \| \|___Private Schools \| \| \|___Rural Issues \| \| \|___School Improvement \| \| \|___School Safety \| \| \|___Supplemental Funding \| \| \|___Technology \| \|___Language Training \| \|___Learning Support \| \|___Methods and Theories \| \| \|___Instructional Design \| \| \|___Learning Theories \| \|___Nursery Schools \| \|___Online Degree \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Children's International Summer Villages \| \| \|___Literacy \| \| \|___PTA \| \|___Policy \| \|___Programs \| \|___Reference \| \| \|___Almanacs \| \| \| \|___Agriculture \| \| \| \|___History \| \| \| \|___Regional \| \| \| \|___Science \| \| \| \|___Sports \| \| \|___Archives \| \| \| \|___Arts \| \| \| \|___By Region \| \| \| \|___Historical and Cultural \| \| \| \|___Records Management \| \| \| \|___University \| \| \|___Articles \| \| \|___Arts \| \| \|___Ask an Expert \| \| \| \|___Libraries \| \| \| \|___Medicine and Health \| \| \| \|___Science and Technology \| \| \| \|___Writing \| \| \|___Bibliography \| \| \| \|___History \| \| \| \|___Literature \| \| \| \|___Science \| \| \|___Biography \| \| \|___Books \| \| \|___Calendars \| \| \|___Dictionaries \| \| \| \|___Acronyms \| \| \| \|___By Subject \| \| \| \|___Collections \| \| \| \|___Etymology \| \| \| \|___Language Dictionaries \| \| \| \|___Rhyming \| \| \| \|___Vocabulary Lists \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Encyclopedia \| \| \| \|___By Subject \| \| \|___Flags \| \| \| \|___Etiquette \| \| \| \|___Nautical \| \| \| \|___Regional \| \| \| \|___Vexillology \| \| \|___Geography \| \| \|___Journals \| \| \|___Knots \| \| \| \|___Boating \| \| \| \|___Decorative \| \| \| \|___Fishing \| \| \| \|___Lashings \| \| \| \|___Neckties \| \| \| \|___Scouting \| \| \| \|___Tyers \| \| \|___Knowledge Management \| \| \| \|___Business and Companies \| \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \| \|___Distributed Knowledge \| \| \| \|___Education \| \| \| \|___Events \| \| \| \|___Information Architecture \| \| \| \|___Information Assets \| \| \| \|___Information Overload \| \| \| \|___Knowledge Creation \| \| \| \|___Knowledge Discovery \| \| \| \|___Knowledge Flow \| \| \| \|___Knowledge Representation \| \| \| \|___Knowledge Retrieval \| \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \| \|___Software \| \| \|___Libraries \| \| \| \|___By Region \| \| \| \|___College and University \| \| \| \|___Digital \| \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \| \|___Friends of the Library \| \| \| \|___Government \| \| \| \|___Government Documents \| \| \| \|___Independent \| \| \| \|___Library and Information Science \| \| \| \|___National \| \| \| \|___Online Catalogs \| \| \| \|___Philately \| \| \| \|___Presidential \| \| \| \|___Public \| \| \| \|___Research \| \| \| \|___Special Collections \| \| \| \|___Subject Specific \| \| \| \|___Unique Collections \| \| \|___Maps \| \| \| \|___Collecting \| \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \| \|___Historical Maps \| \| \| \|___Libraries \| \| \| \|___Travel Maps \| \| \| \|___Trip Routing \| \| \|___Museums \| \| \| \|___Antiques \| \| \| \|___Architecture \| \| \| \|___Arts and Entertainment \| \| \| \|___By Region \| \| \| \|___Children's Museums \| \| \| \|___Crafts \| \| \| \|___Cultural \| \| \| \|___Decorative Arts \| \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \| \|___Film and Media \| \| \| \|___Folk Art \| \| \| \|___History \| \| \| \|___Military \| \| \| \|___Museum Resources \| \| \| \|___Music \| \| \| \|___Photography \| \| \| \|___Recreation and Sports \| \| \| \|___Science \| \| \| \|___Textile and Costume \| \| \| \|___Transportation \| \| \| \|___Virtual \| \| \|___Parliamentary Procedure \| \| \|___Questions and Answers \| \| \|___Quotations \| \| \|___Thesauri \| \| \|___Time \| \| \| \|___Alternative Systems \| \| \| \|___Current Time \| \| \| \|___Horology \| \| \|___World Records \| \|___Regional \| \|___Road Safety \| \|___School Resources \| \|___Schools \| \|___Special Education \| \| \|___Conductive Education \| \| \|___Inclusion \| \| \|___Learning Disabilities \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Schools \| \| \|___Support \| \| \|___Training \| \|___Statistics \| \|___Study Guides \| \|___Teachers \| \|___Testing \| \| \|___Test Authoring Firms \| \|___Tuition \| \|___Youth Development \|___Games \| \|___Board Games \| \| \|___Abstract \| \| \|___Animals and Evolution \| \| \|___Bluffing and Betting \| \| \|___Computer Aides \| \| \|___Developers and Publishers \| \| \|___Economy and Trading \| \| \|___Educational \| \| \|___Fantasy \| \| \|___Historical \| \| \|___Horror \| \| \|___Murder-Mystery and Deduction \| \| \|___Play Groups \| \| \|___Print and Play \| \| \|___Racing \| \| \|___Railroad Games \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Science Fiction \| \| \|___Sports \| \| \|___War and Politics \| \| \|___Words and Trivia \| \|___Card Games \| \| \|___Combining \| \| \|___Comparing \| \| \|___Developers and Publishers \| \| \|___Guides \| \| \|___Shedding and Accumulating \| \| \|___Special Decks \| \| \|___Trick Capturing \| \|___Coin Operated \| \| \|___Arcade Games \| \| \|___Dealers \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Pinball \| \| \|___Supplies and Equipment \| \| \|___Trade Shows \| \| \|___Venues \| \|___Communities and Forums \| \|___Computer Games \| \| \|___Macintosh \| \| \|___Multiplayer \| \| \|___PC \| \| \|___WAP \| \|___Console Games \| \|___Console Platforms \| \|___Conventions \| \|___Developers and Publishers \| \|___Dice \| \| \|___Balut \| \| \|___Bunco \| \| \|___Button Men \| \| \|___Cosmic Wimpout \| \| \|___Dragon Dice \| \| \|___Farkle \| \| \|___Fill or Bust \| \| \|___Trading \| \| \|___Yahtzee \| \|___Fantasy Sports \| \| \|___Auto Racing \| \| \|___Fantasy Baseball \| \| \|___Fantasy Basketball \| \| \|___Fantasy Football \| \| \|___Fantasy Hockey \| \| \|___Fantasy Soccer \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Simulation Games \| \|___Gambling \| \| \|___Baccarat \| \| \|___Backgammon \| \| \|___Bingo \| \| \|___Blackjack \| \| \|___Casinos \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Consultants \| \| \|___Contests and Sweepstakes \| \| \|___Craps \| \| \|___Equipment \| \| \|___Guides \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Keno \| \| \|___Lotteries \| \| \|___Poker \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Roulette \| \| \|___Slots \| \| \|___Software \| \| \|___Sports \| \|___Game Studies \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \|___Hand Games \| \| \|___Clap and Chant \| \| \|___Rock, Paper, Scissors \| \| \|___Thumb Wrestling \| \|___Hand-Eye Coordination \| \| \|___Beyblade \| \| \|___Carrom \| \| \|___Crokinole \| \| \|___Darts \| \| \|___Jacks \| \| \|___Marbles \| \| \|___Table Skittles \| \| \|___Table Soccer \| \| \|___Tiddlywinks \| \|___History \| \|___Miniatures \| \| \|___Clubs \| \| \|___Fantasy \| \| \|___Genre and Type \| \| \|___Historical \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Painting \| \| \|___Publishers \| \| \|___Science Fiction \| \| \|___Terrain \| \|___News and Reviews \| \|___Online Games \| \| \|___Arcade Games \| \| \|___Board Games \| \| \|___Casino \| \| \|___Flash and Shockwave \| \| \|___Free Games \| \| \|___Gambling \| \| \|___Game Cheats \| \| \|___Pc Games \| \| \|___Ps2 Games \| \| \|___Video Games \| \|___Paper and Pencil \| \| \|___Dots and Boxes \| \| \|___Sprouts \| \| \|___Tic-Tac-Toe \| \|___Party Games \| \| \|___Drinking Games \| \| \|___Holidays and Celebration \| \| \|___Icebreaker Games \| \| \|___Murder Mystery \| \| \|___Six Degrees of Separation \| \|___Puzzles \| \| \|___3D \| \| \|___Brain Teasers \| \| \|___Crossword Puzzles \| \| \|___Mazes \| \| \|___Mechanical \| \| \|___Optical Illusions \| \| \|___Word Search \| \|___Puzzles Games \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Magazines \| \|___Roleplaying \| \| \|___Characters \| \| \|___Developers and Publishers \| \| \|___Gamebooks \| \| \|___Genres \| \| \|___Humor \| \| \|___Live Action \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Play Groups \| \| \|___Roleplaying in Society \| \| \|___Software \| \| \|___World Building \| \|___Social Reality \| \|___Tile Games \| \| \|___Dominoes \| \| \|___Mahjong \| \|___Trading Card Games \| \| \|___Buffy the Vampire Slayer \| \| \|___Developers and Publishers \| \| \|___Dragon Storm \| \| \|___Fan and Trading Pages \| \| \|___Legend of the Five Rings \| \| \|___Magic - The Gathering \| \| \|___Middle Earth Collectible Card Game \| \| \|___Pokémon \| \| \|___Vampire: The Eternal Struggle \| \| \|___Yu-Gi-Oh \| \|___Video Games \| \| \|___Action \| \| \|___Adventure \| \| \|___Cheats and Hints \| \| \|___Computer Platforms \| \| \|___Console Platforms \| \| \|___Developers and Publishers \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Driving and Racing \| \| \|___Emulation \| \| \|___Fighting \| \| \|___Forums \| \| \|___Game Design \| \| \|___Handheld Platforms \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Massive Multiplayer Online \| \| \|___Multiplayer \| \| \|___Music \| \| \|___News and Reviews \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Platform \| \| \|___Puzzle \| \| \|___Roleplaying \| \| \|___Shareware \| \| \|___Shooter \| \| \|___Simulation \| \| \|___Sports \| \| \|___Strategy \| \| \|___Survival Horror \| \|___Yard, Deck, and Table Games \| \| \|___Horseshoes \| \| \|___Table Soccer \|___Health \| \|___Acromegaly \| \|___Acupuncture \| \|___Alexander Technique Teachers \| \|___Allergy Services \| \|___Alternative \| \| \|___Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine \| \| \|___Acutouch \| \| \|___Alexander Technique \| \| \|___Alternative Health Products \| \| \|___Apitherapy \| \| \|___Aromatherapy \| \| \|___Ayurveda \| \| \|___Biofeedback \| \| \|___Breathwork \| \| \|___Chiropractic \| \| \|___Coaching \| \| \|___Color Therapy \| \| \|___Crystals \| \| \|___Ear Candling \| \| \|___Energy Healing \| \| \|___Essences \| \| \|___Fasting and Cleansing \| \| \|___Folk Medicine \| \| \|___Herbs \| \| \|___Holistic Medicine \| \| \|___Homeopathy \| \| \|___Huna \| \| \|___Hypnotherapy \| \| \|___Iridology \| \| \|___Jewelry \| \| \|___Light Therapy \| \| \|___Magnetic Therapy \| \| \|___Massage Therapy \| \| \|___Meditation \| \| \|___Naturopathy \| \| \|___Neuro Linguistic Programming \| \| \|___Non-Toxic Living \| \| \|___Opposing Views \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Ozone Therapy \| \| \|___Palm Therapy \| \| \|___Practitioners \| \| \|___Reflexology \| \| \|___Reiki \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Tibetan Medicine \| \| \|___Trepanation \| \| \|___Urine Therapy \| \| \|___Yoga \| \|___Aromatherapy \| \|___Behavioral Therapy \| \|___Bio resonance Therapy \| \|___Birth Equipment \| \|___Body Mechanics \| \|___Body Talk \| \|___Bowen Technique \| \|___Chemists \| \|___Chinese Medicine \| \|___Chiropody \| \|___Chiropractors \| \|___Circumcision Clinic \| \|___Colonic Irrigation \| \|___Colour Therapy \| \|___Complementary Therapy \| \|___Cosmetic Surgery \| \|___Counseling \| \|___Craniosacral Therapy \| \|___Crystal Therapy \| \|___Deep Oscillation \| \|___Dentists \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Children \| \| \|___Conditions and Diseases \| \| \|___Cosmetic \| \| \|___Dental Practices \| \| \|___Dentist Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Endodontics \| \| \|___Oral Surgery \| \| \|___Orthodontics \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Resources \| \|___Dietitians \| \|___Disability Services \| \|___Doctor \| \|___Douala Services \| \|___EMF Protection \| \|___Emotional Freedom Technique \| \|___Fall Prevention \| \|___Fertility Services \| \|___Health Coach \| \|___Health Shops \| \|___Health Spas \| \|___Healthcare Facilities \| \|___Healthcare IT \| \|___Healthcare Jobs \| \|___Healthcare Services \| \|___Hearing Aids \| \|___Herbal Medicine \| \|___Holistic Therapy \| \|___Home Health \| \|___Home Help \| \|___Homeopathy \| \|___Hopi Ear Candle Therapy \| \|___Hula Hooping \| \|___Hypnotherapy \| \|___Hypnotherapy Training \| \|___Hypnotizing \| \|___Indian Ayurveda Therapy \| \|___Indian Head Massage \| \|___Infertility Treatment \| \|___Kinesiology \| \|___Laboratory Testing \| \|___Laser Treatment \| \|___Light Therapy \| \|___Magnetic Therapy \| \|___Massage Supplies \| \|___Massage Therapists \| \|___Maternity Services \| \|___Medical Equipment \| \|___Medical Tourism \| \|___Men's Health \| \| \|___Andropause \| \| \|___Baldness \| \| \|___Circumcision \| \| \|___Conditions and Illness \| \| \|___Nutrition \| \| \|___Procedures \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Sexuality \| \| \|___Support Groups \| \|___Mental Health Care \| \|___Midwives \| \|___Mobility Aids \| \|___Natural Remedies \| \|___Neuro Linguistic Programming \| \|___Nursing and Care Services \| \| \|___Care Plans \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Humor \| \| \|___Internet \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___References \| \| \|___Specialties \| \| \|___Students \| \| \|___Volunteer Opportunities \| \|___Nutritional Supplements \| \|___Nutritional Therapy \| \|___Occupational Therapy \| \|___Opticians \| \|___Orthodontists \| \|___Osteopathy \| \|___Pain Relief \| \|___Personal Trainers \| \|___Pharmacy \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Drugs and Medications \| \| \|___Guides and Resources \| \| \|___Online Pharmacies \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Pharmacies \| \| \|___Pharmacy Schools \| \| \|___Prescription Services \| \| \|___Viagra \| \|___Photo Dynamic Therapy \| \|___Physiotherapy \| \|___Pilates \| \|___Plastic Surgery \| \|___Podiatry \| \|___Pregnancy \| \|___Preventive Health Care \| \|___Private Ambulance Services \| \|___Psychic Mediums \| \|___Psychologists \| \|___Psychotherapy \| \|___Qigong \| \|___Reflexology \| \|___Rehabilitation Clinics \| \|___Reiko \| \|___Respite Care \| \|___Senior Health \| \| \|___Assisted Living \| \| \|___Caregiver Resources \| \| \|___Drugs \| \| \|___Fitness \| \| \|___Sexuality \| \| \|___Well-Being and Safety \| \|___Sexual Health \| \|___Shamanism \| \|___Shiatsu Massage \| \|___Speech And Language Therapy \| \|___Spiritual Healing \| \|___Sports Massage \| \|___Sports Therapy \| \|___Stairlfts \| \|___STD and HIV Testing Clinic \| \|___Stop Smoking Therapy \| \|___Stress Management \| \|___Tai Chi Qigong Therapy \| \|___Teen Health \| \| \|___Advice \| \| \|___Articles \| \| \|___Drugs and Alcohol \| \| \|___Fitness and Nutrition \| \| \|___Teen Pregnancy \| \|___Therapeutic Massage \| \|___Therapy Centers \| \|___Trager Work \| \|___Travel Health \| \|___Tuina Massage \| \|___Ultrasound \| \|___Vasectomy Clinics \| \|___Weight Loss \| \|___Womans Health \| \| \|___By Region \| \| \|___Conditions and Diseases \| \| \|___Menopause \| \| \|___Menstruation \| \| \|___Nutrition \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Pelvic Exams and Pap Tests \| \| \|___Reproductive \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Sexuality \| \| \|___Smoking \| \| \|___Support Groups \| \|___Yoga \|___Home \| \|___2nd Hand Furniture \| \|___Architectural Salvage \| \|___Artificial Plants \| \|___Bags and Luggage \| \|___Bathrooms \| \|___Bedding \| \|___Bedroom Furnishings \| \|___Beds \| \|___Carpet Shop \| \|___Christmas Trees \| \|___Coal Merchants \| \|___Consumer Information \| \|___Cooking \| \| \|___Appetizers \| \| \|___Baking \| \| \|___Beverages \| \| \|___Brand Name Recipes \| \| \|___Breakfast \| \| \|___Canning and Freezing \| \| \|___Casseroles \| \| \|___Chefs \| \| \|___Chocolate \| \| \|___Condiments \| \| \|___Crock Pot \| \| \|___Dairy \| \| \|___Desserts \| \| \|___Drying and Dehydrating \| \| \|___Eggs \| \| \|___Fish and Seafood \| \| \|___Fondue \| \| \|___For Kids \| \| \|___Forums \| \| \|___Fruits and Vegetables \| \| \|___Fusion Cooking \| \| \|___Gifts in a Jar \| \| \|___Gourmet \| \| \|___Grains \| \| \|___Herbs and Spices \| \| \|___Holidays \| \| \|___International Cuisines \| \| \|___Jams, Jellies, and Preserves \| \| \|___Mailing Lists \| \| \|___Meat \| \| \|___Meat Substitutes \| \| \|___Microwave \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Nuts and Seeds \| \| \|___Opinions and Insights \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Outdoors \| \| \|___Pasta \| \| \|___Pizza \| \| \|___Pressure Cooker \| \| \|___Quantity Cooking \| \| \|___Quick and Easy Cooking \| \| \|___Recipe Collections \| \| \|___Recipe Management \| \| \|___Safety \| \| \|___Salads \| \| \|___Sandwiches \| \| \|___Sauces \| \| \|___Snacks \| \| \|___Soups and Stews \| \| \|___Special Diets \| \| \|___Spicy \| \| \|___Stuffings and Dressings \| \| \|___Techniques \| \| \|___Vegetarian \| \| \|___Wild Foods \| \|___Cookware \| \|___Curtains and Blinds \| \|___Decorations \| \|___Do-It-Yourself \| \|___Domestic Services \| \| \|___Cleaning \| \| \|___Education Training \| \| \|___House Sitting \| \|___Drop Shipping \| \|___Eco Friendly Products \| \|___Emergency Preparation \| \| \|___Equipment \| \| \|___Food and Water \| \| \|___Safety \| \| \|___Survival Kits \| \|___Entertaining \| \| \|___Baby Showers \| \| \|___Holidays \| \| \|___Outdoors \| \| \|___Party Planning \| \|___Fabric Stores \| \|___Family \| \| \|___Adoption \| \| \|___Babies \| \| \|___Child Care \| \| \|___Family Resources and Support \| \| \|___Foster Care \| \| \|___Grandparents \| \| \|___Multiples \| \| \|___On the Web \| \| \|___Parenting \| \| \|___Pregnancy \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Runaways \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Fireplaces \| \|___Fishes \| \| \|___Angelfish \| \| \|___Butterfly Fish \| \| \|___CatFish and Electric Catfish \| \| \|___Cichild Fish \| \| \|___Goby Fish \| \| \|___Goldfish \| \| \|___Guppy Fish \| \| \|___Parrot Fish \| \| \|___Piranha Fish \| \| \|___Sea Horse \| \|___Floor \| \|___Furniture \| \|___Futons \| \|___Garden Buildings \| \|___Garden Centers \| \|___Garden Machinery \| \|___Garden Sheds \| \|___Garden Supplies \| \|___Gardening \| \| \|___Bonsai and Suiseki \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Enabled Gardeners \| \| \|___Events \| \| \|___Forums and Online Communities \| \| \|___Gardening Helps and Tutorials \| \| \|___Gardens \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Hydroponic \| \| \|___Images \| \| \|___Intensive Planting \| \| \|___Kids Gardening \| \| \|___Landscaping \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organic \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___People \| \| \|___Pest and Disease Control \| \| \|___Plants \| \| \|___Regional \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Software \| \| \|___Soil and Additives \| \| \|___Specialized \| \|___Hand Tools \| \|___Home \| \|___Home Improvements \| \| \|___Appliances \| \| \|___Automation \| \| \|___Bathrooms \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Climate Control \| \| \|___Decorating \| \| \|___Design and Construction \| \| \|___Electrical \| \| \|___Energy Efficiency \| \| \|___Exterior \| \| \|___Floors \| \| \|___Furniture \| \| \|___Glossaries \| \| \|___Kitchens \| \| \|___Lighting \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Painting \| \| \|___Plumbing \| \| \|___Restoration \| \| \|___Safety and Security \| \| \|___Storage \| \| \|___Tools and Equipment \| \| \|___Walls \| \| \|___Welding and Soldering \| \| \|___Windows and Doors \| \|___Home Interiors \| \|___Home Shopping \| \|___Homemaking \| \| \|___Celebrity Homemakers \| \| \|___Christian \| \| \|___Cleaning and Stains \| \| \|___Coupons and Discounts \| \| \|___Frugality \| \| \|___Home Management \| \| \|___Publications and Media \| \|___Homeowners \| \| \|___Home Buyers \| \| \|___Homeowner Associations \| \| \|___Pest Control \| \| \|___Treehouses \| \|___Household Goods \| \|___Hydroponics \| \|___Ironmongers \| \|___Kitchens \| \|___Lighting \| \|___Mirrors \| \|___Moving and Relocating \| \| \|___International Relocation \| \| \|___Military Relocation \| \| \|___Moving \| \| \|___Publications \| \|___Newsagents \| \|___Ornaments \| \|___Outdoor Furniture \| \|___Pets and Animals \| \| \|___Animal Health care \| \| \|___Aquariums \| \| \|___Bird Breeders \| \| \|___Boarding Catteries \| \| \|___Boarding Kennels \| \| \|___Cat and Dog Breeders \| \| \|___Dog Accessories \| \| \|___Dog Training \| \| \|___Equestrian Services \| \| \|___Equestrian Supplies \| \| \|___Falconry \| \| \|___Pet Grooming \| \| \|___Pet Micro chipping \| \| \|___Pet Photographers \| \| \|___Pet Portraits \| \| \|___Pet Services \| \| \|___Pet Shops \| \| \|___Pet Sitting \| \| \|___Pet Supplies \| \| \|___Pet Training \| \| \|___Pet Walking and Sitting \| \| \|___Riding Lessons \| \| \|___Vets \| \| \|___Wildlife Sanctuaries \| \|___Plant Sales \| \|___Pond Supplies \| \|___Power Tools \| \|___Rugs \| \|___Rural Living \| \| \|___Hobby Farms \| \| \|___Homesteading \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \|___Safety and Security \| \|___Seasonal \| \|___Security System \| \|___Showers \| \|___Shutters \| \|___Sofas \| \|___Soft Furnishings \| \|___Solar Panels \| \|___Stoves \| \|___Tarpaulin \| \|___Tropical Fish \| \|___Upholstery Supplies \| \|___Urban Living \| \|___Utility Bills \| \|___Water Gardening Services \| \|___Water Purification \| \|___Weather Equipment \| \|___Weddings \| \| \|___Alternative Wedding Transport \| \| \|___Balloon Decor \| \| \|___Bridal Wear \| \| \|___Civil Partnership Services \| \| \|___Dove Release \| \| \|___Mens Suit Hire \| \| \|___Mobile Bar Hire \| \| \|___Wedding Accessories \| \| \|___Wedding Anniversary \| \| \|___Wedding Attire \| \| \|___Wedding Cakes \| \| \|___Wedding Car Hire \| \| \|___Wedding Catering \| \| \|___Wedding Childcare \| \| \|___Wedding Dress Hire \| \| \|___Wedding Dresses \| \| \|___Wedding Entertainment \| \| \|___Wedding Favors \| \| \|___Wedding Flowers \| \| \|___Wedding Furniture \| \| \|___Wedding Hair and Makeup \| \| \|___Wedding Invitations \| \| \|___Wedding Lists \| \| \|___Wedding Music \| \| \|___Wedding Photographers \| \| \|___Wedding Services and Planning \| \| \|___Wedding Stationery \| \| \|___Wedding Suit Hire \| \| \|___Wedding Toastmasters \| \| \|___Wedding Venue \| \| \|___Wedding Videos \|___Internet \| \|___Access Providers \| \|___Affiliate Programs \| \|___Blogging and RSS \| \|___Broadcasting \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \|___Content Providers \| \|___Cybercrimes \| \|___Domain Names \| \|___E-commerce \| \|___Email \| \| \|___Bulk Email \| \| \|___Email Encryption \| \| \|___Email Hosting \| \| \|___Email Marketing Software \| \| \|___Email Security \| \| \|___Video Email Services \| \|___Employment Resources \| \|___File Sharing \| \|___Free Stuff \| \|___Games \| \|___Guides \| \|___Hardware \| \|___Internet Marketing \| \|___Internet Security \| \| \|___Data Backup \| \| \|___Employee Internet Management \| \| \|___Filtering Software \| \| \|___SSL Certificates \| \|___Issues \| \|___Multimedia \| \|___Networking \| \| \|___Cabling and Fiber Optics \| \| \|___Computer Network \| \| \|___Network Protocols \| \| \|___Networking Consultants \| \| \|___WiFi \| \|___Online Backup \| \|___Online Content \| \| \|___Classifieds \| \| \|___Content Providers \| \| \|___Editorial \| \| \|___Membership Management \| \| \|___News \| \| \|___Online Auctions \| \| \|___Online Communities \| \| \|___Online Surveys \| \|___Online Learning \| \|___Online Teaching \| \|___Portals \| \|___Programming and Development \| \|___Protocols \| \|___Proxying and Filtering \| \|___Radio \| \|___Search Engine Optimization \| \|___Searching the Web \| \|___Security and Encryption \| \|___SEO Services \| \| \|___Forums \| \| \|___Link Development \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___SEO Company \| \|___Service Providers (ISP) \| \|___Social Networking \| \|___Spam \| \|___Streaming \| \|___Tools and Resources \| \|___Web Applications \| \|___Web Design and Development \| \| \|___Blog Design \| \| \|___Content Management \| \| \|___CSS Design \| \| \|___Database Driven Websites \| \| \|___Flash Design \| \| \|___Flash Development \| \| \|___Graphic Design \| \| \|___Internet Radio \| \| \|___Internet TV \| \| \|___Logo Design \| \| \|___Multimedia Design \| \| \|___Search Engine Optimization \| \| \|___Social Bookmark \| \| \|___Web Design Software \| \| \|___Web Design Tool \| \| \|___Web Designers \| \| \|___Web Video \| \|___Web Directories \| \| \|___Directory Resources \| \| \|___Free Directories \| \| \|___General Directories \| \| \|___Niche Directories \| \| \| \|___Affiliate \| \| \| \|___Alphabetic \| \| \| \|___Articles \| \| \| \|___Arts \| \| \| \|___Automotive \| \| \| \|___Blogs \| \| \| \|___Business \| \| \| \|___Computers \| \| \| \|___Design \| \| \| \|___Entertainment \| \| \| \|___Finance \| \| \| \|___Forum \| \| \| \|___Freebies \| \| \| \|___Games \| \| \| \|___Health \| \| \| \|___Home and Garden \| \| \| \|___Hosting \| \| \| \|___Keyword Tags \| \| \| \|___Legal \| \| \| \|___Others \| \| \| \|___Pets and Animals \| \| \| \|___Real Estate \| \| \| \|___Reference \| \| \| \|___Religious \| \| \| \|___Scripts \| \| \| \|___Shopping \| \| \| \|___Software \| \| \| \|___Sports \| \| \| \|___Technology \| \| \| \|___Travel \| \| \| \|___Webmaster \| \| \| \|___Wholesale Traders \| \| \|___Paid Directories \| \| \|___Regional Directories \| \| \| \|___Africa \| \| \| \|___Asia \| \| \| \|___Caribbean \| \| \| \|___Central America \| \| \| \|___Europe \| \| \| \|___Middle East \| \| \| \|___North America \| \| \| \|___Oceania \| \| \| \|___Polar Regions \| \| \| \|___South America \| \|___Web Hosting \| \| \|___Collocation Hosting \| \| \|___Dedicated Servers \| \| \|___Email Hosting \| \| \|___Free Hosting \| \| \|___Hosting Reseller Programs \| \| \|___Linux Hosting \| \| \|___Unix Hosting \| \| \|___Virtual Private Server Hosting \| \| \|___Windows Hosting \| \|___Web Services \| \|___Webmaster Resources \| \| \|___Articles \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Scripts and Programs \| \| \|___SEO Tools \| \| \|___Tools \| \| \|___Tutorials \| \|___Wireless LANs and WANs \|___Kids and Teens \| \|___Arts \| \| \|___Architecture \| \| \|___Children's Museums \| \| \|___Creative Writing \| \| \|___Dance \| \| \|___Design \| \| \|___Filmmaking \| \| \|___Graphic Design \| \| \|___Music \| \| \|___Online Stories \| \| \|___Painting \| \| \|___Photography \| \| \|___Sculpture \| \| \|___Showcases for Kids' Art \| \| \|___Theater and Drama \| \|___Baby Clothing \| \|___Baby Products \| \|___Children Games \| \|___Children Services \| \| \|___Babies Classes \| \| \|___Child Care \| \| \|___Childcare Training \| \| \|___Childminders \| \| \|___Coaching \| \| \|___Foster Care Services \| \| \|___Kids Music \| \| \|___Parent Support \| \| \|___Parents Resources \| \| \|___Play Centers \| \| \|___Pre School Classes \| \| \|___Puppet Shows \| \| \|___Soft Play Equipment \| \|___Computers \| \|___Dancewear \| \|___Entertainment \| \| \|___Animation \| \| \|___Bands and Artists \| \| \|___Comics \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Movies \| \| \|___People \| \| \|___Radio \| \| \|___Television \| \|___Heelys \| \|___Kids Clothing \| \|___Kids Furniture \| \|___Kids Shoes \| \|___Model Shops \| \|___Party Supplies \| \|___People and Society \| \| \|___Biography \| \| \|___Careers \| \| \|___Genealogy \| \| \|___Holidays \| \| \|___Online Communities \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Pen Pals \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Philosophy \| \| \|___Psychology \| \| \|___Religion \| \| \|___Volunteering and Service \| \|___Playground Equipment \| \|___Prams \| \|___Pre-School \| \| \|___Crafts \| \| \|___Drawing and Coloring \| \| \|___Games \| \| \|___Television \| \|___Rocking Horses \| \|___School Time \| \| \|___English \| \| \|___Foreign Languages \| \| \|___Homework Help \| \| \|___Math \| \| \|___Reference Tools \| \| \|___Science \| \| \|___Social Studies \| \|___Sports and Hobbies \| \| \|___Audio Recording \| \| \|___Birding \| \| \|___Coins \| \| \|___Cooking \| \| \|___Crafts \| \| \|___Drawing and Coloring \| \| \|___Gardening \| \| \|___Humor \| \| \|___Letterboxing \| \| \|___Magic \| \| \|___Radio \| \| \|___Sports \| \| \|___Summer Camps \| \| \|___Toys \| \| \|___Trading and Collecting \| \|___Teen Life \| \| \|___Advice \| \| \|___BabySitting \| \| \|___Boys Only \| \| \|___Creative Expression \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Driver's Education \| \| \|___Fashion \| \| \|___Girls Only \| \| \|___Issues \| \| \|___Magazines \| \| \|___Memorial Pages \| \| \|___Online Communities \| \| \|___Proms \| \| \|___Runaways \| \| \|___Suicide \| \| \|___Teen Health \| \| \|___Teen Sexuality \| \| \|___Truancy \| \| \|___Volnteering and Services \| \|___Toy Shops \| \|___Your Family \| \| \|___Adoption \| \| \|___Divorce \| \| \|___Pets \| \| \|___Young Caregivers \|___News and Media \| \|___Alternative \| \| \|___Bad News \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Good News \| \| \|___Magazines \| \| \|___Newspapers \| \| \|___Odd News \| \| \|___Radio \| \|___Analysis and Opinion \| \| \|___Columnists \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Personal \| \|___Arts and Humanities \| \|___Business \| \|___By Subject \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \|___College and University \| \|___Computers and Internet \| \|___Cultures and Groups \| \|___Current Events \| \|___Directories \| \|___Education \| \|___Entertainment \| \|___Environment and Nature \| \|___Government \| \|___Health \| \|___Home and Garden \| \|___Internet Broadcasts \| \|___Journalism \| \|___Magazines \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \|___Marketing and Advertising \| \|___Media \| \| \|___Access to Airwaves \| \| \|___Analysis and Opinion \| \| \|___Broadcast \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Industry News \| \| \|___Journalism \| \| \|___Media Literacy \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Participatory \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Services \| \| \|___Watchdogs \| \|___Museums and Archives \| \|___News for Kids \| \|___Newspapers \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___International \| \| \|___Military Bases \| \| \|___Publishers \| \| \|___Regional \| \| \|___Student \| \|___Online Archives \| \|___Personalized News \| \|___Politics \| \|___Polls and Surveys \| \|___Regional \| \|___Religion \| \|___Science \| \|___Sports \| \|___Technology \| \|___Television \| \|___Traffic and Road Conditions \| \|___Transportation \| \|___Travel \| \|___Weather \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Snow and Ski Forecasts \| \|___Weird News \|___Recreation \| \|___Antiques \| \| \|___Appliances \| \| \|___Cash Registers \| \| \|___Ceramics and Pottery \| \| \|___Clocks and Watches \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Farm and Ranch \| \| \|___Furniture \| \| \|___Lighting \| \| \|___Phonographs \| \| \|___Photographs \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Radio \| \| \|___Rugs \| \| \|___Scientific and Medical \| \| \|___Shows and Events \| \| \|___Silver and Flatware \| \| \|___Telephones and Telegraphs \| \| \|___Tools \| \| \|___Typewriters \| \|___Audio \| \| \|___Antique Recording Technologies \| \| \|___Do-It-Yourself \| \| \|___HiFi \| \| \|___Home Recording \| \| \|___Minidisc \| \|___Autos \| \| \|___Audio and Alarms \| \| \|___Buyers Guides \| \| \|___Car Lovers \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Classifieds \| \| \|___Clubs \| \| \|___Driving and Safety \| \| \|___Enthusiasts \| \| \|___Events and Shows \| \| \|___Image Galleries \| \| \|___License Plates \| \| \|___Makes and Models \| \| \|___News and Magazines \| \| \|___Rentals \| \| \|___Repair \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Restoration \| \|___Aviation \| \| \|___Air Shows \| \| \|___Aircraft \| \| \|___Ballooning \| \| \|___Events \| \| \|___Experience Flights \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Military \| \| \|___Model Aviation \| \| \|___Multimedia \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Pilots \| \| \|___Regulations \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Simulation and Training \| \| \|___Skydiving \| \|___Birding \| \| \|___Africa \| \| \|___Asia \| \| \|___Backyard \| \| \|___Caribbean \| \| \|___Central America \| \| \|___Europe \| \| \|___Mailing Lists \| \| \|___Middle East \| \| \|___North America \| \| \|___Oceania \| \| \|___Optics \| \| \|___Photography \| \| \|___South America \| \| \|___Trip Reports \| \|___Boating \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Build and Design \| \| \|___Canals \| \| \|___Charters \| \| \|___Classifieds \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Events and Shows \| \| \|___Harbors \| \| \|___Living Aboard \| \| \|___Marine Communication \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Paddling \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Power Boating \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Safety \| \| \|___Sailing \| \| \|___Service and Equipment \| \| \|___Wooden Boats \| \|___Camps \| \| \|___Academic \| \| \|___Advisory Services \| \| \|___Alumni \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Commercial Services \| \| \|___Computer \| \| \|___Day \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Equestrian \| \| \|___Europe \| \| \|___North America \| \| \|___Oceania \| \| \|___Performing Arts \| \| \|___Space \| \| \|___Special Needs \| \| \|___Sports \| \| \|___Travel and Adventure \| \| \|___Weight Loss \| \|___Climbing \| \| \|___Africa \| \| \|___Aid Climbing \| \| \|___Asia \| \| \|___Bouldering \| \| \|___Europe \| \| \|___Guides and Education \| \| \|___Ice Climbing \| \| \|___Indoor \| \| \|___Mountaineering \| \| \|___North America \| \| \|___Oceania \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Personal Journals \| \| \|___Rock Climbing \| \| \|___South America \| \| \|___Tree Climbing \| \|___Collecting \| \| \|___A \| \| \|___B \| \| \|___C \| \| \|___D \| \| \|___E \| \| \|___F \| \| \|___G \| \| \|___H \| \| \|___I \| \| \|___J \| \| \|___K \| \| \|___L \| \| \|___M \| \| \|___N \| \| \|___O \| \| \|___P \| \| \|___Q \| \| \|___R \| \| \|___S \| \| \|___T \| \| \|___U \| \| \|___V \| \| \|___W \| \| \|___X \| \| \|___Y \| \| \|___Z \| \|___Drugs \| \| \|___Cannabis \| \| \|___Dissociatives \| \| \|___Psychedelics \| \|___Entertainment \| \| \|___Amusement and Theme Parks \| \| \|___Awards \| \| \|___Beauty \| \| \| \|___Airbrush Artists \| \| \| \|___Barbers \| \| \| \|___Beauty Consultants \| \| \| \|___Beauty Salons \| \| \| \|___Beauty Therapists \| \| \| \|___Beauty Treatments \| \| \| \|___Cosmetic Surgery \| \| \| \|___Cosmetics \| \| \| \|___Essential Oils \| \| \| \|___Fragrance and Perfume \| \| \| \|___Hair Extensions \| \| \| \|___Hair Loss Treatment \| \| \| \|___Hair Removal \| \| \| \|___Hairdressers \| \| \| \|___Make Up Artists \| \| \| \|___Male Grooming \| \| \| \|___Massage \| \| \| \|___Mobile Beauty Therapists \| \| \| \|___Mobile Hairdressers \| \| \| \|___Nail and Beauty Training \| \| \| \|___Nail Technicians \| \| \| \|___Natural Skincare \| \| \| \|___Organic Skincare \| \| \| \|___Skincare \| \| \| \|___Solarium \| \| \| \|___Spray Tan Technician \| \| \| \|___Suppliers \| \| \| \|___Tattooists \| \| \| \|___Teeth Whitening \| \| \| \|___Toiletries \| \| \|___Bookmakers \| \| \|___Books and Literature \| \| \|___Cartoons and Animation \| \| \|___Celebrities \| \| \|___Comedy \| \| \|___DVD Rental \| \| \|___E-cards \| \| \|___Fashion \| \| \| \|___Body Piercing \| \| \| \|___Fabric \| \| \| \|___Fashion Designers \| \| \| \|___Fashion Photographers \| \| \| \|___Fashion Shows \| \| \| \|___Fashion Stylists \| \| \| \|___Image Consultants \| \| \| \|___Modeling Agencies \| \| \| \|___Personal Shoppers \| \| \| \|___Tailors \| \| \|___Food and Drink \| \| \| \|___Baby Food \| \| \| \|___Bakers \| \| \| \|___Bar tendering \| \| \| \|___Beer and Home Brewing \| \| \| \|___Bottled Water \| \| \| \|___Butchers \| \| \| \|___Cafes and Tea Houses \| \| \| \|___Cake Design \| \| \| \|___Candy Shop \| \| \| \|___Caterers \| \| \| \|___Cheese monger \| \| \| \|___Chocolates \| \| \| \|___Coffee Bars \| \| \| \|___Coffee Machines \| \| \| \|___Confectionery \| \| \| \|___Cookery \| \| \| \|___Delicatessens \| \| \| \|___Fair Trade \| \| \| \|___Food Hygiene \| \| \| \|___Food Manufacturers \| \| \| \|___Food Packaging \| \| \| \|___Food Retailers \| \| \| \|___Free Range Foods \| \| \| \|___Fridge Hire \| \| \| \|___Gourmet Brownies \| \| \| \|___Grill and Brewery \| \| \| \|___Hampers \| \| \| \|___Health Food \| \| \| \|___Herbs and Spices \| \| \| \|___Ice Supplies \| \| \| \|___Lunch Delivery \| \| \| \|___Markets \| \| \| \|___Meal Delivery \| \| \| \|___Organic Food Delivery \| \| \| \|___Organic Food Shop \| \| \| \|___Personal Chefs \| \| \| \|___Pizza Delivery \| \| \| \|___Preserves \| \| \| \|___Private Chef Services \| \| \| \|___Recipes \| \| \| \|___Restaurant Franchising \| \| \| \|___Seafood \| \| \| \|___Snack Foods \| \| \| \|___Supplier \| \| \| \|___Traditional Foods \| \| \| \|___Vending Machines \| \| \| \|___Water Filters and Coolers \| \| \| \|___Wholesalers \| \| \| \|___Wild Foods \| \| \| \|___Wine \| \| \|___Fun Stuffs \| \| \| \|___Adult Fun \| \| \| \|___Animation \| \| \| \|___Audio Clips \| \| \| \|___Cartoons \| \| \| \|___Comics \| \| \| \|___Funny Stories \| \| \| \|___Funny Themes \| \| \| \|___Funny Video Clips \| \| \| \|___Funy Events \| \| \| \|___Funy Pictures \| \| \| \|___Jokes \| \| \| \|___Others \| \| \|___Funeral Directors \| \| \| \|___Cremation Products \| \| \| \|___Funeral Literature \| \| \| \|___Funeral Services \| \| \| \|___Grave Care \| \| \|___Hobbies \| \| \| \|___Coin Collectors \| \| \| \|___Collectibles \| \| \| \|___Dolls House Accessories \| \| \| \|___Model Shops \| \| \| \|___Needlecraft \| \| \| \|___Stamp Collectors \| \| \|___Humor \| \| \|___Lifestyle Management \| \| \|___Magic \| \| \|___Mobile Zone \| \| \|___Music \| \| \| \|___Acoustic Consultants \| \| \| \|___Artist Management \| \| \| \|___Audio Production \| \| \| \|___Bands \| \| \| \|___CD and DVDs \| \| \| \|___Composers \| \| \| \|___DJs \| \| \| \|___Entertainment Agencies \| \| \| \|___Guitar Making and Repair \| \| \| \|___Instrument Repair \| \| \| \|___Instruments \| \| \| \|___Karaoke \| \| \| \|___Mobile Disco \| \| \| \|___Music Production \| \| \| \|___Music Promotion \| \| \| \|___Music Publishing \| \| \| \|___Music Supplier \| \| \| \|___Music Tuition \| \| \| \|___Musicians \| \| \| \|___Online Music \| \| \| \|___Orchestras \| \| \| \|___Piano Tuning \| \| \| \|___Record Labels \| \| \| \|___Recording Services \| \| \| \|___Recording Studios \| \| \| \|___Rehearsal Studios \| \| \| \|___Sound Engineers \| \| \| \|___Sound Equipment Systems \| \| \| \|___Tour Management \| \| \| \|___Tribute Acts \| \| \| \|___Vocalists \| \| \|___Pubs and Clubs \| \| \|___Radio \| \| \|___Restaurants \| \| \|___Reviews \| \| \|___Sex Toys \| \| \|___Voluntary Organizations \| \| \|___Wallpapers \| \|___Family Recreation \| \|___Food \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Cheese \| \| \|___Confectionery \| \| \|___Contests \| \| \|___Dining Guides \| \| \|___Drink \| \| \|___Durian \| \| \|___Events \| \| \|___Fast Food \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Jell-o \| \| \|___Marmite \| \| \|___Meat \| \| \|___Spicy \| \| \|___Vegetables \| \| \|___Wild Foods \| \|___Gardening \| \|___Guns \| \| \|___Airguns \| \| \|___Auctions \| \| \|___Blackpowder \| \| \|___Blowguns \| \| \|___Competition Shooting \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Engraving \| \| \|___Events \| \| \|___Gunning \| \| \|___Gunsmiths \| \| \|___Homemade \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Range Facilities \| \| \|___Reloading \| \| \|___Shooting \| \| \|___Shotguns and Smoothbores \| \| \|___Supplies and Ammunition \| \| \|___Toy Guns \| \|___Horoscopes \| \|___Humor \| \| \|___Advice \| \| \|___Animals \| \| \|___Archives \| \| \|___Audio and Video Clips \| \| \|___Bizarre \| \| \|___Cartoons \| \| \|___Celebrities \| \| \|___Computer \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Food and Drink \| \| \|___Funny Stories \| \| \|___Gardening \| \| \|___Insults \| \| \|___Interactive \| \| \|___Job Related \| \| \|___Jokes \| \| \|___Laws \| \| \|___Magazines \| \| \|___Mailing Lists \| \| \|___Medical \| \| \|___Multimedia Clips \| \| \|___Musical \| \| \|___News \| \| \|___Parenting \| \| \|___Parodies \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Poetry \| \| \|___Politics \| \| \|___Pranks \| \| \|___Quotes \| \| \|___Regional \| \| \|___Relationships \| \| \|___Satire \| \| \|___Science \| \| \|___Sports \| \| \|___Subcultures \| \| \|___Television Programs \| \| \|___Useless Pages \| \| \|___Visual \| \| \|___Weird Graphics \| \| \|___Wordplay \| \| \|___Work Related \| \|___Hunting \| \|___Kites \| \| \|___Aerial Photography \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Display Teams \| \| \|___Events \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Rules \| \| \|___Traction \| \|___Knives \| \| \|___Activities \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Collectors \| \| \|___Custom Knives \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Organizations \| \|___Living History \| \| \|___By Historical Region \| \| \|___By Time Period \| \| \|___By Topic \| \| \|___Historical Impersonators \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Society for Creative Anachronism \| \|___Models \| \| \|___Boats and Ships \| \| \|___Dollhouse Miniatures \| \| \|___Paper \| \| \|___Radio Controlled (RC) \| \| \|___Railroad \| \| \|___Rocket Kits \| \| \|___Scale \| \|___Motorcycles \| \| \|___ATVs \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Classic \| \| \|___Classifieds and Bulletin Boards \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Dirt Bikes \| \| \|___Events and Gatherings \| \| \|___Extreme \| \| \|___Maintenance \| \| \|___Makes and Models \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \|___Mopeds \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Schools \| \| \|___Scooters \| \| \|___Shopping \| \| \|___Touring \| \| \|___Women and Motorcycling \| \|___National Lottery \| \|___News and Media \| \|___Nudism \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \|___Others \| \|___Outdoor Recreation \| \| \|___Camping \| \| \|___Canopying \| \| \|___Cave Exploration \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Fishing \| \| \|___Geocaching \| \| \|___Guides and Outfitters \| \| \|___Hiking \| \| \|___Hunting \| \| \|___Landsailing \| \| \|___Metal Detecting \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Offroad Vehicles \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Outdoor Products \| \| \|___Schools and Education \| \| \|___Scuba Diving \| \| \|___Skydiving \| \| \|___Snowbiking \| \| \|___Snowmobiling \| \| \|___Sub Sea Tours \| \| \|___Survival and Primitive Technology \| \| \|___Wildlife \| \|___Parks and Recreation \| \|___Parties \| \|___Pets \| \| \|___Animal Assisted Therapy \| \| \|___Birds \| \| \|___Cats \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Contests \| \| \|___Dogs \| \| \|___Exotic \| \| \|___Fish and Aquaria \| \| \|___Horses \| \| \|___Issues \| \| \|___Loss \| \| \|___Lost and Found \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Pet Food Preparation \| \| \|___Pigs \| \| \|___Reptiles and Amphibians \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Sitters and Walkers \| \| \|___Small Mammals \| \| \|___Training \| \| \|___Travel \| \| \|___Web Rings \| \|___Picture Ratings \| \| \|___Animals \| \| \|___Automobiles \| \| \|___Parodies \| \|___Recreation Centers \| \|___Recreation Departments \| \|___Recreation Equipment \| \|___Roads and Highways \| \| \|___Asia \| \| \|___Big Dig \| \| \|___Bridges and Tunnels \| \| \|___Byways \| \| \|___Construction and Planning \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Europe \| \| \|___Exit Lists \| \| \|___Fictional \| \| \|___Historic \| \| \|___Interchanges \| \| \|___Interstate 69 \| \| \|___Mailing Lists \| \| \|___North America \| \| \|___Oceania \| \| \|___Online Traffic Cameras \| \| \|___Pennsylvania Turnpike \| \| \|___Photography \| \| \|___Route 66 \| \| \|___Signs and Signals \| \| \|___Toll and Automated \| \|___Scouting \| \|___Spa Breaks \| \|___Theme Park \| \| \|___Amusement Centers \| \| \|___Attractions \| \| \|___Defunct \| \| \|___Disney \| \| \|___Guides \| \| \|___Individual Parks \| \| \|___Legoland \| \| \|___Paramount \| \| \|___Six Flags \| \| \|___Water Parks \| \|___Tobacco \| \| \|___Cigarettes \| \| \|___Cigars \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Pipes \| \| \|___Smokeless \| \|___Toys \| \|___Trains and Railroads \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Railway Enthusiasts \| \|___Whips \|___Regional \| \|___Africa \| \| \|___Egypt \| \| \|___Kenya \| \| \|___Nigeria \| \| \|___South Africa \| \|___Asia \| \| \|___Bangladesh \| \| \|___Cambodia \| \| \|___China \| \| \|___India \| \| \|___Indonesia \| \| \|___Japan \| \| \|___Malaysia \| \| \|___Maldives \| \| \|___Pakistan \| \| \|___Philippines \| \| \|___Singapore \| \| \|___South Korea \| \| \|___Sri Lanka \| \| \|___Taiwan \| \| \|___Thailand \| \| \|___Turkey \| \| \|___Vietnam \| \|___Caribbean \| \| \|___Aruba \| \| \|___Bahamas \| \| \|___Barbados \| \| \|___Cuba \| \| \|___Dominican Republic \| \| \|___Jamaica \| \| \|___Puerto Rico \| \| \|___Saint Lucia \| \| \|___Trinidad and Tobago \| \| \|___US Virgin Islands \| \|___Central America \| \| \|___Belize \| \| \|___Costa Rica \| \| \|___Guatemala \| \| \|___Honduras \| \| \|___Mexico \| \| \|___Nicaragua \| \| \|___Panama \| \|___Europe \| \| \|___Austria \| \| \|___Belgium \| \| \|___Croatia \| \| \|___Czech Republic \| \| \|___Denmark \| \| \|___Estonia \| \| \|___Finland \| \| \|___France \| \| \|___Germany \| \| \|___Greece \| \| \|___Hungary \| \| \|___Ireland \| \| \|___Italy \| \| \|___Monaco \| \| \|___Netherlands \| \| \|___Norway \| \| \|___Poland \| \| \|___Portugal \| \| \|___Romania \| \| \|___Russia \| \| \|___Spain \| \| \|___Sweden \| \| \|___Switzerland \| \| \|___Turkey \| \| \|___Ukraine \| \| \|___United Kingdom - UK \| \|___Middle East \| \| \|___Cyprus \| \| \|___Egypt \| \| \|___Iran \| \| \|___Iraq \| \| \|___Israel \| \| \|___Jordan \| \| \|___Lebanon \| \| \|___Oman \| \| \|___Palestinian Territory \| \| \|___Saudi Arabia \| \| \|___Syria \| \| \|___Turkey \| \| \|___United Arab Emirates \| \|___North America \| \| \|___Bermuda \| \| \|___Canada \| \| \|___Mexico \| \| \|___United States \| \|___Oceania \| \| \|___Australia \| \| \|___Fiji \| \| \|___Guam \| \| \|___Hawaii \| \| \|___New Zealand \| \| \|___Papua New Guinea \| \|___Polar Regions \| \| \|___Antarctic \| \| \|___Arctic \| \|___South America \| \| \|___Argentina \| \| \|___Brazil \| \| \|___Chile \| \| \|___Colombia \| \| \|___Ecuador \| \| \|___Guyana \| \| \|___Paraguay \| \| \|___Peru \| \| \|___Uruguay \| \| \|___Venezuela \|___Science \| \|___Aeronautics and Aerospace \| \|___Agriculture \| \| \|___Agribusiness \| \| \|___Agroecology \| \| \|___Agronomy \| \| \|___Animals \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Databases \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Field Crops \| \| \|___Forestry \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Horticulture \| \| \|___Institutions \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Pests and Diseases \| \| \|___Practices and Systems \| \| \|___Products and Services \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Soils \| \| \|___Sustainable Agriculture \| \|___Animals, Insects, and Pets \| \|___Anomalies and Alternative Science \| \| \|___Alternative Astronomy \| \| \|___Cryptozoology \| \| \|___Magazines \| \| \|___Orgone Energy \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Research \| \| \|___Weather Control \| \|___Anthropology and Archaeology \| \|___Artificial Life \| \|___Astronomy \| \| \|___Amateur Astronomy \| \| \|___Business \| \| \|___Calendars and Timekeeping \| \| \|___Colonization \| \| \|___Cosmology \| \| \|___Data Archives \| \| \|___Eclipses, Occultations and Transits \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Events \| \| \|___Extrasolar Planets \| \| \|___Extraterrestrial Life \| \| \|___Galaxies \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Images \| \| \|___Institutions \| \| \|___Interstellar Medium \| \| \|___Manned Exploration \| \| \|___National Space Agencies \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Software \| \| \|___Solar System \| \| \|___Stars \| \|___Biology \| \| \|___Biochemistry and Molecular Biology \| \| \|___Bioinformatics \| \| \|___Biology Usenet Groups \| \| \|___Biomechanics \| \| \|___Biophysics \| \| \|___Biotechnology \| \| \|___Botany \| \| \|___Careers in Biology \| \| \|___Cell Biology \| \| \|___Cryobiology \| \| \|___Developmental Biology \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Ecology \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Evolution \| \| \|___Genetics \| \| \|___Histology \| \| \|___Immunology \| \| \|___Instruments and Supplies \| \| \|___Methods and Techniques \| \| \|___Microbiology \| \| \|___Mycology \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Physiology \| \| \|___Plants and Animals \| \| \|___Products and Services \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Research \| \| \|___Software \| \| \|___Theoretical Biology \| \| \|___Toxicology \| \| \|___Zoology \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \|___Chemistry \| \| \|___Analytical \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Catalysis \| \| \|___Chemical Databases \| \| \|___Clinical and Medicinal \| \| \|___Computational \| \| \|___Consultants \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Electrochemistry \| \| \|___Elements \| \| \|___Environmental \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Inorganic \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Nuclear Magnetic Resonance \| \| \|___Organic \| \| \|___Periodic Table \| \| \|___Physical \| \| \|___Products and Services \| \| \|___Research \| \| \|___Software \| \| \|___Theoretical Chemistry \| \|___Cognitive Science \| \|___Complex Systems \| \|___Computer Science \| \| \|___Academic Departments \| \| \|___Computer Graphics \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Database Theory \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Distributed Computing \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___People \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Reference \| \| \|___Research Institutes \| \| \|___Theoretical \| \|___Conferences \| \|___Earth Sciences \| \| \|___Atmospheric Chemistry \| \| \|___Atmospheric Physics \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Data Centers \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Geochemistry \| \| \|___Geology \| \| \|___Geomatics \| \| \|___Geophysics \| \| \|___Libraries \| \| \|___Meteorology \| \| \|___Natural Disasters and Hazards \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Oceanography \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Paleogeography and Paleoclimatology \| \| \|___Paleontology \| \| \|___Products and Services \| \| \|___Quaternary Studies \| \| \|___Research \| \|___Ecology \| \|___Energy \| \|___Engineering \| \|___Environment \| \| \|___Agriculture \| \| \|___Air Quality \| \| \|___Biodiversity \| \| \|___Carbon Cycle \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Energy \| \| \|___Environmental Health and Safety \| \| \|___Forests and Rainforests \| \| \|___Global Change \| \| \|___Hazardous Waste \| \| \|___Life Cycle Assessment \| \| \|___Monitoring, Sampling and Testing \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Products and Services \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Sustainability \| \| \|___Waste Management and Recycling \| \| \|___Water Resources \| \|___Forensics \| \|___Geography \| \|___Geology and Geophysics \| \|___Hydrology \| \|___Information Technology \| \|___Institutions \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Regional \| \| \|___Research Funding Organizations \| \| \|___Research Institutes \| \| \|___Zoos and Aquariums \| \|___Instruments and Supplies \| \| \|___Distributors \| \| \|___Lab Furniture \| \| \|___Laboratory Automation and Robotics \| \| \|___Laboratory Equipment \| \|___Life Sciences \| \|___Math \| \| \|___Algebra \| \| \|___Analysis \| \| \|___Applications \| \| \|___Calculus \| \| \|___Chaos and Fractals \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Combinatorics \| \| \|___Differential Equations \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Events \| \| \|___Geometry \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Logic and Foundations \| \| \|___Mathematicians \| \| \|___Number Theory \| \| \|___Numerical Analysis \| \| \|___Operations Research \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Prizes \| \| \|___Probability \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Recreations \| \| \|___Reference \| \| \|___Research \| \| \|___Software \| \| \|___Statistics \| \| \|___Topology \| \|___Medicine \| \|___Meteorology \| \|___Methods and Techniques \| \| \|___Imaging Science \| \| \|___Scientific Method \| \| \|___Stereology \| \|___Nanotechnology \| \|___Neuroscience \| \| \|___Neurobiology \| \| \|___Neurochemistry \| \| \|___Neuroscientists \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Research \| \|___Physics \| \| \|___Alternative \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Computational \| \| \|___Condensed Matter \| \| \|___Crystallography \| \| \|___Dynamics and Fluid Mechanics \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Electromagnetism \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Instruments and Supplies \| \| \|___Mathematical Physics \| \| \|___Medical Physics \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Nuclear \| \| \|___Optics \| \| \|___Particle \| \| \|___Physicists \| \| \|___Plasma \| \| \|___Quantum Mechanics \| \| \|___Relativity \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Psychology \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Archives \| \| \|___Books \| \| \|___Journals \| \| \|___Magazines \| \|___Reference \| \| \|___Standards \| \| \|___Units of Measurement \| \|___Science in Society \| \| \|___Academic Departments \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Forensic Science \| \| \|___Research Ethics \| \| \|___Science and Religion \| \| \|___Science and Technology Policy \| \| \|___Skeptical Inquiry \| \|___Social Science \| \| \|___Anthropology \| \| \|___Archaeology \| \| \|___Area Studies \| \| \|___Cognitive Science \| \| \|___Communication \| \| \|___Criminology \| \| \|___Demographic Population \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Economics \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Ethnic Studies \| \| \|___Family and Consumer Science \| \| \|___Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Studies \| \| \|___Geography \| \| \|___Institutions \| \| \|___Language and Linguistics \| \| \|___Methodology \| \| \|___Personality \| \| \|___Political Science \| \| \|___Psychology \| \| \|___Public Administration \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Research \| \| \|___Social Work \| \| \|___Sociology \| \| \|___Urban and Regional Planning \| \|___Space \| \|___Technology \|___Shopping \| \|___Animals \| \|___Antiques and Collectibles \| \| \|___1950s Memorabilia \| \| \|___Advertising Collectibles \| \| \|___Artifacts \| \| \|___Baskets \| \| \|___Beer Steins \| \| \|___Cameras and Photographs \| \| \|___Celebrity Memorabilia \| \| \|___China, Glass, and Porcelain \| \| \|___Classifieds \| \| \|___Clothing and Apparel \| \| \|___Coins \| \| \|___Cookie Jars \| \| \|___Corkscrews \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Electronics and Machinery \| \| \|___Entertainment Memorabilia \| \| \|___Ephemera \| \| \|___Ethnographic \| \| \|___Figurines \| \| \|___Furniture \| \| \|___Hardware \| \| \|___Lighting \| \| \|___Maps and Charts \| \| \|___Military \| \| \|___Music \| \| \|___Nautical \| \| \|___Paper Money \| \| \|___Patches \| \| \|___Pez \| \| \|___Phonographs \| \| \|___Pins \| \| \|___Radios \| \| \|___Religious and Inspirational \| \| \|___Reproductions \| \| \|___Scientific and Medical \| \| \|___Sewing \| \| \|___Silver, Pewter and Flatware \| \| \|___Space \| \| \|___Stamps \| \| \|___Supplies \| \| \|___Telephones \| \| \|___Textiles \| \| \|___Tools \| \| \|___Toys and Games \| \| \|___Trains and Railroads \| \| \|___Varied Merchandise \| \| \|___Vehicles \| \| \|___Walking Sticks and Canes \| \| \|___Watches and Timepieces \| \| \|___Writing Instruments \| \|___Apparel \| \| \|___Accessories \| \| \|___Athletic Wear \| \| \|___Auctions \| \| \|___Casual \| \| \|___Children's \| \| \|___Costumes \| \| \|___Custom \| \| \|___Designer \| \| \|___Ethnic and Regional \| \| \|___Footwear \| \| \|___Formal Wear \| \| \|___Fur \| \| \|___Leather \| \| \|___Men's \| \| \|___Natural Fiber \| \| \|___Niche \| \| \|___Outdoors \| \| \|___Outerwear \| \| \|___Plus-Size \| \| \|___Swimwear \| \| \|___Teens \| \| \|___Undergarments \| \| \|___Uniforms \| \| \|___Used and Vintage \| \| \|___Women's \| \|___Architecture \| \|___Arts and Crafts \| \| \|___Antler Crafts \| \| \|___Baskets \| \| \|___Beading \| \| \|___Boxes \| \| \|___Candles \| \| \|___Ceramics \| \| \|___Craft Fairs \| \| \|___Decorative Painting \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Dolls \| \| \|___Ethnic \| \| \|___Fiber Arts \| \| \|___Floral Design \| \| \|___Folk \| \| \|___Galleries \| \| \|___Glass \| \| \|___Jewelry \| \| \|___Leather \| \| \|___Masks \| \| \|___Metal \| \| \|___Mosaics \| \| \|___Multiple Craft Artisans \| \| \|___Nature \| \| \|___Paper \| \| \|___Performing Arts \| \| \|___Polymer Clay \| \| \|___Posters and Prints \| \| \|___Reproductions \| \| \|___Soft Toys \| \| \|___Stone Crafts \| \| \|___Supplies \| \| \|___Themes \| \| \|___Toiletries \| \| \|___Woodcraft \| \|___Auctions \| \| \|___Antiques and Collectibles \| \| \|___Arts and Crafts \| \| \|___Auction Houses \| \| \|___Charity \| \| \|___Computers \| \| \|___Entertainment \| \| \|___Food and Wine \| \| \|___Motors \| \| \|___Search Engines \| \| \|___Specialty \| \| \|___Sports \| \|___Barter \| \|___Batteries \| \|___Beauty Products \| \|___Body Jewelry \| \|___Books \| \| \|___Antiques and Collectibles \| \| \|___Arts \| \| \|___Audio \| \| \|___Biographies \| \| \|___Book Clubs \| \| \|___Business \| \| \|___Children \| \| \|___Computers \| \| \|___Family and Relationships \| \| \|___Fiction \| \| \|___Food and Drink \| \| \|___General Interest \| \| \|___Health \| \| \|___History \| \| \|___Personal Finance \| \| \|___Personal Growth \| \| \|___Politics \| \| \|___Religion and Spirituality \| \| \|___Searching Services \| \| \|___Travel \| \| \|___Used and Rare \| \| \|___Vehicles \| \| \|___Women \| \|___Books and Magazines \| \|___Children \| \| \|___Babies \| \| \|___Bedding \| \| \|___Child Care \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Home Decor \| \| \|___Parties \| \| \|___Personalized \| \| \|___Playground Equipment \| \| \|___Safety Products and Services \| \| \|___Software \| \| \|___Toilet Training \| \| \|___Videos \| \|___Classifieds \| \|___Clothing \| \|___Computers \| \| \|___Accessories \| \| \|___Gifts \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Consumer Electronics \| \|___Coupons \| \|___Crafts \| \|___Death Care \| \|___Discounts \| \|___Education \| \|___Electronics \| \| \|___Accessories \| \| \|___Audio \| \| \|___Batteries \| \| \|___Cables \| \| \|___Communications \| \| \|___Digital Satellite \| \| \|___DVD Players \| \| \|___Flashlights \| \| \|___Global Positioning System \| \| \|___Home Automation \| \| \|___Home Theater \| \| \|___Repair \| \| \|___Stereo Equipment \| \| \|___Television \| \| \|___Translation Devices \| \| \|___Video \| \|___Entertainment \| \|___Ethnic and Regional \| \|___Fancy Dress \| \|___Fashion \| \|___Financial Services \| \|___Flowers \| \| \|___Artificial Plants \| \| \|___Dried Flowers \| \| \|___Florists \| \| \|___Fresh Cut \| \|___Food and Drink \| \|___Foods \| \| \|___Baked Goods \| \| \|___Barbeque \| \| \|___Beverages \| \| \|___Condiments and Sauces \| \| \|___Confectionary \| \| \|___Dairy Products \| \| \|___Desserts and Sweets \| \| \|___Diet \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Dried and Emergency Supplies \| \| \|___Ethnic and Regional \| \| \|___Fish and Seafood \| \| \|___Food Gifts \| \| \|___Gourmet \| \| \|___Grains \| \| \|___Grocers \| \| \|___Health Food \| \| \|___Meat and Poultry \| \| \|___Organic Food \| \| \|___Prepared Meals \| \| \|___Produce \| \| \|___Seasonings \| \| \|___Snacks \| \| \|___Sugar and Sweeteners \| \|___Footwear \| \|___Free Stuff \| \|___Furniture \| \|___General Merchandise \| \| \|___College and University \| \| \|___Major Retailers \| \| \|___Military Surplus \| \| \|___Previewed on TV \| \|___Gifts \| \| \|___Balloons \| \| \|___Christmas \| \| \|___Gag Gifts \| \| \|___Gift Baskets \| \| \|___Gift Certificates \| \| \|___Gift Registry \| \| \|___Graduation \| \| \|___Greeting Cards \| \| \|___Holidays \| \| \|___Personal Stationery \| \| \|___Personalized Gifts \| \| \|___Themes \| \| \|___Trophies and Awards \| \| \|___Weddings \| \| \|___Wholesale and Distribution \| \|___Gifts and Occasions \| \|___Health \| \| \|___Alternative \| \| \|___Beauty \| \| \|___Conditions and Illness \| \| \|___Dental \| \| \|___Disabilities \| \| \|___Emergency and First Aid \| \| \|___Fitness \| \| \|___Foot Health \| \| \|___Hearing \| \| \|___Home Tests \| \| \|___Massage Equipment \| \| \|___Men \| \| \|___Mental Health \| \| \|___Nutrition \| \| \|___Orthopedic \| \| \|___Physical Therapy \| \| \|___Rehabilitation \| \| \|___Reproduction and Sexuality \| \| \|___Travel \| \| \|___Vision \| \| \|___Weight Loss \| \| \|___Women \| \|___History \| \|___Hobbies \| \|___Home and Garden \| \|___Jewelry \| \| \|___Bead and Gemstone \| \| \|___Body Jewelry \| \| \|___Charms \| \| \|___Costume Jewelry \| \| \|___Cufflinks \| \| \|___Diamonds \| \| \|___Estate and Collectible \| \| \|___Ethnic and Regional \| \| \|___Fine Art \| \| \|___Handcrafted \| \| \|___Pearls \| \| \|___Precious Metals \| \| \|___Supplies \| \| \|___Thematic \| \| \|___Varied Merchandise \| \| \|___Watches \| \| \|___Wedding \| \|___Mans Clothes \| \|___Mobile Zone \| \|___Motor Vehicles \| \|___Music CD and DVD \| \| \|___Instruction \| \| \|___Instruments and Equipment \| \| \|___Recordings \| \| \|___Regional \| \| \|___Related Merchandise \| \| \|___Sheet Music and Notation \| \|___Niche \| \| \|___Bodyart \| \| \|___Dance \| \| \|___Gothic \| \| \|___Green Living \| \| \|___Military \| \| \|___Mod \| \| \|___Politics \| \|___Novelties \| \|___Office Supplies \| \|___Online Shopping Malls \| \|___Others \| \|___Outdoors \| \|___Pet Products \| \| \|___Birds \| \| \|___Breeders and Dealers \| \| \|___Cats and Dogs \| \| \|___Classifieds \| \| \|___Equipment, Supplies, and Toys \| \| \|___Fish \| \| \|___Loss \| \| \|___Reptiles and Amphibians \| \| \|___Services \| \| \|___Small Mammals \| \| \|___Theme Merchandise \| \|___Pets \| \|___Photography \| \| \|___Accessories \| \| \|___Albums and Frames \| \| \|___Associations \| \| \|___Cameras and Camcorders \| \| \|___Digital \| \| \|___Galleries \| \| \|___Manufacturers \| \| \|___Nature and Wildlife \| \| \|___Photo Labs \| \| \|___Photographers \| \| \|___Security \| \| \|___Services \| \| \|___Stock Photography \| \| \|___Tools and Equipment \| \| \|___Under Water \| \| \|___Used Equipment \| \|___Publications \| \|___Real Estate \| \|___Recreation \| \|___Safety Products \| \|___Security \| \|___Sports \| \|___Technology \| \|___Tobacco \| \|___Tools \| \|___Toys and Games \| \|___Travel and Transportation \| \|___Vehicles \| \| \|___Aircraft \| \| \|___Autos \| \| \|___Dealers \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Parts and Accessories \| \| \|___Security \| \| \|___Trucks, Vans and SUVs \| \| \|___Watercraft \| \|___Visual Arts \| \|___Wedding \| \|___Wholesale Shops \| \|___Womens Clothes \|___Society \| \|___Activism \| \| \|___Anti-Corporation \| \| \|___Anti-Media \| \| \|___Consumer \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Media \| \| \|___Multi-Issue \| \| \|___Nonviolence \| \| \|___Petitions \| \| \|___Regional \| \| \|___Resources \| \|___Crime \| \| \|___Abuse \| \| \|___Criminals \| \| \|___Domestic Violence \| \| \|___Homicide \| \| \|___Internet Crime \| \| \|___Kidnapping \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organized Crime \| \| \|___Prevention \| \| \|___Prisons \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Research \| \| \|___Sex Crimes \| \| \|___Theft \| \| \|___Trials \| \| \|___Unsolved \| \| \|___Victims \| \| \|___War Crimes \| \|___Death \| \| \|___Death Care \| \| \|___Near Death Experiences \| \| \|___Online Dedications \| \| \|___Suicide \| \|___Disabled \| \| \|___Arts \| \| \|___Assistive Technology \| \| \|___Camps \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Children \| \| \|___Disability Studies \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Family Resources \| \| \|___Independent Living \| \| \|___Lifestyle \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Service Animals \| \| \|___Travel \| \| \|___Universal Design \| \|___Environment and Nature \| \|___Ethnicity \| \| \|___African \| \| \|___Asian \| \| \|___Business and Economy \| \| \|___Celtic \| \| \|___Hispanic \| \| \|___Indigenous People \| \| \|___Jewish \| \| \|___Middle Eastern \| \| \|___Native American \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Romani \| \|___Fashion and Beauty \| \|___Folklore \| \| \|___Academic Departments \| \| \|___Literature \| \| \|___Magic \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Urban Legends \| \|___Food and Drink \| \|___Future \| \| \|___Academic Departments \| \| \|___Catastrophes \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Consultants \| \| \|___Essays \| \| \|___Millennialism \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Predictions \| \| \|___Projects \| \| \|___Research Centers \| \| \|___Transhumanism \| \| \|___Utopias \| \|___Genealogy \| \| \|___By Surname \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Emigration and Immigration \| \| \|___Heraldry \| \| \|___Mailing Lists \| \| \|___Medical \| \| \|___Military \| \| \|___Obituaries \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Resources \| \| \|___Services \| \| \|___Software \| \|___Government \| \| \|___Aviation Authorities \| \| \|___Companies Registries \| \| \|___Defense Ministries \| \| \|___Finance \| \| \|___Foreign Ministries \| \| \|___Government-Related Organizations \| \| \|___Guides and Directories \| \| \|___Intelligence \| \| \|___Multilateral \| \| \|___Parliaments and Legislature \| \|___History \| \| \|___By Region \| \| \|___By Time Period \| \| \|___By Topic \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Historical Personages \| \| \|___Journals \| \| \|___Magazines and E-zines \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Timelines \| \|___Holidays and Observances \| \| \|___Advent \| \| \|___All Saints Day \| \| \|___Anzac Day \| \| \|___April Fool's Day \| \| \|___Arbor Day \| \| \|___Armed Forces Day \| \| \|___Australia Day \| \| \|___Bastille Day \| \| \|___Birthdays \| \| \|___Black History Month \| \| \|___Boxing Day \| \| \|___Calendars and Lists \| \| \|___Canada Day \| \| \|___Christmas \| \| \|___Cinco de Mayo \| \| \|___Columbus Day \| \| \|___Day of the Dead \| \| \|___Diwali \| \| \|___Earth Day \| \| \|___Easter \| \| \|___Father's Day \| \| \|___Festivus \| \| \|___Flag Day \| \| \|___Fourth of July \| \| \|___Grandparents Day \| \| \|___Groundhog Day \| \| \|___Halloween \| \| \|___Holiday Pages \| \| \|___Independence Day \| \| \|___Juneteenth \| \| \|___Kwanzaa \| \| \|___Labor Day \| \| \|___Lent \| \| \|___Mardi Gras \| \| \|___Martin Luther King Jr. Day \| \| \|___May Day \| \| \|___Memorial Day \| \| \|___Mother's Day \| \| \|___New Year \| \| \|___New Year's Eve \| \| \|___President's Day \| \| \|___Reformation Day \| \| \|___Saint Patrick's Day \| \| \|___September 16 \| \| \|___Thanksgiving \| \| \|___Valentine's Day \| \| \|___Veterans Day \| \| \|___Web Rings \| \|___Issues \| \| \|___Abortion \| \| \|___Animal Welfare \| \| \|___Apathy \| \| \|___Business \| \| \|___By Region \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Children and Youth \| \| \|___Church-State Relations \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Conspiracy \| \| \|___Consumerism \| \| \|___Criminal Justice \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Disabilities \| \| \|___Economic \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___End-of-Life \| \| \|___Environmental \| \| \|___Family Planning \| \| \|___Fraud \| \| \|___Gambling \| \| \|___Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual \| \| \|___Global \| \| \|___Government Operations \| \| \|___Gun Control \| \| \|___Health \| \| \|___Housing \| \| \|___Human Rights \| \| \|___Immigration \| \| \|___Intellectual Property \| \| \|___Labor \| \| \|___Language \| \| \|___Micronations \| \| \|___Peace \| \| \|___Policy Institutes \| \| \|___Politics \| \| \|___Polls \| \| \|___Poverty \| \| \|___Property Rights \| \| \|___Science and Technology \| \| \|___Survivalism \| \| \|___Territorial Disputes \| \| \|___Terrorism \| \| \|___Transportation \| \| \|___Violence and Abuse \| \| \|___War and Conflict \| \|___Language \| \|___Law \| \| \|___By Region \| \| \|___Courts \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Employment \| \| \|___Law Enforcement \| \| \|___Law Libraries \| \| \|___Legal Information \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Reference \| \| \|___Services \| \|___Men \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Gatherings \| \| \|___Issues \| \| \|___Male Initiation \| \| \|___Men's Studies \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Publications \| \| \|___Relationships \| \| \|___Workshops and Courses \| \|___Military \| \| \|___Arts and Literature \| \| \|___Aviation \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Educational and Academic \| \| \|___Land Forces \| \| \|___Naval \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___People \| \| \|___POW-MIA \| \| \|___Special Operations \| \| \|___Veterans \| \| \|___Weapons and Equipment \| \|___Mythology and Folklore \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Advocacy \| \| \|___Animal Welfare \| \| \|___Chivalric \| \| \|___Development \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Fraternal \| \| \|___Fundraising \| \| \|___Genius \| \| \|___Nonprofit Resources \| \| \|___Professional \| \| \|___Related and Fraternal \| \| \|___Self-Improvement \| \| \|___Service Clubs \| \| \|___Students \| \| \|___Welfare \| \|___Paranormal \| \| \|___Bermuda Triangle \| \| \|___By Region \| \| \|___Chat and Forums \| \| \|___Crop Circles \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___EVP \| \| \|___Ghosts \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Out of the Body \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Prophecies \| \| \|___Psychic \| \| \|___Stigmata \| \| \|___UFOs \| \|___People \| \| \|___By Occupation \| \| \|___By Region \| \| \|___Celebrities \| \| \|___College Life \| \| \|___Cowboys \| \| \|___Expatriates \| \| \|___Furry \| \| \|___Generations and Age Groups \| \| \|___Indigo Children \| \| \|___Lefthanders \| \| \|___Lost or Missing \| \| \|___Namesakes \| \| \|___Otherkin \| \| \|___Pen Pals \| \| \|___Personal Websites \| \| \|___Redheads \| \| \|___Requesting Help \| \| \|___Women \| \|___Philanthropy \| \| \|___By Region \| \| \|___Cause Related Shopping \| \| \|___Free Donations \| \| \|___Gifts in Kind \| \| \|___Grants \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Social Enterprise \| \| \|___Volunteering \| \|___Philosophy \| \| \|___Academic Departments \| \| \|___Aesthetics \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Continental Philosophy \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Eastern Philosophy \| \| \|___Education \| \| \|___Epistemology \| \| \|___Ethics \| \| \|___Feminist Philosophy \| \| \|___Humor \| \| \|___Journals \| \| \|___Metaphysics \| \| \|___Movements \| \| \|___Online Texts \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Personal Pages \| \| \|___Philosophers \| \| \|___Philosophy of Education \| \| \|___Philosophy of History \| \| \|___Philosophy of Language \| \| \|___Philosophy of Logic \| \| \|___Philosophy of Mind \| \| \|___Philosophy of Religion \| \| \|___Philosophy of Science \| \| \|___Political Philosophy \| \| \|___Products and Services \| \| \|___Reference \| \|___Politics \| \| \|___Alternative Politics \| \| \|___Anarchism \| \| \|___By Country \| \| \|___By Region \| \| \|___Campaigns and Elections \| \| \|___Chats and Forums \| \| \|___Civic Participation \| \| \|___Conservatism \| \| \|___Consultants \| \| \|___Democracy \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Fascism \| \| \|___Federalism \| \| \|___Globalization \| \| \|___Green \| \| \|___Historical Speeches \| \| \|___Liberalism \| \| \|___Libertarianism \| \| \|___Lobbying \| \| \|___Monarchy \| \| \|___Nationalism \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Organizations \| \| \|___Parties \| \| \|___Socialism \| \|___Relationships \| \| \|___Advice \| \| \|___Alternative Lifestyles \| \| \|___Anger Management \| \| \|___Cyber Relationships \| \| \|___Dating \| \| \|___Divorce \| \| \|___Etiquette \| \| \|___Flirting \| \| \|___Forgiveness \| \| \|___Friendship \| \| \|___Intergenerational \| \| \|___Kissing \| \| \|___Long Distance \| \| \|___Marriage \| \| \|___Questionnaires \| \| \|___Romance \| \| \|___Weddings and Ceremonies \| \|___Religion and Spirituality \| \| \|___Arts \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Divination \| \| \|___Meditation \| \| \|___Morality \| \| \|___Mystery Traditions \| \| \|___Mysticism \| \| \|___New Movements \| \| \|___News and Media \| \| \|___Non-Religious \| \| \|___Opposing Views \| \| \|___Reincarnation \| \| \|___Religious Studies \| \| \|___Religious Texts \| \| \|___Shopping \| \| \|___Symbols \| \| \|___Traditional \| \|___Sexuality \| \| \|___Activities & Practices \| \| \|___Advice \| \| \|___Celibacy \| \| \|___Children and Adolescents \| \| \|___Masturbation \| \| \|___Sacred Sexuality \| \| \|___Sex Education \| \| \|___Sexual Addiction \| \|___Sociology \| \|___Subcultures \| \| \|___Anti Social \| \| \|___Bikers \| \| \|___Cyberculture \| \| \|___Directories \| \| \|___Geeks and Nerds \| \| \|___Gothic \| \| \|___Hip-Hop \| \| \|___Hippie \| \| \|___Industrial \| \| \|___Lounge Culture \| \| \|___Mods \| \| \|___Punks \| \| \|___Rave \| \| \|___Skinhead \| \| \|___Spotters \| \| \|___Straight Edge \| \| \|___Urban Primitive \| \|___Support Groups \| \|___Transgendered \| \| \|___Activism \| \| \|___Arts and Entertainment \| \| \|___Conferences \| \| \|___Crossdressing \| \| \|___Family and Relationships 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\| \|___Golf Ranges \| \|___Gymnastics \| \|___Gyms \| \|___Health Clubs \| \|___Hockey \| \|___Horse Riding \| \|___Hot Air Ballooning \| \|___Ice Hockey) \| \|___Judo \| \|___Karate \| \|___Kickboxing \| \|___Kite Buggies \| \|___Kiting \| \|___Leisure Centers \| \|___Martial Arts and Self Defense \| \|___Martial Arts Supplies \| \|___Motor Sports \| \|___Outdoor Adventure \| \|___Paragliding \| \|___Pool \| \|___Power Boating \| \|___Racehorse Trainers \| \|___Racquetball \| \|___Rodeo \| \|___Rope Skipping \| \|___Rounders \| \|___Rugby \| \|___Running \| \|___Sailing Clubs \| \|___Scuba Diving \| \|___Shooting Sports \| \|___Skateboarding \| \|___Skating \| \|___Skittles \| \|___Snooker \| \|___Snow Sports \| \|___Soccer \| \|___Softball \| \|___Sporting Equipment \| \|___Sports Clothing \| \|___Sports Coaching \| \|___Sports Dance \| \|___Sports Teams \| \|___Squash \| \|___Strength Sports \| \|___Surfing \| \|___Swimming \| \|___Table Tennis \| \|___Tchoukball \| \|___Team Handball \| \|___Ten Pin Bowling \| \|___Tennis \| \|___Track and Field \| \|___Trampolining \| \|___Triathlon Gear \| \|___Trophies \| \|___Walking \| \|___Water Sports \| \| \|___Canoe and Kayaking \| \| \|___Dragon Boating \| \| \|___Kitesurfing \| \| \|___Rowing \| \| \|___Surf Life Saving \| \| \|___Surfing \| \| \|___Swimming and Diving \| \| \|___Underwater \| \| \|___Water Polo \| \| \|___Water Skiing and Wakeboarding \| \| \|___Windsurfing \| \|___Winter Sports \| \|___Wrestling \|___Travel \| \|___Accommodation \| \| \|___Apartments \| \| \|___Bed and Breakfast \| \| \|___Caravan and Camping \| \| \|___Cottages \| \| \|___Group Accommodation \| \| \|___Guest Houses \| \| \|___Hostels \| \| \|___Hotels \| \| \|___Lodges and Log Cabins \| \| \|___Overseas Accommodation \| \| \|___Pub Accommodation \| \| \|___Self Catering Accommodation \| \| \|___Serviced Apartments \| \| \|___Ski and Alpine Accommodation \| \| \|___Villas \| \|___Activities \| \| \|___Bicycle Hire \| \| 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\| \|___Travel Guides \| \| \|___Caravan and Camping Guides \| \| \|___Guides and Directories \| \| \|___Online Travel Guides \| \| \|___Overseas Travel Guides \| \| \|___Tour Guides \| \| \|___Tourist Boards \| \| \|___Travel Cards \| \|___Visa Agencies	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6825
__label__cc	0.617245	0.382755	Wil Wheaton on the TSA netcrusher88 Postby netcrusher88 » Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:48 pm UTC Wil Wheaton wrote: I don't feel safe. I feel violated, humiliated, and angry. Yesterday, I was touched -- in my opinion, inappropriately -- by a TSA agent at LAX. I'm not going to talk about it in detail until I can speak with an attorney, but I've spent much of the last 24 hours replaying it over and over in my mind, and though some of the initial outrage has faded, I still feel sick and angry when I think about it. What I want to say today is this: I believe that the choice we are currently given by the American government when we need to fly is morally wrong, unconstitutional, and does nothing to enhance passenger safety. I further believe that when I choose to fly, I should not be forced to choose between submitting myself to a virtually-nude scan (and exposing myself to uncertain health risks due to radiation exposure)1, or enduring an aggressive, invasive patdown where a stranger puts his hands in my pants, and makes any contact at all with my genitals. When I left the security screening yesterday, I didn't feel safe. I felt violated, humiliated, assaulted, and angry. I felt like I never wanted to fly again. I was so furious and upset, my hands shook for quite some time after the ordeal was over. I felt sick to my stomach for hours. This is wrong. Nobody should have to feel this way, just so we can get on an airplane. We have fundamental human and constitutional rights in America, and among those rights is a reasonable expectation of personal privacy, and freedom from unreasonable searches. I can not believe that the TSA and its supporters believe that what they are doing is reasonable and appropriate. Nobody should have to choose between a virtually-nude body scan or an aggressive, invasive patdown where a stranger puts his or her hands inside your pants and makes any contact at all with your genitals or breasts as a condition of flying. I do not have the luxury of simply refusing to fly unless and until this policy changes. I have to travel dozens of times a year for work, and it simply isn't practical to travel any other way. Airlines know that I am not unique in this regard, so they have no incentive to take a stand on their customers' behalf. Our government also knows this, so our Congressmen and Congresswomen have no incentive to stand up for the rights and freedoms of their constituencies against powerful and politically-connected lobbyists like the former head of the TSA. This is also wrong. I have to travel back into the USA next week, and I'll be back and forth between Los Angeles and Vancouver for much of the next several months. When I think about all this travel, I feel helpless, disempowered, and victimized by the airlines and the TSA ... and I'm one of the lucky passengers who has never been sexually assaulted. I can't imagine what it must feel like for someone who has been the victim of sexual violence to know that they are faced with the same two equally-unacceptable choices that I faced yesterday, and will likely face whenever I fly in the future. It's fundamentally wrong that any government can force its citizens to submit to totally unreasonable searches so we have the "freedom" to travel. It is fundamentally wrong that the voices of these same citizens are routinely ignored, our feelings marginalized, and our concerns mocked. I don't know what we can do to change this, but we must do something. I'm writing letters to all of my congressional representatives, contacting an attorney, and reaching out to the ACLU when I get home. I am not optimistic that anything will change, because I feel like the system is institutionally biased against individuals like me ... but maybe if tens of thousands of travelers express our outrage at this treatment, someone will be forced to listen. Edit to add one more thing: I don't believe that all TSA officersare automatically bad people (though we've seen that at least some are.) For example, I recently flew out of Seattle, opted-out, and got a non-invasive, professional, polite patdown. It was still annoying, but at least my genitals weren't touched in any way, which was decidedly not the case yesterday. I realize that most TSA officers are doing the best they can in a job that requires them to interact with people who automatically dislike them and what they represent. It isn't the individual officer who is the problem; it's the policies he or she is instructed to carry out that need to change. 1. The TSA recently admitted that the amount of radiation passengers are exposed to in backscatter scanners was 10 times more than they originally claimed. The TSA claims that the scanners are still safe, but what else would we expect them to claim? Sexothermic I have only ever made one prayer to God, a very short one: "O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it. -Voltaire They said we would never have a black president until Swine Flu. -Gears Korrente Re: Wil Wheaton on the TSA Postby Korrente » Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:09 am UTC I hate how people blame the airlines for this. It's not the airlines, it's not the airports, it's the government. The airlines don't want annoyed and angry Wil Wheatons running around never flying again, and they backed their pilots and flight crews when they said they weren't going through screening every day. Many airports were even able to kick the TSA out and hire private security before the government put a stop to that. Having your own blog is cool and all but maybe he should go try to do something about the problem instead of rewriting everyone else's complaints word for word. Location: The Hollow Scene Epic Postby Dream » Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:33 am UTC Korrente wrote: Having your own blog is cool and all but maybe he should go try to do something about the problem instead of rewriting everyone else's complaints word for word. You are posting on an internet forum. Rule of thumb. Never tell anyone they should go out and do something for real instead of posting it on the internet. It's that thing. Hypocrisy. I knew a woman once, but she died soon after. Aaeriele Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:30 am UTC Postby Aaeriele » Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:54 am UTC Korrente wrote: I hate how people blame the airlines for this. It's not the airlines, it's not the airports, it's the government. The airlines don't want annoyed and angry Wil Wheatons running around never flying again, and they backed their pilots and flight crews when they said they weren't going through screening every day. Many airports were even able to kick the TSA out and hire private security before the government put a stop to that. Which do you think has more lobbying power in Washington D.C. - airline corporations, or a single person? Vaniver wrote: Harvard is a hedge fund that runs the most prestigious dating agency in the world, and incidentally employs famous scientists to do research. afuzzyduck wrote: ITS MEANT TO BE FLUTTERSHY BUT I JUST SEE AAERIELE! CURSE YOU FORA! Postby Radical_Initiator » Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:56 am UTC Aaeriele wrote: We're talking about Wesley Goddamn Crusher. Postby netcrusher88 » Thu Apr 07, 2011 1:28 am UTC No one blames the airlines for the policy. People blame the airlines for not standing up for their customers. Except when they were under threat of action by the pilots' union, they haven't done shit about the TSA screening. Postby Levi » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:15 am UTC Maybe we could get William Fucking Riker on it too. Then we'd be set. Postby Glass Fractal » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:19 am UTC netcrusher88 wrote: No one blames the airlines for the policy. People blame the airlines for not standing up for their customers. Except when they were under threat of action by the pilots' union, they haven't done shit about the TSA screening. Probably because polls have consistently shown that most people don't care about anything but the pat downs. The "massive" demand to fix the TSA is astroturf. There was a point when the rules became stricter and the FOX newscasters were talking about the uprising against the TSA or something but when they went to the camera crew at JFK they couldn't find a single person that cared in the slightest. Postby mmmcannibalism » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:50 am UTC Glass Fractal wrote: The only things Americans hate more then having their genitals groped is letting the terrrrrrists win. Isaac Hill Systems Analyst???? Location: Middletown, RI Postby Isaac Hill » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:59 am UTC He does mention writing his Congress-critters, contacting a lawyer and contacting the ACLU. There are some good links in Wil's comment thread. For those without the time to search them out: Penn Gillette writes of getting groped back in 2002. One man waits out the TSA. In these two stories, making the TSA people call the real police helped. Alaskan State Rep and masectomy survivor takes two day ferry to avoid TSA procedures. Israeli airport security officer says scanners are ineffective. http://wewontfly.com/ has more links. I've travelled for work very rarely. It was kind of fun, but I'm going to avoid it if at all possible so long as the groping rules are in effect. Though to be honest, I'm not entirely sure why. I've been frisked going into a club and accepted it, but the airport thing bothers me. I think it's because frisking everybody takes enough time to limit the invasiveness of the search. They just pat my pockets to be sure there's no weapons there and move on to the next person. From Wil and Penn's stories, it seems the airport people do much more. Alleged "poems" that don't follow a rhyme scheme are not poetry mmmcannibalism wrote: Possibly. I recall security checks as always involving standing around long enough to make my feet hurt and then walking through a box guarded by a person that didn't qualify to be a cop. That's essentially still what it is. Adding one mild inconvenience to something that was already a mild inconvenience won't generate riots. A visible change would generate more complaints. Going from annoying to annoying + technology thing I don't understand that looks just like the old one only worries the most private of people (which is both unfortunate and probably by design). Postby Shivahn » Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:10 am UTC Isaac Hill wrote: I've travelled for work very rarely. It was kind of fun, but I'm going to avoid it if at all possible so long as the groping rules are in effect. Though to be honest, I'm not entirely sure why. I've been frisked going into a club and accepted it, but the airport thing bothers me. I think it's because frisking everybody takes enough time to limit the invasiveness of the search. They just pat my pockets to be sure there's no weapons there and move on to the next person. From Wil and Penn's stories, it seems the airport people do much more. Frisking everyone also, you know, does something. Patting down one in every whatever number of people, or putting them into a scanner that uses ionizing radiation that doesn't actually detect a lot of threatening things, on the other hand, really doesn't do much more than be showy. Postby Korrente » Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:12 am UTC Dream wrote: You are posting on an internet forum. Rule of thumb. Never tell anyone they should go out and do something for real instead of posting it on the internet. It's that thing. Hypocrisy. It's not hypocrisy because I really have no opinion about the issue. I'll likely be exempt from it the next time I'm on an airliner, and if I'm not and just traveling, I have no issue with the scanners. It would be nice if there were a more precise (functional) scanning method that didn't involve someone seeing me naked, but since there isn't right now, oh well. Aaeriele wrote: Which do you think has more lobbying power in Washington D.C. - airline corporations, or a single person? He probably has more money in the bank than most airlines do. If he feels so strongly he really should get people together, especially since he likely has some wealthy friends. Yet his call to arms is more of a 'lets do...something...I guess...it probably won't work...' Postby Jahoclave » Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:29 am UTC Has anybody looked at America's budget lately? The terrorist already won. We're having to tank domestic spending to keep fighting wars that are going nowhere. So yeah, congrats terrorists, well played master game. sje46 Postby sje46 » Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:03 am UTC I hereby declare this the Argument ad Non Satis (Latin grammar check pending). An argument that doesn't really suggest that the other person is wrong, but suggests that they are a lazy person and that their speaking their opinion does nothing. First off, speaking your mind does do a lot....if everyone did it, we wouldn't be in this mess we are in now. Secondly, this is a famous celebrity...his particular opinion is going to make quite a few people think about this issue, and come out on his side. Thirdly, most of the time people accuse others of just talking and not doing anything, they make no effort in finding out whether they did or not. This is minor, but he did auction off a signed iPod to raise money for Operation Grabass. Don't complain about others speaking their mind, okay? General_Norris: Taking pride in your nation is taking pride in the division of humanity. Pirate.Bondage: Let's get married. Right now. sje46 wrote: If that becomes a standard I would be very honored. But that's not quite what I was saying. I'm not suggesting he's lazy and has no voice (I mentioned him being a celebrity in my previous post) but that he's only complaining the same complaint everyone else has had who has complained. Okay maybe that's the only thing to complain about, but hearing it from one more person doesn't make me feel any different about it. Call my cynical but I feel like he's not going to go marching to his state capitol and demand a chat with his representative, or start a campaign to change things. So you're annoyed with people expressing their opinions because you heard it before? The world doesn't revolve around you, and I'm sure plenty of people heard about this for the first time from Wil. sje46 wrote: So you're annoyed with people expressing their opinions because you heard it before? The world doesn't revolve around you, and I'm sure plenty of people heard about this for the first time from Wil. You guys are viscous! My opinion revolves around me... if he can post what he did, I can post what I'm saying and you can attack me all you want in the same manner. But you are all attacking me thinking that I'm saying his opinion is worthless when I didn't say that. I am saying that he's simply restated a generic complaint on the issue, then urged everyone to write to politicians while telling them it won't work...that's as good as not doing anything at all. The issue I have is that he's not going to do anything about it. He has a stronger voice than most people and he doesn't seem to be set on using it. I would love for him to prove me wrong. Also how many people could there be that follow the blog of a Star Trek character that haven't heard of the TSA stuff somewhere before? Madmanananimous Location: Land of Hipsters and Rain (LOHAR) Postby Magnanimous » Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:29 am UTC Korrente wrote: [...] I am saying that he's simply restated a generic complaint on the issue, then urged everyone to write to politicians while telling them it won't work...that's as good as not doing anything at all. The issue I have is that he's not going to do anything about it. He has a stronger voice than most people and he doesn't seem to be set on using it. I would love for him to prove me wrong. The thing about social uprising is that it's very rarely one person doing all of the talking. Him posting a mini-rant won't cause a big movement, but it will certainly remind people of the issue... I hadn't thought about the TSA much in the past month, and now that the hype's died down I bet most people aren't as willing to act. Prefanity Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:28 am UTC Location: Reno, NV Postby Prefanity » Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:04 am UTC Radical_Initiator wrote: We're talking about Wesley Goddamn Crusher. Got anyone else? He made the first season of TNG almost unbearable. Postby Qaanol » Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:34 am UTC As I understand things, 49 U.S.C. § 44902 requires that airlines must refuse to transport any passenger who has not consented to be searched as specified in 49 U.S.C. § 44901. It is in my view eminently unreasonable for the government to search, or to require the search, of any person except those for whom there is reasonable suspicion of immediate wrongdoing, or those for whom a search warrant has been issued. Since neither condition applies to the vast majority of airline passengers, I posit that the laws in question are in direct violation of the 4th amendment to the United States Constitution. The fact that it is feasible to search passengers does not make it reasonable for the federal government to conduct or require such searches. Additionally, the federal government has banned passengers from carrying certain items onto airplanes. I don’t have links to the relevant laws at hand, but I don’t think there’s any disagreement on the point. Federal regulations make it illegal for most airline passengers to carry a handgun or a sharp knife (among numerous other objects) onto a flight. I claim these laws directly contravene the 2nd amendment to the United States Constitution. Note that my complaints are aimed specifically at actions by the federal government that appear in my layman’s opinion to be unconstitutional. If an airline wants to ban certain carry-on items, that is not illegal. If an airline wants to require its passengers to consent to a search, to my knowledge that is not illegal either. But when the federal government enacts policies that run afoul of the Constitution, that is unacceptable. Postby sourmìlk » Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:04 am UTC Prefanity wrote: Got anyone else? He made the first few seasons of TNG almost unbearable. Not really his fault: the character was written as a Gary Sue for Eugene Wesley Roddenberry, and it showed through the character's subtly arrogant dialogue. Since neither condition applies to the vast majority of airline passengers, I posit that the laws in question are in direct violation of the 4th amendment to the United States Constitution. I think the counterargument to that is that, by flying, you agree to waive your 4th amendment rights. Oh, I agree that Wesley Crusher was annoying because of poor writing, but in a discussion on Star Trek I feel the original definition for "Mary Sue" should be upheld. Plasma Man Location: Northampton, Northampton, Northampton middle England. Postby Plasma Man » Thu Apr 07, 2011 1:45 pm UTC There are many good reasons for not wanting to go through a whole body scanner, but it appears that fears about the radiation may be unfounded, according to the BBC. In a helpful move, the article links to its primary reference, published online at the Archives of Internal Medicine. This doesn't really affect the debate, but as concerns over the radiation from the scanners was mentioned in the original article, I thought I'd supply a bit more information. Please note that despite the lovely avatar Sungura gave me, I am not a medical doctor. Possibly my proudest moment on the fora. Postby sourmìlk » Thu Apr 07, 2011 1:49 pm UTC Plasma Man wrote: There are many good reasons for not wanting to go through a whole body scanner, but it appears that fears about the radiation may be unfounded, according to the BBC. In a helpful move, the article links to its primary reference, published online at the Archives of Internal Medicine. I think the real fear (for some people) is that of voyeurism. Now, for somebody who looks like me I'm not to worried about it, but apparently pictures have been leaked before. Postby netcrusher88 » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:03 pm UTC Shut up, Wesley. Wil is actually a really cool guy. sourmilk wrote: I think the counterargument to that is that, by flying, you agree to waive your 4th amendment rights. That argument is still ignorant and wrong. A person cannot be forced to give up their rights - period - and there are many instances where flying is not something a person can reasonably be expected to be able to not do. Emergency at home while on vacation. Business travel (this is a huge one). In my opinion it's unreasonable to expect people to avoid flying for vacations as well, but that's a bit harder to convince people of. Americans like our delusions of the nation as a whole suffering from such an excess of leisure time that one can take just take a train or drive wherever they're going instead of flying. Dauric Location: In midair, traversing laterally over a container of sharks. No water, just sharks, with lasers. Postby Dauric » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:12 pm UTC netcrusher88 wrote: We've had 50+ years of commercial aviation, it's a fundamental part of our infrastructure. I think the only people who have those delusions with regard to air-travel are the ones that don't fly (or don't have friends or family that fly) on a regular basis whether for employment or any other reason. We're in the traffic-chopper over the XKCD boards where there's been a thread-derailment. A Liquified Godwin spill has evacuated threads in a fourty-post radius of the accident, Lolcats and TVTropes have broken free of their containers. It is believed that the Point has perished. Postby Malice » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:17 pm UTC sourmìlk wrote: Since neither condition applies to the vast majority of airline passengers, I posit that the laws in question are in direct violation of the 4th amendment to the United States Constitution. I think the counterargument to that is that, by flying, you agree to waive your 4th amendment rights.[/quote] Other than the fact that you'd like it to be different for flying because it makes you feel safer, what prevents the government from using that argument for everything? "By going outside your house into public spaces, you agree to waive your 4th amendment rights. Oh, and by buying or renting a house, you agree to waive your 4th amendment rights." Malice wrote: Other than the fact that you'd like it to be different for flying because it makes you feel safer, what prevents the government from using that argument for everything? "By going outside your house into public spaces, you agree to waive your 4th amendment rights. Oh, and by buying or renting a house, you agree to waive your 4th amendment rights."[/quote] I'm not sure what criteria an action has to meet before there's implied consent of some sort attached, but people definitely waive certain times. For example, when driving a car there is implied consent that you submit to a Breathalyzer test at the request of a police officer. These seems like a violation of the fourth amendment, as the officer doesn't require a warrant, but the courts ruled that when you drive you choose to waive your fourth amendment rights. That said, I do believe that the TSA is taking unreasonable actions. I just don't think it's unconstitutional, at least not under the fourth amendment. omgryebread Postby omgryebread » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:51 pm UTC Shivahn wrote: Patting down one in every whatever number of people, or putting them into a scanner that uses ionizing radiation that doesn't actually detect a lot of threatening things, on the other hand, really doesn't do much more than be showy. Not really a good argument against anything. The vast majority of all security measures are designed to be showy. IRS audits don't catch very many of the people committing tax fraud, they are designed to discourage people, because you could get caught. If I wanted to murder someone, some decent planning would mean the cops can't stop me, but they can severely discourage me from doing so. Of course, I don't think the threat of getting arrested is that much to people who intend to die anyway. And there's no significant problem with non-suicidal hijackers to address. On the other hand, I don't think the scans are that invasive, and they've never bothered me. avatar from Nononono by Lynn Okamoto. sourmìlk wrote: I'm not sure what criteria an action has to meet before there's implied consent of some sort attached, but people definitely waive certain times. For example, when driving a car there is implied consent that you submit to a Breathalyzer test at the request of a police officer. These seems like a violation of the fourth amendment, as the officer doesn't require a warrant, but the courts ruled that when you drive you choose to waive your fourth amendment rights. A breathalyzer is not a fair comparison to either the AIT scanners or the so-called enhanced pat down. It is not intrusive, it is reliable, and it is not particularly prone to false positives or negatives - and it's also only applied at officers' discretion. None of these are true of the TSA's new policies. Just want to point out while we're at it: if a police officer subjected someone to the kind of abuse that the TSA requires travelers who don't trust the scanners with their privacy or safety to submit to without reasonable suspicion and reasonable justification for doing so, they would be fired. And very likely successfully sued. Postby Griffin » Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:07 pm UTC Also, an officer can STILL only give you a breathalyzer if there is reason to believe you've committed a crime (driving while intoxicated). They cannot just pull you over and test you - that would be unconstitutional in the US. Bdthemag: "I don't always GM, but when I do I prefer to put my player's in situations that include pain and torture. Stay creative my friends." Bayobeasts - the Pokemon: Orthoclase project. Postby Chen » Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:35 pm UTC Griffin wrote: Also, an officer can STILL only give you a breathalyzer if there is reason to believe you've committed a crime (driving while intoxicated). While they may be, strictly speaking, not in line with the 4th amendment, sobriety checkpoints, where there is no probable cause, were determined to be constitutionally permissible http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_D ... ce_v._Sitz. Chen wrote: However if the sobriety checkpoints had involved groping genitals looking for an 'open container' the balancing test between government interest and "unreasonableness" would most likely not have gone the same way. Postby Shivahn » Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:44 pm UTC omgryebread wrote: That's kind of a good argument against all of those, actually, sans evidence that they actually are discouraging people from doing whatever. Especially given that the scanners don't actually catch a lot of the common threats. But more importantly, being subject to such a pat down or imaging is a much bigger invasion than having your taxes audited. DSenette Postby DSenette » Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:13 pm UTC That said, I do believe that the TSA is taking unreasonable actions. I just don't think it's unconstitutional, at least not under the fourth amendment.[/quote] FYI you are actually NOT required to consent to a breathalizer. police can request that you consent to one but you are not required to take one. if they suspect that you are intoxicated they can however then require you to take a blood test back at the station. i THINK they have to issue a field sobriety test before they get that far though. The Righteous Hand Of Retribution "The evaporation of 4 million who believe this crap would leave the world an instantly better place." ~Andre Codresu (re: "the Rapture") KrO2 Postby KrO2 » Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:34 am UTC Yes you are. Oregon (and, according to Wikipedia, every other state) does have that Implied Consent Law saying that if you're driving, you already consented. But this isn't a waiver of the Fourth Amendment because you're not under arrest, it's a Terry stop. It's not a question of whether they can pull you over and make you take the test without evidence, it's just that the standard of evidence they need is lower, down from probable cause to reasonable suspicion. Current blog post: Omniscience can actually be pretty beatable sometimes. Postby Tirian » Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:35 am UTC Shivahn wrote: Frisking everyone also, you know, does something. Does it? I haven't heard the stories about these scanners or pat-downs catching a bomb that otherwise would have made it onto a plane, and I have the sense that they'd be proud to point out a victory like that. I suppose one might suggest that the existence of the scanners and pat-downs would deter terrorists by sending them back to the drawing board, but I'd be pretty skeptical. There weren't any plots in between the Christmas bomber when it struck us that we needed to be concerned about the groins of the flying public and the roll-out of the security measures ten months later, so it is certainly worth contemplating that these measures only serve to frustrate the law-abiding public. Postby Plasma Man » Fri Apr 08, 2011 1:25 pm UTC That is a good point, security procedures that are known about will be taken into account by any potential attacker. The question is whether this successfully deters them from carrying out an attack, or simply results in them finding a way around the procedures. With trrrst attacks being so rare, trying to statistically analyse the data and work out which is the case is nigh-impossible. Personally, I take a different approach to the analysis, namely that I can think of ways around these security procedures (I'm not going to list them, for obvious reasons), so it seems likely that anyone who wishes to carry out an attack would also be able to work out ways around these known procedures. It may decrease the frequency of attacks by making it harder to carry out a successful one, but I doubt it will stop them completely. And as I pointed out earlier, trrrst attacks on planes are such rare events that trying to say whether a system is having an effect (and if so how much of an effect) is fairly pointless. zmatt Postby zmatt » Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:15 pm UTC Yes but a passenger on a plane isn't the same as the driver of a car. You can be over the legal limit and be a passenger. In fact the government encourages the drunk ones to be driven by someone sober. The sobriety checkpoints are more akin to searching pilots. However pilots are held to a higher standard than joe sixpack with a drivers license (lets be honest in America they come in crackerjack boxes) so that argument doesn't hold either. clockworkmonk wrote: Except for Warren G. Harding. Fuck that guy.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6829
__label__cc	0.60504	0.39496	16 Year old charged with murder after cop shoots his friend RockoTDF Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:08 am UTC Location: Tucson, AZ, US Contact RockoTDF Postby RockoTDF » Fri May 27, 2011 10:27 pm UTC This is just a bizarre law. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a Chicago police officer fatally shot his 15-year-old friend Wednesday on the South Side. Brandon Ross and his friend Tatioun Williams allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint in the 7000 block of South Cregier Avenue Wednesday evening, and were confronted by police officers a short time later, the Chicago Tribune reports. When the officers told the teens to stop, Williams, who was holding the gun, allegedly turned in the officer's direction, Fox Chicago reports. Fearing for her life, the officer shot the 15-year-old, killing him. "They could have taken him to jail, they could have done anything but taken his life," Williams' mother told the Tribune Thursday. Under state law, police can charge someone with murder when an accomplice is killed during the commission of a crime. Even though Ross didn't pull the trigger, he was charged as an adult with murder and armed robbery. He was ordered held on $900,000 bail Friday. The teens allegedly took a wallet and iPod from a 27-year-old man before the shooting. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/2 ... 68289.html Just because it is not physics doesn't mean it is not science. http://www.iomalfunction.blogspot.com <---- A collection of humorous one liners and science jokes. Location: The planet Gunsmoke Re: 16 Year old charged with murder after cop shoots his fri Postby Vash » Fri May 27, 2011 11:04 pm UTC Horrible. I also don't understand why one would try teenagers as adults, ever. Postby Radical_Initiator » Fri May 27, 2011 11:13 pm UTC Vash wrote: Horrible. I also don't understand why one would try teenagers as adults, ever. Because kids these days don't understand rabble rabble rabble, and back in my day, adults rabble rabble teach them with a cane! rabble rabble 3 quartz of Jack rabble rabble? BTW, way to go Illinois. Illinois: where everyone in state work has to take an ethics exam, yet our governors routinely get sent to prison. LtNOWIS Location: Fairfax County Postby LtNOWIS » Fri May 27, 2011 11:17 pm UTC Technically, you can be a teenager and a legal adult. /pedantic nitpickery Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 9:08 pm UTC Postby Silas » Fri May 27, 2011 11:18 pm UTC I'm curious how long after the robbery this shooting happened. Because I don't think gets-killed-in-a-shootout-when-a-cop-tries-to-arrest-him is intimately enough connected with the original crime for the felony murder rule to apply. Felstaff wrote: Serves you goddamned right. I hope you're happy, Cake Ruiner This goes to show that unlike in some TV shows and movies, you can't "shoot a wound." Even a shot to the upper shoulder can be lethal. Silas wrote: I'm curious how long after the robbery this shooting happened. Because I don't think gets-killed-in-a-shootout-when-a-cop-tries-to-arrest-him is intimately enough connected with the original crime for the felony murder rule to apply. It looks like they were in the same block. The victim said the response was speedy. Anyways, I hope he gets his iPod and credit cards back. Postby Glass Fractal » Fri May 27, 2011 11:32 pm UTC I had to read that three times to figure out the reasoning behind the law. I don't see how it wouldn't be manslaughter, though. Any word on what happened with the cop? There'll be an automatic investigation by the Independent Police Review Authority. Beyond that, no word; this is still very early in the process. I think officers involved in shootings are automatically suspended with pay, but I don't have an actual source for that. buddy431 Postby buddy431 » Fri May 27, 2011 11:58 pm UTC I hate laws like this. You should prosecute someone for the crimes he actually commited, not other BAD THINGSTM that happen as a result of their crime. I feel pretty much the same way about charging drug dealers with murder when one of their customers dies of an overdose - charge him for the crime of selling dangerous drugs, but don't charge him because one of his customers was unlucky enough to die. Gellert1984 wrote: Also, bomb president CIA al qaeda JFK twin towers jupiter moon martians [s]emtex. Postby CorruptUser » Sat May 28, 2011 12:10 am UTC buddy431 wrote: I hate laws like this. You should prosecute someone for the crimes he actually commited, not other BAD THINGSTM that happen as a result of their crime. I feel pretty much the same way about charging drug dealers with murder when one of their customers dies of an overdose - charge him for the crime of selling dangerous drugs, but don't charge him because one of his customers was unlucky enough to die. So when your car crashes due to a defect, you should only be able to sue for being sold a defective car, not a car that left you with horrible recurring nightmares of your wife and child's innards strewn about the wreckage the afternoon you lost your ability to walk? But I do understand where you are coming from. Similarly, I would like to see an end to double convictions; if you illegally gamble on a boat, you can be convicted of two crimes, "illegal gambling" and "illegal gambling on a boat". Even though "illegal gambling on a boat" by definition includes "illegal gambling", you can still be convicted of both. Last edited by CorruptUser on Sat May 28, 2011 12:14 am UTC, edited 1 time in total. Postby buddy431 » Sat May 28, 2011 12:13 am UTC That's civil law. From a criminal perspective, I believe that the person who sold dangerous cars should be charged for selling dangerous cars. Not because one of his dangerous cars killed someone. mike-l Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 2:16 am UTC Postby mike-l » Sat May 28, 2011 12:16 am UTC Isn't aiming a firearm at a police officer a felony in itself? Odd law, but I'm having trouble finding sympathy for the accused. He did something really dumb and dangerous, and it caused someone to die. While I'm not sure that he should be legally responsible, he certainly bears a great deal of the moral blame. Charging him as an adult seems too much though. It certainly sounds like a case of a kid getting in over his head addams wrote: This forum has some very well educated people typing away in loops with Sourmilk. He is a lucky Sourmilk. mike-l wrote: The kid who aimed at the police officer was the one who was killed, not the one charged with murder. The accused did something really stupid, I agree - he participated in an armed robbery. He did not aim a gun at police, nor did he cause his friend to. The murder charge is completely stupid in this case. buddy431 wrote: Quite right, I misread. In that case I agree the murder charge is ridiculous unless the accused did something aggressive towards the police that wasn't mentioned in the story Postby Jahoclave » Sat May 28, 2011 12:38 am UTC Yeah, I often find myself shocked when I hear of an Illinois governor--my first thought being, "I thought he was already in jail." And yeah, I could see this prosecution of murder being more apt per the law if he had been the one pointing his gun at the officer and his friend had been fatally wounded, but he was not the cause of the officer to fire. Postby Tirian » Sat May 28, 2011 12:53 am UTC Jahoclave wrote: And yeah, I could see this prosecution of murder being more apt per the law if he had been the one pointing his gun at the officer and his friend had been fatally wounded, but he was not the cause of the officer to fire. Heck, you could try the kid in juvie and try to steer him right if you're going to be that way about it. But I suppose an easy murder conviction looks better on everyone else's resume. Tirian wrote: Well everybody wants to seem strong on crime and defense. Because pointing out our massive budgets in those areas and how they're negatively affecting America means you're a wimp that's pro-crime and terrorism instead of when you're against any other government spending meaning you're practicing fiscal sanity. The law is still bullshit, but even if we grant the law's just existence, it's application here doesn't even seem correctly done. Edit: fixed a slightly misogynist idiomatic phrase. Last edited by Jahoclave on Sat May 28, 2011 5:55 am UTC, edited 1 time in total. Aetius Postby Aetius » Sat May 28, 2011 2:13 am UTC Maybe I'm going against the tide here, but if things happened as the officer says they did, the prosecution makes sense. It's a little odd because the death he's being charged with was a co-conspirator in the felony, but a death still resulted from a felony he took active part in. Sunshine! Postby Sunshine! » Sat May 28, 2011 3:16 am UTC Minor bit of pedantry, but the teen that was shot dead never actually aimed his gun at the police. Not saying that the shooting wasn't justified, just that the officer never claimed she was actually aimed at. Postby CorruptUser » Sat May 28, 2011 4:59 am UTC Aetius wrote: Maybe I'm going against the tide here, but if things happened as the officer says they did, the prosecution makes sense. It's a little odd because the death he's being charged with was a co-conspirator in the felony, but a death still resulted from a felony he took active part in. Except this wasn't a death during the committing of a felony; this was a death after the felony was committed. Otherwise you could argue the butterfly effect and charge him for half the deaths for the next decade. Postby Malice » Sat May 28, 2011 5:00 am UTC The oddity isn't that the victim was a co-conspirator--that's totally normal. If a friend and I burn down a building and my friend gets hit on the head with flaming wood and dies, I should get charged with that, it's perfectly reasonable under the law. The oddity is that the death happened as a result of the police action, not the robbery. The argument that they're putting across here is tenuous at best. skeptical scientist closed-minded spiritualist Postby skeptical scientist » Sat May 28, 2011 6:58 am UTC mike-l wrote: Odd law, but I'm having trouble finding sympathy for the accused. He did something really dumb and dangerous, and it caused someone to die. While I'm not sure that he should be legally responsible, he certainly bears a great deal of the moral blame. I have no problem with the felony murder rule for exactly this reason. Sunshine! wrote: Minor bit of pedantry, but the teen that was shot dead never actually aimed his gun at the police. Not saying that the shooting wasn't justified, just that the officer never claimed she was actually aimed at. If the officer involved waits for the gun to be aimed at him/her, then the officer has a fairly good chance of being shot as well. If the suspect is wielding a gun, an officer shooting the suspect is unfortunate, but understandable. I'm looking forward to the day when the SNES emulator on my computer works by emulating the elementary particles in an actual, physical box with Nintendo stamped on the side. "With math, all things are possible." —Rebecca Watson Bright Shadows Postby Bright Shadows » Sat May 28, 2011 7:26 am UTC skeptical scientist wrote: The reason that the quoted later retracted because of misreading? It isn't a very good reason, tbqh, after you account for the mistake. Committing armed robbery and having your partner get shot is not the same as shooting your partner. This whole story is so sad. What a waste of 2 lives, and for what? An iPod? Bright Shadows wrote: I said I have no problem with the rule. I don't know enough about the facts of this case to decide one way or the other. That's why we have trials and juries. Committing armed robbery is really dumb and dangerous, and his partner got killed as a result. I don't think it's unreasonable to bring the case to trial. BlackSails Postby BlackSails » Sat May 28, 2011 7:56 am UTC Felony murder rules makes perfectly good sense, and this is not an unanticipated outcome. Postby Vash » Sat May 28, 2011 8:23 am UTC skeptical scientist wrote: I have no problem with the felony murder rule for exactly this reason. So, his friend died, he is going to jail, and that's not enough? Also, this may not apply to you, but why try non-adults as adults? Why even have different penalties in the first place then? Armored robbery is a horrible crime to be the victim of, but I can't see having no sympathy for a 16 year old that makes a stupid decision. The reason we have punishment in the first place is because it is assumed to be effective and purposeful, as well as act as a deterrent. So, how are we going to deter 16 year olds from having undeveloped brains that make stupid decisions? How is punishment going to modify the behavior of this 16 year old? Aside from that, it's logically obvious that the crimes that person are guilty of are participating in the endangerment of another, participating in the threatening of the police officer and robbery victim, theft, and perhaps attempted assault or murder (or collusion in the attempt). Even if that person had a gun and shot the police officer, that would be assault with a deadly weapon, or attempted murder, depending on the circumstances. How could this possibly be correct? The reason we have gradation of crimes in the first place is so that we don't impose cruel and unusual punishments. The punishment is supposed to fit the crime. Have we forgotten this entirely? Vash wrote: It's logically obvious that the crimes that person are guilty of are participating in the endangerment of another, participating in the threatening of the police officer and robbery victim, theft, and perhaps attempted assault or murder (or collusion in the attempt). Even if that person had a gun and shot the police officer, that would be assault with a deadly weapon, or attempted murder, depending on the circumstances. How could this possibly be correct? The reason we have gradation of crimes in the first place is so that we don't impose cruel and unusual punishments. The punishment is supposed to fit the crime. Have we forgotten this entirely? When you choose to commit a crime which has a significant chance of ending with someone's death, and someone dies, I don't think it's unreasonable to call it murder. That is the basis for the felony murder rule, and I think it's a legitimate one. Whether it should apply in this case? That's for a jury to decide. So, his friend died, he is going to jail, and that's not enough? You act like he's going to spend the rest of his life in prison, when a) he hasn't even been convicted of anything yet, and b) if he is convicted under the felony murder rule (which is far from certain), we don't know what the penalty will be. Also, this may not apply to you, but why try non-adults as adults? Why even have different penalties in the first place then? I really don't know enough about the differences between adult and juvenile justice to know what the pros and cons are of trying someone in the adult vs. the juvenile justice system. That said, 16 is close enough to legal adulthood that I don't find it unreasonable, as I suspect there's not a whole lot of difference between a 16-year-old committing an armed robbery and an 18-year-old committing an armed robbery. So, how are we going to deter 16 year olds from having undeveloped brains that make stupid decisions? How is punishment going to modify the behavior of this 16 year old? 16-year-olds can be responsible for their actions. Some degree of leniency is reasonable, but I'm not sure if it should extend to armed robbery, particularly when the outcome was someone's death. As a 16-year-old, I was perfectly capable of telling right from wrong, and predicting likely outcomes of actions I chose to take. I may have been hotheaded enough to act rashly when put in difficult and emotional situations, and some degree of leniency would be reasonable if, say, I got into a fight because of that. But armed robbery requires choosing to obtain a firearm (which is illegal for a minor), choosing to find a victim, and choosing to threaten that victim, at gunpoint, for their money, all of which are done outside of any emotional situation that can cause a youth to lose control. At 16 years, I think it is reasonable to treat someone committing that crime the same way you would treat an adult, holding them fully responsible for all the consequences (including the felony murder rule, if the crime leads to someone's death). Were I on the jury, I'm not sure whether I would find the kid guilty of murder under the felony murder rule. I would undoubtedly be more inclined to leniency on the basis of the accused's age. But I wouldn't rule it out solely on the basis of age either, and would want to hear testimony on both sides before making up my mind. Goplat Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:41 pm UTC Postby Goplat » Sat May 28, 2011 9:36 am UTC Given our broken justice system, a murder charge is the way to maximize the time before he's released and allowed to commit more armed robberies. The police are just being pragmatic. Postby sourmìlk » Sat May 28, 2011 10:11 am UTC As a 16 year old, I'm kind of offended by the amount of patronization that's going around here. At my age, should we really not know better than to commit armed robbery and point a gun at a cop? Although teenagers are arguably more prone to making this kind of stupid decision, I don't think they grasped the potential consequences of their actions any less than an adult, and if they did, the shouldn't have. I am totally okay with somebody my age being tried as an adult for armed robbery and murder: I wouldn't expect anything less for myself. Postby skeptical scientist » Sat May 28, 2011 11:08 am UTC sourmìlk wrote: As a 16 year old, I'm kind of offended by the amount of patronization that's going around here. Can't say that I blame you, although I hope you didn't find my posts patronizing. No, you generally said that 16 year olds should have the mental capacity to make a decision at least as smart as "how about I not commit armed robbery today" Location: South Wales UK Postby Gellert1984 » Sat May 28, 2011 11:38 am UTC sourmìlk wrote: No, you generally said that 16 year olds should have the mental capacity to make a decision at least as smart as "how about I not commit armed robbery today" My issue with trying a 16 year old for murder because he clearly has the mental faculties to understand that murder is wrong is that were the same person to have sex it would be statutory rape (in some states adjust age as appropriate for where you live) because they don't have the mental faculties to understand what they're doing. 'Cos y'know teenagers are dumb, unless they're scary, then we should just lock them up. I really hate inconsistant thinking like this. The only time I question the right to Free Speech is when I watch Fox News, probably due to the fact that I don't think they really believe in it. -Elisa Scaldaferri Gellert1984 wrote: Right, but the way to solve that problem is to make it so that isn't statutory rape, not to try them as children for murder. Gellert1984 wrote: My issue with trying a 16 year old for murder because he clearly has the mental faculties to understand that murder is wrong is that were the same person to have sex it would be statutory rape (in some states adjust age as appropriate for where you live) because they don't have the mental faculties to understand what they're doing. 'Cos y'know teenagers are dumb, unless they're scary, then we should just lock them up. That's a gross oversimplification. Statutory rape laws exist because adults are capable of exploiting positions of power and manipulating youth. It's not that teenagers are dumb or not responsible for their own actions, it's just that they are more vulnerable than adults to being victimized, and it's proper for the law to protect them against such mistreatment, and penalize adults who take advantage of them. But protecting youth from exploitation by adults is one thing, and protecting them from having to face the consequences of their own bad decisions when they clearly knew better is something else entirely. sourmìlk wrote: Right, but the way to solve that problem is to make it so that isn't statutory rape, not to try them as children for murder. Well, in most states (30 of 50) and in D.C., the age of consent is 16, so it wouldn't be. But I would have pretty serious issues with a 30 year old having sex with a 16 year old, regardless. (If a 17 year old is having sex with a 16 year old, I don't see a problem, as long as the sex is consensual and safe.) Postby Tirian » Sat May 28, 2011 1:20 pm UTC sourmìlk wrote: As a 16 year old, I'm kind of offended by the amount of patronization that's going around here. At my age, should we really not know better than to commit armed robbery and point a gun at a cop? Although teenagers are arguably more prone to making this kind of stupid decision, I don't think they grasped the potential consequences of their actions any less than an adult, and if they did, the shouldn't have. I am totally okay with somebody my age being tried as an adult for armed robbery and murder: I wouldn't expect anything less for myself. Juvenile justice is about more than reduced capacity. I agree that we are within our rights to throw Brandon Ross into adult jail and that he deserves those consequences. But we also have the option to take this person whose social and moral development are not yet complete and channel them in a different direction. Brandon Ross just watched his friend die as a result of crappy choices, and we can at least try to turn that into a transformative moment. I work with some people who have had checkered childhoods, and even if they're not pillars of the community at least they're contributing to society in both a social and economic sense. Or we can make the cold-hearted decision that Ross is incorrigible and sentence him to twenty to life in adult prison. You do that, it's a certainty that he'll cost society more than he'll ever produce, and if you sentence him to anything less than life then you'll have a hardened criminal when you do release him. And that is our choice to make. Postby LtNOWIS » Sat May 28, 2011 1:29 pm UTC Vash wrote: [ Armored robbery is a horrible crime to be the victim of, but I can't see having no sympathy for a 16 year old that makes a stupid decision. The kid's got a number of prior offenses and was already facing prosecution for more at the time. It's not a single bad decision. buddy431 wrote: The kid who aimed at the police officer was the one who was killed, not the one charged with murder. The accused did something really stupid, I agree - he participated in an armed robbery. He did not aim a gun at police, nor did he cause his friend to. The murder charge is completely stupid in this case. Well, it's probably just a high "starting position" as they negotiate a plea deal. But then, that's arguably another problem altogether. Postby sourmìlk » Sat May 28, 2011 1:35 pm UTC LtNOWIS wrote: Not only that, but it's demeaning to the victim to call this a "stupid decision." It wasn't, it was a crime. Yes, I know that 16 year olds generally do not have fully developed morality or intelligence, but they should have the necessary moral sense and intelligence to know that armed robbery is a bad thing. Postby engr » Sat May 28, 2011 4:24 pm UTC There was recently a case in Israel when a group of young people basically beat (or cut) a man to death. The court could not come to a conclusion which defendant's action caused death, and Israel has no felony murder law, so no one of them was charged with murder. They were only punished for causing bodily injuries and will probably get out of prison soon. These are the kind of situations that make felony murder legislation useful. Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions. Gilbert K. Chesterton johnny_7713 Postby johnny_7713 » Sat May 28, 2011 4:37 pm UTC engr wrote: There was recently a case in Israel when a group of young people basically beat (or cut) a man to death. The court could not come to a conclusion which defendant's action caused death, and Israel has no felony murder law, so no one of them was charged with murder. They were only punished for causing bodily injuries and will probably get out of prison soon. I agree with you based on the situation you give. However that is in no way comparable to the situation described in the OP. A closer analogy would be if I and a friend decide to burgle a house using a ladder. During the burglary my friend slips off the ladder, breaks his neck and dies. Does that make me guilty of murder, as I was his accomplice? According to the interpretation of felony murder given in the OP, the answer would be yes, whereas I would contend that morally the answer should be no. Postby RockoTDF » Sat May 28, 2011 4:40 pm UTC I'm not sure how we can call this murder. Yes, the kid was indirectly responsible for the death. It is at worst involuntary manslaughter. It makes no sense that a drunk driver can kill someone and get manslaughter for a decision that is a more "direct", yet someone else shot this kid and he has to get murder for it. The whole thing is an entire slap in the face to punishment fitting the crime, and I hope that some level of Supreme Court strikes it down as unconstitutional. To be honest, it makes almost as much sense as arresting drug users for murder because of the actions of the cartels that sell the drugs.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6830
__label__wiki	0.988817	0.988817	Headlines > Forest welcomes Labour commitment to review causes of pub closures Thu 11th May, 2017 Forest has welcomed the Labour party's commitment to a 'National Review of Local Pubs' to 'examine the causes for the large-scale demise of pubs', but has accused the party of "stunning hypocrisy". Responding to the pledge, which was revealed in Labour's leaked manifesto, director Simon Clark said: "We support the idea of a review but it's a bit late for the thousands of pubs that closed as a direct result of the smoking ban that was introduced by the last Labour government in 2007. "The party ignored warnings that the ban would have a devastating impact so it's stunning hypocrisy to make the plight of pubs an election issue ten years later." "The smoking ban isn't the only reason for the demise of Britain's pubs but it is a significant factor. "In recent years polls have consistently shown majority support for allowing well-ventilated designated smoking rooms in pubs and clubs. "If a review is to be more than a PR exercise it must take public opinion into account and consider an amendment to the ban that would meet the demands of all customers, smokers and non-smokers alike."	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6831
__label__wiki	0.610308	0.610308	Board index ‹ Classic Keenspot (Comics That Ended, Went on Indefinite Hiatus, or Left) ‹ El Goonish Shive [STORY 1/12/2009] And I had better not hear you singing! It means "The Goonish Shive." Moderators: DarkShive, corran_star, Berk 211 posts • Page 9 of 9 • 1 ... 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Re: [STORY 1/12/2009] And I had better not hear you singing! by Dragonstar on Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:21 pm Oh, and btw, Kaiser (the title for the German Emperors) literally means Caesar, as does Czar. Interestingly enough, a would-be dictator in the combined post-apocalyptic/medieval fantasy series The Death Gate Cycle is named Xar, supposedly named after the Czars of Russia, and, thus, after the Roman Emperors. Dragonstar by Tarvok on Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:55 am Illusionist wrote: nitpicking wrote: The German Empire lasted longer than the Russian one. Not by long, mind. Technically, you could say the Russian Empire lasted until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Rome was still Rome when the Republic gave way to the Empire, yes? Why not continue when the Empire gave way to the Soviet Union? Russia was still Russia, despite the regime change, and her territory remained intact. Exclude the Soviet Union from chain, and you might as well declare that the Rome at the end of what is generally accepted as the Roman Empire was not the same Rome that Julius Caesar seized power in, nor was Julius Caesar's Rome the same as all the other Rome's that had the succession decided by warfare. AND you could say it lasts even beyond, since we're already not counting the split between east and west, the initial division of Charlemagne's empire, the final division of Austria and Germany, or any other event of territorial dissolution (we have to do this to get the West to migrate to Germany, and The East to Russia, right?). Just because the Union broke up into Russia and <insert name>istan, doesn't mean the line of succession is broken, right? To those who understand I extend my hand To the doubtful I demand Take me as I am Tarvok Location: Clovis, CA by Illusionist on Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:58 am Rome was still Rome, but it wasn't the Republic. Moscow was still Moscow, but it wasn't the Empire. Lenin, Stalin et al may have been dictators but they weren't royalty. As for the line of succession, the Revolution put paid to that. With bullets. The book is almost always better than the movie. You could have no better case in point than FROM HELL, Alan Moore's best graphic novel to date, brilliantly illustrated by Eddie Campbell. It's hard to describe just how much better the book is. It's like, "If the movie was an episode of Battlestar Galactica with a guest appearance by the Smurfs and everyone spoke Dutch, the graphic novel is Citizen Kane with added sex scenes and music by your favourite ten bands and everyone in the world you ever hated dies at the end." That's how much better it is. - Warren Ellis. Nobody ever told Picard that "Ye cannae change the laws of Physics!". They just DID it. - Vampiress Kat. Location: Probably not where I'm supposed to be by The Old Hack on Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:55 pm Illusionist wrote: Rome was still Rome, but it wasn't the Republic. Moscow was still Moscow, but it wasn't the Empire. Lenin, Stalin et al may have been dictators but they weren't royalty. And the precise difference between a dictator and an emperor being...? scratches head (I am actually being at least partly serious here. sigh Given that so many Caesars came to power through military coup d'etats and the like, for one thing. And for another, I suspect that the average Joe Schmoe inhabitant of the Empire wouldn't be able to notice much of a difference. :/ ) Check out the test to find out who you are! The Old Hack by Dragonstar on Thu Jan 22, 2009 2:37 pm The Old Hack wrote: Well, Julius Caesar was named "Dictator for Life" before his murder cut his employment short. Dragonstar wrote: Well, Julius Caesar was named "Dictator for Life" before his murder cut his employment short. There you are, then! He was dictator for the rest of his life! by Tarvok on Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:57 pm He figured that "dictator for life" bit was fairly self explanatory, so he signed the contract without reading the fine print, which specified a term limit. by Illusionist on Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:07 am Emperor is a hereditary title, either by birthright or by force. If you kill the Emperor and call your self something other than Emperor, no more Empire. For example, England was not a kingdom under Oliver Cromwell, because he took the title of Lord Protector. by nitpicking on Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:14 am "Dictator" was a specific government role in the Roman Republic, with term limits. "Imperator" (which became "emperor" in English) was a different one with no such limit, and the institution of which is considered to have ended the Republic, although under the Emperors Rome continued to call itself a republic. by Tarvok on Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:58 pm Actually, Imperator was not hereditary, which was the whole point. Romans, devoted to the ideal of the republic as they were (for many, many years even after Octavian cemented the new position), were not about to accept a hereditary king. So instead they combined a bunch of titles into one, including Imperator, which predates the Empire (and is what we derive the modern name for the combined office from). The position pretty much evolved to having all the authority of a king without actually being called a king. It took a while, but over time the position we now call the Roman Emperor evolved into having all the qualities of an oriental despot. And the Romans couldn't even decide what to call it. Imperator, Augustus, Caesar, Dictator... these were all titles variously stressed at various times... and even these are merely loose translations of various related terms depending on whether you're talking about Latin titles for Roman emperors, or Greek titles for Byzantine emperors. About the only title they never took was Rex, since after all, Rome was a Republic, right? And Republics don't have kings. by Stardrake_ on Sat Jan 24, 2009 3:10 am nitpicking wrote: If you want to really stretch it, the reason the Czars of Russia were the "Romanovs" was their very plausible claim to be the hereditary emperors of Rome. (A founder marred a princess of the Eastern Roman Empire.) So right until the Russian Revolution by that logic, too. The German Empire lasted longer than the Russian one. Not by long, mind Except that the HRE had pretty much disintegrated by the Thirty Years War, or the Napoleonic Wars at the very latest. Bismarck's empire was a new political entity which gained control of similar territories. This is why Nazi Germany was the Third Reich. The first was the Holy Roman Empire, the second was the empire Bismarck formed in the 1800s and which was dismantled in the First World War. However, Russia has also fallen and been reformed in its history That said, Russia did have a much stronger connection to Byzantium than the HRE did to any of the Roman empires. The original Russian empire was an ally of Constantinople and, as previously mentioned, there was the marriage of a Byzantine princess to one of the early Russian empires. As far as I know, there was no such direct link with the Holy Roman Empire - although with intermarriage between royal and noble families, it is possible that the closest claim to the Byzantine throne is now held by a German. Or a Russian. Or an English(wo)man. "The conflict is not between Christianity and Islam or between East and West - instead, it is between stupid people and other stupid people." - Terry Pratchett AKA Stellar_Dragon (lost when an attempt to change the linked email address went wrong) and Stardrake (obliterated in the Great Keenspot Crash of '03). People who are fed up with unreadably small font may wish to look here. For those who POST such text, however, this is not an excuse. Surely 6-pt gets the point across without requiring shenanigans to read? Stardrake_ Location: Department of Paranormal Zoology, Magitech Division, Funky Horror Return to El Goonish Shive	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6833
__label__cc	0.737837	0.262163	13 mai 2018 ~ 0 Commentaire Avon Shop Avon Products, Inc, known as Avon, founded by David H. McConnell in 1886 is a direct selling business in beauty, household, and personal care groups. Avon had annual sales of $5.7 billion globally in 2016. It’s the fifth-largest beauty company as well as with 6.4 million agents, is the second largest direct selling venture in the world (later Amway). Avon Products is a marketing and advertising firm. The organization’s CEO is Jan Zijderveld, that had been appointed to the position in February 2018. Avon sells products in over 100 countries. Brazil is the business’s largest market, passing the United States in 2010. Avon entered the Chinese market. Direct selling was outlawed in China in 1998, which forced Avon to market only through bodily stores called Beauty Boutiques. The ban has been lifted in 2001, and the company acquired a license for direct marketing in 2006. 88% of Avon’s 2013 earnings (around $10 billion) came from international markets. Avon uses both door-to-door salespeople (« Avon ladies » primarily, as well as some guys) and brochures to market its goods. The first Avon lady was Persis Foster Eames Albee. Avon operates training centres for potential representatives. Some Avon training facilities have a small retail section with skin care products, like creams, serums, cosmetics, and washes. Avon utilizes multi-level advertising to recruit sales representatives, who sell beauty products, jewellery, accessories and clothing. Buy Avon Avon agents are considered an independent sales representatives running their own enterprise. Some of the brand-names Employed by the organization include Avon, Avon Naturals, Skin-So-Soft and Mark. [citation needed] According to the U.S. government Avon has 5 million to 6 million sales agents operating in over 100 countries as of 2014. Avon and its subsidiaries have 40,000 to 50,000 employees, 6,000 of which are in the USA. Avon was an early member of the U.S. Direct Selling Association, which was set in 1910. The business left the institution in 2014, stating that the trade group was not paying enough attention to the business as a whole.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6838
__label__cc	0.591577	0.408423	Artur Nilsson - A Non-Reductive Science of Personality, Character, and Well-Being Must Take the Person's Worldview into Account This brief opinion paper from Frontiers in Psychology: Personality and Social Psychology offers a moderately integral model of personality assessment, one that incorporates worldviews, but more importantly, also includes inner sense (subjectivity) and experience, his version of non-reductive materialism. Nilsson A. (2014). A non-reductive science of personality, character, and well-being must take the person's worldview into account. Frontiers in Psychology: Personality and Social Psychology; 5:961. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00961 A non-reductive science of personality, character, and well-being must take the person's worldview into account Artur Nilsson Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden In his foundational work for personality psychology, Allport (1927, 1937) distinguished personality from character. Personality was, on Allport's account, a descriptive concept referring to a psycho-physical structure, whereas character was personality evaluated in accordance with moral norms. When he introduced the paradigmatic “lexical” method of deriving personality trait terms from the dictionary, he therefore sought to exclude all trait terms with ostensive normative content. This approach had a profound effect upon the field, and researchers are still today working on how to optimally purge personality of normative content (e.g., Bäckström et al., 2009; Pettersson and Turkheimer, 2010). Its appropriateness as a paradigm for the entire field of personality psychology can, however, be questioned (Kristjánsson, 2012; Nilsson, 2014). It is plausible that some personality characteristics particularly relevant to psychic illness, human flourishing, and moral behavior are intrinsically value-laden (Cloninger et al., 1993; Cawley et al., 2000; Peterson and Seligman, 2004). I will focus on Cloninger's approach here, because he has, in addition to introducing an influential model of character, discussed the philosophical foundations of the study of character and well-being. For Cloninger (2004), character is not only value-laden; it refers to uniquely human aspects of personality representing “what people make of themselves intentionally” (p. 44), as contrasted with their animalistic temperament. He wants the science of character and well-being to transcend the dichotomy between materialist reductionism and Cartesian dualism, by taking the person's consciousness, agency, and processes of self-growth seriously while integrating this with knowledge about the human physical and biological constitution. Although I agree with this idea of having a non-reductive psychological science, I disagree with Cloninger about what it entails. I will therefore review Cloninger's (2004) approach from a philosophical perspective, in a critical and, hopefully, constructive way. I will defend a notion of non-reductive psychology based upon contemporary academic philosophy and argue that Cloninger's approach is not genuinely non-reductive. I will suggest that a non-reductive psychological science must take the person's worldview into account and argue that Cloninger's approach limits our understanding of human psychology by not considering the role of worldviews in the development of character and well-being. Non-Reductive Materialism Today, philosophers who seek to transcend the dichotomy between reductive materialism and Cartesian dualism generally adopt some version of non-reductive materialism (Davidson, 1963, 1970; Fodor, 1974; Searle, 1983, 1992; Chalmers, 1996), claiming that although all mental states and events are causally realized in the brain, there is not a particular type of brain state corresponding to each type of mental state. The reason for this is that we identify and individuate mental states in terms of a folk psychological language of “attitudes,” “beliefs,” “desires,” “emotions,” “goals,” etc., which is holistic, insofar as it describes mental states as partly constituted by their relations to each other and their neurophysiological realization and behavioral manifestation as therefore dependent upon the entire network of mental states. In other words, on non-reductive materialism, no particular belief, goal, desire, or other intentional state, let alone a more complex folk psychological concept such as “personality,” “character,” or “well-being,” can even in principle be isolated and reduced to neurophysiology or behavior, and these irreducible folk psychological concepts are crucial for understanding human psychology. A key implication of non-reductive materialism is that human experiences and actions are imbued with meaning; to treat human beings as persons, rather than mere mechanical systems or animals, is to treat them as linguistic beings, who construct reasons and act upon them (Hacker, 2007), partly driven by needs to create and sustain meanings and to assuage fears and anxieties fueled by their uniquely human awareness of their existential condition (Nilsson, 2013). Although meaning-making is today studied in such different fields as the psychology of adaptation and well-being (Janoff-Bulman, 1992; Wong, 2012), social psychology (Greenberg et al., 1986; Heine et al., 2006), and neuropsychology (Gazzaniga, 2005), researchers rarely take into consideration the fact that meaning is constructed within a worldview—the person's most basic beliefs, values, constructs, and scripts for understanding, evaluating, and acting upon reality, which ground the network within which more specific beliefs, goals, intentions, etc., are embedded. A person necessarily lives through a worldview—s/he can only, for example, act, morally or immorally, upon a worldview, and experience well-being, in its distinctly human form, through a worldview. A non-reductive psychological science must therefore treat the person's worldview as an aspect of personality in its own right, not reducible to behavioral or mental regularities (i.e., traits; Nilsson, 2014). Although personalists (Allport, 1937; Stern, 1938; Mounier, 1952; Lamiell, 1987), narrative psychologists (Tomkins, 1965, 1979; McAdams, 1992, 2008), and construct psychologists (Kelly, 1955; Little, 2005) have contributed to such an endeavor, worldviews do not receive the attention they deserve in contemporary psychology (Koltko-Rivera, 2004; Nilsson, 2013, 2014). Cloninger's Transcendentalism Cloninger's (2004) approach instead merges elements of folk spirituality (cf. Forman, 2004), Eastern thought, Hegelian metaphysics, and quantum physics. He suggests that a person's consciousness can be developed, through a process catalyzed by meditation, reflection, and contemplation, toward increasing self-awareness, wisdom, goodness, and well-being. In the final, self-transcendent stage, the person is freed of all “dualistic” thought of body, mind, and spirit as separate and recognizes that “the individual mind is like a node in a universal Internet of consciousness” (p. 36), thereby attaining “coherence” of body, mind, and spirit, unconditional well-being, potential access to other minds, and “direct self-aware perception of what is real and true without misunderstanding as a result of preconceptions, prejudices, fears, desires, and conflicts” (p. 325). Cloninger (2004) also draws parallels between self-transcendent consciousness and quantum phenomena, including the impossibility of precisely determining the state and location of quantum particles (“non-locality”) and the Higgs field within which particles acquire mass, and he claims, furthermore, that the unpredictability (“non-causality”) of quantum physical events is “another way of talking about freedom” (p. 73) and that “the thought of gifted people involves intuitive leaps or quantum jumps, not deductive algorithms” (p. 65; cf. Capra, 1975). Cloninger (2004, p. 317) makes clear that what he is proposing is not just a psychological theory, but also a philosophy of science: The science of well-being is founded on the understanding that there is an indissoluble unity to all that is or can be. The universal unity of being is recognized widely as an empirical fact, as well as an essential organizing principle for any adequate science [..] the universal unity of being is the only viewpoint consistent with any coherent and testable science. This passage is puzzling insofar as it describes the postulated unity of being both as empirical fact, which implies that it is open to empirical refutation, and as essential organizing principle constitutive of research in this area, which implies that it is, in Quine's (1953) terminology, close to the center of the scientific field and therefore not easily changed. Given that Cloninger (2004) suggests that recognition of the unity of being-thesis is ultimately intuitive and not amenable to rational argumentation or objective test, and that its critics lack self-awareness, this thesis is more properly treated as a presupposition and interpretive framework than as an empirical fact (Popper, 1959). But whether this is an appropriate, non-reductive foundation for the study of persons is questionable. On the non-reductive account I am proposing, what is essential is that we take the person's subjective experiences and their meanings seriously, in psychological terms, treating them as real and irreducible; not that we assume that special forms of experience convey true insight into the nature of reality. One problem with Cloninger's approach is precisely that it does not give meaning-making the role that it deserves in personality measurement and explanation of experience and action. Cloninger (2004) offers parallels to quantum physics rather than an account of reason-based explanation (Davidson, 1963; Searle, 1983) and Cloninger et al. (1993) measure character with traditional trait-type items which focus on typical behaviors and experiences, rather than worldview-type items which ask persons about their most basic beliefs, values, goals, and so on (Nilsson, 2014). Cloninger's use of quantum physics to describe the mind is, furthermore, whether interpreted as an “analogy” (p. 65) or as an explanation of “actual” processes underlying self-aware consciousness (p. 328), difficult to reconcile with non-reductive materialism. Although it is conceivable that the hitherto unidentified mechanisms through which the brain causes consciousness, agency, and certain qualitative feels operate at the quantum level (Chalmers, 1996; Searle, 1997), the folk psychological concepts that render our experiences and actions meaningful and agentic are, because of their logical holism, as irreducible to quantum physics as to classical physics, and we have little reason to assume that the causes of conscious experiences are isomorphic with their qualitative feels (Stenger, 1993; cf. Brown et al., 2013). Similar to this, Cloninger's (p. 38) invocation of Allport's definition of personality as a “psycho-physical system” is inconsistent with non-reductive materialism, insofar as it is understood as implying that personality can be reduced to a neuro-physiological causal system (Nilsson, 2013). Finally, the Hegelian monist metaphysics Cloninger (2004) draws upon is rejected today even by Hegelians. For example, Pippin (1989, p. 4)—one of several philosophers reinterpreting Hegel in non-metaphysical terms in order to rehabilitate his philosophy—thinks that the “metaphysical monist or speculative, contradiction-embracing logician [..] is not the historically influential Hegel.” Implications for Research Cloninger et al. (1993) model divides character into: (1) self-directedness, or agency, which incorporates acting deliberatively on personal goals and values, taking responsibility for actions, and developing resources for goal pursuit and self-acceptance, (2) cooperativeness, or communion, which incorporates compassion, empathy, helpfulness, acceptance of others, and acting on moral principles rather than self-interest, and (3) self-transcendence, which incorporates a sense of unity underlying the universe and connecting the self with the world around it, intuitive apprehension of relationships that cannot be explained rationally or observed objectively, and experiences of flow, absorption, and self-forgetfulness. These aspects of character correspond, respectively, to the person's relation to the self, to others, and to the universe. As such, they undoubtedly refer to basic aspects of our intentional engagement with the world. But the model does not take different worldviews into account. Self-transcendence, in particular, appears conflated with spiritual self-transcendence—that is, self-transcendence through spirituality. Self-transcendence, in a more general sense, can be understood as the pursuit of meaning and identity through participation in, and selfless contribution to, something larger than the self, whether this is a divine or spiritual reality, a community of persons or sentient beings, or an ideological ideal (Schwartz, 1992; MacDonald et al., 1998; Koltko-Rivera, 2004). It requires only that the person is connected to the outside world through intentional directedness at, and engagement with, that world; it does not require an actual physical or spiritual connection between the person and that toward which s/he directs him-/herself. More generally, I suggest that character can be understood in terms of the interaction between the three proposed dimensions and the person's worldview, and that researchers therefore need to investigate how different worldviews facilitate and inhibit the development of character. Because character is an intrinsically normative concept, what counts as character is partly an empirical question—character is what turns out to produce desirable psychological, moral, and social consequences. We might ask, for example, if, and if so how, different worldviews can be reconciled with ethical self-transcendence, selfless love, genuine happiness, tolerance, creativity, autonomy, and experiences of wonder, beauty, and awe. It is, I suggest, unlikely that there is one ultimate path of character development suitable for all persons. Cloninger's (2004, p. 29) own observation that “outstanding exponents of positive philosophy have often had limited success in helping their followers develop coherence” is true, I suggest, partly because neither worldview nor the development of character and well-being is a one-size-fits-all. By considering the full potential range of personalities emerging from the diversity of human worldviews, we can, I contend, better understand and encourage the development of character and well-being, thus potentially harnessing the full positive potentials of humanity for cultural and social progress (cf. Cloninger, 2004, 2008, 2013). The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References at the Frontiers site Posted by william harryman at Friday, August 29, 2014 Labels: character, folk spirituality, Hegel, metaphysics, personality, quantum physics, subjectivity, well-being, worldview In Praise Of Being Bored by Alva Noë Alan Lightman - My Own Personal Nothingness Serotonin Not Found to Be a Major Player in Depres... Forum: Against Empathy - Paul Bloom Artur Nilsson - A Non-Reductive Science of Persona... Metaintegral Academy - Vital Skills for Thriving i... Researchers Investigate Novel Approaches to Reduci... Neuroscience’s New Toolbox - Optogenetics Got Tylenol? One Of The Most Dangerous Drugs Is Pr... Yolles & Fink: Personality, Pathology and Mindsets... Aaron Gordon - Does Randomness Actually Exist? Matthew Taylor: Beyond Belief – Towards a New Meth... Shattered Worlds/Psychotic States: A Post-Cartesia... The State of Faith in America Panel with Larry Kin... Novel 'Avatar Therapy' May Silence Voices in Schiz... Hallucinatory 'Voices' Shaped by Local Culture Why Nurture Is Just as Important as Nature for Und... Society in the Brain \| Dr. Danilo Bzdok \| TEDxRWTH...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6845
__label__wiki	0.86661	0.86661	Profiles // “Foolish and Lucky” A combination of hard work and pure chance brought Annamarie Jagose to the University of Sydney, writes Lane Sainty. Annamarie Jagose. Photo: supplied. by Lane Sainty I first heard Annamarie Jagose’s name earlier this year when she participated in a debate on the proposition ‘same-sex marriage should not be legalised’. This was not remarkable because of the participation itself — after all, same-sex marriage has been discussed to death — but rather because Jagose, a queer, progressive woman, argued for the affirmative. While this debate has constituted the bulk of Jagose’s media attention this year, she offers, as I discovered, much more than an alternative viewpoint on marriage. Jagose is a respected academic and a published novelist. She is also modest, describing herself as “lucky” throughout our interview, claiming that much of her success came from “being in the right place at the right time”. Currently, Jagose is the head of the School of Letters, Art and Media (SLAM) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney. She’s been employed as an academic for the past 20 years, but surprisingly, this was never part of her plan. In fact, much of Jagose’s life seems to have been determined by chance. She grew up in the Waikato region of northern New Zealand, and ended up studying at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. Jagose cites scholarship restrictions as the reason for her choice of university and degree. “If you were under 20, you were only eligible for a scholarship if you studied something that wasn’t available at your local university. At Canterbury, they offered a degree in Latin. So I did a degree in Latin,” she explains, laughing. I ask what she was like at university, and she immediately responds: “A hopeless swot.” When she first arrived at the residency halls of Christchurch, she spent every spare minute studying. “I didn’t exactly understand at first that not everybody was doing this,” she says, laughing again. Her study habits were so extreme that they attracted light teasing from friends. “Some of my friends would say ‘Look, Annamarie, you worked for fifty hours on that essay, I’ve worked for two, you got an A plus and I got a B plus. So who’s the stupid one?’” she remembers. “And I could see their logic! But yes, I did work hard.” Jagose also mentions that she was involved in feminist, lesbian, and land rights activism. Jagose moved to Victoria University of Wellington to complete her PhD, which eventually turned into her first book: Lesbian Utopics. Even then, Jagose had no idea what to do when she finished. “I completed my PHD without ever thinking that I wanted to be an academic. I am the least sensible academic I know in this respect.” She considered different career options, law among them. “Law was one of those things that careers counsellors always pushed at me at school, but then I thought oh, you’d have to be a lawyer, which seemed a disadvantage,” she comments wryly. Her mother was increasingly concerned about her job prospects (“You’ve been at university for seven years now, what are you going to do?”), but instead of parental pressure, it was a chance conversation with a friend that got Jagose her first academic gig. The friend was among the “sensible, well-informed PhD students” who searched for jobs amongst the educational hire pages in various international newspapers. She told Jagose that a job was going for a lectureship in English at the University of Melbourne; Jagose applied and got it. In retrospect, she considers herself more than a little lucky. “That’s not really how you should apply for a job,” she says disapprovingly. “But it worked out for me.” Jagose started at the University of Melbourne in July of 1992, but it took a little time for her to start feeling like a real academic. “I always felt like a bit of a sham, because I had just sort of lucked into it,” she explains. Nonetheless, she stuck at it, working at Melbourne until 2003 when she took a new position in Film, Television and Media Studies at the University of Auckland where she became a head of department for the first time in 2007. Her position as the Head of SLAM is the first non-teaching role she has ever held. Academia aside, Jagose is also a published novelist, with three books under her belt. Slow Water, her most recent novel, was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award in 2004. “Somebody told me once that the strange thing about my novels is that they are all totally different, not just in terms of what they’re about but almost as if they’d been written by three different people,” says Jagose. “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.” They certainly all sound different. In Translation is about a lesbian love triangle, Lulu a couple who raise a chimpanzee in their house for linguistic experimentation and Slow Water a nineteenth-century historical romance based on a real life sex scandal. Jagose explains the basic plot lines of each, concluding her précis of In Translation with “the shared love interest is a translator…and that’s sort of why it’s called In Translation. Oh god, that sounds like such a terrible novel.” Her writing process is diligent and methodical. “I make it manageable for myself by saying ‘I will write x number of words a day,’” she explains. “I wrote my PhD by writing 400 words a day, and now I’ve raised that total to 500. In 20 years.” She laughs. Jagose admits that sometimes she doesn’t reach her target, but that “it doesn’t happen so often” only on “very unhappy days.” Being able to write her first novel is another milestone Jagose puts down to luck. On the day she finished her PhD, she got a phone call informing her that she had won her first writers fellowship, to the value of $18,000. “At first I thought someone was pulling my leg, because the application had asked for five to ten pages of a novel in progress, but I didn’t have a novel in progress, so I just thought ‘Well, I’ll just write one and send it,’” she recalls. “But because I’m such a slow writer, I only managed to write a paragraph. So although I would say to any student who asked me ‘They asked for five pages, so don’t apply if you’ve only got a paragraph,’ and even though if I was on a committee I wouldn’t award a prize to a person who only submitted a paragraph, somehow, it…it must have been a good paragraph.” It’s only when I press her on it, saying that she doesn’t give herself much credit that Jagose relents — slightly — on the “foolish but lucky” line. “Well, I did say that I was a swot at uni, didn’t I? I do work hard, that is fair to say. But there was a lot of luck there, because lots of people work hard. I didn’t have any kind of career plan…everything just lined up.” Jagose admits that she doesn’t have a lot of spare time, but lately she and her partner have been spending time at dog training with their eight-month-old puppy. Jagose has been with her partner for 16 years, but is not married; hardly surprising, considering her views. “I can truly say I have never wanted to be married,” says Jagose, explaining that she found the concept highly dubious from a very young age. At school in religious studies class she would ask the teachers how it was possible to promise to do something forever, as marriage or religious orders required. “I’d question it, saying: ‘How do you make a promise for the future? How do you say I will do this for all time, because I might not want it in ten years time?’And they said ‘Well, you just have to keep to your promise.’ And I just didn’t think it was a very good logic.” On the media attention surrounding her pro-queer, yet anti-same-sex marriage views? “I’m rather hoping that soon people will stop asking me to speak about this topic, because I don’t have much else to say.” When quizzed about the biggest challenge she has faced, Jagose pauses, and chooses her words carefully. “On a personal front, I found it challenging to leave a family environment that was very close and affectionate, knowing that I had a trajectory that was going to take me outside the expected version of being like my parents. So coming out as a lesbian to my family was quite difficult, and for a long while I didn’t have the same relationship that I had previously had.” But Jagose isn’t bitter. “Now that I’m older, I can see that it would have been a challenge for my family too, and one that with the passage of time they’ve actually managed fantastically.” She also says that she has never experienced workplace discrimination on the basis of being a queer woman. “No, no, I’ve been hired on the basis of it!” she says, explaining that when your first book is called Lesbian Utopics, those who might have a problem with queer women tend to stay out of your way. “You’re off the hook from having to explain,’ she says. ‘And in my experience, universities tend to be much more progressive than conservative. That’s yet another way in which I’ve been incredibly lucky.’ Annamarie Jagose usyd The “Battle of the Wasser”: A Footnote in History? By Robbie Mason The racist and normative life of Sims 4 By Karishma Luthria The roaches of Fisher are moving upstairs By Anh Nguyen Decolonisation Wentworth Must Fall By Himath Siriniwasa and Georgia Mantle	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6851
__label__wiki	0.518301	0.518301	Browse: Home / 2015 / April / #40EOTY Week 4: Meet 6 Mind-Blowing ‘Educator of the Year’ Nominees #40EOTY Week 4: Meet 6 Mind-Blowing ‘Educator of the Year’ Nominees April 8, 2015 · by Ellen Kamps · in Awards and Recognition, Education, Events, Kane County Regional Office of Education, Schools, Youth The ROE has revealed six more nominees for Educator of the Year, and they hail from District 300, St. Charles District 303, Aurora East 131 and Geneva 304. The winner will be announced on Friday, May 1, at the award banquet — traditionally a pretty spectacular show, which features a few new twists in 2015. “With hundreds of people in attendance, our objective is to involve the students who these educators have impacted during their career.” shared Regional Superintendent Patricia Dal Santo. “We’re excited to announce that the color guard from East Aurora will be opening our show. The participants are part of the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and with nearly 900 students enrolled, it’s the largest NJROTC program in the world.” Music will be provided from a Kane County high school for the event and will be named in next week’s reveal, when the ROE announces six more nominees. There are 19 educators to feature in the next three weeks. Who has your vote? Join the conversation on social media using #40EOTY. In addition to being named Educator of the Year within a county of 8,289 staff members, the Educator of the Year will receive a $3,000 grant for her or his school district. James Hawkins from St. Charles East High School – Nominated for Student Support Personnel of the Year As a part of the College and Career Readiness Department and assistant coach for the girls varsity basketball team, James encourages students to extend themselves by taking rigorous courses and pushing them to reach their full potential. When talking to James, one can ascertain that helping students is his true passion, but with a degree in business, he did not realize that truth about himself immediately. “He graduated with a business administration degree from Augustana College, but his wife encouraged him to enter the field of education because she knew something was missing from his professional life,” reads his nomination materials. For the past four years as a counselor and coach, James had made a positive impact on his students’ lives in the classroom and on the court, and has been developing a student-leadership program to grow tomorrow’s leaders. Kim Mundt from East Aurora High School – Nominated for Educational Service Personnel of the Year Kim began her career in banking, but 27 years ago made the decision to come to East Aurora High School because it was down the street from her house and she loved kids and always loved school. In her nomination book, she mentions playing school with her siblings and neighbors: “I’d tie my wagon to my bicycle and head back to my school the first day of summer break to dumpster dive for unused worksheets and old school books. These items weren’t trash, they were gold!” To her colleagues and the parents and students who come through the doors of EAHS, her love for academics and the community is apparent. Because she has been a part of her school for so many years, she has also had to evolve from using electric typewriters and paper and pencil, to current computer systems. “I intentionally strive to be flexible and adaptable as policies and systems frequently change so that others around me will be encouraged to do the same,” she said. John Baird from St. Charles District Office 303 – Nominated for Administrator of the Year As the assistant superintendent for operations, John’s quality of work allows all the schools of St. Charles to run seamlessly. From grounds-keeping to building remodeling to equipment replacements to food service, John and the well-oiled machine that is St. Charles operations work together with the students and faculty in mind. In his book, many letters of recognition comment on his ability to put parents at ease with his extensive knowledge of security and safety protocol of each school. Principals and teachers also rely on John for peace of mind when facing an obstacle, but they know that John is “always there to ride in on his white horse to save the day!” Another fabulous quote in his book: “John’s litmus test for every decision he makes is ‘Will it benefit kids?’ If the answer is yes, he will move heaven and earth to make it work. Every district needs a John Baird.” James Buckwalter from Cambridge Lakes Charter School – Nominated for Early Career Educator When reading James’ nomination book, it is difficult to believe that he has only been teaching for four years. From colleagues, parents, and students, his letters of recommendation describe his enthusiasm and motivation that lead Cambridge Lakes to success. One of the quotes from his book puts into perspective the determination James has to be a quality educator: “I believe the highest praise that you can give a teacher is saying that you wish that person could teach your own children. He is not the best new teacher that I have encountered, he is one of the best teachers, period.” It is evident that James truly listens to the feedback from his students, one instance being the creation of the first student council organization at his school. “He is a master of engaging students in learning. All activities are differentiated to address individual student needs.” Ann Janson from Harrison Street Elementary School – Nominated for Educational Service Personnel of the Year Although she began her career in 1998, it was not the first time Ann stepped foot into Harrison Street Elementary School. As a Geneva-native, she attended Harrison Street from kindergarten through fifth grade and graduated from Geneva High School to pursue a degree in elementary education. Known for her patience and love of children, she is described within her nomination materials to have a calm and nurturing demeanor; the ideal qualities of an instructional aide in an elementary school. Her administrators mention her as the best accessory to her classrooms and to prove their point, created the most stylish nomination book of all 44 nominees. Her committee created, out of plywood and covered in bright pink fabric, a nomination book made to look like a Coach purse. Ken Gerk from East Aurora High School – Nominated for High School Teacher of the Year Celebrating his 13th year as a social studies teacher, Ken has established positive relationships with his colleagues and students over the years. He is the adviser of student council and the senior class, allowing him to connect with students, many of whom are not in his classroom. In addition to other student-focused clubs and activities, Ken has led EAHS to be one of the top producing high schools for Heartland Blood Center. His students rely on him for advice, scholastically related or not, as do his supervisors, current and past. One letter of recommendation from a former principal mentions that Ken is still her go-to person. From “curriculum revisions to mentoring to district trainings, I am confident in Ken’s leadership and teaching abilities to provide support whenever and wherever.” #40EOTY Week 3: Meet 7 ‘Wow’ Kane County ‘Educator of the Year’ Nominees #40EOTY Week 2: Meet 6 Inspiring Kane County ‘Educator of the Year’ Nominees #40EOTY Week 1: Meet 6 Amazing Kane County ‘Educator of the Year’ Nominees This article was written by Ellen Kamps of the Kane County Regional Office of Education, made possible by Regional Superintendent Patricia Dal Santo. Tags: #40EOTY, Educator of the Year, Kane County Regional Office of Education, kane county roe, Kane ROE, teachers ← Kane County Transportation Update: 30 Really Cool Projects in 2015 Weather Event: Conditions Right for Tornado Thursday →	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6857
__label__wiki	0.876231	0.876231	Home » News by Publication » Outside Magazine The War for Grass in the Heart of Kenya’s Safari Country August 2, 2017 · by Jacob Kushner · in East & Central Africa, Kenya, Outside Magazine For nearly three days, 61-year-old Tristan Voorspuy watched from his conservancy as the tourist houses on the ridge burned. On Sunday around 11 a.m., Voorspuy rode off, unarmed, nearly four miles into the bush to confront the herders who had set them ablaze. Several agonizing hours passed before air surveillance spotted what appeared to be his horse lying on her side near one of the burnt houses. It wasn’t until nearly dusk that a brave Kenyan conservancy employee made it to the scene and returned with the news: Voorspuy was dead. His body lay in a pool of blood, with bullet wounds to his head and chest, between a badly burned lodge and an empty swimming pool. “It was revenge,” says Mworia, for the decision by conservancy owners to ask authorities to expel the herders, which they did in violent ways. Laikipia is located in central Kenya in the heart of the Great Rift Valley. It is home to one of East Africa’s largest concentrations of wildlife, from elephants to rhinos and buffalo to packs of wild dogs. An estimated 86,000 tourists visit each year to explore parts of the 32 vast conservancies and ranches that occupy a third of Laikipia County. Many adore Laikipia because it is so remote, situated far from the more popular safari parks that flood with tourists during the dry seasons. Over the past seven months, however, the peace for which Laikipia is known has given way to a war over grass. A severe drought that began in the fall of 2016 caused nearly 3 million people in northern Kenya to need emergency food assistance. The lack of vegetation caused herdsmen to drive thousands of cows, goats, and sheep southward from nearby counties to where, quite literally, the grass is greener—on private conservancies and ranches, including Voorspuy’s. Many of these trespassing pastoralists see Laikipia’s wildlife not as wonders to admire, but as pests. Buffalos trample their cattle; lions devour their sheep. So the herders, some of whom were armed, began to kill the wildlife. In a matter of months, they decimated many of the largest animals that roamed the conservancies. “Pretty much every wild animal we have has been shot by these herders,” says Sean Outram, manager of Sosian Ranch. Packs of wild dogs—the most endangered large carnivores in East Africa—have been all but wiped out. Dozens of Laikipia’s estimated 5,000 elephants have died in the conflict, as have hundreds of buffalos. Fifteen elephants and at least 12 giraffes were killed on Sosian alone. “Anything that moves has been shot—some of it for the skins, some of it for trophy. Some just because they wanted to shoot it,” says Outram. There may have been something deeper to the herders’ resentment. Many of Laikipia’s conservancies are owned and managed by white people—Kenyan descendants of British colonialists or immigrants from Europe and other African countries. People like Voorspuy. “The tribesmen who murdered Tristan Voorspuy saw not a farmer whose life had been spent in Africa and who provided employment for scores of local people, but instead just a rich, white interloper on a horse who challenged them on land they demand to claim as their own,” wrote Max Hastings, a former safari tourist of Voorspuy’s, in the Daily Mail. “Unless its government shows the will and means to restore peace to Laikipia, which means expelling this murderous throng of invaders by force of arms, the nation’s future stands at risk, and its priceless wild heritage faces the prospect of near-extinction.” Read the feature story at Outside Magazine.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6859
__label__wiki	0.759499	0.759499	Engagement Ring Stolen From Elderly Alzheimer's Patient Is Replaced by Kind-Hearted Cop Appalled by the depravity of a thief who would yank the engagement ring off the finger of an 87-year-old hospital patient with advanced Alzheimer’s, investigating officer Laurie Graber took it upon herself to help make the situation right. Before heading home at the end of her shift, the kind-hearted Plantation, Fla., cop made a side trip to buy a replacement ring. Graber was touched by the love story of Betty Wagoner and her devoted husband, Arthur, who has been at his wife’s side as she has suffered with the debilitating disease. The couple has been married for 67 years and Arthur remembered purchasing Betty’s engagement ring for in 1946 for $400. He placed it on her finger when Betty was just 20 years old and that's where it stayed — until last Saturday. Apparently, someone who had access to Betty’s hospital room pulled her engagement ring and wedding band from her finger while the patient was heavily sedated. The horrible bruising on her finger reflects the force used to remove the rings. The thief took the engagement ring and put the wedding band back on Betty’s finger. Arthur noticed the diamond engagement ring was gone when he went to hold her hand during a visit to the hospital on Sunday. That’s when Graber was called in to investigate. "After 67 years of that ring being on her finger, she still looked at him like he was her knight and shining armor and he looked at her like she was still his young bride," Graber told Local 10 News. "I just couldn't imagine what kind of depravity you would have to have to take something off of someone so vulnerable.” Graber said. So Graber took it upon herself to select a new ring for Betty — a delicate gold ring adorned with small diamonds in the shape of a heart. She returned to the hospital that same night with the intention to deliver it to the nurses’ station anonymously. The officer had placed the ring in a gift bag, along with a note that read, “It’s not much. It’s not the same, but 67 years of a promise kept should be recognized. May God bless you both.” The nurses at Westside Regional Medical Center were so impressed by Graber’s character and random act of kindness that they chose to reveal her identity to Arthur and then go to the local media with the story.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6861
__label__cc	0.546976	0.453024	Former ARRL Headquarters Staffer Ellen White, W1YL, is Krenkel Medalist [UPDATED 2019-05-07 @ 2318 UTC] ARRL Headquarters staff alumna and Life Member Ellen White, W1YL, is the sole US radio amateur to in 2019 to be awarded the Russian E.T. Krenkel Medal, a prestigious award granted to individuals and organizations for outstanding global contributions to Amateur Radio. In 2018, QST was awarded a Krenkel Medal. First licensed in 1946, White had already learned Morse code in high school, and even today, she only rarely operates any other mode. She served for more than 25 years (1952 – 1978) on the Headquarters staff, at one point heading up ARRL contesting activities. She retired as Deputy Communications Manager and became QST “How’s DX?” editor. On her own time, she recorded QST on tape for the vision impaired through the US Library of Congress talking book program. Her husband Bob White, W1CW (SK), was ARRL DXCC manager. Their son Jim White, K4OJ (SK), also once served on the ARRL HQ staff and was president of the Florida Contest Group, which now holds his call sign. For several years now, Ellen White has been operating via the W7RN remote contest station in Nevada to stay active on CW as W1YL/7, usually on 40 meters at around 1000 UTC. She is on the roster of the A-1 Operators Club and has served as a West Central Florida Assistant Section Manager. The article “A Conversation with Ellen White, W1YL,” by Rosalie White, K1STO (no relation), appeared in the May/June 2015 edition of NCJ. The award’s namesake, Ernst Teodorovich Krenkel, was a radio amateur who, over the years, used the call signs RAEM, U3AA, and UA3AA. Born in Poland, Krenkel was an Arctic explorer who took part in the first Soviet “drifting station,” North Pole-1. He was made a “Hero of the Soviet Union” in 1938 for his exploits. Krenkel’s son, T.E. Krenkel, is among the four signatories to the award certificate. The younger Krenkel, a professor at the Moscow Technical College of Telecommunication and Informatics, said his father was an avid radio amateur who served as the first chairman of the Central Radio Club in the USSR. Krenkel’s image appears on postage stamps from the USSR and Russia, and he authored a biography entitled My Callsign is RAEM. In the era when all radio amateurs received QSL cards via Box 88, Moscow, Krenkel was allowed to have his own postal address on his QSLs and was issued the non-standard RAEM call sign. — Thanks to George Wagner, K5KG Read the full article at http://www.arrl.org/news/view/former-arrl-headquarters-staffer-ellen-white-w1yl-is-krenkel-medalist. STRAY SIGNALS does not claim ownership of the article. The original author is responsible for the content of this post ← Herb Glanzer – Freemansd NewsWest for Sunday 12th May 2019 →	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6863
__label__cc	0.61336	0.38664	Celts / Iron Age / Romans Hermes, Guide of Souls, by Charles Hardaker Questions have recently been raised on the Facebook page of The Prehistoric Society about what my characters believed about an afterlife, which has pitched me into a very complex subject. I will attempt to make an answer here but I’m no authority. To begin with, can we assume that everyone before us believed in some kind of afterlife? I thought so, until I read: ‘The Druids hold that the soul of a dead man does not descend to the silent, sunless world of Hades, but becomes reincarnate elsewhere; if they are right, death is merely a point of change in perpetual existence. These Northerners are most fortunate to believe in a doctrine which frees them from that besetting terror of mankind: fear of extinction.’ Lucan. ‘The besetting terror of mankind’ then has a long history and the idea that there is only one life which is followed by oblivion is not so modern as I had supposed. Lucan was the nephew of Seneca and like him a Stoic. Stoicism is a philosophy for living; it is a system of self-control. As such, it has no teaching about the afterlife, but it does touch on the divine realm and identifies the one spirit in all things as Logos. It could be that Stoicism, focussed on surviving in a fraught and dangerous world, could itself lead to a fear of extinction, but I am getting out of my depth here. What I do know is that Lucan did not have to look as far north as Britain: the concept of reincarnation could be found a lot closer to Rome. The imperial city officially welcomed all religions, and dedicated the Aventine Hill to shrines and temples of foreign cults. (So far as I know, the Christians were not persecuted for their beliefs so much as for their bolshy refusal to put the state first when it came to loyalty). Persian, Egyptian, Zoroastrian, and other influences abounded and, in time, gave rise to two fusion cults: those of Mithras and Serapis. I only mention these to paint a picture of a time of spiritual pick’n’mix rather like our own. These foreign cults based on Persian and Egyptian religion tended to a belief in the afterlife. I can’t speak about the Judaic concept of an afterlife; I should know something about the Christian one but find I am muddled and confused. Resurrection? Ascension? Heaven and Hell? The Kingdom of the Father? I think I know what’s what until I read something slightly contradictory, but so far as I understand it the Christian afterlife relates to the individual rather than the soul and in that way differs from the ideas of the ancient world. (If anyone could point me to a good book on the subject, please do). Where did the Druids get the idea of reincarnation? Some say it was from Pythagoras (contact with Pythagoreans is plausible – the Gauls sacked Delphi in the 3rd century BC). However, given the fame of the Druids as teachers of wisdom – students came to their colleges from far and wide – it is equally plausible that Pythagoras came to Gaul, if not Britain, to learn from them. In which case, where did the Druids get the idea from? Not that ideas, especially true ones, are necessarily spread like viruses: they can just emerge in the mind. But let’s say there is a root for this idea. Where would it be? Linguistics tell us that the people of Europe and the people of India share a common ancestry somewhere in the steppes. Some migrated east, some west. ‘Dru-vid’ is a Sanskrit term for truth- (or tree-) knower. It is entirely possible that we share a spiritual culture with our eastern cousins and that the Rig Veda gives us insight into Iron Age Britain. When writing Chariot of the Soul I had my work cut out for me trying to imagine the daily life of a Druid. The historians gave no clue. ‘Lived in groves.’ ‘Taught in colleges’. What did these things mean? Where were they in relation to the communities? I found answers by looking to the Vedic culture, which survives to day in Hinduism and Buddhism. Brahmins can be holy men living as hermits in Himalayan caves; they can be doctors, judges, politicians living as part of the community. ‘Groves’ it seemed to me, can be understood not so much as a circle of trees as a woodland ashram. Rebirth, reincarnation, metempsychosis – all these have nuances of meaning, but all relate to the immortality of the soul. Within cultures, however, there can be varieties of belief. The average Roman or Greek is more likely to believe in an underworld ruled by Hades, where hopeless spirits wail and moan in an eternity of longing. The learned will be more attuned to the ideas of Plato and Pythagoras about the immortality of the soul. But is it the immortality of all souls or just those of the learned? Similarly, in Britain, not everyone would have believed in the Druid afterlife. The common idea, if I can put it that way, is the Otherworld. As with everything else to do with this place and period, it is guesswork, or reconstruction based on meagre information, but this entry on ‘Celtic Otherworld’ from Wikipedia seems good: In Gaelic and Brittonic mythology it (the Otherworld) is usually described as a supernatural realm of everlasting youth, beauty, health, abundance and joy. The Otherworld is usually elusive, but various mythical heroes visit it either through chance or after being invited by one of its residents. They often reach it by entering ancient burial mounds or caves, or by going under water or across the western sea. Sometimes, the Otherworld is said to exist alongside our own located beyond the edge of the earth and intrudes into our world; signaled by phenomena such as magic mist, sudden changes in the weather, or the appearance of divine beings or unusual animals. An otherworldly woman may invite the hero into the Otherworld by offering an apple or a silver apple branch, or a ball of thread to follow as it unwinds. The Otherworld is usually called Annwn in Welsh mythology and Avalon in Arthurian legend. In Irish mythology it has several names, including Tír na nÓg, Mag Mell and Emain Ablach. In Irish myth there is also Tech Duinn, where the souls of the dead gather. Miranda Aldhouse-Green, the leading expert on Druidry, has just published Sacred Britain – an excellent book that I highly recommend. Chapter 10 is devoted to ‘The Journey to Avernus’ and in it she tries to make sense of the archaeological finds related to burial. Sometimes there are cremations in urns, cremations which are scattered or deposited in water, burials with grave goods, collections of bones. ‘Sky burials’ (excarnation), where the body is raised up on a platform to be defleshed by birds (a custom still popular in parts of India) were, it seems, reserved for warriors in reward for valour. Warriors were promised eternal life in the Otherworld (not so different from what young jihadis are promised today). In conclusion, most people of the first century in both Britain and Rome would have believed in some kind of afterlife, or in reincarnation. The variety of burial practice in Britain, which spans cremation to being buried in a chariot drawn by two standing horses (Pocklington, Yorks) may indicate a variety of belief, but then today we still have this same wide span, from a fond farewell down at the local crem to lying in state in some monumental building, and it is not determined by belief so much as social status and economics. So, in the end, who knows? But I have to say that this Christmas I had lunch with someone who believes in heaven, someone who believes in extinction, and someone (me) who believes in neither. Two points to note: we were all, at least nominally, Christian, and we never discuss these differences. When it comes to the afterlife, each to his own. Having been bounced into writing this piece, the least I could do was ask myself what I believe. The answer surprised me. It is not heaven and hell – I’ve never believed in those as being anything other than states of mind of the living. It is not reincarnation, either in the form of the ever-repeating return of an immortal soul, or the condemnation to repeat until you escape the Wheel of Samsara. No, I don’t believe in death at all, nor birth. I believe in the continuity of spirit in all living forms. Call it Logos if you will. And that is our true identity. There never was a time when I was not, nor you, nor these lords of men; and there will never be a time when we shall cease to be. Bhagavad Gita 2/12 I am painfully aware that this post will be found wanting by those with more knowledge. All I can say is that I welcome correction with open arms (and mind). The Oxford Henge Opening the study door	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6865
__label__wiki	0.865616	0.865616	TERRORISM AT UNC-CHAPEL HILL By Michelle Malkin • March 5, 2006 11:03 PM Here’s the latest on Mohammad Taheri-azar, the lone jihadist at UNC-Chapel Hill who rammed an SUV into a crowd of students on Friday to “avenge the death of Muslims around the world,” according to police reports. Students are planning a protest tomorrow against the school’s reluctance to label the incident what it is– an act of terrorism. Protests are planned for Monday in the same area of campus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where, authorities said, a former student plowed a sport utility vehicle into nine people Friday afternoon. The College Republicans, Americans for an Informed Democracy and the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies are sponsoring the event, scheduled for 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday in “The Pit,” a central area of the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. The event is open to the public and free of charge. Police said Mohammad Taheri-azar, a 2005 UNC-Chapel Hill graduate, admits he acted to “avenge the death of Muslims around the world.” UNC police and local authorities, however, say they have not taken a stance on that interpretation, but are simply repeating what the suspect has told them. UNC-Chapel Hill student leaders said that Monday’s protest is aimed at the reluctance of the university to label Friday’s incident as an act of terrorism. “This is innocent people being attacked by an SUV, driven by a man who was doing it for retaliation for treatment of Muslims around the world,” said Jillian Bandes, with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. “To me, that spells terrorism.” Taheri-azar, who is currently in Raleigh’s Central Prison under a $5.5 million bond, is charged with nine counts of attempted first-degree murder and nine counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill. Because of what Taheri-azar admitted to local authorities, the FBI is also participating in the investigation. FBI spokesman Ken Lucas said Sunday, however, that a federal investigation is still ongoing. More details about Taheri-azar from the Daily Tar Heel: A University graduate with at least one prior arrest, who careened a rented silver Jeep Grand Cherokee through the Pit about noon Friday, is being held on 18 felony counts under a $5.5 million bond in the Central Prison in Raleigh. Campus police Chief Derek Poarch confirmed that Mohammed Reza Taheriazar, 22, a 2005 graduate, has been transported to Raleigh on nine counts of attempted first-degree murder and nine counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill. His first court date will be Monday in the District Criminal Court in Hillsborough. Taheri-azar, who formerly lived at 3125 English Sparrow Lane in Charlotte, was taken from the Department of Public Safety to Central Prison last night. Poarch said Taheri-azar is Iranian but he has no information on his citizenship status. The police report lists him as a non-resident. A jihadist in North Carolina Violence at UNC-Chapel Hill July 3, 2019 07:40 AM by Michelle Malkin Malkin’s Handy History of Fake Noose February 20, 2019 06:12 AM by Michelle Malkin 3 good men, 3 great kids’ books December 19, 2018 08:50 AM by Michelle Malkin October 27, 2018 09:29 AM by Michelle Malkin Shared wisdom on a silver anniversary July 25, 2018 09:57 AM by Michelle Malkin	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6870
__label__wiki	0.766737	0.766737	FBI Publishes Details about the Murder of Samantha Koenig Serial killer Israel Keyes [pictured above] abducted Samantha Koenig from a coffee shop in Anchorage, Alaska. Caught in Texas, he confessed to murdering the eighteen-year-old barista. This summary of his confession was recently published by the FBI. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Anchorage Police Department, after speaking to family members, are able to release additional details of the kidnapping and murder of Samantha Koenig. These details are being provided both to fully explain the courage and resolve Samantha displayed in the final hours of her life, as well as in the hopes that the release of additional details will help investigations of other murders committed by Israel Keyes. “Prior to February 1, 2012, Keyes had selected the Common Grounds coffee stand located on Tudor Road for the site of abduction. He did this after considering other coffee stands, but chose Common Grounds because of its location and because it was open later than other coffee stands. Keyes had never met or seen Samantha Koenig before. He approached the coffee stand just prior to closing time, wearing a ski mask and ordered a coffee. Samantha made the coffee and handed it to Keyes; he then pulled out a gun and demanded money. Samantha complied and then Keyes forced himself inside the coffee stand and tied Samantha’s hands with zip ties. He asked where her car was, and she told him that she did not have a vehicle. Keyes then forcibly walked her out of the coffee stand toward Tudor Road. “Samantha broke away from Keyes and tried to run away. Keyes chased her and tackled her to the ground. He put one arm around her and pointed a gun at her body with the other hand; telling her that she needed to cooperate, that the gun had very quiet ammo and that she should not do anything to make him kill her. They walked across Tudor Road into the parking lot between the IHOP restaurant and Dairy Queen, where Keyes’ white truck was parked. Keyes had previously prepared the truck for the abduction by taking the mounted tool boxes off the bed of the truck, as well as removing the license plates. Keyes then bound Samantha in the truck and drove away. “Keyes drove around town, explaining to Samantha that this was a kidnapping for ransom. Samantha told Keyes that her family did not have much money, and that Keyes was not likely to get much in ransom. Keyes explained that they will raise money for the ransom by seeking the public’s help. Keyes convinced Samantha that if she cooperated, she would be returned to her family unharmed. Samantha believed Keyes, and tried to talk to him in an effort to convince him to release her. “At some point on the drive, Keyes realized that Samantha did not have her cell phone, which was necessary for his plan to demand ransom money by sending a text message from her phone. He drove back to Common Grounds and re-entered the coffee stand, leaving Samantha bound in his truck. He retrieved the cell phone and got back into the truck and drove away. Keyes drove to another part of town where he sent two text messages from Samantha’s phone. The first message was to Samantha’s boyfriend, and the second to the owner of Common Grounds. The text messages made it appear that Samantha just had a bad day and was leaving town for the weekend. Keyes then took the battery out of Samantha’s phone. “Keyes asked Samantha for her debit card. Samantha told Keyes that she shared a bank account with her boyfriend, and that his ATM card was in the truck that they shared. Samantha told Keyes where her house was, and gave him the pin number to the ATM card. Keyes put Samantha in the shed in front of his house, bound her, and turned the radio up in the shed so no one would hear her if she screamed. He also told her that he had a police scanner and would know if she attempted to alert the neighbors. “Keyes drove to Samantha’s house and retrieved the ATM card from her truck. While he was at Samantha’s, he was confronted by her boyfriend, who yelled at him and then went back in the house to get help. Keyes ran back to his truck and left the area before he could be found. He drove to an ATM machine to test the pin number provided by Samantha. He then returned to the shed. “Keyes then sexually assaulted Samantha and asphyxiated her. Keyes left her in the shed and then went back inside his house, where he packed for a pre-planned cruise that he was taking from New Orleans. He left early that morning (February 2) for the cruise. “Keyes returned to Anchorage on February 17, 2012. He then began preparing a ransom note that demanded money be placed in the account connected with the ATM card. He went into the shed and retrieved Samantha’s body, taking steps to make it appear that she was still alive, and took a Polaroid picture of her tied up. The photo also showed Keyes’ arm holding the Anchorage Daily News from February 13, 2012. He photocopied the photo and, using a manual typewriter he purchased, typed a ransom demand for $30,000 on the back of the photo. “After preparing the note and photo, he placed it in Connor’s Bog Park, under a memorial flyer of a dog named ‘Albert’. Then, using Samantha’s cell phone, he texted her boyfriend, in substance, that the ransom note was ‘under Albert’ in Connor’s Bog Park. The note was recovered by APD. “In the days that followed, Keyes dismembered Samantha’s body and drove out to Matanuska Lake, where he cut a hole in the ice and put her body in the lake. “Meanwhile, Samantha’s father James Koenig deposited reward money, which had been generously donated by members of the community, into the account connected with Samantha’s ATM card. The plan was to attempt to catch the perpetrator by tracking any withdrawals. ATM withdrawals were made in Anchorage, and then in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Authorities were able to determine that the perpetrator of these withdrawals was driving a white Ford Focus. The FBI and the Texas Rangers tracked the ATM withdrawals as they occurred. Ultimately, Corporal Bryan Henry, of the Texas Highway Patrol, pulled over a white Ford Focus matching the description. Keyes was driving. Henry, along with Texas Ranger Steve Rayburn, obtained enough information during the traffic stop to search the Ford Focus. Samantha’s cellular telephone was found in the car, and the ATM card was found in Keyes’ wallet.” Posted by Robert A. Waters at 11:23 PM No comments: Vanished Woman Found Alive 52 Years Later Lucy Ann Johnson One reason prosecutors hate to try cases where no remains have been found is that the “victim” can always reappear—alive. Lucy Ann Johnson is a case in point. The British Columbia housewife went missing in 1961, but her husband, Marvin, didn’t notify police until four years later. That delay made investigators suspect he’d killed her and hidden her body. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police conducted various searches, eventually digging up his back yard in an attempt to find Lucy. Authorities wanted to arrest Marvin for the murder, but just didn’t have the evidence. Even so, the beleaguered husband lived under a cloud of suspicion until his death in the 1990s. Lucy had a history of estrangement from her family. Born in Alaska, she moved away when she was eighteen and, according to police records, “did not maintain contact with her family.” She married Marvin in 1954 and had two children. Marvin worked on a tugboat, though he was unemployed at the time of her disappearance. As the decades rolled on, no one from her family or community heard from Lucy. Marvin said he thought she was dead. Their son died, but their daughter, Linda Evans, continued to wonder what had happened. Finally, after the RCMP listed Lucy as a “missing person of the month” in their newsletter, Linda placed ads in newspapers across Alaska. A daughter from Lucy’s new family contacted Linda with the information that her mother was living in Yukon. Authorities confirmed this report—Lucy was now 72. Brenda Heist went missing for eleven years before contacting authorities. She later informed police that she left her home in Pennsylvania with several homeless people. They ended up in Florida. Heist stated that an impending divorce and the pressure of having to care for her three children caused her to leave. For eleven years, she lived under several aliases, stole identification cards, forged checks, and violated her probation. She occasionally worked as a house cleaner. Heist finally admitted her real identity, but not before she had been declared dead in 2010. While Heist’s mother was forgiving, her daughter was not. Her husband, who was considered a suspect in her disappearance, also declined to meet with Heist. People who vanish, then reappear, often cause more problems than they could ever imagine. Take the case of Eric Myers. In 1991, the married father of five flew off into the California sun and disappeared. Police assumed that he’d been murdered by persons unknown. Myers was eventually declared dead, and his two daughters collected on a life insurance policy worth $800,000. But the former husband was alive and well all along. He’d gone underground, and had begun living with a man Myers called his husband. In 2007, he made a “miraculous” entrance back into the lives of his family. While Myers’ parents (and Liberty Life Insurance Company) welcomed him, his wife and children were emotionally devastated. The insurance company immediately sued his daughters to recoup their money—several years later, the case is still making its way through the courts. How many other vanished souls are still living under the grid? And how many innocent spouses have been convicted of their murders? Killing Crackers Murder victims James Kouzaris and James Cooper “No political value…” In the broad scheme of things, the murders of James Cooper and James T. Kouzaris didn’t matter much—at least, not to America’s race hustlers. The unprovoked attack on two innocent Englishmen never made national headlines or caused politicians to quiver with outrage in front of the television cameras. The victims were white Brits, the killer African-American, so the narrative of bigoted whites preying on blacks didn’t fit. On April 16, 2011, at 2:00 a.m., Cooper and Kouzaris left the Gator Bar in Sarasota, Florida. Falling-down drunk, they headed up the street, presumably to have breakfast at a nearby IHOP. The two friends missed a turnoff leading to the all-night restaurant and ended up in The Courts, a notorious, gang-infested housing project. Sixteen-year-old Shawn Tyson spied Cooper and Kouzaris stumbling through the “hood” and decided to rob the “crackers.” He made a brief call to a friend, then crawled out his window carrying a .22-caliber pistol. Tyson had a history of violence—just eight days before, he’d been arrested for shooting out the windows of a passing car. Released by mistake, the troubled teen now confronted the lost tourists. According to court documents, Tyson demanded that Cooper and Kouzaris give him money. When they answered that they had none, he replied, “Since you ain’t got no money, I’ve got something for your ass.” As the tourists begged for their lives, Tyson opened fire. Four rounds hit Cooper—a wound to the chest proved fatal. Kouzaris, shot twice in the back, died on the grimy street. Tyson bragged about the murders to several acquaintances. Ignoring the code of silence prevalent in many low-income neighborhoods, his friends quickly turned him in. As he sat in jail awaiting trial, the suspect made incriminating remarks to his half-brother. This partial transcript is from a phone call recorded by jail officials: Brother: Yeah, I don't know what them crackers talkin’ about. S*, like. You was in the house, like. Tyson: I know... that’s what I keep on... these crackers talkin’ about that somebody say they seen me out there or some s. Brother: Them crackers trippin’, man. Tyson: Hell yeah. Brother: S, you’re safe, though. You know what I'm sayin’ like? You ain’t got no guns or nothin. Like f* them crackers talkin’ about. Tyson: Only thing is, they found the bullets, though. Brother: Huh? Tyson: They found the bullets. Brother: Oh. Damn! Tyson: That’s the only thing that’s gonna f*** me up. In addition to the bullets, blood found on Tyson’s clothes matched the DNA of Cooper. A jury quickly found the killer guilty, and a Florida judge sentenced him to life in prison. It was only because of his age that he didn’t receive the death penalty. After the trial, friends and families of the victims criticized President Obama for a lack of sympathy. Paul Davies, a friend of the family, spoke to reporters: “We would like to publicly express our dissatisfaction at the lack of any public or private message of support or condolence from any American governing body or indeed, President Obama himself. [The father of James] Kouzaris has written to President Obama on three separate occasions and is yet to even receive the courtesy of a reply. It would perhaps appear that Mr. Obama sees no political value in facilitating such a request or that the lives of two British tourists are not worthy of ten minutes of his time.” For the next few decades, Shawn Tyson can think of his bloody deeds while languishing behind prison walls. Unfortunately, the Cooper and Kouzaris families will also have to think about those deeds. The Lac-Megantic Disaster Victim Genevieve Breton The normally quiet town of Lac-Megantic sits in Quebec, Canada. Tracks from the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway cut through the heart of the mostly French-speaking village. With a population of 6,000 souls, life in Lac-Megantic rambled on like a slow-moving freight train. Early Saturday morning, on July 6, many residents lay sleeping in their homes while others partied at the Music-Cafe Bar, about twenty yards from the rails. It was then that an un-scheduled runaway train came barreling down the mountain. Seventy-three tanker cars, all carrying oil, derailed in the middle of town. Explosion after explosion rocked the village, and smoke, darker than the night, plumed into the sky. With much of the town suddenly in flames, survival seemed to be a matter of luck. Those in the bar suffered the worst of it. Many died instantly. In addition to the raging fires and toxic smoke, oil from the cars that hadn’t exploded spilled into the streets. Thick, black crude began oozing into the nearby Claudiere River, a tributary of the St. Lawrence. Local firefighters and police rushed to the scene, followed by investigators from the Quebec provincial police. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada began an investigation. A week after the disaster, thirty-seven bodies had been found. Another thirteen were missing. Thirty buildings in the historic business district had been destroyed. The scene reminded many of bombed-out villages in wartime. Hundreds of investigators scoured the scene for more victims, while others attempted to determine the cause of the disaster. Officials from Rail World, Inc., the parent company that owns the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, said the train had been transporting oil from North Dakota to a refinery in New Brunswick. The cars had been parked seven miles away, when they suddenly began rolling downhill. (Investigators said an engineer who had been responsible for setting the brakes took a short-cut and only set some, but not all.) Within minutes, the runaway train hurtled toward Lac-Megantic. While criminal charges will likely be filed, and issues of safety discussed, it’s important to remember the innocent victims of this horrific tragedy. While space doesn’t allow me to even name them all, here is a brief bio of several who met death in all its sudden happenstance. Genevieve Breton, an aspiring singer and college student, was getting ready to leave the Musi-Café Bar with her boyfriend when the building exploded in flames. She was killed instantly. Breton had appeared on Star Academe and was recording her first album. Bianka Charest, 9, and Alyssa, 3, along with their mother, Talitha Coumi-Begnoche, were asleep in their apartment near the tracks when the train hit. Three lives were randomly cut short. And ninety-three-year-old Eliane Parenteau-Boulinger, who had owned a grocery store before retiring, was mowed down in her home near the tracks. And the list of dead and missing goes on. Many had been so badly mangled and burned that the coroner had to use DNA to identify them. Relatives crowded into churches and the local school to mourn. Lac-Megantic, a small village made up of people living normal lives, could never have foreseen a runaway train smashing their dreams away. The town, and its residents, will never be the same. America’s Enoch Arden Case On May 9, 1962, Daniel Schmidt died on an operating table at Fort Miley Veteran’s Hospital in San Francisco. The former airman, only 31, expired as doctors performed open heart surgery. More than 33,000 Americans had died in the Korean War and Schmidt, who survived the conflict, may have been its final victim. On the bone-freezing night of January 15, 1953, Stardust 40, a B-57 from the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, flew 22,000 feet over western Korea. Its official mission was to drop propaganda leaflets, but the flight carried some top brass, including Colonel John Knox Arnold, Jr. and Major William H. Baumer. One of the lesser-important crew members was Airman 1st Class Daniel C. Schmidt, listed in the official records as an “aircraft observer” from Portland, Oregon. As Stardust 40 ended its mission and turned to head home, 12 Russian MIG-15 jet fighters swept out of the sky in a surprise attack. Heavy anti-aircraft fire from the ground shook the American plane. Surrounded by the MIGs, and taking ground fire, Stardust 40 had no chance. The battle was brief—after three engines caught fire, the crew bailed out. The fourteen flyers landed in the Korean country-side. Eleven were soon rounded up and transferred to China, while three were never found. Back home, Daniel Schmidt’s pretty red-haired wife, Una, was informed that the plane had gone down. She said she received notice from the air force that all the airmen were missing and presumed dead. Two months later a son, Danny Walter Schmidt, was born. In Apollo’s Warriors: The United States Air Force Special Operations during the Cold War, Michael E. Haas writes of the ordeal suffered by the airmen: “Kept handcuffed and chained in solitary confinement for months, the [Stardust 40] crewmen underwent grueling mental and physical torture. Eighteen months after their internment and a year after the war was over, the Chinese broke their silence to announce the forthcoming trial on the charges of germ warfare. In October, 1954, the crewmen were put through a highly publicized propaganda trial before a Chinese military tribunal and—surprise—found guilty.” Each was sentenced to long prison terms. Then, on August 4, 1955, the crewmen were released, in exchange for Chinese scientists held by the United States. By then, Una had remarried. “I thought Danny was dead,” she told reporters. “I intend to meet my husband when he arrives from overseas. We have a great deal to discuss, including the future of our son.” Una moved out of the trailer she shared with her new husband, Alford Fine, and went into seclusion. She hired an attorney to help her sort out the “nuptial tangle,” as the newspapers termed it. Shortly after marrying her new husband, Una had learned that Daniel was still alive in a “red Chinese” prison. She corresponded with him, and even sent pictures of Danny, Jr. But she never informed him about Alford. “I figured [Daniel had] gone through enough hell without me putting a little more on him,” she said. After Schmidt returned back to the states, he refused to meet with Una. Deeply hurt at what he perceived as her betrayal, he flatly rejected any attempt at reconciliation. He did state, however, that he would seek custody of their son. For several weeks, lawyers for both Daniel and Una used the news media to publicize their own version of events. Finally, Schmidt’s mother spoke with her son and persuaded him to meet Una. Once Daniel saw his bride, all bitterness was forgotten. On August 25, the Associated Press reported that “a surprise reconciliation put Airman Daniel Schmidt and his wife Una on a belated honeymoon Thursday and wiped out his plans for a divorce…They promptly went into seclusion and were reported to be at an Oregon beach.” Since Una had never annulled the marriage, the two were still legally bound. Alford Fine, called the “forgotten man” by reporters, hitched his trailer home to his car and drove off into the sunset. His grief must not have lasted long, since five months later he married again. Then the jilted second husband faded from history. The glow on the rekindled Schmidt marriage soon wore off. Daniel and Una divorced, and both remarried. The star-crossed couple led anonymous lives until 1962, when newspapers reported that Daniel had died. He’d never recuperated from the torture inflicted by the Chinese, or from the crushing blow of finding his wife had remarried during his forced absence. Like her second husband, Una faded into obscurity. Throughout the ordeal, newspapers referred to the poem, “Enoch Arden,” written by Lord Alfred Tennyson. The poem related the story of a shipwrecked sailor who returned home 10 years later, only to find that his wife had remarried. Like Daniel C. Schmidt, Enoch Arden also came to a tragic end. Zack A. Crumpton, my grandfather, in his World War I uniform Ode to America on Independence Day I thank God that I was born in the United States of America. You see, I could have been born during the Dark Ages. For five hundred years, after the fall of Rome in 480 A.D., Europe descended into famine, plague, wars, and the intellectual domination of barbarians. Life as we know it didn’t exist. Back-breaking labor from dawn to dusk became the lot of the peasants. Death by sword, disease, or constant toil cut most people down before they reached 35 years of age. I could have been born during the era of the Black Death. In the 1300s, 75-150 million people across the planet perished, a number so staggering as to defy imagination. No medicine could cure the plague, no religious incantations stave it off. Carcasses littered cities and villages and country-sides like flies. Once the Black Death ended, survivors were emotionally scarred for life. I might have been born a kulak in Russia during the “Red Terror,” when Lenin and Stalin murdered tens of millions. Or I could have lived in countries ruled by Hitler or Pol Pot or Fidel Castro. But I was one of the fortunate few. I grew up in the United States during the 1950s. All my family—parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents—were Christians. While it has become fashionable among some to denigrate Christian faith, I can’t imagine life without God. I grew to manhood when education was available for the masses. So instead of slaving day-to-day in searing-hot fields, I’m thankful that I was able to attend college and work in air conditioned buildings. I’m grateful for the medical advances that allowed me to live a healthy life. Without modern medicine, I would have died when I was 57. Open heart surgery saved my life. I’m grateful that physicians through the ages developed advanced knowledge of the human body and the tools to fight off disease and afflictions. America, land of freedom, land of dreams, a country where life slides by in monotonous, yet eventful days. Our freedoms were earned with the blood of strangers, those who cared enough to die for people they would never know. America, where we can live the way we want, as long as we don’t harm others, where we can choose our own paths. I’m thankful for this country, and for those who came before and paved the way so that I could live a life filled with wonder and joy. FBI Publishes Details about the Murder of Samantha...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6871
__label__cc	0.585803	0.414197	Mustreads NYPD rescues couple’s lost ring By Rebbekah Wiltons, Jan 9, 2019 An English couple has a reason to smile after an engagement ring that fell into a New York City grate was recovered. Proposal gone awry The joy of having his girlfriend of 10 years accepting his marriage proposal was dimmed when John Brennan’s new fiancée, Daniella Anthony, lost her engagement ring. Brennan proposed to his girlfriend on the tenth anniversary of their first date at Central Park. After getting a much desired “Yes,” the couple happily went on a stroll through Times Square. That’s when the fateful ring slipped right off Anthony’s finger and into a sidewalk grate. According to Anthony, she had already warned Brennan that the ring was too big. In his excitement, Brennan didn’t put much thought to that. To him, he was just so excited that they had taken a step towards forever. He had managed to put the ring on her finger and he had no intention of taking it off. Brennan had evidently put a lot of thought into making sure that the proposal was well timed. The ring remained in his pocket for two days as he waited for the perfect opportunity to pop the question. He found his chance at Central Park. This was when he felt the time was right, with autumn leaves everywhere and few people around. His perfect timing suffered a blow however when the accident with the ring happened on the way back to their hotel. “I can still visualize the ring,” recalls Brennan. “Bouncing once… bouncing twice and then it was gone.” Failed retrieval After the ring rolled into the vent, the couple put their efforts into getting it back. For the next two hours, they tried whatever they could, even getting help from some passersby. It was after many failed retrieval attempts that they gave up and decided to just let it go. They resolved to forget about the incident and enjoy the rest of their weekend. They later took a flight back home to Peterborough, Cambridge, while Anthony’s ring remained in the vent in Times Square. Twitter to the rescue After getting wind of the incident, the New York City Police Department came to the rescue. They successfully retrieved the ring and cleaned it. Unfortunately, they could not track the couple. It was then that they turned to their Twitter account. They posted security footage of the couple trying to get the ring from the grate, and asked their followers to help. Several thousand retweets later, the post had gone so viral that it eventually reached someone closer to the couple. It was this friend that contacted Brennan and Anthony and asked them to check the video posted by the NYPD. To their surprise, the ring that they had lost all hope on had been found. Anthony was quoted as saying that it was an unbelievable surprise. They were, of course, very happy that it had been found. The couple expressed gratitude to the NYPD and everyone else who shared their footage on the media. The Police Department went back to their Twitter account to announce that their search had been successful, and that the case was now closed. The Best TV game shows of all time There’s a reason game shows have endured all this time, and are still a popular staple of daytime television. They represent that longing... The 12 Most Expensive Flights In The World Thought flying for your vacation was expensive? Wait until you see some of these trips - they’re the priciest flights in the world. Etihad... 5 new animal breeds that we discovered only recently If you have a fear of spiders, all things creepy-crawly or just animals in general, you might think that we have enough critters in the world... 5 boot camps from around the world you should definitely try Over the past few years, military style boot camps have proved incredibly successful - with people from all across the world enlisting... Great famous game shows from the UK The UK is known for producing some truly great TV shows, and the famous game shows they’ve made over the years are still classics to this... Helpful ways to improve your focus How focused would you say you are? Extremely focused? Fairly focused? Struggling to focus? Well, when Microsoft conducted a study in... Kiwi Report is the leading destination on health, tech, business, and social news. Kiwi launched in 2014 with first-rate updates that provide factual and forward-thinking content to the modern reader. Ways to keep yourself focused in life The reason why flamingos are pink The origins of spicy food What are bees really doing and how important are they for us humans? How to be a more responsible shopper All you wanted to know about wearing sunscreen KiwiReport	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6873
__label__cc	0.516124	0.483876	Wait! Come back here! What is it about science fiction that gives it such a bad rap, to the point that mere mention of that label will prevent otherwise open-minded people from sampling any of it? Is it that the genre has a reputation for forgoing characterization, subtlety and meaning in favor of technical minutiae of dubious merit? Is it that this reputation is largely deserved? What a shame, especially when an occasional effort rises high above the pool of mediocrity and aspires to real art, as do these two wonderful movies. Forbidden Planet is one of the best sci-fi movies ever (the best being 2001: A Space Odyssey, not reviewed here because it’s hardly a "lesser known"). I’m still haunted by the extraordinary premise, which unfolds slowly, eerily, until the awe-inspiring truth is at last revealed. A spaceship captain (Leslie Nielsen) and his crew travel to a planet where, years before, another ship crashed, leaving only passenger Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) and his daughter (Ann Francis) alive. In the intervening years, Morbius has made a life for himself and his daughter, utilizing machinery left behind by the vanished native race of the planet, the Krell. Theirs was a culture so advanced that they had essentially transformed the entire planet into one great, self-sustaining machine, designed to do their bidding and free them from the constraints of their physical bodies. But somehow, on the very eve of the initiation of this epic phase of their culture, the entire race disappeared, in a single night. Despite his mastery of the machines they left behind and the knowledge of Krell history he acquired from them, the reason for this catastrophe remains a complete mystery to Morbius. Meanwhile, mysteries abound even in the present. As Morbius becomes increasingly agitated by what he perceives to be the disruptive presence of the visitors from Earth, an unseen force is stalking the visiting spaceship, terrorizing the crewmembers and killing them off one by one. How these seemingly disparate elements eventually collide provides a stunner of a revelation that explains everything, one of those take-your-breath-away twists that makes you re-think everything you’ve seen since the film began. In fact, Forbidden Planet is even better the second time around, because then you realize the relevance of all the details that seemed incidental at first, from the Krell "image machine" that almost killed Morbius the first time he tried to use it, to a heretofore tame pet tiger that inexplicably threatens the visiting crew. I saw this film for the first time when I was very young; later in life, after formally studying psychology for several years, I went back and saw it again, and only then did I understand the full set of Freudian implications represented. This intellectual tour de force is definitely wasted on young kids who just won’t get it. The special effects are beautiful rather than technically impressive, incorporating a lot of deep Technicolor reds and blues that enhance the overall tone of otherworldly strangeness that is at once frightening and compelling. The film is also notable for the debut of Robby the Robot, who provides most of the film’s comic relief, and an eerie score by Bebe and Louis Barron. Where Forbidden Planet finds its center in the brain, Starman is strictly from the heart. It is a profoundly sad movie, unoriginal in conception but striking in execution, containing no new revelations or insights but presenting old ones with special conviction and power. Jeff Bridges, one of the best actors working today (and who gives what might very well be the least-seen Academy Award-nominated performance since Judy Densch's for Mrs. Brown), is a non-corporeal visitor from an unnamed planet who lands on Earth and ends up in the house of recently-widowed Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen). Utilizing various visual memorabilia in the house (photos, old home movies), the visitor assumes the dead husband’s physical form, much to the shock of the widow, whom he then kidnaps and takes on a road trip. Predictably, most of the movie involves their growing relationship in the forced confines of Jenny’s captivity. But what really sets this movie apart is Bridges’ performance, one of those deeply satisfying achievements in which an actor manufactures a complete persona from scratch while we watch. The premise here is that this alien visitor arrived as a total blank, the prefect tabula rasa upon which a new character is writ, and he does so using nothing other than what he sees around him. Thus, in his first attempt at driving, he careens through an intersection against the light because he based his learning on Jenny’s behavior or, as he explains it: "Green light – go. Yellow light – speed up." He seems to have a purpose, although what that might be we can’t tell, but his modus operandus of fashioning himself solely from his observations is apparently based on the supposition that human behavior is consistent and predictable. The fallacy of this assumption gets him into constant trouble, and we can’t help but wince at such pure innocence rewarded with pain and confusion. Which brings us to the heart of this character: We might be forgiven for believing that the visitor will eventually be cast in the same cynical mold as his models. After all, what else has he to go on? Incredibly, though, his own "personality" shines through, and Bridges imbues that personality with a mix of dumb naivete and penetrating wisdom that is a wonder to behold. As he develops, and as his gentle and forgiving nature becomes apparent to Jenny, she abandons herself to this image of her lost husband, only to discover that prolonging his stay on Earth will mean the visitor’s death. Despite an intended uplifting ending (the inevitable and hopelessly cliched government pursuers are outsmarted by one conscience-stricken scientist, well-played by Charles Martin Smith), nothing can relieve our despair that the pain-wracked Jenny, already tortured by the untimely death of her beloved husband, loses him for a second time. Interestingly, while the film screams "sequel" (the visitor impregnates Jenny before he leaves), there never was one, perhaps because there was insufficient action at the box office to warrant green-lighting a second movie. A lot of people missed out on a beautiful movie…all because of a label. I’m not sure that The Dead Zone qualifies as science-fiction. It’s centered around a character with ESP but that’s as far as it goes. The reason for its lack of box office success is related to that of The Nightmare Before Christmas, its purported pedigree: how many people over the age of thirteen are interested in seeing a film based on a Stephen King novel with the word dead in the title? So once again, the kids didn’t like it and adults wouldn’t give it a try. Again, too bad. This is a little beauty of a film with a great plot, appealing characters and a moody tone and look that are completely absorbing. Christopher Walken plays a young man who awakens from an accident-induced coma to discover that he can sense things by touching people and objects. He retreats from the problems this causes him (in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is an outcast) but keeps getting pulled back into the very kinds of situations he wishes to shun. It seems that every good turn he attempts to do for worthy and sympathetic individuals somehow backfires on him. I won't go further into the plot because there's no way to do so without ruining all the surprises, but it's clever and involving and one hundred percent character-driven. Walken -- who, let's face it, is a very talented weirdo -- has never been better (except perhaps in Pennies from Heaven). ← Previous Good Stuff Next Good Stuff →	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6877
__label__wiki	0.936881	0.936881	William Jefferson Clinton (born ; August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Prior to the presidency, he was the Governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981, and again from 1983 to 1992. A member of the Democratic Party, Clinton was ideologically a New Democrat and many of his policies reflected a centrist “Third Way” political philosophy. Clinton was born and raised in Arkansas and attended Georgetown University, the University of Oxford, and Yale Law School. He met Hillary Rodham at Yale and married her in 1975. After graduating from Yale, Clinton returned to Arkansas and won election as the Attorney General of Arkansas, serving from 1977 to 1979. As Governor of Arkansas, Clinton overhauled the state’s education system and served as chairman of the National Governors Association. Clinton was elected president in 1992, defeating incumbent Republican opponent George H. W. Bush. At age 46, he became the third-youngest president and the first from the Baby Boomer generation. Clinton presided over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history and signed into law the North American Free Trade Agreement, but failed to pass his plan for national health care reform. In the 1994 elections, the Republican Party won unified control of the Congress for the first time in 40 years. In 1996, Clinton became the first Democrat since Franklin D. Roosevelt to be elected to a second full term. Clinton passed welfare reform and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, as well as financial deregulation measures, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000. In 1998, Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives for matters related to a scandal that involved White House employee Monica Lewinsky. Clinton was acquitted by the Senate in 1999 and proceeded to complete his term in office. During the last three years of Clinton’s presidency, the Congressional Budget Office reported a budget surplus, the first such surplus since 1969. In foreign policy, Clinton ordered U.S. military intervention in the Bosnian and Kosovo wars, signed the Iraq Liberation Act in opposition to Saddam Hussein, and participated in the 2000 Camp David Summit to advance the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. Clinton left office with the highest end-of-office approval rating of any U.S. president since World War II, and he has continually received high ratings in public opinion polls of U.S. presidents. Since leaving office, Clinton has been involved in public speaking and humanitarian work. He created the William J. Clinton Foundation to address international causes, such as the prevention of AIDS and global warming. He has remained active in politics by campaigning for Democratic candidates, including his wife’s presidential campaigns and Barack Obama‘s presidential campaigns. In 2004, Clinton published his autobiography, My Life. In 2009, Clinton was named the United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti and after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, he teamed with George W. Bush to form the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Listen to this article (info/dl) This audio file was created from a revision of the article “Bill Clinton” dated 2012-06-04, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. (Audio help) More spoken articles Early life and career Clinton’s childhood home in Hope, Arkansas Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946, at Julia Chester Hospital in Hope, Arkansas. He was the son of William Jefferson Blythe Jr. (1918–1946), a traveling salesman who had died in an automobile accident three months before his birth, and Virginia Dell Cassidy (later Virginia Kelley: 1923–1994). His parents married on September 4, 1943, but this union later proved to be bigamous, as Blythe was still married to a previous wife. Soon after Bill was born, Virginia traveled to New Orleans to study nursing. She left her son in Hope with her parents Eldridge and Edith Cassidy, who owned and ran a small grocery store. At a time when the southern United States was racially segregated, Clinton’s grandparents sold goods on credit to people of all races. In 1950, Bill’s mother returned from nursing school and married Roger Clinton Sr., who owned an automobile dealership in Hot Springs, Arkansas, with his brother and Earl T. Ricks. The family moved to Hot Springs in 1950. Although he immediately assumed use of his stepfather’s surname, it was not until Clinton turned fifteen that he formally adopted the surname Clinton as a gesture toward his stepfather. Clinton said that he remembered his stepfather as a gambler and an alcoholic who regularly abused his mother and half-brother, Roger Clinton Jr., to the point where he intervened multiple times with the threat of violence to protect them. Clinton practicing his saxophone at the White House in 1996. He began playing the saxophone in elementary school. At one point, Clinton considered pursuing a career in music. In Hot Springs, Clinton attended St. John’s Catholic Elementary School, Ramble Elementary School, and Hot Springs High School, where he was an active student leader, avid reader, and musician. Clinton was in the chorus and played the tenor saxophone, winning first chair in the state band’s saxophone section. He briefly considered dedicating his life to music, but as he noted in his autobiography My Life: Sometime in my sixteenth year, I decided I wanted to be in public life as an elected official. I loved music and thought I could be very good, but I knew I would never be John Coltrane or Stan Getz. I was interested in medicine and thought I could be a fine doctor, but I knew I would never be Michael DeBakey. But I knew I could be great in public service. Clinton began an interest in law at Hot Springs High, when he took up the challenge to argue the defense of the ancient Roman Senator Catiline in a mock trial in his Latin class. After a vigorous defense that made use of his “budding rhetorical and political skills”, he told the Latin teacher Elizabeth Buck that it “made him realize that someday he would study law”. Clinton has identified two influential moments in his life that contributed to his decision to become a public figure, both occurring in 1963. One was his visit as a Boys Nation senator to the White House to meet President John F. Kennedy. The other was watching Martin Luther King Jr.‘s 1963 I Have a Dream speech on TV, which impressed him enough that he later memorized it. College and law school years Clinton ran for president of the Student Council while attending the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. With the aid of scholarships, Clinton attended the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., receiving a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree in 1968. In 1964 and 1965, Clinton won elections for class president. From 1964 to 1967, he was an intern and then a clerk in the office of Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright. While in college, he became a brother of co-ed service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Clinton was also a member of the Order of DeMolay, a youth group affiliated with Freemasonry, but he never became a Freemason. He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi honorary band fraternity. Upon graduating from Georgetown in 1968, Clinton won a Rhodes Scholarship to University College in Oxford, England, where he initially read for a B.Phil. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics but transferred to a B.Litt. in politics and, ultimately, a B.Phil. in politics. Clinton did not expect the second year because of the draft and he switched programs; this type of activity was common among other Rhodes Scholars from his cohort. He had received an offer to study at Yale Law School, Yale University, but he left early to return to the United States and did not receive a degree from Oxford. During his time at Oxford, Clinton befriended fellow American Rhodes Scholar Frank Aller. In 1969, Aller received a draft letter that mandated deployment to the Vietnam War. Aller’s 1971 suicide had an influential impact on Clinton. British writer and feminist Sara Maitland said of Clinton, “I remember Bill and Frank Aller taking me to a pub in Walton Street in the summer term of 1969 and talking to me about the Vietnam War. I knew nothing about it, and when Frank began to describe the napalming of civilians I began to cry. Bill said that feeling bad wasn’t good enough. That was the first time I encountered the idea that liberal sensitivities weren’t enough and you had to do something about such things”. He also developed an interest in rugby union, which he played at Oxford. While Clinton was president in 1994, he received an honorary degree and a fellowship from the University of Oxford, specifically for being “a doughty and tireless champion of the cause of world peace”, having “a powerful collaborator in his wife,” and for winning “general applause for his achievement of resolving the gridlock that prevented an agreed budget”. Vietnam War opposition and draft controversy While at Oxford, Clinton also participated in Vietnam War protests and organized an October 1969 Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam event. During Vietnam War, Clinton received educational draft deferments while he was in England during 1968 and 1969. He was planning to attend law school in the U.S. and was aware that he might lose his draft deferment. Clinton tried unsuccessfully to obtain positions in the National Guard or Air Force, and he then made arrangements to join the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program at the University of Arkansas. He subsequently decided not to join the ROTC, saying in a letter to the officer in charge of the program that he opposed the war, but did not think it was honorable to use ROTC, National Guard, or Reserve service to avoid serving in Vietnam. He further stated that because he opposed the war, he would not volunteer to serve in uniform, but would subject himself to the draft, and would serve if selected only as a way “to maintain my political viability within the system”. Clinton registered for the draft and received a high number (311), meaning that those whose birthdays had been drawn as numbers 1 to 310 would have to be drafted before him, making it unlikely that he would be drafted. (In fact, the highest number drafted was 195.) Colonel Eugene Holmes, the Army officer who had been involved with Clinton’s ROTC application, suspected that Clinton attempted to manipulate the situation to avoid the draft and avoid serving in uniform. He issued a notarized statement during the 1992 presidential campaign: I was informed by the draft board that it was of interest to Senator Fulbright’s office that Bill Clinton, a Rhodes Scholar, should be admitted to the ROTC program … I believe that he purposely deceived me, using the possibility of joining the ROTC as a ploy to work with the draft board to delay his induction and get a new draft classification. During the 1992 campaign, it was revealed that Clinton’s uncle had attempted to secure him a position in the Navy Reserve, which would have prevented him from being deployed to Vietnam. This effort was unsuccessful and Clinton said in 1992 that he had been unaware of it until then. Although legal, Clinton’s actions with respect to the draft and deciding whether to serve in the military were criticized during his first presidential campaign by conservatives and some Vietnam veterans, some of whom charged that he had used Fulbright’s influence to avoid military service. Clinton’s 1992 campaign manager, James Carville, successfully argued that Clinton’s letter in which he declined to join the ROTC should be made public, insisting that voters, many of whom had also opposed the Vietnam War, would understand and appreciate his position. After Oxford, Clinton attended Yale Law School and earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 1973. In 1971, he met fellow law student Hillary Rodham in the Yale Law Library; she was a class year ahead of him. They began dating and were soon inseparable. After only about a month, Clinton postponed his plans to be a coordinator for the George McGovern campaign for the 1972 United States presidential election in order to move in with her in California. They married on October 11, 1975, and their only child, Chelsea, was born on February 27, 1980. Clinton eventually moved to Texas with Rodham in 1972 to take a job leading George McGovern‘s effort there. He spent considerable time in Dallas, at the campaign’s local headquarters on Lemmon Avenue, where he had an office. Clinton worked with future two-term mayor of Dallas Ron Kirk, future governor of Texas Ann Richards, and then unknown television director (and future filmmaker) Steven Spielberg. Early political career Governor of Arkansas (1979–1981, 1983–1992) ; Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1980; Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1982; Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1986; and Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1990 After graduating from Yale Law School, Clinton returned to Arkansas and became a law professor at the University of Arkansas. In 1974, he ran for the House of Representatives. Running in a conservative district against incumbent Republican John Paul Hammerschmidt, Clinton’s campaign was bolstered by the anti-Republican and anti-incumbent mood resulting from the Watergate scandal. Hammerschmidt, who had received 77 percent of the vote in 1972, defeated Clinton by only a 52 percent to 48 percent margin. In 1976, Clinton ran for Arkansas Attorney General. With only minor opposition in the primary and no opposition at all in the general election, Clinton was elected. Newly elected Governor of Arkansas Bill Clinton meets with President Jimmy Carter in 1978, fifteen years before assuming the nation’s highest office. Clinton was elected Governor of Arkansas in 1978, having defeated the Republican candidate Lynn Lowe, a farmer from Texarkana. At age 32, he became the youngest governor in the country. Due to his youthful appearance, Clinton was often called the “Boy Governor”. He worked on educational reform and directed the maintenance of Arkansas’s roads, with wife Hillary leading a successful committee on urban health care reform. However, his term included an unpopular motor vehicle tax and citizens’ anger over the escape of Cuban refugees (from the Mariel boatlift) detained in Fort Chaffee in 1980. Monroe Schwarzlose of Kingsland in Cleveland County, polled 31 percent of the vote against Clinton in the Democratic gubernatorial primary of 1980. Some suggested Schwarzlose’s unexpected voter turnout foreshadowed Clinton’s defeat by Republican challenger Frank D. White in the general election that year. As Clinton once joked, he was the youngest ex-governor in the nation’s history. Clinton joined friend Bruce Lindsey‘s Little Rock law firm of Wright, Lindsey and Jennings. In 1982, he was elected governor a second time and kept the office for ten years. Effective with the 1986 election, Arkansas had changed its gubernatorial term of office from two to four years. During his term, he helped transform Arkansas’s economy and improved the state’s educational system. For senior citizens, he removed the sales tax from medications and increased the home property-tax exemption. He became a leading figure among the New Democrats, a group of Democrats who advocated welfare reform, smaller government, and other policies not supported by liberals. Formally organized as the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), the New Democrats argued that in light of President Ronald Reagan‘s landslide victory in 1984, the Democratic Party needed to adopt a more centrist political stance in order to succeed at the national level. Clinton delivered the Democratic response to Reagan’s 1985 State of the Union Address and served as chair of the National Governors Association from 1986 to 1987, bringing him to an audience beyond Arkansas. In the early 1980s, Clinton identified reform of the Arkansas education system a top priority of his gubernatorial administration. The Arkansas Education Standards Committee was chaired by Clinton’s wife Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was also an attorney as well as the chair of the Legal Services Corporation. The committee transformed Arkansas’s education system. Proposed reforms included more spending for schools (supported by a sales-tax increase), better opportunities for gifted children, vocational education, higher teachers’ salaries, more course variety, and compulsory teacher competency exams. The reforms passed in September 1983 after Clinton called a special legislative session—the longest in Arkansas history. Many have considered this the greatest achievement of the Clinton governorship. He defeated four Republican candidates for governor: Lowe (1978), White (1982 and 1986), Jonesboro businessmen Woody Freeman (1984), and Sheffield Nelson of Little Rock (1990). Governor and Mrs. Clinton attend the Dinner Honoring the Nation’s Governors in the White House with President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan, 1987. Also in the 1980s, The Clintons’ personal and business affairs included transactions that became the basis of the Whitewater controversy investigation, which later dogged his presidential administration. After extensive investigation over several years, no indictments were made against the Clintons related to the years in Arkansas. According to some sources, Clinton was a death penalty opponent in his early years, but he eventually switched positions. During Clinton’s term, Arkansas performed its first executions since 1964 (the death penalty had been re-enacted on March 23, 1973). As Governor, he oversaw four executions: one by electric chair and three by lethal injection. Later, as president, Clinton was the first president to pardon a death-row inmate since the federal death penalty was reinstated in 1988. 1988 Democratic presidential primaries In 1987, the media speculated that Clinton would enter the Presidential race after then-New York Governor Mario Cuomo declined to run and Democratic front-runner Gary Hart withdrew owing to revelations of marital infidelity. Clinton decided to remain as Arkansas governor (following consideration for the potential candidacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton for governor, initially favored—but ultimately vetoed—by the First Lady). For the nomination, Clinton endorsed Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. He gave the nationally televised opening night address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, but his speech, which was 33 minutes long and twice as long as it was expected to be, was criticized for being too long and poorly delivered. Clinton presented himself as both a moderate and a member of the New Democrat wing of the Democratic Party, and he headed the moderate Democratic Leadership Council in 1990 and 1991. Presidency (1993–2001)”] Countries visited by President Bill Clinton during his terms in office. During his presidency, Clinton advocated for a wide variety of legislation and programs, most of which were enacted into law or implemented by the executive branch. His policies, particularly the North American Free Trade Agreement and welfare reform, have been attributed to a centrist Third Way philosophy of governance. His policy of fiscal conservatism helped to reduce deficits on budgetary matters. Clinton presided over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history. The Congressional Budget Office reported budget surpluses of $69 billion in 1998, $126 billion in 1999, and $236 billion in 2000, during the last three years of Clinton’s presidency. Over the years of the recorded surplus, the gross national debt rose each year. At the end of the fiscal year (September 30) for each of the years a surplus was recorded, The U.S. treasury reported a gross debt of $5.413 trillion in 1997, $5.526 trillion in 1998, $5.656 trillion in 1999, and $5.674 trillion in 2000. Over the same period, the Office of Management and Budget reported an end of year (December 31) gross debt of $5.369 trillion in 1997, $5.478 trillion in 1998, $5.606 in 1999, and $5.629 trillion in 2000. At the end of his presidency, the Clintons moved to Chappaqua, New York in order to satisy a residency requirement for his wife to win election as a U.S. Senator from New York. ; United States presidential election, 1992; and Bill Clinton presidential campaign, 1992 In the first primary contest, the Iowa Caucus, Clinton finished a distant third to Iowa Senator Tom Harkin. During the campaign for the New Hampshire primary, reports of an extramarital affair with Gennifer Flowers surfaced. Clinton fell far behind former Massachusetts Senator Paul Tsongas in the New Hampshire polls. Following Super Bowl XXVI, Clinton and his wife Hillary went on 60 Minutes to rebuff the charges. Their television appearance was a calculated risk, but Clinton regained several delegates. He finished second to Tsongas in the New Hampshire primary, but after trailing badly in the polls and coming within single digits of winning, the media viewed it as a victory. News outlets labeled him “The Comeback Kid” for earning a firm second-place finish. Winning the big prizes of Florida and Texas and many of the Southern primaries on Super Tuesday gave Clinton a sizable delegate lead. However, former California Governor Jerry Brown was scoring victories and Clinton had yet to win a significant contest outside his native South. With no major Southern state remaining, Clinton targeted New York, which had many delegates. He scored a resounding victory in New York City, shedding his image as a regional candidate. Having been transformed into the consensus candidate, he secured the Democratic Party nomination, finishing with a victory in Jerry Brown‘s home state of California. The Clintons in a White House Christmas portrait, 1993. During the campaign, questions of conflict of interest regarding state business and the politically powerful Rose Law Firm, at which Hillary Rodham Clinton was a partner, arose. Clinton argued the questions were moot because all transactions with the state had been deducted before determining Hillary’s firm pay. Further concern arose when Bill Clinton announced that, with Hillary, voters would be getting two presidents “for the price of one”. Clinton was still the Governor of Arkansas while campaigning for U.S. president, and he returned to his home state to see that Ricky Ray Rector would be executed. After killing a police officer and a civilian, Rector shot himself in the head, leading to what his lawyers said was a state where he could still talk but did not understand the idea of death. According to Arkansas state and Federal law, a seriously mentally impaired inmate cannot be executed. The courts disagreed with the allegation of grave mental impairment and allowed the execution. Clinton’s return to Arkansas for the execution was framed in a New York Times article as a possible political move to counter “soft on crime” accusations. Bush’s approval ratings were around 80 percent during the Gulf War, and he was described as unbeatable. When Bush compromised with Democrats to try to lower Federal deficits, he reneged on his promise not to raise taxes, which hurt his approval rating. Clinton repeatedly condemned Bush for making a promise he failed to keep. By election time, the economy was souring and Bush saw his approval rating plummet to just slightly over 40 percent. Finally, conservatives were previously united by anti-communism, but with the end of the Cold War, the party lacked a uniting issue. When Pat Buchanan and Pat Robertson addressed Christian themes at the Republican National Convention—with Bush criticizing Democrats for omitting God from their platform—many moderates were alienated. Clinton then pointed to his moderate, “New Democrat” record as governor of Arkansas, though some on the more liberal side of the party remained suspicious. Many Democrats who had supported Ronald Reagan and Bush in previous elections switched their support to Clinton. Clinton and his running mate, Al Gore, toured the country during the final weeks of the campaign, shoring up support and pledging a “new beginning”. 1992 electoral vote results. Clinton won the 1992 presidential election (370 electoral votes) against Republican incumbent George H. W. Bush (168 electoral votes) and billionaire populist Ross Perot (0 electoral votes), who ran as an independent on a platform that focused on domestic issues. Bush’s steep decline in public approval was a significant part of Clinton’s success. Clinton’s victory in the election ended twelve years of Republican rule of the White House and twenty of the previous twenty-four years. The election gave Democrats full control of the United States Congress, the first time one party controlled both the executive and legislative branches since Democrats held the 96th United States Congress during the presidency of Jimmy Carter. First term (1993–1997) First inauguration of Bill Clinton (January 20, 1993) Video of the First inauguration of Bill Clinton audio only version Problems playing these files? See media help. “Our democracy must be not only the envy of the world but the engine of our own renewal. There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.” Inaugural address, January 20, 1993. Clinton was inaugurated as the 42nd president of the United States on January 20, 1993. Shortly after taking office, he signed the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 on February 5, which required large employers to allow employees to take unpaid leave for pregnancy or a serious medical condition. This action had bipartisan support, and was popular with the public. Two days after taking office, on January 22, 1993—the 20th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade—Clinton reversed restrictions on domestic and international family planning programs that had been imposed by Reagan and Bush. Clinton said that abortion should be kept “safe, legal, and rare”—a slogan that had been suggested by University of California, San Diego political scientist Samuel L. Popkin and first used by Clinton in December 1991, while campaigning. During the eight years of the Clinton administration, the U.S. abortion rate declined by about 18.4 percent. On February 15, 1993, Clinton made his first address to the nation, announcing his plan to raise taxes to close a budget deficit. Two days later, in a nationally televised address to a joint session of Congress, Clinton unveiled his economic plan. The plan focused on reducing the deficit rather than on cutting taxes for the middle class, which had been high on his campaign agenda. Clinton’s advisers pressured him to raise taxes, based on the theory that a smaller federal budget deficit would reduce bond interest rates. On May 19, 1993, Clinton fired seven employees of the White House Travel Office, causing the White House travel office controversy even though the travel office staff served at the pleasure of the president and could be dismissed without cause. The White House responded to the controversy by claiming that the firings were done in response to financial improprieties that had been revealed by a brief FBI investigation. Critics contended that the firings had been done to allow friends of the Clintons to take over the travel business and the involvement of the FBI was unwarranted. Clinton and Vice President Al Gore on the South Lawn, August 10, 1993. In August, Clinton signed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, which passed Congress without a Republican vote. It cut taxes for 15 million low-income families, made tax cuts available to 90 percent of small businesses, and raised taxes on the wealthiest 1.2 percent of taxpayers. Additionally, it mandated that the budget be balanced over a number of years through the implementation of spending restraints. On September 22, 1993, Clinton made a major speech to Congress regarding a health care reform plan; the program aimed at achieving universal coverage through a national health care plan. This was one of the most prominent items on Clinton’s legislative agenda and resulted from a task force headed by Hillary Clinton. The plan was well received in political circles, but it was eventually doomed by well-organized lobby opposition from conservatives, the American Medical Association, and the health insurance industry. However, Clinton biographer John F. Harris stated that the program failed because of a lack of coordination within the White House. Despite the Democratic majority in Congress, the effort to create a national health care system ultimately died when compromise legislation by George J. Mitchell failed to gain a majority of support in August 1994. The failure of the bill was the first major legislative defeat of the Clinton administration. In November 1993, David Hale—the source of criminal allegations against Bill Clinton in the Whitewater controversy—alleged that while he was governor of Arkansas, Clinton pressured him to provide an illegal $300,000 loan to Susan McDougal, the Clintons’ partner in the Whitewater land deal. A U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation resulted in convictions against the McDougals for their role in the Whitewater project, but the Clintons themselves were never charged, and Clinton maintains his and his wife’s innocence in the affair. On November 30, 1993, Clinton signed into law the Brady Bill, which mandated federal background checks on people who purchase firearms in the United States. The law also imposed a five-day waiting period on purchases, until the NICS system was implemented in 1998. He also expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit, a subsidy for low-income workers. In December that year, allegations by Arkansas state troopers Larry Patterson and Roger Perry were first reported by David Brock in The American Spectator. In the affair later known as “Troopergate“, the officers alleged that they arranged sexual liaisons for Clinton back when he was governor of Arkansas. The story mentioned a woman named Paula, a reference to Paula Jones. Brock later apologized to Clinton, saying the article was politically motivated “bad journalism”, and that “the troopers were greedy and had slimy motives”. Clinton, Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat during the Oslo Accords on September 13, 1993 Clinton, Jordan’s King Hussein and Yitzhak Rabin sign the Israel–Jordan peace treaty on July 25, 1994. Remarks on the Signing of NAFTA (December 8, 1993) Clinton’s December 8, 1993 remarks on the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement That month, Clinton implemented a Department of Defense directive known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell“, which allowed gay men and women to serve in the armed services provided they kept their sexuality a secret, and forbade the military from inquiring about an individual’s sexual orientation. The policy was developed as a compromise after Clinton’s proposal to allow gays to serve openly in the military met staunch opposition from prominent Congressional Republicans and Democrats, including Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Sam Nunn (D-GA). According to David Mixner, Clinton’s support for the compromise led to a heated dispute with Vice President Al Gore, who felt that “the President should lift the ban … even though was sure to be overridden by the Congress”. Some gay-rights advocates criticized Clinton for not going far enough and accused him of making his campaign promise to get votes and contributions. Their position was that Clinton should have integrated the military by executive order, noting that President Harry S. Truman used executive order to racially desegregate the armed forces. Clinton’s defenders argued that an executive order might have prompted the Senate to write the exclusion of gays into law, potentially making it harder to integrate the military in the future. Later in his presidency, in 1999, Clinton criticized the way the policy was implemented, saying he did not think any serious person could say it was not “out of whack”. The policy remained controversial, and was finally repealed in 2011, removing open sexual orientation as a reason for dismissal from the armed forces. On January 1, 1994, Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement into law. Throughout his first year in office, Clinton consistently supported ratification of the treaty by the U.S. Senate. Clinton and most of his allies in the Democratic Leadership Committee strongly supported free trade measures; there remained, however, strong disagreement within the party. Opposition came chiefly from anti-trade Republicans, protectionist Democrats and supporters of Ross Perot. The bill passed the house with 234 votes against 200 opposed (132 Republicans and 102 Democrats voting in favor; 156 Democrats, 43 Republicans, and 1 independent against). The treaty was then ratified by the Senate and signed into law by the president. The Omnibus Crime Bill, which Clinton signed into law in September 1994, made many changes to U.S. crime and law enforcement legislation including the expansion of the death penalty to include crimes not resulting in death, such as running a large-scale drug enterprise. During Clinton’s re-election campaign he said, “My 1994 crime bill expanded the death penalty for drug kingpins, murderers of federal law enforcement officers, and nearly 60 additional categories of violent felons.” It also included a subsection of assault weapons ban for a ten-year period. The Clinton administration also launched the first official White House website, whitehouse.gov, on October 21, 1994. It was followed by three more versions, resulting in the final edition launched in 2000. The White House website was part of a wider movement of the Clinton administration toward web-based communication. According to Robert Longley, “Clinton and Gore were responsible for pressing almost all federal agencies, the U.S. court system and the U.S. military onto the Internet, thus opening up America’s government to more of America’s citizens than ever before. On July 17, 1996, Clinton issued Executive Order 13011 – Federal Information Technology, ordering the heads of all federal agencies to utilize information technology fully to make the information of the agency easily accessible to the public.” After two years of Democratic Party control, the Democrats lost control of Congress in the mid-term elections in 1994, for the first time in forty years. Clinton’s coat of arms, granted by the Chief Herald of Ireland in 1995 Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin in October 1995 The White House FBI files controversy of June 1996 arose concerning improper access by the White House to FBI security-clearance documents. Craig Livingstone, head of the White House Office of Personnel Security, improperly requested, and received from the FBI, background report files without asking permission of the subject individuals; many of these were employees of former Republican administrations. In March 2000, Independent Counsel Robert Ray determined that there was no credible evidence of any crime. Ray’s report further stated, “there was no substantial and credible evidence that any senior White House official was involved” in seeking the files. On September 21, 1996, Clinton signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage for federal purposes as the legal union of one man and one woman, allowing individual states to refuse to recognize gay marriages performed in other states. Paul Yandura, speaking for the White House gay and lesbian liaison office, said that Clinton’s signing of DOMA “was a political decision that they made at the time of a re-election”. In defense of his actions, Clinton has said that DOMA was an attempt to “head off an attempt to send a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to the states”, a possibility he described as highly likely in the context of a “very reactionary Congress”. Administration spokesman Richard Socarides said, “the alternatives we knew were going to be far worse, and it was time to move on and get the president re-elected.” Clinton himself stated that DOMA was something “which the Republicans put on the ballot to try to get the base vote for Bush up, I think it’s obvious that something had to be done to try to keep the Republican Congress from presenting that”. Others were more critical. The veteran gay rights and gay marriage activist Evan Wolfson has called these claims “historic revisionism”. In a July 2, 2011, editorial The New York Times opined, “The Defense of Marriage Act was enacted in 1996 as an election-year wedge issue, signed by President Bill Clinton in one of his worst policy moments.” Ultimately, in United States v. Windsor, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down DOMA in June 2013. Despite DOMA, Clinton was the first president to select openly gay persons for administrative positions, and is generally credited as the first president to publicly champion gay rights. During his Presidency, Clinton controversially issued two substantial executive orders on behalf of gay rights, the first lifting the ban on security clearances for LGBT federal employees and the second outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation in the federal civilian workforce. Under Clinton’s leadership, federal funding for HIV/AIDS research, prevention and treatment more than doubled. And Clinton also pushed for passing hate crimes laws for gays and for the private sector Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which, buoyed by his lobbying, failed to pass the Senate by a single vote in 1996. Advocacy for these issues, paired with the politically unpopular nature of the gay rights movement at the time, led to enthusiastic support for Clinton’s election and reelection by the Human Rights Campaign. Clinton came out for gay marriage in July 2009 and urged the Supreme Court to overturn DOMA in 2013. He was later honored by GLAAD for his prior pro-gay stances and his reversal on DOMA. “When I took office, only high energy physicists had ever heard of what is called the Worldwide Web … Now even my cat has its own page.” Bill Clinton’s announcement of Next Generation Internet initiative, October 1996. The 1996 United States campaign finance controversy was an alleged effort by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to influence the domestic policies of the United States, before and during the Clinton administration, and involved the fundraising practices of the administration itself. The Chinese government denied all accusations. As part of a 1996 initiative to curb illegal immigration, Clinton signed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) on September 30, 1996. Appointed by Clinton, the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform recommended reducing legal immigration from about 800,000 people a year to about 550,000. Ken Gormley, author of The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr, reveals in his book that Clinton narrowly escaped possible assassination in the Philippines in November 1996. During his visit to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Manila, while he was on his way to meet with a senior member of the Philippine government, Clinton was saved from danger minutes before his motorcade was scheduled to drive over a bridge charged with a timed improvised explosive device (IED). According to officials, the IED was large enough to “blow up the entire presidential motorcade”. Details of the plot were revealed to Gormley by Lewis C. Merletti, former member of the presidential protection detail and Director of the Secret Service. Intelligence officers intercepted a radio transmission indicating that there was a wedding cake under a bridge. This alerted Merletti and others as Clinton’s motorcade was scheduled to drive over a major bridge in downtown Manila. Once more, the word “wedding” was the code name used by a terrorist group for a past assassination attempt. Merletti wanted to reroute the motorcade, but the alternate route would add forty-five minutes to the drive time. Clinton was very angry, as he was already late for the meeting, but following the advice of the secret service possibly saved his life. Two other bombs had been discovered in Manila earlier in the week so the threat level that day was high. Security personnel at the Manila International Airport uncovered several grenades and a timing device in a travel bag. Officials also discovered a bomb near a major U.S. naval base. The president was scheduled to visit both of these locations later in the week. An intense investigation took place into the events in Manila and it was discovered that the group behind the bridge bomb was a Saudi terrorist group in Afghanistan known as al-Qaeda and the plot was masterminded by Osama bin Laden. Until recently, this thwarted assassination attempt was never made public and remained top secret. Only top members of the U.S. intelligence community were aware of these events. President Bill Clinton (center), first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (right) and their daughter Chelsea (left) wave to watchers at a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue on Inauguration Day, January 20, 1997. In the 1996 presidential election, Clinton was re-elected, receiving 49.2 percent of the popular vote over Republican Bob Dole (40.7 percent of the popular vote) and Reform candidate Ross Perot (8.4 percent of the popular vote), becoming the first Democratic incumbent since Lyndon B. Johnson to be elected to a second term and the first Democrat since Franklin D. Roosevelt to be elected president more than once. The Republicans lost three seats in the House and gained two in the Senate, but retained control of both houses of the 105th United States Congress. Clinton received 379, or over 70 percent of the Electoral College votes, with Dole receiving 159 electoral votes. Second term (1997–2001) Al Gore and Newt Gingrich applaud as Clinton waves during the State of the Union address in 1997. In the January 1997 State of the Union address, Clinton proposed a new initiative to provide health coverage to up to five million children. Senators Ted Kennedy—a Democrat—and Orrin Hatch—a Republican—teamed up with Hillary Rodham Clinton and her staff in 1997, and succeeded in passing legislation forming the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the largest (successful) health care reform in the years of the Clinton Presidency. That year, Hillary Clinton shepherded through Congress the Adoption and Safe Families Act and two years later she succeeded in helping pass the Foster Care Independence Act. He negotiated the passage of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 by the Republican Congress. In October 1997, he announced he was getting hearing aids, due to hearing loss attributed to his age, and his time spent as a musician in his youth. In 1999 Clinton signed into law the Financial Services Modernization Act also known as the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act, which repealed the part of the Glass–Steagall Act that had prohibited a bank from offering a full range of investment, commercial banking, and insurance services since its enactment in 1933. Impeachment and acquittal Clinton’s impeachment trial in 1999 After the 1998 elections, the House impeached Clinton, alleging perjury and obstruction of justice related to the Lewinsky scandal. Clinton was only the second U.S. president to be impeached, after Andrew Johnson. Impeachment proceedings were based on allegations that Clinton had illegally lied about and covered up his relationship with 22-year-old White House (and later Department of Defense) employee Monica Lewinsky. After the Starr Report was submitted to the House providing what it termed “substantial and credible information that President Clinton Committed Acts that May Constitute Grounds for an Impeachment”, the House began impeachment hearings against Clinton before the mid-term elections. To hold impeachment proceedings, the Republican leadership called a lame-duck session in December 1998. Clinton shaking hands with Donald Trump at Trump Tower, June 2000 While the House Judiciary Committee hearings ended in a straight party-line vote, there was lively debate on the House floor. The two charges passed in the House (largely with Republican support, but with a handful of Democratic votes as well) were for perjury and obstruction of justice. The perjury charge arose from Clinton’s testimony before a grand jury that had been convened to investigate perjury he may have committed in his sworn deposition during Jones v. Clinton, Paula Jones‘s sexual harassment lawsuit. The obstruction charge was based on his actions to conceal his relationship with Lewinsky before and after that deposition. The Senate later acquitted Clinton on both charges. The Senate refused to meet to hold an impeachment trial before the end of the old term, so the trial was held over until the next Congress. Clinton was represented by Washington law firm Williams & Connolly. The Senate finished a twenty-one-day trial on February 12, 1999, with the vote of 55 Not Guilty/45 Guilty on the perjury charge and 50 Not Guilty/50 Guilty on the obstruction of justice charge. Both votes fell short of the Constitutional two-thirds majority requirement to convict and remove an officeholder. The final vote was generally along party lines, with no Democrats voting guilty, and only a handful of Republicans voting not guilty. On January 19, 2001, Clinton’s law license was suspended for five years after he acknowledged to an Arkansas circuit court that he had engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice in the Jones case. Pardons and commutations Clinton controversially issued 141 pardons and 36 commutations on his last day in office on January 20, 2001. Most of the controversy surrounded Marc Rich and allegations that Hillary Clinton’s brother, Hugh Rodham, accepted payments in return for influencing the president’s decision-making regarding the pardons. Federal prosecutor Mary Jo White was appointed to investigate the pardon of Rich. She was later replaced by then-Republican James Comey, who found no wrongdoing on Clinton’s part. Some of Clinton’s pardons remain a point of controversy. Military and foreign events Clinton and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in Florence, Italy on November 20, 1999. Clinton speaks with Col. Paul Fletcher, USAF, before boarding Air Force One, November 4, 1999. Many military events occurred during Clinton’s presidency. The Battle of Mogadishu occurred in Somalia in 1993. During the operation, two U.S. helicopters were shot down by rocket-propelled grenade attacks to their tail rotors, trapping soldiers behind enemy lines. This resulted in an urban battle that killed 18 American soldiers, wounded 73 others, and one was taken prisoner. There were many more Somali casualties. Some of the American bodies were dragged through the streets—a spectacle broadcast on television news programs. In response, U.S. forces were withdrawn from Somalia and later conflicts were approached with fewer soldiers on the ground. In 1995, U.S. and NATO aircraft attacked Bosnian Serb targets to halt attacks on U.N. safe zones and to pressure them into a peace accord. Clinton deployed U.S. peacekeepers to Bosnia in late 1995, to uphold the subsequent Dayton Agreement. General John P. Jumper, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, escorts Clinton upon his arrival to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 5, 1999. The president visited several European air bases to thank the troops for their support of NATO Operations Allied Force and Shining Hope. In February 1996, the Clinton administration agreed to pay Iran US$131.8 million in settlement to discontinue a case brought by Iran in 1989 against the U.S. in the International Court of Justice after the shooting down of Iran Air Flight 655 by the U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser. Capturing Osama bin Laden had been an objective of the U.S. government during the presidency of Bill Clinton (and continued to be until bin Laden’s death in 2011). Despite claims by Mansoor Ijaz and Sudanese officials that the Sudanese government had offered to arrest and extradite bin Laden and that U.S. authorities rejected each offer the 9/11 Commission Report stated that “we have not found any reliable evidence to support the Sudanese claim”. In response to a 1996 State Department warning about bin Laden and the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa by al-Qaeda (which killed 224 people, including 12 Americans), Clinton ordered several military missions to capture or kill bin Laden, both of which were unsuccessful. In August 1998, Clinton ordered cruise missile strikes on terrorist targets in Afghanistan and Sudan, targeting the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan, which was suspected of assisting bin Laden in making chemical weapons, and bin Laden’s terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. Clinton greets Air Force personnel at Spangdahlem Air Base, May 5, 1999. To stop the ethnic cleansing and genocide of Albanians by anti-guerilla military units in the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia‘s province of Kosovo, Clinton authorized the use of U.S. Armed Forces in a NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999, named Operation Allied Force. General Wesley Clark was Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and oversaw the mission. With United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, the bombing campaign ended on June 10, 1999. The resolution placed Kosovo under UN administration and authorized a peacekeeping force to be deployed to the region. NATO announced that its forces had suffered zero combat deaths, and two deaths from an Apache helicopter crash. Opinions in the popular press criticized pre-war genocide statements by the Clinton administration as greatly exaggerated. In 2001, the U.N.-supervised Supreme Court of Kosovo ruled that genocide did not take place, but recognized “a systematic campaign of terror, including murders, rapes, arsons and severe maltreatments”. The term “ethnic cleansing” was used as an alternative to “genocide” to denote not just ethnically motivated murder but also displacement, though critics charge there is no difference. Slobodan Miloševi?, the president of Yugoslavia at the time of the atrocities, was eventually brought to trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague on charges of crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes. Miloševi? died in 2006, before the completion of the trial. In Clinton’s 1998 State of the Union Address, he warned Congress that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was building an arsenal of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons: Saddam Hussein has spent the better part of this decade, and much of his nation’s wealth, not on providing for the Iraqi people, but on developing nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the missiles to deliver them. The United Nations weapons inspectors have done a truly remarkable job, finding and destroying more of Iraq’s arsenal than was destroyed during the entire gulf war. Now, Saddam Hussein wants to stop them from completing their mission. I know I speak for everyone in this chamber, Republicans and Democrats, when I say to Saddam Hussein, “You cannot defy the will of the world”, and when I say to him, “You have used weapons of mass destruction before; we are determined to deny you the capacity to use them again. President Clinton, Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at Camp David, July 2000 Seeking to weaken Hussein’s grip on power, Clinton signed the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 into law on October 31, 1998, which instituted a policy of “regime change” against Iraq, though it explicitly stated it did not provide for direct intervention on the part of American military forces. The administration then launched a four-day bombing campaign named Operation Desert Fox, lasting from December 16 to 19, 1998. At the end of this operation Clinton announced that “So long as Saddam remains in power, he will remain a threat to his people, his region, and the world. With our allies, we must pursue a strategy to contain him and to constrain his weapons of mass destruction program, while working toward the day Iraq has a government willing to live at peace with its people and with its neighbors.” American and British aircraft in the Iraq no-fly zones attacked hostile Iraqi air defenses 166 times in 1999 and 78 times in 2000. Clinton’s November 2000 visit to Vietnam was the first by a U.S. president since the end of the Vietnam War. On October 10, 2000, Clinton signed into law the U.S.–China Relations Act of 2000, which granted permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) trade status to People’s Republic of China. The president asserted that free trade would gradually open China to democratic reform. Clinton also oversaw a boom of the U.S. economy. Under Clinton, the United States had a projected federal budget surplus for the first time since 1969. After initial successes such as the Oslo Accords of the early 1990s, which also led to the Israel–Jordan peace treaty in 1994 and the Wye River Memorandum in October 1998, Clinton attempted an effort to end the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He brought Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat together at Camp David for the Camp David Summit in July 2000, which lasted 14 days. Following the failures of the peace talks, Clinton stated Arafat “missed the opportunity” to facilitate a “just and lasting peace”. In his autobiography, Clinton blames Arafat for the collapse of the summit. Following another attempt in December 2000 at Bolling Air Force Base, in which the president offered the Clinton Parameters, the situation broke down completely after the end of the Taba Summit and with the start of the Second Intifada. Main articles: Bill Clinton Supreme Court candidates and List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton Ruth Bader Ginsburg accepting her nomination to the Supreme Court from President Clinton. Clinton appointed two justices to the Supreme Court: Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 1993 and Stephen Breyer in 1994. Along with his two Supreme Court appointments, Clinton appointed 66 judges to the United States courts of appeals and 305 judges to the United States district courts. His 373 judicial appointments are the second most in American history behind those of Ronald Reagan. Clinton also experienced a number of judicial appointment controversies, as 69 nominees to federal judgeships did not receive a vote in the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee. In all, 84 percent of his nominees were confirmed. Sonia Sotomayor was one of the judges who Clinton appointed to the Court of Appeals. She was nominated by Clinton in 1997 to the Second Circuit. Sotomayor was confirmed in 1998, following a delay of more than a year that was caused by Republican opposition. Clinton was the first president in history to appoint more women and minority judges than white male judges to the federal courts. In his eight years in office, 11.6% of Clinton’s court of appeals nominees and 17.4% of his district court nominees were black; 32.8% of his court of appeals nominees and 28.5% of his district court nominees were women. Clinton appointed the first African American judges to the Fourth Circuit (Roger Gregory) and the Seventh Circuit (Ann Claire Williams). Clinton also appointed the nation’s first openly gay or lesbian federal judge when he named Deborah Batts to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Batts was confirmed by the Senate in a voice vote in 1994. Clinton’s approval ratings throughout his presidential career Clinton’s job approval rating fluctuated in the 40s and 50s throughout his first term. In his second term, his rating consistently ranged from the high-50s to the high-60s. After his impeachment proceedings in 1998 and 1999, Clinton’s rating reached its highest point. According to a CBS News/New York Times poll, Clinton left office with an approval rating of 68 percent, which matched those of Ronald Reagan and Franklin D. Roosevelt as the highest ratings for departing presidents in the modern era. Clinton’s average Gallup poll approval rating for his last quarter in office was 61%, the highest final quarter rating any president has received for fifty years. Forty-seven percent of the respondents identified themselves as being Clinton supporters. As he was leaving office, a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll revealed that 45 percent of Americans said they would miss him; 55 percent thought he “would have something worthwhile to contribute and should remain active in public life”; 68 percent thought he would be remembered more for his “involvement in personal scandal” than for “his accomplishments”; and 58 percent answered “No” to the question “Do you generally think Bill Clinton is honest and trustworthy?” The same percentage said he would be remembered as either “outstanding” or “above average” as a president, while 22 percent said he would be remembered as “below average” or “poor”. ABC News characterized public consensus on Clinton as, “You can’t trust him, he’s got weak morals and ethics – and he’s done a heck of a good job.” In May 2006, a CNN poll comparing Clinton’s job performance with that of his successor, George W. Bush, found that a strong majority of respondents said Clinton outperformed Bush in six different areas questioned. Gallup polls in 2007 and 2011 showed that Clinton was regarded by 13% of Americans as the greatest president in U.S. history. In 2014, 18% of respondents in a Quinnipiac University Polling Institute poll of American voters regarded Clinton as the best president since World War II, making him the third most popular among postwar presidents, behind John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. The same poll showed that just 3% of American voters regarded Clinton as the worst president since World War II. A 2015 poll by The Washington Post asked 162 scholars of the American Political Science Association to rank all the U.S. presidents in order of greatness. According to their findings, Clinton ranked eighth overall, with a rating of 70 percent. See also: Bill Clinton sexual misconduct allegations Clinton addressing the British parliament on November 29, 1995. As the first baby boomer president, Clinton was the first president since Calvin Coolidge who was not alive during World War II. Authors Martin Walker and Bob Woodward stated that Clinton’s innovative use of sound bite-ready dialogue, personal charisma, and public perception-oriented campaigning were a major factor in his high public approval ratings. When Clinton played the saxophone on The Arsenio Hall Show, he was described by some religious conservatives as “the MTV president”. Opponents sometimes referred to him as “Slick Willie”, a nickname which was first applied to him in 1980 by Pine Bluff Commercial journalist Paul Greenberg; Greenberg believed that Clinton was abandoning the progressive policies of previous Arkansas Governors such as Winthrop Rockefeller, Dale Bumpers and David Pryor. The claim “Slick Willie” would last throughout his presidency. Standing at a height of ;m), Clinton is tied with five others as the fourth-tallest president in the nation’s history. His folksy manner led him to be nicknamed Bubba, especially in the South. Since 2000, he has frequently been referred to as “The Big Dog” or “Big Dog”. His prominent role in campaigning for President Obama during the 2012 presidential election and his widely publicized speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, where he officially nominated Obama and criticized Republican nominee Mitt Romney and Republican policies in detail, earned him the nickname “Explainer-in-Chief”. Clinton drew strong support from the African American community and insisted that the improvement of race relations would be a major theme of his presidency. In 1998, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison called Clinton “the first Black president”, saying, “Clinton displays almost every trope of blackness: single-parent household, born poor, working-class, saxophone-playing, McDonald’s-and-junk-food-loving boy from Arkansas”. Morrison noted that Clinton’s sex life was scrutinized more than his career accomplishments, and he compared this to the stereotyping and double standards that blacks typically endure. Many viewed this comparison as unfair and disparaging to both Clinton and the African-American community at large. Clinton, a Baptist, has been open about his faith. Shortly after Clinton took office, Richard Mellon Scaife, a conservative newspaper owner, organized a fundraising campaign to smear Clinton’s image in the media. Leading the Arkansas Project, Scaife and other associates sought to find sources in Clinton’s home state of Arkansas who would be willing to dish out negative allegations against the president. Clinton at a Democratic “Get out the vote” rally in Los Angeles, California, on November 2, 2000 In 1994, Paula Jones initiated a sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton, claiming that he made unwanted advances towards her in 1991; Clinton denied the allegations. In April 1998, the case was initially dismissed by Judge Susan Webber Wright on the grounds that it lacked legal merit. Jones appealed Webber Wright’s ruling, and her suit gained traction following Clinton’s admission to having an affair with Monica Lewinsky in August 1998. In 1998, lawyers for Paula Jones released court documents that alleged a pattern of sexual harassment by Clinton when he was Governor of Arkansas. Robert S. Bennett, Clinton’s main lawyer for the case, called the filing “a pack of lies” and “an organized campaign to smear the President of the United States” funded by Clinton’s political enemies. Clinton later agreed to an out-of-court settlement and paid Jones $850,000. Bennett said that the president made the settlement only so he could end the lawsuit for good and move on with his life. During the deposition for the Jones lawsuit, which was held at the White House, Clinton denied having sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky – a denial that became the basis for an impeachment charge of perjury. In 1992, Gennifer Flowers stated that she had a relationship with Clinton that began in 1980. Flowers at first denied that she had an affair with Clinton, but later changed her story. After Clinton at first denied having a relationship with Flowers on 60 Minutes, he later admitted that he had a sexual encounter with Flowers. Clinton speaking at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. In 1998, Kathleen Willey alleged that Clinton groped her in a hallway in 1993. An independent counsel determined Willey gave “false information” to the FBI, inconsistent with sworn testimony related to the Jones allegation. On March 19, 1998, Julie Hiatt Steele, a friend of Willey, released an affidavit, accusing the former White House aide of asking her to lie to corroborate Ms. Willey’s account of being sexually groped by Clinton in the Oval Office. An attempt by Kenneth Starr to prosecute Steele for making false statements and obstructing justice ended in a mistrial and Starr declined to seek a retrial after Steele sought an investigation against the former Independent Counsel for prosecutorial misconduct. Linda Tripp‘s grand jury testimony also differed from Willey’s claims regarding inappropriate sexual advances. Also in 1998, Juanita Broaddrick alleged that Clinton had raped her in the spring of 1978, although she stated she did not remember the exact date. In another 1998 event, Elizabeth Gracen recanted a six-year-old denial and stated she had a one-night stand with Clinton in 1982. Gracen later apologized to Hillary Clinton. Throughout the year, however, Gracen eluded a subpoena from Kenneth Starr to testify her claim in court. Post-presidency (2001–present)”] Clinton greets a Hurricane Katrina evacuee, September 5, 2005. In the background, second from the right, is then-Senator Barack Obama. Bill Clinton continues to be active in public life, giving speeches, fundraising, and founding charitable organizations. Clinton has spoken in prime time at every Democratic National Convention since 1988. Robert Reich has suggested that Clinton is in a state of “permanent election”, due to the impeachment proceedings during his presidency and his continuing support in the campaigns of his wife Hillary Clinton. Activities until 2008 campaign In 2002, Clinton warned that pre-emptive military action against Iraq would have unwelcome consequences, and later claimed to have opposed the Iraq War from the start (though some dispute this). In 2005, Clinton criticized the Bush administration for its handling of emissions control, while speaking at the United Nations Climate Change conference in Montreal. The William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park in Little Rock, Arkansas was dedicated in 2004. Clinton released a best-selling autobiography, My Life in 2004. In 2007, he released Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World, which also became a New York Times Best Seller and garnered positive reviews. Former president George H. W. Bush and Clinton in the White House Library, January 2005 In the aftermath of the 2004 Asian tsunami, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Clinton to head a relief effort. After Hurricane Katrina, Clinton joined with fellow former president George H. W. Bush to establish the Bush-Clinton Tsunami Fund in January 2005, and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund in October of that year. As part of the tsunami effort, these two ex-presidents appeared in a Super Bowl XXXIX pre-game show, and traveled to the affected areas. They also spoke together at the funeral of Boris Yeltsin in April 2007. The dedication of the Clinton Presidential Center, 2004 Based on his philanthropic worldview, Clinton created the William J. Clinton Foundation to address issues of global importance. This foundation includes the Clinton Foundation HIV and AIDS Initiative (CHAI), which strives to combat that disease, and has worked with the Australian government toward that end. The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), begun by the Clinton Foundation in 2005, attempts to address world problems such as global public health, poverty alleviation and religious and ethnic conflict. In 2005, Clinton announced through his foundation an agreement with manufacturers to stop selling sugared drinks in schools. Clinton’s foundation joined with the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group in 2006 to improve cooperation among those cities, and he met with foreign leaders to promote this initiative. The foundation has received donations from a number of governments all over the world, including Asia and the Middle East. In 2008, Foundation director Inder Singh announced deals to reduce the price of anti-malaria drugs by 30 percent in developing nations. Clinton also spoke in favor of California Proposition 87 on alternative energy, which was voted down. Clinton speaking at the 2008 Democratic National Convention During the 2008 Democratic presidential primary campaign, Clinton vigorously advocated on behalf of his wife, Hillary Clinton. Through speaking engagements and fundraisers, he was able to raise $10 million toward her campaign. Some worried that as an ex-president, he was too active on the trail, too negative to Clinton rival Barack Obama, and alienating his supporters at home and abroad. Many were especially critical of him following his remarks in the South Carolina primary, which Obama won. Later in the 2008 primaries, there was some infighting between Bill and Hillary’s staffs, especially in Pennsylvania. Considering Bill’s remarks, many thought that he could not rally Hillary supporters behind Obama after Obama won the primary. Such remarks lead to apprehension that the party would be split to the detriment of Obama’s election. Fears were allayed August 27, 2008, when Clinton enthusiastically endorsed Obama at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, saying that all his experience as president assures him that Obama is “ready to lead”. After Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign was over, Bill Clinton continued to raise funds to help pay off her campaign debt. After the 2008 election Clinton with incumbent President Barack Obama and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett in July 2010 In 2009, Clinton travelled to North Korea on behalf of two American journalists imprisoned there. Euna Lee and Laura Ling had been imprisoned for illegally entering the country from China. Jimmy Carter had made a similar visit in 1994. After Clinton met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Kim issued a pardon. Since then, Clinton has been assigned a number of other diplomatic missions. He was named United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti in 2009. In response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, U.S. President Barack Obama announced that Clinton and George W. Bush would coordinate efforts to raise funds for Haiti’s recovery. Clinton continues to visit Haiti to witness the inauguration of refugee villages, and to raise funds for victims of the earthquake. In 2010, Clinton announced support of, and delivered the keynote address for, the inauguration of NTR, Ireland’s first environmental foundation. At the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Clinton gave a widely praised speech nominating Barack Obama. Clinton campaigning on behalf of his wife, 2016 During the 2016 Presidential Election, Clinton again encouraged voters to support Hillary Clinton, including a campaign stop in Wilmington, NC. In a series of tweets, then-President-Elect Donald Trump criticized his ability to get people out to vote. On September 7, 2017, Clinton partnered with former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama to work with One America Appeal to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma in the Gulf Coast and Texas communities. Post-presidential health concerns In September 2004, Clinton underwent quadruple bypass surgery. In March 2005, he again underwent surgery, this time for a partially collapsed lung. On February 11, 2010, he was rushed to NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan after complaining of chest pains, and he had two coronary stents implanted in his heart. After this procedure, Clinton adopted the plant-based whole foods (vegan) diet, which had been recommended by doctors Dean Ornish and Caldwell Esselstyn. Bill Clinton speaks at Central High School in Phoenix, Arizona, 2016. The Clintons accrued several million dollars in legal fees during his presidency; the bills were paid off four years after he left office. Both Bill and Hillary Clinton have received millions of dollars in book authorship fees. In 2016, Forbes reported Bill and Hillary Clinton made about $240 million in the 15 years from January 2001 to December 2015 (mostly from paid speeches, business consulting and book-writing). Also in 2016, CNN reported the Clintons combined to receive more than $153 million in paid speeches from 2001 until spring 2015. In May 2015, The Hill reported that Bill and Hillary Clinton have made more than $25 million in speaking fees since the start of 2014, and that Hillary Clinton also made $5 million or more from her book, Hard Choices, during the same time period. In July 2014, The Wall Street Journal reported that at the end of 2012, the Clintons were worth between $5 million and $25.5 million, and that in 2012 (the last year they were required to disclose the information) the Clintons made between $16 and $17 million, mostly from speaking fees earned by the former president. Clinton earned more than $104 million from paid speeches between 2001 and 2012. In June 2014, ABC News and The Washington Post reported that Bill Clinton has made more than $100 million giving paid speeches since leaving public office, and in 2008, the New York Times reported that the Clintons’ income tax returns show they have made $109 million in the 8 years from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2007, including almost $92 million from his speaking and book-writing. Bill Clinton has given dozens of paid speeches each year since leaving office in 2001, mostly to corporations and philanthropic groups in North America and Europe; he often earned $100,000 to $300,000 per speech. Hillary Clinton said that she and Bill came out of the White House financially “broke” and in debt, especially due to large legal fees incurred during their years in the White House. “We had no money when we got there, and we struggled to, you know, piece together the resources for mortgages, for houses, for Chelsea’s education.” She added, “Bill has worked really hard … we had to pay off all our debts … he had to make double the money because of, obviously, taxes; and then pay off the debts, and get us houses, and take care of family members.” Honors and recognition Secretary of Defense Cohen presents President Clinton the DoD Medal for Distinguished Public Service. Bill Clinton statue in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo Various colleges and universities have awarded Clinton honorary degrees, including Doctorate of Law degrees and Doctor of Humane Letters degrees. He is an Honorary Fellow of University College, Oxford, which he attended as a Rhodes Scholar, although he did not complete his studies there. Schools have been named for Clinton, and statues have been built to pay him homage. U.S. states where he has been honored include Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, and New York. He was presented with the Medal for Distinguished Public Service by Secretary of Defense William Cohen in 2001. The Clinton Presidential Center was opened in Little Rock, Arkansas in his honor on December 5, 2001. He has been honored in various other ways, in countries that include the Czech Republic, Papua New Guinea, Germany, and Kosovo. The Republic of Kosovo, in gratitude for his help during the Kosovo War, renamed a major street in the capital city of Pristina as Bill Clinton Boulevard and added a monumental Clinton statue. Clinton was selected as Time‘s “Man of the Year” in 1992, and again in 1998, along with Ken Starr. From a poll conducted of the American people in December 1999, Clinton was among eighteen included in Gallup’s List of Widely Admired People of the 20th century. He was honored with a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children, a J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding, a TED Prize (named for the confluence of technology, entertainment and design), and was named as an Honorary GLAAD Media Award recipient for his work as an advocate for the LGBT community. In 2011, President Michel Martelly of Haiti awarded Clinton with the National Order of Honour and Merit to the rank of Grand Cross “for his various initiatives in Haiti and especially his high contribution to the reconstruction of the country after the earthquake of January 12, 2010”. Clinton declared at the ceremony that “in the United States of America, I really don’t believe former American presidents need awards anymore, but I am very honored by this one, I love Haiti, and I believe in its promise”. U.S. President Barack Obama awarded Clinton the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 20, 2013. 1974 Arkansas 3rd congressional district Arkansas Bill Clinton 48.17% John Paul Hammerschmidt 51.83% 1976 Arkansas Attorney General Arkansas Bill Clinton Unopposed 1978 Governor of Arkansas Arkansas Bill Clinton 63% Lynn Lowe 37% 1980 Governor of Arkansas Arkansas Bill Clinton 48% Frank White 52% 1984 Governor of Arkansas Arkansas Bill Clinton 63% Woody Freeman 37% 1990 Governor of Arkansas Arkansas Bill Clinton 57% Sheffield Nelson 42% 1992 President of the United States United States of America Bill Clinton 43% George H. W. Bush 37% Ross Perot (I) 19% 1996 President of the United States United States of America Bill Clinton 49% Bob Dole 41% Ross Perot (Reform) 8% Authored books Between Hope and History. New York: Times Books. 1996. ISBN 978-0-8129-2913-3. My Life (1st ed.). New York: Vintage Books. 2004. ISBN 978-1-4000-3003-3. Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World (1st ed.). New York: Knopf. 2007. ISBN 0-307-26674-5. Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy. Knopf. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-95975-1. The President Is Missing. Knopf. 2018. Bill Clinton is one of the narrators on a 2003 recording of Sergei Prokofiev‘s Peter and the Wolf, on Pentatone, together with Mikhail Gorbachev and Sophia Loren.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6878
__label__wiki	0.923069	0.923069	Charan Singh Chaudhary Charan Singh (23 December 1902 29 May 1987) was the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, serving from 28 July 1979 until 14 January 1980. Historians and people alike frequently refer to him as the ‘champion of India’s peasants.’ Charan Singh was born in a Jat family in 1902 in village Bhadola of Ghaziabad District in Uttar Pradesh Charan Singh entered politics as part of the Independence Movement motivated by Mohandas Gandhi. He was active from 1931 in the Ghaziabad District Arya Samaj as well as the Meerut District Indian National Congress for which he was jailed twice by the British. Before independence, as a member of Legislative Assembly of the United Provinces elected in 1937, he took a deep interest in the laws that were detrimental to the village economy and he slowly built his ideological and practical stand against the exploitation of tillers of the land by landlords. Between 1952 and 1967, he was one of “three principal leaders in Congress state politics.” He became particularly notable in Uttar Pradesh from the 1950s for drafting and ensuring the passage of what were then the most revolutionary land reform laws in any state in India under the tutelage of the then Chief Minister Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant; first as Parliamentary Secretary and then as Revenue Minister responsible for Land Reforms. He became visible on the national stage from 1959 when he publicly opposed the unquestioned leader and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s socialistic and collectivist land policies in the Nagpur Congress Session. Though his position in the faction-ridden UP Congress was weakened, this was a point when the middle peasant communities across castes in North India began looking up to him as their spokesperson and later as their unquestioned leader. Singh stood for tight government spending, enforced consequences for corrupt officers, and advocated a “firm hand in dealing with the demands of government employees for increased wages and dearness allowances.” It is also worth noting that within the factional UP Congress, his ability to articulate his clear policies and values made him stand out from his colleagues. Following this period, Charan Singh defected from the Congress on April 1, 1967, joined the opposition party, and became the first non-Congress chief minister of UP. This was a period when non-Congress governments were a strong force in India from 1967-1971. As leader of the Bharatiya Lok Dal, a major constituent of the Janata coalition, he was disappointed in his ambition to become Prime Minister in 1977 by Jayaprakash Narayan’s choice of Morarji Desai, not to seek power for himself but to enable him implement his revolutionary economic programs in the interest of the rural economy. Unfortunately, few amongst his rural-based party members had the intellectual heft to fully comprehend his wide-ranging agenda to remake Indian society and economy, and this weakness dogged him his entire career specially in Delhi. Urban intellectuals were mostly beholden to either the communist / socialist models, or were neo-liberal and capitalist and hence looked askance at his uniquely Indian solution. During 1977 Lok Sabha Elections, the fragmented opposition united a few months before the elections under the Janata Party banner, for which Chaudhary Charan Singh had been struggling almost single-handedly since 1974. It was because of the efforts of Raj Narain that he became Prime Minister in the year 1979 though Raj Narain was Chairman of Janata Party-Secular and assured Charan Singh of elevating him as Prime Minister, the way he helped him to become Chief Minister in the year 1967 in Uttar Pradesh. However, he resigned after just 24 days in office since Indira Gandhi’s Congress Party withdrew support to the government. Charan Singh said he resigned because he was not ready to be blackmailed into withdrawing Indira Gandhi’s emergency-related court cases. Fresh elections were held six months later. Charan Singh continued to lead the Lok Dal in opposition till his death in 1987. Independent India Charan Singh opposed Jawaharlal Nehru on his Soviet-style economic reforms, and he helped transform the agricultural economy of North India after 1947. Charan Singh was of the opinion that cooperative farms would not succeed in India. Being a son of a farmer, Charan Singh opined that the right of ownership was important to the farmer in remaining a cultivator. He wanted to preserve and stabilize a system of peasant proprietorship. Charan Singh’s political career suffered due to his open criticism of Nehru’s economic policy. Charan Singh left the Congress party in 1967, and formed his own political party, Bharatiya Kranti Dal. With the help and support of Raj Narain and Ram Manohar Lohia, he became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1967, and later in 1970. In 1975, he was jailed again, but this time by then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, daughter of his former rival Nehru. She had declared the state of emergency and jailed all her political opponents. In the 1977 general elections, the Indian populace voted her out, and the opposition party, of which Chaudhary Charan Singh was a senior leader came into power. He served as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister in the Janata government headed by Morarji Desai. Charan Singh died on 29 May 1987, survived by his wife Gayatri Devi (who died in 2002) and six children. Former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh in Jat attire. He had six children with wife Gayatri Devi. His son Ajit Singh is currently the president of a political party Rashtriya Lok Dal and a former Union Minister and a many times Member of Parliament. Ajit Singh’s son Jayant Chaudhary was elected to 15th Lok Sabha from Mathura, which he lost to Hema Malini in the election of 2014. Since his death, many who knew Singh have ensured his life and work are remembered positively. These perceptions enforce the notion that he was of a “higher category of leaders” in the areas of “intellect, personal integrity, and . . . coherence of his economic and social thought.” His association with causes dear to farming communities in India caused his memorial in New Delhi to be named Kisan Ghat (in Hindi, Kisan is the word for farmer). His birthday on 23 December is celebrated as Kisan Diwas in Uttar Pradesh. A commemorative postage stamp was issued by the government of India on the third death anniversary (May 29, 1990) of Charan Singh. The Amausi Airport in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh was renamed Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport after him, and the University of Meerut city in Uttar Pradesh, India, was also named Chaudhary Charan Singh University in his honour. A college in Etawah district, Chaudhary Charan Singh Post Graduate College is also named after him. A hospital in Bulandshahr district is named after him. Joint Farming X-rayed (1959) India’s Economic Policy – The Gandhian Blueprint (1978) Economic Nightmare of India: Its Cause and Cure (1981) Abolition of Zamindari Co-operative Farming X-rayed Peasant Proprietorship or Land to the Workers Prevention of Division of Holdings Below a Certain Minimum	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6879
__label__wiki	0.950963	0.950963	Elon Reeve Musk ( born June 28, 1971) is a South African -born Canadian American business magnate, investor,engineer, and inventor. Musk is the founder, CEO, and CTO of SpaceX; a co-founder, a Series A investor, CEO, and product architect of Tesla Inc.; co-chairman of OpenAI; founder and CEO of Neuralink. He was previously co-founder and chairman of SolarCity; co-founder of Zip2; and founder of X.com, which merged with Confinity and took the name PayPal. As of March 2017, he has an estimated net worth of $13.9 billion, making him the 80th-wealthiest person in the world. In December 2016, Musk was ranked 21st on the Forbes list of The World’s Most Powerful People. Musk has stated that the goals of SolarCity, Tesla, and SpaceX revolve around his vision to change the world and humanity. His goals include reducing global warming through sustainable energy production and consumption, and reducing the “risk of human extinction” by “making life multiplanetary” by establishing a human colony on Mars. In addition to his primary business pursuits, he has also envisioned a high-speed transportation system known as the Hyperloop, and has proposed a VTOL supersonic jet aircraft with electric fan propulsion, known as the Musk electric jet. Musk also proposed the concept of The Boring Company in 2017. Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa, the son of Maye Musk (née Haldeman), a model and dietician from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; and Errol Musk, a South African electromechanical engineer, pilot and sailor. He has a younger brother, Kimbal (born 1972), and a younger sister, Tosca (born 1974). His paternal grandmother was British, and he also has Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. His maternal grandfather was American, from Minnesota. After his parents divorced in 1980, Musk lived mostly with his father in the suburbs of Pretoria. During his childhood he was an avid reader. At age 10, he developed an interest in computing with the Commodore VIC-20. He taught himself computer programming at the age of 12, sold the code for a BASIC-based video game he created called Blastar, to a magazine called PC and Office Technology, for approximately $500. A web version of the game is available online. Musk was severely bullied throughout his childhood, and was once hospitalized when a group of boys threw him down a flight of stairs and then beat him until he lost consciousness. Musk was initially educated at private schools, attending the English-speaking Waterkloof House Preparatory School. Musk later graduated from Pretoria Boys High School and moved to Canada in June 1989, just before his 18th birthday, after obtaining Canadian citizenship through his Canadian-born mother.` At the age of 17, Musk was accepted into Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, for undergraduate study. In 1992, after spending two years at Queen’s University, Musk transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where in May 1997 he received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from its College of Arts and Sciences, and a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from its Wharton School of Business. Musk extended his studies for one year to finish the second bachelor’s degree. While at the University of Pennsylvania, Musk and fellow Penn student Adeo Ressi rented a 10-bedroom fraternity house, using it as an unofficial nightclub. In 1995, at age 24, Musk moved to California to begin a PhD in applied physics and materials science at Stanford University, but left the program after two days to pursue his entrepreneurial aspirations in the areas of the Internet, renewable energy and outer space. In 2002, he became a U.S. citizen. Zip2 Main article: Zip2 In 1995, Musk and his brother, Kimbal, started Zip2, a web software company, with US$28,000 of their father’s money. The company developed and marketed an Internet “city guide” for the newspaper publishing industry. Musk obtained contracts with The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune and persuaded the board of directors to abandon plans for a merger with CitySearch. While at Zip2, Musk wanted to become CEO; however, none of the board members would allow it.Compaq acquired Zip2 for US$307 million in cash and US$34 million in stock options in February 1999. Musk received US$22 million for his 7% share from the sale. X.com and PayPal Main article: PayPal In March 1999, Musk co-founded X.com, an online financial services and e-mail payment company, with US$10 million from the sale of Zip2. One year later, the company merged with Confinity, which had a money transfer service called PayPal. The merged company focused on the PayPal service and was renamed PayPal in 2001. PayPal’s early growth was driven mainly by a viral marketing campaign where new customers were recruited when they received money through the service. Musk was ousted in October 2000 from his role as CEO (although he remained on the board) due to disagreements with other company leadership, notably over his desire to move PayPal’s Unix-based infrastructure to Microsoft Windows. In October 2002, PayPal was acquired by eBay for US$1.5 billion in stock, of which Musk received US$165 million. Before its sale, Musk, who was the company’s largest shareholder, owned 11.7% of PayPal’s shares. In July 2017, Musk purchased the domain x.com from PayPal for an undisclosed amount stating that it has “great sentimental value” to him. Main article: SpaceX In 2001, Musk conceptualized “Mars Oasis”; a project to land a miniature experimental greenhouse on Mars, containing food crops growing on Martian regolith, in an attempt to regain public interest in space exploration. In October 2001, Musk travelled to Moscow with Jim Cantrell (an aerospace supplies fixer), and Adeo Ressi (his best friend from college), to buy refurbished Dnepr Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that could send the envisioned payloads into space. The group met with companies such as NPO Lavochkin and Kosmotras; however, according to Cantrell, Musk was seen as a novice and was consequently spat on by one of the Russian chief designers, and the group returned to the United States empty-handed. In February 2002, the group returned to Russia to look for three ICBMs, bringing along Mike Griffin, who had worked for the CIA’s venture capital arm, In-Q-Tel; NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory; and was just leaving Orbital Sciences, a maker of satellites and spacecraft. The group met again with Kosmotras, and were offered one rocket for US$8 million, however, this was seen by Musk as too expensive; Musk consequently stormed out of the meeting. On the flight back from Moscow, Musk realized that he could start a company that could build the affordable rockets he needed. According to early Tesla and SpaceX investor Steve Jurvetson, Musk calculated that the raw materials for building a rocket actually were only 3 percent of the sales price of a rocket at the time. It was concluded that theoretically, by applying vertical integration and the modular approach from software engineering, SpaceX could cut launch price by a factor of ten and still enjoy a 70-percent gross margin. Ultimately, Musk ended up founding SpaceX with the long-term goal of creating a “true spacefaring civilization”. Musk and President Barack Obama at the Falcon 9 launch site in 2010 With US$100 million of his early fortune, Musk founded Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, in May 2002. Musk is chief executive officer (CEO) and chief technology officer (CTO) of the Hawthorne, California-based company. SpaceX develops and manufactures space launch vehicles with a focus on advancing the state of rocket technology. The company’s first two launch vehicles are the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets (a nod to Star Wars’ Millennium Falcon), and its first spacecraft is the Dragon (a nod to Puff the Magic Dragon). In seven years, SpaceX designed the family of Falcon launch vehicles and the Dragon multipurpose spacecraft. In September 2008, SpaceX’s Falcon 1 rocket became the first privately funded liquid-fueled vehicle to put a satellite into Earth orbit. On May 25, 2012, the SpaceX Dragon vehicle berthed with the ISS, making history as the first commercial company to launch and berth a vehicle to the International Space Station. In 2006, SpaceX was awarded a contract from NASA to continue the development and test of the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft in order to transport cargo to the International Space Station, followed by a US$1.6 billion NASA Commercial Resupply Services program contract on December 23, 2008, for 12 flights of its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to the Space Station, replacing the US Space Shuttle after it retired in 2011. Astronaut transport to the ISS is currently handled solely by the Soyuz, but SpaceX is one of two companies awarded a contract by NASA as part of the Commercial Crew Development program, which is intended to develop a US astronaut transport capability by 2018. On December 22, 2015, SpaceX successfully landed the first stage of its Falcon rocket back at the launch pad. This was the first time in history such a feat had been achieved by an orbital rocket and is a significant step towards rocket reusability lowering the costs of access to space. This first stage recovery was replicated several times in 2016 by landing on an Autonomous spaceport drone ship, an ocean based recovery platform. SpaceX is both the largest private producer of rocket engines in the world, and holder of the record for highest thrust-to-weight ratio for a rocket engine. SpaceX has produced more than 100 operational Merlin 1D engines, currently the world’s most powerful engine for its weight. The relatively immense power to weight ratio allows each Merlin 1D engine to vertically lift the weight of 40 average family cars. In combination, the 9 Merlin engines in the Falcon 9 first stage produce anywhere from 5.8 to 6.7 MN (1.3 to 1.5 million pounds) of thrust, depending on altitude. Musk was influenced by Isaac Asimov‘s Foundation series and views space exploration as an important step in preserving and expanding the consciousness of human life. Musk said that multiplanetary life may serve as a hedge against threats to the survival of the human species. An asteroid or a super volcano could destroy us, and we face risks the dinosaurs never saw: an engineered virus, inadvertent creation of a micro black hole, catastrophic global warming or some as-yet-unknown technology could spell the end of us. Humankind evolved over millions of years, but in the last sixty years atomic weaponry created the potential to extinguish ourselves. Sooner or later, we must expand life beyond this green and blue ballor go extinct. Musk’s goal is to reduce the cost of human spaceflight by a factor of 10. In a 2011 interview, he said he hopes to send humans to Mars’ surface within 1020 years. In Ashlee Vance‘s biography, Musk stated that he wants to establish a Mars colony by 2040, with a population of 80,000. Musk stated that, since Mars’ atmosphere lacks oxygen, all transportation would have to be electric (electric cars, electric trains, Hyperloop, electric aircraft). Space X intends to launch a Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon Heavy in 2018 to soft-land on Mars – this is intended to be the first of a regular cargo mission supply-run to Mars building up to later crewed flights. Musk stated in June 2016 that the first unmanned flight of the larger Mars Colonial Transporter (MCT) spacecraft is aimed for departure to the red planet in 2022, to be followed by the first manned MCT Mars flight departing in 2024. In September 2016, Musk revealed details of his plan to explore and colonize Mars. By 2016, Musk’s private trust holds 54% of SpaceX stock, equivalent to 78% of voting shares. Main article: Tesla, Inc. Tesla, Inc. (originally Tesla Motors) was incorporated in July 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, who financed the company until the Series A round of funding. Both men played active roles in the company’s early development prior to Elon Musk’s involvement. Musk led the Series A round of investment in February 2004, joining Tesla’s board of directors as its chairman. Musk took an active role within the company and oversaw Roadster product design at a detailed level, but was not deeply involved in day-to-day business operations. Following the financial crisis in 2008, Musk assumed leadership of the company as CEO and product architect, positions he still holds today. Tesla Motors first built an electric sports car, the Tesla Roadster in 2008, with sales of about 2,500 vehicles to 31 countries. Tesla began delivery of its four-door Model S sedan on June 22, 2012. It unveiled its third product, the Model X, aimed at the SUV/minivan market, on February 9, 2012; the Model X launch was however delayed until September 2015. In addition to its own cars, Tesla sells electric powertrain systems to Daimler for the Smart EV, Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive and Mercedes A Class and to Toyota for the RAV4 EV. Musk was able to bring in both companies as long-term investors in Tesla. Musk observing an assembly demo at the reopening of the NUMMI plant, now known as the Tesla Factory (Fremont, California) in 2010 Musk standing in front of a Tesla Model S in 2011 Musk and Senator Dianne Feinstein next to a Tesla Model S (2010) Musk has favored building a sub-US$30,000 compact Tesla model and building and selling electric vehicle powertrain components so that other automakers can produce electric vehicles at affordable prices without having to develop the products in-house; this led to the Model 3 that is planned to have a base price of US$35,000. Several mainstream publications have compared him with Henry Ford for his work on advanced vehicle powertrains. In a May 2013 interview with All Things Digital, Musk said that to overcome the range limitations of electric cars, Tesla is “dramatically accelerating” its network of supercharger stations, tripling the number on the East and West coasts of the U.S. that June, with plans for more expansion across North America, including Canada, throughout the year. As of January 29, 2016, Musk owns about 28.9 million Tesla shares, which equates to about 22% of the company. As of 2014, Musk’s annual salary is one dollar, similar to that of Steve Jobs and other CEOs; the remainder of his compensation is in the form of stock and performance-based bonuses. In 2014, Musk announced that Tesla would allow its technology patents to be used by anyone in good faith in a bid to entice automobile manufacturers to speed up development of electric cars. “The unfortunate reality is electric car programs (or programs for any vehicle that doesn’t burn hydrocarbons) at the major manufacturers are small to non-existent, constituting an average of far less than 1% of their total vehicle sales”, Musk said. In February 2016, Musk announced that he had acquired the Tesla.com domain name from Stu Grossman, who had owned it since 1992, and changed Tesla’s homepage to that domain. Musk provided the initial concept and financial capital for SolarCity, which was then co-founded in 2006 by his cousins Lyndon and Peter Rive. SolarCity is now the second largest provider of solar power systems in the United States. The underlying motivation for funding both SolarCity and Tesla is to help combat global warming. In 2012, Musk announced that SolarCity and Tesla are collaborating to use electric vehicle batteries to smooth the impact of rooftop solar on the power grid, with the program going live in 2013. On June 17, 2014, Musk committed to building in Buffalo, New York, a SolarCity advanced production facility that would triple the size of the largest solar plant in the United States. Musk stated the plant will be “one of the single largest solar panel production plants in the world”, and it will be followed by one or more even bigger facilities in subsequent years. In June 2016, Musk’s car company, Tesla, formally submitted an offer to acquire SolarCity. On August 12, 2013, Musk unveiled a concept for a high-speed transportation system incorporating reduced-pressure tubes in which pressurized capsules ride on an air cushion driven by linear induction motors and air compressors. The mechanism for releasing the concept was an alpha-design document that, in addition to scoping out the technology, outlined a notional route where such a transport system might be built: between the Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area. After earlier envisioning Hyperloop, Musk assigned a dozen engineers from Tesla and SpaceX who worked for nine months, establishing the conceptual foundations and creating the designs for the transportation system. An early design for the system was then published in a whitepaper posted to the Tesla and SpaceX blogs. Musk’s proposal, if technologically feasible at the costs he has cited, would make Hyperloop travel cheaper than any other mode of transport for such long distances. The alpha design was proposed to use a partial vacuum to reduce aerodynamic drag, which it is theorized would allow for high-speed travel with relatively low power, with certain other features like air-bearing skis and an inlet compressor to reduce air drag. The alpha design document estimated the total cost of an LA-to-SF Hyperloop system at US$6 billion, but this amount is speculative. In June 2015, Musk announced a design competition for students and others to build Hyperloop pods to operate on a SpaceX-sponsored mile-long track in a 20152017 Hyperloop pod competition. The track was used in January 2017, and Musk also started building a tunnel. Hyperloop One, a company unaffiliated with Musk, had announced that it had done its first successful test run on its DevLoop track in Nevada on July 13, 2017. It was on May 12, 2017 at 12:02 A.M and had lasted 5.3 seconds, reaching a top speed of 70 mph. On July 20, 2017, Elon Musk announced that he had gotten “verbal government approval” to build a hyperloop from New York City to Washington D.C stopping in both Philadelphia and Baltimore. However, the New York City Transit Authority, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration, United States Department of Homeland Security, as well as the mayors of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. stated that they are unaware of any such agreement. Main article: OpenAI In December 2015, Elon Musk announced the creation of OpenAI, a not-for-profit artificial intelligence (AI) research company. OpenAI aims to develop artificial general intelligence in a way that is safe and beneficial to humanity. By making AI available to everyone, OpenAI wants to “counteract large corporations who may gain too much power by owning super-intelligence systems devoted to profits, as well as governments which may use AI to gain power and even oppress their citizenry”. Main article: Neuralink In 2016, Musk co-founded Neuralink, a neurotechnology startup company, to integrate the human brain with artificial intelligence. The company, which is still in the earliest stages of existence, is centered on creating devices that can be implanted in the human brain, with the eventual purpose of helping human beings merge with software and keep pace with advancements in artificial intelligence. These enhancements could improve memory or allow for more direct interfacing with computing devices. On December 17, 2016, while stuck in traffic, Musk tweeted “Am going to build a tunnel boring machine and just start digging…” The company was named ‘The Boring Company’. On January 21, 2017, Musk tweeted “Exciting progress on the tunnel front. Plan to start digging in a month or so.” The first tunnel will start on the SpaceX campus, and will probably go to a nearby parking garage. As of January 26, 2017, discussions with regulatory bodies have begun, but no requests for permits to dig in the Los Angeles area have yet been filed with the California Department of Transportation. In February 2017, the company began digging a 30-foot-wide, 50-foot-long, and 15-foot-deep “test trench” on the premises of Space X’s offices in Los Angeles, since the construction requires no permits. Musk has stated that he does not believe the U.S. government should provide subsidies to companies but should instead use a carbon tax to price in the negative externality of air pollution and discourage “bad behavior.” Musk argues that the free market would achieve the “best solution,” and that producing environmentally unfriendly vehicles should come with its own consequences. Musk’s statements have been widely criticized, with Stanford University Professor Fred Turner noting that “if you’re an entrepreneur like Elon Musk, you will take the money where you can get it, but at the same time believe as a matter of faith that it’s entrepreneurship and technology that are the sources of social change, not the state. It is not quite self-delusion, but there is a habit of thinking of oneself as a free-standing, independent agent, and of not acknowledging the subsidies that one received. And this goes on all the time in Silicon Valley.” Author Michael Shellenberger argued that “in the case of Musk, it is hard not to read that as a kind of defensiveness. And I think there is a business reason for it. They are dealing with a lot of investors for whom subsidies are not the basis for a long-term viable business, and they often want to exaggerate the speed with which they are going to be able to become independent.” Shellenberger continues, “we would all be better off if these entrepreneurs were a bit more grateful, a bit more humble.” While journalist and author Jim Motavalli, who interviewed Musk for High Voltage, his 2011 book about the electric vehicle industry, speculated that “Elon is now looking at it from the point of view of a winner, and he doesn’t want to see other people win because they get government money I do think there is a tendency of people, once they have succeeded, to want to pull the ladder up after them.” In 2015, Musk’s statements were subject to further scrutiny when an LA Times article claimed that SpaceX, Tesla, SolarCity and buyers of their products had or were projected to receive together an estimated US$4.9 billion in government subsidies over twenty years. One example given is New York state, which is spending $750 million to build a solar panel factory in Buffalo which will be leased to SolarCity for $1 a year. The deal also includes no property taxes for a decade, an estimated $260 million valuation. Musk employs a former U.S. State Department official as the chief negotiator for Tesla. Political positions Musk speaking alongside Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny Politically, Musk has described himself as “half Democrat, half Republican.” In his own words: “I’m somewhere in the middle, socially liberal and fiscally conservative.” In 2016, Musk became a member of two of then President-elect Donald Trump‘s presidential advisory committees (the Strategic and Policy Forum and Manufacturing Jobs Initiative) but resigned from both in 2017, in protest at Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change. Musk has described himself as “nauseatingly pro-American.” According to Musk, the United States is ” the greatest country that has ever existed on Earth,” describing it as “the greatest force for good of any country that’s ever been.” Musk believes outright that there “would not be democracy in the world if not for the United States,” arguing there were “three separate occasions in the 20th-century where democracy would have fallen with World War I, World War II and the Cold War, if not for the United States.” Musk also stated that he thinks “it would be a mistake to say the United States is perfect, it certainly is not. There have been many foolish things the United States has done and bad things the United States has done.” Prompted by the emergence of self-driving cars and Artificial Intelligence, Musk has voiced support for a Universal Basic Income. Prior to the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, Musk criticized candidate Trump by saying: “I feel a bit stronger that he is probably not the right guy. He doesn’t seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States.” Following Donald Trump’s inauguration, Musk expressed approval of Trump’s choice of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State and accepted an invitation to appear on a panel advising President Trump. Regarding his cooperation with Trump, Musk has subsequently commented: “The more voices of reason that the President hears, the better.” In an interview with the Washington Post, Musk stated he was a “significant (though not top-tier) donor to Democrats, but that he also gives heavily to Republicans.” Musk further stated, “in order to have your voice be heard in Washington, you have to make some little contribution.” A recent report from the Sunlight Foundation (a nonpartisan group that tracks government spending), found that “SpaceX has spent over US$4 million on lobbying Congress since it was established in 2002 and doled out more than US$800,000 in political contributions” to Democrats and Republicans. The same report noted that “SpaceX’s campaign to win political support has been systematic and sophisticated”, and that “unlike most tech-startups, SpaceX has maintained a significant lobbying presence in Washington almost since day 1″. The report further noted that “Musk himself has donated roughly US$725,000 to various campaigns since 2002. In 2004, he contributed US$2,000 to President George W. Bush’s reelection campaign, maxing out (over US$100,000) to Obama‘s reelection campaign and donated US$5,000 to Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who represents Florida, a state critical to the space industry. (…) All told, Musk and SpaceX gave out roughly US$250,000 in the 2012 election cycle.” Additionally, SpaceX hired former Republican Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott to represent the company, via the Washington-based lobbying group Patton Boggs LLP. Alongside Patton Boggs LLP, SpaceX uses several other outside lobbying firms, who work alongside SpaceX’s own lobbyists. Musk had been a supporter of the U.S. political action committee (PAC) FWD.us, which was started by fellow high-profile entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg and advocates for immigration reform. However, in May 2013, Musk publicly withdrew his support in protest of advertisements the PAC was running that supported causes like the Keystone Pipeline. Musk and other members, including David O. Sacks, pulled out, criticizing the strategy as “cynical”. Musk further stated, “we shouldn’t give in to the politics. If we give in to that, we’ll get the political system we deserve.” In December 2013, Sean Becker of the media/political website Mic called Musk a “complete hypocrite”, stating that ” the 2014 election cycle, Musk has contributed to the Longhorn PAC and the National Republican Congressional Committee both of which have funded the campaigns of anti-science, anti-environment candidates such as Rep. Michelle Bachman (R-Minn.).” Musk has directly contributed to Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who has been accused of holding similar positions regarding climate change. Destiny and religion When asked whether he believed “there was some kind of destiny involved” in humanity’s transition to a multi-planetary species, rather than “just physics”, Musk responded: Well, I do. Do I think that there’s some sort of master intelligence architecting all of this stuff? I think probably not because then you have to say: “Where does the master intelligence come from?” So it sort of begs the question. So I think really you can explain this with the fundamental laws of physics. You know it’s complex phenomenon from simple elements. Musk has stated that he does not pray, or worship any being, although previously admitted to praying before an important Falcon 1 launch, asking “any entities that listening” to “bless launch”. When asked whether he believed “religion and science could co-exist“, Musk replied “probably not”. Although Musk believes “there is a good chance that there is simple life on other planets”, he “questions whether there is other intelligent life in the known universe”. Musk later clarified his “hope that there is other intelligent life in the known universe”, and stated that it is “probably more likely than not, but that’s a complete guess.” Musk has also considered the simulation hypothesis as a potential solution to the Fermi paradox: The absence of any noticeable life may be an argument in favour of us being in a simulation…. Like when you’re playing an adventure game, and you can see the stars in the background, but you can’t ever get there. If it’s not a simulation, then maybe we’re in a lab and there’s some advanced alien civilization that’s just watching how we develop, out of curiosity, like mould in a petri dish…. If you look at our current technology level, something strange has to happen to civilizations, and I mean strange in a bad way. … And it could be that there are a whole lot of dead, one-planet civilizations. Musk has frequently spoken out about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence, declaring it “the most serious threat to the survival of the human race”. During an interview at the MIT AeroAstro Centennial Symposium, Musk described AI as ” biggest existential threat”, further stating, “I’m increasingly inclined to think that there should be some regulatory oversight, maybe at the national and international level, just to make sure that we don’t do something very foolish.” Musk described the creation of artificial intelligence as “summoning the demon”. Despite this, Musk has previously invested in DeepMind, an AI firm, and Vicarious, a company working to improve machine intelligence. In January 2015, he donated $10 million to the Future of Life Institute, an organization focused on challenges posed by advanced technologies. He is the co-chairman of OpenAI, a nonprofit artificial intelligence research company. Musk has said that his investments are, “not from the standpoint of actually trying to make any investment return… I like to just keep an eye on what’s going on with artificial intelligence”. Musk continued, “There have been movies about this, you know, like Terminator there are some scary outcomes. And we should try to make sure the outcomes are good, not bad.” In June 2016, he was asked whether he thinks humans live in a computer simulation, to which he answered “probably”. Elaborated as follows: The strongest argument for us probably being in a simulation I think is the following: 40 years ago we had Pong two rectangles and a dot. That’s where we were. Now 40 years later we have photorealistic, 3D simulations with millions of people playing simultaneously and it’s getting better every year. And soon we’ll have virtual reality, we’ll have augmented reality. If you assume any rate of improvement at all, then the games will become indistinguishable from reality, just indistinguishable. Elon Musk’s dark warnings over Artificial Intelligence has brought him some controversy. He and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg have clashed with the latter terming his warnings “irresponsible”. Musk responded to Mark’s censure by saying that he had discussed AI with Zuckerberg and found him to have only a “limited understanding” of the subject. Musk owned a McLaren F1 supercar, which he crashed while it was uninsured. He also previously owned an Aero L-39, a Czech-made jet trainer aircraft. The 1994 model Dassault Falcon 900 aircraft used in the 2005 film Thank You for Smoking is registered to Musk (N900SX), and Musk had a cameo as the pilot of his plane, opening the door for Robert Duvall and escorting Aaron Eckhart aboard. Musk owns Wet Nellie, the Lotus Esprit from the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. He plans to convert it into the functional car-submarine from the film. Musk attended the Burning Man festival in 2004 and has said he first thought up the idea for SolarCity at the festival. Tosca Musk, Elon’s sister, is a filmmaker. She is the founder of Musk Entertainment and has produced various movies. Musk stated that he wants to die on Mars, just not on impact. Musk is chairman of the Musk Foundation, which focuses its philanthropic efforts on providing solar-power energy systems in disaster areas. In 2010, the Musk Foundation collaborated with SolarCity to donate a 25-kW solar power system to the South Bay Community Alliance’s (SBCA) hurricane response center in Coden, Alabama. In July 2011, the Musk Foundation donated US$250,000 towards a solar power project in S?ma, Japan, a city that had been recently devastated by tsunami. In July 2014, Musk was asked by cartoonist Matthew Inman and William Terbo, the grandnephew of Nikola Tesla, to donate US$8 million toward the construction of the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe. Ultimately, Musk agreed to donate US$1 million toward the project and additionally pledged to build a Tesla Supercharger in the museum car park. Musk donated US$10 million to the Future of Life Institute in January 2015, to run a global research program aimed at keeping artificial intelligence beneficial to humanity. As of 2015, Musk is a trustee of the X Prize Foundation and a signatory of The Giving Pledge. Musk met his first wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson, while both were students at Ontario’s Queen’s University. They married in 2000 and separated in 2008. Their first son, Nevada Alexander Musk, died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at the age of ten weeks. They later had five sons through in vitro fertilization twins in 2004, followed by triplets in 2006 all of whom they share custody of. In 2008, Musk began dating English actress Talulah Riley, and in 2010, the couple married. In January 2012, Musk announced that he had ended his four-year relationship with Riley, tweeting to Riley, “It was an amazing four years. I will love you forever. You will make someone very happy one day.” In July 2013, Musk and Riley remarried. In December 2014, Musk filed for a second divorce from Riley, however, the action was withdrawn. It was announced in March 2016 that divorce proceedings were again under way, this time with Riley filing for divorce from Musk. The divorce was finalized in late 2016. Musk began dating American actress Amber Heard in 2016 but split after one year due to their conflicting schedules. Zolpidem usage In an apparent self-admission of mixing zolpidem and alcohol, Musk tweeted in June 2017 “A little red wine, vintage record, some Ambien … and magic!”. Health authorities advise to not take zolpidem together with alcohol, which can be a highly addictive combination and increase the risk of experiencing dangerous side-effects. Musk gained media attention for advocating the dangerous drug combination publicly on his social media. Funnel shaped charge inlet 13/549185 8579635 2012-07-13 2013-11-12 Tesla Motors, Inc. Vehicle charge inlet 29/427056 D724031 2012-07-13 2015-03-10 Tesla Motors, Inc. Vehicle 29/412833 D683268 2012-02-08 2013-05-28 Tesla Motors, Inc. Vehicle door 29/412841 D678154 2012-02-08 2013-03-19 Tesla Motors, Inc. In 2006, Musk served as a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board. R&D Magazine Innovator of the Year for 2007 for SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. Inc Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year award for 2007 for his work on Tesla and SpaceX. 2007 Index Design award for his design of the Tesla Roadster.Global Green 2006 product design award for his design of the Tesla Roadster, presented by Mikhail Gorbachev. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics George Low award for the most outstanding contribution in the field of space transportation in 2007/2008. Musk was recognized for his design of the Falcon 1, the first privately developed liquid-fuel rocket to reach orbit. National Wildlife Federation 2008 National Conservation Achievement award for Tesla and SolarCity. Other 2008 recipients include journalist Thomas Friedman, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Florida Governor Charlie Crist. The Aviation Week 2008 Laureate for the most significant achievement worldwide in the space industry. National Space Society‘s Von Braun Trophy in 2008/2009, given for leadership of the most significant achievement in space. Prior recipients include Burt Rutan and Steve Squyres. Automotive Executive of the Year (worldwide) in 2010 for demonstrating technology leadership and innovation via Tesla. Prior awardees include Bill Ford Jr, Bob Lutz, Dieter Zetsche and Lee Iacocca. Musk is the youngest ever recipient of this award. Listed as one of Time‘s 100 people who most affected the world in 2010. The world governing body for aerospace records, Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, presented Musk in 2010 with the highest award in air and space, the FAI Gold Space Medal, for designing the first privately developed rocket to reach orbit. Prior recipients include Neil Armstrong, Burt Rutan of Scaled Composites and John Glenn. Named as one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century by Esquire magazine. Recognized as a Living Legend of Aviation in 2010 by the Kitty Hawk Foundation for creating the successor to the Space Shuttle (Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft). Other recipients include Buzz Aldrin and Richard Branson. In 2010, Musk was elected to the board of trustees of the California Institute of Technology, however no longer holds the position. In a 2010 Space Foundation survey, he was ranked as the No. 10 (tied with rocketry pioneer and scientist Wernher von Braun) most popular space hero. In February 2011, Forbes listed Musk as one of “America’s 20 Most Powerful CEOs 40 And Under”. In June 2011, Musk was awarded the US$250,000 Heinlein Prize for Advances in Space Commercialization In 2011, Musk was honored as a Legendary Leader at the Churchill Club Awards. In 2012, Musk was awarded the Royal Aeronautical Society’s highest award: a Gold Medal. Musk was the 2012 recipient of Smithsonian magazine’s American Ingenuity Award in the Technology category. In 2013, Musk was named the Fortune Businessperson of the year for SpaceX, SolarCity, and Tesla. In 2015, he was awarded IEEE Honorary Membership. As of 2015, Musk serves on the board of advisors of Social Concepts, Inc. In 2016, The Drive, a division of Time, named Musk the most influential person in the car business and as the second most influential person in the automotive tech sector. In June 2016, Business Insider named Musk one of the “Top 10 Business Visionaries Creating Value for the World” along with Mark Zuckerberg and Sal Khan. In December 2016, Musk was ranked 21st on Forbes list of The World’s Most Powerful People. In March 2017, Musk was listed by UK-based company Richtopia at number 3 in the list of 200 Most Influential Philanthropists and Social Entrepreneurs. Honorary doctorate in Design from the Art Center College of Design Honorary doctorate (DUniv) in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Surrey Honorary doctorate of Engineering and Technology from Yale University In popular media In the 2005 film Thank You for Smoking, Musk had a cameo as the pilot of his own plane, opening the door for the Captain (Robert Duvall) and escorting Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) aboard. In Iron Man 2 (2010), he met Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in a restaurant, and had some brief lines regarding an “idea for an electric jet”. In 2014, he was satirized in the South Park episode “Handicar“. He later made a guest appearance in three more episodes of South Park in 2016, this time voicing himself in the episodes “Members Only“, “Not Funny“, and “The End of Serialization as We Know It.” In January 2015, he made a guest appearance playing himself on The Simpsons in an episode titled “The Musk Who Fell to Earth“; the episode poked fun at many of the inventor’s ideas. In November 2015, Musk appeared in an episode of The Big Bang Theory, playing himself, volunteering at a soup kitchen with Howard. In 2016 Musk was referenced by Dr. Martin Stein on The CW time-travel TV show DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. During a time travel to the past, Stein meets his younger self and introduced himself as Elon Musk, to disguise his own identity. Musk was also featured in the 2015 environmental documentary Racing Extinction, in which a custom Tesla Model S was designed to help project images of critically endangered species onto public buildings, including the Empire State Building and the Vatican. In 2016 Musk appeared as himself in the romantic comedy film Why Him? where he was briefly met by one of the main characters, Ned Flemming played by Bryan Cranston, in a bar at a party.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6880
__label__wiki	0.60507	0.60507	PDF2 Add To My Favorites \| Version: 09/22/03 - Chaptered 09/03/03 - Enrolled 08/21/03 - Amended Senate 08/18/03 - Amended Senate 07/16/03 - Amended Senate 07/03/03 - Amended Senate 06/03/03 - Amended Assembly 06/02/03 - Amended Assembly 03/25/03 - Amended Assembly 03/24/03 - Amended Assembly 01/28/03 - Introduced AB-205 Domestic partners.(2003-2004) AB205:v89#DOCUMENT Bill Start Assembly Bill No. 205 An act to amend Sections 297, 298, and 298.5 of, to add Sections 297.5, 299.2, and 299.3 to, to repeal Section 299.5 of, and to repeal and add Section 299 of, the Family Code, to amend Section 14771 of the Government Code, and to amend Section 3 of Chapter 447 of the Statutes of 2002, relating to domestic partnerships. [ Filed with Secretary of State September 22, 2003. Approved by Governor September 19, 2003. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 205, Goldberg. Domestic partners. Existing law provides for the issuance of a marriage license and specifies the rights and obligations of married persons. Existing law also provides for the establishment and the termination of domestic partnerships. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to prepare and distribute forms for creating and terminating domestic partnerships. Existing law specifies the requirements for completing the form necessary to create a domestic partnership and provides that a violation of this provision is a misdemeanor. This bill would enact the California Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003. The bill would modify the procedure and the accompanying form for terminating domestic partnerships, and require additional duties of the Secretary of State in relation, as specified. The bill would also revise the requirements for entering into a domestic partnership to require each person to consent to the jurisdiction of the superior courts of this state for the purpose of a proceeding to obtain a judgment of dissolution or nullity of the domestic partnership. The bill would revise the provision described above making it a misdemeanor to violate the provision specifying the requirements for completing the form necessary to create a domestic partnership. The bill would instead specifically provide that filing an intentionally and materially false Declaration of Domestic Partnership would be punishable as a misdemeanor, thereby creating a new crime. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would extend the rights and duties of marriage to persons registered as domestic partners on and after January 1, 2005. The bill would provide that the superior courts shall have jurisdiction over all proceedings governing the dissolution of domestic partnerships, nullity of domestic partnerships, and legal separation of partners in domestic partnerships. These proceedings would follow the same procedures as the equivalent proceedings with respect to marriage. The bill would provide that a legal union validly formed in another jurisdiction that is substantially equivalent to a domestic partnership would be recognized as a valid domestic partnership in this state. The bill would require the Secretary of State to send a letter on 3 separate, specified occasions to the mailing address of registered domestic partners informing them of these changes, as specified. The bill would also require the Director of General Services, through the forms management center, to provide notice to state agencies, among others, that in reviewing and revising all public-use forms that refer to or use the terms spouse, husband, wife, father, mother, marriage, or marital status, that appropriate references to domestic partner, parent, or domestic partnership be included. The bill would also make related and conforming changes. The bill would further make specified provisions operative on January 1, 2005. The bill would impose a state-mandated local program by adding to the duties of county clerks. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed $1,000,000. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. Digest Key The people of the State of California do enact as follows: (a) This act is intended to help California move closer to fulfilling the promises of inalienable rights, liberty, and equality contained in Sections 1 and 7 of Article 1 of the California Constitution by providing all caring and committed couples, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, the opportunity to obtain essential rights, protections, and benefits and to assume corresponding responsibilities, obligations, and duties and to further the state’s interests in promoting stable and lasting family relationships, and protecting Californians from the economic and social consequences of abandonment, separation, the death of loved ones, and other life crises. (b) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that despite longstanding social and economic discrimination, many lesbian, gay, and bisexual Californians have formed lasting, committed, and caring relationships with persons of the same sex. These couples share lives together, participate in their communities together, and many raise children and care for other dependent family members together. Many of these couples have sought to protect each other and their family members by registering as domestic partners with the State of California and, as a result, have received certain basic legal rights. Expanding the rights and creating responsibilities of registered domestic partners would further California’s interests in promoting family relationships and protecting family members during life crises, and would reduce discrimination on the bases of sex and sexual orientation in a manner consistent with the requirements of the California Constitution. (c) This act is not intended to repeal or adversely affect any other ways in which relationships between adults may be recognized or given effect in California, or the legal consequences of those relationships, including, among other things, civil marriage, enforcement of palimony agreements, enforcement of powers of attorney, appointment of conservators or guardians, and petitions for second parent or limited consent adoption. This act shall be known and may be cited as “The California Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003.” (6) Both persons are capable of consenting to the domestic partnership. (c) “Have a common residence” means that both domestic partners share the same residence. It is not necessary that the legal right to possess the common residence be in both of their names. Two people have a common residence even if one or both have additional residences. Domestic partners do not cease to have a common residence if one leaves the common residence but intends to return. Section 297.5 is added to the Family Code, to read: 297.5. (a) Registered domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under law, whether they derive from statutes, administrative regulations, court rules, government policies, common law, or any other provisions or sources of law, as are granted to and imposed upon spouses. (b) Former registered domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under law, whether they derive from statutes, administrative regulations, court rules, government policies, common law, or any other provisions or sources of law, as are granted to and imposed upon former spouses. (c) A surviving registered domestic partner, following the death of the other partner, shall have the same rights, protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under law, whether they derive from statutes, administrative regulations, court rules, government policies, common law, or any other provisions or sources of law, as are granted to and imposed upon a widow or a widower. (d) The rights and obligations of registered domestic partners with respect to a child of either of them shall be the same as those of spouses. The rights and obligations of former or surviving registered domestic partners with respect to a child of either of them shall be the same as those of former or surviving spouses. (e) To the extent that provisions of California law adopt, refer to, or rely upon, provisions of federal law in a way that otherwise would cause registered domestic partners to be treated differently than spouses, registered domestic partners shall be treated by California law as if federal law recognized a domestic partnership in the same manner as California law. (f) Registered domestic partners shall have the same rights regarding nondiscrimination as those provided to spouses. (g) Notwithstanding this section, in filing their state income tax returns, domestic partners shall use the same filing status as is used on their federal income tax returns, or that would have been used had they filed federal income tax returns. Earned income may not be treated as community property for state income tax purposes. (h) No public agency in this state may discriminate against any person or couple on the ground that the person is a registered domestic partner rather than a spouse or that the couple are registered domentitled “Declaration of Domestic Partnership” and “Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership” to meet the requirements of this division. These forms shall require the signature and seal of an acknowledgment by a notary public to be binding and valid. (b) (1) The Secretary of State shall distribute these forms to each county clerk. These forms shall be available to the public at the office of the Secretary of State and each county clerk. (2) The Secretary of State shall, by regulation, establish fees for the actual costs of processing each of these forms, and the cost for preparing and sending the mailings and notices required pursuant to Section 299.3, and shall charge these fees to persons filing the forms. (c) The Declaration of Domestic Partnership shall require each person who wants to become a domestic partner to (1) state that he or she meets the requirements of Section 297 at the time the form is signed, (2) provide a mailing address, (3) state that he or she consents to the jurisdiction of the Superior Courts of California for the purpose of a proceeding to obtain a judgment of dissolution or nullity of the domestic partnership or for legal separation of partners in the domestic partnership, or for any other proceeding related to the partners’ rights and obligations, even if one or both partners ceases to be a resident of, or to maintain a domicile in, this state, (4) sign the form with a declaration that representations made therein are true, correct, and contain no material omissions of fact to the best knowledge and belief of the applicant, and (5) have a notary public acknowledge his or her signature. Both partners’ signatures shall be affixed to one Declaration of Domestic Partnership form, which form shall then be transmitted to the Secretary of State according to the instructions provided on the form. Filing an intentionally and materially false Declaration of Domestic Partnership shall be punishable as a misdemeanor. Section 298.5 of the Family Code is amended to read: (a) Two persons desiring to become domestic partners may complete and file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of State. (b) The Secretary of State shall register the Declaration of Domestic Partnership in a registry for those partnerships, and shall return a copy of the registered form and a Certificate of Registered Domestic Partnership to the domestic partners at the mailing address provided by the domestic partners. (c) No person who has filed a Declaration of Domestic Partnership may file a new Declaration of Domestic Partnership or enter a civil marriage with someone other than their registered domestic partner unless the most recent domestic partnership has been terminated or a final judgment of dissolution or nullity of the most recent domestic partnership has been entered. This prohibition does not apply if the previous domestic partnership ended because one of the partners died. Section 299 of the Family Code is repealed. Section 299 is added to the Family Code, to read: (a) A domestic partnership may be terminated without filing a proceeding for dissolution of domestic partnership by the filing of a Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of State pursuant to this section, provided that all of the following conditions exist at the time of the filing: (1) The Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership is signed by both domestic partners. (2) There are no children of the relationship of the parties born before or after registration of the domestic partnership or adopted by the parties after registration of the domestic partnership, and neither of the domestic partners, to their knowledge, is pregnant. (3) The domestic partnership is not more than five years in duration. (4) Neither party has any interest in real property wherever situated, with the exception of the lease of a residence occupied by either party which satisfies the following requirements: (A) The lease does not include an option to purchase. (B) The lease terminates within one year from the date of filing of the Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership. (5) There are no unpaid obligations in excess of the amount described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 2400, as adjusted by subdivision (b) of Section 2400, incurred by either or both of the parties after registration of the domestic partnership, excluding the amount of any unpaid obligation with respect to an automobile. (6) The total fair market value of community property assets, excluding all encumbrances and automobiles, including any deferred compensation or retirement plan, is less than the amount described in paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 2400, as adjusted by subdivision (b) of Section 2400, and neither party has separate property assets, excluding all encumbrances and automobiles, in excess of that amount. (7) The parties have executed an agreement setting forth the division of assets and the assumption of liabilities of the community property, and have executed any documents, title certificates, bills of sale, or other evidence of transfer necessary to effectuate the agreement. (8) The parties waive any rights to support by the other domestic partner. (9) The parties have read and understand a brochure prepared by the Secretary of State describing the requirements, nature, and effect of terminating a domestic partnership. (10) Both parties desire that the domestic partnership be terminated. (b) The domestic partnership shall be terminated effective six months after the date of filing of the Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of State pursuant to this section, provided that neither party has, before that date, filed with the Secretary of State a notice of revocation of the termination of domestic partnership, in the form and content as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of State, and sent to the other party a copy of the notice of revocation by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at the other party’s last known address. The effect of termination of a domestic partnership pursuant to this section shall be the same as, and shall be treated for all purposes as, the entry of a judgment of dissolution of a domestic partnership. (c) The termination of a domestic partnership pursuant to subdivision (b) does not prejudice nor bar the rights of either of the parties to institute an action in the superior court to set aside the termination for fraud, duress, mistake, or any other ground recognized at law or in equity. A court may set aside the termination of domestic partnership and declare the termination of the domestic partnership null and void upon proof that the parties did not meet the requirements of subdivision (a) at the time of the filing of the Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of State. (d) The superior courts shall have jurisdiction over all proceedings relating to the dissolution of domestic partnerships, nullity of domestic partnerships, and legal separation of partners in a domestic partnership. The dissolution of a domestic partnership, nullity of a domestic partnership, and legal separation of partners in a domestic partnership shall follow the same procedures, and the partners shall possess the same rights, protections, and benefits, and be subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties, as apply to the dissolution of marriage, nullity of marriage, and legal separation of spouses in a marriage, respectively, except as provided in subdivision (a), and except that, in accordance with the consent acknowledged by domestic partners in the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form, proceedings for dissolution, nullity, or legal separation of a domestic partnership registered in this state may be filed in the superior courts of this state even if neither domestic partner is a resident of, or maintains a domicile in, the state at the time the proceedings are filed. A legal union of two persons of the same sex, other than a marriage, that was validly formed in another jurisdiction, and that is substantially equivalent to a domestic partnership as defined in this part, shall be recognized as a valid domestic partnership in this state regardless of whether it bears the name domestic partnership. SEC. 10. (a) On or before June 30, 2004, and again on or before December 1, 2004, and again on or before January 31, 2005, the Secretary of State shall send the following letter to the mailing address on file of each registered domestic partner who registered more than one month prior to each of those dates: “Dear Registered Domestic Partner: This letter is being sent to all persons who have registered with the Secretary of State as a domestic partner. Effective January 1, 2005, California’s law related to the rights and responsibilities of registered domestic partners will change (or, if you are receiving this letter after that date, the law has changed, as of January 1, 2005). With this new legislation, for purposes of California law, domestic partners will have a great many new rights and responsibilities, including laws governing community property, those governing property transfer, those regarding duties of mutual financial support and mutual responsibilities for certain debts to third parties, and many others. The way domestic partnerships are terminated is also changing. After January 1, 2005, under certain circumstances, it will be necessary to participate in a dissolution proceeding in court to end a domestic partnership. Domestic partners who do not wish to be subject to these new rights and responsibilities MUST terminate their domestic partnership before January 1, 2005. Under the law in effect until January 1, 2005, your domestic partnership is automatically terminated if you or your partner marry or die while you are registered as domestic partners. It is also terminated if you send to your partner or your partner sends to you, by certified mail, a notice terminating the domestic partnership, or if you and your partner no longer share a common residence. In all cases, you are required to file a Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership. If you do not terminate your domestic partnership before January 1, 2005, as provided above, you will be subject to these new rights and responsibilities and, under certain circumstances, you will only be able to terminate your domestic partnership, other than as a result of domestic partner’s death, by the filing of a court action. If you have any questions about any of these changes, please consult an attorney. If you cannot find an attorney in your locale, please contact your county bar association for a referral. The Secretary of State” (b) From January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2004, inclusive, the Secretary of State shall provide the following notice with all requests for the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form. The Secretary of State also shall attach the Notice to the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form that is provided to the general public on the Secretary of State’s Web site: “NOTICE TO POTENTIAL DOMESTIC PARTNER REGISTRANTS As of January 1, 2005, California’s law of domestic partnership will change. Beginning at that time, for purposes of California law, domestic partners will have a great many new rights and responsibilities, including laws governing community property, those governing property transfer, those regarding duties of mutual financial support and mutual responsibilities for certain debts to third parties, and many others. The way domestic partnerships are terminated will also change. Unlike current law, which allows partners to end their partnership simply by filing a “Termination of Domestic Partnership” form with the Secretary of State, after January 1, 2005, it will be necessary under certain circumstances to participate in a dissolution proceeding in court to end a domestic partnership. If you have questions about these changes, please consult an attorney. If you cannot find an attorney in your area, please contact your county bar association for a referral.” Section 299.5 of the Family Code is repealed. Section 14771 of the Government Code is amended to read: (a) The director, through the forms management center, shall do all of the following: (1) Establish a State Forms Management Program for all state agencies, and provide assistance in establishing internal forms management capabilities. (2) Study, develop, coordinate and initiate forms of interagency and common administrative usage, and establish basic state design and specification criteria to effect the standardization of public-use forms. (3) Provide assistance to state agencies for economical forms design and forms art work composition and establish and supervise control procedures to prevent the undue creation and reproduction of public-use forms. (4) Provide assistance, training, and instruction in forms management techniques to state agencies, forms management representatives, and departmental forms coordinators, and provide direct administrative and forms management assistance to new state organizations as they are created. (5) Maintain a central cross index of public-use forms to facilitate the standardization of these forms, to eliminate redundant forms, and to provide a central source of information on the usage and availability of forms. (6) Utilize appropriate procurement techniques to take advantage of competitive bidding, consolidated orders, and contract procurement of forms, and work directly with the Office of State Publishing toward more efficient, economical and timely procurement, receipt, storage, and distribution of state forms. (7) Coordinate the forms management program with the existing state archives and records management program to ensure timely disposition of outdated forms and related records. (8) Conduct periodic evaluations of the effectiveness of the overall forms management program and the forms management practices of the individual state agencies, and maintain records which indicate net dollar savings which have been realized through centralized forms management. (9) Develop and promulgate rules and standards to implement the overall purposes of this section. (10) Create and maintain by July 1, 1986, a complete and comprehensive inventory of public-use forms in current use by the state. (11) Establish and maintain, by July 1, 1986, an index of all public-use forms in current use by the state. (12) Assign, by January 1, 1987, a control number to all public-use forms in current use by the state. (13) Establish a goal to reduce the existing burden of state collections of public information by 30 percent by July 1, 1987, and to reduce that burden by an additional 15 percent by July 1, 1988. (14) Provide notice to state agencies, forms management representatives, and departmental forms coordinators, that in the usual course of reviewing and revising all public-use forms that refer to or use the terms spouse, husband, wife, father, mother, marriage, or marital status, that appropriate references to domestic partner, parent, or domestic partnership are to be included. (15) Delegate implementing authority to state agencies where the delegation will result in the most timely and economical method of accomplishing the responsibilities set forth in this section. The director, through the forms management center, may require any agency to revise any public-use form which the director determines is inefficient. (b) Due to the need for tax forms to be available to the public on a timely basis, all tax forms, including returns, schedules, notices, and instructions prepared by the Franchise Tax Board for public use in connection with its administration of the Personal Income Tax Law, Senior Citizens Property Tax Assistance and Postponement Law, Bank and Corporation Tax Law, and the Political Reform Act of 1974 and the State Board of Equalization’s administration of county assessment standards, state-assessed property, timber tax, sales and use tax, hazardous substances tax, alcoholic beverage tax, cigarette tax, motor vehicle fuel license tax, use fuel tax, energy resources surcharge, emergency telephone users surcharge, insurance tax, and universal telephone service tax shall be exempt from subdivision (a), and, instead, each board shall do all of the following: (1) Establish a goal to standardize, consolidate, simplify, efficiently manage, and, where possible, reduce the number of tax forms. (2) Create and maintain, by July 1, 1986, a complete and comprehensive inventory of tax forms in current use by the board. (3) Establish and maintain, by July 1, 1986, an index of all tax forms in current use by the board. (4) Report to the Legislature, by January 1, 1987, on its progress to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of all tax forms. (c) The director, through the forms management center, shall develop and maintain, by December 31, 1995, an ongoing master inventory of all nontax reporting forms required of businesses by state agencies, including a schedule for notifying each state agency of the impending expiration of certain report review requirements pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 14775. Section 3 of Chapter 447 of the Statutes of 2002 is amended to read: Sec. 3.On or before March 1, 2003, the Secretary of State shall send the following letter to the mailing address on file of each registered domestic partner who registered prior to January 1, 2003: As of July 1, 2003, California’s law of intestate succession will change. The intestate succession law specifies what happens to a person’s property when that person dies without a will, trust, or other estate plan. Under existing law, if a domestic partner dies without a will, trust, or other estate plan, a surviving domestic partner cannot inherit any of the deceased partner’s separate property. Instead, surviving relatives, including, for example, children, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, or parents may inherit the deceased partner’s separate property. Under the law to take effect July 1, 2003, if a domestic partner dies without a will, trust, or other estate plan, the surviving domestic partner will inherit the deceased partner’s separate property in the same manner as a surviving spouse. This change will mean that the surviving domestic partner would inherit a third, a half, or all of the deceased partner’s separate property, depending on whether the deceased domestic partner has surviving children or other relatives. This change does not affect any community or quasi-community property that the deceased partner may have had. This change in the intestate succession law will not affect you if you have a will, trust, or other estate plan. If you do not have a will, trust, or other estate plan and you do not wish to have your domestic partner inherit your separate property in the manner provided by the revised law, you may prepare a will, trust, or other estate plan, or terminate your domestic partnership. Under existing law, your domestic partnership is automatically terminated if you or your partner married or died while you were registered as domestic partners. It is also terminated by you sending your partner or your partner sending to you by certified mail a notice terminating the domestic partnership, or by you and your partner no longer sharing a common residence. In all cases, you are required to file a Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of State in order to establish the actual date of termination of the domestic partnership. You can obtain a Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership from the Secretary of State’s office. If your domestic partnership has terminated because you sent your partner or your partner sent to you a notice of termination of your domestic partnership, you must immediately file a Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership. If you do not file that notice, your former domestic partner may inherit under the new law. However, if your domestic partnership has terminated because you or your partner married or you and your partner no longer share a common residence, neither you nor your former partner may inherit from the other under this new law. If you have any questions about this change, please consult an estate planning attorney. If you cannot find an estate planning attorney in your locale, please contact your county bar association for a referral. The provisions of Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 of this act shall become operative on January 1, 2005. This act shall be construed liberally in order to secure to eligible couples who register as domestic partners the full range of legal rights, protections and benefits, as well as all of the responsibilities, obligations, and duties to each other, to their children, to third parties and to the state, as the laws of California extend to and impose upon spouses. The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of this act is held to be invalid, or if any application thereof to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that may be given effect without the invalid provision or application. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because in that regard this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution. However, notwithstanding Section 17610 of the Government Code, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code. If the statewide cost of the claim for reimbursement does not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000), reimbursement shall be made from the State Mandates Claims Fund.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6881
__label__wiki	0.932737	0.932737	Home/Featured Music Artist Category Archives: Featured Music Artist Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner spent the last part of the new millennium’s first decade becoming the go-to bassist for practically every artist in black vanguard music. His nimble, syncopated, groove-heavy basslines were heard on albums by Erykah Badu, Sa-Ra, Flying Lotus, and others. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Bruner had the fortune of being part of a music family. His father, Ronald Bruner Sr., was an accomplished drummer, working with artists like Diana Ross, the Temptations, and Gladys Knight.Bruner‘s older brother, Ronald Jr., a Grammy-winning drummer, has worked with esteemed artists such as Kenny Garrett and Stanley Clarke.Bruner‘s first major work came as a teenager, still in high school, when he joined Ronald as part of the L.A.-based punk band Suicidal Tendencies, replacing Robert Trujillo, who moved on to play with Metallica. At live shows, the young Bruner displayed flair and dexterity, playing some ofTrujillo‘s three-finger riffs with just his thumb. Possessing a kinship and interest in the L.A.-led movement of genre-mixing black music, Bruner began collaborating with some of its foremost creators. His basswork on “The Cell” was, perhaps, the standout musicianship on Badu‘s New Amerykah, Pt. 1. He’s also appeared on J*Davey‘s version of Frank Zappa‘s “Dirty Love,” Sa-Ra‘s “Love Czars,” Shafiq Husayn‘s “Cheeba,” and Bilal‘s “Levels,” and even collaborated with bass legend Bootsy Collins on Snoop Dogg‘s “We Rest n Cali,” among dozens of other cuts. During that time, he performed live with conductor Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, who leads the Suite for Ma Dukes orchestra, a contemporary ensemble revisiting J Dilla‘s Donuts. His most prolific and fruit-bearing music relation has been with DJ/producer/instrumentalist Flying Lotus, for whom he provided both bass and vocals for 2010’s Cosmogramma. Lotus then served as executive producer for Bruner‘s 2011 debut, The Golden Age of Apocalypse, which he released under his Thundercat moniker on Brainfeeder. Golden Age received considerable acclaim, notably for Bruner‘s acrobatic bass and his repurposed take on ’70s-inspired fusion from George Dukeand Jaco Pastorius, the bassist to whom he’s most compared. His latest album entitled “Golden Age Of Apocalypse” is available now Click here to purchase http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-golden-age-of-apocalypse/id456186223 11:40 pm - November 8, 2011 Posted by Frances Jaye Rucker’s emotion in her work and words, has led some critics to compare her to celebrated writers like Sonia Sanchez and Nikki Giovanni, describing them as “powerful”. Coincidentally, when Ntozake Shange was unable to supply The Roots with a spoken word contribution for their second album Do You Want More?!!?!!, they called on Rucker to do it instead. The Unlocking led to subsequent invitations to close The Roots follow-up albums Iladelph Halflife and the certified gold record Things Fall Apart. In numerous reviews, many critics proclaim the value of Rucker’s work with The Roots, 4hero and other groups. Rucker has had reviews in, URB, Vibe, XXL, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Straight No Chaser. Rucker has also performed her work at an array of venues, universities and festivals. Among these venues include the Montreal Jazz Festival, the 1999 Winter Music Conference, a performance at Drexel University and the 2005 Amnesty International Australia Freedom Festival[3] which aimed to raise aware of Amnesty’s global “Stop Violence against Women” campaign. Rucker has toured with Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Sylk 130, and 4Hero in the United States and internationally in Europe. Rucker also has provided a single “Soon for Unbound”, which was off a benefit album for convict Mumia Abu-Jamal. Andy Puleston at bbc.co.uk writes in his review of her album Supa Sista: Ursula’s vocals… is a silken delivery, that like Michael Franti, demonstrates that a quiet word in the ear can speak volumes above the microphone rant. Paul Sullivan also of bbc.co.uk says in his review of her album Silver or Lead: Ursula’s velvety voice…manages to both mollify and add a sinister dimension to the harshness of her subject matter. www.ursularucker.com Ursula currently has a new cd entitled “She Said” click here to purchase it: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/she-said/id407881140 Slakah the Beatchild Byram Joseph, a.k.a Slakah the Beatchild; a highly sought after performing producer who has produced for Canadian artists Justin Nozuka, Drake, Glenn Lewis, Divine Brown, Ayah, Ebrahim and Melanie Durrant. He was nominated for a JUNO Award for his work as a producer with artists Shad, Ebrahim & Arabesque. In 2009 he was awarded a JUNO Award for the Divine Brown album Love Chronicles. Member of hiphop duo the mighty “Art of Fresh”, solo artist and creator of “The Slakadeliqs”. Slakah the Beatchild’s fresh and unique solo material caught the attention of the legendary BBE label in Europe (J-Dilla, Wil.i.Am, Pete Rock & Dj Jazzy Jeff). He released a solo album entitled “Soul Movement Vol.I”, the first installment of many. This album was met with international critical acclaim. Videos from this album get considerable play on BETJ, VH1 Soul, MTV, MuchMusic and MuchVibe. In addition to this project, he formed the house-hop group Art of Fresh with long time friend D.O., a Guinness World Record holder for longest freestyle. In 2008 they released an album entitled “Back to the Earth” which earned a 4 star review in Eye Weekly and Charted at #1 on the National College Charts. The group made URB’s Next 1000 list. They have videos in rotation on MuchMusic, have appeared on MTV Live and have had MySpace and YouTube features. The Art of Fresh continue to build on their solid fan base and entertain crowds across the globe. The Beatchild recently formed “The Slakadeliqs”. Inspired by classic rock, reggae and pop influences such as: Tingsek, Neil Young, The Guess Who, The Zombies, The B-52’s, UB40, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, The Beatles and Lenny Kravitz. The unconventional sound of The Slakadeliqs highlights Byram’s musical diversity. The Beatchild keeps us listening. From his hiphop/soul that he is most famous for to an eclectic, thoughtful sound that touches the hearts of his listeners individually. The Beatchild is truly an old-soul. http://beatchild.wordpress.com/ Alison Carney The last time singer/songwriter Alison Carney released a project was in 2007….wait….2007? Four years later, she is inviting us all into a new musical world which was clearly years in the making. alisonWonderland, her new project, is an introduction to the singer’s idea of HONEST music. So, inquiring minds want to know: is it a mixtape or an LP? Call it what you will…a Mix P, an L-Tape…who cares? Just make sure you check it out, cause its amazing and its FREE! With sounds borrowed from some of the most respected producers in the industry (Diplo, Benzi, J Dilla, and Flying Lotus to name a few) and new creations by some of her favorite homegrown phenoms (j.laine, T.FOX, into the electronically delightful…only two of the DOPEST MCs in land) Balls to the walls, japanese candy in hand….Download it. Love it. Take it in…welcome to alisonWonderland: a fantasy world created to help you find your reality.credits 9:47 pm - October 31, 2011 Posted by Frances Jaye Carol Riddick Carol Riddick is no stranger to the music industry, she has featured with R & B artists like Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, Kindred Norman Brown and Jeff Bradshaw her unique vocal delivery was evident on the platinum-selling CD title track “Soul Star”, as she was having with Musiq Soulchild Carol was a background singer for Jill Scott, along with Vivian Green before going out on their own her unique vocal delivery was evident on the platinum-selling title track “Soul Star”, as she was having with Musiq Soulchild Now, moving from background to foreground Carol has made some artistic progress with some of the best producers in the game, such as James Poyser and Anthony Bell and other heavy Hitters coming through each track After partnering with Axis Music Group a PhilAdelphia-based record company, Carol spent most of 2005 writing material for her project on Carol creatively tip her debut album What some consider to be a huge undertaking for an artist came naturally to Carol who co-produced and co-wrote most songs on “Moments Like This “While the money her lyrics Carol drew inspiration from her loving family and an unyielding desire to live their dreams Musically it was imperative to deliver a fantastic live sound Carol’s love for the Philly International and Motown recordings she grew up to be reflected in” Moments Like This “carrying on the tradition of music that moves people album is laced with live instruments and pure soulfula song, it’s a music for the adults and sexy Highlights include a song dedicated to his daughter, entitled “All I Want to Be (Krystal)” women’s anthem “Brown Eyed Girl” and the hit single “You Better not hurt me” ” I am committed to writing, provide positive music that people can draw inspiration from, it is my hope that listeners will feel the songs as strongly as I do and make them a regular part of their listening experience I poured my heart and soul of this music and I hope it touches everyone who hears it with the same intensity ” Carol does sound rich smooth melodies reminiscent of Gamble and Huff days from Philadelphia International Records and Motown. www.carolriddick.net Page 19 of 23« First«...10...1718192021...»Last »	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6890
__label__wiki	0.945453	0.945453	COVER STORY: The real China the West prefers to ignore EDITORIAL: Lessons of the equine influenza (EI) inquiry CANBERRA OBSERVED: Two big unknowns for the Rudd Government ECONOMIC AFFAIRS: Emissions-trading a "bureaucratic indulgence" EQUINE INFLUENZA: AQIS responsible for EI outbreak, says report INTERNATIONAL TRADE: Rudd's scheme for an EU-style Asian community GLOBAL TERRORISM: Australians supplying arms to Colombian guerrillas POLITICAL IDEAS: Champion of the humane economy - Wilhelm Röpke OPINION: Why the Howard Government fell REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH: Abortion damage to women ignored by inquiry EUTHANASIA: Doctor-assisted suicide halted... for now EDUCATION: Environmental jihadists terrorising our children SCHOOLS: Teaching grammar: the blind leading the blind AS THE WORLD TURNS: Masculinity under attack / Denying global warming deemed a crime against humanity / Ireland defies European Union Small business and farmers should make more noise (letter) Renewable energy? (letter) BOOKS: THE REVOLUTION: A Manifesto, by Ron Paul Lessons of the equine influenza (EI) inquiry by Peter Westmore News Weekly, July 5, 2008 Quarantine should be treated as part of the front line in the protection of our national security. The report of the equine influenza inquiry, released by the federal Minister of Agriculture, Tony Burke, has already led to the resignation of the director of quarantine and deputy secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Stephen Hunter. The inquiry was conducted by Mr Ian Callinan, a former justice of the High Court of Australia. After summarising the compound failures of quarantine which led to the outbreak, Mr Callinan said, "What I describe bespeaks an organisation that lacked clear lines of communication between those responsible for formulating procedures and work instructions and those responsible for implementing them; one in which there was insufficient training and education in relation to the procedures and instructions to be followed; one in which there was no checking to ensure that those procedures and instructions were being implemented; and one in which any business plan or other reporting system did not alert senior management to these failures." (p.xxii). Mr Callinan was also critical of Biosecurity Australia (BA), the advisory body which conducts biosecurity import risk assessments. Broader inquiry The findings of the Callinan inquiry have been referred to the broader inquiry, established by the Minister for Agriculture last March, which extends beyond equine influenza into the totality of Australia's quarantine and biosecurity system. This inquiry, headed by Mr Roger Beale, is the first since 1996 to consider the entire quarantine system. Mr Callinan expressed the view that the Beale inquiry would "require some form of restructuring of both AQIS and Biosecurity Australia" (p.315). The Quarantine and Biosecurity Review has invited submissions into many different aspects of Australia's quarantine system, including whether the existing administrative arrangements, in which AQIS and Biosecurity Australia are part of the Department of Agriculture, serve Australia, or whether they should be independent of the department. The NSW Farmers Association submission directly addressed these issues. It said that, as a result of fundamental flaws in Australia's quarantine system, it feared that a major exotic disease outbreak of plants or livestock was "imminent". It said that apart from the EI outbreak, there had been a succession of breaches of Australia's quarantine system over the years, some of which had had serious consequences for affected industries. The NSW Farmers Association said that there were a number of problems within AQIS, including its public service culture, the lack of authority given to professionally qualified staff, and the over-arching free trade policy of the Department of Agriculture. Although the Department of Agriculture did not make a submission to the inquiry, another submission from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has amply justified these concerns. In its 15-page submission, DFAT argued that Australia must base its quarantine standards on its World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations and those contained in the various free trade agreements into which Australia had entered. While conceding that under WTO rules each country has the right to set its own appropriate level of quarantine protection, it nonetheless conveyed the impression that Australia had to respond to international concerns about its restrictive quarantine policies. It said that "Australia's trading partners [i.e., the US, EU and New Zealand] view our quarantine system as a de facto trade barrier", and added, "These perceptions weaken the impact of Australia's advocacy for more open markets" through the WTO and the Cairns Group of agriculture exporters. DFAT also expressed concern about the resources needed to defend cases taken by other countries to the World Trade Organization, specifically mentioning New Zealand's WTO challenge on apple imports. The reality, surely, is that other countries with inferior standards will continue to challenge Australia on these issues, because of Australia's disease-free status. To resist these pressures, it is imperative that Australia's quarantine system be completely independent of other branches of government committed to a free trade agenda which is incompatible with strong quarantine standards. Only the establishment of an independent quarantine authority, separate from the Department of Agriculture, will enable the creation of a quarantine service in which the Australian people can have confidence. Today, quarantine is part of the front line in the protection of Australia's national security, with functions closely related to those of the Australian Customs Service which exists to provide Australia with strong and effective border protection. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and Biosecurity Australia should operate as a single statutory body, such as Quarantine Australia, as recommended by the Australian Quarantine Review Committee in 1996. — Peter Westmore is national president of the National Civic Council.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6892
__label__wiki	0.959273	0.959273	Local business caters to softball players from everywhere Tuesday, July 2, 2019 by Steve andres Special to the Press in Sports Building blocks are a familiar sports metaphor, illustrating the need for strong foundational pieces in order to achieve athletic success. Whether it’s constantly working on staying low out of the blocks as a sprinter, taking jumper after jumper in an empty gym, or increasing one’s strength in a musty weight room, that attention to the fundamentals is what’s needed to build future success. Those figurative building blocks now have a literal meaning for Alexandra MacLean who recently started a business that will serve area softball players interested in establishing their own building blocks. The former Northampton High School and Bucknell University graduate, has opened 7 Deadly Spins Fastpitch, catering solely to softball players, something she said distinguishes her business from the other combination baseball/softball places operating in the Lehigh Valley. The site is located on 3678 Crescent Court East in Whitehall. MacLean, who graduated from Northampton in 2009, transformed a former warehouse into a two-story softball emporium that’s dedicated to the empowerment of girls. “We wanted to create a softball facility,” said MacLean. “We wanted it to be power to the girls. That’s kind of my motto.” Those building blocks also include helping the girls in other aspects of their lives. “We like to think that we’re teaching these kids beyond softball,” said MacLean. While most will be on site for a pitching, fielding or hitting lesson, MacLean said that they want to build relationships with them and provide for those players outside of softball. She said whether it’s a social skills, feelings of empowerment, or dealing with difficult situations, softball is just a gateway to do that. It’s part of their mission. She said that it’s not unusual for a girl to call her on a Saturday night because they just need to talk. They become a confidante, an environment where they feel safe. She describes it as a softball coach disguised as life coach. It’s all part of a well-rounded approach. “We are focused on making them the best they can be,” said MacLean. Booking a lesson may entail waiting, but she said kids want to come to 7 Deadly Spins Fastpitch because they have produced some pretty good pitchers. It’s made possible by a staff that’s fully committed to helping the girls. MacLean said that girls travel as far as Binghamton, New York to take advantage of what 7 Deadly Spins Fastpitch has to offer. “We’re really lucky to provide this space for the girls,” said MacLean. MacLean said that this journey began as a hobby in her backyard after graduating from Bucknell. It continued to grow, and soon she was renting a space in another establishment, but shortly outgrew that space because of the demand. “We were turning people away,” said MacLean. She began searching for another venue with the intent of remaining in Whitehall since that’s where she became established. MacLean said she stumbled upon a listing in Whitehall on the Internet that looked like it would fit the bill: high ceilings, plenty of space, easy access. She made an appointment to visit the property. “It was just meant to be,” said MacLean. She said the original plan was to move into the downstairs space, but the owner asked if she wanted to see the upstairs space as well, and that eventually became the space for the batting cages, as well as a waiting area for parents. “It was an open, clear space, that’s what we got, and we outfitted it to meet our needs,” said MacLean. They had their grand opening on March 9. They currently have 12 employees, many of whom have played softball locally. “We continue to grow to meet the needs of our client base,” said MacLean. The endeavor has meant spending a lot of time not only creating the business, but also growing it. She said that it was a big investment of time and effort that was aided by the efforts Deily Contractors, Tri-Boro Fencing, along with the help of family and friends. “We truly had an army of support when we were making this all happen,” MacLean said. MacLean said that the Egypt Cobras have made use of the facility. Madison Cunningham, the Zephyrs starting pitcher, has also worked with the instructors. MacLean said that quite a few players from Whitehall have sought out help from their talented staff. MacLean said that their approach to each pitcher varies. They’re going to find out what works best for the individual athlete and concentrate on that during their lesson. “One thing I preach is that everyone can use a great change-up, but we have students who throw a rise ball and a curve ball, or a drop ball and a screwball,” said MacLean. “First we work on accuracy, some fastball accuracy, and then we try and get a change-up, and then we got o for another pitch. Once we’ve mastered that pitch, we add another one into the mix.” Softball has been growing as a sport with MacLean noting that the recent Women’s College Softball World Series had its largest viewership in four years. It’s also included in the 2020 Olympics, something that has her students excited. The Lehigh Valley is the home to over 30 club teams, giving players more options and avenues to improve their games. “There’s lots of opportunity there as well,” said MacLean. MacLean loves the competitive nature of softball. As a freshman at Bucknell, she earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Patriot Conference. It’s a passion she’s carried into her professional life as she instructs the next generation. “I just like the look on a kid’s face when they get something right,” she said. She said that kids will often share their good fortunes either in person or online, telling her about a good outing or a no-hitter. “That’s the exciting part, taking what they learned here and applying it in a game,” said MacLean. With the start of the business, her softball journey has been truly rewarding. “It just continued to grow, and softball’s been a part of my life since T-ball, and it was just really great that I was able to turn it into a career,” said MacLean.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6895
__label__cc	0.633542	0.366458	Gila Stopler Dr. Gila Stopler is a senior lecturer of law at the Academic Center of Law & Business in Israel. Her areas of expertise are constitutional law, church state relations, multiculturalism and women’s rights. She graduated from the Faculty of Law Read More Aharon Shemesh Aharon Shemesh is Associate Professor at the department of Talmud, Bar-Ilan University. He served as visiting professor at U.C. Berkeley and Stanford University (2005); was a fellow at the Center for Jewish Studies, Harvard University (1996 and 2007), at the Read More THE NINTH ANNUAL CAROLINE AND JOSEPH S. GRUSS LECTURE The Ninth Annual Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Lecture, I Give Therefore I am – The Meaning of Charity in Jewish and Christian Thought, was held this year on Monday, April 11th. The lecture was presented by Professor Gary Anderson, Joint Tikvah/Straus Fellow, Read More Moshe Halbertal is the Gruss Professor at NYU School of Law and a professor of Jewish thought and philosophy at Hebrew University. He received his Ph.D. from Hebrew University in 1989, and from 1988-92 he was a fellow at the Read More Interview with Roger Hertog PROFESSOR JOSEPH WEILER: Let’s start with Zalman Bernstein, whose wealth is part of the Tikvah fund. Where did he go to school? What kind of family life did he have? ROGER HERTOG: Zalman Bernstein went to Townsend Harris High School, Read More Biography Roger Hertog Roger Hertog was one of the founding partners of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc. in 1968, and served as the firm’s President until its combination with Alliance Capital Management in October 2000. He currently is President of The Hertog Read More Applications may be filed commencing September 15th until January 4th. We reccomend that you look through the Application Instructions thoroughly before submitting your application. Scholarships and Tuition A limited number of full and partial scholarships to cover or partially cover the cost of tuition will be offered on a merit basis for those applying to take the degree on a full-time basis. It is not expected that Read More The Conveners of the Master’s are Professor Moshe Halbertal and Professor Joseph Weiler, the Co-Directors of The Tivkah Center for Law & Jewish Civilization. Foundational courses will be taught by the regular faculty at NYU School of Law and the Read More The degree program will be composed of the following elements: Foundational Courses in Law and Judaism. These will be selected from a broad menu of courses offered as part of the normal curriculum at both NYU School of Law and the Read More	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6897
__label__wiki	0.522029	0.522029	MIT researchers develop a way to funnel solar energy Using carbon nanotubes (hollow tubes of carbon atoms), MIT chemical engineers have found a way to concentrate solar energy 100 times more than a regular photovoltaic cell. Such nanotubes could form antennas that capture and focus light energy, potentially allowing much smaller and more powerful solar arrays. “Instead of having your whole roof be a photovoltaic cell, you could have little spots that were tiny photovoltaic cells, with antennas that would drive photons into them,” says Michael Strano, the Charles and Hilda Roddey Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and leader of the research team. Strano and his students describe their new carbon nanotube antenna, or “solar funnel,” in the Sept. 12 online edition of the journal Nature Materials. Lead authors of the paper are postdoctoral associate Jae-Hee Han and graduate student Geraldine Paulus. Their new antennas might also be useful for any other application that requires light to be concentrated, such as night-vision goggles or telescopes. Solar panels generate electricity by converting photons (packets of light energy) into an electric current. Strano’s nanotube antenna boosts the number of photons that can be captured and transforms the light into energy that can be funneled into a solar cell. The antenna consists of a fibrous rope about 10 micrometers (millionths of a meter) long and four micrometers thick, containing about 30 million carbon nanotubes. Strano’s team built, for the first time, a fiber made of two layers of nanotubes with different electrical properties — specifically, different bandgaps. In any material, electrons can exist at different energy levels. When a photon strikes the surface, it excites an electron to a higher energy level, which is specific to the material. The interaction between the energized electron and the hole it leaves behind is called an exciton, and the difference in energy levels between the hole and the electron is known as the bandgap. The inner layer of the antenna contains nanotubes with a small bandgap, and nanotubes in the outer layer have a higher bandgap. That’s important because excitons like to flow from high to low energy. In this case, that means the excitons in the outer layer flow to the inner layer, where they can exist in a lower (but still excited) energy state. Therefore, when light energy strikes the material, all of the excitons flow to the center of the fiber, where they are concentrated. Strano and his team have not yet built a photovoltaic device using the antenna, but they plan to. In such a device, the antenna would concentrate photons before the photovoltaic cell converts them to an electrical current. This could be done by constructing the antenna around a core of semiconducting material. The interface between the semiconductor and the nanotubes would separate the electron from the hole, with electrons being collected at one electrode touching the inner semiconductor, and holes collected at an electrode touching the nanotubes. This system would then generate electric current. The efficiency of such a solar cell would depend on the materials used for the electrode, according to the researchers. Strano’s team is the first to construct nanotube fibers in which they can control the properties of different layers, an achievement made possible by recent advances in separating nanotubes with different properties. While the cost of carbon nanotubes was once prohibitive, it has been coming down in recent years as chemical companies build up their manufacturing capacity. “At some point in the near future, carbon nanotubes will likely be sold for pennies per pound, as polymers are sold,” says Strano. “With this cost, the addition to a solar cell might be negligible compared to the fabrication and raw material cost of the cell itself, just as coatings and polymer components are small parts of the cost of a photovoltaic cell.” Strano’s team is now working on ways to minimize the energy lost as excitons flow through the fiber, and on ways to generate more than one exciton per photon. The nanotube bundles described in the Nature Materials paper lose about 13 percent of the energy they absorb, but the team is working on new antennas that would lose only 1 percent. Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT research update: New way to store sun’s heat MIT: Teaching algae to make fuel New photonic crystals have both electronic and optical properties The future of chip manufacturing High-efficiency concentrator solar cells and modules MIT News: When is it worth remanufacturing? Mohsin ali RESEARCH Chemical Engineering, electricity, Geraldine Paulus, Jae Hee Han, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Michael Strano, MIT, Nature Materials, solar energy, Technology Newly merged black hole eagerly shreds stars	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6900
__label__wiki	0.579258	0.579258	2012 National Book Award finalist in Poetry: David Ferry, Bewilderment Then, truly, wretched Dido, overwhelmed By knowledge of the fate that has come upon her, Prays for death; she is weary of looking at The overarching sky. And to make sure that what has been begun will be completed And that she will depart from the light, she saw As she set out her ritual offerings Upon the incense-burning altars, how – The horror! – the holy water darkened and The wine was changed to an excremental slime. – From "Dido in Despair," translation of Aeneid, IV, lines 450-473 (p. 40) Translation is a difficult art as I have come to know over these past few years as an occasional freelance translator. The rhythms differ from tongue to tongue, as idiomatic expressions do not traverse freely from idiom to idiom. This is doubly true when it comes to poetry. Good translators will not be afraid to "break" the structure of a poem composed in another language in order to do what Humpty Dumpty's would-be repairman could not: to put it all back together again, the "yolk" now housed in a new form. Acclaimed poet-translator David Ferry's latest collection, Bewilderment, is an odd collection, in that the author's poems on the experiences of advanced age (he is now 88 years old) and his various translations from the Latin verse of Horace, Marcial, and Vergil often seem to clash in terms of content and even form. As I read through this collection, I kept trying to understand why the poet's verses appear next to the translator's renderings with such frequent interminglings. When considered separately, the translations perhaps are slightly stronger than the original verses. In reading the excerpts published within Bewilderment of his forthcoming verse translation of Vergil's Aeneid, I found his translations to highlight the emotional impact of such scenes as that of Dido's impending demise over her despair of Aeneas' departure from Carthage. The images are generally faithful to those of the Latin original (which I consulted before re-reading Ferry's verse translation), although the imagery does change curiously on occasion. One such example would be the changing of the wine, which is "latices nigrescere sacros fusaque in obscenum se vertere vina cruorem" in the original. Ferry's "excremental slime," while evoking the scatalogical or the horrors of certain natural excretions, does not fully capture the literal bloodiness of this change as "the sacred water darkens, pouring out obscenely, changing into gory wine [my near-literal translation]." Yet this is one of the few occasions where Ferry's departure from the imagery of the Latin original is noticeable (not to mention questionable, at least for this particular image); otherwise, he eloquently captures the spirit of the original verses. Ferry's original compositions, such as "Soul," contain some eloquent lines: What am I doing inside this old man's body? I feel like I'm the insides of a lobster, All thought, and all digestion, and pornographic Inquiry, and getting about, and bewilderment, And fear, avoidance of trouble, belief in what, God knows, vague memories of friends, and what They said last night, and seeing, outside of myself, (p. 7) Here the poet lays forth his bewilderment over his life, his need to confront the development that he is now old, that he is confused, trying to recall what memories he has of life, food, friendship, and love. Ferry's images and metaphors ring true in this poem and in several others like it, for they address directly those life questions that we have had at various points of our existences. Yet at times the free verse is a bit too formal in feel, as those Ferry trusts not his metaphors and images to be unbound. When working with classical motifs, this is acceptable, but there were a few times were I sensed that too heavy of a hand was placed upon some of these poems, that perhaps they were stuffed into models too strait for comfort. This is not so much a condemnation of the poet (or the translator) as it is an acknowledgement that there was this sense of a missed opportunity in places to take greater risks and thus "free" the poetic metaphors and images to be more daring, original works, unconstrained by conventions or expectations. Bewilderment is a good collection, but it is not an excellent one and in comparison to other National Book Award poetry finalists, it perhaps suffers due to its perceived shackling to older conventions. Labels: 2012 National Book Awards, 2012 Reviews, David Ferry, poetry William Faulkner, "A Rose for Emily" (revised review) When Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her funeral: the men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the women mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of her house, which no one save an old man-servant – a combined gardener and cook – had seen in at least ten years. (p. 119) Out of all of his fabulous novels and short stories, William Faulkner’s 1931 short story, “A Rose for Emily,” has long been a personal favorite. In only a few thousand words, Faulkner creates a multilayered tale that works as a personal tragedy, an allegory, and a pointed social commentary, among other things. It is a story that I’ve re-read on a few occasions since the time I was first introduced to it in a freshman English Composition class back in 1992 and each time, new elements come to the fore of my thoughts on “A Rose for Emily.” Take for instance the opening paragraph. We see, through the perspective of the third-person narrator, the combination of duty and morbid curiosity of the townspeople of the fictional Jefferson, Mississippi (the final resting place of Addie Bunchen from As I Lay Dying, also published in 1930) regarding the death of that “fallen monument.” This description of Miss Emily evokes images of grandeur fated to decay. In the five sections of this tale, decay looms prominently: “…only Miss Emily’s house was left, lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps…” (p. 119) “When the Negro opened the blinds of one window, they could see that the leather was cracked; and when they sat down, a faint dust rose sluggishly about their thighs, spinning with slow motes in the single sun-ray.” (p. 120) “And so she died. Fell ill in the house filled with dust and shadows, with only a doddering Negro man to wait on her.” (p. 128) Yet there is more than just the tragic fall of Miss Emily into decayed disrepair. Faulkner’s mixture of the literary past and present accentuates a larger change that is taking place in Jefferson that has largely bypassed Miss Emily’s mostly-shuttered relic of a home. A new generation is emerging in the 1930s, one that has no first-hand recollection of the horrors of the Civil War and its traumatic aftermath. The complexities of a Colonel Sartoris, who is referenced in a single sentence as being a courtly gentleman who remits Miss Emily’s city taxes in perpetuity while, as Mayor, creating an anti-black ordinance that serves as a reminder of the Jim Crow era, and his era are slowly giving way to a different generational outlook. There are a few fleeting references to how that “monument,” Miss Emily, has had to battle city leaders who seek to revoke the Colonel’s roundabout way of “providing charity” to the nearly indigent scion of an old Southern family. This connects with other references to social mores and the ways that the neighborhood around Miss Emily’s home is changing. Decay is much more than a person or home mouldering into dust. “A Rose for Emily” is littered with foreshadowings of the final event. From the purchase of arsenic, “for rats,” to the spreading of lime to the drastic changes in Miss Emily’s figure, nearly every paragraph contains portents for what follows after. The narrative suspense developed from each of these little clues actually improves upon a re-read, as much of the joy derived from the story comes from seeing how adroitly Faulkner weaves these references to Miss Emily’s past and present, overlain with commentary on the townspeople and their myriad responses to the events surrounding Miss Emily and her later seclusion, into a narrative tapestry that is a delight to read and re-read. Furthermore, the two most powerful “voices” in this novel never “speak” from a point of view perspective. Miss Emily we come to know through her curt politeness to the city leaders, but beyond that and the recollections offered by the narrator, tinged with innuendo as those are, we never see her in action, yet by the story’s end, when the tragedy of her life is revealed, her life, or rather, her descent into animated decay, has come to dominate the story. Yet over this looms another, more hidden figure, that of her father. His control of Miss Emily is only hinted at in a couple of places, yet the insidiousness of it permeates the action of the story. Faulkner’s use of allusion in regard to Miss Emily’s father (and apparently, his own role as another symbol of the fading post-war generation) tinges “A Rose for Emily” with an allegorical quality (one that Faulkner once noted was the origin for the “rose” in the story’s title; even the most destitute deserve that “rose” of respect). Each of the elements discussed above combine to create an absorbing read that rewards the reader who pauses and reflects upon each sentence, as there is so much occurring under the surface of the narrative. Miss Emily is a fascinating character and the background townspeople serve to underscore the divisions and social changes that are taking place around the core tragedy of this story. When compared to As I Lay Dying, “A Rose for Emily” is not as experimental, as we see no use of stream of consciousness or multiple point of view narrators, yet it complements well that novel’s exploration of duty in the face of near-farcical happenstance, not to mention that like Addie, Emily here is defined as much in how she dies as in how she lived. Before re-reading both stories, this connection was not readily apparent, but upon further consideration, it could be argued that what drives both of these 1930 Faulkner tales is a sense of absence. Addie is departing and yet in dying she relentless drives the family that she mostly resents toward a discovery of life that they might not otherwise have made. Emily has long departed life before she breathes her final breath, yet despite the absence of a direct point of view of hers, her unspoken “voice” dominates the story. Taken together, As I Lay Dying and “A Rose for Emily” complement each other and showcase Faulkner’s burgeoning talent to depict setting and its effects on character (and vice versa) in an honest and moving fashion. Originally posted in January 2012 on Gogol's Overcoat as part of a weekly "Faulkner Friday." Novels reviewed from January-April will be reposted here on Fridays, while the short stories will appear on Wednesdays. The review of "A Rose for Emily" was revised from its original publication on this blog in May 2011. Labels: 2012 Reviews, William Faulkner 2012 National Book Award finalist in Poetry: Susan Wheeler, Meme I learned how to make ring tum ditty when your father and I didn't have two cents to rub together. Well, these saltines are a little stale. (p. 6, from "Splitting Hairs") Lace our shut eyes shut. Don't you ping my machine. Young lady. (p. 20, from "Judas Priest") Susan Wheeler's National Book Award-nominated poetry collection, Meme, is difficult to sum up in a few pithy paragraphs. Divided into three parts, the first of which, "The Maud Poems," being based on Wheeler's mother, Meme explores several themes, among them the trials and travails of motherhood, the dangers and joys of childhood, the temptations of life, and cruel humorous ironies of life through protean verses that shift in register, tone, and form to fit the characters contained within. Take for instance the two citations provided above, both taken from "The Maud Poems." Here we hear one half of a conversation, or perhaps "Maud" is caught in a soliloquy over her past poverty before interrupting herself to respond to her children's needs. This alternation between reminisce and response catches the reader reacting on two levels, the recalled past and the immediate present. Wheeler's lines are deceptively simple. Vivid images are created through the use of alliterations, such as this combination found within "The Devil – or – The Introjects": She's got your hand moving out for a dish, for a drink, for a doughnut. (p. 30) Wheeler is more than a one-trick poetess. Further on in "The Devil – or – The Introjects," she creates memorable descriptions through twisting, turning, moving, mutable descriptors: She's driven you out here with her taunting, pushed you out to the extremities of town where the dust coils in the wind and your own parched throat rasps. Go on, missy, jump, but the land's straight and flat, and the prefab arsenal by the side of the road bears unbankable walls. Jump. (p. 35) But it is in the third part, "The Split," where Wheeler's talent for imagery and expression shine fullest: Spangled like showgirls in the gleam of our fears, shiny Christians in chain mail, with our faux-lizard shingling, whores limping to West Street from the Bank Street piers, (p. 39) There are few duds in Meme. Even the relatively weaker segments contain a warmth of characters and a vividness in metaphor and image that makes reading and re-reading the poems a delight. Wheeler's expert use of language creates poems that even in simple actions, something profound is being expressed: I am tired. Today I moved a book from its shelf to the bed. The span of its moving was vast. (p. 83) Out of the four poetry finalists that I have read to date, Meme perhaps will be the one that lingers longest for me. This is not to say the others, yet to be reviewed, are not good or excellent in their own right, but Meme is the work that connects closest with the wild, weird vastness of human life and emotions and Wheeler's ability to stretch metaphor to cover this broad emotional expanse is impressive. Labels: 2012 National Book Awards, 2012 Reviews, poetry, Susan Wheeler Brief summary of thoughts of the 2012 World Fantasy Award finalists for Best Novel, plus some mention of the Anthology/Collection shortlists Compared to previous years, this year's World Fantasy Award novel shortlist was underwhelming. Although I did not actively dislike any of the finalists, I could not help but wonder why other 2011 releases did not make the shortlist. Then again, looking back at my Best of 2011 25 Most Notable Releases, there were very few genre-marketed works of speculative fiction listed. Considering my relative antipathy toward the Clarke, Nebula, and Hugo shortlists, perhaps a case could be made that 2011 simply was a poor year for excellent SF/F works. Maybe part of the problem is that the shortlists this year, with few exceptions, have fairly conservative with their selections. While there are some smaller presses represented on the various shortlists (including the World Fantasy one), virtually all of the works that appear on them seem to be written in the mode of previous SF/F works. Whether one wants to cite a combination of ode to fandom/fairy dreaming (Walton), epic fantasy mid-volume (Martin), noir/Philip K. Dick melange (Tidhar), generic Southern-tinged horror (Buehlman), run-of-the-mill alt-history (King), none of the World Fantasy Award finalists stands out as sui generis. As noted above, this conservatism is rampant across virtually all of the Anglo-American SF/F shortlists, with the possible exception of the Shirley Jackson Awards, which included nominated works from Michael Cisco, Glen Duncan, and Donald Ray Pollock which do not fit snugly into pre-fab categories. Perhaps that is the nature of the generic beast, as SF/F genre writing in particular appears, at least at the level of award shortlists, to have become more hidebound in recent years. Books that kow-tow to the notion of fandom as being a wonderful nostalgic entity rather than a potentially problematic force that seeks to force ideological debates down through narrow, antiquated channels appear to be on the ascendent in these awards. The joke some SF/F fans like to tell about literary fiction and their awards, that of it revolving around which adulterous professor most in mid-life crisis will win, is in danger of being turned into a mockery of "fandom" awards that celebrate one's ability to cite references to authors whose prime was before the PC began popular, as well as how well those narratives appear to be "in dialogue" with those works. I heartily detest these sorts of works, as I noted in my otherwise fairly-positive review of Walton's Among Others. It vitiates any sort of evolution in approach and outlook if the author (and subsequently, the reader) tries too much to be "in touch" with previously-established "standards" for particular stories. I do not want yet another alt-history that contains references to how changing the past could be deleterious for future existence. I have grown weary of noir-based fictions that do not push the narrative envelope and which fail to deconstruct the premises that underlie such narratives. Another Southern Gothic/rural horror tale? I yawn when such fail to say much about the locales/value systems, as "window dressing" for someone who is a native of the American South can be trite at best, irritating at worst. So perhaps this is just a phase in the maturation of what at times has seemed to be a perpetually adolescent genre. Perhaps. But if the trends that I note above continue, it is hard to keep a pleasant demeanor and act like these finalists are worthy of praise. As it stands, none of the finalists would have made my 2011 Top 25 (although Tidhar would have been close) because of the flaws and weaknesses that I noted in my reviews. But for those of you who like "rankings" and who would prefer to eschew the review essays themselves, this is how I would "rank" the World Fantasy Award novel finalists: 1. Lavie Tidhar, Osama 2. Jo Walton, Among Others 3. George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons 4. Christopher Buehlman, Those Across the River 5. Stephen King, 11/22/63 Now I have chosen not to review the finalists for the other categories, although I have read all or parts of two books in the Anthology category (Ann and Jeff VanderMeer's The Weird and The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities) and three in the Collection category (Caitlín R. Kiernan's Two Worlds and In Between, Maureen McHugh's After the Apocalypse, and Tim Powers' The Bible Repairman and Other Stories). In the case of the Anthology category, I am too biased to select a winner, as I have a translation that appears in The Weird and I am an irregular contributor to the associated Weird Fiction Review website. I would like to say that I would almost certainly choose The Weird as the best in that category if I weren't involved slightly in work, but for propriety's sake, it is best to demur. As for the Collection category, I do not have the desire to read the remaining two works at this time (although I have heard good things about Reggie Oliver before; I am totally unfamiliar with Lisa Hannett), in part due to time and in part due to budget constraints. But out of the three, I liked McHugh's the best, as it was the most diverse of the three. I thought the Kiernan retrospective contained some excellent stories, but also some very weak tales that lowered my opinion of the work somewhat. The Powers was good, but with very few standout stories; it was also a bit on the brief side. I have not read any of the novella and only one of the short stories, so no comments on those beyond this admission. Just not that into genre short fiction these days, mainly for the reasons noted above. Labels: 2012 World Fantasy Awards, Genre Stuff, Reflections 2012 World Fantasy Award finalist for Best Novel: Lavie Tidhar, Osama Pornography? And yet it seemed to fit. Sex and violence, he thought. hand in hand through the smoke The image startled him, seeming to awaken something inside. The smoke smelled sweet and the silence was complete – he shook his head, searched for his cigarette, realised he had left it in the dirty-glass ashtray on the second shelf and that it had burned away. He shook the pack out of his pocket, liberated a cigarette and lit it. 'Know anything else?' he said. Alfred looked at him and the old eyes were suddenly hooded. 'No,' he said. 'If it's Mike Longshott you're looking for – if it's Osama Bin Laden you're after, for that matter – then I suspect you would not find the answer here. But Joe –' 'Yes?' The old man stood up. There was ash in his beard. He scratched a vein in the craggy, limestone visage of his face and lumbered towards Joe. Suddenly the space in the bookshop felt that much closer. 'Are you sure you want to find out?' (p. 30) Lavie Tidhar's short novel, Osama, is perhaps the most ambitious of the five World Fantasy Award finalists for Best Novel; it is also one of the shortest, at barely over 270 pages. Yet within those pages, Tidhar attempts to tell a fiction that melds elements of noir police procedurals and alt-history conceits that play with the identity of perhaps the most infamous man of the early 21st century, Osama bin Laden. Too easily such a mixture of narrative modes (not to mention the titular character) could implode, leaving a work that is hollow and devoid of any real narrative or thematic substance. For the most part, Osama manages to avoid these potential pitfalls. Osama's narrative possesses many characteristics of a noir mystery. There is the prerequisite tough, no-nonsense detective, Joe, who is based in Laos, when he decides to take up the mystery of "Mike Longshott," the pseudonymous author of the popular Osama Bin Laden: Vigilante novels. Over the course of dozens of short chapters (rarely extending more than two or three pages), Tidhar shows Joe traveling across Asia to Paris, London, and New York in search for the elusive writer. Along the way, certain odd descriptions, many of which contained within the excerpts from the Vigilante pulp fictions, begin to creep into the narrative. By roughly the halfway point, if the premise has not given it away at the beginning, it has become apparent that there is some sort of parallel world interaction (perhaps "intersecting worlds" would be a more mathematically correct phrase?) occurring and that events from "our" world are beginning to bleed over into Joe's world, which is not as technologically advanced yet which also does not suffer from the spate of violence and terrorism that has plagued our world for the past two generations. "Cool" premises and well-conceived milieus can only carry a story so far. There has to be some else about the story, perhaps its prose, characters, and/or themes, that would enable it to stand out and be more than a competently-executed work. For much of the first half of Osama, this was not readily apparent. Although the short, staccato sentence bursts pushed the exploration forwards and onwards, it just felt rote, as if Tidhar were concentrating too heavily on getting a particular narrative tone down and not enough on developing the milieu in which the action transpires. However, the second half of the novel improves somewhat, as the parallel/intersecting worlds element becomes more apparent and the implications of actions undertaken by Joe and others becomes clearer. Yet despite these improvements, Osama felt like an outstanding novel-in-progress that ultimately failed to achieve all of its ambitions. For all of Tidhar's dedication to getting the narrative tone down, the story rang a bit hollow in places, as the setting felt at times a bit too sketchy and underdeveloped. The premise, however, was very strong, and the problematic issue of identities was handled very well. Osama, like the other World Fantasy Award finalists, did not completely succeed in fulfilling its narrative and thematic ambitions. However, considering that this tale dared to do more with its structure and with its narrative, it is the strongest of the five finalists for this year's award. Labels: 2012 Reviews, 2012 World Fantasy Awards, Lavie Tidhar 2012 World Fantasy Award finalist for Best Novel: Stephen King, 11/22/63 "If I asked you who starred in The Graduate, I'm sure you could tell me. But if I asked you to tell me who Lee Oswald tried to assassinate only a few months before gunning Kennedy down, you'd go 'Huh?' Because somehow all that stuff has gotten lost." "Oswald tried to kill someone before Kennedy?" This was news to me, but most of my knowledge of the Kennedy assassination came form an Oliver Stone movie. In any case, Al didn't answer. Al was on a roll. "Or what about Vietnam? Johnson was the one who started all the insane escalation. Kennedy was a cold warrior, no doubt about it, but Johnson took it to the next level. He had the same my-balls-are-bigger-than-yours complex that Dubya showed off when he stood in front of the cameras and said 'Bring it on.' Kennedy might have changed his mind. Johnson and Nixon were incapable of that. Thanks to them, we lost almost sixty thousand American soldiers in Nam. The Vietnamese, North and South, lost millions. Is the butcher's bill that high if Kennedy doesn't die in Dallas?" (Ch. 3) Time travel stories have long fascinated writers and readers alike. What if one could go back to _____ and change what happened? Would the world be a better place? Would we even exist as we are now? What would change and how so? These alternate histories (alt-histories) have been a staple of American SF for decades now, usually focusing on events such as the failed assassination of Adolf Hitler, the course of the American Civil War, and the November 22, 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald (or insert your favorite conspiracy theory actor(s) here). In his 2011 novel, 11/22/63, Stephen King tackles the Kennedy assassination and its antecedents in a sprawling 800-plus page novel that is in turns fascinating and pure dross. The premise is relatively straightforward: a mid-30s high school teacher in 2011 Derry (the setting for It), Jake Epping, is being prepped to be sent back in time via an anomaly in a local restaurant pantry. Relatively uninterested in the Kennedy assassination or even in the social/political affairs of that time, Jake is coached up on the events of Oswald's life leading up to the Kennedy assassination by a local named Al, who for certain reasons is not able himself to make the trip back in time to 1958. As ends up being the case for much of the novel, King devotes several pages worth of exposition toward laying out the nature of the time travel and the possible dangers involved. It would not be the last time that he would describe things minutely at some considerable length. 11/22/63's strongest writing occurs in the middle of the novel, as Jake, now going by the pseudonym of George Amberson, has moved to a small Texas town three hours' drive south of Dallas and become a schoolteacher of this era. Although Jake/George is rather sketchy for a character (there is virtually no development in his personality or character outside of strict plot demands), the small-town school life that King describes here is very vivid and life-like. The budding romance between Jake/George and a soon-to-be-divorced young librarian, Sadie, is treated at some length and at times is interesting. But even here, the excellent moments and scenes are swamped by pages upon pages of extraneous detail. King has five years to wast...err, develop the events leading up to Jake's attempt to stop Oswald and this necessitated certain subplots, including Sadie's crazed ex-husband, that detract from the overall narrative arc. By the time the final days leading up to the assassination have arrived, it is hard to tell if 11/22/63's main story is the romance, the stalking of Sadie, or the prelude to assassination itself. Yet even when the fateful 11/22/63 arrives, the prose is rather bland, in part due to the lack of development of place and atmosphere. Thus what could have been a suspense-filled moment instead comes across more as a sluggish, turgid affair, mostly devoid of narrative tension and intrigue. In addition, the events that transpire after Jake's intervention feels half-baked and ill-conceived, as there is nothing in the events leading up to the assassination attempt that indicate the dangers of Jake's act to change history. 11/22/63's component parts could have made for two or three very good-to-excellent 300 page novels. Yet when viewed as a whole, its narrative focus meanders too much, the characterizations are uneven, and ultimately the story is devoid of true value as a literary work. It is doubtful that a re-reading would accentuate the book's positive; the negatives, however, might be even clearer after a second reading. Out of the five novel finalists for the 2012 World Fantasy Award, it perhaps is one of the two weakest in what appears to be a rather mediocre year for eligible novels. Labels: 2012 Reviews, 2012 World Fantasy Awards, Stephen King Cloud Atlas (2012 film) I first read David Mitchell's 2004 novel Cloud Atlas almost three years ago. At the time, I read it rapidly (if I recall, I was at a walk-in clinic, waiting to get treatment for a sinus infection) and only the vaguest of impressions stuck with me at the time; I did not choose to review it, despite recalling that I was impressed with how Mitchell structured his six tales to create something that was much more powerful than the sum of its parts. So when I learned that there was a movie version coming out this past weekend (I am not much of a cinephile), I was intrigued, more by wondering how in the world the Wachowskis could take a story that was comprised of an intricate series of chronological "first halves" (ranging from the mid-19th century through the early and mid 20th century on to contemporary, 22nd century, and post-apocalyptic times) that then reverse their course until the first story is completed last and make a coherent movie out of it. The only solution that I could conceive of before attending a showing this afternoon is to utilize a series of cut-ins that tell a series of parallel thematic/plot events similar to that employed in D.W. Griffith's 1916 masterpiece, Intolerance. More or less, my guess was correct for how the Wachowskis chose to adapt the book. Cloud Atlas was a very ambitious book, striving to tell through the medium of parallel, reincarnated lives humanity's struggles to define itself between the poles of order and freedom; equality amidst deprivation and inhumane treatment of others; and love versus hatred and fear. The novel's six stories contain echoes of the other tales, yet each has the time and space to create its own haunting melody that underpins the others. This works well for a tale from which the reader can take a few minutes (hours, days, weeks...) to pause and to consider the connections. A movie is much more immediate, requiring sharper transitions and more clear parallels for it to work for those who are not familiar with the source novel. In this regard, the movie stumbles at times, as in order to preserve a thematic unity between the tales (as the lovers encounter and re-encounter each other; their fight against the repressive social order of the times; the ways of fight or flight embodied in action; and the resolutions), much is left unsaid until near the end, confusing many audience members (including my father and uncle, among others in the audience with whom I saw the movie) who are not used to such rapid-fire transitions without bridging dialogue. Yet this is a quibble; the movie certainly is not for those who are not willing to invest a lot of time puzzling out the various connections beyond the easy ones such as the comet-shaped birthmarks. The decision to have a core cast of characters (including Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, Susan Sarandon, among others) is not strictly necessary from the perspective of those who have read the book, yet it does provide a grounding point for those who are new to Mitchell's original story. The actors, for the most part, provide subtle connections between the eras/tales through their varied responses to events that resemble those of their prior "lives." Hanks in particular shows this sense of interlife moral development in his role as Zachry, yet most of the others also possess these moments of personal crisis in their scenes. The novel focuses much more on the issue of collective humanity than does the movie, which at times relies too heavily on standard Hollywood tropes such as romantic love interests, shoot-em-up action scenes, and other "action-oriented" scenes in an attempt to appeal to viewers who favor such elements in their films. This fixation on these tropes occasionally weakens the impact of individual scenes, as the car-chase in the Luisa Rey era felt too much like a pastiche of other such scenes and a bit gratuitous in light of the unfolding stories. Despite moments such as this, there were virtually no longeurs during this nearly three hour-long film, as the cut-ins, especially toward the climactic final 40 minutes, serve to augment the power of each individual scene. It is hard to imagine this film finding universal appeal; familiarity with the novel is a major plus (as the stories, despite the constraints of cinematic technique and audience expectations for "action," are very faithful in spirit, if not always in word, to the novel) and multiple viewings may be required for the full effect to be achieved. Cloud Atlas is perhaps the most ambitious movie that I have seen ever since I watched Intolerance on Netflix earlier this year. Its use of parallel stories that interrupt each other until the final crescendo of resolutions does resemble Griffith's classic favorably, not to mention that its themes will resonate with most readers once the initial confusion is dispersed. Cloud Atlas may not be the sort of movie that many viewers will "like," but it certainly will be one that several may "admire" for its adroit presentation of a complex story and for the lingering thoughts that may persist long after the final credits roll. Labels: 2012 movie review, David Mitchell 2012 World Fantasy Award finalist for Best Novel (2012 Nebula, Hugo winner): Jo Walton, Among Others Sunday 21st October 1979 James Tiptree, Jr. is a woman! Gosh! I never would have guessed though. My goodness, Robert Silverberg must have egg all over his face. But I bet he doesn't care. (If I'd written Dying Inside I wouldn't mind how much of a fool of myself I made about anything ever again. It might be the most depressing book in the world, I mean it's right up there with Hardy and Aeschylus, but it's also just so brilliant.) Ant the Tiptree stories are good, too, though none of them quite up to "The Girl Who Was Plugged In." I suppose I can see doing that so as to get respect, but Le Guin didn't, and she got the respect. She won the Hugo. I think in a way Tiptree was taking the easy option. But think how fond her characters are of misdirection and disguise; maybe she is too? I suppose all writers use characters as masks, and she was using the male name as another layer. Come to that, if I was writing "Love is the Plan, the Plan is Death" I might not want people to know where I lived either. I was the only person not to get a bun today, not that I care. Even Deirdre got one from Karen. Deirdre looks at me in a strange puzzled way, which is actually worse that anything. I understand Tiberius' reliance on Sejanus much better now. I also understand how he became peculiar. Being left alone – and I am being left alone – isn't quite as much what I want as I thought. Is this how people become evil? I don't want to be. Is it possible to detest quite a bit of what a fictional work is all about and yet admit that it achieves its aims in such a way that it would be churlish not to acknowledge its triumphs? Jo Walton's award-winning novel, Among Others, is the sort of tale that I do not enjoy reading, yet at the same time, it is one of the better examples of the dreaded "SF fan coming of age tale" (with fairies) that I have encountered in recent years. Perhaps an exploration of these poles of personal perspective and reaction will be a suitable angle for this review essay. Among Others has the sheen of autobiographical experience; there are too many allusions to past reads and habits for there not to be this sense that Walton has mined some of her own youthful thoughts and experiences for this tale. The story just has that feeling of "authenticity" about it; perhaps those who did grow up young SF fans in Wales in the late 1970s and early 1980s may have found themselves relating to the tumultuous world in manners similar to the narrator. After all, why wouldn't a fan of Tiptree and Le Guin (among others) view the changing world around her in terms similar to those encountered in favorite stories? Yet, for some (and I admittedly am one) readers, such confessional tales alienate. There is sometimes the sense that the repeated allusions to SF tales and writers obscure what is transpiring in the narrator's life, covering up what might otherwise have been an interesting life with the occasionally dull references to books that were read and processed. There is real pain and heartache to be found in Among Others, but at times the focus on the SF reader Bildungsroman blunts the impact of those scenes, leaving open the possibility that some readers will find the narrator to be a rather dull character when perhaps the opposite would be closer to narrative truth. Among Others' focus on the narrator's past feels a bit incomplete. All we witness occurs between 1975-1980 (mostly 1979-1980), when the narrator is between 10 and 15 years old, during what often is the most "awkward" years of a person's social life. Quickly we get the sense of the narrator's loneliness and her desire to turn inward, toward what she is reading and what she obsesses over, to avoid certain issues in her life; this is stated quite clearly at the beginning of the fictional diary that comprises this novel. Walton does capture this sense of introspection present in the journal entries. There is very little about the historical scenes of this time (for Americans, 1979 would have meant the Iranian Hostage Situation; for those in the UK, Thatcher's ascension to the Prime Minister post); instead, there is a running thread regarding SF and the fairies that the narrator perceives (the reality of which is not revealed until near the novel's end). For those who love SF in all its disparate and occasionally warring forms, Among Others will ring true to them. It is easy to understand how this novel would appeal to those who do enjoy the form; the longing for something different from the surrounding mundane reality; the desire for the fantastical to take shape around them; the wish for a better life than the one currently being lived. All of these are present within the narrative and they occupy a central part. But some readers did not have such wishes or desires when growing up. For myself, reading Among Others was frustrating, because the world view being expressed was so alien to that of my own youth that it was difficult to relate to what was happening or to sympathize with the narrator's opinions. It felt wrong, even, which perhaps says as much about the novel's ability to describe and present a certain worldview as it would be a commentary on perceived deficiencies. Contrary to what some may presume, stories that spark a sense of "wrongness" are not necessarily poor ones. Among Others does an outstanding job in portraying a particular type of juvenile reader and her worldview during a certain time. The prose masterfully captures the essence of this point-of-view and although the issue of fairies perhaps was the least-interesting element for myself, even it is integrated nicely into the narrative. Despite all of this, however, the more I consider the novel's themes regarding reflection and on SF genre writing, the less I find to admire about it. This is not surprising to me nor does it dismay me; personal tastes do play a role in enjoyment. However, regardless of my personal preferences as a reader and as an adult who lived a childhood far different from the narrator's, Among Others may be one of the two most accomplished and realized novels on this year's World Fantasy Award shortlist for Best Novel. Those who do not share my qualms about its themes will likely enjoy Walton's prose and the slow unveiling of events that transpire around what was recorded within the entries. It is a deserving finalist (and winner, in the case of this year's Nebula and Hugo Awards), but it may be polarizing for those who do not share the narrator's (and presumably, the author's) sensibilities. Labels: 2012 Hugo Awards, 2012 Nebula Awards, 2012 World Fantasy Awards, Jo Walton 2012 World Fantasy Award finalist for Best Novel: Christopher Buehlman, Those Across the River By and by I slept. And, alas, I dreamed. Not of the trench fight; that was the worst. And not of Metzger's death, which was nearly as bad. But I did dream of the trench. Something about a gas attack, and I couldn't find my mask. But there was a dead guy half in the mud gripping his mask in his hands, I couldn't get it loose. I was holding my breath and jerking at it, and pulling at his fingers, but they were like iron, even though his head was lolling. He was being stubborn. I was going to die. I woke up gasping. But I hadn't yelled; Dora was still sleeping. Morning? Yes, morning. It was dark, but the roosters were going at it. Goddamn roosters. How did I end up in Georgia? I stuffed the pillow over my eyes and ears and just lay there for a long time, still mad at the dead guy who wouldn't let me have his mask. (Ch. 3) Christopher Buehlman's debut novel (although not new to writing; he is a published playwright and poet), Those Across the River, is perhaps the closest to a traditional horror novel of the five finalists for this year's World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. Set in a fictional rural Georgia small town in 1935, Those Across the River attempts to portray the legacies of inhumane treatment of the enslaved by a particularly cruel master while also decking this tale with all of the trappings of werewolf lore. Of the five, it is perhaps the most frustrating to consider, as there is much that it does right, only to be undone ultimately (and ironically) by the relative lack of focus on the "little things." Buehlman does an excellent job in establishing his main (although not exclusive) PoV character, Frank Nichols, a veteran of World War I who suffers nightmare from his time in the trenches during the last months of the war. Frank and his new wife, Dora, have moved from Chicago to his ancestral home in rural Georgia. There, the townsfolk have been under the grip of a mysterious ritual, in which two pigs are sent "across the river" at the beginning of each full moon. This monthly event, which had been taking place since the 19th century, puzzles Frank, who is then revealed to be the descendent of a local plantation owner who was infamous for his cruelty to his slaves. Foe one of those reasons that make sense in horror tales and not necessarily in real life, the townspeople decide to end the monthly sacrifices, after which a series of brutal attacks and disappearances begin to occur. The premise is rather Horror 101, yet Buehlman's prose often makes it feel intriguing. Like those movie goers who scream at the screen, "Don't open that door!," the events follow logical (sometimes clichéd) patterns that allow the reader to anticipate what will transpire next. This is double-edged, however. While Buehlman's plot permits readers to anticipate the plot and at times to feel a heightened sense of awareness as to what is occurring beyond what Frank (and another PoV) narrates, over the course of the novel, it has the deleterious effect of reducing the setting and circumstances to yet another horror tale, one devoid of true vitality. Buehlman's lack of attention to establish the secondary characters (even Frank's wife, Dora, who should be more fleshed out, instead ends up being more of a silhouette of a character rather than a fully-realized, dynamic one) and setting strips the novel of palpable atmosphere. While the Antebellum era precursors for the events could have led to a more meaningful discussion of the sense of "otherness" (which Buehlman at times does appear to strive to do), his lack of detail makes this potentially-intriguing element feel like raw dough that should have been baked thoroughly before presented to the audience. Time and time again, the character dialogues, their interactions with each other, and the presumed purpose behind the horrors feels incomplete and sketchy. This is a shame, as Those Across the River could have been more than just a competently-told horror story. Too often, there was this sense that Buehlman had some good ideas for making the horror work on multiple levels, only to be foiled by his lack of character and setting development. It is not a total failure, as he does a good job in developing the final scenes, but it just feels as though it lacks a true "heart" to it; it is a good paint-by-numbers tale, but even the best paint-by-numbers works lack that sense of originality or creativity that the best works possess. It is not a "bad" novel, just merely a mediocre one that could have been very good. Those, perhaps, are the most damning novels of all. Those Across the River was the weakest of the five World Fantasy Award novel finalists that I read. Labels: 2012 Reviews, 2012 World Fantasy Awards, Christopher Buehlman 2012 releases that will receive some consideration for year-end Best of 2012 With just over two months to go in the year, I guess I might as well list the 2012 releases that I've read to date, those that I currently own but haven't yet read, and perhaps a few I hope to have in my possession before Christmas (which is when I cut off reading for Best of 2012 consideration). There will be a mixture of various literary genres here; my reading tastes are a bit catholic in comparison to many other "best of year" awards I've encountered over the years. Many of the titles I'll list below will not make a final list; this is only a list of those I deem eligible for consideration (either 2012 US release or I bought an edition originally released elsewhere in 2012). Already Read (In reading chronological order) Ben Marcus, The Flame Alphabet Saladin Ahmed, The Throne of the Crescent Moon Ian Cameron Esslemont, Orb Sceptre Throne Eduardo Jiménez Mayo and Chris N. Brown (eds.), Three Marriages and a Warning: Contemporary Mexican Short Stories of the Fantastic Eowyn Ivey, The Snow Child Lászlo Krasznahorkai, Satantango Gonçalo M. Tavares, Joseph Walser's Machine Jordi Soler, El Estrangulador Steve Erickson, These Dreams of You Matt Bell, Cataclysm Baby Leah Bobet, Above Matthew Stover, Caine's Law Brian Evenson, Immobility Elizabeth Hand, Available Dark Anne Enright, The Forgotten Waltz Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles Jac Jemc, My Lovely Wife Brian Evenson, Windeye Mario Vargas Llosa, La civilización del espectáculo Nalo Hopkinson, Chaos Nathan Englander, What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank Jane Rogers, The Testament of Jesse Lamb Tupelo Hassman, Girlchild Joyce Carol Oates, Mudwoman N.K. Jemisin, The Killing Moon Toni Morrison, Home Hari Kunzru, Gods Without Men [Author X, Obliterated Manuscript] Josip Novakovich, Shopping for a Better Country Michael Cisco, Celebrant Steven Erikson, The Devil Delivered and Other Tales Karen Thompson Walker, The Age of Miracles Victoria Foyt, Save the Pearls: Revealing Eden Danilo Kiš, Psalm 44 Hilary Mantel, Bring up the Bodies Lavie Tidhar (ed.), The Apex Book of World SF 2 Dean Francis Alfar, How to Traverse Terra Incognita Junot Díaz, This is How You Lose Her Steven Erikson, The Forge of Darkness Molly Crabapple, The Art of Molly Crabapple Volume I: Week in Hell Deborah Levy, Swimming Home Christian Kiefer, The Infinite Tides Jeet Thayil, Narcopolis Tan Twan Eng, The Garden of Evening Mists Alison Moore, The Lighthouse Will Self, Umbrella Ben Fountain, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Padgett Powell, You & Me Alan Shapiro, Night of the Republic Andrzej Sapkowski, Los guerreros de Dios Steven Erikson, The Wurms of Blearmouth Karin Tidbeck, Jagannath: Stories Cynthia Huntington, Heavenly Bodies David Ferry, Bewilderment: New Poems and Translations Patricia McCormick, Never Fall Down Carrie Arcos, Out of Reach Susan Wheeler, Meme Eliot Schrefer, Endangered Brontops Baruq, O grito do sol sobre a cabeça Kevin Powers, The Yellow Birds William Alexander, Goblin Secrets Dave Eggers, A Hologram for the King Brandon Sanderson, The Emperor's Soul In-Progress or Owned but Yet to be Read in Full Mark Helprin, In Sunlight and in Shadow Jennifer duBois, A Partial History of Lost Causes Louise Erdrich, The Round House Adam Wilson, Flatscreen Adam McOmber, The White Forest Nick Mamatas, Bullettime Samuel Delany, Through the Valley of the Nest of Spiders Graham Joyce, Some Kind of Fairy Tale To Be Bought/Ordered Tim Seibles, Fast Animal Ian Cameron Esslemont, Blood and Bone Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build – and Steal – The World's Most Dangerous Weapon 76 volumes, 63 of which have already been read, with 13 more to be finished soon (or whenever the orders arrive). Perhaps I'll be able to discover more and get it near to a good 100 or so, which would make selecting a representative "Best of 2012" a bit easier for me, or so I would like to delude myself. 2012 World Fantasy Award Finalist for Best Novel: George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons This is a revised version of a review that I originally wrote in July 2011. He knew what he would face today, and found himself tossing restlessly as he brooded on Maester Aemon's final words. "Allow me to give my lord one last piece of counsel," the old man had said, "the same counsel that I once gave my brother when we parted for the last time. He was three-and-thirty when the Great Council chose him to mount the Iron Throne. A man grown with sons of his own, yet in some ways still a boy. Egg had an innocence to him, a sweetness we all loved. Kill the boy within you, I told him the day I took ship for the Wall. It takes a man to rule. An Aegon, not an Egg. Kill the boy and let the man be born." The old man felt Jon's face. "You are half the age that Egg was, and your own burden is a crueler one, I fear. You will have little joy of your command, but I think you have the strength in you to do the things that must be done. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy and let the man be born." (p. 103) If there ever were a common adjective for epic fantasies, particularly American-written works of the past twenty years, that word would be "sprawling." More characters, more plots, more scenes, more political intrigue, more deaths, as well as more plot inertia, according to some. One merely has to glance at various forums devoted to epic fantasy discussions to see readers complaining about the slow "pace" of "middle volumes," or of (in their minds) unnecessary delays in volumes being written to see that this "more" sometimes ends up as being a bit "less" in the eyes of many erstwhile fans. One particular target of these accusations has been George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, which has "expanded in the telling" from a trilogy to six volumes to (for the moment) seven volumes; some are now fearing eight or even nine volumes will be required for this saga to come to a close. In order to discuss the fifth volume, A Dance With Dragons (recently nominated for the 2012 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel), these fan concerns have to be noted because they will likely shape how this volume is perceived. Anticipation inflicts cruel stings to both reader and writer alike; the first because they build up expectations for how the story should flow, the latter because the story cannot aspire to be what it is, but must instead contend with the phantoms of past volumes built up by readers to be something other than what the author might imagine. For A Dance With Dragons, the fewer expectations the reader has going into it, the better this book will be for them. There is much to like about this story-in-progress. Characters not seen since 2000's A Storm of Swords reappear and there are noticeable signs of character growth. The passage I quote above marks a turning point in Jon Snow's nascent career as Commander of the Black Watch. He is leaving behind adolescence and having to contend more directly with the intrigues and betrayals around him. Martin does not radically shift his character as much as he organically develops Jon into being the person who may (or may not, based on late developments) be someone more than just a precocious military commander. The tone of the various PoV chapters varies considerably, making it easier to read large portions of this 1000 page volume. Tyrion – dwarf, kinslayer, acerbic wit – serves as the cynical, sardonic counter to the weighty solemnal tone of Jon's chapters. His flight to the east leads to a host of new developments, including an introduction to a character who might upset the precarious balance of power in Westeros. It was refreshing to see that there were some surprises still in store, things that I did not recall any fan prognosticators foreseeing on the various fan forums. But beyond the richness of the characterizations (I could easily spend time on Daenerys, Reek, and a few minor characters), what was striking is the atmosphere looming in places. Martin was a horror writer before he ever wrote an epic fantasy and there have been times in the series where he has utilized those motifs to create memorable scenes. One particular boatride in particular stands out because of the creeping horror that threatens to envelop the people on board. These touches, while not always strictly necessary for the plot, do add considerably to the overall enjoyment. However, there are some serious structural problems with A Dance With Dragons. Due to the enormity of the plots in motion (succession issues in Westeros and the East and the northern threat of the Others), Martin is faced with tricky timeline issues that have plagued many epic fantasists as they ground on toward the end of their series. With so many characters in motion, it is tricky to move them about and to develop their characters and situations adequately within the space of a single novel. This become very evident in the preceding volume, A Feast for Crows, where the northern and eastern-based characters were left for this volume while the southern characters came to the fore. A Dance With Dragons does cover a little of the southern situation, but it is hard to tell which scenes are congruent with the fourth volume, which are coinciding with even the third volume, A Storm of Swords, and which are occurring months later. Although there is some resolution of these timeline issues toward the end of the novel, Martin still seems to be manipulating the narrative chessboard, trying to place his character pawns in place for a planned attack. There is no resolution to any of the plots here; everything is in a state of suspension, awaiting the sixth volume. Perhaps it is inevitable that this would occur; after all, there is much left to be done before the series is complete. For some, knowing that there's a wait ahead (some fear the 5-6 years that plagued the publication of the last two volumes) will curb their appreciation for A Dance With Dragons considerably. For myself, however, Martin's prose and his characterizations were very strong here. He continues to develop the theme of what one does in the aftermath of devastation that began in A Feast for Crows. It might not be as "sexy" as wars, battles, betrayals, and so forth, but it does provide a depth to these events that make them more palatable and meaningful. It is not a perfect novel by any stretch, but A Dance With Dragons is a solid addition to a long-running series that I suspect will be more important in the scheme of matters once the series is completed. Yet "solid addition to a long-running series" is a descriptor that often does not bode well when considering a "middle volume" for an award that often favors initial volumes or self-contained, "stand-alone" works. A Dance With Dragons' lack of narrative resolution puts it at a serious disadvantage to the other four finalists, each of which are complete narratives that do not promise sequels to come. Excellent as several of its individual scenes are (some of which are the equal or superior to the best scenes from the other contenders), the structural problems noted above do hamper the reader's ability to assess it in toto; it is very much a volume of pieces that have yet to merge to create a wider, more vivid tapestry. A Dance With Dragons is not the poorest finalist on the list (at least one other has more serious narrative and prose flaws), but its narrative-in-state-of-suspension does make it inferior to some of the other finalists for Best Novel. Labels: 2012 World Fantasy Awards, George R.R. Martin William Faulkner, As I Lay Dying Jewel stops at the spring and takes the gourd from the willow branch and drinks. I pass him and mount the path, beginning to hear Cash's saw. When I reach the top he has quit sawing. Standing in a litter of chips, he is fitting two of the boards together. Between the shadow spaces they are yellow as gold, like soft gold, bearing on their flanks in smooth undulations the marks of the adze blade: a good carpenter, Cash is. He holds the two planks on the trestle, fitted along the edges in a quarter of the finished box. He kneels and squints along the edge of them, then he lowers them and takes up the adze. A good carpenter. Addie Bundren could not want a better, a better box to lie in. It will give her confidence and comfort. I go on to the house, followed by the Chuck. Chuck. Chuck. of the adze. (Darl, p. 4) It's because he stays out there, right under the window, hammering and sawing on that goddamn box. Where she's got to see him. Where every breath she draws is full of his knocking and sawing where she can see him saying See. See what a good one I am making for you. I told him to go somewhere else. I said Good God do you want to see her in it. It's like when he was a little boy and she says if she had some fertilizer she would try to raise some flowers and he taken the bread pan and brought it back from the barn full of dung. (Jewel, p. 11) William Faulkner polarizes many readers these days. There are those who hear how brilliant his works are, yet are baffled by the experimental prose in several of his novels, notably his 1929 novel, The Sound and the Fury, which I plan on covering late this year. Or maybe their first exposure is through his short fiction, such as "A Rose for Emily" (1930) or "Barn Burning" (1939) in a high school or university American literature anthology and they struggle to understand the techniques and motifs Faulkner employs, needing guidance from instructors who often use a checklist to denote what Faulkner is doing here or exploring there. I once was that 18 year-old university freshman who had to endure the instructor telling us what Faulkner was doing rather than being able to decide for myself what it was about his fiction that might appeal to me. I chose to devote the Fridays of 2012 to discussing Faulkner's fiction, both novels and short stories alike, because despite being considered one of the 20th century's greatest writers, relatively little is said about him in a non-academic setting. As I Lay Dying (1930) was chosen to lead off this commentary series because its structure, characters, and themes provide an excellent point of entry for those readers who have either never read Faulkner before or they found other works, possibly the ones listed above, to be incomprehensible or not what they expected. As I Lay Dying was one of the first novels to utilize heavily a multiple point of view, stream of consciousness narrative approach. For readers accustomed to a primary narrative voice, this switching back and forth between 15 different narrators over 59 short chapters was a novelty unlike most anything they had read. This continual switching of narrators, however, is essential to making As I Lay Dying work as a narrative. The story revolves around the death of Addie Bundren, the matriarch of a Mississippi farming family in the early 20th century who struggles to make a hardscrabble life. Addie is dying of a long-term ailment and she makes her family of four sons and one daughter and her husband to promise to bury her in the town of Jefferson, a few days' horse travel away from their farm. Although this request, mysterious as it is to characters and readers alike at first (we soon learn the reasons behind this dying wish), is on the surface a straightforward plot (get Addie where she wants to rest for eternity), Faulkner's use of multiple points of view, replete with their own passing thoughts and conjunctures, turns this novel into a tragi-comedy that reveals much about ourselves. In the passages quoted above, we experience two of the Bundren children's (the second son Darl and the third son Jewel) thoughts on what the third son, Cash, the eldest, is doing as he joins and sands the boards that will constitute their mother's coffin. Darl's slightly detached narrative is the one that is repeated most, as he is the one who is simultaneously closer to the other characters and most distant from their mother. His is the voice that grounds the narrative in the difficult, trying times where despite the toils and pains of subsistence farming, families there tried to honor the wishes of the deceased. We see through him the narrative equivalent of a cinematic pan-out, with his brothers', sister's, and father's actions placed in a larger perspective. Despite Darl receiving the most point of view chapters, the key passages in As I Lay Dying turn around the "close ups" of the other characters. As Addie is dying, we see the youngest son, Vardaman, a mere lad of around seven or eight, thinking of the fresh-caught fish that had just been gutted and skinned. His reaction to his mother's death is the short but resonating observation, "My mother is a fish." This observation, when combined with Darl's earlier observation of Cash's dedication to building the best coffin for their mother and Jewel's irritation that Cash is doing so where Addie can hear (and if she is able to move, see) the coffin making, creates a memorable composite experience. Faulkner easily could have settled for just making a strong statement on familial bonds, but in the second half of the novel, as the family is moving Addie's body to Jefferson, we encounter more. Peering into thoughts of Addie's husband, Anse, and their daughter Dewey Dell, we see ancillary concerns that help recast the events transpiring into something more universal than just a single family's honoring of the dead's request. It is here where the stream of consciousness, with Anse thinking of his desire to pick up some false teeth and Dewey Dell's fretting about the pregnancy that she has not revealed to the other characters, that we see the petty concerns and desires of humans even when tragedy is unfolding around them. It would have been easy to condemn these characters (or the sons for their conflicted attitudes toward bearing their mother for days toward her grave site) for being self-centered, but Faulkner instead presents these as common, perhaps typical responses to such events. In doing so, the narrative opens up and as we experience a few key point of view chapters near the end of the novel, we begin to see that in letting us believe that one sort of tale was unfolding, Faulkner actually is telling a second composite narrative behind the first. As I Lay Dying works because the characters construct a narrative that is deceptive in its simplicity. We are not "told" about the characters' qualities, but instead through the views of others and then their own self-images, we begin to get a composite portrait of each character, including Addie, who is the heart of this tale. As I Lay Dying reveals a host of truths to readers, some of them comic in the classical sense of commedia, others more tragic, but what Faulkner accomplishes here is creating an epic tale in the space of barely 170 pages through a masterful manipulation of character perspective. Here he has refined the stream of consciousness approach that he utilized in his previous novel, The Sound and the Fury (1929), and he makes it more "personal" and yet more universal through the seemingly simple decision to let the characters speak for themselves and through them allowing readers to take from the narrative what they may. The result of this is a brilliantly-constructed story where each character point of view joins tautly with one another to create a complex, composite narrative whose appeal ranges far beyond the early 20th century setting to move readers over eighty years later. Originally posted in January 2012 on Gogol's Overcoat as part of a weekly "Faulkner Friday." Novels reviewed from January-April will be reposted here on Fridays, while the short stories will appear on Wednesdays. Labels: 2012 Reviews, Library of America #25, William Faulkner How readily can you discern a literary "genre" from samples? Yet another "literary"/"genre" herpes outbreak has occurred, this time with pieces posted on The Millions and The New Yorker's "Page-Turner" column. After reading the two pieces, shrugging, and then glancing at books nearby, I thought a more productive exercise would be to test the "generic" qualities of the debated "genres" by posting a few excerpts from books and letting readers here guess which genre(s) the passages belong. This way, perhaps the arguments presented, whether facetious or serious, in the two linked articles can be tested. So here goes: 1. But it's easy to judge, we're born to judge; we live for it, really. It's the way we decide that we are the self we are instead of all the other selves we might have been. And I judged enthusiastically, mirthfully, even him, the man whose disaster was the perfect template for my own – maybe I judged him especially. I thought when I was young that I would have the certainty to do it, that prevailing ethics and aesthetics would win the day, and that as long as suicide could be chosen rationally, thoughtfully, then the catastrophe was only the universal one, nothing more or less – as long as agency could be maintained, as long as the conscience could have the last word, then there was nothing more for a human being to ask from a lifetime. I judged him for not doing. I resented him for not doing it once he'd disappeared entirely and no longer had to deal with it, and I saw it as a failure of sympathetic imagination on his part, a failure of honor – not the only failure, most likely, nor possibly the biggest one, but the one we'd had to live with longest and thus the one we would always remember. The failure was the legacy. The failure was the only thing left. 2. So when all this happened I reckon it was late March, when the snowdrops start to wilt and crocus stick their buds out of the ground, when gravel and salt still litter the streets. It was dusk, and the first blackbird warbled in the pine next to the building. You opened the balcony door to let some air in, and you wouldn't have looked down at the sleeping flower pots if it weren't for that scraping noise. There was a very small creature between two of the pots, trying to escape attention by standing very still. It was shivering from the cold. It was knotted and dusted with soil, knees and elbows worn shiny. It was perhaps four inches tall. It made no resistance as you bent down and picked it up, lifted it into the kitchen and put it down on the table. You looked at each other for a while. 3. Already late. I'd been wading all afternoon and the current was cold where it pushed up against my knees and thighs but my feet were long numb with that kind of dead warmth. Starting to get chilled. I caught a fifth fish, smaller, cleaned it and pushed the butt end of a hooked stick through its gills and slid it down to the others on the stringer. Lay it in the sled. Rubbed my naked legs to get the blood going. The sun was gone, the creek now luminous in early dusk. I felt what? Happy. We were thinking of nothing but the creek, but dinner, but making a camp just upstream on a sandy bar I liked to visit. I slipped my pants back on, sat on a rock and put on my boots. Jasper was revived after the fish, watching me with his mouth open, smiling because he knew we weren't going far and there would be another fish or two, this time cooked and salted. 4. But I never end up keeping these white secrets from Mama, because their light shines up all my other ones, shows how dirty the ones I keep, the ones I swear I'll keep, really are. It starts with the gray one about not telling Mama that Carol leaves me alone with the Hardware Man so that she can be alone with Tony, and they just get darker from there. I can't keep this little pretty lie for my own, I blurt it out the next morning, "I-stayed-up-past-bedtime," and she's not ever mad because when I say this then she can believe that's it. I've told all there is to tell. Mama needs to believe in my truth-telling. That's her little lie, that it's possible to raise a child clean and safe without rows of secrets somewhere, shelved like the boxes of fuses and circuit breakers at the back of the Hardware Store, coiled like garden hoses forgotten until inventory time. And I need her to believe in this too so she won't start doing an inventory of her own and ask about the places my bathing suit does or doesn't go, the skin that burns pale underneath the Hardware Man's hands. 5. Edie Banister is feeling like a cow. More, she is conscious of sin. Not in any fleshy way, alas, but in her heart. She has transgressed against Joshua Joseph Spork. She has, in fact, stitched him up like a kipper, albeit for the good of mankind and the betterment of the human race. She persuaded herself that it was not personal. That this was the best way. Now, gazing at the little toy soldier he repaired so deftly, and recalling the stifled disappointment on his face when he saw that that was all she proposed to show him, she feels wicked. She is increasingly certain that some part of her has borne a grudge for longer than J. Joseph Spork has been alive, and has chosen this method to revenge itself. Duty, love, idealism and spite all discharged at once. She contemplates her soul, and finds it wanting. 6. Because she did not love them! Because she was lonely in the dark-brick house on Mt. Laurel Street despite the efforts of Agatha, and Konrad, and Puddin' – despite the shelves of books beckoning to her like shut-up little souls, as in some kind of mausoleum, inviting her Open me! See what I am! Because–maybe–the woman who'd been Momma–the woman who was still Momma– had burrowed into her heart like a mean little worm that could not so easily be extricated. Just when she believed that Momma was faded and left behind that very night a dream would come to her leaving her sweaty and shivering for it was clear to her – it was meant ot be clear to her – that her new mother and her new father were not Christians but emissaries of Satan like all city-people and courthouse people who had stolen Marit Kraeck's children from her forcing her to drastic measures to protect their souls. So very different from the Neukirchens who had not an idea what life is. 7. Outside on Sinuiju Street, even in the dark, I could see that troops of Juche girls had chalked the sidewalks and walls with revolutionary slogans. I heard a rumor that one night an entire troop fell into an unmarked construction pit on Tongol Road, but who knows if that's true. I headed for the Ragwon-dong district, where long ago the Japanese built slums to house the most defiant Koreans. That's where there's an illegal night market at the base of the abandoned Ryugyong Hotel. Even in the darkness, the outline of the hotel's rocket-shaped tower stands black against the stars. As I crossed the Palgol Bridge, pipes were dumping sewage from the backs of pastel housing blocks. Like gray lily pads, shit-streaked pages of the Rodong Sinmun newspaper slowly spread across the water. 8. Then, one at either end, Dynamite and Eric carried the re-boxed Bowflex into the house, Eric going backwards, Dynamite going forward and giving grinning grunts: "Left–no, right!" (The first two confused Eric, since they were Dynamite's right and left, not his – but then he switched them in his mind.) Eric backed along the hall, and onto the porch. As Dynamite's side bumped a doorframe, and he moved over to get it past, with a smile on his unshaven face as though he were inquiring about the operation of an eccentric sex toy, he asked, head cocked and looking lackadaisically at Eric, "What the fuck is this goddam thing, anyway?" 9. He could replay with such precision and intensity what he had seen, heard, or felt that these things simply did not lapse from existence and pass on. Though his exactitude in summoning texture, feel, and details could have been bent to parlor games or academics, and in the war had been made to serve reconnaissance, he had realized from very early on that it was a gift for an overriding purpose and this alone. For by recalling the past and freezing the present he could open the gates of time and through them see all allegedly sequential things as a single masterwork with neither boundaries nor divisions. And though he did not know the why or wherefore of this, he did know, beginning long before he could express it, that when the gates of time were thrown open, the world was saturated with love. This was not the speculation of an aesthete, or a theory of the seminar room, for this he had seen with his own eyes even amid war, darkness, and death. 10. Farukhuaz he could sense. She – or it, the primordial thingness of her, invented yet eternal – lurked at the edge of his perception like a cautious predator waiting for its prey to tire. Of Farukhuaz he was most afraid, certain now of what she truly was, and when he could remember, while he could remember, he recited holy verses under his breath. He felt like a charlatan; he knew it could see the indifference of his faith. As his verbal self declined, he felt it getting closer, a fetid presence that stalked his shrinking perimeter of sanity. NB: All ten passages are from works released in the US in 2012. In addition, five are from works written by women, five others were written by men. Labels: Quotes, Reflections Andrzej Sapkowski, Narrenturm The early 15th century CE was a fascinating time all across Europe. Two generations after the 1348-1350 Black Death had decimated (or worse) Southern, Western, and Central Europe, the feudal social order was in flux. In England, Wycliffe's Lollards continued to be such a threat to established Church hierarchy that in 1415 the Council of Constance declared him to be a heretic nearly 30 years after his death (his body was later exhumed in 1428 under orders from Pope Martin V and was burned, with the ashes scattered in the River Swift). There were military innovations, such as the Turks using crude cannons and the precursors to guns in their invasion of southeastern Europe following their recovery from the bloody 1389 Battle of Kosovo. The English annihilated a larger French force at the 1415 Battle of Agincourt with their use of longbows and pikemen. In this climate rose a movement in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic) that threatened to overturn the socio-religious/military orders: the Hussites. Followers of the Czech reformist Jan Hus (who was burned at the stake in 1415 at the Council of Constance), the Hussites (who in actuality were two distinct branches, the more moderate Utraquists and the more radical Taborites) rose up in Bohemia in protest and soon began nearly 20 years of warfare that engulfed not just Bohemia, but also neighboring states and principalities, including Moravia and Silesia (as well as Poland, Prussia, and several other states within the Holy Roman Empire). Comprised largely of the lower classes, the Hussites managed to not just stave off repeated "crusades" against them, but to go on the offensive due to their use of handcannons and innovative mobile defensive fortifications that rendered ineffective cavalry charges against them. The fighting also took on a religious characteristic, not just in the Catholic forces arrayed against "the heretics," but also in the more apocalyptic language used by the Hussites (the Taborites in particular). This tumultuous era provides an excellent setting for Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski's Hussite Trilogy, which begins with Narrenturm (its name being derived from the German term for a madhouse). Readers who expect Sapkowski's writing and structure to be similar to those of his Witcher novels may be surprised to see that his writing here takes on more of a historical fiction quality, but with the twist of having certain characters capable of utilizing witchcraft/magic in order to battle their enemies. The melding of the historical with the magical can be problematic, as the author is constrained by actual events and cannot deviate too far from known events/personages in telling his/her story. If one deviates too far, such as the case with Naomi Novik's Temeraire series (which contain dragons in Napoleonic era Europe), the author risks downgrading the "seriousness" of the events in favor of "lighter" fare that might be diverting yet ultimately empty entertainment devoid of anything beyond a mindless reading romp. This is not the case here in Narrenturm. Sapkowski clearly has imbued this novel (and presumably the trilogy, of which only the first two volumes have been translated so far into Spanish) with references not just to historical events (his prologue consists almost entirely of narrating the historical trends noted in the introductory paragraphs above) but there is a wealth of songs, religious motifs, and other cultural elements that add a richness to the narrative. In reading Narrenturm, I was reminded not only of Umberto Eco's excellent The Name of the Rose for Sapkowski's citations of Latin, medieval High German and medieval Czech, but also of Serbian writer Goran Petrović's The Siege of the Church of Holy Salvation for its treatment of the chaotic nature of late medieval/early modern society under both literal and metaphorical siege. As a historian who remembers some of his undergraduate courses on the pre-Charles V Holy Roman Empire and associated lands, Sapkowski's detailed description of the locales and customs is near pitch-perfect. From his description of a particular Narrenturm to the tactics used by Hussite soldiers to certain medieval customs and beliefs, the setting in the novel is well-realized and dynamic, providing surprising level of detail for a historically-based fiction. Although the magic scenes do not dominate the action, they are an important part of the narrative, particularly toward the end of the novel. The magic is based on folk beliefs and does not feel contrived or separate from the religious/social themes explored during the course of the book. Too easily this magical addition could have weakened the novel's sense of plausibility; here, it feels almost too "natural" to be remarked upon while reading, a testimony to Sapkowski's skills as a writer. The scenes involving magic serve to add to the compelling events transpiring on stage; they do not distract nor detract from the reader's enjoyment of the historical fiction. Characterizations in a historical novel can be tricky. A balance has to be struck between having created characters knowing too much about actual events and characters and having these fictional personages be passive observers. Sapkowski's characters, particularly that of the star-crossed lover/young scion of Silesian nobility/budding alchemist Reynevan, are knowledgeable, active participants in the chaotic events of the 1420s in Silesia and Bohemia, yet they are not so active that they play a direct role (as yet) in the fighting in Bohemia. Instead, their main role is to provide a closer look at the transpiring events, to add a sense of "we were there" to theological (and magical) debates, conflicting customs and new-fangled social beliefs, and other, less bloody but still important conflicts of the 1420s. Reynevan and those around him do not come across as clichéd, static characters; they delve, probe, and they change their minds and attitudes based on what they encounter in their travels (including a sojourn in a "tower of the crazies"). Historical personages are met with along the way, but not to such a degree that it is implied nor stated that Reynevan, Scharley, and others directly influenced the course of events. Instead, they are witnesses to these massive changes and they serve as a sort of avatar for readers who may find themselves imagining what it would be like to live there at that time. Narrenturm is a challenging read at times. Readers who are unaware of the events surrounding the Hussite Wars or who lack knowledge of Latin and medieval dialects of German and Czech (and a bit of Polish) may find themselves consulting the glossary of terms/translations at the back of the Spanish edition. Yet if a reader is curious to learn more about the Hussite Wars while accepting the fantastical elements presented within at face value, s/he may discover that Narrenturm is one of the finest meldings of historical and fantastical fiction that I have read in quite some time. Hopefully, there will be an English translation at some point in the future, but for now, there are versions available in Polish, German, Czech, Russian, and Spanish (for the first two volumes; the third is forthcoming) for those readers in those languages. Labels: 2010 Reviews, Andrzej Sapkowski 2012 National Book Award finalist in Poetry: Davi... William Faulkner, "A Rose for Emily" (revised revi... 2012 National Book Award finalist in Poetry: Susa... Brief summary of thoughts of the 2012 World Fantas... 2012 World Fantasy Award finalist for Best Novel: ... 2012 World Fantasy Award finalist for Best Novel (... 2012 releases that will receive some consideration... How readily can you discern a literary "genre" fro... 1961 Nobel Lit Prize finalist: E.M. Forster 1961 Nobel Lit Prize finalist: J.R.R. Tolkien (th... 2012 National Book Critics Circle Award finalist i... Andrzej Sapkowski, The Lady of the Lake (La dama d... Toying with doing a blog/review version of the Nov... Andrzej Sapkowski, The Swallow's Tower (La torre d... Andzrej Sapkowski: Books reviewed, books to be re... 2012 Booker Prize Winner: Hilary Mantel, Bring Up... 2012 Southern Festival of Books, Third Day: YA Pa... 2012 Southern Festival of Books: Books Bought/Sig... 2012 Southern Festival of Books, Day Two: Mark He... Ranking the 2012 Booker Prize finalists 2012 Southern Festival of Books, Day One: Things ... Mo Yan is the 2012 Nobel Literature Laureate Ignore the Man Behind the Curtain 2012 National Book Awards shortlists announced A poem by Brazilian poet C. Alberto Bessa that's b... Malazan Re-Read Series: Ian Cameron Esslemont, St... Malazan Re-Read Series: Ian Cameron Esslemont, Re... The things I discover in the awaiting moderation/s... Yes, it seems that Steven Erikson might be a Squir... Malazan Re-Read Series: Steven Erikson, Reaper's ... 2012 Booker Prize finalist: Jeet Thayil, Narcopol... Review plans for October: More Malazan, Booker Pr... September 2012 Reads	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6909
__label__wiki	0.681561	0.681561	Tag Archives: 7th Royal Scots Saturday, 11 November 2017 Rowena Nelson Leave a comment View of the Kantara War Memorial Cemetery. © TWGPP & CWGC. Used with the kind permission of The War Graves Photographic Project. It was a balmy Sunday evening in El-Qantara el-Sharqîya, or Kantara, as it was known to the Allied forces. Situated in the northeast of Egypt, the city’s name comes from the Arabic for “the bridge” and it was here, on that night, 11th November 1917, that Private Lachlan Macdonald, slipped away over the bridge between time and eternity. The Quiet before the Storm In Palestine, ten days earlier, the first phase [of the third battle] for Gaza was carried out by the Allies: the assault on the sand dune known as Umbrella Hill. It was still under Turkish control, as was the city itself, following the Turks’ successful resistance to the Allied advance in April 1917. While this resistance resulted in respite from fighting, the Royal Scots’ focus in the Middle Eastern theatre of war turned, instead, to the development of transportation infrastructure, gaining ground in No-Man’s-Land, and the construction of a series of elaborate trenches and fortifications facing the objective still very much in their sights: Gaza. On the 30th September 1917, Lachlan, under the 4th Royal Scots, joined the 412th Field Company Royal Engineers, as part of the 156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade of the 52nd (Lowland) Division. As a pioneer, he would likely have spent much of his time working on those roads, railways, and trenches, an experience vividly described by Major John Ewing: “The soil was infested with insects of every description, and in numerous trenches and hollows the troops found unpleasant companions in snakes, flies, tarantulas, scorpions, and centipedes. During the hot and dry weather the atmosphere was thick with dust so that even the tiniest scratch tended to become a septic sore.”1 It was also during this lull that the soldiers received new rifles, steel helmets and, in the case of the 4th Royal Scots, new command: Lieutenant-Colonel A. M. Mitchell. The Valley of the Shadow of Death But this was war, and the fighting was bound to resume, which it did with the attack on Umbrella Hill, on the 1st November 1917. At 23:00, under heavy fire from Ottoman soldiers, the 7th Cameronians and a company of the 7th Royal Scots advanced. Despite the ferocious aggression of the Turks, and the captain of the 7th Royal Scots taking a hit, they, together with their wounded leader, and the Cameronians, made superb headway and, within half an hour, by 23:30, the hill was theirs. Umbrella Hill : the most advanced of the redoubts guarding Gaza. Image: British infantrymen advance at night across No Man’s Land towards Turkish positions on Umbrella Hill, which rises up gently in the right background. The British soldiers, carrying rifles, move out of their advanced trenches in the left of the composition, with the dry ground in front of them dotted with shell holes and clusters of barbed wire. The dark sky is illuminated by a halo of light … Copyright: © IWM (Art.IWM ART 1520). Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/18002. Watercolour and charcoal, by James McBey, 30 October 1917. This victory paved the way for the second phase of the battle for the Palestinian city: prying El Arish Redoubt and “Little Devil” (a network of trenches to one side of the fortification) from the grip of the Turks. The operation was to be carried out by Lachlan’s battalion, the 4th Royal Scots, together with the 8th Cameronians and the aid of the 7th Royals Scots, should it be required. The carefully-planned assault would take place in waves, formed along four lines of tape laid out earlier. As the men started to move out along the tapes, they were sighted by the Ottomans who unleashed a storm of fire from their machine guns. Nevertheless, the 4th Royal Scots resolutely concluded their deployment along the battle lines. Just before 03:00 on the morning of the 2nd November 1917, the two tanks escorting the battalion set off toward enemy territory. Neither made it very far, though: the first was soon rendered inoperative and the second was hit and ended up in flames, having reached the opposing trenches, leaving the Royal Scots to advance without them. Even so, and despite the ceaseless barrage of machine gun fire from the Turkish soldiers, they made formidable progress through the lines of their enemy. Then, as Major John Ewing recorded, there was, “…a terrific crash, while stones and earth hurtled through the air and the ground seemed to rise in eruption…”2 Lance Corporal R. Loudon, a signaller with the 4th Royal Scots, added, “Two Turkish contact mines exploded… blowing many of the men to pieces… As I got near the Turkish trenches the enemy shell and machine–gun fire became so intense, with shells bursting all around…”3 Gaza : the shells on the left are bursting on El Arish Redoubt. Image: a view from the slot of an observation post at shells exploding over Gaza. There are two large explosions on the far left and another two on the far right, with the buildings and minarets of the city visible in the middle. Copyright: © IWM (Art.IWM ART 2940). Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/18150. Watercolour and ink, by James McBey, 22 September 1917. Reeling from this massive blow, the Royal Scots somehow managed to pull together and press on with their mission. Still in the dark of those early hours, they attacked “Little Devil”, slowly but surely forcing the Ottomans out, “with bomb and bayonet”4. On the Edge of Glory The fighting continued all through the day but El Arish Redoubt had been successfully captured by the 4th Royal Scots. In the midst of the battle, they received a message from Brigadier-General A. H. Leggett: “Well done, 4th Royal Scots! Hold on for all you are worth. Your battalion has covered itself with glory.”5 They paid a high price for that glory, though: bloodshed, and lots of it. Many lost their lives; many were wounded and, somewhere among them, in what David R. Woodward termed “Hell in the Holy Land”6, was Lachlan. He was wounded in action on the 2nd November 1917. But how? Was it in that deadly machine gun fire? Or the explosion of the mines? Or in the assault on the series of trenches known as “Little Devil”? Perhaps we’ll never know, this side of eternity, but he must have been taken to Deir al-Balah where, on the 3rd of November 1917, his service records state that he was dangerously ill, having suffered shrapnel wounds to his midsection. It seems he was then transferred to the 44th Stationary Hospital in Kantara, Egypt. Meanwhile, Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell, in command of the 4th Royal Scots, received another letter from Brigadier-General Leggett: “I particularly desire to thank you and every officer, N.C.O., and man of your gallant battalion for their magnificent services and unequalled dash and bravery in the attack, capture, and consolidation of El Arish Redoubt. The task was a very formidable one, but nothing could or ever will be able to stand against the gallantry and iron determination, you, one and all, so recently displayed. I hope to see you all soon and thank you personally for all you have done, but in the meantime I should much like you to make it known to all ranks how grateful I am and how intensely proud I am of the Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles.”7 I don’t know whether Brigadier-General Leggett ever met with the Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles but I’m fairly certain that Lachlan never heard of his letter or got to meet him for, on 14th November 1917, the matron of the hospital wrote to Lachlan’s wife, Christina, informing her of his death, on 11th November 1917, from fatal wounds to the abdomen, while his service records confirm this and add that he suffered a secondary haemorrhage. Letter from Matron G Hughes, 44th Stationary Hospital, Kantara, 14 November 1917. Lachlan Macdonald was my great-grandfather. Piecing together some of the story of his last days has filled me with emotion. In reading various accounts of the war in Palestine, there has been an almost tangible sense of terror at facing the horrors of battle. I’ve felt sick to my stomach as I’ve sought to place myself in Lachlan’s shoes at the instant he was wounded and then grappled with what it must have been like to endure. Tears have fallen as I’ve envisaged him dying in that hospital in Egypt, and as I’ve imagined Great-Granny Christina, back home in Leith, opening that letter from the matron, and needing to break the news to their three children, who would always carry in them something of the man she married. But a character portrait has also begun to emerge of a man of courage, exhibiting selflessness, and who, while staring death in the face, “was most patient in bearing his sufferings”, as Matron Hughes observed. Today, 11th November 2017, is the 100th anniversary of my great-grandfather’s death. It’s also Remembrance Day and so I choose to remember, not only his death, but his life and the lessons and legacy he left behind. Lachlan’s grave in the Kantara War Memorial Cemetery. Photograph by David Milborrow. © TWGPP & CWGC. Used with the kind permission of The War Graves Photographic Project. Till we meet, Grandad Lachlan, till we meet… Until fairly recently, we knew nothing of Lachlan Macdonald’s death, aside from the fact that he died while serving during the First World War. In fact, we knew very little about him at all. Then I discovered his grave in the Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, as well as a family headstone in a small cemetery on Skye, through The War Graves Photographic Project. My uncle in Edinburgh, with whom it has been such a privilege to journey on this voyage of family discovery, scanned the letter through to me from Matron Hughes, which was found amongst papers belonging to our Macdonald relatives. Following the information on Lachlan’s Kantara grave, I ordered both volumes of Major John Ewing’s The Royal Scots 1914–1919, in the hope of gaining insight into the context in which my great-grandfather served and died. Subsequent to the September 1940 bombing of London, about 60% of soldiers’ service records from the First World War were lost in the ensuing fire. Those that remained became known as the “Burnt Documents”. We are therefore incredibly fortunate that, in Lachlan’s case, his service records survived and I was able to get hold of them through Ancestry.com. While I cannot say for sure what happened in the events leading up to Lachlan’s death, it is from piecing together the information found in these sources that the story above has gradually taken shape and the picture of his last days has become clearer. I can’t, though, even pretend to understand the Great War, and am by no means a military researcher, but have tried to ensure that facts have been retained and that my findings are consistent with them. However, it’s entirely possible that the story may continue to evolve as more evidence and new information comes to light. Similarly, I apologise where my military knowledge, and interpretation and use of military terms, may be lacking. I’m sure my proficiency in this area will also continue to develop with time and, consequently, lend a greater depth of understanding to what we have already been able to uncover. 156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade412th Field Company Royal Engineers44th Stationary Hospital4th Royal Scots52nd (Lowland) Division7th Cameronians7th Royal Scots8th CameroniansEl Arish RedoubtFirst World WarGazaGreat WarKantaraKantara War Memorial CemeteryLachlan MacdonaldPalestineUmbrella HillWorld War IWWI	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6911
__label__wiki	0.664756	0.664756	What is Quebec360.com? Visit Québec Montmorency Falls Park Montmorency Park Plains of Abraham Other parks and Gardens Fortifications of Québec Old Québec Port of Québec Quartier Petit Champlain & Place Royale Other Points of Interest Montmorency Park during winter – High Definition December 11, 2015 SirPreston Montmorency Park is a park located in Quebec. It is located in the historic district of Old Quebec, at the edge of the Upper Town and overlooking the Lower Town. Triangular, it is bordered to the northwest by Port-Dauphin Street, south along the coast of the Mountain and to the east by the cliff. It was recognized Canadian national historic site in 1949 for being the site of the diocese and of the Parliament of United Canada from 1851-1855. Two monuments are located in Montmorency Park: Monument to Louis Hébert, the first French settler in New France (born about 1575 and died in Paris in January 1627à Quebec) George-Étienne Cartier Monument, human important status of the nineteenth century, co-Prime Minister of United Canada, lawyer, Father of Confederation, founder of the province of Quebec, author of the first “O Canada” in 1835, patriot and co-founder of the St-Jean-Baptiste Society. History of the place The first French colonist to bring in New France, Louis Hébert, with wife and children, occupied this location. In 1666, François de Laval bought the land to build the Seminary of Quebec. From 1693-1695, Jean-Baptiste de La Croix de Chevrières de Saint-Vallier are built the Episcopal Palace. The building was damaged during the Siege of Quebec in 1759. Jean-Olivier Briand does restore in 1766. The Governor of the Province of Quebec leases the building to hold meetings from 1777. The building became the hotel of parliament in 1792. He is purchased by the government in 1830. The building burned on 1 February 1854. Another building is built in 1859. It burned in 1884. Beginning of Montmorency Park Our favorites, Parks & Gardens, Montmorency Park Minus 27°C over hell Québec City view from Lévis Tawse Winery Petit Champlain Theater Beauport Bay L’instemps Gourmand – Maguire ave. Québec Reenactment of military life in the 18th century The Marginal Way Therapy An anthropologist runs a sugar shack Chemin du Roy – Sugar Shack Impérial-Bell Québec Orphelia for the mouths and the eyes Ship (16) About Québec360 (8) 360° News (2) Leisure and sports (11) High Definition (4) Our favorites (22) Parks & Gardens (25) Montmorency Falls Park (2) Montmorency Park (4) Other parks and Gardens (7) Plains of Abraham (7) Points of Interest (91) Around Bordeaux (1) Curiosity (14) Fortifications of Québec (10) Historic Site (22) Old Québec (27) Other Points of Interest (6) Parliament Hill (10) Port of Québec (23) Quartier Petit Champlain & Place Royale (5) St. Lawrence River (23)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6912
__label__wiki	0.864493	0.864493	Return to list of search results 19 Page 19 of 741 Les commissions scolaires montréalaises et torontoises et les immigrants (1875-1960) Author/collaborator Croteau, Jean-Philippe (Author) Since the second half of the nineteenth century, the school has played a crucial role in promoting the assimilation and integration of immigrants into Canadian society. The author points out that few studies have attempted to compare school policies concerning immigrants in the various provinces, assuming uniformity of these policies in English Canada and the distinct character of Quebec in this regard. The purpose of the author's study is to fill a gap by examining the "Canadianization" policies of immigrants in public (non-denominational) and separate (Catholic) schools in Toronto and in Catholic and Protestant schools in Montreal between 1875 and 1960. His study reveals that each school network developed its own model of integration that reflected the conditions of its environment and contributed to its way of making the reception of immigrants in Toronto and Montreal a rich, varied and original cultural and social experience. Chapter 4 of the author's book is titled "Les écoles catholiques à Montréal: d'un espace scolaire religieux à linguistique." He points out that up to 1930, language and the Catholic faith were key within the school's of the Commission des écoles catholiques de Montréal in integrating Allophone Catholic immigrants into Quebec society, and after 1930 faith surpassed the French language within the commission's French schools. Chapter 5 of the author's book is titled: "Les écoles protestantes de Montréal: concilier et réconcilier foi, langue et culture." This chapter contains a section titled: "Les écoles privées juives, une réponse à la confessionnalité scolaire (1900-1920)." xii-288p. Croteau, Jean-Philippe. Les commissions scolaires montréalaises et torontoises et les immigrants (1875-1960). Québec: Presses de l’Université Laval, 2016. Search by ISBN on WorldCat http://quescren.concordia.ca/en/resource/Y4H65YN9 This resource is classified under Protestant Education Language and Language Use Migration/Immigration/Immigrants Integration/Acculturation	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6913
__label__cc	0.55049	0.44951	Was this my mother’s world? Kevin Keystone Cary Fagan Freehand Books I am sitting on the subway, reading with horror and fascination. Is this how it really was? I ask myself. Image by The Ontario Jewish Archives A Post-War Masquerade Displaced persons and identity theft in Jewish Montreal Works of Art on the Art of Work Two story collections map today’s nine-to-five realities A Mensch for All Seasons The life and times of a memorable centenarian. Glee in the Darkness Wayne Johnston returns to St. John’s for a tour de force performance Miriam Moscowitz, the main character of Cary Fagan’s new book, The Student, is in her final year studying English at the University of Toronto. It is the 1950s, and she has asked her professor for a recommendation letter: He avoided looking at her but took the pipe from his mouth. “Whatever for?” The question took her aback. “Well, to do my Masters and then my PhD.” “No, no, I mean whatever do you want to do a PhD for? To spend several years of your life, not to mention the valuable resources of this university, for nothing?” I make a note in the margins: I must ask someone. Is this what really happened? “You certainly can’t expect to be hired by any of the other colleges,” her professor says in so many words. As a Jew, the subtext reads, she stands no chance of a professorship outside of University College, and as a woman, no chance anywhere at all. I have to find someone the same age as Miriam, born in the late 1930s. Someone who can attest to the horror of this sexism and anti-Semitism. My mother, perhaps? No, too young. My grandmother, maybe? No, too old (and too dead). My mother, then: she’s Jewish, graduated from University College, and grew up middle-class near Forest Hill in Toronto, just like Miriam. She is ten years Miriam’s junior, but that may be close enough. Maybe I’ll ask her. Maybe. With The Student, his seventh novel, Fagan sketches an intimate portrait of middle-class Jewish life in 1950s Toronto. Films at the Eglinton Theatre, Shabbat dinners every Friday at home, pastrami sandwiches from Switzer’s Deli, cottaging on the south shore of Lake Simcoe. Many of these places I never knew personally, but I nonetheless understand their symbolic purchase. There are, of course, the era’s darker realities. The cottages are restricted to land where Jews are permitted to buy. Clubs and universities have quotas. The Junior Common Room at University College is nicknamed the Jewish Common Room. It isn’t for social climbers, Miriam believes, it’s for students with genuine intellectual ambition. Students at Victoria and St. Mike’s disagree: they see their Jewish colleagues not only as social climbers but as degenerates and heathens. The sexism Miriam experiences in the book is somewhat more insidious, barring her professor’s. It is the stuff of quotidian discrimination: The men who leer at Miriam and solicit her unwantedly. The ones who laugh at her expense and crack jokes at the idea of a female (university) president. Today, we might call these acts microaggressions. But Fagan is clear about their cumulative impact — the disillusionment and the sense of alienation: She walked out the room, down the hall and into the cold afternoon. . . . She had thought of them as all in this together — the common pursuit, Leavis had called it. And had she ever really been taken seriously? The professor’s comments, however, are direct, in both execution and consequence. For Miriam, they cause a pivotal fracture. Fagan shows how discrimination like this operates, breaking down its victims’ sense of self and filling the spaces with self-loathing. “What she felt most was a terrible embarrassment or shame that made her cheeks burn,” the narrator explains. “It felt as if she had done something very wrong, something that would make everyone she knew feel disappointed in her.” My subway train passes Rosedale Station and emerges into the light of day. I look up at the profile of a woman seated in front of me. Her hair is grey and trim. She wears glasses. Her hands are folded neatly in her lap. She seems about Miriam’s age. I wonder if I can ask her if what I’m reading is true. “Hello, ma’am,” I say to myself. “I’m reading this book about a young woman in Toronto in the 1950s. It is about sexism, anti-Semitism, and racism. Can you tell me if her experiences are true? Did it really happen this way?” I look back down. I should just ask my mother. Maybe. Shortly after the meeting with her professor, Miriam meets Charlie. He is a fellow student, an American, and a civil rights activist. It is 1957, three years after the watershed Brown v. Board of Education decision at the United States Supreme Court. In Little Rock, nine black students approach the doors of their public school and demand admittance. Riots break out. President Eisenhower federalizes the Arkansas National Guard to escort the children to school. In Charlie’s apartment, Miriam finds a shrine of sorts, a commemoration, clippings taped to his closet door: Crouching lower, she examined a photograph of one Negro girl in sunglasses with books under her arm while a mob of white people screamed at her. There was one particular white girl, just behind, screaming murder as if she might do something violent. Charlie represents a different future for Miriam. Miriam’s boyfriend, Isidore, is her conventional high school sweetheart. He is the son of family friends. He buys a house in the suburbs, wants children, follows in his father’s footsteps in business. Although he is “kind, and big-hearted, and devoted,” Miriam is ambivalent about him and the future he represents, especially in light of her meeting with her professor. Charlie is restless. He would prefer mobilizing in Little Rock to studying architecture in Toronto. He positions conformism against activism with his point of view: “That’s the way it is these days, isn’t it?” he said. “What they want for all of us. Get married, have a baby, sign the mortgage, another baby, a car, a two-week vacation and a burial plot. It’s like we beat the Nazis and it gave us the right to own a washing machine.” She goes to bed with him. It would be unfair to say that by cheating on her conformist boyfriend, Miriam takes up with Charlie and his call to activism. Fagan is unyielding: he refuses to flatten his characters into clichés. Miriam isn’t one to cheat; she’s never cut class. She is serious and disciplined and more than a bit judgmental. After the sex, “she didn’t feel relieved or liberated or pleased with herself. She thought that she might throw up.” She vows never to return to Charlie. Weeks go by. She goes to a party. She returns. This time, it’s different: And she went again. And felt for the first time something more powerful than anything she had ever imagined. It wasn’t worship of him, peculiar and imperfect man that he was. She knew it was about her. And it was not without pain. It was a delicious cut that she caressed over and over so that it wouldn’t heal. In moments like these, Fagan’s writing sings. Ordinarily, his prose is unadorned and spare, and there is unassailable power in its simplicity. Occasionally, however, he needs more to get the job done. To do so, he turns to a capacious metaphor, just enough to hold the many dimensions of Miriam and her feelings. It is a compositional strategy befitting this densely packed novel, which often reads like an extended short story. Here, it’s Fagan’s raison d’être: to capture his characters, with their choices and their motivations, in their full complexity. Miriam struggles to do the same. Her yearning to understand herself is a central tension in the novel that carries us along with it. She returns regularly to this question, and most directly at the end of the book. Now in her seventies, Miriam has retired from a successful professorship in English at U of T and is confronted with her husband’s third affair. The moment echoes her professor’s sexism years before: “And what had overwhelmed her first was not heartbreak but shame. As if she herself had done wrong.” She is older now, and perhaps wiser. She turns to her latest project of self-understanding. Reading works from queer and feminist theory and revisiting the objects of her own personal archaeology — letters she wrote in her twenties and an annotated copy of Henry James — she begins to unfold the questions of self, memory, and meaning: We have memories, we think we know who we once were, but do we really? . . . That’s what I’m really interested in. Not in being young again but in knowing better this young self. And this older one, too. . . . Miriam, you must meet Minnie. And now you two can have a good talk and get to the heart of things. Miriam writes this on August 21, 2005, when the final third of The Student takes place. It is one month following Canada’s legalization of gay marriage. We learn that Miriam spent time advocating for marriage equality while she was a professor. Her son, Michael, is gay, and today is his wedding. I freeze as I read this. Suddenly, it appears, Fagan has added me to the picture. Not only did my mother agitate for gay rights — she fought for AZT during the AIDS crisis — but she also has a gay son: me. I’m at Michael’s wedding and it feels like my own, complete with my older siblings. During the toasts, I’m giving his same speech: Honestly, my mother has always helped me to see that the world is a larger place than just the circle of our own lives. And that we are part of that larger world and have a responsibility to it. A day or two later, I turned to my mother at Shabbat. “So,” I said, “it seems I’m reading the story of your life.” “Oh,” she said. “What are you reading?” “Cary Fagan’s The Student,” I answered. “You don’t happen to know him, do you? She paused and smiled widely. “I’ve known him for years.” I emailed my editor. “Am I in a conflict of interest?” I asked. “Not in a conflict of interest, no,” he reassured me. “But I think you’ve stumbled upon your hook.” Miriam, of course, isn’t my mother, and I’m not Michael. But with The Student, Fagan has created something real. Not because he seemingly wrote about my mother, nor because he somehow included me. And not just because of the countless 1950s Jewish Toronto nostalgies and his carefully chosen, vivid details. It is the richness of his characters, his insistence on revealing their full humanity, that resonates from one generation to the next. The truth of their struggles, the pain of their suffering, their resistance to — and activism in shaping — the society and history pressing in around them. Fagan has created an accurate portrait of two key moments in history. Even those of us who weren’t there can feel it. Kevin Keystone is a freelance writer in Toronto.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6917
__label__cc	0.601501	0.398499	Orchestra of the 18th Century I had the opportunity to hear the Orchestra of the 18th Century under the inspiring leadership of Frans Brüggen. They were performing in the Polish Radio Studio 1, as part of the Chopin Piano Festival, 2013. Hearing the orchestra under Brüggen was the fulfilment of a long-held ambition, on account of their amazing recordings and excellent reputation. It was a real privilege to \| Concert, Music, Review Festival du Beaune, France On Sunday 28th July, Russell performed in the Burgundy region of France with the Gabrieli Consort - directed by Paul McCreesh.The concert was part of the Beaune Festival. The group gave a performance of L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato (HWV 55) by Handel, which was streamed live online. It will be broadcast on television in September. The online stream of the concert is available to \| Concert, Handel, Radio Broadcast Performance at Hampton Court Palace Russell performed works by Handel and Bach at Hampton Court Palace on the 28th of June 2013. He was privileged to perform with Crispian Steele-Perkins and William Russell.(L-R) Russell Gilmour, William Russell & Crispian Steele-Perkins \| Bach, Concert, Natural Trumpet Concert at St. Thomas' Church On Wednesday 5th of June at 19:30, Russell Gilmour and David Kilgallon will be performing lively and traditional celtic music for trumpet and organ in St. Thomas' Church in Douglas. Admission is free, and there will be an opportunity to sponsor our upcoming CD recording project upon exit. A great way for visitors to the Island to hear some of our musical heritage! \| Concert, Music, Trumpet Impromptu Performance at Isle of Man TT Races Just before the roads closed for the Isle of Man TT Races today, as an extra part of his initiation as a marshal - Russell was asked if he would entertain the assembled spectators by his fellow marshals at Quarterbridge.(L-R) Russell Gilmour & Roger Birtles raise £85 for the TT Helicopter Fund from generous spectators at QuarterbridgeWalking through the crowds, Russell played such classics as \| Cornetto Oxford University Bate Collection Lecture for Taverner Consort The "Un-Natural Trumpet" : 7th April 2013With the launch of their new recording of Monteverdi's L'Orfeo and to celebrate the Taverner Consort's 40th Anniversary, Andrew Parrott organised a day of lectures at the Oxford University Faculty of Music and Bate Collection of Musical Instruments. Andrew asked me to give a lecture about the Natural Trumpet. The lecture was held on the 7th April 2013.In \| Lecture, Masterclass, Monteverdi, Museum, Recording, Taverner Consort Basilica di San Marco, Venice By the time Giovani Gabrieli had died, St. Mark's Basilica was already 541 years old.The building, as I am sure you know, is colossally incredible. With over a million million pieces of mosaic on the ceilings and seven domes - it's a rather impressive sight. Look down and you also won't be disappointed: the intricate stone floor is detailed beyond comprehension. Architecturally, this building has a \| Concert, Cornetto, Music, Travel, Venice Per ardua ad astra I've now graduated from the Royal College of Music. I went to the graduation ceremony, walked across the stage wearing the gown and hood, listened to some speeches, picked up my certificate, raised a glass with my course-mates and chatted to all and sundry.One of my fellow graduates asked me, "so, what will you be doing now that you've finished?" My answer to myself was simple: I haven't finished really.To \| Music, Trumpet Recording in Wrocław I have spent the last few days in Wrocław in Poland. A beautiful city, with lots going on. They are currently building a new home for the Philharmonic (which I am told will be the best acoustic of any concert hall in central Europe) and the Euro 2012 football trophy has been unveiled since we have been here. There is lots happening. Also, yesterday it was 25°C, which was an added bonus.We are here \| Natural Trumpet, Recording, Travel, Trumpet, Wrocław Baroque Orchestra	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6924
__label__wiki	0.619483	0.619483	Shamkir, Round 9: Magnus makes it five by Antonio Pereira 4/9/2019 – A third consecutive win in Shamkir meant Magnus Carlsen finished on 7 out of 9, two points ahead of his closer pursuers, with an out-of-this-world rating performance of 2988. His last victim was Alexander Grischuk, who was duly overrun both on the board and on the clock. The rest of the games finished drawn. LAWRENCE TRENT took a closer look at the final encounters of the sixth Gashimov Memorial. The cherry on the cake It had nothing to do with his opponents anymore — Magnus Carlsen was only pushing his own boundaries in Shamkir's last round. His superiority was only briefly challenged during the tournament, and his final three victories were crystal clear demonstrations of what he is capable of when in form. Already head and shoulders above his opponents in the ratings list, he managed to gain 15.8 points after nine rounds. His win over Grischuk was also his 50th straight classical game without a loss — the last time he was defeated was on July 31st, when Shakhriyar Mamedyarov beat him prior to getting first place at the Biel grandmaster tournament. His rating performance at the 6th Gashimov Memorial was among his most spectacular ones, as pointed out by Tarjei J. Svensen: 3002: Nanjing '09 (8 out of 10) 2994: London '12 (6½/8) 2988: Shamkir '19 (7/9) 2930: Wijk aan Zee '13 (10/13) 2918: Bazna '10 (7½/10) The World Champion will be back in action shortly, as he will lead the field at the GRENKE Chess Classic starting April 20th. In an interview with the Norwegian portal VG.no, Carlsen stated that he is glad that 2845 (and not his unofficial 2860 live rating) will be used at the upcoming tournament, where a more widespread list of participants means he will need a better score to "defend" his stratospheric rating. At work... \| Photo: Official site Against Grischuk, Magnus avoided going into a Berlin endgame by choosing a line with 4.d3, and the players reached a queenless middlegame after 13 moves. Time-pressure addict Grischuk knew he was facing a player on a roll and thought long and hard before giving up the pair of bishops: Read more... Source: chessbase.com	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6927
__label__wiki	0.501673	0.501673	CQ Press Voter Participation Steven L. Danver In: Encyclopedia of Politics of the American West Edited by: Steven L. Danver Subject: American Political History Danver, S. L. (2013). Voter participation. In S. L. Danver (Ed.), Encyclopedia of politics of the American West (pp. 651-651). Washington, DC: CQ Press doi: 10.4135/9781452276076.n393 Danver, Steven L. "Voter Participation." In Encyclopedia of Politics of the American West, edited by Steven L. Danver, 651. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2013. doi: 10.4135/9781452276076.n393. Danver, S L 2013, 'Voter participation', in Danver, SL (ed.), Encyclopedia of politics of the american west, CQ Press, Washington, DC, pp. 651, viewed 18 July 2019, doi: 10.4135/9781452276076.n393. Danver, Steven L. "Voter Participation." Encyclopedia of Politics of the American West. Ed. Steven L. Danver. Washington: CQ Press, 2013. 651. SAGE Knowledge. Web. 18 Jul. 2019, doi: 10.4135/9781452276076.n393. The American West is made up of many diverse ethnic constituencies, some of the largest being Hispanic American, African American, and Native American. Widespread racial and ethnic discrimination has impeded or prevented voting by members of these groups; thus, their participation in voting has meant overcoming decades, if not centuries, of being denied the franchise. This has led, in some cases, to skepticism among the groups about the efficacy of their participation. Regionally, the West is as varied as any other region in the country, with urban areas often dominating the political discourse of states. Because the West is so varied a region in terms of geography and demographics, generalizations are almost always misleading. However, by focusing on ethnic groups and subregions, some sense can ... Entries by Letter: [0-9] A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Z	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6930
__label__cc	0.685023	0.314977	# Article Title 71 Official Visit of Mr Anura Bandaraniake, Minister of Foreign Affairs 72 Joint Press Statement of 10 June 2005 73 Visit of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, June 2-4, 2005 74 Joint Press Statement, Foreign Office Consultations between India and Sri Lanka 75 Visit President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to India,3-7 November 2004 76 Joint Statement on the visit of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, 19-21 October 2003 77 Joint Statement on the visit of Minister Yashwant Sinha, 11-12 July 2002 78 Joint Statement on the visit of Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe,11 June 2002 79 India-Sri Lanka Joint Statement on the visit of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe , 24 December 2001 80 Visit of President. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, 22-25 February 2001	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6931
__label__wiki	0.584167	0.584167	India - Sri lanka Relations Statement of the Foreign Minister in Parliament, 4 November 2008 Official Documents - India - Sri lanka Relations Hon. Speaker, I am sure that Hon. Members are closely following developments in the country, especially the ongoing operations by our security forces in the North, to disarm the LTTE, and restore democracy, peace and stability to the region. In this context, our close and regular interaction with India, whose friendship and goodwill which we greatly value, has assumed critical significance in recent times. Of particular importance has been the recent visit of Hon. Basil Rajapaksa MP., Senior Advisor to the President, as the Special Envoy of the President to New Delhi. The successful outcome of his discussions with the Indian leadership is most reassuring for the peoples of India and Sri Lanka and all those friends and well wishers who desire lasting peace in Sri Lanka. Of course, it goes without saying that the enemies of peace and the prophets of doom, who had predicted otherwise, are naturally disappointed! Sri Lanka condemns serial bomb blasts in Assam Sri Lanka has denounced the multiple bomb blasts that occurred in the Indian State of Assam yesterday (30 October 2008), causing death and injury to a large number of civilians. Issuing a message, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has extended the heartfelt condolences of all Sri Lankans to those bereaved by these attacks and expressed the hope that the challenge posed by the terrorists will be met with resolve. The Minister also underscored the SAARC stand that terrorism is a major threat to all civilized societies and to democracy, and its determination to combat the menace with greater resolve. The full text of the Foreign Minister's message is as follows: "It is with great distress that we in Sri Lanka have learnt of the bomb blasts on 30th October in several locations of the Indian State of Assam that have, according to media reports resulted in the deaths of 62 persons and injuries to over 300. The terrorist perpetrators of these blasts have designed them in the most cowardly and cruelest possible manner, by targeting innocent civilians in a serial sequence. We, Sri Lankans extend our heartfelt condolences to those bereaved by the blasts, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery. We are confident that the challenge posed by the terrorists through these blasts will be met with resolve and that the law enforcement authorities will soon bring the perpetrators to justice. The SAARC fraternity views terrorism as a major threat to all civilized societies and to democracy, and stands for combating the menace with greater resolve". India-Sri Lanka Joint Statement on Fishing Arrangements Sri Lanka condemns suicide bomb attack in Kabul Address by President Rajapaksa at the Leadership Summit, October 13, 2007 Fourteenth Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial Lecture Seminar on India-Sri Lanka Maritime Cooperation: Opportunities and Challenges	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6932
__label__wiki	0.623321	0.623321	EVOLUTIONARY THEORY DEVELOPING Joule, and later Helmholtz in the first half of the nineteenth century with various demonstrations of the equivalence of heat and other forms of energy (e.g., see Thomson, 1852b; Singer, 1959; Schneer, 1960; Swenson, in press-c). The law was completed in this century with Einstein's demonstration that matter is also a form of energy. The first law says that (a) all real-world processes consist of transformations of one form of energy into another (e.g., mechanical, chemical, or electrical energy or energy in the form of heat), and that (b) the total amount of energy in all real-world transformations always remains the same or is conserved (energy is neither created nor destroyed). The first law was not fully understood until the second law was formulated by Clausius and Thomson in the 1850's. What Carnot had observed some twenty-five years earlier was that, as he explained it, like the fall of a stream that turns a mill wheel, it was the "fall" of heat from higher to lower temperatures that motivates a steam engine. With the recognition that it was the potential to "fall" from hot to cold, or from a higher to lower place that motivated the flow of the stream, the turning of the mill wheel, or the motion of the steam engine, came the recoginition that with these actions the potential was irreversibly destroyed, or dissipated, as Thomson (1852b) would put it. Realizing that the active principle, if based on dissipation, could not be energy, which is conserved, Thomson and Clausius recognized that there were two fundamental laws in operation and showed how they were related. Clausius coined the word "entropy" to refer to the dissipated potential, and the second law states in its most fundamental form that all natural processes proceed so as to maximize the entropy (or equivalently minimize or dissipate the potential of a system), while, at the same time, energy is entirely conserved. The first and second laws of thermodynamics are thus symmetry principles that sit above the other laws of nature, as, in effect, laws about laws, or laws on which the other laws are dependent (Swenson, 1991b; Swenson & Turvey, 1991). The first law expresses the time translation symmetry of all natural processes, that which remains the same in all past, present and future states, and the second law expresses the broken-symmetry of the natural world, providing, in a world which is out of equilibrium, as our expanding universe is, a nomological basis for distinguishing past, present, and future. The balance equation of the second law, expressed as DS > 0, says that in all real world processes entropy always increases. In sharp contrast to the "dead" mechanical world view of Descartes and Newton, the active, end-directed nature of the world was stressed by Clausius' (1865, p. 400) in his statement of the first two laws of thermodynamics: "The energy of the world remains constant," he said, while "[t]he entropy of the world strives to a maximum" (italics added). Entropy maximization supplies what can be thought of as a final cause, in Aristotle's terms, of all natural processes-"the end to which everything strives and which everything serves" or "the end of every motive or generative process" (Bunge, 1979, p. 32)(see Salthe, 1994; Swenson, 1990b, 1991b; Swenson & Turvey, 1991). The active, end-directed (going towards an end, no "director" implied) nature of the second law is intuitively easy to grasp and empirically easy to demonstrate. Consider a glass of hot liquid placed in a room at a cooler temperature. The temperature gradient or difference in temperatures in the glass-room system constitutes a potential, and a flow of energy in the form of heat, a "drain" on the potential, is spontaneously produced from the glass (source) to the room (sink) until the potential is minimized (the entropy is maximized) and the liquid and the room are at the same temperature. At this point, all flows and thus all entropy production stops and the system is in thermodynamic equilibrium. The same principle applies to any system where any form of energy is out of equilibrium with its surrounds (e.g., whether mechanical, chemical, electrical or energy in the form of heat): a potential exists that the world acts spontaneously to minimize. It spontaneously produces dynamics that work to minimize the potential and stop when it is minimized. In this precise and rigorous sense the world is inherently active and end-directed. Boltzmann's Hypothesis and the Second Law as a Law of Disorder: Why 'Organic Evolution' Was Thought to Negate 'Physical Evolution' Dennett's idea that living things exist in a struggle against the apparent universality of physical law, that they defy the second law, or live in a battle against it, and so on, follows from Boltzmann's hypothesis of the second law which was quite different in a number of ways from the universal physical statement of the second law due to Thomson and Clausius (see Swenson, in press-c for further discussion). When the second law was first explicitly recognized, its active macroscopic nature presented a profound blow to the dead mechanical world view. Boltzmann's hypothesis, or theory about the second law, grew out of his attempt to save the mechanical view by reducing the second law to the stochastic collision of mechanical particles-to a law of probability. Modelling colliding gas molecules in a box as billiard balls, Boltzmann, following Maxwell, showed that nonequilibrium velocity distributions (groups of molecules moving at the same speed and in the same direction) would become increasingly disordered with each collision leading to a final state of macroscopic uniformity and maximum microscopic disorder. Boltzmann recognized this state as the state of maximum entropy (where the macroscopic uniformity corresponds to the dissipation of all field potentials or energy gradients). Generalizing the results to the world as a whole, the second law, he said, was simply the result of the fact that in a world of mechanically colliding particles, disordered states are the most probable. There are so many more possible disordered states than ordered ones, Boltzmann argued, that a system will almost always be found either in the state of maximum disorder-the macrostate with the greatest number of accessible microstates such as a gas in a box at equilibrium-or moving towards it. A dynamically ordered state, with molecules moving "at the same speed and in the same direction", he (Boltzmann, 1886/1974, p. 20) wrote, "is the most improbable case conceivable...an infinitely improbable configuration of energy,"(italics added) and from this conception-from the extrapolation of a near-equilibrium gas in a box to the world-came the idea of the second law as a law of disorder. Although Boltzmann (1896/1964) himself acknowledged that his hypothesis had been demonstrated only for the case of a gas in a box near equilibrium, the science of his time (and until quite recently) was dominated by linear, near-equilibrium, or equilibrium, thinking, and his hypothesis became widely accepted. In fact, it came to be taken by many to be the second law, and in this sense Dennett's view represents a common and widespread misconception that has persisted from the time of Boltzmann right up to the present.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6933
__label__wiki	0.582336	0.582336	Édouard Manet: Pivotal Artist In The Changeover From Realism To Impressionism French painter Édouard Manet, born on January 23, 1832 into an upper-class household, was one of the first artists of the 19th century who became pivotal in the art movement’s conversion from Realism to Impressionism. His early works, particularly The Luncheon on the Grass became the principle for the young painters that were to create Impressionism. Manet’s father, who was a French judge, expected him to likewise pursue a law career but he was more interested in art, which was encouraged by his maternal uncle, Edmond Fournier. He was the one who took young Manet to see the Louvre. While at the Collège Rollin, he took a special course in drawing and became close friends with Antonin Proust, who later became the Minister of Fine Arts. When he was 16 years old, he followed his father’s suggestion and boarded a training vessel to Rio de Janeiro but he twice failed his naval examination thus his father allowed him to pursue art. He became a student of Thomas Couture, an academic painter, from 1850 to 1856 and copied the works of the old masters in his spare time. He also traveled around Europe during that time, visiting the Netherlands, Italy and Germany and was influenced by Spanish painters Francisco José de Goya and Diego Velázquez and well as Frans Hals, a Golden Age portrait painter from Southern Netherlands. Manet opened his studio in 1856. During this period his painting style had brushstrokes that were loose, with elements that were simplified and transitional tones suppressed. However, he also adopted the style of realism that was started by Gustave Courbet when he made The Absinthe Drinker around 1858. He also did several paintings with contemporary subjects ranging from bullfights to people in cafés, Gypsies, and singers, to beggars. He only painted religious subjects though rarely, early in his career. He did submit some paintings to the influential Salon. In 1861 he submitted two. One was a portrait of his parents, which was not very well received by critics. The other one, titled The Spanish Singer, impressed art critic Theophile Gautier, and the painting was placed in a more prominent position because it became popular with those who visited the Salon. The painting style was so new to other artists, which totally intrigued them. Works and Painting Style Maybe due to his wealthy background, leisure was a subject the fully interested Manet throughout his life. One example of this interest was the painting, Music in the Tuileries, which was inspired by Velázquez and Hals. Some regarded the painting as unfinished, although the painting evoked the right atmosphere of the Tuileries gardens at that time. Manet showed musicians, authors, artists, his friends as well as himself in that painting. Manet’s style of painting had many influences. His composition for The Luncheon on the Grass showed influences from the old masters which he closely studied when he was young. It also showed the influence of the engraving of the Judgment of Paris, done by Marcantonio Raimondi in the main figures’ disposition. This style was also present in two other major works of Manet’s – The Tempest and Pastoral Concert. These three paintings showed a naked female among fully-clothed men. He also showed influences of Renaissance artists in his other paintings, such as Olympia, which was based on the Venus of Urbino by Titian and The Nude Maja of Francisco Goya. The painting was accepted by the Salon but most people thought it was scandalous, since the subject, Olympia was depicted as a prostitute who was so self-assured, staring directly and confrontationally at the viewers. Prostitution, although existent, was something that the Parisian society at that time, abhorred discussing. Manet’s version of the modern Venus was less voluptuous, with the subject portrayed as a thin woman, and with the flat rendition, which was influenced by the wood block art from Japan, made the subject look more human. Photographic lighting was employed and the painting style was rough, but it was considered early modern with the use of black outlines tracing the figures, drawing attention to the quality of the paint and the surface of the picture plane. This use of black lines distinguished Manet’s style from that of the Impressionists’. While the media toyed with “Olympia,” many artists, including Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne and Gustave Courbet appreciated it. Through Berthe Morisot, he became friends with the young Impressionist painters such as Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet and Edgar Degas. Berthe Morisot, a colleague and friend of Manet’s, was the one who introduced the artist to plein air painting. She later married Manet’s brother, Eugene. Manet was a keen observer of social life, as seen in his many paintings of café scenes. Some of his works involving café sceneries include At the Café (1878), Corner of a Cafe Concert, The Beer Drinkers, The Cafe Concert, The Waitress, Chez le père Lathuille and Le Bon Bock. He depicted urban Parisian life through all societal classes, and did several paintings during the war as well, such as The Execution of Emperor Maximilian, one of his largest paintings. One of his most famous street scenes was The Railway, which he painted in 1872. It was a symbol of modernity, according to art historian Isabelle Dervaux, which very few recognized at that time. Édouard Manet’s last major work was A Bar at the Folies-Bergère. Photo Attribution: Featured and 1st image by Édouard Manet [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 2nd image by Édouard Manet [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 4500 0 Art admin Impressionism, paintings, realism, slice of life, street scenes, urban scenes ← THE WORKS OF MICHELANGELO MERISI DA CARAVAGGIO THE GENRE PAINTINGS OF PIETER BRUEGEL THE ELDER →	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6935
__label__wiki	0.516265	0.516265	Contactless payment technology eases city traffic Contactless payment recently implemented in Singapore's MRT public transport Saudi Gazette SINGAPORE – Taking public transportation in Singapore is a different experience than most cities around the world. Recognized for its smart-city achievements, its one of the early adopters of contactless payment technology, allowing people to tap their bank cards to pay fares. Such an open-loop system applied in public transport allows for more ease for commuters and alleviates the hassle of buying tickets, especially for visitors, according to Mastercard’s executive vice president for enterprise partnerships Hany Fam. “The old model is cash and going to machines to buy metro tickets,” he said. “What we found is that people who don’t know their way around local transport choose to use taxis, causing more congestion.” Having global standards paves the way for more efficiency and inclusion, claims Mastercard that has been working with governments, NGOs and other leaders in urban innovation. Other smart city technologies in Singapore are being used to better manage traffic in the coming years, such as introducing onboard units on vehicles in 2020 to electronically pay for tolls and parking. For buses, wait times for busy routes have decreased by 3 to 7 minutes as sensors have been able to deliver more accurate arrival timings. London is another city that has adopted contactless payment that might soon replace its iconic Oyster card. The results were an increase in metro passengers and reduced costs. London’s transport authority TfL revealed that 12 million journeys per week have been contactless, accounting to 40 percent of all trips paid for. It welcomed the open loop system as it simplified access to public transit for residents and millions of tourists in addition to cutting cost of fare collection from 14 to 9 percent. Meanwhile, Oyster card purchases are witnessing a 10 percent drop. “It takes time to teach people to use something new when it’s easier to reach them on whatever they’re already using, such as their bank cards in their pocket,” said Fam. “Some cities introduced apps but they’re more difficult to get people to a new platform when it’s more convenient to use existing ones such as social media or even texting. This also encourages tourists to visit again.” Other cities are moving towards cashless societies. Nordic countries came up with a strategy to eradicate cards. In Paris, taxis are obliged to accept cards from passengers. Transportation is one of numerous global challenges cities face. Other needs that have the potential to be addressed in a standardized way include urban planning, infrastructure, safety, waste management, water, food, housing, and unemployment, among others. However, there hasn’t been one city in the world that has been able to achieve a successful smart city, further said Fam. “40 percent of the world are cities and that number will grow to 70 percent by 2030 and not a single city is ready to deal with this urbanization. Many governments have fallen prey to create something different when they should invest in developing existing infrastructure to make it more efficient,” he added. Using data effectively helps to identify cities’ needs before coming up with solutions, according to Miguel Gamino Jr, Mastercard’s executive vice president of global cities who forms public-private-partnerships to help find solutions to common challenges in cities. “There isn’t one city that has it all figured out. There are some that are better in certain areas than others. That’s the value of getting cities to share their experiences. Cities that have tremendous progress in one area share with each other and only then will they begin to lift each other up. So the pace of progress significantly increases,” he said. “Cities like Singapore, Dubai, New York are beginning to build comprehensive strategies for how technology can increase the access in equity, inclusiveness and opportunities presented.”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6938
__label__cc	0.56657	0.43343	Pet cloning and why I’d never do it April 12, 2018 May 15, 2019 - CC Recently, Barbra Streisand admitted she’d cloned her dog. As more details came out in a second article a few days later, as well as all the interest in cloning I saw generated online, I decided out of my own curiosity to peek into the nuts and bolts of pet cloning. Knowing nothing about it, I quickly found myself horrified reading about the dark side of the industry. It’s one that’s seldom talked about openly and definitely not during magazine or tv interviews, and of course not by Barbra or any of the other people who have decided that a clone of their deceased cat or dog is worth whatever the cost. I was just going to take a quick peek It all started after I read Barbra Streisand’s second and more in-depth interview about her cloning experience. If you missed it, you can read it here, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/02/style/barbra-streisand-cloned-her-dog.html. After reading the interview, I wondered if cloning really was as simple as she made it sound. In less than twenty minutes into my poking around online into the topic of cat and dog cloning, it was obvious that Barbra hadn’t done any research on cloning or was too selfish to care if she had. I couldn’t believe all the information out there screaming “Cloning is a horrible idea!”. It was hard for me to understand how anyone could claim to have so much love for a single cat or dog that they wanted another genetic copy made, yet no issue with all the pain and suffering to other cats or dogs in accomplishing that. For those that don’t have the time to read through this lengthy post, let me summarize for you. When you spend thousands and thousands of dollars to clone a pet, you are essentially giving companies that do pet cloning the money to do things like genetically modify pets’ genes to intentionally make them fluorescent (just because) or sick so experiments and drugs can be used on them. One very popular cloning company is also actively trying to resurrect a woolly mammoth. These companies are preying on peoples’ grief over the loss of their pets to give them a similar cat or dog, but doing so while withholding all the dirty details of cloning. Details like how many cats or dogs it actually takes to make a single clone, where all those donors and surrogates come from, and how many clones are born deformed or not an exact replica. All of this is done without anyone even being 100% sure how the long-term health will be for clones, especially those whose donor died from cancer, heart attack, or other health issues. The original sheep and also the original cloned dog both developed cancer and the original cloned cat was nothing like it’s original in looks or personality. Those that have cloned their pets report varying degrees of likeness to the original. Experts all agree that cloning makes a genetic copy, not an identical animal with the matching personality of the original, which begins forming in the womb and continues to be shaped by its life experiences, which can’t be duplicated. When I first began this post, I had started out just wanting to know how cloning was done, if the clones were completely identical to the original, and what, if any, were the negatives to it, besides the exorbitant cost, currently $50,000-$100,000 for dog cloning and $25,000 for cats. While not expecting it to be all sunshine and rainbows, I certainly didn’t realize pet cloning was as dark as it was. How cloning works A simplistic breakdown of how cloning works is that genetic tissue is taken from a living or recently deceased pet and sent to the cloning company for processing. Eggs are then harvested from donors, manipulated in a lab to insert the animal to be cloned’s DNA, then reinserted into surrogates who give birth. It is not uncommon for those births to require c-sections. One red flag about cloning that came up immediately was the lack of transparency. In any of it. If one didn’t go digging for it, the common person would be inclined to believe that it only takes one cat or dog to make a clone. While the numbers that it takes are not required to be disclosed anywhere, initially, it took 8 surrogate cats and 123 surrogate dogs to produce the first cat and dog clones. Those numbers are just the surrogates and don’t include the number of cats or dogs whose eggs were harvested. The number of embryos required for that first dog was 1,095. How many dogs it took to provide that many embryos remains a mystery. Lack of transparency is never a good sign Even if the total number of cats and dogs required to produce a clone is substantially less than it was in 2001 and 2005 when the first clones were produced, it is still a very high number of cats and dogs that are used for someone else’s gain. Once the egg donors and surrogates have served their purposes, you can be fairly certain they don’t go live on nice farms out in the country with a loving family. If only the companies cloning these pets put that information on their FAQ pages. And were completely honest about it. But that’s not how this business works. In South Korea, it appears most, if not all dogs come from, and return to, South Korea’s 17,000 dog meat farms. Dog meat farms do well from the cloning industry since they can then make money renting out their dogs as donors and also selling them for meat. In the U.S., dogs come from breeders who specifically breed them for research purposes, to which they are returned after serving their cloning purpose. I never did find where the poor cats are gathered from to be used. One company did say they harvest the eggs for cat cloning from free spay clinics they sponsor at animal hospitals. Also missing in any of the numbers disclosed to the public about cloning is the success rate. Of course, the cloning companies don’t want potential clients to know how many kittens or puppies are born deformed, stillborn, the wrong sex, color, etc. They also don’t share how many or what happens to all the extra clones that the owners don’t take. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/dog-spies/the-hidden-dogs-of-dog-cloning/ So many dark sides to pet cloning According to an interview given by John Woestendiek, the author of the book Dog, Inc.: How a Collection of Visionaries, Rebels, Eccentrics, and Their Pets Launched the Commercial Dog Cloning Industry, https://amzn.to/2JBMtL4, when he visited a dog cloning lab while writing his book, he said many of the “surplus” dogs appeared to be languishing in cages. He also said that from his own in-depth look at cloning, he was repulsed by what he saw playing out. When someone opts to clone their dog, several dogs that are in heat are selected as egg donors, surrogates are implanted with the cloned-DNA eggs, given hormones, and then hopefully produce a living, healthy clone. If live, healthy puppies are produced, they have to survive living in close quarters with lots of other dogs and diseases like parvo. A Reddit post I found discussing pet cloning had someone who claimed to work with transgenic animals and they did not advise cloning at all due to cruelty and loss of lives in the process. After the donor dogs have served their purpose, Barbra’s clone provider, ViaGen, returns (sells back?) them to the Class A dealer who supplied the dog, and it can be available for purchase as a research subject. One of the South Korean companies uses the money it makes from dog cloning to fund its research projects, which include using dogs whose genes they’ve manipulated to have Alzheimer’s, diabetes or brain tumors. They are also actively working to clone the woolly mammoth. ViaGen also admits to providing programs for cloned embryos that produce transgenic animals for biomedical purposes. The clones and the disappearing companies that made them After reading about the cloning of Dolly the sheep that started the whole cloning craze in 1996 by those who saw it as a doorway to monetary gain, I decided to start there. I’ve made a timetable of how cloning has progressed, including the companies that were doing it that have come and gone, as well as all the updated information I could find. Interestingly, in a world of social media, I found very few active social media accounts or current pictures of the clones on the ones that are still active. Even a website dedicated to one of the clones is no longer around. Dolly the sheep. Cloned in Scotland at The Roslin Institute. DOB/DOD: 1996-2003. Her lifespan: 6.5 years. Dolly was euthanized after contracting a virus which causes lung cancer that led to a cough and subsequent finding of tumors in her lungs. She also had premature arthritis. Normal lifespan for sheep is around 12 years. There was a lot of speculation, including her living arrangement being the cause of her health issues, but whatever the reason, Dolly lived a short and possibly painful life. Source: http://dolly.roslin.ed.ac.uk/facts/the-life-of-dolly/index.html. The Roslin Institute no longer clones animals and had this to say on their FAQ page about cloning pets: What about cloning pets? It is understandable that someone would want to clone a beloved pet after it dies. However, there would still be significant differences between the clone and the original pet, both in their looks and personality. A good example of this is the first cloned cat CC and her DNA donor Rainbow. Although CC is Rainbow’s clone and shares her DNA, the two cats look completely different. This is because coat colour and pattern is influenced by the environment in the womb, something which cannot be replicated by cloning. Source: http://dolly.roslin.ed.ac.uk/facts/cloning-faqs/index.html#cFAQ3 CC/Carbon Copy the cat. Cloned in Texas at A&M University. DOB/DOD: 2001-? (alive as of March 2017). Although born healthy, CC, who was gray and white, did/does not look or act anything like her genetic mother, Rainbow, who was a calico. It took 87 cloned embryos surgically implanted into eight cats for CC to be born via c-section. CC is living with the man that helped clone her. Due to several factors, including influences in the womb, and how much CC was handled in her early days, she is much more outgoing than Rainbow. Texas A&M’s research was funded by a company known as Genetic Savings and Clone from California that was only in business from 2000 to 2006. While Genetic Savings and Clone had originally intended to be a pet gene bank and a cat and dog cloning service, Lou Hawthorne, CEO of Genetic Savings and Clone cited that due to the technology not being mature enough, they were exiting the business in 2006. Sources: https://today.tamu.edu/2017/03/23/some-paws-for-celebration-worlds-first-cloned-cat-turns-15-at-texas-am/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_Savings_%26_Clone and http://aavs.org/cms/assets/uploads/2014/08/aavs_report_pet-cloning-buyers-beware.pdf?x82509 Little Nicky the Maine Coon cat. Cloned by the now defunct Genetic Savings and Clone in California (2000-2006). DOB/DOD: 2004-? The owner, only known by the name Julie, paid $50,000 and was the world’s first paying client to have their cat cloned. Despite Genetic Savings and Clone’s CEO Lou Hawthorne admitting that roughly a third of the clones in their experiments did not survive beyond 60 days and between 15% and 45% of cloned cats born alive die within 30 days, Julie was determined to clone her cat Nicky who had passed away at age 17. At first, when Little Nicky was presented to Julie as a kitten, she appeared to be thrilled, but later accounts, which John Woestendiek, the author of Dog, Inc. shares in his book, indicate Little Nicky developed undisclosed medical problems, and Julie hired legal representation. Mr. Woestendiek also indicates in his book that someone who was verified to be Julie posted critical comments in regards to an article written in 2008 about Lou Hawthorne and Genetic Savings and Loan. In the comments, Julie and Lou Hawthorne argued back and forth that Little Nicky was never verified as a clone and Julie saying Little Nicky was not a healthy cat, even calling his health “poor”. Lou countered that if Little Nicky had any health issues, he suspected it to be acquired, not genetic. It was also reported from another source that as an adult, Little Nicky looked and behaved differently than Julie’s original cat. Possibly there is more to this story in Mr. Woestendiek’s book, (I only found this snippet in the preview excerpts) but after hours of scouring the web, I was unable to find the particular article where Julie and Lou supposedly had their exchange or any other updates of any kind past the happy initial introduction. Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/dec/24/sciencenews.genetics and John Woestendiek’s book, Dog, Inc.: How a Collection of Visionaries, Rebels, Eccentrics, and Their Pets Launched the Commercial Dog Cloning Industry https://amzn.to/2JBMtL4 and http://aavs.org/cms/assets/uploads/2014/08/aavs_report_pet-cloning-buyers-beware.pdf?x82509, pg. 7 Snuppy, an Afghan hound. The first dog to ever be cloned. Cloned in South Korea by researchers from Seoul National University. DOB/DOD: 2005-2015. AKC lists life expectancy for Afghan hounds at 12-18 years. Snuppy died from cancer at age 10. Despite being raised in different environments, Tai, Snuppy’s cell donor also died of cancer at 12, although it was a different form of cancer. The production/cloning of Snuppy took 1,095 dog embryos placed in 123 dogs to produce Snuppy via c-section. There was a miscarried puppy and another puppy born alive that died a few weeks after birth (I read conflicting reports that the cause of death was from diarrhea and another saying pneumonia). That made Snuppy the only clone that survived from all those donor dogs that had to undergo surgical procedures to have their parts and bodies used. Sources: http://time.com/3822573/snuppy/, http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/afghan-hound/ and https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-15328-2 and http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2005/08/first-dog-cloned Finnigan Forcefield the cat. Cloned by Genetic Savings and Clone in California who shut down in 2006. DOB/DOD: 2006-?(Last proof of life I could find was a Twitter post celebrating Finnigan’s 5th birthday on September 15, 2011) After the young cat he’d purchased at the mall was run over and killed, Liam Lynch had him cloned. By all accounts, Liam was happy with his decision, although in John Woestendiek’s book, he admitted that he didn’t think he had the same cat back, though he did feel he had a new friend and one that served as quite the conversation piece. Though all of Liam’s social media accounts still remain active and have shown pictures of his other cats since 2011, including four others in late 2017, I could find no picture or mention of Finnigan since 2011. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_Savings_%26_Clone and https://twitter.com/lynchland/status/114490904752029696 and https://www.instagram.com/liamlynch111/ Mira, a mixed breed dog. Born from the collaboration of BioArts International in California and South Korea’s Sooam Biotech Research Foundation. DOB/DOD: 2007-?. Mira was the first clone born from the cells of Missy, a mixed breed dog owned by the mother of the CEO (Lou Hawthorne) of Genetic Savings and Clone (2000-2006), then BioArts International (2006-2010). Missy and the ‘Missyplicity Project’ had been the inspiration for the dog cloning business that started with ‘Operation CC’, the cat at Texas A&M University in 1998 (referenced above). After shuttering Genetic Savings and Clone in 2006, Lou Hawthorne then formed BioArts International and partnered with Sooam Biotech Research Foundation to clone dogs. BioArts stopped cloning in 2009 citing the suffering inflicted on dogs during cloning and its research as the reason, but not before Sooam Biotech reproduced several clones of Missy. When Lou closed Genetic Savings and Clone, he had blamed the inability of technology to make cloning pets viable. According to Lou Hawthorne’s LinkedIn page, Mira currently lives with him. I couldn’t find any information about Mira’s health and just a little bit in general about the clones not being identical to Missy looks or personality-wise. For example, one of the clones had an erect ear and a floppy ear instead of Missy’s erect ears. Missy was euthanized in 2002 at the age of 15 due to an inoperable esophageal tumor. Sources: http://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/27/us/owners-give-2.3-million-to-clone-dog.html and https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-hawthorne-b654b12b and http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/columnists/doug-moe/doug-moe-billionaire-s-cloning-quest-led-to-madison/article_f4aa8b22-e88a-5b48-bfb6-f35cdc774e3e.html MissyToo, along with 3 other ‘Missy clone’ mixed breed dogs. MissyToo and the other Missy clones were also born from the collaboration of BioArts International in California and South Korea’s Sooam Biotech Research Foundation. They were all produced from Lou Hawthorne’s mothers’ beloved mixed breed dog, Missy (see above). DOB/DOD: 2008-?. Some reports, including those from the Hawthorne camp, have said there were a total of four clones, but I found one article from the UK’s Mirror that said four more clones were made six months AFTER Mira, which seems to confirm what I read on Mr. Woestendiek’s blog and in his book preview. In his book, Dog, Inc., John Woestendiek describes going to visit the South Korean biotech lab where the Trakr search and rescue dogs, Lancelot Encore the yellow lab, and the Missy clones dogs were all cloned. He reported seeing one of the Missy clones that Hawthorne had left behind. That contradicted there being four clones that I read in other reports, but given how the family didn’t even end up liking or wanting the clones, I do find it believable. At one point, MissyToo was apparently living with John Sperling, the billionaire love interest of Lou’s mother, who put up the millions of dollars to begin the whole dog cloning project due in part to how wonderful they thought the original Missy was. I’m not sure where MissyToo ended up after John Sperling’s death in 2014, if she’d even lived that long. The family had claimed the other two clones were given to family friends. Throughout my research, I found myself sad for that last fourth dog, if it was indeed true, that was left behind at the lab, when the cloning didn’t turn out to produce an exact replica of the dog they’d lost. Or possibly, and this is just my thoughts, maybe that last Missy clone was left behind on purpose, so the lab could study/monitor her health as she aged? Overall, the dogs weren’t very well received by the family. Lou’s mother, who had owned Missy since adopting her at around four months, didn’t like or want MissyToo, calling her “too rambunctious” and claiming she’d already adopted a “real dog” after losing her original Missy. How ironic that this was the reception to dogs cloned from the dog that gave these people the whole idea to start cloning dogs to begin with in 1997. Sources: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/cloned-dogs-scientist-lou-hawthorne-3402419 and http://www.ohmidog.com/2008/12/12/happy-birthday-mira-first-dog-clone-in-us-is-1/#comments and http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?pid=174821654 and http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/columnists/doug-moe/doug-moe-billionaire-s-cloning-quest-led-to-madison/article_f4aa8b22-e88a-5b48-bfb6-f35cdc774e3e.html Booger McKinney and four other pit bull clones. The first dogs commercially cloned by RNL Bio in South Korea, who stopped cloning pet dogs in 2011. DOB/DOD: 2008-? After Bernann McKinney’s beloved rescued pit bull Booger became ill from cancer, she had skin cells taken and frozen. In the end, Booger died from cancer, and Bernann (aka Joyce McKinney) sold her house to afford the cloning when it became available a few years later. Unfortunately, she would come to regret the decision, admitting that cloning ruined her life. Bernann revealed that the puppies didn’t get along with each other, or with her other dogs, requiring them to be in cages all of the time. She also admitted that they all had health problems, including some quite serious. The only somewhat recent information I could find about any of the clones was from 2011 when Ms. McKinney attended the screening of a documentary about her earlier life called ‘Tabloid’. Pictures show she was accompanied by a pit bull that she claims was one of the clones. Sources: https://www.wired.com/2008/08/the-wrong-way-t/ and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1041709/Dead-dogs-owner-creates-FIVE-cloned-puppies-beloved-pet.html and https://nypost.com/2011/01/16/adorable-little-abominations-of-nature/ and http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=52851310&itype=CMSID Lancelot Encore the labrador. Cloned by collaboration with BioArts International in California and South Korea’s Sooam Biotech Research Foundation before BioArts stopped cloning in 2009. DOB/DOD: 2008-? The owners, The Otto’s, were happy with their newly delivered 10-week old puppy, who was a clone of their yellow labrador Lancelot. They’d taken Lancelot’s DNA samples a few years prior to losing him to cancer in 2007 at age 11. They remarked how Lancelot Encore looked identical and had similar mannerisms like crossing his paws. Lancelot Encore also had a similar knee problem that Lancelot had. They had a website called www.labraclone.com that is no longer around. Lancelot Encore was used to produce at least one litter of puppies born in July 2012 because the owners wanted to see if the puppies were any different than those not born from a clone. Despite being a clone, the owners were not happy that the AKC does not register clones, but despite that, they intended to get $2,000 per puppy. They were going to take one of the females and possibly breed her later. The last information I could find on Lancelot Encore was in a July 25, 2012 interview with Today when the owners discussed the three-week-old puppies and their future plans. Sources: http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/01/28/a-lab-from-the-lab-florida-couple-gets-clone/ and https://www.military.com/off-duty/television/2012/05/21/show-features-florida-couple-who-cloned-their-dog.html and https://www.today.com/news/encore-cloned-dog-becomes-dad-8-healthy-puppies-wbna48323508 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pP9zO-xpRQ Double Trouble and Triple Trouble aka Poppy, the lhaso apsos. Cloned by Sooam Research in South Korea. The owner, Danielle Tarantola, was regularly seen promoting cloning, which she received a discount for by appearing on TLC’s ‘I Cloned My Pet’. DOB/DOD: 2011-? Danielle cloned her dog Trouble after he passed away in 2008 after 18 years of companionship. After keeping Trouble’s leftover food and water, having a mural of him painted on her wall, and sleeping with his ashes, among other remembrances of her lost dog, she decided to clone him. She has said she asked a lot of questions, including what happened to the surrogates. She was satisfied when she was told that they would be “sent to nice farms to live out their days”. Whether that was a company representative’s completely truthful version or the shortened and (more likely) customer-friendly version of “dog meat farm”, Danielle was apparently appeased by it and chose to proceed with the cloning. In doing so, she actually ended up with two clones born at different times. While she has said the dogs are identical in every way to the original, like enjoying hiding under her bed, the dogs do appear to have slightly different markings. Danielle has also admitted that the personalities of the clones have been different than those of the original Trouble. In an interview with the NY Post Danielle said she did know that Trouble was dead, but having the clones was like having him back again. She also went on to say that Trouble had really bonded to her family, and wasn’t interested in outsiders. The first clone, Double Trouble, is much more outgoing and likes to interact with people. The last photos or mentions I could find anywhere about Double and Triple Trouble/Poppy were from social media in 2014. Sources: https://nypost.com/2012/01/15/fido-clone-home-gals-50g-dog-double/ and https://www.silive.com/news/2012/01/staten_island_woman_who_cloned.html and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2085702/Danielle-Tarantola-spends-32k-dog-cloned-beloved-pet-died.html#reader-comments Chance and Shadow the boxers. Cloned by Soam Biotech Research Foundation in South Korea. DOB/DOD: 2015-? After her 8-year-old boxer, Dylan unexpectedly died of a brain tumor, Richard Remde and Laura Jacques from the UK decided to have him cloned. They ended up with two puppies from the cloning process, Chance and Shadow. One puppy was born naturally and the other was born via c-section from two different surrogates, which Richard and Laura also adopted because they felt like they owed them. Due to strict British quarantine laws, they had to wait 7 months to get their new dogs. Despite being clones, they were not exactly identical and Laura, first interviewed after spending only 12 hours with the new pups, admitted besides being slightly different looking than the original Dylan, of the two clones, Chance had more of the originals temperament. When asked about the pups later when they were around 18 months in August 2017, Laura said she saw the pups as brand new dogs, like Dylan’s puppies, instead of replicas of him. I couldn’t find any more recent information and social media accounts haven’t been active since the puppies were brought home in 2016. Sources: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3735348/Basket-Cases-couple-spent-80k-cloning-two-puppies-beloved-dead-boxer-Korean-lab-happened-ve-bought-home-surrogate-mums-too.html#comments and https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/britains-first-puppies-cloned-dead-dog-spookily-sync/ Nubia the jack russell terrier. Cloned by ViaGen Pets, a cloning company out of Texas. While they have been cloning livestock for years, they just began cat and dog cloning in 2015. DOB/DOD: 2016-? Nubia was not only ViaGen’s first dog clone but also the first dog clone by a U.S. firm. Nubia was approximately 6-7 months old when she was delivered to her family. Her genetic donor died at age 14 of pulmonary hypertension. According to the owner’s account on ViaGen’s website of Nubia, Nubia has some similarities and differences both physically and temperament-wise from the original dog. Like Lancelot Encore’s owner, Nubia’s owner also intends to produce puppies with their clone. Sources: https://viagenpets.com/nubia-turns-two/ and http://www.k9magazine.com/could-cloning-your-dog-help-to-mend-a-broken-heart-meet-the-family-who-tried-it/ Miss Violet and Miss Scarlett, along with a 3rd coton de tulear. Cloned by ViaGen Pets in Texas. DOB: 2017-? Clones of Barbra Streisand’s deceased dog, Samantha, who died at age 14. While four cloned puppies were produced, the smallest one died, leaving Barbra with three living clones. She kept two, which she has to keep straight by keeping them in colored sweaters, hence their names. She gave the third pup away. Barbra was quoted in the NY Times as saying that “Each puppy is unique and has her own personality.” During her interview, she went on to say “You can clone the look of a dog, but you can’t clone the soul. Still, every time I look at their faces, I think of my Samantha…and smile.” But probably the most telling of what she said about her clones being exactly like her beloved Samantha was “I’m waiting for them to get older so I can see if they have her brown eyes and her seriousness.” Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/02/style/barbra-streisand-cloned-her-dog.html and https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/02/barbra-streisand-dog-cloning-pets False claims and unrealistic expectations Despite what ViaGen says on their FAQ page, “Yes. Cloned pets do have lives of normal lengths.”, there’s not enough historical data to back that claim up. Almost every original/genetic donor being cloned seems to have had some sort of serious medical condition, including cancer that caused their demise. Of just the few clonings I dug up above, a few of them were either born with medical conditions, inherited a medical condition, or died of the same disease as their genetic donor. While that small number is hardly an accurate depiction of how the majority of cloned animals’ lives are, I do think it should give one pause. Cloning pets is still such new territory and so much pressure is placed on hoping you get back what you lost. Even if your clone is healthy, the personality may or may not be similar to the original pet. Some reported their cats and dogs were alike in a lot of ways, but mostly the people who did give their glowing praise, were doing so shortly after receiving their new pet, still a puppy/pup or kitten, so knowing for sure what the long-term personality turned out to be was hard to find. One article said the personality differences would be more pronounced as the pet got older. Other stories I read reported clones not getting along with each other or with their cloned cat/dog not getting along with the original. https://www.thedailybeast.com/this-lab-will-clone-your-pet-for-dollar50k-would-you-do-it In Barbra’s case, she was hoping her dogs ended up being more like Samantha when they got older. Maybe nobody informed Barbra that it takes more than just cloning some DNA to get back what you lost. There’s a lot that goes into personalities being defined and the chances that everything would be completely the same for her clones as it was for her beloved Samantha to turn out the way she did with her particular personality, starting in the womb, is impossible. This is especially true of dogs that didn’t come into the owner’s life until they were already an adult or young adult. The shaping of personality was already happening before they ever met. It seems Barbra reacted to the death of her dog by running out and adopting another dog, buying one from her previous dog’s breeder, and choosing to clone her dog. Those are a lot of decisions to make in the throes of grief. Once the dust had settled and she found herself going from one dog to five suddenly, more turmoil was created in everyone’s life. Knowing five dogs was too many for someone accustomed to only one, Barbra set about re-homing her newly adopted dog and giving away one of the clones. With three dogs and a completely different environment than what Samantha grew up in, Barbara hopes the clones have Samantha’s personality when they are older. From what I’ve read, that’s pretty unlikely. In the many hours of research I did on this subject, I was left with an overwhelming sadness. Sad for people like Barbra and Danielle and the others whose whole life revolved around their pet. When that pet was gone, they were heartbroken and lost. Instead of taking all that love and passing it on to another cat or dog that deserved it, they chose to go a route that I’m sure they wouldn’t have wanted their beloved pet to go through. All the while supporting an industry that is based on so much animal suffering. I was also extremely sad for all those voiceless cats and dogs out there that don’t have a choice in any of this. Those whose bodies and lives are nothing more to anyone than a stepping stone for someone far away from their suffering getting a close resemblance of a pet back and for a company to make money regardless of the cost. That sadness extends to all the unwanted clones and those cats and dogs that are already here and sitting in a shelter somewhere just waiting for someone to give them a chance. Cloning a beloved pet may seem like a good idea, but the truth is, when you look at the big picture of it, it’s actually a very selfish one. And while every single one of us could probably quickly name a cat or dog that we’d love to have back, knowing how much suffering goes into it should change the mind of even the most pro-clone pet owner. While cloning may still be the answer for some, for me, it won’t ever be an option under any circumstance. If you found this post helpful and have decided not to spend $25,000 to clone your cat or $50,000-$100,000 to clone your dog, feel free to send me a small donation to restock my caffeine supply and purchase eye cream for the countless long hours and all-nighters I spent compiling all the details about the dark side of pet cloning that most who write about it, just ignore. http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1985338/mans-best-friend-lives-forever-south-korean-cloning-firm https://www.newscientist.com/article/2076681-inside-the-cloning-factory-that-creates-500-new-animals-a-day/ http://www.businessinsider.com/how-woosuk-hwangs-sooam-biotech-mastered-cloning-2015-8 http://www.ohmidog.com/2016/09/16/dog-clones-now-made-in-america/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/dog-spies/yes-you-can-clone-your-dog-but-would-you-want-to/ https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/garden/01clones.html http://www.dogwalkersmelbourne.com.au/component/content/article/34-dog-articles/dog-articles/76-dog-cloning-demand https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/all-dogs-go-heaven/201602/cloning-pets https://viagenpets.com/historical-look-viagen-fascinating-science/ https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/7mvsqm/ama_request_someone_that_has_had_their_pet_cloned/#bottom-comments https://www.technologyreview.com/s/411834/the-dark-side-of-pet-cloning/#comments https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2011/01/dog-cloning-is-not-as-cuddly-as-it-looks.html https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14249-interview-its-a-dogs-life-again/ https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/reallife/293848/i-had-my-beloved-dog-cloned-twice/ http://theweek.com/articles/478973/cloned-pet-tlcs-craziest-show https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/apr/09/britains-first-cloned-dog-born https://web.kitsapsun.com/archive/2003/01-22/55232_cloned_pet_close__but_not_a_purr.html https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/12/cat_cloning_crocked/ https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/06/opinion/clone-pet-streisand-dog.html Posted in Cat Stories, Dog Stories, Other - Tagged cat cloning, dog cloning, pet cloning The unusual place I buy my wormer Tricks for giving medicine to cats and dogs 6 thoughts on “Pet cloning and why I’d never do it” Tamara Heikalo You are truly courageous to have gone hunting down this horrible road for the truth. Without even knowing the despicable details, when I saw the title of your article, I started yelling obscenities against people such as Streisand. For the selfishness (which comes as no surprise, in fact, with Streisand). I mean come on. You have THAT amount of money to spend in such a manner? Cripes. Donate to shelters that really need the support! Let’s hope she does that much, anyway. As you say in your article, there are millions of dogs and cats desperately in need of adoption. And, again without knowing the facts behind cloning – no guarantee of an exact replica, right down to personality – each animal has a personality that a person can learn from, can gain deeper compassion from. Sure, I’d love to have a few animals back in my life, but I’d like the original! In the meantime, we have embraced new personalities into our life, and we are the richer for it. April 12, 2018 at 3:46 pm Author Reply It WAS a very long and hard road, Tamara. Every time I thought I was wrapping up this post, I’d see or read something else that I felt was important to share. I left out a lot, just to keep this post from turning into a book, which it easily could have been. lol I agree with your statement about being richer for the new personalities that come into our lives. 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to do all of the research and then passing along the info to us. I would never clone any animal as I know that there is no possibility that I could have my heart dog back…no one could ever come close to the connection that I had with her and I don’t think I would expect any animal to live up to the legacy that is my sweet Angel. I certainly understand the grief that Barbra went through, but I wish someone had sat her down and talked to her about what she was doing. As a lifelong animal lover I would think that had she had the information, she too would be horrified at the suffering and death involved in cloning an animal as well as the fact that you can never have that connection again. You’ll have connections but they will be different and so they should, every animal and circumstance is unique and they should be cherished for their differences. Thanks again for a well written and informative article!! Thank you for your very kind words, Martina! This post took waaay longer to write than I’d planned, but there was just so much information out there that a lot of the “fluff” articles about cloning weren’t sharing about what really goes into cloning. Thank you for taking the time to read it all and comment. I appreciate your feedback! 🙂 Melissa Britton Thank you for this incredibly well-researched article. My eyes were finally opened to the truth, which now makes so much more sense than what I had been being told, which was that a clone of an animal or even person, was identical in every way. I have been bitter and saddened that I couldn’t afford to have my best beloved cat Baxter cloned. I was jealous of people rich enough to do it. But I can relax now, cherish him, and continue adopting from shelters. I cannot believe Babs didn’t do a modicum of research, but I know I have seen things on newsmagazine TV shows that paints it in a “Wow! The future is here!” manner. You might want to watch an HBO documentary I saw called One Nation Under Dog, it was very revealing and hard to watch in places. I think it ended with a segment on cloning but I can’t say 100%. I do know it left a mark on me about pedigree dogs, bad breeding practices and more. But this is by far the most enlightening, thorough look into pet cloning, and it has allowed me to let go of that dream which sounds like a total nightmare. Thank you so much for what I know was no easy task. Thank you for taking the time to read my post and sharing your thoughts about cloning and how you see cloning in a new light. Unfortunately, from all the responses I read online after Barbra’s interview came out, I think a lot of people are like you and have been led to believe that it’s easy and there are no negatives to it, except for the cost. In reality, it’s almost a secretive practice and very unregulated. Being very pro-rescue, reading all this craziness was heartbreaking for me. Like so many other things in our society, it’s all about greed by the cloning companies and a lot of ignorance by the cloning customers. That’s why I felt compelled to share the truth about it all and hopefully change some minds. Bless you for not contributing or even wanting to contribute to this awful industry. Hugs to you and Baxter.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6939
__label__cc	0.52897	0.47103	You are here: Home › Category Archives › astronomy Robert Hooke and his Micrographia 18. July 2019 Tabea Tietz On July 18, 1635 (according to the old Julian calendar), English natural philosopher, architect and polymath Robert Hooke was born. He is known for his discovery of the laws of elasticity, now known as Hooke’s law. Hooke did research in a remarkable variety of fields. He was one of the first men to build a Gregorian reflecting telescope and to suggest that Jupiter rotates on its access. His studies of microscopic fossils… John Dee and his World of Science and Magic 13. July 2019 Harald Sack On July 13, 1527, Welsh mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occultist, navigator, imperialist and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I, John Dee was born. He is considered one of the most learned men of his age. Besides being an ardent promoter of mathematics and a respected astronomer, in his later years he immersed himself in the worlds of magic, astrology and Hermetic philosophy. One of his aims was attempting to commune with angels in order to… The Mysterious Tunguska Event 30. June 2019 Harald Sack On June 30, 1908, seismic stations all across Europe registered an enormously powerful shock wave, which originated from a location near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in what is now Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. The so-called Tunguska event ever since has challenged the fantasy of scientists, who related it to the impact of a meteor or comet fragment, or even have developed theories that speak of black holes, anti matter or less exotic geothermical… Surveyor 1 Landing on the Moon and the Cold War Space Race 2. June 2019 Harald Sack On June 2, 1966, spaceprobe Surveyor 1, the first of NASA‘s unmanned Surveyor program, as the first American spaceprobe achieved a soft landing on the moon about half a year after the first Moon landing by the Soviet Union‘s Luna 9 probe.[5,6,7] Luna 9 and the Cold War Space Race Already on February 3, 1966, the Luna 9 spacecraft had softly landed on the Moon, which also was the first of any… Joseph Norman Lockyer – a Pioneer of Modern Astrophysics and Founder of Archaeoastronomy 17. May 2019 Tabea Tietz On May 17, 1836, English astronomer Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer was born. Lockyer is regarded as one of the pioneers of modern astrophysics and founder of archaeoastronomy. Along with the French scientist Pierre Janssen, he is credited with discovering the gas helium. Lockyer also is remembered for being the founder and first editor of the influential journal Nature. “The nineteenth century will ever be known as the one in which the influences of… Carl Friedrich Gauss – The Prince of Mathematicians 30. April 2019 Harald Sack On April 30, 1777, German mathematician and physical scientist Carl Friedrich Gauss was born. He contributed significantly to many fields, including number theory, algebra, statistics, analysis, differential geometry, geodesy, geophysics, electrostatics, astronomy and optics. He is often referred to as Princeps mathematicorum (Latin, “the Prince of Mathematicians”) as well as “greatest mathematician since antiquity”. “Mathematics is the Queen of Science, and Arithmetic is the Queen of Mathematics” – handed down in Wolfgang Sartorius… Percival Lowell and the Search for Pluto 19. March 2019 Harald Sack On March 19, 1915, American astronomer Percival Lowell began to make photographies of the sky in the Lowell Observatory, which was founded by him, to search for a planet beyond Neptune. 15 years later, the dwarf planet Pluto was discovered on these photographies. “Formulae are the anaesthetics of thought, not its stimulants and to make any one think is far better worth while than cramming him with ill-considered, and therefore indigestible, learning.” –… Giovanni Schiaparelli and the Martian Canals 14. March 2019 Tabea Tietz On March 14, 1835, Italian astronomer and science historian Giovanni Schiaparelli was born. He is remembered best for his observations of planet Mars, where he discovered a dense network of linear structures on the surface of Mars which he called “canali” in Italian, meaning “channels” but the term was mistranslated into English as “canals” indicating that the observed structures should be of artificial origin. Early Years Schiaparelli graduated in 1854 from the… Sir William Herschel and the Discovery of Uranus On March 13, 1781, Sir William Herschel for the first time observed planet Uranus while in the garden of his house at 19 New King Street in the town of Bath, Somerset, England (now the Herschel Museum of Astronomy), but initially reported it (on April 26, 1781) as a “comet“. “A knowledge of the construction of the heavens has always been the ultimate object of my observations…” – William Herschel, Astronomical Observations relating… John Flamsteed – Astronomer Royal 4. March 2019 Tabea Tietz On March 4, 1675, the English King Charles II appoints John Flamsteed to “The King’s Astronomical Observator” – the first English Astronomer Royal, with an allowance of £100 a year. In the same year, the Royal Greenwich Observatory was founded and Flamsteed laid the foundation stone. Youth and Education John Flamsteed was born the only son of the merchant Stephen Flamsteed and his first wife Mary Spadman from Denby in the county… Tweets by SciHiBlog Further Projects refer: The SciHi Blog is made with enthusiasm by yovisto Relation Browser 0 Recommended Articles:	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6941
__label__cc	0.562634	0.437366	On This Day In History: William Penn – English Philosopher, Quaker And Founder Of Pennsylvania Was Born – Oct 14, 1644 On October 14, 1644, William Penn, English philosopher and founder of Pennsylvania was born. When Penn was 22 year old, he joined the Religious Society of Friends or Quakers, a Christian movement founded by George Fox circa 1650 and devoted to peaceful principles. Central to the Quakers’ belief is the doctrine of the “Inner Light,” or sense of Christ’s direct working in the soul. This has led them to reject both formal ministry and all set forms of worship. The Quakers obeyed their “inner light”, which they believed to come directly from God, refused to bow or take off their hats to any man, and refused to take up arms. In addition, the Quakers refused to swear an oath of loyalty to Cromwell or the King. Penn’s father, Admiral Sir William Penn was far from happy about his son’s religious views. Penn was imprisoned four times for publicly stating his beliefs in word and print. While being imprisoned in the Tower of London, he wrote his most famous book, No Cross, No Crown (1669). In time, the persecution of Quakers became so fierce that Penn decided that it would be better to try to found a new, free, Quaker settlement in North America. Some Quakers had already moved to North America, but the New England Puritans, especially, were as negative towards Quakers as the people back home, and some of them had been banished to the Caribbean. Penn came to America in 1682 and became involved in American colonization as a trustee for Edward Byllynge, one of the two Quaker proprietors of West New Jersey. Later, he established Pennsylvania as a place where people could enjoy freedom of religion. The colony became a haven for minority religious sects from Germany, Holland, Scandinavia, and Great Britain. Penn obtained the land from King Charles II as payment for a debt owed to his deceased father. There is a statue of William Penn atop the City Hall building of Philadelphia, built by Alexander Milne Calder. William Penn died on July 30, 1718 (aged 73). TAGS: history A North Shore UFO? Two Men Tell of Sighting off I-95 U.S. Navy Photo Showing UFO Landing On Aircraft Carrier Is Genuine, Claims Retired Aerospace Engineer Computer Hacker Proves A “Space Force” Existed Long Before Donald Trump Mysterious Ancient Tombs Of Unknown Pharaohs Discovered In Egypt The Varginha UFO incident And The UFO sightings in Brazil Great Attractor: Mysterious Gravitational Anomaly Beyond Hydra-Centaurus Supercluster S02 E04 Ancient Aliens: Underground Aliens UFOs Sighted/Photographed over United Kingdom	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6942
__label__wiki	0.911596	0.911596	Justice Thomas speaks at Harvard Law (video) By Emily Newburger, February 11, 2013 U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas with HLS Dean Martha Minow Justice Clarence Thomas has become known as a quiet presence on the Supreme Court. But on Jan. 29, members of the Harvard Law School community got to hear him speak—and he did so with great humor and warmth. As part of the Herbert W. Vaughan Lecture series, Thomas participated in a conversation with HLS Dean Martha Minow, after a day in which he met with faculty and students. In introducing Thomas—a graduate of Yale Law School—Minow said that he had turned down his admission to Harvard Law. She noted that he’d found it “too large, and if I’m right, too conservative.” This elicited laughter from the audience filling Milstein East, and a smile from Thomas—both of which recurred many times over the course of the evening. Minow asked the justice to say something about his life as a young person. Thomas grew up poor in segregated Georgia and he recalled that although the times were difficult, he “had a good life,” and is grateful for the schooling he received, and for the “real push” he felt to be well educated. “All of you must have someone,” he said, “who took you aside and gave you that affinity for learning, which has stuck with you.” For Thomas, it was two women working in a segregated library in Savannah. He said he still remembers the day in 1955 when he heard one of them read a story by Dr. Seuss, and he got his first glimpse of the worlds contained in books. He also recalled with gratitude those who raised him. “I grew up with people who were not lettered. In that environment, my relatives and neighbors treasured education the way a person who was hungry would treasure food. They understood it as something they never had a chance to have.” Minow noted that Thomas had held a great variety of legal positions before being nominated to the Supreme Court (perhaps more than many other justices), including legislative assistant to Senator John Danforth of Missouri; assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education; a stint in the private sector; chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She asked him to reflect on his career path. Thomas said that initially he had no sense of where it was headed. “When you don’t have a model,” he said, “you just do what’s in front of you.” He likened it to when “we used to work in the fields, row after endless row of work in the sun. … You internalize that discipline to do things. I had no idea where anything would lead. I simply did my best.” Thomas said he’s enjoyed all of the work he’s done, but he’s most enjoyed his time as a judge. He loved working on the D.C. Circuit. And about “his current job,” he said the best part is the people he’s worked with. He described a collegial atmosphere where he has respected and liked all of his colleagues over the past 21 years, although he often disagrees with many of them. Former HLS Dean Elena Kagan ’86, for example, “is just a delight,” he said. And soon after she joined the Court he told her: “It’s going to be a joy disagreeing with you for years to come.” “You make each other better,” he said, through this sort of engagement. And he demands the same level of independent thought and civility from his law clerks. “I need people to disagree in a way that moves things forward,” he said. “That’s how you get things done.” Justice Thomas spent a day meeting with faculty and students before participating in a conversation with Dean Minow. Minow noted that this Court is known as especially collegial, and Thomas is often cited as having much to do with that. “Then why don’t they vote with me?” he said with a chuckle. “They just kindly disagree.” When it comes to the most useful advice he’s received on approaching his job, Thomas said it came from Judge Laurence Silberman of the D.C. Circuit. When Thomas became a circuit judge, his new colleague suggested that he approach every case with this question: What is my role in this case as a judge? Not a as a citizen, not as an activist, but as a judge? Thomas said the opinion that is his model and that he often reads for inspiration is Justice John Marshall Harlan’s dissent in Plessy v. Ferguson, which rejected the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities under the doctrine of “separate but equal.” Growing up, “the notions expressed in that dissent were the things that we, in an unlearned way, held onto,” he said. “They told us that when all else was going in another direction, this was something that was headed the right direction.” When Minow asked about what makes for effective advocacy before the Court, Thomas cited flexibility and thoroughness, but he put even more emphasis on honesty. “There is no advocate who wants the justices to say that he or she has been less than candid with the Court,” he said. “People are looking at you askance from then on.” Minow asked for his views on the fact that on today’s Court, justices frequently interrupt each other with their questions. Thomas said he didn’t think it was helpful, adding that to decide a case, he didn’t think it necessary to ask so many questions. “I think we should listen to the lawyers who are arguing their case and allow the advocates to advocate.” When Minow asked what was most challenging about his job, the justice quickly replied “the loss of anonymity.” And when she asked what he liked best, he just as quickly answered that it was his law clerks. He loves his colleagues, he said, but he really loves his law clerks. “They are my kids,” he said. “And finally,” he added, “with respect to the job, I like the idea that I get to live up to my oath.” Among his heroes, Thomas included Justice Thurgood Marshall, but most of the people he admires, he says, are not well known. His grandfather, who raised him, is at the top of the list. Raised by freed slaves, he grew up with a dignity that the South tried to deny him. Thomas has a bust of him in his office and shared one of his favorite sayings: “Old Man Can’t is dead. I helped bury him.” Thomas himself had words of wisdom for the law students, including: “Do well. Do well so you can be in a position to do good.” Topics: Constitutional People: Martha Minow, Clarence Thomas	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6945
__label__cc	0.553268	0.446732	in Unapologetic Sia wrote this hit in just 14 minutes! She heard the track that Benny Blanco had intended to be a hip-hop song–and turned it into a pop success. In an interview with HuffPost Entertainment (2012) Benny Blanco said: “We’re sitting there trying to make records, and we finally just said, ‘Let’s just do something we like. Let’s make a hip-hop record with some really cool chords on it. It didn’t sound Rihanna at all. We were more thinking of making a record that sounds like Kanye. Let’s make a record with a dope beat. So we did. Then Sia heard the track and instantly gravitated towards it. We weren’t even thinking of putting a pop song on it, but she wrote this amazing song.” ‘Diamonds’ is Rihanna’s favorite song; she likes the mood of it. She told iHeartRadio: “You’re not sad. You’re happy and hippie. It’s hopeful. It gives me a great feeling when I listen to it. The lyrics are hopeful and positive. It’s about love and the gears are different than what people will expect.” Rihanna was asked about the heady metaphors in the song during an interview with MTV News, she said: “I think a lot of people are afraid of being happy because of what others might think of it […] They’re afraid to embrace that and embrace themselves and love themselves and do what they love and do what makes them happy. My story is definitely going to be a happily ever after, no matter what.” Sia Furler – Benjamin Levin – Mikkel Eriksen – Tor Hermansen Def Jam – SRP In the US, ‘Diamonds’ gave Rihanna her twelfth number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the fifth artist with the most number 1 singles in chart history. It also peaked at number 1 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop, US Dance Club Songs, and US Rhythmic charts. The Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it 5 times Platinum for sales over 3.52 million copies. In the UK, the single topped the Official charts company, selling over a million copies. The British Phonographic Industry certified it Double Platinum. ‘Diamonds’ topped the charts in several countries including Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia and Switzerland. It reached the top 10 charts in Australia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea, Spain and Sweden. ‘Diamonds’ was certified 6 times Platinum in Australia and Sweden, and Quadruple Platinum in Denmark, Italy and Switzerland. In Venezuela it was certified Triple Platinum, in New Zealand it was certified Double Platinum, and Platinum in Belgium, Canada, Finland and Germany. Austria and Spain certified it Gold. Rihanna was 24 years old when she released Diamonds. Sia – Hobbie Stuart – The Dolly Rockers (acoustic) – Madilyn Bailey (acoustic) – Riley Bierderer (acoustic) – Joel Brandenstein (acoustic) – Alex Goot, Julia Sheer, Chad Sugg – Any Given Day (Metal) – Asanda Jezile (Britain’s Got Talent 2013) – Steam Giraffe – Chloe & Halle (acoustic) – Mike Hough – Rick Rose – Nicole Cross – Josef Salvat – Alyssa Bernal – Ali Brustofski – Sami – Florina Perez (French) – Haven & Tay-Tay – Kim Viera – HelenaMaria – Melanie McCabe (The X Factor UK 2013) – Alice Olivia – Johnny O – Calum Scott (Britain’s Got Talent 2015) – Angel Tairua (Australia’s Got Talent 2013) – Teksuo.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6949
__label__cc	0.521072	0.478928	Board index » Forums » Prayer Requests, Devotions, Death Notices Short Readings for Everyday of April--Virtue of Patience April: Patience Whoever taketh not up his cross and followeth Me, is not worthy of Me.----Matt. 10:38 1. The Cross is the true gate through which to enter into the temple of holiness; and by any other way it is not possible to come into it. Therefore, we ought more than once to immolate our hearts to the love of Jesus, upon that same altar of the Cross on which He sacrificed His love for us. Father Alvarez made this resolution: "I will consider all aridity, disquiet, and every trial which shall come to me in prayer as a martyrdom, and as such I will bear them with constancy." He pursued this course faithfully for sixteen years, after which he had so many consolations and celestial lights as were an abundant recompense for all the sufferings he had previously endured. St. Teresa bore the greatest aridity for eighteen years, and then to what heights was she not exalted! St. Bernard said of himself: "All those things that the world loves, such as pleasure, honors, praise, and riches, are to me crosses; and all things which the world counts as crosses, I seek and embrace with the greatest affection." 2. If you see that you have not yet suffered tribulations, consider it certain that you have not begun to be a true servant of God; for the Apostle says plainly that all who choose to live piously in Christ, shall suffer persecutions.----St. Augustine St. Athanasius, St. Basil, St. John Chrysostom, St. Jerome, and St. Cyril were all charged with a thousand crimes, and in that way were greatly afflicted. St. Romualdo was slanderously accused by one of his monks of the commission of a shameful crime, was condemned in a public assembly to be burnt at the stake as a punishment, and in the meantime was suspended from his function as a priest. But, though he was then a centenarian, he bore all with the greatest tranquillity. St. Francis Xavier was grieved when he saw everything going on successfully with him in Lisbon; and if such favorable circumstances had continued to exist, he would have thought that he was not serving God well. 3. By working out our salvation through sufferings, the Son of God has wished to teach us that there is nothing in us so fitted to glorify God and to sanctify our souls as suffering. Yes, yes, to suffer for love of the Lord is the way of truth! Therefore, the more one can suffer, the more let him suffer, for he will be the most fortunate of all; and whoever does not resolve upon this, will never make much progress.----St. Teresa St. Mary Magdalen de' Pazzi was so much enamored of suffering that she said: "I do not desire to die soon, because in Heaven there is nothing to suffer; but I desire to live a long time, because I wish to suffer long for love of my Spouse. Nor would I have a brief martyrdom only, but an accumulation of pains, calumnies, misfortunes, and all adversities that can possibly happen to me." And when she went through a long and painful illness this not only failed to extinguish in her this great thirst for suffering, but after tasting it in such a way, she longed for it the more, so that while the Superior endeavored to lessen her hardships for the preservation of her health, she was at the same time seeking in every way to invent new kinds of sufferings that no one would perceive. It happened one day, in the course of her last illness, that having received a marked affront, she not only bore it patiently, but showed signs of particular friendship for the offender. When one of the Sisters manifested astonishment, she told her that she was glad she had not died before it occurred, that she might not lose such an excellent opportunity for suffering. 4. The way is narrow. Whoever expects to walk in it with ease must go detached from all things, leaning on the staff of the Cross; that is firmly resolving to be willing to suffer in all things for love of God.----St. John of the Cross Taulerus relates that he knew a great servant of God who had many visions and revelations, and was aquainted with the interpretations of Scripture and the secrets of hearts. But becoming afraid that gifts of one sort might prove a hindrance to favors of another kind, and so prevent him from being loved by God, he earnestly besought the Lord to be pleased to take away from him every consolation; and he was heard. For five years in succession, he never had the slightest spiritual joy nor any celestial inspiration or illumination, but always led a life full of afflictions, temptations and spiritual aridity. Finally, the Lord was moved with pity at so much suffering, and one day sent two angels to console him a little. But he, contented in his sorrows, refused this consolation, and turning his heart to God said: "O Lord, I do not desire any pleasure in this world, nor do I wish that anyone should enter my heart save Thyself, O my Beloved! for it is enough consolation for me if Thy holy will be done in me." This beautiful act of detachment pleased God so much that the Eternal Father proclaimed him His beloved child, in these words: Tu es filius Meus in quo Mihi bene complacui----Thou art My son, in whom I am well pleased. 5. If anyone, O Lord does Thee a service, Thou repayest him by some trial. Oh, what an inestimable reward is this for those who truly love Thee, if it might be given them to know its value!----St. Teresa When the venerable Marco di Palfox saw that after he had done a good work, some tribulation, reproach, or calumny came upon him, he considered this as a special favor from the Lord; "For," he said, ''as I receive no reward in this world, it is a sign that God means to reward me fully in Heaven." The Lord once appeared to the blessed Clara di Montefalco and offered her for a gift a cross which hung from His neck. The Saint received the present with the greatest consolation; and there was then impressed upon her heart an image of the crucifix, of the size of a finger. She preserved this so well that, in her last agony, when one of the nuns was looking for a cross upon the bed, she said to her, "Take my heart, for you will find the crucifix there." In fact, it was found there after her death. 6. O ye souls who wish to go on with so much safety and consolation, if you knew how pleasing to God is suffering, and how much it helps in acquiring other good things, you would never seek consolation in anything; but you would rather look upon it as a great happiness to bear the Cross after the Lord.----St. John of the Cross Blessed William the Abbot saw, one night in a dream, some Angels who were weaving a crown of marvellous richness and beauty; and when he asked them for whom they were making it, they said that it was for him, and would be finished when he had suffered enough. St. Gertrude once prayed the Lord, at the time of the Carnival, to show her some special service pleasing to Him that she might perform on those three days, on which He had to suffer so many insults from the world. The Lord made her this reply: "My daughter, you will never be able to do Me a greater service at any time than bearing patiently, in honor of My Passion, whatever tribulation may come to you, whether it be interior or exterior, always forcing yourself to do all those things that are most contrary to your desires." The Lord appeared one day to St. Teresa and addressed her thus: "Know that those souls are most pleasing to My Heavenly Father, that are tried by the very greatest afflictions and sufferings!" From that time, the Saint conceived such a love for suffering that she found no consolation but in bearing it; and when she was without any trouble, she was disquieted, and even said that she would not have exchanged her trials for all the treasures in the world; and she often had upon her lips those beautiful words, "To suffer, or to die." After her death, she appeared to one of the Sisters, and revealed to her that she was rewarded in Heaven for nothing so much as for the contradiction she had suffered in life, and that if she could wish to return to earth for any reason, the only one would be that she might suffer something. 7. One ounce of the Cross is worth more than a million pounds of prayer. One day of crucifIXion is worth more than a hundred years of all other exercises. It is worth more to remain a moment upon the Cross, than to taste the delights of Paradise.----Ven. Sister Maria Vittoria Angelini St. Bridget once received and bore patiently a succession of trials from various persons. One of them made an insulting remark to her; another praised her in her presence, but complained of her in her absence; another calumniated her; another spoke ill of a servant of God, in her presence, to her great displeasure; one did her a grievous wrong, and she blessed her; one caused her a loss, and she prayed for her; and a seventh gave her false information of the death of her son, which she received with tranquillity and resignation. After all this, St. Agnes the Martyr appeared to her, bringing in her hand a most beautiful crown adorned with seven precious stones, telling her that they had been placed there by these seven persons. Then she put it upon her head and disappeared. How could so much have been gained by any other exercise? The Blessed Angela di Foligno, when asked how she was able to receive and endure sufferings with so much cheerfulness, replied: "Believe me, the grandeur and value of sufferings are not known to us. For, if we knew the worth of our trials, they would become for us objects of plunder, and we should go about trying to snatch from one another opportunities to suffer." 8. One "Thanks be to God," or one "Blessed be God," in adversity, is worth more than a thousand thanksgivings in prosperity.----Father M. d' Avila When St. Francis was suffering much bodily pain in illness, one of his monks told him that he would pray to God to grant him some relief. The Saint reproved him, and bowing his head to the ground, said: "O Lord, I give Thee thanks for this pain which I am suffering, and I pray Thee to be pleased to increase it. What can or should be more acceptable to me than this, that Thou shouldst afflict me without mercy, for this is the very thing that I desire above all." 9. If the Lord should give you power to raise the dead, He would give much less than He does when He bestows suffering. By miracles you would make yourself debtor to Him, while by suffering He may become debtor to you. And even if sufferings had no other. reward than being able to bear something for that God who loves you, is not this a great reward and a sufficient remuneration? Whoever loves, understands what I say.----St. John Chrysostom This Saint set so high a value on suffering, that he even said: "I venerate St. Paul not so much for having been raised to the third heaven, as for the imprisonment he suffered. And so, if I were asked whether I would be placed in Heaven among the Angels, or in prison with Paul, I would prefer the latter. And if it were left to my choice whether I should be Peter in chains, or the Angels that released him, I would certainly rather be the first than the second." St. Louis the King, when conversing with the King of England about the slavery he endured in Turkey, in which he suffered many trials, expressed himself in this manner: "I thank God for the ill success of that war, and I rejoice more at the patience which the Lord granted me at that time, than if I had subjugated the country." The Lord once appeared to the Blessed Baptista Verrani, and said to her: "Believe, My daughter, that I have shown you greater love in sending you afflictions, than in lavishing upon you every mark of tenderness. In what could I show My love more than in seeking for you what I chose for Myself? Know that to keep from sin is a great good, to perform good works a greater, but the greatest of all is to suffer." 10. It ought to be considered a great misfortune, not only for individuals, but also for Houses and Congregations, to have everything in conformity with their wishes; to go on quietly, and to suffer nothing for the love of God. Yes, consider it certain that a person or a Congregation that does not suffer and is applauded by all the world is near a fall.----St. Vincent de Paul How fully St. Vincent was persuaded of this truth, he showed by the manner in which he informed his disciples of a considerable loss which had befallen the house. "As I had been considering," he said, "for a long time how happily the affairs of the Congregation were going on, and how well everything succeeded, I began to be much afraid of this calm, for I knew that God is accustomed to try His servants. But blessed be the Divine Goodness, which has designed to visit us with a very considerable loss." A holy old man who was very often sick was much grieved at passing a whole year without an illness, saying that God must have abandoned him, as He had ceased to visit him. Sts. Francis and Andrew Avellino entertained the same sentiments. They thought on any day when they suffered nothing for the love of God, that He had forgotten and abandoned them. One night when Father Avila was sick, his pain increased excessively after the candle went out and the attendants had gone to sleep. He was unwilling to awake them, but after a while, overcome by the sharpness of the pain, he prayed the Lord to be pleased to deliver him from such agony. He then fell asleep, and on awaking, found himself free from pain. Whereupon, he said to one of his disciples, "What a severe blow the Lord has dealt me this night!" By this he meant that in hearing his prayer, God had taken from him the occasion of suffering and of meriting. 11. We have never so much cause for consolation, as when we find ourselves oppressed by sufferings and trials; for these make us like Christ our Lord, and this resemblance is the true mark of our predestination.----St. Vincent de Paul No one has understood this great truth so well as St. Andrew the Apostle. At first sight of the cross on which he was to be crucified, he was filled with joy, and broke forth into this exclamation: "O cross so much desired, so much loved, and so much sought by me! behold how I come to thee full of security and joy! Do thou separate me from men, and restore me to my Master, so that by thy means He may receive me, who by thy means redeemed me." The Lord once said to St. Gertrude: "The more you are tried, and the more your way of life is disapproved without any fault of your own, the dearer you will be to Me, on account of the increased resemblance to Me which you will thus attain; for anyone who greatly resembles a king, is usually very dear to him; and I lived in constant suffering, and was opposed in all I did." When St. Matilda was suffering from a severe illness, Jesus Christ came to her and told her that when He beheld persons grievously afflicted and tormented, He embraced them with His left arm, to draw them very near His heart. 12. There is no more evident sign that anyone is a Saint and of the number of the elect, than to see him leading a good life and at the same time a prey to desolation, suffering, and trials.----St. Aloysius Gonzaga Because St. Ignatius Loyola was perfect and dear to God, persecutions came upon him to such an extent that it would often happen that while he was at a distance, his companions lived in great tranquillity, and immediately upon his return, some trial would fall upon the house. St. Teresa once received some money from a merchant who recommended himself to her prayers. A little while after, she said to him: "I have prayed for you, and it has been revealed to me that your name is written in the Book of Life; and as a token of this, nothing in future will go on prosperously with you." And this came to pass exactly; for, within a short time, all his ships were lost, and he became bankrupt. When his friends heard of these disasters, they provided him with another ship, which was also soon wrecked. Then, of his own accord, he entered the debtors' prison. But his creditors, knowing how good he was, would not harm him, and set him free. Having thus become poor, he ended his life like a Saint, content with God alone. 13. If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a Saint. And if you wish to become a great Saint, entreat Him yourself to give you much opportunity for suffering; for there is no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the cross, which Christ used for His own great sacrifice of boundless charity.----St. Ignatius Loyola Joseph suffered great afflictions and trials from his brethren, and these formed precisely the way by which the Lord led him to his great exaltation. St. Teresa, who was formed for so lofty a destiny, suffered incredible trials from all sorts of people, even from the good and spiritual. Many considered her deluded by the devil. Many ridiculed her prayers and revelations. Some wished to exorcise her as possessed. Others accused her to the Holy Office; and she suffered, besides, much opposition and trouble from her Superiors, in regard to the monasteries which she founded. 14. There is no better test to distinguish the chaff from the grain, in the Church of God, than the manner in which sufferings, contradiction, and contempt are borne. Whoever remains unmoved under these, is grain. Whoever rises against them is chaff; and the lighter and more worthless he is, the higher he rises----that is, the more he is agitated, and the more proudly he replies.----St. Augustine A person of high rank presented himself to St. Francis de Sales to ask a benefice for an ecclesiastic who enjoyed his patronage. The Saint replied that as to conferring benefices he had tied his own hands, for he had decided that they should be given only after a competitive examination; but that he would not forget his recommendation, if this priest would offer himself to be examined with the others. The gentleman, who was quick-tempered, believing this to be only a pretext for refusal, accused him of duplicity and hypocrisy, and even threatened him. When the Saint perceived that gentle words did no good, he entreated him not to object at least to a private examination; and, as he was still dissatisfied, "Then," said St. Francis, "you wish that I should entrust to him a portion of my charge with my eyes closed? Consider whether that is just!" At this, the gentleman began to raise his voice angrily, and to make all kinds of insulting remarks to the holy bishop, who bore all in unbroken silence. An acquaintance of his, who was present, asked him after the scene was over how he had been able to endure such insults without showing the least resentment. "Do not be astonished at this," said the Saint, "for it was not he that spoke, but his anger. Outside of this he is one of my dearest friends, and you will see after a while that my silence will increase his attachment for me." "But did you not feel any resentment at all?" pursued the other. "I turned my thoughts in another direction," was the answer, "setting myself to consider the good qualities of this person, whose friendship I had previously so much enjoyed." The gentleman afterwards came and asked pardon, even with tears, and they became firmer friends than ever before. One day, as St. Felix the Capuchin was going through the street in Rome with a flask of wine on his back, he met a gentleman on a spirited horse, which he spurred so furiously that it trampled upon one foot of the servant of God, who fell to the ground. The flask was broken, and the wine ran out upon the pavement, mingled with the blood which flowed freely from the wound. All the bystanders, affrighted at the accident, expressed their pity for the Saint. He alone retained his usual serenity of countenance, and looking at the gentleman with a mild glance, asked his pardon for his imprudence and rudeness in obstructing his path. The rider, however, instead of appreciating so much virtue, was angry, and with a haughty look and without a word of answer, spurred his horse and rode proudly away. Brother Felix, being assisted to rise by those who had gathered around, went back to his monastery as best he might. As he was not able to walk quickly for some time, on account of the injury to his foot, he used to say to himself: "Get on, you beast of an ass! what are you loitering for? You are so slow and spiritless that you will deserve the stick!" Then turning his heart to God, he would break forth into devout thanksgivings for His infinite goodness. But after the gentleman had recollected himself a little and reflected upon the wrong he had done by his scornful treatment of an innocent and holy religious, he went the next day to the monastery and falling on his knees before the Saint, begged pardon for the proud and cruel treatment he had given him. The servant of God forgave him with so much cordiality and courtesy, that he resolved to change his habits and his whole life. This beautiful truth was known even to pagan philosophers. St. Basil relates of Socrates, that when he was one day struck in the face, in the public square, by one of the rabble, he not only showed no anger at such an insult but, with tranquil mind and serene countenance, stood quite still until his face was livid with blows. Still more remarkable is this anecdote of Epictetus. One day his master, who had a violent temper, gave him a blow on one leg. He said to him coolly, that he had better take care not to break it; and when, by repeated blows, his master actually broke the bone, Epictetus added, without any emotion: "Did I not tell you that you were running a risk of breaking it?" 15. It is certain that the true spirit is inclined rather to afflictions, aridity, disgust, and trials, than to sweet and pleasing communications; for it knows that the former is that following of Christ and that denial of self so much inculcated by the Lord.----St. John of the Cross The Lord appeared to St. Catherine with two crowns in His hand, one of gold, the other of thorns, and told her to choose whichever she preferred. She chose the second. From that time she conceived so great a love for afflictions and trials, that she said: "There is nothing that consoles me so much, and gives me so much comfort, as afflictions and crosses, and it seems to me that if I had not this support from time to time I should live the most wretched life in the world; and if God should give me my choice whether to go now into Paradise or to remain a little longer here to suffer, I should choose the latter rather than the former, for I know how much glory is increased by sufferings." The blessed Maria d'Ognes used to sleep with the ground for her bed, a stone for her pillow, and hair-cloth for a blanket. Being one day tried beyond measure by the pains of paralysis, she uttered such mournful sighs that a holy man prayed to God for her, and she was relieved from her illness. But when she was sensible of the cure, she sent to ask the saint not to pray for her any more, saying that she valued sickness much more than health. 16. Those who have arrived at perfection, and especially true contemplatives, do not ask the Lord to free them from trials and temptations. They rather desire and value them as worldlings value gold and jewels, for they know that these are to make them rich.----St. Teresa St. Catherine of Genoa once said in the midst of extreme pain and severe torture: "O Lord! it is thirty-six years since Thou first gavest me spiritual light, and ever since, I have desired nothing but sufferings, interior and exterior." The Venerable Anna Maria of St. Joseph, a Discalced Carmelite and a person of no ordinary piety, exercised her- self continually in the sharpest penances and austerities. When the others tried to turn her away from these practices, she replied: "No, I will never cease until the Lord satiates me with His griefs and reproaches:' She often said, too, that she wished for neither relics, nor rosary, nor a cell, nor anything but a cross upon which to crucify herself. St. Francis Xavier, when he had a cross, used to make this prayer: "O Lord, do not take it away from me, unless to give me a greater." 17. Kiss frequently the crosses which the Lord sends you, and with all your heart, without regarding of what sort they may be; for the more vile and mean they are, the more they deserve their name. The merit of crosses does not consist in their weight, but in the manner in which they are borne. It may show much greater virtue to bear a cross of straw than a very hard and heavy one, because the light ones are also the most hidden and contemned, and therefore least comfortable to our inclination, which always seeks what is showy.----St. Francis de Sales In the many long and painful journeys made by this Saint, he was never heard to complain of cold, or wind, or the heat of the sun or the quality of his food; but he took all things peacefully from the hand of God, and was particularly pleased with the worst and most inconvenient articles----and when he could, he always chose them for himself. Mention is made in the Chronicles of St. Dominic of a novice of that Order who died in the monastery of Argentina and who opened his eyes unexpectedly, while the religious were saying the last prayers for his soul, and said: "Listen, dearest Brothers: I am like one who goes to a fair, and buys a great deal for a little money. Behold, I am receiving the Kingdom of Heaven for a few trials, and I do not see how I deserve it." Having spoken thus, he reposed in the Lord. St. John Climacus says that he found in a monastery a young monk who received little penances from the Superior for trifling faults, and haughty and discourteous treatment from almost all the rest. The Saint showed sympathy for him, and wished to console him; but the good youth said: "Father, do not give yourself any trouble. They treat me in this way, not because they have bad dispositions and little charity, but the Lord permits it to exercise me in patience, which is necessary to show whether I am serving God truly. Certainly I have no cause to complain, for even gold is not made perfect without being tried." Two years after, added the holy Abbot, this youth passed to a better life, saying to his Brothers before he expired: "I render thanks to Jesus Christ and to you, Fathers, and I testify that through having been tried by you to my profit and advancement, I have lived free from the snares of the devil, and now depart in peace." In the Lives of the Fathers, a story is told of a holy monk who every night gave his disciple an instruction, and afterwards sent him to rest. Now, one evening while giving it, the old man fell asleep, and the good novice, while waiting for him to awake, was much tempted to impatience and to go away to sleep. He conquered himself, however, seven times, with great earnestness and fervor. At midnight, the old man awoke and dismissed him. While saying his final prayers, the old Father had a vision of an Angel, who showed him a most beautiful throne with seven crowns above it. In answer to his questions, the Angel said that they were for his disciple, who had gained them that night by his victory over seven temptations. When his disciples told him all in the morning, he was struck with wonder to see how bountifully God recompenses all our good actions. 18. If we could but know what a precious treasure lies concealed in infirmities, we would receive them with as much joy as we would the greatest benefits, and we would bear them without complaint or any sign of annoyance.----St. Vincent de Paul This Saint was tried by many long and most painful infirmities, which often deprived him of the use of his limbs, and left him no rest by day or night. He bore them all with unalterable tranquillity, and conversed with the same affability and serenity of countenance that he had when he was well. A word of complaint never escaped from his lips, but he praised and thanked God constantly for sending to him these sufferings, and looked on them as special favors. The most he did when the pain was at its worst, was to turn to the crucifix and animate himself to patience by devout interior aspirations. If he ever happened to speak of his sufferings, he mentioned them as a thing of no account, saying that he suffered little in comparison with what he deserved, or with what Christ suffered for love of us. One of his household was one day applying a dressing to his limbs, which were diseased for forty years, when moved with compassion at seeing them so swollen and ulcerated, he exclaimed, "Alas, how grievous are your sufferings!" But the Saint quickly replied: "How can you apply the word grievous to the work of God, and His Divine arrangement in causing a miserable sinner to suffer? May God pardon you for what you have just said! This is not the way to speak in the school of Christ! Is it not right that the guilty should suffer and be chastised? And cannot the Lord do with us whatever pleases Him?" Once writing of his sufferings to an intimate friend, he said: "I did not wish to let you know of my sickness, fearing it would make you sad. But God is good! How long shall we be so weak that we shall not have courage to reveal to one another the graces and favors God bestows on us in visiting us with sickness? May it please His Divine goodness to give us a little more spirit, that we may find our satisfaction in His!" Through all his illnesses he never ceased to take an interest in the affairs of the house and of the whole Congregation. He received persons of all sorts, whether belonging to his Order or not, if they came to him on business or for other reasons, and always with such a smiling face and with so much amiability and serenity that if they had not known his state of health from others, they would have considered him well. Neither did such great infirmities cause him to change his usual mode of life. Up to his death he continued to sleep on straw, and to take the common food. When the physicians and some persons of rank tried to persuade him to take delicacies, he did so once or twice to please them, but immediately returned to what he generally ate, under the pretext that his stomach would not bear other food. When St. Felix the Capuchin was suffering severely from colic, he was asked, by the doctor, how he felt, and answered: "The wicked ass of a body would be glad to escape the stick, but it must stand and receive the blow." When he was urged to have recourse to the divine aid, by invoking the most holy name of Jesus, from whom he might expect relief----"What do you say?" cried the Saint, "to what do you advise me? Never! These are not pains, but celestial flowers which Paradise produces, and the Lord shares among His children." Then he began to praise and bless the Divine Goodness which dealt thus with him. 19. There are some sick persons who grieve and lament not so much for their own troubles, as for what they cause to those around them, and because they cannot occupy themselves in good works, and especially in prayer, as they did when they were well. In this they deceive themselves greatly, for as to the trouble given to others, whoever is truly patient wishes for all that God wishes, and in the manner and with the inconveniences that He wishes; as to works, one day of suffering borne with resignation is worth more than a month of great labors; and as to prayer, which is better: to remain upon the Cross with Christ, or to stay at the foot of it and contemplate His sufferings? Besides, to offer to the Lord His own weakness, to remember for whom it was suffered, and to conform ourselves to His holy will, is certainly a very excellent prayer.----St. Francis de Sales This Saint bore well not only the afflictions and trials which came to him, but also their consequences, such as the inconvenience which his illnesses caused those who waited on him or lived with him. And in all other things it was the same. Father Alvarez saw, in a trance, the great glory which God had prepared for a nun who was tried by a most grievous illness, which she bore with all possible patience. He said that she had merited more in eight months of sickness than some healthy and devout persons in many years. St. Aldegonda, having been forewarned of the day of her death, prayed the Lord to send her first some painful disease, that purified by it, she might fly the more lightly to Heaven. She was heard, for there came to her an acute fever with very sharp pain. In this state she rejoiced, considering the fever a refreshing coolness; the pain, consolation; and the sweats, a soothing bath by which she should be thoroughly purified for her flight to Heaven. While St. Francis was suffering very acute pain in his eyes, he gave thanks constantly to God, and prayed to Him for perseverance in His service. One day the Lord said to him: "Rejoice, Francis, for the treasure of eternal life is in store for you, and these pains are a pledge of it." When St. Vincent de Paul was seriously ill, he used to practice a method of prayer which was easily and pleasant, and at the same time profitable. It was to remain quietly in the presence of God, without forcibly applying his intellect to any considerations, only exciting his soul to frequent acts of resignation to the will of God, confidence, love, or thanksgiving. 20. Observe that we gain more in a single day by trials which come to us from God and our neighbor, than we would in ten years by penances and other exercises, which we take up of ourselves.----St. Teresa St. Lionina, after suffering for thirty-eight years from a cruel disease, longed to endure yet greater pains, and to finish her course as a martyr. While she was burning with this desire, she was uplifted in an ecstasy, and saw a most beautiful crown, still unfinished, which she was told was in preparation for her. Eager to have it completed, she prayed the Lord to increase her torments, and He sent two soldiers, who tortured her with blows and insults. After this, an Angel appeared to her with a crown in his hand, quite finished, and told her that these last trials had placed in it the jewels that were previously wanting. An Angel appeared one day to the blessed Henry Suso, and offered him a shield, a lance, and spurs, saying: "Hitherto you have fought among the infantry, and now you will join the calvary; hitherto you have practiced mortifications of your own choice, now you shall be mortified by the scourge of evil tongues; hitherto you have enjoyed milk from the breast of Christ, now you shall be inebriated with His gall; hitherto you have been pleasing to men, now they will rise against you." The following day, as the servant of God was meditating upon this vision, he felt impelled to go to the window, and on looking out, he saw a goat in the courtyard with a rag in its mouth, which it was pulling and tearing. Then he heard a voice which' said: "Thus are you to be torn by the mouths of others." He, thereupon, went downstairs and picked up the rag, which he preserved as a precious pledge of his cross. 21. He has not true patience who is willing to suffer only what he pleases, and from whom he pleases. The truly patient man does not regard the length nor the kind of his sufferings, not yet the person who makes him suffer----whether he be a superior, an equal, or an inferior; whether he be a holy man or ill-disposed and dishonorable. His only aim is to suffer.----Thomas a Kempis We are told, in the Lives of the Fathers, of a young monk who dwelt with an aged monk who went every morning to the city to sell the articles which they had both made on the preceding day, and who spent all they brought upon wine for himself, bringing home only a bit of bread for the youth. The young man bore this way of life for three years; but at last, finding himself in rags and dying of hunger, he began to consider whether it would not be well to leave such a companion and go elsewhere. Then an Angel appeared to him and said: "Have patience a little longer, for tomorrow you shall be with me in Paradise:' He told this vision to the old man, who did not believe it. But the following day, as they were discussing the matter, the holy youth peacefully expired, and the old man was converted and mourned for his previous life. 22. The Lord sends us tribulation and infirmities to give us the means of paying the immense debts we have contracted with Him. Therefore, those who have good sense receive them joyfully, for they think more of the good which they may derive from them than of the pain which they experience on account of them.----St. Vincent Ferrer This Saint unfolded this same sentiment more fully in a sermon which contained this pleasing parable: There was a king who had in prison two men who both owed him large sums of money. Seeing that they were unable to pay because they possessed nothing, he threw down a purse full of money upon each of them with so much force that they both felt the pain. One, angry at the blow, showed his impatience without making any account of the purse; but the other, not regarding the pain, recognized the favor done him, and taking the purse, gave thanks to the king and paid his debt with the money. "Now, precisely the same thing happens with us," added the Saint. "We all owe heavy debts to God for the many benefits we have received from Him, and for the many sins we have committed against Him, nor have we anything of our own to pay them. Therefore, moved by pity for us, He sends us the gold of patience in the purse of tribulations, that we may use it to pay our debts. Whoever will not do this only increases his debts and renders himself, at the same time, more displeasing to God." The example of the two thieves crucified with Christ confirms this truth. By his patience, one paid his debts and gained Paradise; while the other, by his impatience, made himself more than ever a debtor, and obtained for himself eternal pains. Cesairus tells of a Cistercian monk who appeared to his Abbot in great glory the night after his death, and said to him: "Know, my Father, that the sharp pains and tortures of my illness supplied for me the place of Purgatory by anticipation; and therefore I rose directly from earth to Heaven." 23. Do not be vexed at the contradictions you meet in ordinary intercourse, for they give an opportunity to practice the most precious and amiable virtues, which Our Lord has recommended to us. Believe me that true virtue is no more reared in outward repose, than good fish in the stagnant water of a swamp. How shall we prove our love for God, who has suffered so much for us, if not among contradictions and repugnances?----St. Francis de Sales The blessed Seraphino the Capuchin was once in company with his Superiors and a young secular, who, seeing him so simple, humble, and imperturbable, took a fancy to tyrannize over him and to go so far as to slight, insult, and even strike him. Brother Seraphino, unmoved by all these insults, only said, with perfect amiability: "Ah, my little Saint! my little Saint!" (It was by this name that he would call those who insulted him.) "Let us do good in the service of God." One of the Fathers of the Desert used to imagine Jesus Christ standing by his side in his tribulations, and saying to him: "You are My brother, and are you not ashamed to make any difficulty about suffering this, when you know how much I have suffered for you?" 24. If any house should be found where there was no monk who was troublesome and of a bad disposition, it would be well to look for one, and to pay him at a high rate for the great good that results from this evil when judiciously managed.----St. Bernard When St. Philip Neri was living at San Girolamo, he had a great concourse of penitents. The sacristans of the church, annoyed by this, took a dislike to him, and did him all the ill-turns they could. Sometimes when he was going to say Mass, they locked the door in his face; or they would not give him the sacred vestments, or only cheap and torn ones, with many rude and insulting remarks. Sometimes they took from his hands the missal and chalice, or hid them, or compelled him to take off his vestments when he already had them on. Again, they would make him leave one altar and go to another, or perhaps back to the sacristy----and all to irritate him and induce him to leave the place. But the holy man, without ever complaining of the bad treatment he received, or giving any sign of annoyance, went on concealing his feelings and praying for these men, treating them also with charity and respect, and doing them any services that he could. Though he was often urged by his friends to go and live elsewhere, he would not do it, "because," said he, "I do not wish to fly from the cross which God sends me." This lasted for some years. Finally, seeing that he accomplished nothing by his charity and humility and that his enemies, in- stead of being softened, rather increased in pertinacity, he had recourse to God for some relief; and one day in particular, fixing his eyes upon a crucifix, he said: "O my good Jesus! why dost Thou not hear me? For so long a time, and with so much earnestness, I have asked for patience; why hast Thou not listened to me?" Then he heard a voice in his heart, which said: "Dost thou not ask Me for patience? I will give it to thee, but it is by this means that I wish thee to gain it." Thence forward, he bore all with greater cheerfulness, and with the most perfect content, to such a degree that he no longer felt any of their injuries, but greatly desired them; and when he was ill-treated by these men or by others, he made no account of it and did not speak of it, nor allow it to be spoken of. If he ever heard any evil said of those who had offended him, he promptly excused them, praised them, and, if it was suitable, visited and protected them. On this account, he acquired such a liking for the place that for thirty years he would never leave it. He could not be induced to abandon his beloved place of suffering, even when he had built the new Oratory of the new church, and many of his sons had gone to live there. Though they tried to prove to him the suitableness and the obligation of living with them as he was their founder and head, all their entreaties and prayers were of no avail until, finally, the authority of the Pope was interposed to give them success. 25. In this life there is no Purgatory, but either Paradise or Hell. He who bears tribulations with patience, has Paradise; he who does not, Hell.----St. Philip Neri A prisoner at the bar once called for a Jesuit Father, and said to him: "Father, I wish you to know that I, too, was once of your Order. For some time, I was exact in the observance of the Rules; I lived content, and did everything with ease and pleasure. Then I began, little by little, to relax, till after a time I found so much difficulty and trouble in every trifle, that it seemed best to leave the Order. Finally, you see where my sins have brought me. I have told you this that my example might be of use to others." When St. Francis de Sales was ill, it was a matter of great edification to notice how simply he told his symptoms, without exaggeration or complaint, how patiently and uncomplainingly he bore them and how he received all remedies without opposition. Though he sometimes suffered most cruel pains in his inferior nature, he always preserved an unalterable serenity of brow and eye, as if he were not suffering at all. Thus he came to enjoy Paradise even while suffering, unlike so many others, who, at every trifling pain, seem impatient and inconsolable. 26. Learn, my Sisters, to suffer something for the love of God, without letting everyone know it.----St. Teresa On a Good Friday, the venerable Father Daponte asked Our Lord the favor of giving him a share in His sufferings. He answered by sending him fearful pains for the rest of his life, which he received with the greatest possible joy. Once being asked how he felt, he replied: "Oh, how well God chastises this sinner! I tell you that except my head, no part of my body is without its own particular pain." A little while after, he repented of having said so much, and made a vow never to reveal his sufferings to anyone, when he could conceal them without displeasing God. St. Philip Neri, in his illnesses, which were long, severe, and frequent, was seen always with a cheerful countenance and a serene brow; he never gave any sign of pain, however great it might be, nor talked about his sickness, except to the physicians. For twenty-eight years St. Clare suffered grievous infirmities, and in all that time was never heard to complain of her sufferings, but instead, she thanked God for them. It is related in the Lives of the Fathers that when the Abbot Stephen was sick, his companions made for him a fried cake but used, by mistake, a kind of oil which was very bitter. The holy Abbot perceived this on tasting it, but ate a little, without saying anything. When another was made in the same way, the Abbot tasted that also, and left it without a word. This would have continued longer, if his companion, wishing to tempt him to eat by example, had not taken a piece himself. When he perceived how bitter it was, he was very much grieved; but the Abbot said: "Do not trouble yourself about it, my son, for if God had not willed that you should mistake one kind of oil for another, you would not have done it." St. Mary Magdalen de' Pazzi invented a great and secret mortification, which she afterwards practiced for the rest of her life. When she noticed that her Superiors, through regard for her health, tried to give her such food as she liked best, she showed a preference for what was disagreeable and unpleasant to her taste, and made it appear that those things which she really desired were objects of aversion, and would make her ill. And so it happened that what she disliked was often given her, and what would have suited her taste was forbidden. In reward for this, she enjoyed imperturbable peace of soul and the constant presence of God. 27. Whoever aspires to perfection must beware of saying, "I was right. They did that to me without reason." If you are not willing to bear any cross which is not given you according to reason, perfection is not for you.----St. Teresa When Brother Egidius of Tarentum, a Franciscan lay-brother, was roughly treated by his Superiors or companions or called a useless and unprofitable servant, he never excused himself, but said with a smile, "Give it to Brother Ass, for he deserves much worse!" On account of the miracles he performed in Tarentum, crowds of people gathered about him, to the no small inconvenience of the other Brothers, so that he was sent away to the monastery in Bari. But scarcely had he arrived when multitudes came to the monastery to see him and receive aid from him; and the monks there, blaming him for the disorder, were as much displeased as the others had been. The Father Guardian reproved him severely in Chapter, saying that he was a drunkard, a fool, an idle, restless man, full of hypocrisy and ambition, who sought the credit of performing miracles, that he might be regarded as a Saint. Finally, they gave him the discipline in public. He did not resent any of these things at all, but, without perturbation, said to himself: "Yes, I am just such a wicked and unworthy man; you say truly, Father Guardian, that it is not I who work the miracles, but the Blessed Virgin." A prelate once ordered St. Vincent de Paul to receive into his house a certain Religious who was engaged in promoting some special work. He did so, and gave him useful advice. But some persons who were not in favor of the work he was advocating complained of the Saint to the same prelate. He, not remembering that it was in pursuance of his own order, called for St. Vincent, and in presence of these persons gave him a sharp reproof, which he received calmly and without a word of self-justification. God, however, brought back to the mind of the prelate the command he had given, and meeting the Saint one day, he made him a suitable apology, and formed a high opinion of him. St. Peter Martyr was visited, one day, by three holy virgins, and from this accused of admitting women into his room, condemned in public chapter, and sent to a remote monastery; but he bore all this disgrace without a word. 28. If we should regard tribulations with the eye of a Christian, and wholly clear from our minds those mists of worldly wisdom, which oppose the rays of Faith, and do not allow them to penetrate to the depths of our souls; how fortunate should we consider ourselves in being calumniated, and regarded not only as idle and incapable, but even as bad and vicious! Is it not, indeed, a great happiness to be persecuted in doing well, when Christ has called those blessed who suffer for justice?----St. Vincent de Paul For this reason the Apostles went away cheerful and contented when they found themselves assailed and persecuted by the chief men of the synagogues. St. Paul, too, says of himself that in such troubles, his heart was filled with consolation and joy because he knew, by the light of faith, how great were the value and advantages of tribulations and trials. When Brother Juniper was one day insulted by some rude remarks, he took up the folds of his dress, and extending it with both hands, said: "Come now, throw them in, and without any fear fill up this lapful of joys." Father Alvarez, being informed of a grave calumny that had been spread against him, gave signs of great gladness, and said to the one who had given him the information, and who was gazing at him in wonder: "Now I see that God wishes me well, for He is leading me by the way of those dearest to Him." A director of the Venerable Maria Seraphina, to whom she revealed her whole life, testifies of her that in all the insults and ridicule which she had suffered, in the bad interpretation which others had put on her good works, and in all her other trials, she never gave way to impatience, nor showed any signs of vexation, but bore everything with the greatest peace and tranquillity both internal and external, always praising and blessing God for the occasion He was giving her to exercise patience. Once when she had received at the grate many reproaches and menaces, which she bore with the most perfect tranquillity of heart and serenity of countenance, one of her nuns, who had heard and seen all with great astonishment, asked her how she felt, and she replied gaily: "Blessed be God! I am all flowers and joys! blessed be God!" Her way of feeling in such cases became so well known to all in the convent that when they saw her coming back from the grate with a bright face, praising and blessing God, they used to say, "Our Mother must have caught something good today"----meaning that she received some cross; and when they inquired afterwards what had happened, they found this to be the case. The servants, too, had noticed this trait even before she left her father's house, and so, when any illness or trouble came to her, they would say, "Now your day has come----this is your jubilee!" 29. If you look at the rod of Moses lying on the ground, it is a frightful serpent; if you look at it in the hand of Moses, it is a wand of power. It is thus with tribulations. Consider them in themselves, and they are horrors; consider them in the will of God, and they are joys and delights.----St. Francis de Sales St. Mary Magdalen de' Pazzi used to say she did not think there could be found in the world suffering so bitter, adversity so severe, or trials so painful, that she could not bear them cheerfully, by simply persuading herself that it was the will of God. And in fact, in the great sufferings of an illness that lasted five years, and at the time of her death, whenever anyone reminded her that it was the will of God that she should suffer those agonies, it would take away all their bitterness and quiet her at once. It is told in the Life of St. Lupus that when he heard that the terrible Attila was coming to plunder his episcopal city of Troy, he was first much affrighted. But afterwards, nerved to courage by the spirit of God, he went out to meet him, in his pontifical vestments, in the hope of checking his audacity. When he came into Attila's presence, he asked him who he was. "The scourge of God:' was Attila's reply. At these words, the Saint exclaimed: "And I, who am the spoiler of God's kingdom, well deserve to be scourged by Him!" Then he ordered the gates to be opened without delay. But when the enemy came in, he passed directly through the city, without doing any harm, as if he had seen no one. By this, God willed to show how much He was pleased with the submission and humility of the holy man, in bowing so readily beneath the scourge He had sent him, and in believing that he deserved it. 30. When it is our lot to suffer pain, trials, or ill-treatment, let us turn our eyes upon what Our Lord suffered, which will instantly render our sufferings sweet and supportable. However sharp our griefs may be they will seem but flowers in comparison with His thorns.----St. Francis de Sales Count Elzearius received many insults even from his own subjects, and bore them all with great tranquillity. Being asked by his wife how he was able to do this, he answered: "When I receive insults from anyone, I turn my thoughts to the great affronts which the Son of God suffered from His creatures, and say to myself, 'Even if they were to pull your beard and strike you, what would this be in comparison with what your Lord suffered with so much patience?' But I can tell you, besides, that I sometimes feel in such cases no slight emotions of anger. Then I quickly turn my mind to some similar injury suffered by Our Lord, and keep it fixed upon that, until the emotion has subsided." A good woman being once confined to her bed and suffering from many ailments, a friend of hers put a crucifix into her hand, inviting her to pray for relief from such great trials. But she said: "Would you have me seek to descend from the cross, when I hold in my hands a crucifix? God keeps me from it! I will rather suffer for Him, who most willingly underwent for me pains incomparably greater than mine." When St. Teresa was in great suffering, the Lord appeared to her, showing her His wounds and saying: "Behold, My daughter, the sharpness of My torments, and consider whether thine can be compared to Mine." The Saint was so greatly moved by this that she no longer felt the pain, and would often say afterwards: "When I think in how many ways the Lord suffered, and that for no fault of His own, I do not know of what I was thinking when I complained of my sufferings and tried to escape from them." A servant of God, being much afflicted by the grievous persecutions, calumny and contempt that he experienced, turned to the Lord and said: "How long, O Lord! must I be so tried, without any fault of mine, as Thou knowest?" Then the Lord appeared to him, showing His wounds, and answering: "And for what fault had I to be treated thus?" At this sight he was so much moved, and filled with such great joy, that he did not feel his afflictions at all, and said that he would not have exchanged his condition for that of any monarch on earth. For thirty-eight years St. Lidwina suffered constantly all kinds of infirmities-gout in her feet and hands, toothache, fevers, and whatever is most painful----and yet she always remained cheerful and happy, because she kept the sufferings of Christ continually in view. Dionysius the Carthusian tells of a certain novice who became tepid in the divine service. While in the beginning all went easily with him, he afterwards found great difficulty in performing humble offices and in all the exercises of mortification, and, among other things, he felt especial disgust for a miserable habit such as novices were expected to wear. Now, one night Jesus Christ appeared to him in his sleep, with a long and heavy cross on His shoulders, which with His utmost efforts He was dragging up a staircase. Moved with compassion, he offered to help Him. But the Lord, turning upon him a severe look, said: "How do you presume to carry so heavy a cross----you, who cannot bear for love of Me a habit that weighs so little?" The novice, awakened by this reproach, was at once humiliated and aroused, so that, henceforward he wore the habit with great joy and content; and whenever any trial came in his way, at the mere thought of the great sufferings which Christ bore, everything seemed to him easy and pleasant. Let us have great devotion towards the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6950
__label__wiki	0.795037	0.795037	2010 Winter Olympics: USA-1 Bobsled Wins Gold Medal, Respect By Robert H. Kelly PASADENA, TEXAS (February 27, 2010) Tonight, while sitting in the comfortable confines of my home outside Houston, TX, I was fortunate to observe the gold medal performance of the USA 4-man bobsled team, aptly named "Night Train." NBC broadcast the medal ceremony for the four-man bobsled and showed the four athletes, pilot Steven Holcomb, and pushers Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler and Curt Tomasevicz, receiving their medals. They were all dressed alike, in their multi-colored USA team jackets, and when the national anthem was announced, they promptly placed their hands over their hearts and showed the proper respect for their country, their performance, their sport, and the Olympic ideal. It was a proud moment for everyone. The United States had not won a gold medal in the four-man bobsled since the 1948 Winter Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland. As the national anthem was played, the camera focused on Holcomb. He stood tall and proud, showing how humbled he was of their achievement. Viewers could see his lip quivering, fighting to hold back the tears of joy that he and teammates were feeling. When the camera pulled back, everyone could see the pride and power of this simple yet moving scene; four men who had done something that had not occurred in 62 years. They had won the Olympic gold medal in the four-man bobsled for the United States. They were proud and emotional and did not care who knew it. The showed the valves, respect and positive demeanors that their fellow citizens want to see in their athletes. Many of our Olympic athletes should observe and that heed their example. This is the type of behavior and pride we expect to see from our Olympic athletes. We do not want to see our medal winners waving to the fans during the national anthem. We do not want to see our medal winners playing air guitars during the national anthem. We do not want to see medal winners bringing disrespect to our country. We do not want our athletes wearing their medals like a belt; allowing girls to kiss it. We want; NO, WE DEMAND; they act like the four men from USA 1; proud, humble, and not afraid to show the emotions which brings a positive light to themselves, their sport and our country. Kudos ho out to the four athletes of "Night Train." Your performance and your demeanor at the award ceremony make us very proud of you. We, as I know you are, are proud to be Americans. Labels: 2010, Bobsled, Vancouver, Winter Olympics Barry Bonds 2nd Wife Files For Divorce It has been reported by the Associated Press that Liz Watson, the estranged wife of former MLB player Barry Bonds has filed for divorce. Court records indicate that paper were filed in Los Angeles this past Thursday (Feb, 17). Watson cited irreconcilable differences as the reason to end the 12 year marriage. Documents indicate the couple may have already reached a settlement, however specifics were not reveled in the filing. The couple has an 11-year old daughter, Aisha Lynn. Watson is seeking joint custody. Watson and Bonds were married in 1998, four years after Bonds’ divorce from his first wife, Susann Branco. Labels: Barry Bonds Continental Baseball League Announces 2010 Season Schedule DALLAS, TEXAS(February 25, 2010) The Continental Baseball League, which offers the most affordably priced tickets among any of the eight professional independent leagues in the United States, announced its 2010 schedule today, one that will see the return of the Big Bend Cowboys of Alpine, TX, the addition of the Las Cruces Vaqueros and a two-team alliance with the New York State League that will allow the CBL to bring pro baseball to areas previously absent from the professional ranks. The joint announcement was made by CBL commissioner Ron Baron and CBL director of baseball operations Bob Ibach. The 60-game regular season schedule will also begin two weeks earlier this season, with the opening weekend of games set from May 6-9. Big Bend will host the annual league All-Star Game in mid-July and the CBL Ferguson Jenkins Championship playoffs will be held beginning August 19. Big Bend played in that title series just last season and lost to the Alexandria Aces, which recently left the CBL to begin a new venture in a wooden bat league. Two other franchises, Texarkana, and the Bay Area Toros, the league champs two years ago, will not return to the CBL in 2010 due to economic reasons. The two teams from the New York State League will be the Desert Mountain Lions and the West Texas Roadhoggs. “The NYS has been very supportive of the CBL since our inception in 2007 and have sent several players to the CBL over the past three seasons,” noted Baron. “The NYS is a premier pro baseball development organization that has sent more than 100 players to all levels of independent league baseball over the last four seasons, including the Atlantic League, CanAm League, the American Association and others. We can’t thank Jay Acton enough for his past support of the CBL and for his continued guidance as we go through some challenging economic times that has been felt at all levels of professional sports the past two years. “We are very confident of bringing on board a new franchise in Colorado in 2011, which had planned to play in 2010 but needed some additional time to get prepared. And we have two or three other locations that have expressed an interest in the CBL for the 2011 season, including cities in Texas and Arizona. We’ve had a good track record in the past three seasons in getting players in our league opportunities with affiliated teams, as 19 of our players have been signed by MLB organizations during that period. And a couple of those youngsters have a real shot to make a big league team in the very near future. So it’s a very exciting time for us.” --MORE-- The Tarrant County Blue Thunder won the inaugural CBL title in 2007, followed by the Bay Area Toros and the Aces. “We had four of our teams jockeying for first place up until the final games of the regular season last summer and the balance in our league over the three seasons has been very good,” noted Ibach, a former Chicago Cubs executive under general manager Dallas Green in the 1980s, who hired present day Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti as his assistant during that time. “Once again I like the balance of talent in our league, and I think we’ll have another season of exciting pro baseball for our fans, and a race that won’t be decided until the final week or so of the season.” The first two series of the season finds Big Bend hosting Las Cruces and West Texas hosting Desert Valley. The CBL plays four games per week, Thursday through Sunday, to keep operating costs at a minimum and deliver baseball at times most convenient for families. Tickets to CBL games run anywhere from $2 to $7, and most concession items are priced under $4. Parking is free. A family of four can easily attend a CBL game for less than $45, including tickets and food. “That was the platform for our league, something Ron and I insisted upon from the beginning,” noted Ibach, who like Baron was raised in New York City and watched games at Yankee Stadium as a youngster in the 1950s for .50 cents in the bleachers. “It’s a tough stretch these days to try and bring a family to a major league game, where sometimes it will easily cost you $400 for a family of four. We want to bring affordable, family-friendly baseball to our communities, and we want our players to become hometown heroes to our fans in those markets.” The CBL championship trophy is named after Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins. Details surrounding the playoffs and the format will be announced shortly. Other former major league players have been involved in the league, including Jay Johnstone, who is the CBL director of player relations. Curtis Wilkerson, Steve Trout and Tom Goodwin, all former big leaguers, have managed in the CBL in recent seasons. Labels: Continental Baseball League Vancouver 2010: Daily Host Video-Day 12 Labels: Vancouver, Winter Olympics C-USA Championships On Tap For Houston Swimming & Diving HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 23, 2010) The University of Houston swimming and diving team, for the seventh consecutive season, will host the Conference USA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships and Men’s Invitational on Feb. 24-27 at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium. The Cougars are coming off a year where they finished 3-10 in dual action and just one season ago UH was the runner-up at the 2009 Championships. The second place finish was the program’s highest finish in C-USA. Head coach Mark Taylor was named the C-USA Swimming Coach of the Year, while head coach Jane Figueriedo was named the Diving Coach of the Year. The Championships will begin on Wednesday at 2 p.m. with the preliminary round of the 1-meter men’s diving event and then continue at 6 p.m. with the final of the diving events and two relay competitions. Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s events will begin at 10 a.m. each morning with the night session is to begin at 6 p.m. In addition to the women’s meet, selected schools will also compete in a Men’s Invitational. Fans can follow all of the meet’s action by going to the Championship Central page at http://conferenceusa.cstv.com/championships/10-w-swim-championship.html. All session tickets will be available at $35 for adults and $20 for youth. Single session tickets will also be on sale at $15 and $9. Labels: Conference USA Championships, Diving, Houston Cougars, Swimming Moving Van Spotted Outside Mike Leach's Lubbock Home LUBBOCK, TEXAS (February 21, 2010) Reports out of Lubbock, Texas indicate that Texas Tech former head football coach Mike Leach is moving. A moving van was spotted outside Leech’s home late last week and moving men were observed loading boxes and household goods. Leach has also enrolled his children into schools in the Key West, Florida area. In 1996, Leech applied for a coaching position in the area and is close friends with current Key West coach Jerry Hughes. Leach and his attorney are currently in mediation with Texas Tech over his dismissal arising from allegations that he mistreated player Adam James. Leach has denied any mistreatment. Labels: Adam James, Football, Mike Leach, Texas Tech 2010 Winter Olympics: Amy Williams Wins Gold; Shows Proper Respect PASADENA, TEXAS (February 20, 2010) When an athlete achieves the pinnacle of sporting achievement, an Olympic gold medal, they are awarded their medal on the victory platform, followed by the playing of their country’s nation anthem. On Saturday, British athlete Amy Williams won the women’s skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Center outside Vancouver, Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Williams stunned the crowd, winning the gold medal over the heavily favored Germans, with a four-run total of 3 minutes, 35.64 seconds. When the medal ceremony was televised, Williams received her medal and stood at attention while “God Save The Queen” was played. She sang along with the anthem and showed the proper and formal decorum that such a ceremony demands. It was refreshing to see an athlete show the proper demeanor while she and her country were being recognized and honored. A quick review of other gold medalists at the Games was in stark contrast to Williams’ decorum. Take Shaun White’s behavior during the playing of the national anthem of the United States for his victory in the halfpipe. While standing on the podium, White’s hand and arm were holding a bouquet of flowers in front of his body, which I could consider an attempt to place his and over his heart. Vancouver 2010: Daily Host Video-Day 9 Scotty Lago Leaves Vancouver Over Racy Photos VANCOUVER, CANADA (February 20, 2010) USA snowboarder and Olympic bronze medalist Scotty Lago has left the Winter Olympics after a racy photo surfaced of him inviting girls to kiss his bronze medal while it hung around his waist. Lago left Vancouver voluntarily after publication of a photo of him wearing his Olympic medal around his waist and the hardware hung over his groin area on a public street. A second shot showed a woman biting the medal, but this time Lago held it up by the logo on his Team USA T-shirt. Reports say his "voluntary" departure was prompted by an ultimatum from the U.S. Olympic Committee: say you're sorry and go or we kick you out. In response,, Lago apologized to the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSSA) and packed his bags for home. USSSA President and CEO Bill Marolt was quoted in saying: "Scotty Lago is a great athlete, but with that talent comes a responsibility of proper conduct, and his involvement in this situation is not acceptable. With that said, Scotty realizes that his conduct was inappropriate. He has formally apologized and also made a decision to leave Vancouver today." The culture of snowboarding may accept Lago’s behavior as acceptable, but many, including myself, do not. Athletes sign a Code of Conduct when they are selected to the Olympic Team. It document is very clear and concise about what behavior is expected and how the athletes are to act at all times. If they have a problem with what is expected of them, then they should give up their spot on the team to another athlete who is willing to act with decorum and respect while representing the United States. After all, competing in the Olympics and possibly winning a medal should be enough of an incentive to act appropriately. Some of our Olympians may have forgotten than fact. Labels: Scotty Lago, Snowboarding, Vancouver, Winter Olympics Rice's Brown Named C-USA Golfer of the Week IRVING, TEXAS (February 17, 2010) Rice senior golfer Christopher Brown was named Conference USA's Golfer of the Week the league office announced on Wednesday. Brown fired an even-par 216 (74-73-69) en route to capturing medalist honors and propelling Rice to its second team victory of the season at the 10th Annual Rice Intercollegiate presented by Srixon. Brown shot a 69 during Tuesday's final round to win the tournament by four strokes. The Garland native began the final 18 holes in a three-way tie for first before carding one of only four sub-par rounds during the 54-hole tournament to pull away and win his first intercollegiate tournament. The C-USA recognition was the second time in his career Brown has been named the league's Golfer of the Week. In addition to Brown, UCF's Carolin Pinegger was also named C-USA's Golfer of the Week after leading the Knights to the Hurricane Invitational championship. Rice has little time to reflect on its success as the Owls return to tournament play next week when they travel to the J.L. Lewis Intercollegiate hosted by Texas State. The tournament will be played at The Bandit golf course in New Braunfels next Monday and Tuesday. Labels: Conference USA, Golf, Rice Owls, Rice University Prairie View A&M to Kickoff 1st Spring Soccer Schedule HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 17, 2010) The Prairie View A&M women’s soccer team will make history beginning in March as they’ll play their first-ever spring soccer schedule. Under the direction of second-year head coach Abe Garcia, Prairie View A&M’s soccer program made history in 2009 as they advanced to the finals of the SWAC Soccer Tournament for the first time ever. Garcia said the spring schedule will help tremendously for the upcoming season. “I’m excited about getting out there and charting the progress my players have made since the conclusion of the regular season,” said Garcia. “We have a competitive slate ahead of us this spring which will definitely help us prepare for the fall.” The spring schedule includes a Saturday March 6 game at home against the Puerto Rico National Team, followed on Saturday, March 27 with a match against Sam Houston State University in Huntsville The game against Puerto Rico will begin at 11:00am while the Sam Houston game’s start time will be announced at a later date. The Panthers finish out the month against Hill College on Wednesday, March 31, with a 6:00pm start time at home. They close out their spring schedule at the McNeese State Tournament in Lake Charles on Saturday, April 10. Labels: Prairie View A and M Univeristy, Soccer Lindsay Jacobellis Blows It...AGAIN!!! VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (February 16, 2010) Four years ago in this forum, I posted a story on how Lindsay Jacobellis "Hot Dogged" her way out of a gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. You can read the "post from the past" by clicking here. Well it seems Ms. Jacobellis could not get the job done....again. And once again, she has no one to blame but herself. Looking to redeem herself after giving away a victory four years ago, Jacobellis' return trip to the Olympics was even worse. Early in her semifinal race on the snowboard cross course Tuesday, she lost her balance on a jump, wobbled and skittered to try to regain her balance, but clipped the outside of a gate. The result: DISQUALIFIED!!! I stated this fact four years ago and I still hold it to be true today. "If you have not noticed in the past 10 years or so, the IOC has been adding new sports and some of them, IMHO, are attempts to gain new viewers and money to the Olympic movement. Snowboarding was one of these sports. Does the Olympic movement need the influx of this type of sport when “HOT-DOGGING” is the norm? That is a question that some are asking. What happened to the days went it was an honor to represent your country in the Olympics. If I had been that young ladies coach, I would have certainly said something to her about her performance and attitude in that race. Give me the days when the USA and the USSR battled in the Olympics. Could you see any Olympian today refusing their medal like the 1972 USA basketball team did? Very few, I think...Most are only concerned with their own performance and what the Olympic Games CAN DO FOR THEM!!!!!" Well, this humble writer will get off the stage and stop the commentary AFTER THIS ONE LAST THOUGHT Jacobellis blew it. AGAIN! She could not get the job done. Give me the good old days of the traditional sports in the Winter Olympics and leave these HOT DOG sports to the X-Games. Labels: IOC, Lindsay Jacobellis, Winter Olympics Vancouver 2010: Daily Host Video-Opening Cermonies	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6953
__label__cc	0.611956	0.388044	Gary Lloyd Palmer passed away Friday, June 15, 2018, at his home in Lewiston. He was 79. Gary was born Aug. 14, 1938, in Lancaster, Wash., to Walter and Wanda (Conover) Palmer. In 1956, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving in Karamursel, Turkey, with a security group that included top secret Navy intelligence activity. After being discharged, Gary married Janice Kom on July 8, 1957, in Thompson Falls, Mont. The couple moved to Lewiston in 1961 with their two children, and he took a job at Potlatch Corp. He worked there until the early 1980s, when he served a short stint as a Nez Perce County commissioner. He then transferred to St. Maries, where he finished his career as a safety supervisor for Potlatch Corp., retiring in 1999. Shortly thereafter, Gary and Jan moved back to Lewiston, where he lived the rest of his life. Gary loved the outdoors. In his early life he would pack into the high country to hunt and fish. Later, he bought a camper and would enjoy family trips. Gary is survived by his wife, Janice, at the family home in Lewiston; children Bryon (Carrie) and Pam (Fred); grandchildren Sam, Haley Jo (Garrett) and Christin (Adam); great-granddaughter Aubrey Ann; and sister Sally Cochran. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and a grandson. Cremation has taken place and no services are planned at this time. Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home has been assisting the family.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6959
__label__wiki	0.891761	0.891761	East Staffordshire East Staffordshire District This is a modern unit which was reported on by the 2011 census. Most of our historical statistics were originally gathered for units with quite different boundaries. To give you a clear picture of long-run change, we have used our detailed information on boundaries and population distribution to redistrict the historical statistics to the modern units. More details here. Statistical comparisons will be made with Bromsgrove (change comparison) How many people were at school. The distribution of graduates, and of the unqualified. Numbers of babies born. Deaths, especially infant deaths. Causes of death by age and gender. Unemployment rates and poor relief. What proportions of men and of women did paid work? Total Population 1801 to 2011: Population grew from 19,187 in 1801 to 113,583 in 2011. Age Structure, in 5-year bands, from 1861 to 2011: In 1861, only 5.83 per cent of the population were aged 65 and over, but by 2011 16.84 per cent were. Infant Mortality Rate 1861 to 2011: The highest rate recorded was 148.58 infant deaths per thousand live births in 1861, and the lowest was 3.22 in 2001. Changing Industrial Structure 1841 to 2011: In 1841, 32.2 per cent of all workers worked in manufacturing, but in 2011 this had fallen to 19.19 per cent. Male Unemployment from 1931 to 2011: The highest male unemployment rate recorded by the census was 10.86 per cent in 1931, and the lowest was .56 in 1951. Precentage of workforce with degrees 1951 to 2011: In 1951, only 1.702 per cent of occupied males had stayed in education past age 20, but in 2011 23.38 per cent of the population had degree-level qualifications. Proportion of male workers with professional and managerial jobs, from 1951 to 2011: In 1951, 16.06 per cent of men had these generally better paid jobs, and in 2011 this had risen to 20.5 per cent. Over-crowded housing, from 1911 to 2011: In 1911, 12.59 per cent of people were living in households with over 1.5 persons per room, but in 2011 this had fallen to .44 per cent. We have created these time series for the modern local authority area by using a Geographical Information System to re-district statistics for a variety of historical units which covered the same area. Census of Population (2001 Key Statistics) East Staffordshire District, Staffordshire The following alternative names exist: EAST STAFFORDSHIRE Preferred English Census of Population (2001 Key Statistics) 41UC Code: Office for National Statistics English Census of Population (2001 Key Statistics) We know of no associations with other units. WEST MIDLANDS Government Office Region Census of Population (2001 Key Statistics) STAFFORDSHIRE Modern (post 1974) County Census of Population (2001 Key Statistics) GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, East Staffordshire District through time \| Census tables with data for the District/Unitary Authority, A Vision of Britain through Time.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6967
__label__wiki	0.944477	0.944477	Musicology professor Dave Moskowitz teaches his junior-level music history class Monday morning. Moskowitz has been teaching at USD for 16 years and has written several books focused on Caribbean music. Taylor Kidd / The Volante Reggae-loving professor reflects on teaching, writing April 3rd, 2017 Lauren Soulek Feature, Verve comments Sixteen years after the start of his teaching career, David Moskowitz is still writing, playing music and learning more about his field. Moskowitz, a professor of musicology, has been at USD for 16 years. Raised in Pittsburgh, PA, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s at the University of Ohio. He then earned his doctorate at the University of Kansas. Moskowitz said he grew up in a musical household, which encouraged both him and his sister to become musicians. “My dad was big on classical music so whenever he was not at work, he was playing music in the house,” Moskowitz said. “We started like most people, we did two years of piano lessons and then he let us branch out from there. I ended up playing the violin and it went from there.” While at Ohio University, Moskowitz got into teaching, because he knew he didn’t want to be a competitive violinist. He also knew that he liked to talk about music all the time. “I realized that, with the right training, somebody would pay me to do that so I thought that was a pretty good fit,” he said. “This is my 16th year and I enjoy teaching as much as I did when I started here. Probably more so because I feel like I’ve gotten better at it.” Moskowitz teaches Music Appreciation: Rock and Roll, a music history survey for junior-level music majors and a graduate student music history sequence. “For me, the whole getting paid to do what you’d be doing anyway is a big part of it. I also like the freshness of constantly having new students,” he said. Miranda Ebach, a junior biology major currently taking his rock and roll class, said she likes how knowledgeable and passionate Moskowitz is about what he teaches. “I mean, he can talk about certain bands and songs and then all of a sudden he talks about references they did when he was growing up,” Ebach said. “He can really make those connections between what they did and what they were remembered for. It makes it a lot more interesting because you are able to be a lot more engaged with him.” Ebach said she thinks USD is lucky to have Moskowitz as a professor. “He’s so talkative, he plays music and he gives examples to the kind of songs we’re listening to and that’s why I like it,” Ebach said. “Even when people ask me today if they should take rock and roll, I’m like, ‘Yeah take it! I’m in it right now but you’ll definitely like it!’” Dana Carlson, a second-year graduate student majoring in vocal performance, has had three semesters of classes with Moskowitz and was his assistant last year. “He is extremely knowledgeable about his discipline yet he is still constantly seeking out new answers for us,” Carlson said. “He’s very hardworking, I feel like he goes above and beyond. He really cares about his students. He not only asks you about your progress in his class, but he’ll also ask you about your outside activities.” Carlson said Moskowitz is a great role model for future teachers. “A lot of us here are studying performance specializations,” Carlson said. “So, for me, I’m hoping to go out and perform, but eventually I want to end up teaching at a university. I feel like the most important thing I’ve learned (from Moskowitz) is how to be a great professor.” Moskowitz said he likes his students because of their different perspectives. “I’m twice as old as they are, so for me, the whole notion of them teaching me as I teach them, I think that’s an important part of it,” Moskowitz said. “That’s why I try to engage them in as much discussion as I can. If they can’t teach me anything, then I can’t relate to them. The whole idea is finding some sort of common ground in order to really be able to reach them. As a result, I want to be able to learn about them, too.” Writing experience Moskowitz has done most of his writing on Caribbean popular music, specifically reggae. He’s written two books on Bob Marley and an encyclopedia on popular music styles from the Caribbean. “I find it extremely interesting,” Moskowitz said. “It was a type of music that I didn’t know anything about until college, so I was late to learning about reggae music, but since I got into it, it’s something I listen to all the time. For me, it’s extremely interesting and the lyrics are always engaging.” Moskowitz wrote his dissertation on Bob Marley and even lived in Jamaica for four weeks while working in Marley’s old house that was converted into a museum. He said during the course of writing that, he realized it was something he wanted to continue doing. When he got to USD he started “shopping around the notion” of rewriting his dissertation as a book. Moskowitz also wrote a book on Jimi Hendrix that follows along the same course as the Marley book. “I’m a Hendrix listener. I have all of his records, but I didn’t know much about his life and I wanted to learn more,” Moskowitz said. “I had a sabbatical for a semester and I wrote 80,000 words on his life. I went out to Seattle to visit places about his life, like the museum out there that has stuff dedicated to him all the time on display.” A musical future Moskowitz said the advice he would give anyone is to not be afraid to try out new styles of music as they come along. “Something that is an easy trap to fall into is saying ‘I only like a certain type of music’ and then only listening to it and you kind of shut off the rest of the music that comes out,” he said. “I was guilty of that when I moved from Pittsburgh to Ohio. Because I grew up in the city, I was like, ‘I don’t like country music, I don’t get it.’ Then I moved to Ohio and I learned a bunch of country music that I did like.” Moskowitz said he continues to teach because of all he’s able to do through his job. “When you go into teaching as a profession, you should be inquisitive about your own field and I still am,” he said. “I actually have more questions than answers, still, after doing this for quite a long time.” Moskowitz said the students are what keeps him at USD. “They’re always teaching me something, it’s not just working with the same group of people every day,” he said. “Because of that constant new set of students that are always coming along, I feel like it keeps things fresh.” Holi welcomes spring with festival of colors Sydney Schad: Finding her place in the field Ernest Lawrence: USD graduate contributes to the first atomic bomb	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6968
__label__wiki	0.913689	0.913689	Juez, Distrito 5 — Tribunal de Apelaciones del Estado de California Judges in the higher courts get into office and stay in office in a different way than other elected officials. Judges for the Supreme Court are appointed and then confirmed. Voters are asked to vote on whether to keep the judge after confirmation, and again after every twelve years. Puedes votar sí o no en cada uno de estos de estos 6 candidatos. No se proporcionó información Charles S. Poochigian Las prioridades de Charles S. Poochigian no estan disponibles. Donald R. Franson, Jr. Associate Justice, Fifth District... Las prioridades de Donald R. Franson, Jr. no estan disponibles. Kathleen A. Meehan Las prioridades de Kathleen A. Meehan no estan disponibles. Thomas Desantos Las prioridades de Thomas Desantos no estan disponibles. No se proporcionó photo Juez asociado, Tribunal de Apelaciones... Mantener los más altos estándares de integridad judicial,... Promover la confianza pública en la ley Asegurar un acceso a la justicia igualitario Mark W. Snauffer Las prioridades de Mark W. Snauffer no estan disponibles. No se proporcionó fotografía. 469,317 votos (68%)WinningCheck La experiencia se investigó parcialmente por Voter’s Edge. ¿Conoce al candidato? Cuéntele sobre Voter’s Edge Santa Clara University School of Law — J.D. (1975) California State University, Fresno — B.S., Business Administration (1972) Justice Charles S. Poochigian was appointed to the Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in August 2009. His legal career began in 1975 when he formed a partnership with Steven M. Vartabedian. His practice consisted of representing clients in both litigation and transactional matters involving real estate, contracts, general business counseling, wills and probate. Following 13 years of private practice in Fresno, he was appointed to the senior staff of Governor George Deukmejian in 1988 and was later named to the senior staff of Governor Pete Wilson for whom he served as Appointments Secretary. As Appointments Secretary, he assisted the Governor in his appointments of key executive branch officials and members of state boards and commissions. His primary focus was assisting the Governor in his selection of judges for California's trial and appellate courts. In 1994, he was elected to the California State Assembly, where he served from 1994-1998. He then served two terms in the California State Senate (1998-2006). While in the Legislature, he distinguished himself for his substantial legislative and policy work covering a wide range of subject matter, including criminal justice, education reform, workers' compensation law, taxation, agriculture, budget, environment and natural resources. He held numerous leadership positions including service as Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee in his first term, chair of the Constitutional Amendments Committee, a member of the Little Hoover Commission and Vice-Chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, among many other committee leadership roles and assignments. Following his legislative service and prior to his appointment to the bench, he practiced law with Dowling, Aaron and Keeler in Fresno, principally representing clients on matters involving regulatory issues. Background and Education Born in Fresno, California, and a third generation resident of the San Joaquin Valley Married to wife, Debbie; three adult children and four grandchildren J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law, 1975 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, California State University, Fresno, 1972 Served in the California Air National Guard Member, California Fair Employment and Housing Commission (1985 - 1987) Accomplishments and Recognition During his legislative career as an Assemblyman and Senator, Justice Poochigian authored or co-authored major laws including reforming California's workers' compensation law, reforming the Cal Grant student aid system (Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos Cal Grant Program), improving parental access to reliable information about school performance, providing comprehensive reform of the special education funding system, establishing the California Summer School for Math and Science (COSMOS), establishing the model Rural Crime Prevention Program serving Central California and founding the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at CSU Fresno. He also worked to strengthen California laws related to identity theft. Justice Poochigian received numerous special awards during his legislative tenure. He was named "Rookie of the Year" in his first term and received other recognition from the well-respected California Journal during his career, including its 2004 Minnie Award for legislative integrity. In 2004, he received the California State University, Fresno, Distinguished Alumnus “Top Dog” Award. Board Memberships and Community Involvement Commission for Impartial Courts - Task Force on Judicial Selection and Retention by appointment of Ronald M. George, Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court and Chair of the California Judicial Council. Commission on the Future of California’s Court System (Futures Commission) by appointment of Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court and Chair of the California Judicial Council (2014-2017) Past board member of the Economic Development Corporation of Fresno County. Past board member and vice-chair of the Maddy Institute for Public Policy at California State University, Fresno California State University, Fresno, Alumni Association - Life member Boys and Girls Clubs of Fresno County - Board of Trustees Past board member of Ag One Foundation (supporting CSU Fresno College of Agriculture) Sitio web: courts.ca.gov/4026.htm Associate Justice, Fifth District Court of Appeal 445,678 votos (65.5%)WinningCheck Profesión:Associate Justice, Fifth District Court of Appeal Associate Justice, Fifth District Court of Appeal — Cargo elegido (2015–current) Associate Justice, Fifth District Court of Appeal — Cargo designado (2010–2014) Judge, Fresno Superior Court — Cargo elegido (2007–2010) Judge, Fresno County Superior Court — Cargo designado (2005–2006) Attorney, Civil Practice (1980–2005) General Counsel/Executive Vice President, Producers Cotton Oil Company (1987–1991) Deputy District Attorney, Fresno County District Attorney's Office (1978–1980) University of California, Hastings College of Law — Juris Doctor, Law (1978) University of Calfornia, Berkeley — Bachelor of Arts, American History (1974) Board Member, Central Valley Foundation (2000–2008) Board Member/President, Fig Garden Fire Protection District (2001–2005) Board Member, Fresno Regional Foundation (1991–2000) Saint Mary’s College of California — B.A. (not availa) University of California, Davis — J.D. (1985) Justice Meehan was nominated to be an Associate Justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal by Governor Brown in December 2016 and was confirmed by the Commission of Judicial Appointments on February 9, 2017. Justice Meehan obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Davis, in 1985. Following graduation from law school, Justice Meehan entered private practice in Los Angeles with an emphasis in large-scale securities and business litigation before returning home to Fresno and family in 1994. She joined the law firm of Baker, Manock & Jensen where she shortly thereafter became a shareholder and practiced as a litigator in the areas of securities, business, agriculture, and estates as well as civil appeals; she received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. After more than 12 years with the firm, Justice Meehan pursued her goal of practicing in the public sector and joined the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General in 2008, representing public agencies in complex and constitutional litigation. In 2011, Justice Meehan was selected by the Fresno County Superior Court as a Commissioner, and in 2014, she was appointed to the Fresno County Superior Court as a judge. At the time of her selection as a Commissioner, Justice Meehan was the President-Elect of the Fresno County Bar Association, having served in several offices on the Board of Directors and assisted in the establishment of the appellate and pro bono sections of the local bar. She served as President of Fresno County Women Lawyers and received the distinguished Justice Pauline Davis Hanson Award in 2011. Justice Meehan also served as President of the Board of Directors of Central California Legal Services. She received from CCLS the Champions of Justice Award, Judicial Category, in 2013, and was named Pro Bono Attorney of the Year in 2004. In addition, Justice Meehan received the Statewide Board Member of the Year Award from Legal Aid Associations of California in 2006. She was a Commissioner on the California State Bar Legal Services Trust Fund Commission from 2008–2011, and a Member of the State Bar’s Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services from 2003–2006. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Conference of Delegates of California Bar Associations from 2004–2007, and a delegate representing the Fresno County Bar Association from 2003–2008. Justice Meehan has also participated in a variety of local committees, educational panels, and seminars. Justice Meehan grew up in Fresno with her parents and three siblings and attended Fresno schools from kindergarten through high school graduation. She earned her bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Saint Mary’s College of California, where she received the De La Salle Medal (School of Liberal Arts’ highest honor) and the Thomas Jefferson Award (Government Department’s highest honor). She has been married to her college sweetheart, Allen, since 1981. Sitio web: courts.ca.gov/41320.htm University of Southern California Gould School of Law — J.D. (1981) Stanford University — J.D. (1978) Justice Thomas DeSantos was born in Hanford in 1956. He graduated from Hanford High School in 1974 and Stanford University in 1978. He received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1981 from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. Justice DeSantos was admitted to the practice of law in California on December 1, 1981. He was also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the United States District Court. After graduation, Justice DeSantos returned to his hometown of Hanford and began the private practice of law with Kahn, Soares and Conway (1981-1983), Farley, Rynda & DeSantos et al. (1984-1993), and as a sole practioner (1994-2003). Initially, he practiced in criminal law and then later expanded into a general law practice focusing on family, juvenile, and governmental law. Upon appointment by Governor Gray Davis, DeSantos was sworn in as a Kings County Superior Court Judge on October 24, 2003. While on the superior court, Judge DeSantos initially was assigned to the Hanford court where he handled criminal cases from arraignment, pretrials, preliminary hearings, and sentencings and limited civil cases. Judge DeSantos also presided over the Avenal and Corcoran courts on Thursdays and Fridays consisting of a prison criminal calendar as well as a regular criminal calendar and limited civil cases. From 2005-2007, Judge DeSantos presided over the Lemoore court handling family law, conservatorship, domestic violence, and juvenile dependency cases. In 2008, until his appointment, Judge DeSantos was assigned to a general trial department handling all criminal cases from arraignment through trial and sentencing as well as unlimited civil cases from law and motion to trial and posttrial matters. Judge DeSantos was selected as the Assistant Presiding Judge (2011-2012) and then elected as Presiding Judge of the Kings County Superior Court for three years (2012-2014). During this time, Judge DeSantos assisted in the design and development of the new Kings County Superior Court, which brought all courthouse and judicial officers together in one building. As a member of the judiciary, Judge DeSantos served on statewide committees for the Judicial Council of California, which included the Access of Fairness Advisory Committee (11/1/2011-10/31/14), Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee (7/11/13-9/14/15), Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee (1/1/13-12/31/15), and various other subcommittees. On June 27, 2018, Justice DeSantos was appointed as an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., and confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments on July 26, 2018. Juez asociado, Tribunal de Apelaciones de California, 5.º Distrito. Mantener los más altos estándares de integridad judicial, independencia y ética Profesión:Juez asociado, Tribunal de Apelaciones de California, 5.º Distrito. Juez asociado, Tribunal de Apelaciones de California, Distrito 5 — Cargo designado (2013–actual) Juez del Tribunal Superior, Tribunal Superior de California del condado de Fresno — Cargo designado (2000–2013) Socio, Stammer, McKnight, Barnum & Bailey (1993–2000) Abogado asociado, Stammer, McKnight, Barnum & Bailey (1988–1993) Fiscal de distrito adjunto, Oficina del fiscal de distrito del condado de Fresno (1983–1988) Asistente legal egresado, Fiscal de distrito del condado de Sacramento (1982–1983) University of California, Hastings College of Law — Doctorado en Derecho, Leyes (1981) University of California, Santa Barbara — Licenciatura en Humanidades, Historia de Estados Unidos (1978) University of California, Los Angeles School of Law — J.D. (1977) University of California, Berkeley — B.A., Political Science (1974) Justice Mark Snauffer was raised in Fresno and attended Fresno public schools. He attended Claremont McKenna College, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree, with high honors in political science, from UC Berkeley in 1974. Justice Snauffer graduated from UCLA School of Law in 1977, where he served on the Moot Court Executive Board and the staff of the UCLA-Alaska Law Review. He was admitted to the California Bar in 1977 and began practicing law with the Fresno firm of McCormick Barstow from 1977-1980. Justice Snauffer moved to Sacramento and practiced with the firm of Hefner, Stark & Marois from 1980-1982, when he returned to Fresno and joined the firm of Baker, Manock & Jensen, where he was an associate and shareholder until his appointment to the Fresno County Superior Court in March 2000. Justice Snauffer specialized in civil litigation, with an emphasis on medical malpractice, legal malpractice, product liability, and general business litigation. He received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates since 1992. As a member of the Fresno County Superior Court, Justice Snauffer twice served as the Supervising Judge of the Civil Division, from 2005-2007 and 2015-2018. He also was a criminal calendar and felony trial judge, and served on the appellate division of the court. Justice Snauffer was a member of the court’s Executive Committee from 2006-2013, and 2015-2017, and was the Chair of the court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution committee from 2005-2018. Justice Snauffer has also been active in professional and community service. He was a member of the Fresno County Young Lawyer’s Board of Directors (1983-1985), the Fresno County Bar Association Board of Directors (1991-1993), the Foundation for Clovis Schools (1993-1997), the initial class of the Leadership Fresno program (1985), and the Board of Directors of California Legal Services, Inc. (1992-1994). Justice Snauffer has served on various committees of the Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER) and, in particular, on the Civil Law Education Committee (2002-2008; Chair, 2005-2006). Justice Snauffer was also an Adjunct Professor of Law at San Joaquin College of Law from 2003-2007, where he taught Civil Trial Practice. On June 27, 2018, Justice Snauffer was nominated as an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., and confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments on July 26, 2018. Justice Snauffer is married to Lynda, a retired school administrator, and they live in Fresno with their two Bichons, Jasmine and Lily.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6969
__label__cc	0.662931	0.337069	Are We Living in Apocalyptic Times? (part 1) ARE WE LIVING IN APOCALYPTIC TIMES? (adapted from a talk given at St. Patrick’s basilica, Ottawa, Canada, 20 September, 2005) The question is a volatile one and leaves plenty of room for a vast amount of commentary and interpretation. Indeed, our times seem to be rife with wildly differing interpretations of the meaning of the book of Revelation. In addressing our topic tonight, I hope to make a contribution to what should always be a sober discussion, yet is so often otherwise. Even so, I suppose that everything I am about to say on the matter this evening could be summed up in a single word: Yes. Yes, we are living in apocalyptic times. But this needs qualification. The Church, the sacred scriptures, the saints, the approved mystical apparitions, all speak about the end times within the context I would like to lay before you. Turning to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in a section dealing with the return of the Lord in glory, we read: The Church’s ultimate trial 675 Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the mystery of iniquity in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the Truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in the place of God and his Messiah who has come in the flesh 676 The Antichrist’s deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope that can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment. The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism, especially the “intrinsically perverse” political form of a secular messianism. 677 The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only through this final Passover, when she will follow her Lord in his death and Resurrection. The kingdom will be fulfilled, then, not by a historic triumph of the Church through a progressive ascendancy, but only by God’s victory over the final unleashing of evil, which will cause his bride to come down from heaven. God’s triumph over the revolt of evil will take the form of the Last Judgment after the final cosmic upheaval of this passing world. Gazing about at the contemporary world, even our “democratic” world, could we not say that we are living in the midst of precisely this spirit of secular messianism? And is this spirit not manifested especially in its political form, which the Catechism calls in the strongest language, “intrinsically perverse”? How many people in our times now believe that the triumph of good over evil in the world will be achieved through social revolution or social evolution? How many have succumbed to the belief that man will save himself when sufficient knowledge and energy are applied to the human condition? I would suggest that this intrinsic perversity now dominates the entire Western world. The Catechism draws its authority to teach us about these matters from sacred scripture itself. Turning to our foundations, then, what does divine revelation tell us about the mysterious culmination of history, the mega-climax called the Apocalypse, which is prophesied in the book of Revelation and in other books of the New and Old Testaments. In his first letter, the apostle John says, simply, without the theological nuances that we have grown so accustomed to in recent years, “Little children, it is the final hour,” and in another English translation, “Children, it is the last days.” (1 John 2:18) Here is our context, the conceptual framework in which the time of the end should be considered by every generation of Christians. We are living in the final hour, and have been living in this hour from the moment Our Lord ascended into heaven. All of subsequent history is a waiting-for his return. These past two thousand years are the last days. In his second letter, the apostle Peter writes, “In the eyes of the Lord, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years are as a day.” (2 Peter 3:3-10). Jesus himself tells us about the period in the undefined future when all of mankind will be put to an ultimate test. The 24th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew is the most extensive section of the Gospels in which he speaks about what must come. Here he presents us with more than a symbolic description, and alternately with more than a one-dimensional template, a mere linear-historical prediction of the near future. It is rather a vision which contains elements of both but which penetrates through his own times, and through the persecutions of the first three centuries of the Church, and beyond through all subsequent history until his second coming. He is not a linear thinker. He is not a one-dimensional man. He is God and man. “As for the exact day or hour, no one knows it, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but the Father only. The coming of the Son of Man will repeat what happened in Noah’s time. In the days before the flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and being married, right up until the day Noah entered the ark. They were totally unconcerned until the flood came and destroyed them. So it will be at the coming of the Son of Man (Matt 24: 36-39).” This passage, embedded in pages of Jesus’ apocalyptic teaching, is the core of what he wishes to communicate to all those who seek to follow him. He wants us to go deeper than our usual human tendency to desire knowledge per se of the future, deeper than a kind of “baptized” fortune-telling. Jesus desires to take us to the well-spring of Wisdom, not to knowledge as such because knowledge cannot save us. He is always drawing his apostles into deep waters, event at certain moments to the brink of literal drowning. In this immersion is the beginning of wisdom, for it pulls us from a merely horizontal perspective into a vertical perspective that offers a truly cosmic perspective—so much higher than it is broad. He goes on to say, “Stay awake, therefore! You cannot know the day your Lord is coming (Matt 24: 42).” This dialogue with the apostles is repeated in the Gospel of Luke, with some additional words of Christ. He begins by speaking of the nature of his return in glory after the upheavals that are to come: “The Son of Man is his day will be like the lightning that flashes from one end of the sky to the other. First, however, he must suffer much and be rejected by the present age (Luke 17:24).” This phrase, “rejected by the present age,” is highly significant, for it implies that there are ages to come after his life on earth. Elsewhere he says that some people now living in his generation will see him glorified. Thus, in these seemingly contradictory passages, we are led to understand that he is imparting a multi-dimensional vision, transcending a purely linear chronology. “As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They ate and drank, they took husbands and wives, right up to the day Noah entered the ark—and when the flood came it destroyed them all. It was much the same in the days of Lot: they ate and drank, they bought and sold, they built and planted. But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be like that on the day the son of Man is revealed. . . . Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever tries to preserve his life will lose it; whoever loses it will keep it (Luke 17:26-33).” Here, if you will, is the true “survival manual” for the apocalypse, here is the spiritual foundation of our savior’s teachings about what we must do and where we must be, spiritually and mentally, as we pass through times of darkness. It goes without saying that there are mini-apocalypses for every individual, and also prefiguring apocalypses that have occurred at certain moments of the history of the Church. The major Apocalypse will be that period of history when everything is tested, when the Church itself will be crucified throughout the world. Where will our resources be then? Will we, like Lot’s wife, look back to the securities of Sodom? Perhaps in her mind she knew it wasn’t the greatest town in which to live, but told herself that, after all, it was a place of material security—they ate and drank and built and planted. Clearly they could make a good living there. There are always reasonable arguments for compromise, for not going into the desert in obedience to the word of God, and doubtless the lady had some good ones. It bears repeating: Whoever tries to preserve his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for the sake of Christ will keep it for eternity. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus warns us: “As to the exact day or hour, no one knows it, neither the angels in heaven nor even the Son, but only the Father. Be constantly on the watch! Stay awake! You do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he orders the man at the gate to watch with a sharp eye. Look around you! You do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether at dusk, at midnight, when the cock crows, or at early dawn. Do not let him come suddenly and catch you asleep. What I say to you, I say to all: Be on guard! (Mark 13:32-37).” Again and again we hear such passages in the readings of the liturgy, becoming ever more accustomed to them as we grow older. Of course, they are always interesting, but the urgency of the Lord’s admonitions can fade in our minds with familiarity. We may give an intellectual assent to them, acknowledging that they are true, yet subliminally we can feel (“feel” is indeed the accurate term in this regard) that they are not applicable to one’s own life. The warnings blend into the background, become part of the large body of Christ’s teachings, most of which are less obscure, less full of unknowables. And so we tend to set the question of apocalyptic reflection aside, either dismissing it altogether as a symbolic representation of events long past, or alternatively, of events that are to come in some very distant future. Hence we live as if we are under no threat, convinced on some level that no Beast is going to stare me in the face and devour me—neither a beast on the personal level nor some “mythological” apocalyptic Beast of grand cosmic dimensions. Neither of these approaches are faithful to what Christ tells us. There is always a battle over every soul. Even if our times prove not to be the times toward which St. John’s Revelation is pointing, each of us must go through a kind of small “a” apocalypse. Each of us certainly will be given a capital “R” revelation at the moment of our deaths when we experience our personal judgment, when all that we are, all that we have done or neglected to do will be revealed. The Greek word apokalypsis means a revealing or unveiling. During our lives in this world each of us will indeed face the beast, which is the devil, our ancient adversary, the enemy of our individual souls and of mankind as a whole. In some form or other we must learn to personally resist him and to overcome him in Christ. At the same time we must understand that there will come a point in history when all his malice, all his devices, all his rage will be released in a final vicious attack upon the entire Body of Christ. It will be intense; it will be brief. If we find ourselves in the midst of those three and a half years of total persecution, it will not feel so brief. Yet we must always keep in mind that his time is coming to an end; indeed he is already defeated by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and there remains only the final battle through which the Church and the world must pass. We are in the final battle, we are in the apocalypse, we are in the book of Revelation, which the Church, beginning with most of the Church Fathers, believes to be a vision of the entire unfolding of salvation history after the Incarnation, culminating in the total victory of Christ over the entire cosmos and its restoration to the Father. The book of Revelation is not a schematic diagram or a flat blueprint or a purely linear time-line. It is a mysterious multi-dimensional vision which surely contains linear-chronological aspects, but that is not the whole thing. Indeed it is not the main thing. The main grace of the book of Revelation is the Lord’s exhortation to every generation to stay awake in a spirit of vigilance, to open the eyes of our hearts, minds, and spirits to the very nature of Reality. The various bizaare manifestations of apocalypticism in our times, ranging from certain wild scenarios in some Protestant circles to their counterparts in some Catholic circles, distort the intention of Revelation. Whenever they are not rooted in profound reverence for the mystery and wisdom of God, whenever they fail in absolute confidence in the coming victory of God, whenever they are not rooted in obedience and docility to the Holy Spirit, they will invariably grasp at knowledge as the saving factor. Why is it that so many people gallop to the book stores to purchase the latest speculative scenarios? Why do we invest so much interest and trust in these, and so little in the interior life of union with Christ—the very One who will save us? Recall at this moment that he does not promise to save our lives in this world in strictly human terms, but to save them for eternity if we but trust in Him and cling to him wholeheartedly. Are we unwittingly falling prey to a religious form of saving ourselves? Have we placed our faith in secret “insider” information, in techniques of self-preservation, survival manuals and combat journals which heavily emphasize the preservation of our lives and minimize our spiritual health? If so, it is time for some self-examination. An attitude that gives mental assent to God while on other levels proceeds as if He is not in fact caring for his flock is unhealthy in every way. Because of our fallen human nature, even our baptized human nature, we are ever tending in the direction of desiring to be autonomous units in control of our own lives. Yes, we want salvation, we want the consolations of God, but we want them on our own terms. This attitude may not even be conscious, but it must be humbly recognized if we are to move beyond the tragically limited world of the self. Whenever we say to ourselves, “I will decide what scripture means. I will not submit myself to any Church that tells me what it means!” we have slipped into the realm of the self. These attitudes creep subtly into our thinking and feeling. They saturate the atmosphere of our times, especially in Western culture. In an era of history dominated by fear and mistrust, the submission of heart and souls to the mind of Christ and his Church is misinterpreted as anti-personalist, when in fact the Church is anti-isolationist and is profoundly personalist. The new mythological hero is the autonomous individual accountable to no one other than his sovereign self, and the spirit of the age encourages us at every turn to emulate him, and in doing so to make petty gods of ourselves. It should be noted that the exaltation of a creature above the authority of God is the spirit of Antichrist. Few if any devotees of the self would entertain the notion that they serve this diabolic spirit, yet the truth of the matter is that he who denies that Jesus is the Lord over his life makes himself vulnerable to the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times, the spiritus mundi, the spirit of the world. As this spirit becomes increasingly dominated by the ideas of Antichrist, the sovereign self would do well to look beyond the frontiers of his small kingdom, lest he find himself one day, without knowing how he arrived there, in a condition of slavery. The spiritus mundi in our times displays some unique characteristics, characteristics that become comprehensible only by the light of the visions of Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zephaniah, Malachi and a host of other prophets, and by the eschatological passages in the New Testament, most importantly the warnings of Christ and the great vision of the book of Revelation. Read the scriptures and you will see that our times are spread out before us in those texts. In every age, this spirit works against the absolute sovereignty of God. Yet we know from divine revelation that there will come a definitive period in history when this spirit will spread throughout the world and will at the height of its influence seize by lies and flattery and subtle seduction the totality of world-power, and then will launch an unprecedented persecution of the followers of Christ. In 1948, Etienne Gilson, one of the great Thomistic philosophers of the 20th century, gave a talk to the bishops of France on the subject of the character of the emerging post-war world. In his prescient 1949 essay, “The Terrors of the Year 2000”, based upon that address, he argued that the man of the new era is dominated by the spirit of “Anti-Christus“. Having abandoned belief or trust in the God who became man and suffers with us in order to raise us up, we would make ourselves into God, for man cannot live long without a god and a spirituality. Positing the “demoniac grandeur of Nietzsche” as the forerunner and articulator of this spiritual condition, Gilson warns that his influence is great because in our time he bears no resemblance to the fantastic beast of the Apocalypse. The entire human order totters on its base. Antichrist is still the only one who knows this, the only one who foresees the appalling cataclysm of the “reversal of values” which is in the making, for if the totality of the human past depended on the certitude that God exists, the totality of the future must needs depend on the contrary certitude, that God does not exist. . . . Have we understood at last? That is not certain, because the announcement of a cataclysm of such magnitude ordinarily leaves but a single escape: to disbelieve it, and in order not to believe, to refuse to understand it. If Nietzsche speaks truly, it is the very foundations of human life which are to be overthrown. . . . “He who would be a creator, both in good and evil, must first of all know how to destroy and wreck values” [Nietzsche writes]. They are, in fact, being wrecked around us, and under our very feet, everywhere. We have stopped counting the unheard of theories thrown at us under names as various as their methods of thought, each the harbinger of a new truth which it promises to create shortly, joyously busy preparing the brave new world of tomorrow by first annihilating the world of today. . . . Since men have refused to serve God, there is no longer an arbiter between them and the State which dominates them. It is no longer God but the State which judges them. But who, then, will judge the State? If there is no longer an absolute moral order, no set of absolutes exterior to man’s subjectivity, no unshakeable standard of good and evil by which we can measure the rightness or wrongness of our personal, national, and international acts, what stands in the way of simply reshaping mankind according to whims and theories? What stands in the way of redefining a certain portion of mankind as less human than other portions of mankind—and thus undeserving of life? It has already happened, abortion being an obvious example. But we have grown accustomed to it. We know it is wrong, yet it has become normalized all around us. And though we continue to resist it, it has been integrated into the texture of the ordinary. The institutionalization of evil from top to bottom in our society has been absorbed into the geo-psyche of our consciousness. Josef Pieper, in his essay “The Art of Not Yielding to Despair”, makes a similar point, citing sources that range as widely as Saint John on Patmos, Nietzsche and Marx, Thomas Mann and Robert Oppenheimer, and most especially Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World Revisited. Huxley’s 1931 dystopia Brave New World had warned that the age of world-organization was approaching (though still distant), and that such an age would abolish private life and personal responsibility. Writing thirty years later, in Revisited, Huxley was a good deal less optimistic, and expressed his conviction that the predictions he had made in 1931 were materializing at a much faster rate than he had thought possible. In the near future, he warned, we would see the rise of a “scientific dictatorship” in which there would be less violence than under Hitler and Stalin, “and in which we will be painlessly regimented by a corps of highly trained social engineers,” and in which “democracy and freedom will be the theme of every broadcast and editorial,” but “the underlying substance will be a new kind of non-violent totalitarianism.” Pieper points out that this is the most inhuman form of totalitarianism, almost impossible to throw off, because it can always cite what appear to be valid arguments to prove that it is not in fact what it is. In his 1942 reflection on the looming post-war world, The Judgment of the Nations, historian Christopher Dawson contrasted the collapse of the Roman Empire to the collapse of a Christian civilization. He believed that something far more ominous is at work in the latter: For the civilization which has been undermined, and is now threatened by total subversion, is a Christian civilization, built on the spiritual values and religious ideals of Saint Augustine and his like; and its adversary is not the simple barbarism of alien peoples who stand on a lower cultural level, but new Powers armed with all the resources of scientific technique, which are inspired by a ruthless will to power, that recognizes no law save that of their own strength. Dawson is here referring to overt tyrannies. However, he goes on to sound some additional warnings for us all: Thus, the situation that Christians have to face today has more in common with that described by the author of the Apocalypse than with the age of St. Augustine. The world is strong and has its evil masters. But these masters are not vicious autocrats like Nero and Domitian. They are the engineers of the mechanism of world power: a mechanism that is more formidable than anything the ancient world knew, because it is not confined to external means, like the despotism of the past, but uses all the resources of modern psychology to make the human soul the motor of its dynamic purpose. Dawson is describing the shape of a possible future, a global non-violent totalitarianism that is the most serious of all from the Christian viewpoint, because in it evil has become depersonalized, “separated from individual appetite and passion, and exalted . . . into a sphere in which all moral values are confused and transformed. The great terrorists . . . have not been immoral men, but rigid puritans who did evil coldly, by principle.” If calm and lucid minds such as Gilson, Pieper, and Dawson (one could easily add a long list of admirable names to their company) have spoken with a certain urgency about the significance of our time’s unique character, surely we who live a generation later can afford a little reflection on the possibility that history may be approaching its definitive crisis. The widespread reluctance on the part of many Catholic thinkers to enter into a profound examination of the apocalyptic elements of contemporary life is, I believe, part of the very problem they seek to avoid. If apocalyptic thinking is left largely to those who have been subjectivized or who have fallen prey to the vertigo of cosmic terror, then the Christian community, indeed the whole human community, is radically impoverished. And that can be measured in terms of lost human souls. Much of the apocalyptic commentary issuing from academic circles these days is limited to the shibboleth of the first millennium. “Ah, yes,” we are told over and over, “in the tenth century there was a mass hysteria about the approaching millennium, and you see, the date passed and the world recovered its balance.” In preparation for his address to the bishops of France, Gilson studied that period carefully and found little evidence to support the theory of tenth century millennial fever. The tradition regarding a supposed widespread hysteria was so grossly inflated as to be ludicrous, and was in fact due largely to the writings of a single cleric. While there were isolated incidents, Gilson admits, mass hysteria was definitely not the temper of those times. What, then, are we to make of the widespread abhorrence among intellectuals for serious reflection on apocalyptic themes? Fear of the irrational? Yes, there is some of that—distaste for a subject that is full of unknowables and ripe for inflammatory conjecture. Clearly, it is a healthy thing to feel some aversion to the danger of projecting one’s formless dreads upon a big dangerous world. Nevertheless, this misgiving should not be allowed to paralyze the critical faculty, or more accurately the charism of spiritual discernment which Christians should exercise whenever they seek to understand the world. Have we become so worried about the danger of paranoia that we are no longer able to consider the possibility that something of the magnitude of an apocalypse might occur in our times? Is not the psychology of denial every bit as dangerous as the psychology of hysteria—perhaps more so? How easy to dismiss the entire question with a backhand swipe at the poor style and obvious excesses of many “end-times” writers with their various conflicting scenarios, or the screaming apocalyptic headlines of the tabloid magazines. By its very nature the subject of world-catastrophe evokes knee-jerk responses, and thus for the academic mind there is a strong counter-temptation to draw back so far from the problem that he practically dismisses the subject altogether. Human psychology is such that we tend to perceive our own times as normal. We are born and raised in a given culture with certain spiritual and material realities all around us. People of every generation experience the world as an imperfect environment, but it is still their world. At some point in history, however, a generation is going to go through the final stage of the apocalypse, yet to them it will appear to be a normal world. It will have problems, and its citizens may even admit that the problems are grave, but it will be difficult for most to understand it in terms of the absolute crisis presented in the Book of Revelation. This is precisely the condition which Jesus warns us about in Matthew 24. That generation which is least awake, least able to recognize what is happening, perhaps even a most comfortable and confident generation, will be the one in which the spirit of Antichrist will manifest itself fully. Are we the long-foretold generation? And if so, how will our enslavement be accomplished? It will be accomplished by increasing the voltage of state power combined with a gradual decreasing of civil rights, the lifting of burdensome responsibilities from our shoulders combined with the increase of pleasurable rewards, the growth of a power class of “knowers”, who enshrine a multi-faceted gnosticism in organs of institutional governance. If at the same time, man’s ability to exercise his healthy critical and analytical faculties has been limited by corrupt education, by media indoctrination, and by a generalized loss of the sense of human identity, the new world order can be achieved—and achieved most effectively, it should be noted, to the degree that it is understood as a “moral” cause, a great leap forward in the name of humanity. This is already underway in several nations of the West. It may in the near future succeed to the level of totality. What stands in its path? Only the Roman Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II in a number of his public talks and in his encyclicals, notably Centessimus Annus and Evangelium Vitae, says that we must not conclude that simply because the more brutal forms of totalitarianism such as fascism and Marxism appear to be overturned and democratic governments are rising in these former tyrant-states, mankind will now right himself and we will all proceed into the new and glorious future. John Paul II continually taught that a future defined as a restoration of the world through inexorable evolutionary processes is a false assumption, and in fact he goes so far as to warn that we of the Western liberal democracies may in the long run stand in greater danger than those peoples of Eastern Europe and other parts of the world who have suffered under overt tyranny. Their sufferings were catastrophic; they were crucified nations, crucified peoples, crucified particular churches. Yet in those lands the beast was unmasked, revealed itself for what it was. The beast that is now all around us devours the innocent on many levels of our society. Most obviously, it devours the innocent in the womb in huge numbers, through state-sanctioned, state-funded murder, discreetly hidden within our hygienic institutions. Euthanasia now is spreading. Ten years ago, a member of my extended family was saved only by a hair from being murdered in a Catholic institution. Such incidents are becoming more frequent. Why, then, is the unthinkable becoming normalized all around us? It has spread, and will continue to spread, because of the blurring of thinking and numbing of conscience, aided by the theological nuancing of the Truth into abstractions that seem no longer applicable to practical reality. What have the Popes said about the character of our times? Pope Saint Pius X wrote, in his 1903 encyclical, E Supremi, On the Restoration of All Things in Christ, (alternatively titled Suprema Apostolatus): When all this is considered there is good reason to fear lest this great perversity may be as it were a foretaste, and perhaps the beginning of those evils which are reserved for the last days; and that there may be already in the world the “Son of Perdition” of whom the Apostle speaks (2 Thess 2: 3). Such, in truth, is the audacity and the wrath employed everywhere in persecuting religion, in combating the dogmas of the faith, in brazen effort to uproot and destroy all relations between man and the Divinity! While, on the other hand, and this according to the same apostle is the distinguishing mark of Antichrist, man has with infinite temerity put himself in the place of God, raising himself above all that is called God; in such a way that although he cannot utterly extinguish in himself all knowledge of God, he has despised God’s majesty and, as it were, made of the universe a temple wherein he himself is to be adored. “He seats himself in the temple of God, showing himself as if he were God” (2 Thess 2:4). Five years later, at the beatification of St. Joan of Arc, he said: “In our time more than ever before the greatest asset of the evilly disposed is the cowardice and weakness of good men, and all the vigor of Satan’s reign is due to the easygoing weakness of Catholics. O, if I might ask the divine redeemer, as the prophet Zachary did in spirit, ‘What are these wounds in your hands?’ the answer would not be doubtful. ‘With these I was wounded in the house of those who loved me. I was wounded by my friends who did nothing to defend me and who, on every occasion, made themselves the accomplices of my adversaries.’ This reproach can be leveled at the weak and timid Catholics of all countries.” Speaking as a weak and timid Catholic, a fallen human creature in need of salvation, in my own ongoing self-examination of conscience I have been seeing more and more those areas where I fail to resist the spirit of the world. I ask myself, where have I failed to grow in courage? Where have I made my compromises? Though I think of myself as a good Catholic, striving to remain in the state of grace, attending daily Mass and saying my prayers, in my heart of hearts am I really willing to give everything for Jesus? Am I willing to say at each moment, “Take my life. Do what you want with it.”? The forms this can take are myriad. It may be that he desires you to change diapers for the next ten years and unite that humble task to his own sacrifices; it may mean that you will have to speak the truth boldly when you encounter the lies that dominate modern consciousness. Regardless of your state in life, you must be willing to be put to many kinds of tests, even some that could inhibit the advance of your career, slowing or defeating your own plans for doing good in the world. If you stand firm, if you remain faithful, whether your task is “small” or “large”, you will bear much good fruit in the world, though it will not be on your own terms. The concept of small and large, great and insignificant, is generally skewed in modern thinking, and we must admit that these measurements often infect believers as much as non-believers. In the canticle in the eleventh chapter of Revelation, all those in Paradise are glorifying the Holy Trinity. The passage says that “the great and the small” are praising Him (Rev 11:15-18). But who are these great and small? If we pay attention to everything Christ has taught us, the great is not necessarily what we think of as great by human standards, nor is the small. Greatness has nothing to do with having one’s name on a book cover or one’s presence being felt in the forums of the world. Genuine greatness may be to labor at humble and humiliating tasks unnoticed by anyone other than God himself. Such tasks put to death within us the core of selfishness in human nature. Indeed, a lifetime of hiddenness, of anonymity and of being considered to be of little or no consequence, if lived in union with Christ, will lead you to a day when you pass through the gates into Paradise and find, to your astonishment, that you are great in the eyes of the Father. For the Father loves you with a love you cannot now begin to fathom, and in you he sees the living image of his Son. If we are living in definitive stages of the Apocalypse, our path through this radical darkness will not depend on the “greatness” of human status or strengths, nor on maps, blueprints, and survival gear. It can never depend on any attempt to save ourselves. Our salvation in the time of the ultimate assault on the Body of Christ will depend on our union with Jesus. And so our faith cannot be simply a matter of rational assent to a set of doctrines—though of course this is an essential part of our faith. One might memorize the Catechism, give every item in it an intellectual assent, yet as laudable as that would be, it is not enough. What our faith is about is union with Jesus Christ, here in this world and for eternity. If we are baptized, we are already living in this communion—which the Church calls the communion of the saints. The terrible spirit of the apocalypse strives to disintegrate this communion; it seeks to create a dreadful isolation. It tries to split us away from other souls, to cut us out of the flock, to push us ever farther into a sense of unholy abandonment where it is so much easier to be confused, discouraged, and annihilated. And whenever we are overwhelmed by such feelings, when we think we are alone and unprotected, we instinctively turn toward the natural human resources: we seize whatever influence or control that is accessible to us, we try to make a safe insular world for ourselves. Ah, if only I can get enough money or knowledge, influence or power, we think, then I will be all right. The list of resources goes on, the many ways through which we try to create security. These may not be bad things in themselves, but all too easily the essential question is forgotten, minimized or ignored, and in the end never faced. The question each of us must ask now in this time of great grace and mercy is: “In what have I placed my ultimate trust? Where am I deceiving myself about security? Where, perhaps, am I bowing before idols and not even realizing it?” To the degree that we have placed our hopes in anything other than Christ himself we are going to be confused and overcome; we will hesitate, flounder, fall into fear, and wander still further from the flock and quite possibly slide into discouragement and finally despair. Is this not the test undergone by the people of God during the Passover and Exodus? We too can find convincing arguments why we should not follow Christ on the way of the Cross, which is the new pillar of holy fire. The teachings of the Church refer to the time of the end as a “final Passover.” As we move toward the eternal Promised Land, why should we assume that we will never be tested like our ancestors in the desert? Why, moreover, should we assume that we will behave differently? After the astounding miracles the Hebrews had witnessed, such as the chastisements of the Egyptians and the parting of the Red Sea, then the pillar of fire, the gifts of miraculous food, they were still tempted, still fell into unbelief. And what was their anguished cry in the desert? “Did you bring us out here into the desert only to die!” Is this not already our cry whenever our personal situations become destabilized and promise to become radically insecure? Do we protest, “Where are you, God! Have you abandoned us?!” This will be our response if we have invested our hopes only in the consolations and blessings of God, instead of union with Him, including union with him on the Cross. If we desire only his securities, what will we do when these are removed? Will we fall into dismay and then betrayal, reject what he desires to teach us, and where He wishes to lead us, and what he desires to do through us? Here is our test. None are exempt from it. For it is the only path to true and eternal freedom. But what are we to do, if we should find ourselves way out there in the desert, in a situation where all securities are falling away and we stand exposed to the dangers of human existence? The answer can be found in numerous places in scripture, but one passage I often read and pray is from Psalm 56: “O Most High, when I begin to fear, in you I will trust.” The entire psalm is worth meditating upon, for its author King David understood what it is to be human, to tremble before the apparently overwhelming power of an adversary, to feel in every aspect of his being his fragility as a creature. He had faced Goliath with nothing but a little sling, his five smooth stones, and his faith. Later, he faced numerous other enemies, not least of which was his own vulnerability to sin. Yet he always turned to the Lord, and turned and turned again, and learned in the process that we must never lose heart. Trust does not come automatically to us. It grows as we exercise it. We can begin to do this now, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, in the normal and sometimes extraordinary trials of life. Each of us have them, and each of us, by invoking the Lord to strengthen us, can find in them the opportunity to retrain our thoughts and the movements of our hearts. I have found it helpful in impossible situations to pray prayers glorifying God in advance for whatever way, unknown to me, he will bring me through the trial at hand. I also like to pray the song of the three young men in the fiery furnace in Babylon. This is a song of great beauty, most beautiful because it is a hymn sung in the very place where it is least likely to be sung. Such prayers uttered in a “hopeless” place are greatly treasured by God, and he will not disappoint those who pray them. It’s practice again. Athletes strengthen their muscles and endurance by training, and we too can train ourselves to confidence in God. We must remind ourselves often that he desires to flood us with every grace we need for this kind of growth, for the deep work of maturing in Him. The particular difficulties of ordinary life and the major tests of life are the very situations where we learn best. He loves us, and this we must never forget. All the communion of saints love us too, and are constantly interceding for us. Their intercession and the aid of the holy angels will increase as we need them. But they will force nothing upon us, and thus we must develop the habit of asking for and relying upon grace. We are presently living at a moment in history when it is possible to learn these deep lessons in the heart and mind and soul without undue interference. Heaven is pouring out many avenues of grace for us at this time. We can turn to the Holy Eucharist with renewed focus and fervor. We can ask Our Lady to play a greater role in our lives, consecrate ourselves and our families to her motherly care. And we can develop the habit of reading scripture regularly and prayerfully. We can also seek out ways to contribute to the new evangelization, for right to the end (be the end a thousand years from now or only a few years away) God desires to bring all souls home to himself. This is not the time to give up on the world, but to renew our efforts to bring hope to the world. As Pope John Paul II wrote in his encyclical on Divine Mercy, even if the sins of mankind now deserve a second great flood, we are called to plead for his mercy on each and every soul in the world. We must avoid the alternative temptations of false optimism and dread-filled pessimism. Christians are the ultimate realists. We are people who can look into the reality of a dark age and find there the approaching victory of Christ. And this too takes practice. Returning to the words of our Holy Fathers regarding the apocalyptic characteristics of our times: In a homily at a Mass on June 29, 1972, Pope Paul VI said that “the smoke of Satan is seeping into the Church of God through the cracks in the walls.” In a 1977 allocution, he went so far as to say: “The tail of the devil is functioning in the disintegration of the Catholic world. The darkness of Satan has entered and spread throughout the Catholic Church even to its summit. Apostasy, the loss of faith, is spreading throughout the world and into the highest levels within the Church.” (Address on the Sixtieth Anniversary of the Fatima Apparitions, October 13, 1977) The choice of this unusual description is significant, for it alludes to a passage in the Book of Revelation: “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Because she was with child, she cried aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky: it was a huge dragon, flaming red, with seven heads and ten horns; on his head were seven diadems. His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky and hurled them down to earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, ready to devour her child when it should be born.” (Rev 12:1-4). The woman clothed with the sun is a type of Our Lady and of the Church, and thus the passage is multidimensional. Satan’s attempt to destroy the Christ Child by acting through King Herod is its literal-historical meaning; the role of the Mother of God at the end of the ages is another level of meaning, allegorical and prophetic, which will unfold as literal-historical at some point in the future. In this sign can also be seen the role of the Church in every age, her labors to bear the fruit of salvation into the world. Every child, in a sense, is her child. Thus the phrase used in the context of “the disintegration of the Catholic world” is very strong language from a Pope. In 1976, a Polish cardinal named Karol Wotyla gave an address during a visit to the United States. “We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has gone through. I do not think that wide circles of the American society or wide circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel and the anti-Gospel. This confrontation lies within the plans of divine providence. It is a trial which the whole Church . . . must take up.” (The address was widely disseminated after his election to the papacy, when it was republished in the November 9, 1978, issue of The Wall Street Journal) I find it stunning that the man whom the Holy Spirit put in the Chair of Peter only two years later is speaking of the “final” confrontation as a present reality. It is a small word, but a world of meaning is embedded in it. Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, in a talk he gave in Palermo, Sicily, in March of 2000, spoke about of the loss of spiritual fatherhood in the modern age: “The crisis of fatherhood we are living today is an element, perhaps the most important, threatening man in his humanity. The dissolution of fatherhood and motherhood is linked to the dissolution of our being sons and daughters.” Further on in this talk, the cardinal reflected on the fatherhood of God. He pointed out that the book of Apocalypse speaks of the primeval eternal antagonist to the Father, “the Beast,” that is, the devil. The Beast as it is described in the Book of Revelation, does not have a name; it has a number. Cardinal Ratzinger then referred back to the Holocaust of World War II, and connected the concentration-extermination camps to our times, especially in the defining element of the new global civilization, which is overwhelmingly technological, with all the consequent potential for corruption and dehumanization of souls: “In their horror [the concentration camps] cancelled faces and history, transforming man into a number, reducing him to a cog in an enormous machine. Man is no more than a function. . . . “In our days, we should not forget that they prefigured the destiny of a world that runs the risk of adopting the same structure of the concentration camps, if the universal law of the machine is accepted. The machines that have been constructed impose the same law. According to this logic, man must be interpreted by a computer and this is only possible if translated into numbers. The beast is a number and transforms into numbers. God, however, has a name and calls by name. He is a person and looks for the person.” Cardinal Ratzinger was not referring to the overt horrors of such camps, but to what they were in essence. These camps prefigured what the world will become if the universal law of the machine is accepted. Miraculous and eternal beings will be reduced to the level of objects which can be used or discarded at the whim of unaccountable governments and the social forces controlled by such governments. There will then inevitably follow the radical dehumanization of mankind. In that “brave new world” whatever scraps of “spirituality” it retains will be false ones, leading not to our Father but to Satan himself. I would like to conclude with a quote from a well-known spiritual writer, who is commenting on the canticle of praise in the fifteenth chapter of Revelation: “History, in fact, is not alone in the hands of dark powers, chance or human choices. Over the unleashing of evil energies, the vehement irruption of Satan, and the emergence of so many scourges and evils, the Lord rises, supreme arbiter of historical events. He leads history wisely towards the dawn of the new heavens and the new earth, sung in the final part of the book under the image of the new Jerusalem (see Revelation 21-22).” The speaker is Pope Benedict XVI, the address is from his general audience of May 11, 2005, delivered a few days after his election to the papacy. Here is our first and final word. The victory of Christ is the first and final theme of the Book of Revelation, and so too it must be the first and final word of our own lives. We are not alone, not abandoned to the malice of dark powers and the evil energies of their human agents. Jesus Christ is the Lord of history, and he is the One to whom we must cling as we make our way through a dark age. We must do so as little children, with the spirit of the child clinging to his father’s hand. Regardless of whether we are granted another thousand years of history, or a hundred, or a decade, or even just a handful of years, the truth remains the same. “Unless you become as little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of God.” The loss of the sense of spiritual fatherhood, and hence the loss of spiritual childhood, are the major voids in the modern world; they may even be so in our lives as believers. Here, then, is the task ahead for each of us, here the “survivor manual” for the Apocalypse. The Lord stands ever ready to receive us, to feed and guard and guide us. Open and read, take and eat, come and drink. Life pours though the words on these printed pages. They are not dead letters, not even true dead letters, for they are living words. In them the Lord says to the Church in Sardis, “Awake and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death!” Each of the particular churches must heed this, for it contains both an exhortation and an admonition. The book of Revelation reaches its climax with the final words of Christ, “I am coming soon.” The entire sacred scriptures end with St. John’s response, his voice crying out for the whole Church, “Come, Lord Jesus!” “The judgment announced by the Lord Jesus refers above all to the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70. Yet the threat of judgment also concerns us, the Church in Europe, and the West in general. With this Gospel, the Lord is also crying out to our ears the words that in the Book of Revelation he addresses to the Church of Ephesus: ‘If you do not repent I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place’ (Rev 2: 5). Light can also be taken away from us, and we do well to let this warning ring out with its full gravity in our hearts, and cry aloud to the Lord: ‘Help us to repent! Give all of us the grace of true renewal! Do not allow your light in our midst to be extingushed! Strengthen our faith, our hope, and our love, so that we can bear good fruit!’.” (from the homily of Pope Benedict XVI, 2 October, 2005, at the opening of the synod in Rome) A public question period followed Michael O’Brien’s talk. For the full text of the questions and responses, click on the link: Question Period: Apocalyptic Times (part 2)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6970
__label__cc	0.674221	0.325779	Cow Hollow The cows came home a long time ago, but the farmland where they once grazed still bears their name. Contemporary Cow Hollow retains some of its original pastoral character, but you can’t call it rural or rustic. It is one of the most handsome and desirable residential neighborhoods in San Francisco, nestled between The Presidio, the Marina district, Pacific Heights and Russian Hill. Once known as Spring Valley, this historic area attracted settlers who came to San Francisco in the wake of the Gold Rush. They set up farms and dairies, using the fresh water from streams and a lagoon. But in 1891, the city banished the cows from what by then was called Cow Hollow—purportedly because the bountiful Bovinae had become a health hazard. Residential development took over. Today, significant and historic homes fill the landscape. Gardens bloom with prolific plantings and trees. Birds sing or—in the case of the wild parrots that wing through the eastern end of The Presidio—squawk overhead. Raccoons raid back yards by night. The neighborhood is serene and private by urban standards, yet conveniently located near two vibrant and popular commercial enclaves, Union and Chestnut streets. For recreation, there’s The Presidio, Crissy Field and the Marina green. The beloved Cow Hollow Playground is tucked in a near-secret setting off Baker Street. MUNI lines and tech shuttles make transportation a cinch. Access to the Golden Gate Bridge is nearly instant. Real estate in Cow Hollow earns an A-plus, with homes among the most highly-valued in San Francisco, year in and year out. Watching over all is the very active Cow Hollow Neighborhood Association, a great source of information and advocacy. Sign up to view market activity and receive email reports that include new listings, price reductions, recently sold data and more. Average Listings Add to Property Explorer Add to Favorites 2640 Greenwich Street Open House 07/21 2290 Green Street 136-138 Pixley Street 3036-3038 Divisadero Street 2816 Laguna Street Search Cow Hollow Properties For Sale Min. Price Min. Price $10,000 $25,000 $50,000 $75,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $600,000 $700,000 $800,000 $900,000 $1,000,000 $1,250,000 $1,500,000 $1,750,000 $2,000,000 $2,500,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000 $4,500,000 $5,000,000 $5,500,000 $6,000,000 $6,500,000 $7,000,000 $7,500,000 $8,000,000 $8,500,000 $9,000,000 $9,500,000 Max. Price Max. Price $10,000 $25,000 $50,000 $75,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $600,000 $700,000 $800,000 $900,000 $1,000,000 $1,250,000 $1,500,000 $1,750,000 $2,000,000 $2,500,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000 $4,500,000 $5,000,000 $5,500,000 $6,000,000 $6,500,000 $7,000,000 $7,500,000 $8,000,000 $8,500,000 $9,000,000 $9,500,000 $10,000,000 Min. Beds Min. Beds 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Max. Beds Max. Beds 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Min. Baths Min. Baths 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Max. Baths Max. Baths 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6972
__label__wiki	0.731397	0.731397	(Kaniela Ing / Facebook) Web Only / Features » April 4, 2018 This Hawaiian Lawmaker Fought Mark Zuckerberg Off Native Land. Now He’s Running for Congress. DSA member Kaniela Ing is calling for 100 percent renewable energy, universal basic income and a jobs guarantee. BY Kate Aronoff Share TweetReddit22 EmailPrint We know what it’s like to be up against oligarchy in Hawaii. We’ve lived in a feudal society and a really unequal capitalist society throughout history. Kaniela Ing knows a little something about Facebook, and not just because he’s a millennial. At 22, Ing (now 29) was elected in 2012 to the Hawaii state house, where he currently serves as Majority Policy Leader for the Democrats. In 2014, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg purchased 700 acres of beachfront property on land Native Hawaiians have gathering rights to. Then he built a wall around it, and sued local families to keep them out. Ing helped lead the charge from the state legislature for Native Hawaiians to reclaim their rights to that land, and Zuckerberg eventually dropped the lawsuits. Now, Ing, a Native Hawaiian, is running to represent Hawaii’s first congressional district, with a critique of Facebook and other corporations that extends well beyond their CEOs’ real estate investments. In Washington, Ing hopes to curtail corporate power, and regulate Facebook and other major tech firms like utilities. In These Times spoke with Ing by phone about Zuckerberg, the legacy of colonialism in Hawaii, democratic socialism and how to change the way Democrats think about economics. Kate Aronoff: Tell me a bit about HI-01. Kaniela Ing: This district that we live in is the urban core of Hawaii. It’s the city, and the rest of that island and everything else is in the second district. This district has a lot of high rises and a lot of visible poverty. The inequality is really stark. We have luxury condominiums popping up all the time—$20 million glass buildings going up to the sky, right next to Native Hawaiians and veterans living on the streets. We have the highest cost of living in the nation, but the lowest wages, adjusted for cost of living. Our salaries have been inadequate for years. We have a low unemployment rate that politicians like to brag about, at 2.5 percent. But that’s only because people are working two or three jobs. It’s a real struggle out here, especially for young people. Myself, I pay $2000 a month for daycare and $700 a month for student loans. Between that and rent and milk costing $7 per half gallon, everything comes down to economics right now. It’s not that scarcity is a problem. Clearly the resources are here. It’s that working people just aren’t getting their just desserts. That’s what’s concerning to most folks. 70 percent of my classmates have moved away to the mainland to look for housing and opportunities. Now that I have a two year old, I want to ensure that he has a shot to make it here in Hawaii. Kate: Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, have been in the news a lot recently following the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Could you explain how you came into contact with the him in your work as a state legislator? Kaniela: In 2014, Mark Zuckerberg purchased 700 acres on Kauai. That’s the island where they filmed Jurassic Park and Avatar. It’s beautiful, and his property was right on the shoreline. It turns out that on 17 acres of that land, Native Hawaiians had gathering rights that had been passed down from generation to generation. Rather than sitting down and negotiating how they can solve this conundrum, he went and sued these Hawaiian families who were of little means. Even if they were to win some kind of cash settlement, it would probably be less than what they would incur in legal costs. These lawsuits are the same mechanisms that sugar barons used to displace Native Hawaiians centuries ago. It created this huge uproar among Native Hawaiians and environmentalists. So I went to the media and spoke my mind on the issue. I called Mark Zuckerberg a modern-day colonizer, and it made some international news. After a couple of weeks of these headlines and the two sides going back and forth, he dropped the lawsuit. We did win that battle. It’s still ongoing. There are no lawsuits anymore but they still haven’t gotten the land back, and Zuckerberg still has a wall built around his property. These Hawaiians are just looking to fish, or get to the beach. This issue has really brought some of the injustices we’ve been facing for years to the attention of the world. Kate: Could you say more about that, and the historic relationship between corporations and native Hawaiians? Kaniela: The first Western contact in Hawaii was Captain Cook. But shortly thereafter, a bunch of missionary families came to the island. Five families controlled our government and our economy—we call them the Big Five. They dealt in whaling and sandalwood and sugar and pineapple, and, now, tourism. Their face has changed—it’s not the same Big Five that it was 200 years ago—but it still exists. Alexander & Baldwin, two of the families of the Big Five, are a corporation now, a real estate investment trust. They’re the second largest landholders in Hawaii. They’re also the largest campaign contributors. They can make and break elections, so in some ways these families still do have economic and governmental control of Hawaii. We know what it’s like to be up against oligarchy in Hawaii. We’ve lived in a feudal society and a really unequal capitalist society throughout history. Now we’re seeing that repeat. We have three men in American who hold more wealth than the bottom half—than 50 percent of the entire nation. And 82 percent of new wealth generated in 2017 went to the top 1 percent. It’s more stark than ever. Mark Zuckerberg is one of today’s oligarchs, just like on the mainland with Standard Oil and some of the other oligarchs in the past. Except now these guys have control over commerce, like Amazon, and communications, like Facebook. And that’s where it gets really dangerous for a democracy. It’s important that Congress act now and not rely on self-regulation by these monopolists. Kate: What do you think qualifies Facebook as a monopoly, and how would you hope to regulate it? Kaniela: Mark Zuckerberg calls Facebook a social utility. And if he’s admitting it’s a utility he should agree that it should be treated like one. The same goes for the internet in general, not just social networks but broadband connection. It’s a necessity now in the modern world, the way electricity was almost a century ago. There was way too much control by a few corporations that actually didn’t benefit the majority of the public. So the government took over lines and—at the very least—heavily regulated these monopolies to make sure that everybody had equal access to electricity. We’re going to have to do that for broadband generally, and we’re going to have to do that for social networks. Right now there’s nothing stopping someone like Zuckerberg from adjusting their algorithms to punish people with certain political views or certain companies. Arguably it’s already happening. A lot of independent news sources don’t have the same ability to reach their own followers that more corporate news sources do. That’s unfair. Kate: You’re calling for both a federal job guarantee and a universal basic income. Could you talk about what both of those policies mean to you? Kaniela: The job guarantee isn’t just employment in low-wage jobs. These would be living-wage jobs, building on the idea that people having liveable jobs is a human right. Today there’s more than enough work for every citizen: There are bridges to be built, roads to be repaired, children to teach, trees to plan. But the market just doesn’t meet the demand. It’s not just important for places that have high unemployment. Here in Hawaii we don’t have that problem. But we do have an issue with workers being exploited regularly. For every job opening there are four people looking. So if you’re a boss you have a lot of leverage, because you know your employee doesn’t have many options. But if you were to reverse that—so there are four jobs for every person looking—then the worker is really empowered. And employers are going to have to treat their workers a lot better if they want them to stay. You’ll see a lot of fairer scheduling. You’ll see less wage theft. That’s the idea behind a job guarantee: It’s a public option for jobs. It would turn unemployment offices into employment offices. The other proposal is a universal basic income. Now that automation and globalization are really disrupting our economy, we have to act quickly and explore innovative solutions if we want to build a future economy that leaves no one behind. There is a study that pilots a universal basic income that—if every citizen is given $1000 a month—then the American economy would grow by $2.5 trillion. Our economy runs on spending, and the middle class is shrinking. If the middle class don’t have enough money in their wallets the economy is going to stall. So this is one way to really jump start the economy, and prepare for automation. I think we can do both. Kate: Both of these sound like they’d be expensive. Do you think Congress needs a new way of thinking about deficits and budgets in order to make these kinds of proposals a reality? Kaniela: Congress has shown through trillions of dollars in tax cuts and military spending and bailing out big banks that we have the money. Republicans never have to justify where it’s coming from, so I don’t think we have to either. They only want to talk about balanced budgets when it’s programs that we care about and that actually help working families. We’ve got to make sure we don’t fall into the trap, of getting caught up in discussions of how to pay for things. If you really want to dive into it, you’ve got to learn modern money theory: what money really is, where our money really goes, and demand-side economics more generally. History shows that people on the ground—demand side—need to have money to spend in the economy if we want it to continue growing. It can’t continue to get hoarded by the top 1 percent, who don’t really spend the money on normal things like haircuts and dinners and groceries. Instead they like to do stock buybacks, which should be illegal by the way. Or they hide their money in the Cayman Islands. That doesn’t keep the economy going. Gasoline needs to be revving the engine. It can’t just be sitting in the tank. Kate: The progressive answer to “pay for” questions has been to say we’re going to tax something bad to spend money on something good. You’re saying that doesn’t have to be the case. Kaniela: It’s really easy to say, for instance, “How are you going to fund tuition-free college?” Cut the military by 0.5 percent. That makes sense to people so I understand why some politicians want to engage that way. But it also feeds into the other side’s trap, and the way they exploit a framework they’ve never followed it themselves. They’ve been complete hypocrites about it throughout modern political history. I do think it’s important to tackle the other side of inequality, and actually tax huge capital gains and inheritances—not just to fund programs but because it’s the moral thing to do. They don’t even have to be said in the same breath, but we can still do both. One doesn’t have to justify the other. You don’t have to tax in order to spend. You can spend and tax on their own merits. Kate: What other kinds of changes do you think need to be made in the Democratic Party? Kaniela: Number one, stop being hypocrites. Understand where we went wrong and admit those faults and learn from them. The Obama administration deported a record number of undocumented immigrants, but no one wants to talk about that because Trump’s the big bad deporter. Trump is terrible on these issues! And the way he talks and thinks about undocumented immigrants is grotesque. Obama was a lot more thoughtful, don’t get me wrong. But we need to understand where we lost a lot of our support over the years. It’s whenever we decide to compromise with the uncompromising. We’ve really got to stand strong in our values. The Affordable Care Act, there were 40 Republican amendments made for zero Republican votes. We had an opportunity to go for a public option or even a single payer proposal then but we didn’t take it because we were afraid of the healthcare and insurance lobby. That’s why it’s important that we shift the conversation away from one of compromising. We know that Republicans—at least not recently—will never compromise in good faith. Kate: You’re a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and are running as a Democrat. Do you see space for socialists within the Democratic Party? Kaniela: As you alluded to, DSA isn’t its own party. It can work within the Democratic party, and the way our system is and the way our constitution is that is the best route to go about achieving the things we want to achieve. I know the “isms” tend to scare a lot of people in the general public. But if you poll people across parties, they support the ideas that democratic socialists support: the idea that things aren’t going to be means tested or market based; that everybody chips in what they can and everybody gets back the benefit. That’s something that’s supported even in red states. That’s why Medicare and social security are so popular. If we can expand that paradigm to policies like education or housing, I think that’s really the direction that the Democratic Party and America should be headed. The thing I love about DSA is that there’s less focus on just bills. We understand that while it’s important to be able to work with colleagues to move things with compromise—which I’ve done in the state legislature—it’s often more important to understand that we’re just the last piece of the puzzle. You’ve got to reach critical mass if you want to achieve change. That’s the only way it’s really ever happened, from suffrage to voting rights to marriage equality to environmental protections. So how can I as an elected official facilitate and build those movements? It’s going to happen be engaging in and including activists as part of my core team. Kate: What do you think the relationship should be between social movements and people who hold elected office? Kaniela: I like to see myself as a movement candidate. Elected officials like to take credit for policies that they know only came about by reacting to where the public was. My view as elected leaders is that we’re just a vessel for ideas. The wind blows through us like a whistle. We just make the noise. But the wind is the people. So that’s how I try to operate. When Elizabeth Warren took such a strong stance against Wall Street and proved that she could win, more and more Democrats are starting to follow her lead. We’ve got to show the same bravery in different sectors, like the military industrial complex or Big Oil. That’s why in this campaign we don’t take any corporate money. That’s the only way we’re going to see change. Kate: Speaking of Big Oil, Hawaii is having a more advanced conversation about climate change than the one happening at the national level. You call for 100 percent renewable energy by 2035 in your platform. What kind of conversation do you think Congress should be having about climate change? Kaniela: There hasn’t been any real action on climate. It’s extremely irresponsible for the next generation. Within my son’s lifetime, Waikiki could be underwater. That’s the lifeblood of Hawaii’s economy. The neighborhood I grew up in could be underwater. Hawaii may become the climate refugee capital of the Pacific, from all the people living on these atolls needing a place to come. We’ve got to make sure we have the resources to account for that. Between Trump pulling out of the Paris Accord and there being no real action done at the Congressional level, it’s scary for us here in Hawaii. We were the first state to pass a 100 percent renewable energy goal. I was also the first legislator to come out in opposition to the return of natural gas in Hawaii. We stopped that from happening. Our utility was going to get bought out by an anti-solar company called Nextera, which owns Florida Power and Light. We stopped that despite Nextera maxing out all the Democrats. We are setting the example for the rest of the nation. I think a job guarantee would work very well for a lot of green initiatives: to retrofit buildings and build advanced energy infrastructure like wind and solar. If we have these jobs our economy will grow and our tax revenue will grow as well. It’s going to be a lot of up-front initial costs, but it will pay for itself down the line. Kate Aronoff Kate Aronoff is a Brooklyn-based journalist covering climate and U.S. politics, and a contributing writer at The Intercept. Follow her on Twitter @katearonoff. "At least today we have the rule of law". Like the law that says you can start needless wars all over the planet and kill milions of innocents? Like the law that makes America the worlds largest exporter of killing equipment? Like the law that has made America the largest contributor to climate change? Or how about the law that says it is OK for some Americans to have many billions when millions of others have next to nothing? Posted by Bob Fearn on 2018-04-07 10:13:25 Mr. Ing likes to disparage today's "oligarchy" of wealthy individuals and corporations who control great wealth and landholdings even while poor people are living right next door to them. But Mr. Ing forgets that before the arrival of Captain Cook, and continuing throughout the 19th Century under native Kings, there was an even more powerful oligarchy of ali'i lording it over the poor, downtrodden maka'ainana. Any peasant who stepped on the shadow of a chief or failed to prostrate himself in the presence of a sacred chief -- or any woman who dared to eat a banana, might be put to death immediately. At least today we have the rule of law, which Mr. Ing is using to fight for what he wants. Perhaps Mr. Ing would prefer to go live in the land of his true indigenous ancestors (China), where his socialist beliefs oppress the downtrodden masses. Posted by Ken Conklin on 2018-04-05 01:19:20	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6975
__label__wiki	0.963422	0.963422	World Heritage Committee puts Medieval Monuments in Kosovo on Danger List and extends site in Andorra, ending this year’s inscriptions The World Heritage Committee Thursday decided to extend the site inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2004 as Dečani Monastery (Serbia) and place it on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee also extended Andorra‘s site of Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley (Andorra), adding a buffer zone to the property that was listed in 2004. These inscriptions end additions and changes to the World Heritage List which now numbers 830 sites. The World Heritage Committee decided to extend the site of the Dečani Monastery by adding to it three groups of churches, the Patriarchate of Peć Monastery, Gračanica Monastery and the Church of the Virgin of Ljeviša. The site is now to be known as Medieval Monuments in Kosovo. The extended property, mainly dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, was also placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to difficulties in its management and conservation stemming from the region's political instability. The Committee requested that the State Party (Serbia) work with UNESCO programmes, with the United Nations Mission to Kosovo (UNMIK) and with the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo in caring for the site. The four edifices of the site reflect the high points of the Byzantine-Romanesque ecclesiastical culture that developed in the Balkans between the 13th and 17th centuries with its distinct style of wall painting. The Patriarchate of Peć Monastery is a group of four domed churches, on the outskirts of Peć featuring series of wall paintings. The 13th-century frescoes of the Church of Holy Apostles are painted in a unique, monumental style. Early 14th-century frescoes in the church of the Holy Virgin represent the appearance of the new so called Palaiologian Renaissance style, combining the influences of the eastern Orthodox Byzantine and the western Romanesque traditions. The style played a decisive role in subsequent Balkan art. The Committee approved the proposal of Andorra to make a minor extension to its first site on the World Heritage List, inscribed in 2004. Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, which offers a microcosmic perspective of the way people have harvested the resources of the high Pyrenees over millennia, now has a larger buffer zone. This improves the protection awarded to this cultural landscape with its dramatic glacial landscapes of craggy cliffs and glaciers, with high open pastures and steep wooded valleys covering an area of 4,247 hectares, 9% of the total area of Andorra. During its current session, chaired by Ina Marčiulionytė, Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee and Permanent Delegate of Lithuania to UNESCO, 18 new sites were inscribed. They include two natural sites and the extension of one natural site, which also became a transboundary property. Sixteen cultural sites were inscribed, one of them transboundary and three existing sites were extended. Improvements in the state of conservation of five sites warranted their removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger, while two sites were added to that list, which now numbers 31 sites. Mauritius had its first site added to the List during this session. The 21-member World Heritage Committee is to meet again in June 2007 in New Zealand to discuss the implementation of UNESCO's World Heritage Convention and review additions to the World Heritage List. Roni Amelan, r.amelan@unesco.org World Heritage Properties (2) Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley Medieval Monuments in Kosovo Committee Sessions (1) 30th session of the World Heritage Committee 09-Jul-2006-16-Jul-2006	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6976
__label__wiki	0.549908	0.549908	There may be a large gender divide in many workplaces, but in the realm of wine, women have been steadily rising to the top. Not only do female consumers outnumber that of men, the number of female winemakers and sommeliers continue to rise every year. There are probably countless reasons as to why women are reigning supreme on the vineyard, but we’ll leave reasoning to the 10 talented ladies we recently spoke with. From California to Italy, from winemakers to sommeliers, these women’s stories are funny, touching, kismet, and inspirational. Plus, their favorite wines make a pretty amazing shopping list. What started as a small feature is now a full-sized series, so make sure to stay tuned to learn about each and every one of these 10 women in wine. First up is Melissa Burr, winemaker with Stoller Family Estate. Raised in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, Burr completed a Bachelor of Science degree and then went on to study winemaking and fermentation science at Oregon State University. She joined Stoller Family Estate in 2003 (just two years after the winery launched) as head winemaker and since, has had a hand in production increasing from only a few hundred cases to almost 17,000 as of last year. The winery was named the 2014 Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year by Wine Press Northwest. Photo Credit: Brie Mullin JustLuxe: What got you started in the industry? Melissa Burr: I got started in the industry via medicine. I studied science to enter a graduate program for naturopathic medicine, developed an interest in wine, and decided to take my career to the wine industry instead of medicine. JL: Who are some of your heroes? MB: My mom, for real. She is an incredible woman. She is smart, practical, honest, open-minded, caring and funny, and she is who I look to for who I would like to be. JL: Is there a female figure in the wine world whom you consider to be the most inspiring and/or influential? MB: There are a few, but the closest to home (literally) is Lynn Penner-Ash. She has been in the industry for over 30 years, built a highly successful brand that she owns exclusively, and remains involved in every aspect. She also has a family and enjoys spending time with them. Photo Credit: Andrea Johnson JL: Considering more women tend to list wine as their favorite alcoholic drink compared to men, why do you think it has taken so long for women to break into the industry? How has the climate for females in the wine industry changed? MB: It follows the evolution of how women have entered more into the work force in general over the last 50 years, breaking free from suppression. JL: As a woman in the field, would you prefer to be “just another winemaker/sommelier” or do you find power in the attention gained from being a female in the industry? MB: I prefer to not focus on being a woman winemaker, however I am proud to be in the industry working for a successful brand and I am happy if that provides inspiration for other women. JL: What do you like the most about your wine/wine lists? MB: I feel extremely lucky to be so close to the wine I make to where it can be for me like a time capsule. I can think about the harvest, the weather, and the people that went into the wine. JL: Do you have a favorite wine? MB: I enjoy many wines and don’t have one favorite, but I will say that the Stoller Reserve Pinot Noirs (any vintage) are very special, as they reflect the vineyard and vintage elegantly. (Republished with the permission of JustLuxe.com) Celebrating 10 Talented Women in Wine: Diana Garcia Gonzalez From France’s Château Teynac Top Ten Little-Known Wine Varietals from Northeastern Italy “Bike the Wine Roads of the Veneto” (Northern Italy)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6982
__label__wiki	0.97035	0.97035	Today’s 5 key race alerts Beto O'Rourke, the Democratic candidate that’s following Senator Ted Cruz close behind in the race for the position in Texas. Source: http://www.elpasoproud.com/ The movement of the United State’s political panorama during these next months is key for the next two and a half years of government. These are the 5 facts you should know today. 1. Texas could go blue Democratic candidate Beto O'Rourke takes the lead against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in fundraising, having made $ 1.5 million over the state’s favorite in just two months, CNN reported. While Texas is a traditionally red state - having elected its last Democratic senator, Lloyd Bentsen in 1988 - President Trump's low approval rating during 2017 (only 39% of Texans agreed with his management) could indicate a change of mind in the midterm elections. 2. Corker will not seek re-election in Tennessee According to his chief of staff, Republican Senator Bob Corker would not seek re-election this year. As reported by Talking Points Memo, Corker's criticism of Trump and his estrangement from the more radical lines within the Republican Party could have affected his decision, which has left the way clear for his fierce opponent, Marsha Blackburn, who has been criticized for her support for economic pacts with the big pharmaceutical industries that undermine the fight against the opioid epidemic. 3. Bernie Sanders' son will follow in his father's footsteps Levi Sanders, son of Independent Senator and former presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, announced his candidacy for the first congressional district in New Hampshire. With 48 years and having lived in the locality for the last 15 years, Sanders "Junior" has assured to support and endorse the proposal of "a Medicare system for all", tuition-free public colleges, an increase in the minimum wage and "sensitive gun legislation", as reported by the Huffington Post. 4. One of Clueless! girls threw her hat into the ring Known for being one of the lead characters in the cult film Clueless! (1995), Stacey Dash, now 51 years old, intends to join President Trump’s ranks vying for a position in the 44th Congressional District in California. Having been a contributor with Fox News and with a strongly conservative stance, Dash said through social media that "it's time for me to put up or shut up," as Vulture reported. 5. A clash in Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel (R) may announce his candidacy against Senator Roger Wicker at a rally on Wednesday, sources close to Talking Points Memo said. McDaniel has been recognized for pushing a "revolt" against Senator Thad Cochran four years ago, against whom he reluctantly lost the race, and for his controversial comments against the march of women during 2017. mid-term elections More in Elections Is Joe Biden's charm gone? From The Apprentice to the Democratic Debate How Elizabeth Warren set the tone for the first Democratic debate Why is Florida so crucial for Republicans? Bernie Sanders stands with Hahnemann NALEO Annual Conference kicks off in Miami Joe Biden was the elephant in the room of the Iowa Democrat’s Hall of Fame 'He lied to Congress,' Democrats close ranks against William Barr Latinos and women are the true winners in Texas primaries	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6983
__label__cc	0.732465	0.267535	The Ellensburg sky for the week of 9/29/12 Saturday: Tonight’s full moon is in the constellation. This morning’s other Moon is…. Wait a minute. The Earth has only one Moon. True. And it has always had only one Moon. Not necessarily true. According to the best existing model, about four billion years ago, a Mars-sized object collided with the young Earth. The resulting debris coalesced to form the Moon. However, this model left a mystery: why is the Moon so asymmetric? Hardened-lava lowlands dominate the near side while the far side is dominated by mountainous highlands. According to a recent revision of the prevailing model, the early collision formed a large Moon and a small Moon. Over the years, the small Moon caught up to and collided with the large Moon. The highlands are the material from the collided small Moon. For more information about this theory, go to http://goo.gl/6JlcA. Sunday: Mnemonics are helpful for remembering astronomy facts. (Similarly, “Johnny Mnemonic”, the 1995 cyberpunk film, was helpful in getting Keanu Reeves’ career going.) After all, school children all around the country are learning the order of the planets by remembering, “My very excellent mother just served us nine….” Oops, I guess that one needs updating. Well, here’s one that will not need updating for nearly 100,000 years: the order of the stars in the Big Dipper. Because the nighttime stars are so far away from us, their actual motion through the sky, called their “proper motion” is not noticeable over even thousands of years. That is why the constellations have remained the same since ancient times. But two stars in the Big Dipper have a proper motion large enough such than in 100,000 years, the stars will no longer make a dipper shape. Until then, you can remember the names of the seven dipper stars in order from handle to cup by remembering this helpful advice for teens: “AM, ask mom. PM, dad”. The stars are Alkaid, Mizar, Alioth, Megrez, Phad, Merek, and Duhbe. The Big Dipper is one fist held upright and at arm’s length above the north horizon at 11 p.m. Monday: Scandalous! The goddess of love will be cozying up to the little king. Venus will be about a pinky-width or less from the bright star Regulus, whose name mean “little king” in Latin. At 6:30 this morning, Regulus will be just to the lower left of Venus, three fists above the east horizon. Because Venus is so close to the Earth, it moves an easily noticeable amount in the sky each day. Compare its position to that of Regulus for the next few days. Tuesday: The smoke is starting to clear so we can see objects in the sky better than we could a few weeks ago. Luckily the Big Bear Solar Observatory in California doesn’t have this problem. Astronomers have improved the optics of the telescope so much that it is able to resolve features on the surface of the Sun that are just a few miles across. Remember, never look at the Sun without proper eye protection. Instead, go to http://goo.gl/XIBh6 for images of the Sun and more information about the telescope. Wednesday: Mars is less than a fist above the southeast horizon at 7:30 p.m. Thursday: At 10:30 p.m., Jupiter is about one fist above the east-northeast horizon. Friday: The constellation Orion is four fists above the south horizon at 6 a.m. The Orion is a cloud of gas and dust visible with binoculars about a half a fist below the “belt” of three stars. If you are feeling especially attracted to the nebula, that might be because astronomers think there may be a black hole in the middle. They have not directly observed the back hole, which would be the closest known one to Earth at a distance of 1,300 light years. But the motion of stars in the region is consistent with them being near a black hole 100 times the mass of the Sun. For more information, go to http://goo.gl/AGjFf. The positional information in this column about stars and planets is typically accurate for the entire week. Posted by dbp1920 at 12:22 AM No comments: Saturday: At precisely 7:47 a.m., the center of the Sun crosses the celestial equator and passes into the southern sky. The celestial equator is an imaginary line that divides the sky into a northern and southern half. When the Sun is in the southern half of the sky, it appears to take a shorter path from rising to setting. It also does not get as high in the sky at noon. This leads to shorter days and longer nights. Since the Sun crosses the celestial equator today, there is an instant when it is equally in the northern and southern sky, called the north and south celestial hemispheres. This so-called “equal night” is given by the Latin word equinox. Thus, today is known as the Autumnal Equinox. However, the day and night are not of equal duration today. The sun rises at 6:50 a.m. and sets at 6:58 p.m. Day and night are closest to equal duration on Tuesday. Sunday: “You know Aries and Cancer and Draco and Libra. Leo and Pisces and Virgo and Hydra. But, do you recall, the pointiest asterism of all? Triangulum, the three sided asterism, had a very pointy edge….” Sorry. Some stores have started putting up their Christmas decorations and that has put me in the mood to modify some Christmas songs. Anyway, Triangulum is a small constellation between the more prominent Andromeda and Aries. Its main feature is a skinny triangle oriented parallel to and nearly four fists held upright and at arm’s length above the east horizon at 10 p.m. Monday: Jupiter is one fist above the east-northeast horizon at 11 p.m. By 6 a.m., it is more than six fists above due south. Venus, the brightest point of light in the sky, is nearly three fists above the east horizon at 6 a.m. Tuesday: Did you time the exact length of the day and night on Saturday, the first day of autumn? They were not equal in duration. Many people think that the day and night are the same duration on the autumnal equinox. The day is a little longer than the night for two reasons. First, the Sun is an extended object so even when the middle part has set, the upper half is still above the horizon lighting the sky. The second, and more influential reason is that the atmosphere acts like a lens, bending light from the Sun above the horizon when the Sun is really still below the horizon. Day and night are closest in duration today. Wednesday: It has been dry in Ellensburg. But for a few days each month, the moon often spends time in the watery part of the sky. Tonight is one of those nights. At 10 p.m., Capricornus, the sea goat is one to two fists to the lower right of the moon. Aquarius, the water bearer, is just above and to the right of the moon. Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish, is three fists below the moon. This constellation features the bright star Fomalhaut. Thursday: The bright bluish star Vega is nearly straight overhead at 8 p.m. Friday: The cloudy season is coming to Ellensburg. Don’t feel bad. According to astronomers from the European Southern Observatory, it is always cloudy season on HD 85512b, a newly discovered planet orbiting the star called… wait for it… wait for it… called HD 85512. These astronomers developed a method to estimate the cloud cover on planets orbiting distant stars. They think HD 85512b may be cloudy enough to have liquid water on its surface even though it is fairly close to its host star. While the presence of surface water does not guarantee finding life, it is a critical component. For more information, go to http://goo.gl/bGxMD. Posted by dbp1920 at 9:17 PM No comments: Saturday: “Excuse me, do you have the time?” “No, but the Big Dipper does.” You can use the orientation of the Big Dipper to tell time with a precision of about 15-30 minutes. First, find the two stars at the far end of the Big Dipper cup, the stars that do not touch the handle. Draw an imaginary line segment starting at the North Star and passing through the two Big Dipper cup stars. Now, draw a big circle around the North Star. Your circle is a 24-hour clock. Number the circle from 0 hours at the top, counterclockwise to 12 hours at the bottom of the circle, and back up to 24 hours at the top. (O hours and 24 hours are the same on this clock because the day is 24 hours long.) The hour number on the big circle closest to where your imaginary line intersects this circle is called your raw time. Due to the location of the Big Dipper compared to the rest of the stars, the time nearest the intersection (the raw time) is correct for March 6. For any other night, subtract two times the number of months the current date is after March 6 from the raw time. For example, let’s say the imaginary line between the North Star and the Dipper stars is pointed to the right. That means the raw time is 18 hours or 6 p.m. If you made this observation on October 6, which is seven months after March 6, you would subtract two times seven or 14 hours from the raw time. Thus, the time for November 6 is 18 hours minus 14 hours or 4 hours. In other words, 4 a.m. Don’t forget to convert for daylight savings time if needed. For a more complete set of instructions, go to http://goo.gl/02HmA. There is a simple “star clock” template and instructions at http://goo.gl/SFKrE. Use this paper star clock whenever you watch is broken. Sunday: Saturn is about a half a fist above the west-southwest horizon at 8 p.m. Monday: Let me tell you the story of the ghostly white figure that rises early in the morning around Halloween. It appears to be a huge dim glow of white light that rises up from the east in the pre-dawn sky. No, I’m not writing about the ROTC student who has early morning physical training. I’m describing an effect called the zodiacal light. This light comes from sunlight reflecting off dust grains in our solar system. The effect is the most visible when the band of constellations called the zodiac makes a steep angle with the horizon. You need a clear sky with no haze or light pollution to see the zodiacal light that will be visible for the next week or so. At its brightest, the zodiacal light rivals the light of the central Milky Way. Tuesday: To celebrate the start of school at CWU tomorrow, let’s sing a song of the season. “Oh the weather outside is grand. And the fire is rightfully banned. There is really no place to go. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. On Mars.” The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has discovered evidence of carbon dioxide snow clouds high above the surface of Mars. Carbon dioxide, also called “dry ice”, exists in Mars south polar ice cap and requires temperatures of nearly 200 degrees below zero Fahrenheit to form. Astronomers were not sure how this polar cap gets replenished but the discovery of carbon dioxide clouds may provide an answer. For more information, go to http://goo.gl/shMTf. Mars is less than one fist held upright and at arm’s length above the southwest horizon at 8 p.m. Wednesday: Venus is three fists above the east horizon at 6 a.m. Thursday: “One world, group hug, love everyone” philosophy: political borders are human-made and can’t be seen from space. Real world, pragmatic discovery: some human-made political borders CAN be seen from space. Since 2003, India has illuminated its border with Pakistan to prevent illegal crossings. In August, astronaut Ron Garan took a picture of the boarder from the International Space Station. For more information, including the photo, go to http://goo.gl/mY8xG. Friday: Jupiter is a half a fist above the east-northeast horizon at 11 p.m. The Ellensburg sky for the week of 9/8/12 Saturday: In the movie The Terminator, Arnold said “Hasta la vista, baby”. Today you can join NASA scientists and many other people around the world in saying “Hasta la vista, Vesta”. The Dawn probe has studied the asteroid Vesta for the past year. Soon it will head over to the dwarf planet Ceres. Before it goes, Dawn scientists and engineers will host a Google+ Hangout from noon-2:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time this afternoon. You can also get mission updates throughout the mission on Facebook or Twitter. For more information, go to http://goo.gl/fKorW. Sunday: If you sat up late Saturday night or get up very early this morning, you can say “Hasta la vista, Ceres” for an hour. At about 12:25 this morning, the Moon will pass between the Earth and Ceres. This is called an occultation of Ceres because the word “occult” means to block. At about 1:20 a.m., the Moon will have moved far enough in its orbit such that Ceres will emerge out from behind the dark part of the Moon. You’ll need binoculars or a small telescope to see Ceres. Monday: Science is Central! This week, faculty, staff, and students in the College of the Sciences at CWU will kick off the start of the academic year by hosting a series of evening science lectures and demonstrations geared for all ages. All events are taking place on the CWU Ellensburg campus and all are free. The series kicks off tonight with CWU professor, astronomy club advisor and columnist extraordinaire Bruce Palmquist at 7:00 – 8:00 pm in Lind Hall 215 on the CWU campus. He’ll be giving an interactive lecture about the probability of finding intelligent life on other planets followed by a guided tour of the night sky with several telescopes. Go to http://www.cwu.edu/newmap.html for a map of campus. Parking is free after 4:30 p.m. For more information about the week's events, go to http://goo.gl/6Gseh. Tuesday: In most parts of the country, a mixture of tasty carbon-based material and healthy minerals is called a casserole. In Minnesota, it is called a hot dish. (Uffdah, you betcha!) In space, it is called a supergiant. Antares, a supergiant in the constellation Scorpius, is forging lighter elements into carbon, oxygen, silicon, and iron in its core. It is on the main course table one fist above the southwest horizon at 7:30. Make sure it cools off before you take a bite. Wednesday: Venus is less than a half a fist to the upper left of the Moon at 6 a.m. Jupiter is over six fists above the south-southeast horizon. If you don’t want to get up early to see Jupiter, it is less than a half a fist above the east-northeast horizon at 11 p.m. Thursday: As Jupiter moves into the evening sky, Mars and Saturn are moving out of the evening sky by moving closer to being in line with the Sun. At 8 p.m., Saturn is half a fist above the west-southwest horizon and Mars is a little less than a fist above the southwest horizon. Friday: In 1987, the rock group Def Leppard sang “Pour some sugar on me, in the name of love. Pour some sugar on me, come on fire me up”. In 2012, some European astronomers “found some sugar near stars, they were very young. Found some sugar near stars, out where planets formed.” Astronomers observed molecules of glycolaldehyde, a simple form of sugar, in the disk of gas and dust orbiting young binary stars. This is the first time astronomers have found this simple sugar so close to a star indicating that organic molecules can be found in planet-forming regions of stars. For more information, go to http://goo.gl/tfwy1.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6986
__label__cc	0.648133	0.351867	In an amazing show of demand for Dark Horse’s newest graphic novel, Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Promise Part 1soared to the top of the Bookscan charts last week! Written by Gene Luen Yang, author of the National Book Award-nominated American Born Chinese, Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise Part 1 marks the continuation of Airbender and the link to its upcoming sequel, Legend of Korra! Ever since the conclusion of Avatar: The Last Airbender, its millions of fans have been hungry for more–and it’s finally here! This series rejoins Aang and friends for exciting new adventures, beginning with a faceoff against the Fire Nation that threatens to throw the world into another war, testing all of Aang’s powers and ingenuity! Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Promise Part 1 is a must-have for any Airbender fan! This is the latest release in an ongoing partnership between Nickelodeon and Dark Horse to bring you the very best in Airbender books. For more information, go to www.darkhorse.com http://theeventmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/event-magazine-logo-dark.png 0 0 webdude http://theeventmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/event-magazine-logo-dark.png webdude2012-01-16 21:45:212019-01-16 21:45:37Avatar The Last Airbender Bring The Force Home Honey West, Captain Action and Flin in Danger a Go Go	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6987
__label__cc	0.727678	0.272322	Sometimes I cry August 29, 2017 /0 Comments/in Bohemian Dictums, Columns, Cover /by Asonganyi Nester There was a time, when I used to fall asleep, to a pleasant, dreamless, dark depth, totally at peace, but not anymore. Nowadays, I feel an intense bitterness welling up in my mouth; I am a grief-stricken man. Cries of caution and shouts of discomfort with the current socio-political crisis rocking the English-speaking parts of the country seem to be like water off a duck’s back. Some people appear to be snaffling the peace and their attitude has snagged Cameroon’s much advertised unity in diversity.This nation has become a black hole where any lunacy can thrive and there is a black smudge on the national sense of wellbeing. One is tempted to wonder aloud, when all the chaos will come to an end. Schools in the country are to be reopened on Monday, September 4, after the long holidays and in the Northwest, the burning question is: “shall they effectively resume?” Many have joined the fracas over the school resumption issue in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon. Some parents shudder at the thought of their progeny being maimed, kidnapped or killed, following threats from self–styled revolutionaries, who have dubbed the school boycott operation a collective sacrifice. Who indeed is making the sacrifice? It appears to me that the school attending children and students are taking the brunt of this so-called Anglophone struggle. The ghost town situations increase the number of sacrificial lambs with business people and petty traders losing a lot of money, and what about teachers of the private sector? Where is the love, peace and unity? On both sides of the political spectrum, everyone is in favour of dialogue, but no one appears to be willing to take a seat at the negotiating table. There is need to thrash out this Anglophone problem as I hear it being called, to wipe the slate clean, to start afresh. The burning, threats and chaos have to stop, the children are innocent and even ignorant about what has made hell to break lose. Nelson Mandela preached love and forgiveness and taught by example. Do these words mean anything to those vested with the power to preside over the destiny of this nation-amnesty, pardon, good faith, dialogue? And to those advocating a spilt; what have the children done to you? Honestly, there are many preposterous vicissitudes in this life than any philosophy can conjure. So, I the Bohemian of Abakwa, born on the last day of the month in the land of the people, this day declare: when I hear that the football in the country of the African champions needs to be made normal, and the children in some parts are running the risk of missing out on yet another school year; I cry. Some times I agree with who says big boys don’t, but I tell you, sometimes I cry. By Winston Lebga http://theramblercameroon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/The-rambler-header-.fw_.png 0 0 Asonganyi Nester http://theramblercameroon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/The-rambler-header-.fw_.png Asonganyi Nester2017-08-29 17:01:082017-08-29 17:01:08Sometimes I cry Willful self-deception “What is going on?” One is tempted to ask. The threat of disaster begins to loom very large in my mind. News of strange happenings hitherto considered by many in these parts to be meant for faraway places, seem likely to be happening here, anytime soon. That is, if the body politic does not stop playing the game of accusations and counter-accusations. The truth might offend some, but speaking the truth can never be a sin. We seem at times, to be a ‘dog eat dog society’ and at other times, we appear to be a ‘man eat nothing society.’ The questions keep pouring in, ‘who are we?’ or ‘where are we?’ as Patrick Tataw Obenson a.k.a Ako-Aya would have asked. I was reading about a man called John Pombe Magufuli, who was elected Tanzania’s president in 2015. I never cease to marvel at his moves towards righting the wrongs that have crept into that East African country’s body politic. I wonder whether those moves could make sense in our fatherland. This is a man who, as member Government, tended to keep a low profile, eschewing acclaim for successful projects, shunning foreign visits, unlike most of his peers and on occasion, speaking out clearly and bluntly. Here are some of his moves: Cancelled Independence Day celebrations and all the extravagant expenses Government traditionally splurged out. Instead, he wanted the day spent on street cleaning and enthusiastically participated. Slashed the budget for the usually opulent opening of parliament by almost 90% and demanded that the money saved be spent on purchasing hospital beds and road works. Cancelled foreign travel for Government officials and put a stop to the purchase of first class tickets. He decreed that henceforth, Government meetings would be held in state buildings rather than in expensive hotels. Trimmed down a delegation of 50 set to tour commonwealth countries to four. Rooted out 10 thousand ‘ghost workers’ from various Government departments and fired more than 10 thousand civil servants, after an investigation into the use of forged certificates among Government employees. He appointed a 19 ministry cabinet and publicly warned those selected as ministers and other Government functionaries that he would not tolerate corruption, laziness or excessive bureaucracy. He told them to expect nothing more than to work tirelessly to serve the people of the country alongside him. So, I, the Bohemian of Abakwa, born on the last day of the month in land of proud people, after hearing about these things, this day declare, if it becomes clear in this our fatherland that the gravy train has come to an end – that Government posting no longer means a life of ease, privilege and the opportunity to make money, would that not be a wonderful prospect. Government posting should mean hard work, motivated by nothing more than a fierce desire to serve the public. That could move the country a notch or two, but, I know what you are thinking; that I am either guilty of wishful thinking or willful self-deception. http://theramblercameroon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/The-rambler-header-.fw_.png 0 0 Asonganyi Nester http://theramblercameroon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/The-rambler-header-.fw_.png Asonganyi Nester2017-08-22 12:34:222017-08-22 12:35:57Willful self-deception	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6992
__label__cc	0.673726	0.326274	We Value Diversity. We Value Education. We Value History. Who’s doing your hair: Angelia’s Hair Safari Author TWC BY MARLO SCOTT, Columnist ST. PETERSBURG – When you think of Angelia Fletcher-Mavros you think of someone who doesn’t do anything small. From the big hair that sits atop of her head, to the large-scaled fashion and hair shows she brought to the Coliseums, on down to directing an Easter play that was standing room only for all four showings. The 1978 Dixie Hollins High School graduate was awarded a track and field scholarship; Fletcher-Mavros was ranked number four in the State of Florida and had her choice of 10 different schools to attend. She chose Yankton College in South Dakota to study public relations and marketing because it was the farthest from St. Petersburg. She had siblings who attended Florida schools such as Florida A&M that had to suffer through the unannounced visit from their parents, so she knew to get as far away from Florida as possible. While in college her care packages from home consisted of hair grease, relaxers, combs, brushes etc., which she promptly sold to students on campus who could not get those products in South Dakota. “I became everybody’s hair stylist on campus,” said Fletcher-Mavros. “With no training at all except for what I had seen my mother do, I was creating haircuts and messing up people’s hair at the same time. After attending Yankton College and the University of South Dakota, she went off into the corporate world to seek her fortune. However, she got a bad taste of what the world had to offer. “I interviewed with Johnson & Johnson at least eight times,” she said “and that was when I was introduced to nepotism in corporate America. I learned that it depends on who you are related to whether or not you get the job.” She toiled at Home Shopping Network and a local radio station to which she was highly over qualified for. “All of the cut throat behavior that I was exposed to was definitely not for me,” said Fletcher-Mavros. So she decided to enroll in Mirror Lake/ Tomlinson Adult Education in their cosmetology program with the encouragement and support of her mom, Willie Mae Fletcher, who at the time owned a salon. Once in school, she started testing out of subjects with lightning speed. “Taking tests was like nothing to me, being fresh out of college. In beauty school they gave you an option to challenge the state board and I did it with only six hundred hours under my belt,” she boasted. While there, her instructor, Thomas Harding, recognized that she had a gift for design. He thought her type of talent should be on a movie set, so he set up an interview for her with Universal Studios. When Hollywood didn’t call, she decided to work in her mother’s shop called Willie Mae’s Beauty Salon ran out of her mother’s home. Her clientele quadrupled over the seven years she worked with her mother, so much so that she had to find a place of her own. So in 1991, Angelia’s Hair Safari, which was located on Central Avenue, opened its doors. Even though Hollywood failed to call, she did receive one from the entertainment coordinator of the Florida Classic, which was held in Tampa during Thanksgiving weekends. They asked her to put together a fashion show for the entertainment portion of the yearly event. There she wowed the crowds. Her fashion shows were theatrical events. For years she coordinated the show until the Classic moved from Tampa to Orlando. Since it would have cost so much to take her show on the road, she decided to move her drama filled theatrical fashion show to the downtown Hilton. Fletcher-Mavros’ fashion shows lit St. Pete on fire. From Belgium tigers walking the runway to python snakes wrapped around models, it is no wonder she had to rent the Coliseum to hold her fans. She figured you couldn’t have a wildlife themed show without a tiger, so she called the Wildlife Preserve and asked for one to sashay down the runway. Her request was granted. “I have always reached for the top,” said Fletcher-Mavros, “so I gave the people a safari atmosphere. From the time you approached the entrance you were greeted by a python snake wrapped around a model’s neck.” Her models wore the snakes as tops and jewelry such as bangles and necklaces. “My models were fearless, and I would like to thank them: Audrey “Pat” McGhee, Gene Isaac, Ann-Sherman White and Miya Adams.” It was more than a fashion show because she had a unique blend of theater performance art and hair design. Not one to take all the credit, she gives thanks to her team for working so hard: Carla Baker, Donna Bean, Lauren and Annette, Frenchie Bradley, Cynthia Nixon and Shelia Tampa. “This was my generation of stylist and this is what we did for each other. Loyalty, commitment, and dedication are what we brought to the table,” she said. “My mother’s generation had it too. They had the Orange Blossom Beauty Association that the founder of The Weekly Challenger, the late Mr. Cleveland Johnson, was a huge sponsor of.” Fletcher-Mavros hosted five shows that cost her $28,000 dollars with ticket sales at $45 a pop. She did everything on a stage that could possibly be done at a hair show except bring an elephant on. She always had a passion for hair care, but it amplified one day when a preacher from Lakeland came to her salon and brought an 11-year-old-girl who was experiencing hair loss and was getting picked on at school. And like that, Fletcher-Mavros decided to add a new arm to her business—hair replacement. “I knew then that I wanted to do something to make a difference when it came to hair loss in the African-American community, so I set out to educate myself as much as possible,” she explained. She went to California to study under the reputable Edward Katz. She has invested anywhere from $10-$15 thousand dollars in hair loss education. She is one of the first African-American hair replacement specialists. “I have heard that I have a reputation for being expensive, but I’m worth it. When you come to get a service done by me, I guarantee my work and stand behind my product 100 percent. I use high quality hair, adhesives and hair care products,” she quipped. Many people walking around town are sporting hair replacement pieces by Fletcher-Mavros and you would never know it. In fact, many entertainers have her to thank for their flawless looks when she became a beauty consultant at the Home Shopping Network that is broadcasted all over the world. “I loved that I have worked with a host of celebrities such as Shari Belafonte, Diahann Carroll, Gladys Knight, Donald Trump and so many others.” She was also called in to help style Grammy Award winning-singer Chrisette Michele’s hair, which was a lace front wig. A lot of people believe that lace front wigs are new, but she has personally worked with them for a couple of decades now. They were originally used for chemotherapy patients and Hollywood entertainers. “Out of all the celebrities I enjoyed Diahann Carroll the most. I had a very special relationship with her and became like a family member. At that particular time she was hotter than ever portraying the ruthless Dominique Deveraux on the soap opera ‘Dynasty.’ A lot of the celebrities had an air about them, but not her,” she said. As Fletcher-Mavros went further and further with her hair replacement education, she noticed that she was always the only African American in class. So she decided to put together a curriculum and opened up an opportunity to educate her colleagues so they wouldn’t have to send their clients to her. “A hair replacement specialist is on the same lines as being a Trichologist, which is a dermatologist that deals with the scientific study of the health of hair and scalp. All of the chapters in the school cosmetology books that most stylists skim over are actually very important,” she said. Especially today with the excessive styles of sew-ins, braiding and u-part caps, a hairstylist needs to know that after you remove these fairly long-term styles, the hair in not the same. If the hair is not treated and allowed to breath, the client is at risk of getting alopecia. “For example, look at Stevie Wonder; his hair line is behind his ears. That is the result of the hair being styled the same way over and over again,” she warned. What you are seeing is not hereditary; it is called traction alopecia. She explained that even the tension in Sisterlocks can weaken the hair. Making sure not to lay blame on any particular hairstyle or hairstylist, Fletcher-Mavros wants the public to know that the strength of the hair is key to these styles. Too much tension on the hair follicle can cause hair loss. “For example I have a client that had been wearing extension braids for years and I have had to work on restoring and rebuilding her hair for at least three years now. We are just now seeing progress on her edges,” she explained. Fletcher-Mavros realizes that many women are wearing these styles for convenience, but she warns that they are dangerous and very damaging. She believes that some of the healthiest hairstyles are the Afro, traditional locks and the two-strand twist, but all are safe when the hair is given a break in between. There are two sides to Fletcher-Mavos’ business: Angelia’s Hair Safari and Angelia’s Hair Alterations, which offers hair replacement. Depending on the need, she creates custom pieces, skin nets, etc. They are designed to only cover balding and thinning areas not all over the head especially if there is healthy hair in place. She has designed her own line of extensions that comes on a weft called a Flex Weft, which was designed for people who are experiencing balding all over or in areas. She attributes a lot of hair loss to bonding glue. “It is very dangerous! If you carefully read the label, this product has formaldehyde in it and shouldn’t be used for more than a week at a time,” she preached. “These products always create alopecia! My compassion is driven by the lack of education for male and female patterned baldness, and I am committed to raising awareness.” Not just excessive hairstyling will cause alopecia, she warns that even the food we eat can onset these conditions because the food nowadays are full of additives, preservatives and toxins. “Our ancestors ate from the fields and the food was much healthier; believe it or not, this all effects our hair and skin reproduction,” she said. Fortunately, you can find almost anything that you want to know about your hair on the internet. At the touch of a button, you can find information to help you be more aware of what’s going on in your body. When Fletcher-Mavros is not doing hair and directing plays, she enjoys cooking for her family and friends. “I can do some things with chicken that will have you running out the door hollering and begging for more,” laughed Fletcher-Mavros. She also enjoys almost anything that Broadway has to offer. She is also the proud wife of her loving and supportive husband, John Mavros, and mother to a lovely young lady, Alexa. To her, family is everything. She treasures the memories of growing up in a loving family that included six sisters and one brother. In the near future, Fletcher-Mavros will be debuting her next play “I’m Taking This Train Home.” If it is anything like her last play, make sure you get to the venue at least a half hour early because people had to be turned away from her last play, “The Passion.” “No matter what, I always allow the creative side from the Father to flow into me because whatever it is that I’m doing is not work, it’s my passion. In today’s society stress plays a major role in our lives; it affects our hair, skin and attitude. We all need to learn to walk as Christ and be more pleasant to each other,” she finished. If you are experiencing hair loss or just want a stylist that has healthy hair on their agenda, please call Angelia’s Hair Safari/Alterations at 727-403-8111. The shop is now housed at 406 11th Ave. N., St. Petersburg. For more information, visit her on the web at angeliashairalterations.com. Take advantage of 25 percent off any hair weave or hair replacement service through July 1, 2014. Angelia Fletcher-Mavros Angelia's Hair Safari Previous Previous post: Night Rider Van Club still going strong Next Next post: NAACP meeting sheds light on city plans Jewelry Making and Repair at PTC BY FRANK DROUZAS, Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG — From archaic bejeweled bracelets… New home for the Mills family By Allen A. Buchanan, Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG – Habitat for Humanity presented the… Local businesswoman touts benefits of exercise, eating right BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION Business owner Rachel Revill believes in the power of a… Featured Local News After 41 years, Tiger Bay political club discusses racism in St. Pete Yvonne C. Clayton: A champion of education Bridge of Hope Kitchen aims to feed hungry children Woodson Museum plans to expand are not daunted by DeSantis’ veto Young King’s Hierarchy stepping to a championship beat Baseball and biscuits and gravy: Bay area racism and the national pastime City of Tampa to recognize Stephen Scruggs Youths offer praise, worship at historic Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Three simple health tips to ‘Change 4 Life’ in one summer Cohort of Champions Kick-off Annual Summer Leadership and Workforce Training Academy Browse This Site © 2019 Copyright, The Weekly Challenger. All rights reserved. Design By KBC Solutions, LLC	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6994
__label__cc	0.576704	0.423296	Oh no! Not that boy again! India's meteorological department published yesterday, it's yearly predictions about the monsoon rainy season 2015 and the predictions are not at all that comforting. According to IMD's long range predictions, the monsoon seasonal rainfall is likely to be 93% of the long-period average with a model error of plus or minus 5%. It expects below normal rainfall for the upcoming monsoon season with a 33% probability of rains being less than 90%, commonly referred to as a drought. This would mean that for second successive year, the rainfall will be deficient. IMD says that there is a 35% probability of a 'below normal' monsoon with rains in the 90% to 96% range. The odds on normal rains (96%-104%) were placed at 28%, while there was a worrying 33% chance that rains could slip below the 90% mark. This appears to be nothing else but statistical jugglery, because for any event with three outcome probabilities, each probability is any way likely to be 33% only. IMD gives reason for this expected less rainfall prediction as the much dreaded El Nino. IMD says that it has already developed in Pacific ocean and there is a high chance of its continuing through the long Indian summer. El Nino (means little boy in Spanish) is a geographical phenomenon that warms the surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific. This warming up of ocean can be first observed around December in Peruvian waters of South America. This phenomenon occurs cyclically, after every three to seven years. The phenomenon is quite insignificant but the after effects are quite devastating for the humans. Usually it leads to more rainfall in South America and substantial drop in the fish catch. El Nino has a dramatic effect on the trade winds across Pacific, blowing to the west. This results into triggering drought in Southeast Asia , Australia and parts of South Africa. It also reduces Monsoon rainfall in India, which impacts crops and livelihood of people. It generates cyclones in the central Pacific and stormy weather in southern and western US. The number of hurricanes in the Atlantic, however tend to go down. In Australia, El-Nino can cause cut in wheat crop output, reduces water supplies by cutting river flows, shrink city reservoirs and dry out forests, which can trigger bush fires. As against this it increases rain in North America , improving crop prospects. Major El-Nino's have happened in 1982-83, 1997-98 and 2002-03. The severe El Nino in 1998 killed more than 2,000 people and caused billions of dollars in damage to crops, infrastructure and mines in Australia and other parts of Asia. Exactly opposite outcome results when the surface temperatures of the eastern and central Pacific ocean cool down substantially. This is known as a little girl or La-Nina. It triggers stronger trade winds across the Pacific and around northern Australia, triggering above average rains and number of cyclones. In Indonesia and parts of Australia, La Nina can bring flooding rains. In Argentina and the US plains, La Nina can trigger drought. La Nina causes more hurricanes in Atlantic and fewer in Pacific. Major La Nina events occurred in 1973-76, 1988-89 and 2010-12. Last year ( 2014), after sensing a similar situation of a growing El Nino, IMD had predicted 'below normal' monsoon with 95% rainfall. The actual rainfall was even less or at 88% in the June-September, making 2014 a drought year. This resulted in 6.5% loss in production of summer crops. If rains turn deficient even this year, situation is likely to be more difficult because of back-to-back deficiency. There are other after effects too besides the loss in agricultural production, from India's point of view. First is the drinking water shortage. Many states like Maharashtra are totally dependent on rainwater for drinking water needs. Fodder shortage may be another source of worry. In many parts of India, huge hydroelectric generating stations provide electric power. These depend entirely upon the rain water to generate power. Any drought like condition is bound to reduce availability of power. This grim scenario appears to be a likely possibility, for which we need to brace ourselves up. The shortages however are always transitory in nature and can always be managed. What is the most scary part of this scenario is the effect that this would have on economy and the Indian Rupee, which are already under inflationary pressure. This year, so far has not been a good one for India's farmers with heavy crop losses due to widespread hailstorms and freak rains. This has resulted with destruction of crops. Another poor summer crop season would add to the farmer's woes and drinking water shortages in states like Maharashtra. The states and federal Governments need to start preparing contingency plans to suit different rainfall probabilities such as seed banks, rainwater harvesting and efficient use procedures; only then the country can survive the crisis with minimal effects that cause agrarian distress. Labels: Asia, crop production, Cyclic droughts, dry weather, El Nino, food grain production, India, Ocean temperatures in Pacific, prices, sugar production, water shortages	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line6999
__label__wiki	0.763554	0.763554	ABS Welcomes 6 New Directors The American Board of Surgery (ABS), the national certifying body for general surgeons and related specialists, will welcome to its board of directors this July six new directors from the following organizations. They will each serve a six-year term. Reid B. Adams, M.D. Southeastern Surgical Congress Dr. Adams is the Claude A. Jessup Professor of Surgery at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as chief of surgical oncology and of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. He also serves as director of the gastrointestinal oncology program. Dr. Adams is also director, Cancer Center of Excellence, and associate director, clinical affairs, at the University of Virginia Cancer Center. He completed medical school and residency at the University of Virginia, and completed a fellowship in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery and transplantation at the University of Toronto. A current member of the ABS Gastrointestinal Surgery Advisory Council, he is also president-elect of the Society for Clinical Surgery. Robert D. Fanelli, M.D. At-Large Dr. Fanelli is chief of minimally invasive surgery and chief of surgical endoscopy for the Guthrie Clinic in Sayre, Pennsylvania. Following medical school at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, he completed residency at Stamford Hospital and Michigan State University. He also completed fellowships in advanced surgical endoscopy at Case Western Reserve University and in endoscopic ultrasound at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Fanelli currently serves on the board of governors of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and on the Health Professions Advisory Council for Elmira College. Dr. Fanelli was selected as an at-large director out of approximately 80 candidates drawn from an open nomination process. The ABS originally established three at-large director positions in 2005 to identify exceptional individuals who are reflective of the broad U.S. surgical community. At-large directors have the same term and responsibilities as all other ABS directors. John D. Mellinger, M.D. Association of Program Directors in Surgery Dr. Mellinger is the J. Roland Folse Endowed Chair in Surgery at Southern Illinois University in Springfield, Illinois, as well as professor and division chair of general surgery and director of the general surgery residency program. He also serves as medical director, special procedures area, at Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Mellinger completed medical school at Case Western Reserve University and residency at Blodgett/St. Mary's Hospitals (now Michigan State University Program). He also completed a fellowship in surgical endoscopy at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Cleveland. Dr. Mellinger is the immediate past president of the Association of Program Directors in Surgery and currently serves on the board of governors of SAGES. David T. Netscher, M.B.B.S. American Board of Plastic Surgery Dr. Netscher is clinical professor, division of plastic surgery and department of orthopedic surgery, at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He also serves as program director of the hand and microsurgery fellowship. In addition, Dr. Netscher is chief of hand surgery at St. Luke's Hospital and chief of plastic surgery at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He completed medical school at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, general surgery residency at the University of Louisville, and plastic surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Netscher also completed a fellowship in hand and microsurgery at the University of Louisville. A current director of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, he also serves on the council of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Lee L. Swanstrom, M.D. SAGES Dr. Swanstrom is a clinical professor of surgery at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. He also serves as division head, GI/MIS surgery, at The Oregon Clinic and as fellowships program director at the Portland Providence Medical Center. Dr. Swanstrom completed medical school at Creighton University and residency at Emanuel Hospital/Oregon Health and Science University. He also completed a fellowship in GI surgery/surgical endoscopy at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Swanstrom is a past president of SAGES and serves as directeur d'innovation at the Institut pour Chirurgie Guidée par l'Image in Strasbourg, France. He is also a member of the ABS Gastrointestinal Surgery Advisory Council, representing the Fellowship Council. Mark L. Welton, M.D. American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery Dr. Welton is the Harry A. Oberhelman Jr. Professor and chief of colon and rectal surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. In addition, he serves as medical director of the gastrointestinal cancer care program and as medical director of the South Bay Cancer Center. Dr. Welton completed medical school at the University of California - Davis and residency at the University of California - Los Angeles. Following residency, Dr. Welton completed a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Welton is a current director of the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. In Thanks The ABS gratefully acknowledges the dedication and commitment of the following outgoing directors, who will be leaving the board as of July: Dr. Joseph B. Cofer, Dr. Kevin C. Chung, Dr. Bruce D. Schirmer, Dr. Anthony J. Senagore, Dr. R. James Valentine, and Dr. J. Patrick Walker. New Advisory Council Members The ABS Gastrointestinal Surgery Advisory Council will welcome in July Dr. Mark C. Callery of the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association and Dr. Daniel J. Scott of the Fellowship Council. Separately, the Residency Review Committee for Surgery recently elected Dr. Richard C. Thirlby as a new ABS representative. The American Board of Surgery is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1937 for the purpose of certifying individuals who have met a defined standard of education, training and knowledge in the field of surgery. Surgeons certified by the ABS have completed at least five years of surgical training following medical school and successfully completed a written and oral examination process administered by the ABS. They must then maintain their board certification through ongoing learning and practice improvement activities.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7006
__label__cc	0.614754	0.385246	A Future Worth Thinking About Thinking about magic, cyborgs, robots, and artificial intelligence--and why some of those words could use changing--since 1982. About A Future Worth Thinking About All posts tagged prejudice In The Atlantic, about Using Tech to Combat Online Harassment Posted by Damien Williams on November 15, 2016 Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: A Future Worth Thinking About, bigotry, bots, ed yong, online harassment, power, prejudice, racism, social dynamics, sociology, the atlantic, twitter. Leave a Comment So I’m quoted in this article in The Atlantic on the use of technology in leveraging sociological dynamics to combat online harassment: “Why Online Allies Matter in Fighting Harassment.” An experiment by Kevin Munger used bots to test which groups white men responded to when being called out on their racist harassment online. Findings largely unsurprising (Powerful white men; they responded favourably to powerful white men), save for the fact that anonimity INCREASED effectiveness of treatment, and visible identity decreased it. That one was weird. But it’s still nice to see all of this codified. Good to see use of Bertrand & Mullainathan’s “Are Emily and Greg more employable than Lakisha and Jamal?” as the idea of using “Black Sounding Names” to signal purported ethnicity of bot thus clearly models what he thought those he expected to be racist would think, rather than indicating his own belief. (However, it could be asked whether there’s a meaningful difference, here, as he still had to choose the names he thought would “sound black.”) The Reactance study Munger discusses—the one that shows that people double down on factually incorrect prejudices—is the same one I used in “On The Invisible Architecture of Bias” A few things Ed Yong and I talked about that didn’t get into the article, due to space: -Would like to see this experimental model applied to other forms of prejudice (racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, etc language), and was thus very glad to see the footnote about misogynist harassment. -I take some exception to the use of Dovidio/Gaertner and Crandall et al definitions of racism, as those leave out the sociological aspects of power dynamics (“Racism/Sexism/Homophobia/Transphobia/Ableism= Prejudice + Power”) which seem crucial to understanding the findings of Munger’s experiment. He skirts close to this when he discusses the greater impact of “high status” individuals, but misses the opportunity to lay out the fact that: –Institutionalised power dynamics as related to the interplay of in-group and out-group behaviour are pretty clearly going to affect why white people are more likely to listen to those they perceive as powerful white men, because –The interplay of Power and status, interpersonally, is directly related to power and status institutionally. -Deindividuation (loss of sense of self in favour of group identity) as a key factor and potential solution is very interesting. Something we didn’t get to talk about but which I think is very important is the question of how we keep this from being used as a handbook. That is, what do we do in the face of people understand these mechanisms and who wish to use them to sow division and increase acceptance of racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, etc ideals? Do we, then, become engaged in some kind of rolling arms race of sociological pressure? …Which, I guess, has pretty much always been true, and we call it “civilization.” Anyway, hope you enjoy it. On The Invisible Architecture of Bias (Audio & Text) Posted by Damien Williams on April 4, 2015 Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: A Future Worth Thinking About, bias, Invisible Architecture of Bias, Invisible Architectures of Bias, my voice, my work, my writing, philosophy, prejudice, sociology. 3 comments http://www.afutureworththinkingabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/AFWTA-2On-The-Invisible-Architecture-of-Bias.mp3 by Damien Patrick Williams (Originally posted on Patreon, on September 30, 2014; Direct Link to the Mp3) Today I want us to talk about a concept I like to call “The Invisible Architecture of Bias.” A bit of this discussion will have appeared elsewhere, but I felt it was high time I stitched a lot of these thoughts together, and used them as a platform to dive deep into one overarching idea. What I mean is that I’ve mentioned this concept before, and I’ve even used the thinking behind it to bring our attention to a great many issues in technology, race, gender, sexuality, and society, but I have not yet fully and clearly laid out a definition for the phrase, itself. Well, not here, at any rate. Back in the days of a more lively LiveJournal I talked about the genesis of the phrase “The Invisible Architecture of Bias,” and, as I said there, I first came up with it back in 2010, in a conversation with my friend Rebekah, and it describes the assumptions we make and the forces that shape us so deeply that we don’t merely assume them, we live in them. It’s what we would encounter if we asked a 7th generation farmer in a wheat-farming community “Why do you farm wheat?” The question you’re asking is so fundamentally contra the Fact Of Their Lives that they can’t hear it or even think of an actual answer. It simply is the world in which they live. David Foster Wallace, in his piece “This is Water,” recounts the following joke: “There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, ‘Morning, boys; how’s the water?’ “And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, ‘What the hell is water?’” That reaction is why it’s the Invisible Architecture of Bias, because we don’t even, can’t even think about the reasons behind the structure of the house—the nature of the reality—in which we live, until we’re forced to come to think about it. That is, until either we train ourselves to become aware of it after something innocuous catches the combined intersection of our unconscious and aesthetic attention—piques our curiosity—or until something goes terribly, catastrophically wrong. We’ve talked before about what’s known as “Normalization”—the process of that which is merely common becoming seen as “The Norm” and of that norm coming to be seen as “right,” and “good.” Leaving aside Mr. David Hume’s proof that you can’t validly infer a prescription of what “ought to be” from a description of what merely is, normalization is an insidious process, in and of itself. It preys upon our almost-species-wide susceptibility to familiarity. One of the major traits of the human brain is a predilection toward patterns. Pattern making, pattern-matching, and pattern appreciating are all things we think of as “good” and “right,” because they’re what we tend to do. We do them so much, in fact, that we’ve even gone about telling ourselves a series of evolutionary Just-So Stories about how our ability to appreciate patterns is likely what accounts for our dominance as a species on Earth. But even these words, and the meaning behind them, are rooted in the self-same assumptions—assumptions about what’s true, about what’s right, and about what is. And while the experience of something challenging our understanding of what’s good and right and normal can make acutely aware of what we expected to be the case, this doesn’t mean that we’re then ready, willing, and able to change those assumptions. Quite the opposite, in fact, as we usually tend to double down on those assumptions, to crouch and huddle into them, the better to avoid ever questioning them. We like to protect our patterns, you see, because they’re the foundation and the rock from which we craft our world. The problem is, if that foundation’s flawed, then whatever we build upon it is eventually going to shift, and crack. And personally, I’d rather work to build a more adaptable foundation, than try to convince people that a pile of rubble is a perfectly viable house. In case it wasn’t clear, yet, I think a lot of people are doing that second one. So let’s spend some time talking about how we come to accept and even depend on those shaky assumptions. Let’s talk about the structures of society which consciously and unconsciously guide the decision-making processes of people like departmental faculty hiring committees, the people who award funding grants, cops, jurors, judges, DA’s, the media in their reportage, and especially you and me. Because we are the people who are, every day, consuming and attempting to process a fire hose’s worth of information. Information that gets held up to and turned around in the light of what we already believe and know, and then more like than not gets categorized and sorted into pre-existing boxes. But these boxes aren’t without their limitations and detriments. For instance, if we want to, we can describe anything as a relational dichotomy, but to do so will place us within the realm and rules of the particular dialectic at hand. For the sake of this example, consider that the more you talk in terms of “Liberty” and “Tyranny,” the more you show yourself as having accepted a) the definitions of those terms in relationship with one another and b) the “correct” mode of their perceived conflict’s resolution. The latter is something others have laid down for you. But there is a way around this, and that’s by working to see a larger picture. If Freedom and Restriction are your dichotomy, then what’s the larger system in which they exist and from which they take their meaning? Now some might say that the idea of a “larger structure” is only ever the fantasy of a deluded mind, and others might say it is the secret truth which has been hidden from us by controlling Illuminati overlords, but at a basic level, to subscribe to either view is to buy the dichotomy and ignore the dialectic. You’re still locked into the pattern, and you’re ignoring its edges. Every preference you have—everything you love, or want, or like the taste of, or fear, or hate— is something you’ve been taught to prefer, and some of those things you’ve been taught so completely and for so long to prefer that you don’t even recognise that you’ve been taught to prefer them. You just think it’s “right” and “Natural” that you prefer these things. That this is the world around you, and you don’t think to investigate it—let alone critique it—because, in your mind, it’s just “The World.” This extends to everything from gender norms; expectations regarding recommended levels of diet and physical activity; women in the military; entertainment; fashion; geek culture; the recapitulation of racism in photographic technology; our enculturated responses to the progress of technology; race; and sexuality. Now, chances are you encountered some members of that list and you thought some variant on two things, depending on the item; either 1) “Well obviously, that’s a problem,” or 2) “Wait, how is that a problem?” There is the possibility that you also thought a third thing: “I think I can see how that might be a problem, but I can’t quite place why.” So, if you thought things one or two, then congratulations! Here are some of your uninvestigated biases! If you thought thing three (and I hope that you did), then good, because that kind of itching, niggling sensation that there’s something wrong that you just can’t quite suss out is one of the best places to start. You’re open to the possibility of change in your understanding of how the world works, and a bit more likely to be willing to accept that what’s wrong is something from which you’ve benefitted or in which you’ve been complicit, for a very long time. That’s a good start; much better than the alternative. Now this was going to be the place where I was going to outline several different studies on ableism, racism, sexism, gender bias, homophobia, transphobia, and so on. I was going to lay out the stats on the likelihood of female service members being sexually assaulted in the military; and the history of the colour pink and how it used to be a boy’s colour until a particular advertising push swapped it to blue; and how recent popular discussion of the dangers of sitting/a sedentary lifestyle and the corresponding admonishment that we “need to get up and move around” don’t really take into account people who, y’know, can’t; and how we’re more willing to admit the possibility of mythological species in games and movies than we are for their gender, sexual, or racial coding to be other than what we consider “Normal;” and how most people forget that black people make up the largest single ethnic group within the LGTBQIA community; and how strange the conceptual baggage is in society’s unwillingness to compare a preference and practice of fundamentally queer-coded polyamoury to the heteronormative a) idealization of the ménage-a-trois and b) institution of “dating.” I say I was going to go into all of that, and exhort you all to take all of this information out into the world to convince them all…! …But then I found this study that shows how when people are confronted with evidence that shakes our biases? We double down on those biases. Yeah. See above. The study specifically shows that white people who are confronted with evidence that the justice system is not equally weighted in its treatment across all racial and ethnic groups—people who are clearly shown that cops, judges, lawyers, and juries exhibit vastly different responses when confronted with white defendants than they do when confronted with Black or Hispanic defendants—do not respond as we all like to think that we would, when we’re confronted with evidence that casts our assumptions into doubt. Overwhelmingly, those people did not say, “Man. That is Fucked. Up. I should really keep a look out for those behaviours in myself, so I don’t make things so much worse for people who are already having a shitty time of it. In fact, I’ll do some extra work to try to make their lives less shitty.” Instead, those studied overwhelmingly said, “The System Is Fair. If You Were Punished, You Must Have Done Something Wrong.” They locked themselves even further into the system. You see how maddening that is? Again, I’ve seen this happen as I’ve watched people who benefit from the existing power structures in this world cling so very tightly to the idea that the game can’t be rigged, the system can’t be unjust, because they’ve lived their lives under its shelter and in its thrall, playing by the rules it’s laid out. Because if they question it, then they have to question themselves. How are they complicit, how have they unknowingly done harm, how has the playing field been so uneven for everyone? And those questions are challenging. They’re what we like to call “ontological shocks” and “epistemic threats.” Simply put, epistemic threats are threats to your knowledge of the world and your way of thinking, and ontological shocks are threats to what you think is Real and possible. Epistemic threats challenge what you think you know as true, and if we are honest then they should happen to us every day. A new class, new books, new writings, a conversation with a friend you haven’t heard from in months—everything you encounter should be capable of shaking your view of the world. But we need knowledge, right? Again, we need patterns and foundations, and our beliefs and knowledge allow us to build those. When we shake those knowledge forms and those beliefs, then we are shaking the building blocks of what is real. Once we’ve done that, we have escalated into the realm of ontological shocks, threats, terror, and violence. The scene in the Matrix where Agent Smith seals Neo’s mouth shut? That’s a prime example of someone undergoing an Ontological Shock, but they can be more subtle than that. They can be a new form of art, a new style of music, a new explanation for old data that challenges the metaphysical foundations of the world in which we live. Again, if we are honest, this shouldn’t terrify us, shouldn’t threaten us, and yet, every time we encounter one of these things, our instinct is to wrap ourselves in the very thing they challenge. Why? We’re presented with an epistemic or ontological threat and we have a fear reaction, we have a hate reaction, a distaste, a displeasure, an annoyance: Why? What is it about that thing, about us, about the world as it has been presented that makes our intersection with that thing/person/situation what it is? It’s because, ultimately, the ease of our doubling-down, our folding into the fabric of our biases works like this: if the world from which we benefit and on which we depend is shown to be unjust, then that must mean that we are unjust. But that’s a conflation of the attributes of the system with the attributes of its components, and that is what we call the Fallacy of Division. All the ants in the world weigh more than all the elephants in the world, but that doesn’t mean that each ant weighs more than each elephant. It’s only by the interaction of the category’s components that the category can even come to be, let alone have the attributes it has. We need to learn to separate the fact of our existence and complicity within a system from the idea that that mere fact is somehow a value judgment on us. So your assumptions were wrong, or incomplete. So your beliefs weren’t fully formed, or you didn’t have all the relevant data. So what? I didn’t realise you were omniscient, thus making any failure of knowledge a personal and permanent failure, on your part. I didn’t realise that the truth of the fact that we all exist in and (to varying degrees) benefit from a racist, sexist, generally prejudicial system would make each and every one of us A Racist, A Sexist, or A Generally and Actively Prejudiced Person. That’d be like saying that because we exist within and benefit from a plant-based biosphere, we ourselves must be plants. The value judgement only comes when the nature of the system is clear—when we can see how all the pieces fit together, and can puzzle out the narrative and even something like a way to dismantle the structure—and yet we do nothing about it. And so we have to ask ourselves: Could my assumptions and beliefs be otherwise? Of course they could have, but they only ever can if we first admit the possibility that a) there are things we do not know, and b) we have extant assumptions preventing us from seeing what those things are. What would that possibility mean? What would it take for us to change those assumptions? How can we become more than we presently are? So, I’ve tended to think that we can only force ourselves into the investigation of invisible architectures of bias by highlighting the disparities in application of the law, societal norms, grouped expectations, and the reactions of systems of authority in the same. What I’m saying now, however, is that, in the face of the evidence that people double down on their biases, I’ve come to suspect this may not be the best use of our time. I know, I know: that’s weird to say, 2600 words into the process of what was ostensibly me doing just exactly that. But the fact is this exercise was only ever going to be me preaching to the proverbial choir. You and I already know that if we do not confront and account for these proven biases, they will guide our thought processes and we will think of those processes as “normal,” because they are unquestioned and they are uninvestigated, because they are unnoticed and they are active. We already know that our unquestioning support of these things, both directly and indirectly, is what gives them power over us, power to direct our actions and create the frameworks in which our lives can play out, all while we think of ourselves as “free” and “choosing.” We already know that any time we ask “well what was this person doing wrong to deserve getting shot/charged with murder/raped/etc,” that we inherently dismiss the power of extant, unexamined bias in the minds of those doing the shooting, the charging, the judging of the rape victim. We already know that our biases exist in us and in our society, but that they aren’t called “biases.” They aren’t called anything. They’re just “The Way Things Are.” We don’t need to be told to remember at every step of the way that nothing simply “IS” “a way.” But the minds of those in or who benefit from authority—from heteronormativity, and cissexism, and all forms of ableism, and racism, and misogyny, and transmisogyny, and bi-erasure—do everything they can—consciously or not—to create and maintain those structures which keep them in the good graces of that authority. The struggle against their complicity is difficult to maintain, but it’s most difficult to even begin, as it means questioning the foundation of every assumption about “The Way Things Are.” The people without (here meaning both “lacking” and “outside the protections of”) that authority can either a) capitulate to it, in hopes that it does not injure them too badly, or b) stand against it at every turn they can manage, until such time as authority and power are not seen as zero-sum games, and are shared amongst all of us. See for reference: fighters for civil rights throughout history. But I honestly don’t know how to combat that shell of wilful and chosen ignorance, other than by chipping away at it, daily. I don’t know how to get people to recognise that these structures are at work, other than by throwing sand on the invisible steps, like I’m Dr Henry Jones, Jr., PhD, to try to give everyone a clearer path. So, here. Let’s do the hard work of making unignorable the nature of how our assumptions can control us. Let’s try to make the Invisible Architecture of Bias super Visible. 1st Example: In December 2013 in Texas, a guy, suspected of drugs, has his house entered on a no-knock warrant. Guy, fearing for his life, shoots one of the intruders, in accordance with Texas law. Intruder dies. “Intruder” was a cop. Drugs—The Stated Purpose of the No-Knock—are found. Guy was out on bail pending trial for drug charges, but was cleared of murder by the grand jury who declared that he performed “a completely reasonable act of self-defence.” Guy is white. 2nd Example: In May 2014 in Texas, a guy, suspected of drugs, has his house entered on a no-knock warrant. Guy, fearing for his life, shoots one of the intruders, in accordance with Texas law. Intruder dies. Drugs—The Stated Purpose of the No-Knock—are not found. Guy is currently awaiting trial on capital murder charges. Guy is, of course, black. Now I want to make it clear that I’m not exactly talking about what a decent lawyer should be able to do for the latter gentleman’s case, in light of the former case; I’m not worried about that part. Well, what I mean is that I AM WORRIED ABOUT THAT, but moreover that worry exists as a by-product in light of the architecture of thought that led to the initial disparity in those two grand jury pronouncements. As a bit of a refresher, grand juries determine not guilt or innocence but whether to try a case, at all. To quote from the article on criminal.findlaw.com, “under normal courtroom rules of evidence, exhibits and other testimony must adhere to strict rules before admission. However, a grand jury has broad power to see and hear almost anything they would like.” Both of these cases occurred in Texas and the reasoning of the two shooters and the subsequent events on the sites of their arrests were nearly identical except for a) whether drugs were found, and b) their race. So now, let’s Ask Some More Questions. Questions like “In the case of the Black suspect, what kind of things did the grand jury ask to see, and what did the prosecution choose to show?” And “How did these things differ from the kinds of things the grand jury chose to ask for and the prosecution chose to show in the case of the White suspect?” And “Why were these kinds of things different, if they were?” Because the answer to that last question isn’t “they just were, is all.” That’s a cop-out that seeks to curtail the investigation of people’s motivations before as many reasons and biases as possible can be examined, and it’s that tendency that we’ve been talking about. The tendency to shy away in the face of stark comparisons like: A no-knock warrant for drugs executed on a white guy turned up drugs and said guy killed a cop; that guy is cleared of murder by a grand jury. A no-knock warrant for drugs executed on a black guy turned up no drugs and said guy killed a cop; that guy is put on trial for murder by a grand jury. At the end of the day, we need to come up with methods to respond to those of us who stubbornly refuse to see how shifting the burden of proof to the groups of people who traditionally have no power and authority only reinforces the systemic structures of bias and oppression that lead to things like police abuses and juries doling out higher sentences to oppressed groups for the same kinds of crimes—or lesser crimes, as in the case of the trail record of the infamous “Affluenza” judge—as those committed by suspects who benefit from extant systems of authority or power. We need to get us to compare rates and length of incarceration for women and men who kill their spouses, and to not forget to look at the reasons they tend to. We need to think about the ways in which gender presentation in the sciences can determine the kinds of career path guidance a person is given. We need to ask ourselves this: “What kind of questions am I quickest to ask, and why is it easier to ask those kinds of questions?” Every system that exists requires the input and maintenance of the components of the system, in order to continue to exist. Whether intentional and explicit or coincidentally implicit—or any combination of the four—we are all complicit in holding up the walls of these structures. And so I can promise you that the status quo needs everyone’s help to stay the status quo, and that it’s hoping that some significant portion of all of us will never realise that. So our only hope is to account for the reality structures created by our biases—and the disgraceful short-sightedness those structures and biases impose—to find a way to use their tendencies for self-reinforcement against them, and keep working in our ways to make sure that everyone does. Because if we do see these structures, and we do want to change them, then one thing that we can do is work to show them to more and more people, so that, together, we can do the hard and unending work of building and living in a better kind of world. Links to a great many seriously upsetting statistics: http://lordbape.tumblr.com/post/93357010164/killed-for-being-black-theres-more-black-on-white “Michael Brown, Ferguson, and The Logic of Slavery”: http://www.racefiles.com/2014/08/20/michael-brown-ferguson-and-the-logic-of-slavery/ Four Youths Claimed to Have Committed Suicide, With Guns. While in Police Custody. And Handcuffed: https://38.media.tumblr.com/bc066f62b8cb99b0c8b2e0aefa87abac/tumblr_naxi6iOfOu1qkoj3co1_500.jpg Shaun King on The Murder of John Crawford, III, and How it Fits into American Society: http://poldberg.tumblr.com/post/97152925423/while-there-is-a-lot-of-appropriate-rage-about Also: Autopsy and video show John Crawford shot from behind in Wal-Mart Also: Witness in murder of John Crawford changes story “Actress Daniel Watts Wrongfully Detained on Accusations of Prostitution”: http://www.forharriet.com/2014/09/actress-daniele-watts-wrongfully.html?m=1 A Non-Famous Person Recounts Several Similar Experiences: https://twitter.com/FunSizeBytes/timelines/511261473046528001 “Black Boys Viewed as Older, Less Innocent Than Whites, Research Finds; Police likelier to use force against black children when officers ‘dehumanize’ blacks, study says”: http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/03/black-boys-older.aspx “Men And Women Appear To Suffer Pain Differently. So Do Blacks And Whites. Modern Medicine Has Trouble Even Talking About It.” ‘Paradoxically, the same groups accused of insensitivity often were also said to respond to pain with insufficient stoicism. Black people’s supposed indifference to pain was used to justify colonization and slavery; at the same time, slaves were often accused of overreacting to pain. Bourke looked as far back as the 18th century and found that some groups were accused of widely disparate kinds of “improper” pain responses practically all at the same time. “It’s a really a Catch-22,” she said. “They’re either not really feeling, and it’s just reflexes, or they’re feeling too much and it’s exaggerated or it’s hysterical.’ http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2014/06/14/don-feel-your-pain/cIrKD5czM0pgZQv7PgCmxI/story.html ‘“Affluenza” Judge Gave 14-Year Old Black Boy 10 Years in Prison for a Far Lesser Crime’ ‘Race As A Social Construct: Resisting The “Pseudo-Science” Of Race’ http://minerva.stkate.edu/people.nsf/files/mina-82v8bu/%24file/inclusivescience.pdf “What We Mean When We Say ‘Race Is a Social Construct’” http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/05/what-we-mean-when-we-say-race-is-a-social-construct/275872/ “’Racism’ Of Early Colour Photography Explored In Art Exhibition: Artists Spent A Month In South Africa Taking Pictures On Decades-Old Film Engineered With Only White Faces In Mind” http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/jan/25/racism-colour-photography-exhibition “Texas Man Won’t Be Prosecuted For Killing Cop In No-Knock Raid” “[Texas Man Being Prosecuted For Capital Murder After] SWAT Officer Shot In The Face Breaking Into Window During No-Knock Raid”: http://www.policestateusa.com/2014/killeen-texas-fatal-raid/ “Professors Love Answering Cold Emails from White Dudes, “Meh” on Everyone Else” “Why It’s So Hard For Men To See Misogyny” “Straight White Male: The Lowest Difficulty Setting There Is” ‘So, the challenge: how to get across the ideas bound up in the word “privilege,” in a way that your average straight white man will get, without freaking out about it? ‘Being a white guy who likes women, here’s how I would do it…’ http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/05/15/straight-white-male-the-lowest-difficulty-setting-there-is/ “Girls and boys’ differing understanding of when to talk, when to be quiet, what is polite and so on, has a visible impact on the dynamics of the classroom. Just as men dominate the floor in business meetings, academic conferences and so on, so little boys dominate in the classroom – and little girls let them.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/voices/yourvoice/classroom_talk.shtml “NPR- Casting Call: Hollywood Needs More Women” “My theory is that since all anybody has seen, when they are growing up, is this big imbalance – that the movies that they’ve watched are about, let’s say, 5 to 1, as far as female presence is concerned – that’s what starts to look normal. And let’s think about – in different segments of society, 17 percent of cardiac surgeons are women; 17 percent of tenured professors are women. It just goes on and on. And isn’t that strange that that’s also the percentage of women in crowd scenes in movies? What if we’re actually training people to see that ratio as normal so that when you’re an adult, you don’t notice?” -Geena Davis http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=197390707 PBS “Language Myth # 6: Women Talk Too Much” “No, they don’t. Rather, they don’t in every situation. Social context and relative power determine who talks more, men or women. Janet Holmes sets the record straight and establishes the reasons for the lingering myth of female chattiness. (The research cited in this essay was first published in 1999.)”: http://www.pbs.org/speak/speech/prejudice/women/ Continual Depictions of ONLY MALE Cardiac Arrest on Television colour what we expect ALL CARDIAC ARREST to look like: http://feministing.com/2012/02/23/for-women-heart-attacks-look-different-and-so-do-heart-health-outcomes/ Lewis’ Law: http://wilwheaton.tumblr.com/post/61622240642/birchbone-queensassyofthefatties-lewiss Audio of the Panel “Gender, Race, and Identities in Comics,” from the Comics and Popular Arts Academic Conference at 2013’s Dragon Con, with Presenters Kari Storla and Daniel Amrhein: http://thehangedman.com/cpac-files/02GenderRaceAndIdentitiesInComics.mp3 Audio of the Panel “Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Cosplay and Fandom,” from the Comics and Popular Arts Academic Conference at 2013’s Dragon Con, with presenters John Flowers, Kari Storla, and Daniel Amrhein: http://thehangedman.com/cpac-files/05RaceGenderAndSexualityInCosplayAndFandom.m4a A Cartoon: http://seriouslyamerica.tumblr.com/post/86909058080/the-rugrats-dont-have-time-for-your “Queer Science: LGBT Scientists Discuss Coming Out at Work.” A reminder to think intersectionally, as it is often forgotten that Black People Make Up Largest Share of LGBT Community “From Norma to Normalization”: http://www.patreon.com/creation?alert=2&hid=635526 David Hume and the Is-Ought Gap: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-moral/#io Cosmic Anthropology Broadcast System #2, “Roll Your Own Culture” “…on building your own reality map”: https://soundcloud.com/pir8m1k3y/roll-your-own-culture-a-chat-with-gordon-white-of-runesoupcom Hello there, I’m Damien Williams, or @Wolven many places on the internet. For the past nine years, I’ve been writing, talking, thinking, teaching, and learning about philosophy, comparative religion, magic, artificial intelligence, human physical and mental augmentation, pop culture, and how they all relate. I want to think about, talk about, and work toward, a future worth living in, and I want to do it with you. I can also be found at http://Technoccult.net (@Techn0ccult). Heavenly Bodies: Why It Matters That Cyborgs Have Always Been About Disability, Mental Health, and Marginalization 2017 SRI Technology and Consciousness Workshop Series Final Report “Consciousness and Conscious Machines: What’s At Stake?” Of Predictive Algorithms and Emojis 2019: A Technoccult Future Worth Thinking About 2017 SRI Technology and Consciousness Workshop Series Final Report \| A Future Worth Thinking About on Audio & Presentation: A Discussion on Daoism and Machine Consciousness Two excellent essays – Composite on Heavenly Bodies: Why It Matters That Cyborgs Have Always Been About Disability, Mental Health, and Marginalization Heavenly Bodies: Why It Matters That Cyborgs Have Always Been About Disability, Mental Health, and Marginalization \| A Future Worth Thinking About on On the Ins and Outs of Human Augmentation Heavenly Bodies: Why It Matters That Cyborgs Have Always Been About Disability, Mental Health, and Marginalization \| A Future Worth Thinking About on Audio and Outline of My Guest Lecture, “Technology, Disability, & Human Augmentation” Cops, Drones & The Fundamentally Inhuman Status of Minority \| A Future Worth Thinking About on “Any Sufficiently Advanced Police State…” A Future Worth Thinking About algorithmic bias algorithmic systems animal ethics artificial intelligence autonomous created intelligence autonomous generated intelligence autonomously creative intelligence bias biotech ethics consciousness cybernetics cyborgs disability disability studies distributed machine consciousness embodied machine consciousness ethics human augmentation implicit bias Invisible Architecture of Bias Invisible Architectures of Bias machine consciousness Machine ethics machine intelligence machine learning machine minds magick my voice my words my work my writing nonhuman personhood phenomenology philosophy philosophy of mind philosophy of technology race racism science and technology studies science technology and society sociology technoccult technological ethics technology The AFWTA Tip Jar All content copyright Damien Williams, 2013-2016.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7007
__label__cc	0.673011	0.326989	A change in climate Carbon Farming Futures Conservation tillage refundable tax offset Action on the Ground Conservation tillage refundable tax offsetCurrently selected Extension and Outreach Project List Filling the Research Gap Between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2014, primary producers who purchased new conservation seeding equipment and received a Research Participation Certificate could apply to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for a 15 per cent refundable tax offset. The Conservation Tillage Refundable Tax Offset (RTO) initiative was part of the Carbon Farming Futures program and was designed to encourage conservation tillage practices in Australian agriculture. The RTO was jointly administered by the ATO and the department. The ATO was responsible for all matters relating to eligibility and the issuing of the offset through the taxation system. The department was only responsible for administering and issuing of Research Participation Certificates. Following the repeal of the RTO legislation on 17 July 2014, the department no longer issued Research Participation Certificates.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7008
__label__cc	0.625692	0.374308	Arrested for the Gospel While I was on my normal route to New Haven I felt the sudden urge to turn around and go to Hartford for ministry instead. I had never preached open-air in Hartford before and wasn’t sure exactly how to get there either. I did however find my way easily and located a great public place downtown for preaching. When I first got out of my car a man was walking bye and I greeted him. We started talking and apparently his truck ran out of gas and he was stuck in Hartford. I don’t know if you was lying or not but if he was lying then I am sure he got convicted when I gave him money and a gospel of John. He said he would read it. There was a lot of people in the downtown area. I set up my stool on a big brick walk way that had benches full of people and vendors. Like Paul I used a statue to spring board into the gospel. Near me was a statue of Christopher Hooker who founded Hartford in, I believe, 1634. He had a bible in his hand and the monument said it was in that spot where He preached the sermon that inspired the Hartford constitution. Some children gathered near me to listen and people were listening from the benches. A man came out of one of the offices and asked me to move. I asked if I was breaking the law and he said “no”. When he realized that I was going to move he told me that I was on private property and have to move. I think that was a lie because there were public benches all over that area and it was a public brick sidewalk but I said “Okay sir, where can I preach?” He showed me a area right across from where I was. When I started preaching there a different security guard came and said “Oh no they can’t send you over here”. Then all the security guards came together and agreed on a spot that I could preach at. Although the only spot they said I could preach at was only inches away from the main road I preached there just the same. As soon as I started a man came out of the office buildings nicely dressed and started swearing repeatedly at me over and over again. He got closer and closer until he was only maybe an inch away from me. He was saying “YOU SHUT THE BLANK UP” over and over again. He got me a big crowd. I said “Sir you keep this up and your going to draw me a bigger crowd.” He continued to yell and to spit and would not ease up. I told him if he doesn’t stop I’ll call the cops. He started doing a satanic sign along with his cursing and then told me he worships Satan. I said “In the name of Christ Jesus you leave me alone!” and he walked off. That’s when the cops showed up. They pulled me aside and said I can’t use the microphone without a permit. Then they put me in the back of the police car and talked with me for a few minutes. When they released me there was an even bigger crowd there waiting to see what is going on. I stood up on my stool to address them but first looked over to the office and said “I can I preach now? He said “You can preach whatever you want without your microphone.” So I preached the Law, sin, righteousness, judgment, and offered them Christ. A vendor came and complained to the cops and then to me. I told him I will keep him in mind but that I have only been here maybe a total of 10 minutes and won’t be here for to long. The cop pulled me aside and said I can’t preach anymore because someone complained. I asked the crowd if they were bothered by what I was doing and many people said “NO” and nobody said “Yes”. That’s when they put the hand cuffs on me which gave me marks for two days and put me in the back of the police car. The officer went around the area for about 10 minutes talking to people. He probably wanted to get as many complaints as possible but later told me that nobody wanted to leave their information in order to complain. Finally the cop said “Look, we don’t want to arrest you. We will release you if you promise not to preach.” I said “Officer, it is 2:44 right now. If you release me then by God’s good graces I’ll be preaching again in public by 3:00.” He said “then your going to jail” so I said “I would rather go to jail then to forfeit my right of freedom of speech. I would rather go to jail even for the rest of my life then to deny my Lord.” He brought me to jail where I was able to witness to someone in the cell with me named Jeff. Pray for Jeff. He seemed touch. They took me out of the cell and said they were going to release me and I requested another 10 minutes behind bars so I could finish witnessing. They granted me the favor. I did the math and realized that I have been preaching the gospel on the street for almost 2 years now without any real incident with the police. In the past 3 weeks alone I have had 6 different incidents with the police in 3 different cities, by 10 different police officers, 3 threats of arrest and 1 actual jailing. Something must have happened in the spiritual. A friend of mine sent me a quote from Ravenhill which he related to the situation. Ravenhill said “We haven’t witnessed to somebody who’s going to an eternal hell according to our theology but we talked about some trivial to them. Whisper in my ear that Satan has moved you up. He said you’re getting to be dangerous to his kingdom. He says you’re spoiling his plans, your thwarting his purposes, your pulling down his strong holds! We’re not pulling things out. We’re building pretty little churches and little rooms for people to sit around. If Jesus came back He wouldn’t cleanse the temple, He’d cleanse the pulpit.” I think of a different quote from a man of God who said “And the problem today is that the salts lost its flavor and too many candles are under the bushel and under the bed. Now if the church ever recovers the power to break up demonism in the community it will bring down the wrath of evil and the church may land in jail but she’ll learn how to sing in prison, pray down an earth quake. Folks are asking “will the church go underground?” Well she may develop more power underground then she’s got above ground these days. We’re not going to pray down earth quakes in committee meetings, sipping coffee and reading the minutes of the last meeting.” Of coarse they will claim that I was not “arrested for the gospel” but in reality, the only thing I was doing was preaching the gospel. I was doing nothing more and nothing less. If I were to go to Hartford and preach the gospel I would probably be arrested again. Mark this and be sure of this: This is America which our Christian four fathers fought and died for, so as soon as this court situation is settled, I will be back there preaching the gospel of eternal life to those people. I think I did good going two years without getting arrested; John Baptist lasted only six months. A preacher friend said “your not really apart of the club until you’ve been arrested.” I will do as Jesus commands and “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Please pray over this whole situation that the charges will simply get dropped and I can start preaching there again.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7013
__label__wiki	0.636548	0.636548	Expert evidence rules should be relaxed in summary judgment motions Courts should take a more liberal approach to the rules regarding submission of expert evidence on summary judgment motions so that parties aren’t discouraged from using the process, says Toronto civil and commercial litigator Patrick Summers. Rule 39.02 of the Rules of Civil Procedure requires a party to seek leave from the court in order to file any new affidavits after the completion of cross-examinations in connection with a particular motion or application. However, Summers, a partner with Birenbaum Steinberg Landau Savin & Colraine, says expert evidence on a summary judgment motion deserves special consideration under the rule. “A motion for summary judgment is usually a final determination of liability, at least on some part of an action. If we’re going to be using it in a more frequent manner, I think the rules with respect to the introduction of expert evidence ought to be relaxed somewhat,” Summers tells AdvocateDaily.com. “Courts should be cognizant that where liability is on the line, the default rules shouldn’t be applied as strictly. “I’ve done a number of trials that involved expert evidence. I would rarely consider asking someone to give an opinion unless I could provide them with all the information gleaned from examinations for discovery. Why should a motion for summary judgment be any different?” Summers recently convinced a master to allow the filing of an expert opinion on behalf of his client, the defendants in the long-running case of Mars Canada Inc. v. Bemco Cash & Carry Inc., 2015 ONSC 8078 (CanLII), despite having already completed cross-examinations in connection with a motion for summary judgment filed by the plaintiff. Although the decision did not go as far as to carve out special rules for summary judgment motions, Summers says the courts could find themselves considering more requests for such leave after the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2014 judgment in Hryniak v. Mauldin, which has increased the availability of summary judgment in Ontario. “There is little case law concerning leave to file material of the cross-examinations in the summary judgment context, but I think the courts should be giving a broad and liberal interpretation to the rules,” he says. Mars Canada initially sued the defendants back in 2010, alleging, in part, their grey-market importation of chocolate bars breached settlement agreements reached between the parties years before. The defendants resisted, claiming that the agreements are null and void because they constitute an unlawful restraint of trade. The plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment has been in the works for more than four years after a series of disagreements over production and the scope of cross-examinations. The latest dispute arose when Bemco and its fellow defendants attempted to introduce the expert opinion of Francesco Bova, a professor of accounting at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. Summers argued on behalf of the defendants that leave should be granted to file Bova’s evidence under Rule 39.02, since he could not have constructed his opinion without documents and information turned over by Mars Canada to the defendants after cross-examinations were partially completed. Mars Canada objected, claiming Bova’s report was not an admissible expert opinion, and that it failed to meet the test for leave under Rule 39.02. However, Master Robert Muir sided with the defendants, finding that this motion was “not the time or place to” determine the admissibility of Bova’s evidence; that task should be left to the judge hearing the summary judgment motion. Bova’s evidence met the test for leave, Muir found, because it was relevant to Bemco’s restraint of trade defence, and because it responded to matters raised in cross-examination that “could not have been fully prepared any earlier than they were.” “I also see no prejudice to the plaintiff. The hearing of the summary judgment motion has yet to be scheduled,” Muir stated in his decision. “The plaintiff will have a full opportunity to respond to Dr. Bova’s report if it so chooses. It will also be able to cross-examine Dr. Bova. It can object to the admissibility of the report at the return of the summary judgment motion. The additional delay occasioned by the delivery of Dr. Bova’s affidavit is not significant in the context of this summary judgment motion.”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7018
__label__cc	0.506593	0.493407	Sustainable Development Trends and Challenges at the British University in Egypt. The Research Centre for Innovation, Governance & Green Economy (CIGGE) and the Faculty of Business Administration, Economics and Political Science (BAEPS), at the British University in Egypt in collaboration with the Centre for Economic & Financial Research & Studies (CEFRS) at Faculty of Economics & Political Science (FEPS) at Cairo University hosted the Sustainable development seminar on the 17th of February, 2019 at the BUE Campus. Sustainable development is the name of the game of this century as it is an enlightened venue to cross new trends and challenges of a period of economic, political, social, and environmental volatility. To this end, two important areas needed extensive research from scholars, namely the area of Sustainability Reporting to ensure performance efficiency, as well as the area of Total Factor Productivity. This seminar tackled both areas from an extensive research perspective to highlight to policy makers the most important challenges faced by companies and industries in Egypt. Professor Ahmed Hamad the BUE President and Professor Wadouda Badran Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, Economics, and Political Science at BUE welcomed the attendees. Followed by presentation by Professor Ahmed Ghoneim, former Cultural Counselor of Egypt in Berlin and Vienna, on how to bridge the gap between Cultural Diplomacy and Sustainable Development, then a discussion session by the esteemed guests: Professor Adla Ragab, Director of CEFRS, FEPS at Cairo University, Professor Wael Kortam, Head of the Business Administration Department, Faculty of Commerce, Cairo University and Professor Hala Sakr, Professor of Economics, FEPS, Cairo University. Associate Professor Zeinab Younis the director of the CIGGE closed the session with an open invitation for mutual research and collaboration between the two educational institutions.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7019
__label__wiki	0.804595	0.804595	An educator aims for NC December 11, 2017 businessbhutanLeave a Comment on An educator aims for NC Leki Tshering, a teacher for the past 11 years, has resigned to run for the upcoming National Council (NC) elections. He will be contesting from Genekha Gewog, Tshochekha village of Thimphu Dzongkhag. The 39-year old said that his decision to contest for the Council is a planned move. “The Council is a house of review for laws of the kingdom. I want to join the Council and act as a bridge between the community and the government,” he said, adding that it is his way of giving back to the community and country. Leki Tshering holds a B. Ed (Primary) and last taught in Chukha Central School. He believes in positivity and has always been optimistic about the decisions he has taken in life. His decision of contesting for NC has been well received by his family. Talking to Business Bhutan, Leki Tshering said: “My strengths are honesty, apt education and experience. I believe in helping and this is a platform where I can not only be a voice for the voiceless but also extend assistance to the needy.” He added that politics is not only about votes. “It is a platform for showcasing what one can do for the country and people.” He said he does not want to lure voters by making false promises just for the sake of it. “I do not believe in lip service; given a chance or if people vote in my favor, I will serve them and the community. Time will decide and so will the people,” he said. Someone who has always been an obedient son to his parents, a dedicated teacher to his students and a good father to his daughters, he expects to be a good leader to his people. “People should vote for me if they believe I am capable of doing something better for them. I have faith and trust in my people and their choice of leader too who will serve them as at the end of the day they should be benefiting from their choice.” He shares that lack of experience is his weakness though he has been updating himself with happenings in the field of politics and is aware of national issues and realities. With support from family, well-wishers and his village people, he believes that his decision to join NC is a good move. Leki Tshering is the third eldest in his family with five siblings. He is married and has two daughters. Chencho Dema from Thimphu RENEW to strengthen partnership with RBP From farming to council dreams Govt, opposition at loggerheads over ‘B.Ed course’ April 16, 2018 businessbhutan Bhutan Himalayan Holdings to recruit 50 engineers March 1, 2019 March 1, 2019 businessbhutan Roadblock at Bhalujhora to be cleared today July 11, 2018 businessbhutan	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7020
__label__wiki	0.740514	0.740514	← DC Universe: Post-Race Reactions, Chapter 3: Duty of Care DC Universe: Post-Race Reactions → DC Universe: Post-Race Reactions, Chapter 4: Players and Pawns by Doc Quantum January, 1989: Maxwell Lord’s hands shook as he brought a cigarette up to his mouth and lit it with a match. It was just nerves; at least, he hoped it was just nerves. At his age, you couldn’t be too sure about anything. As the CEO of Queen Enterprises for the past forty-five years, Lord had done very well for himself, even when his boss had gone missing for over twenty of those years. He had also been made privy to the secrets of one of the greatest heroes of the golden age: Green Arrow. And now, he was directly responsible for having helped bring the current successor to Green Arrow’s legacy into play. Arrowette and Flare were basically Star City’s new Green Arrow and Speedy. () Although they were still teenagers and had only been at it for three years now, they had already become legends in their time, thanks to several high-profile solo cases as well as adventures with the Junior JSA. () He should have been proud to have helped continue his boss’ legacy. So why did he feel so guilty? [(*) Editor’s note: See Arrowette: The Archer’s Legacy and Junior JSA: The Injustice Society.] “Mr. Hawthorne will see you now, Mr. Lord.” Max looked up and ran a hand through his gray hair. It had been a long time since he’d lost his chestnut brown hair to the ravages of age, but he was still a handsome man, even now at seventy years of age. He walked into his old friend’s office. “Max! How are you, old boy?” said Foster J. Hawthorne, offering a handshake. He was a man of eighty who was bald, had a white mustache, a hawk-like nose, was very tall and thin, and wore pince-nez spectacles. Max often thought he could have played Sherlock Holmes on the stage in his youth. “I’m… fine, Foster.” “And how is Cathy? Has she recovered from her hip surgery all right?” “Catherine is fine,” said Max, speaking of his wife. “She’s in France right now, visiting her family.” “Good, good,” said Foster, motioning for Max to take a seat on his leather couch. “It’s always good to make sure we keep in touch with our roots.” Maxwell Lord nodded, then opened his mouth and found himself at a loss for words. “Is something bothering you, Max?” asked Foster. “Look, I know the election didn’t turn out the way we hoped. None of us could have foreseen what happened, truly. And the aftermath, with Gunderson turning out to be some kind of shape-changer? Well, that floored me. And now that we have our first woman president with this Minerva Schuster, I can only imagine we’re one bad premenstrual cycle away from nuclear war.” He chuckled at his own joke. “But these things have a way of turning out for the best. Why, what with your background in leadership, perhaps you might take a run at the next presidential election yourself. The All-Star Party is in need of a new leader, you know.” “That’s not it at all, Foster,” said Max. “I’ve been troubled, yes, but not by the results of the election. It’s something Jay said to me after we lost.” “Oh? Tell me what it is.” “He basically accused me of being a pawn of Vandal Savage.” Foster looked at Max for a moment without blinking, then burst into laughter. “You’ve got to be joking, Max. Who in their right mind would ever accuse you of being a pawn of some would-be dictator? This Vandal… Savage, did you say? Isn’t he the fellow who supposedly used a time machine to change history so he could rule the world?” “No, that was Per Degaton.” “Oh, well, they all seem so alike,” said Foster with a shrug and a wink. “You must forgive me for mixing them up.” “I was so angry with him,” continued Max, “that I immediately dismissed anything he had to say at the time. But, as I’ve thought about it, I’ve begun to grow troubled.” “Why, whatever for, Max?” said Foster. “You can’t take anything Jay said about you personally. After all, he did just lose the U.S. presidential race. He’s bound to say a lot of crazy things.” “But that’s just it, Foster,” said Max. “Jay’s always been straight with me. He would never have said anything like that to me if it didn’t have some basis in fact.” Foster frowned and stood up, then walked over to the liquor cabinet. “Fancy a glass of wine? I’ve got a bottle of cabernet that has just been waiting to be opened for a moment like this.” “No thanks, Foster.” “Come now, Max. We’re old friends. Let’s figure this out together over a glass of wine, like old times.” “Oh, all right,” said Max. Foster finished pouring the wine, then handed a glass to Max. “Now, my boy, tell me what has you so troubled.” “It’s… it’s the Society, Foster.” “The Justice Society?” “No, you know what I mean,” said Max, not at all amused. “The Society.” “Oh, oh, right,” said Foster, amusement in his eyes as he flicked his index finger off the side of his nose, as if sending a secret signal. “What is it that concerns you, Max? Don’t tell me the dues are too steep. We both know you can afford them.” He chuckled again. “Who runs it?” asked Max. “The Society, I mean. Who’s in charge?” “You’ve met him,” said Foster. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.” “Yes, I know who you’re referring to,” said Max, careful not to use any names, as per Society protocols. “But I wonder… does he work for anyone else?” “Does he work for Vandal Savage, you mean? Is that what you’re asking, Max? Don’t be absurd.” Max shrugged. “Stranger things have happened, Foster. Maybe Savage really does run the world, in a way, by being behind all these secret societies out there. I keep hearing rumors about this Illuminati, for instance.” Foster sighed. “And do you listen to every conspiracist out there, with their wacky theories about who shot JFK, and whether FDR actually knew in advance about the attack on Pearl Harbor? People who believe in such things as the Illuminati are fit for the loony bin, if you ask me. Where’s the proof?” “Well, Jay seemed to think there was some basis for the idea that Vandal Savage was in charge of the Illuminati,” said Max. “And from what I’ve been able to gather from my own sources, the Illuminati itself — whether it goes by that name or others — is more of an umbrella organization composed of many groups under many different names, kind of like the hydra. You cut off one head, and three more grow in its place.” “Your metaphor is quite apt, Max,” said Foster, maintaining his air of amusement, “if we are talking about fairy tales.” “Are we, Foster?” asked Max. “My source comes from no less than a very high-placed man in the U.S. government — one of our most secretive intelligence agencies, in fact. And if he believes in fairy tales, then we’re all in big trouble.” Foster J. Hawthorne’s smile began to be replaced by a frown. “Just what are you saying, Max?” “I just have some questions,” said Max. “You were the man who brought me into the Society some forty years ago.” “I saw great potential in you at the time, and you’ve never let me down.” “You were also the man who planted the idea in my head to start the All-Star Party,” continued Max. “And to recruit none other than Jay Garrick, the Flash himself, as its presidential candidate.” “No need to thank me, Max. I saw an opportunity, and I merely mentioned it to you, is all.” “You were also responsible for the majority of fundraising, especially in the early days two years ago, when we were just getting off the ground.” “Where is all this going, Max?” “I want to know, Foster, if you’ve been forthright with me all along, as I’ve believed, or if you’ve been following orders from those above you in the Society.” Foster J. Hawthorne looked aghast at Maxwell Lord’s words. “I resent the implication that I’m merely some pawn in a larger scheme of moving other pawns around, like some kind of nefarious chess match!” “But you don’t deny it,” said Max. “I most certainly deny it!” said Foster. “Now if you’re about done, Max, I’d like to ask you to leave before our friendship suffers any further.” “Oh, don’t worry about that,” said Max, placing his still-full glass of wine on the table next to him and rising to his feet. “I believe our friendship is at an end, as is my involvement in the Society.” “I don’t enjoy being used, Foster,” said Max. “Especially when it turns out to be by someone I’ve trusted for most of my life. You may have helped me in my own career over the years, but I seriously question whether it was really all to your own benefit — or to that of your master, Vandal Savage.” “Don’t be absurd!” “I’ll be absurd as I wish to be,” said Max. “Good day to you, sir.” At that, Maxwell Lord opened the door and walked out. Foster J. Hawthorne ran out of the study a moment later and shouted, “You’re finished in this town, Lord! Consider yourself — and Queen Enterprises — a distant memory from now on, because I will make sure not another contract will ever be signed! You’re done!” “Talk to my lawyer!” shouted Max just before he reached the outer office door and exited. A cold sweat chilled Maxwell Lord as he rode his limousine back to Queen Enterprises in downtown Star City. His confrontation with Foster had confirmed in his mind his worst suspicions. Well, for better or for worse, he was now a free man. He just hoped that Queen Enterprises could weather the storm that was sure to come. None of that mattered now. He had to talk with Bonnie Jones-Carter and explain himself. As Arrowette’s mentor, he had potentially been influencing her own career on behalf of Vandal Savage without ever knowing it. He just hoped she would understand. Still, the conversation he dreaded the most was talking with Jay again. It turned out that Jay had been right, even though he was wrong about how much Max knew about it all. Even more troubling were the gaps in his memory that he been noticing throughout the campaign. Friends and colleagues would repeat something that Max had supposedly told them at an earlier point in time, yet he had no recollection of those conversations at all. And the very name of Vandal Savage… well, something about that name, and the man’s very voice, heard in old recordings from the 1940s when he clashed with the JSA, caused chills to run up his spine. Maxwell Lord knew through his connections with the super-hero world that there were people capable of hypnotically controlling someone without their knowledge. That couldn’t possibly have been done to him, could it? The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he couldn’t dismiss the possibility that he had been a pawn after all, in more ways than one. And then there was Amanda Waller to deal with. Jay had basically accused her of being in the same camp as Vandal Savage as well, but Max knew she was as honest as they came, if eminently practical to the point of ruthlessness. But she had taken things hard. He hadn’t seen her since the day after he’d last spoken with Jay, in fact. She just disappeared, fed up with politics for good. He wondered if she was fed up with the government as well. She had been an intelligence agent, after all, for several years. But that career had ended as abruptly as her political career. She seemed worse off now than when she’d begun, ready to lash out at anyone who even looked at her the wrong way. Max Lord always had Queen Enterprises to fall back on, but where would Amanda Waller go? He didn’t suppose she would want to come work for him. No; wherever she went, she would make her mark again. He was sure of it. In a gym in Washington, D.C., Amanda Waller pushed herself harder than she ever had before. It wasn’t all that difficult, considering how motivated she was by her rage. Jay Garrick had accused her, of all people, of being part of the Illuminati, of being part of the same murderous, controlling organization run by Vandal Savage to manipulate the world to its own ends. To think that she’d ever work for that immortal caveman or his Lucifer-worshiping buffoons. But it was hard to remain angry at Garrick. He was a novice in these political games of intrigue, and readily able to accept a simplified version of the truth rather than judge a more nuanced reality. Yes, she knew Maxwell Lord had been unknowingly compromised by ties to the Illuminati — she’d known since the day she’d personally looked into his history years ago before their very first meeting, though she doubted that Lord knew the full extent of how integrated his particular gentlemen’s club, the Society, was in the grander scheme of things. But Lord was also very influential and, as a power-broker, was always on the move; it didn’t take much for Waller to start moving him in the direction she wanted. Waller knew there was only one man to blame for all of this, and it wasn’t Vandal Savage. No, only one man had gained altogether too much influence over America’s intelligence services over the past twenty or thirty years, despite his rather brusque personality. While the CIA and the NSA had done little more than twiddle their thumbs behind their backs, he’d used the Crisis on Infinite Earths as an opportunity to consolidate his power. He had then positioned himself as the greatest enemy of Vandal Savage and his Illuminati organization, despite the fact that he had let the immortal villain escape from federal custody yet again under his watch. By virtue of the fact that he’d been one of them, he had even managed to manipulate his fellow mystery-men into believing that he was still one of the good guys. Oh, he was always willing to play the hero card whenever it suited him, though he’d never really let any of those pesky heroic ethics get in the way of whatever goal he wanted to accomplish. But Amanda Waller knew the truth. She’d always known since she’d first worked with the man, though it had taken him betraying her before she had allowed herself to accept it. The man would sell out his own mother if he thought it would help him reach his end goal. Henry Heywood, better known as Commander Steel — and Hank to his friends — had created his own little fiefdom in America’s intelligence services, like an octopus with many tentacles, and no one but Waller knew the full extent of his reach. Waller’s two-year foray into politics had been a carefully planned diversion, she now suspected. Maxwell Lord was even more of a smooth-talker than Steel, but she’d been at a weak point in her life and had accepted the offer in an attempt to build a new life in politics, since her shattered intelligence career seemed to be over. Now she knew that she’d simply wasted her time with the whole effort; intelligence was where she truly belonged, and where she could do the most to curb Steel’s growing power. For America’s sake, Amanda Waller needed to take Steel down a few notches, and to her focused mind there was only one place she could go — one place where Steel had been unable to make any serious inroads. It would take a phone call to make yet another fresh start. She just hoped she wouldn’t be making a decision she’d regret. This entry was posted in Earth-2 on December 18, 2012 by 5earths.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7027
__label__wiki	0.634205	0.634205	News Analysis: Shreve gets one year deal by Jon Doble on December 1, 2018 Prior to last night’s non-tender deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that they have reached an agreement on a 1 year, $900,000 deal with left handed pitcher Chasen Shreve to avoid arbitration, and likely a non-tender, and also tendered contracts to the remaining players on the team’s 40 man roster, including their three remaining arbitration eligible players outfielder Marcell Ozuna and right handed pitchers Michael Wacha and Dominic Leone. Shreve, 28, was acquired from the New York Yankees last season at the trade deadline, along with right handed pitcher Giovanny Gallegos for first baseman Luke Voit. At the time there was some hope that, given Shreve’s home and road numbers (discussed here by Rusty Groppel) that he would be able to capitalize on moving away from Yankee Stadium. His 3.07 ERA over 14.2 innings with St. Louis appear solid, but combined with a 1.57 WHIP, 1.8 HR/9, and 5.5 BB/9, that ERA is looking more like luck than anything else. Lefties hit .303 off of him. The Cardinals are pretty thin when it comes to qualify left handed pitchers in their bullpen. So thin that they were the worst team, lefty on lefty in baseball last season while all of their regular lefties, Shreve, Brett Cecil, and Tyler Lyons sported reverse splits where they were better against right handed batters than lefties. The question is why. Cecil was a solid reliever before he arrived in St. Louis. Lyons had one impressive year. And there was really no reason for Shreve to get worse against left handed batters in St. Louis. I have a theory. Last season Major League teams shifted 31,836 times according to Statcast and 70% of those defensive shifts were against left handed hitters. The Houston Astros led the league with 2,191 shifts last season, shifting nearly 60% of the time a left handed batter was at the plate. The Tampa Bay Rays were in second place, shifting nearly 400 times less, but also leading the league in shifting with a right handed hitter at the plate nearly 25% of the time. Those are two teams who have a reputation for letting analytics guide their way, potentially more than most other teams. The Cardinals used to be one of those teams. However, the Cardinals shifted just 272 times last season, that’s good for 29th of 30 teams. Their 213 times shifted against left handed batters (note that that’s in a division that features some noted left handed hitters in Joey Votto, Anthony Rizzo, Christian Yelich and more) was more than only the Angels. And 26 teams in baseball had more than twice as many. In 2017, the Cardinals were at the bottom of runs saved via the shift. And the concern is that it doesn’t appear to be an analytics driven decision, but an old school one. Mike Matheny didn’t like them. Matheny had been quoted in May of last season that he’d like to see a rule against defensive shifts and, as demonstrated by the numbers, has chosen not to employ them for his team. I believe I’ve heard one of the Bills DeWitt echo similar sentiments about the defensive shift as well. And those preferences have worked their way into the way the Cardinals play and places them at a disadvantage. One of the arguments Matheny often used against using the shift is that the pitchers didn’t like them. On one hand, I understand this because it takes some options off the table as far as what you can throw, but on the other hand, pitchers should understand why shifts are good better than anyone else on the field because their whole game plan for facing a hitter is built to exploit the batter’s tendencies. If you’re facing a batter and you know he has a tendency to swing hard on a two strike slider down and away, you’re going to throw one. If a batter has a tendency to pull ground balls, why wouldn’t you want to position defenders behind you to maximize your opportunity to field that ball? The club should be making a change next season according to John Mozeliak. He told Derrick Goold in November that they were likely to use the shift more often in 2019 because new manager Mike Shildt is more open to using them. All that to say that I don’t see Shreve’s 2018 numbers as completely indicative of how good he could be. I still believe in the potential we saw in Rusty’s post shortly after the trade. While Shreve never did pitch in St. Louis under Mike Matheny, a philosophy like that isn’t going to change overnight in a fundamentally different direction. With planning and a reset under Mike Shildt for 2019, I’d very much like to see what kind of Chasen Shreve we get with more shifting behind him. Next Post: Cardinals Announce New Premium Party Suites at Busch Stadium Previous Post: Exit Interview 2018: The Index	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7033
__label__wiki	0.593314	0.593314	Description of NORAD Two-Line Element Set Format ADCOM/DO Form 12 (NORAD two-line element set format from Spacetrack Report Number 3) Two-Line Element Set Checksum Controversy (circa January 1992) Spacetrack Report Number 3 (Adobe Acrobat Version 7.x (PDF Version 1.6) document, 484,938 bytes) (LATEX Version, 36,069 bytes) NORAD maintains general perturbation element sets on all resident space objects. These element sets are periodically refined so as to maintain a reasonable prediction capability on all space objects. In turn, these element sets are provided to users. The purpose of this report is to provide the user with a means of propagating these element sets in time to obtain a position and velocity of the space object. The most important point to be noted is that not just any prediction model will suffice. The NORAD element sets are "mean" values obtained by removing periodic variations in a particular way. In order to obtain good predictions, these periodic variations must be reconstructed (by the prediction model) in exactly the same way they were removed by NORAD. Hence, inputting NORAD element sets into a different model (even though the model may be more accurate or even a numerical integrator) will result in degraded predictions. The NORAD element sets must be used with one of the models described in this report in order to retain maximum prediction accuracy. Revisiting Spacetrack Report #3 Over a quarter century ago, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) released the equations and source code used to predict satellite positions through SpaceTrack Report Number 3 (STR#3). Because the DoD's two-line element sets (TLEs) were the only source of orbital data, widely available through NASA, this code became commonplace among users needing accurate results. However, end users made code changes to correct the implementation of the equations and to handle rare cases encountered in operations. These changes migrated into numerous new versions and compiled programs outside the DoD. Changes made to the original STR#3 code have not been released in a comprehensive form to the public, so the code available to the public no longer matches the code used by DoD to produce the TLEs. Fortunately, independent efforts, technical papers, and source code enabled us to synthesize a non-proprietary version which we believe is up-to-date and accurate. This paper provides source code, test cases, results, and analysis of a version of SGP4 theory designed to be highly compatible with recent DoD versions. The SPACEWARN Bulletin is intended to serve as an international communication mechanism for the rapid distribution of information on satellites and space probes. The material it contains is based on guidelines in "COSPAR Guide to Rocket and Satellite Information and Data Exchange," COSPAR Transactions #8, December 1972, and various Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) resolutions. Jonathan's Space Report The Space Report ("JSR") is issued about once a week. It describes all space launches, including both piloted missions and automated satellites. TLE Data Space Data EOP SATCAT We do not use cookies on CelesTrak and we do not collect any personal information, other than IP addresses, which are used to detect and block malicious activity and to assess system performance. We do not use IP addresses for tracking or any other purposes. No personal data is shared with third parties. For further details, see AGI's privacy policy. Dr. T.S. Kelso [TS.Kelso@celestrak.com] Follow CelesTrak on Twitter @TSKelso Last updated: 2018 Jun 27 02:59:00 UTC Accessed 387,618 times since 2000 December 16 Current system time: 2019 Jul 18 22:09:03 UTC	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7036
__label__wiki	0.793712	0.793712	Browse: Home » 2018 » October » 12 » USING A SKELETON ARGUMENT TO TRY TO FILL GAPS IN THE EVIDENCE THIS IS NOT GOING TO END WELL… USING A SKELETON ARGUMENT TO TRY TO FILL GAPS IN THE EVIDENCE THIS IS NOT GOING TO END WELL… October 12, 2018 · by gexall · in Advocacy, Appeals, Case Management, Civil evidence, Witness statements, Written advocacy The judgment today in M&P Enterprises (London) Ltd v Norfolk Square (Northern Section) Ltd [2018] EWHC 2665 (Ch) makes interesting reading. The appeal concerned criticisms of the conduct of a trial by a circuit judge. The main difficulty was that the judge was reacting to a catalogue of procedural difficulties caused by the claimant’s conduct of the action. This case shows the importance of drafting a fully comprehensive witness statement. It also shows that the courts are alert to the difference between submissions and evidence. “the Judge had read Counsel for the Appellant’s skeleton on the first day of trial and that she had noted that it appeared that this document was “effectively giving evidence on behalf of her client”.” The claimant brought an action seeking to vindicate its right to be granted to four buildings used as a hotel. The claimant was unsuccessful. The claimant appealed on the grounds that the trial judge’s conduct of the matter was wholly unfair. That appeal was unsuccessful. Mr Justice Hildyard held that the judge may have been acerbic at times, however the judge’s conduct of the case had to be viewed in the context of extraordinary procedural problems caused by the claimant. (The claimant had changed legal advisers several times, no blame could necessarily be apportioned to their current legal team who were represented relatively late in the day). WITNESS STATEMENTS One of the issues that stands out is the inadequate witness statement filed on behalf of the claimant. This had a major impact on the trial process. Witness Statement of Mr Moussoulides Mr Moussoulides’s witness statement, which from the outset attracted criticism and some degree of irritability from the Judge, was, according to Ms Shea’s skeleton for appeal, “not fit for purpose” and “not CPR-compliant in that it did not set out the factual basis on which the Appellant intended to rely at trial”. The Witness Statement was only served after and in last-minute compliance with an Unless Order. It had plainly been drafted in different stages by different people; first, in narrative paragraphs, presumably when Prince Evans (solicitors) were instructed; and then descending into short paragraphs prepared after Prince Evans had come off the record on 6 October 2016, referring only in non-specific terms to exhibited documents on a variety of topics (some relevant, some not). The exhibit itself was, Ms Shea explained, lengthy, and many of the documents that it contained were, in her words, “obscure as to provenance, meaning, and significance”. The Judge’s comments on the first day of trial indicated that she had read the statement prior to trial and had concurred (without prompting) with Ms Shea’s later observations: she stated that it was “very short”, “remarkably silent” as to the Respondent’s requests for access to the Premises and, overall, did “not deal with the access [issue]” (which issue was, as I explain above, highly relevant to the issues for determination at trial). Ms Shea summarised in her skeleton for this appeal that the deficiencies with Mr Moussoulides’s witness statement meant that “neither the Court nor the Respondent was able to know the factual case being made by the Appellant until Mr Moussoulides came to give evidence”. This certainly appears to have been the case with respect to access: the statement merely stated in relation to all of the pleaded access requests over the years: (1) in its more narrative section that a: “letter we have sent to the Landlords [sic] solicitors also shows that we were being co-operative with Landlords [sic] surveyors wanting access”; and (2) in its listing end-section that: “I am exhibiting documents regarding “access” that I would like the Honourable Court to see “MMM13″”. Ms Shea submitted (and it seems plain) that the evidence was deficient also with respect to the expenditure that Mr Moussoulides claimed to have made over a number of years in repairing the Premises, such expenditure being neither fully pleaded, beyond a statement that “substantial sums” (otherwise unparticularised) had been invested, nor dealt with satisfactorily in the witness statement. I return to the Judge’s criticisms of the statement and Mr Moussoulides later. The point for present purposes is that the Judge’s conduct and the perception of a fair minded and informed observer were or would have been informed by both the deficiencies in the statement and the reasons proffered for them. THE SKELETON ARGUMENT Counsel, instructed late, attempted to remedy some of the gaps in the claimant’s evidence. This did not escape the judge’s notice. A further difficulty faced the Appellant’s Counsel (and her instructing solicitors): the inherited deficiencies, as explained above, with her client’s sole witness statement. To attempt to counteract these difficulties, Counsel’s skeleton argument did (Ms Shea submitted and I accept) introduce further evidence from her client on the topic of access to the Premises, not least by way of a schedule on various requests, which I was told accompanied it. Again, I return to this issue later, but it is sufficient for present purposes to say that the transcripts reveal that the Judge had read Counsel for the Appellant’s skeleton on the first day of trial and that she had noted that it appeared that this document was “effectively giving evidence on behalf of her client”. I agree that this was a relevant circumstance from the outset of trial. Tags: Appeal, Skeleton Argument, Witness statement ← CONSTRUCTION OF A PART 36 OFFER: DEFENDANT’S ARGUMENT IS A PLOT TOO FAR EXPERT EVIDENCE – SHOULD YOU FRET ABOUT WHAT THE EXPERT HAS QUOTED? I DON’T LIKE MONDAYS BUT YOU CAN KEEP THE GUITAR PARTS →	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7038
__label__wiki	0.872839	0.872839	Home \| Roster \| Schedule/Results \| News \| Coaches \| Archives \| Transfers \| Donate Now! COC Men’s Golf Team Wins CCCAA State Championship for an Eighth Time ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. — The College of the Canyons men's golf team is the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Champion for the eighth time in program history after posting a 36-hole score of 761 at Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande on Monday. Playing under cool temperatures and high winds, the Cougars jumped out to an early six-stroke lead after the morning round, thanks in large part to the two-under-par score of 70 turned in by COC sophomore Jaeyeol Kim. That mark proved to be the lowest of the day, and helped set the tone for the eventual 24-stroke victory by Canyons. Kim finished the event with a combined score of 151 (70/81) to tie with teammate Michael Lindgren (75/76) for COC's top spot. Lindgren and Kim were both named to the CCCAA All-State team after placing fifth and sixth, respectively, in the tournament's individual standings. Travis Fay (78/76) and Ricky Hoefert (76/78) were next in line for Canyons at 154. Daniel Taplin ended his day at 156 (82/74) after shooting a team-best score of 74 in the afternoon round. Ben Campbell finished the event at 158 (80/78). All five of COC's scoring players turned in afternoon rounds in the 70s to help clinch the state championship in convincing fashion. As a team, COC was trailed by second place Cypress College (785), third place Ventura College (789) and fourth place Riverside City College (794.) Folsom Lake College (799), Chabot College (818), Reedley College (822) and Modesto College (824) rounded out the field of eight schools. The 2017 CCCAA State Championship is the eighth for Canyons head coach Gary Peterson, who has established an unsurpassed tradition of excellence at COC. Over the last five seasons Canyons has captured three state titles (2013, 2015, 2017) while finishing as runner up on two occasions (2014, 2016). COC has also claimed two individual state championships along the way, with Sidney Wolf winning in 2014 and Campbell taking the top spot at the 2016 state championship event. The Cougars also previously won team state titles in 1993, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2008. The College of the Canyons Athletics department now boasts a combined 30 state championships (16 team and 14 individual) across 16 intercollegiate sports programs.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7039
__label__cc	0.638568	0.361432	Otterhampton Village Hall is situated off the C182 north, in the cul-de-sac village of Combwich, the largest of the villages making up the parish of Otterhampton. The 100 year old main hall, originally a malt house, became the village hall in 1944 when it was purchased by a group of four trustees and donated to the parish. The Parrett Trail, leading to the nature reserve at Stert Point, passes in front of the hall. By the end of 2013 the Environment Agency project for the Steart Wetlands will be completed creating a diverse habitat for wildlife. Once complete a multi-user footpath will skirt the wetlands running from Combwich to Hinkley Point. Our versatile hall is the focal point of the village and has a wide range of activities for the very young through to the ‘young oldies’. Crafts, Keep Fit, Coffee Mornings, Art Classes, Monthly Market and much more ensures the hall is used almost daily. We even have a doctor from the local Health Centre visiting once a week to hold a surgery for those who find it difficult to get out of the village. Our comprehensive facilities include a large stage, a bar and entertainment licences. Casual, as well as regular, users are most welcome and every effort is made to ensure they are satisfied and keep returning. We are a registered charity run by a committee elected at the annual AGM each year and all user groups are encouraged to have a representative on the management committee. On the pages in this section of the website you can find out about; Village Hall news hall facilities regular users of the hall Minutes of the Trustees’ meetings the history of Otterhampton Village Hall Otterhampton Village Hall Summary Results (1) 2018	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7041
__label__wiki	0.512071	0.512071	The Fallen Woman The hot Arizona sun beat down on his dusty black felt hat, scorching his balding scalp. Heat radiated from the rocky landscape, transforming the desert into an oven. Kynan Madison urged his mustang up a steep incline. A small ranch on the other side of that hill was his destination. He'd known Mort Dobson most of his adult life, but he'd never been far enough west to see his ranch. He wouldn't be here now if Dobson hadn't gotten himself killed in Amarillo. He'd sold some cattle and said he was heading home in the morning. That was his plan, but a card game gone sour changed it abruptly. Madison had been across the street at a café eating his supper when the saloon erupted in gunfire. Dobson lived long enough to ask one favor of his friend. Deliver that money to his wife. It was his first and last mention of a wife. Madison could guess why. More than likely she was a fallen woman. A woman no longer accepted by so-called decent women. He could write a book about that kind of woman. His mother had been one. She bore a daughter and a son. The daughter she taught how to use a man, the son she used. Well, that was behind him now. He'd learned his lesson. Stay away from women. They didn't like him anyway. He topped the hill and drew rein sharply. Below him lay the ranch - in smoldering ruins. The mustang snorted his distaste for the situation, tossing his head and backing up a few steps. Madison buried his heels in the horse's sides and they plunged down the hill. Someone could be alive down there. He didn't have much use for women, but he sure didn't want to see one dead, either. Dobson should have known better than to bring a woman to this wild country. She must have been desperate if she wanted to stay out here. Some referred to them as the weaker sex, but he knew better. They had the strength of a man - they'd badger him until he did their work for them. Maybe that was why Dobson brought in the herd instead of sending one of his two ranch hands. He found one of the men near the corral. The other lay across what remained of the porch. Both bodies were fully decorated with arrows. The horses were gone. Probably following an Indian pony. And the woman? Had the Indians taken her captive? A thorough search of the ranch found no trace of her. He stood for a long time beside his horse. He wasn't much of a tracker and he didn't relish following those Indians anyway. The smart thing to do would be to go into town and get help. That would give the Indians time to escape, though. Maybe even time enough to torture and kill the woman. No one should have to suffer that way - not even a fallen woman. He had one foot in the stirrup when he heard the noise. A low moan. He lowered his foot to the ground and glanced around nervously. It could be a wounded Apache. He cautiously searched for the source of the sound. That was how he discovered the cellar. It was little more than a dugout, but the sod-covered door had probably shielded it from detection. He lifted the door and squinted into the darkness. "Mrs. Dobson?" Another moan indicated the position of the injured person. It could be a trap. He stepped to the side and struck a match, holding it away from his body. In the dim light, he saw her lying in the floor. He descended the steps, holding the match high. The front of her dress was covered with blood from a shoulder wound. The flame singed his fingers and he gasped as he dropped the match on the floor. He lit another match and held it over the woman. By the look of her swollen stomach, that shoulder wound wasn't the worst of her troubles. Her eyes were closed, her lips pressed tightly together in pain. In spite of the soot on her face, she was a good-looking woman. Dark black curls framed a pale fragile face. One delicate hand had a death grip on a broken broom handle. She strained and moaned again. "Thundering horses, woman! Are you in labor?" The eyes opened, large and blue as the sky. "Who are you?" She asked in an unsteady voice. "Name's Madison. Your husband sent me." She closed her eyes and moaned again. Perspiration beaded her upper lip. Finally her grip on the wood relaxed and she opened her eyes again. "Where is he?" Madison snuffed out the match and lit another. "He's still back in Amarillo. He sent me back with the money." He squatted beside her. "Looks like I didn't get here soon enough." He held the match over her shoulder. "That's a nasty looking wound," he said. "I drug myself here with the arrow in my back." She paused a moment and then continued breathlessly. "I could see the tip of the arrow through the front of my dress, so I pulled it on through." She paused again, breathing heavily, and then continued. "I put some honey and cobwebs on it. Madison suppressed a shudder as he leaned over her to examine the wound. The thought of pulling that arrow through turned his stomach. "Looks like it's stopped bleeding," he said. She gasped and grabbed his arm with unexpected strength. He could hear her teeth gritting as she bore the pain of labor again. The match burned down again and he extinguished it. "I don't know anything about birthing babies," he said as he stood. He glanced up at the sagging ceiling. "This don't look like a likely spot for the chore, though." He heard her stir. "If you'll help me…." She fell back to the floor, unconscious. In the dim light, he scooped her small body from the floor. Climbing the stairs, he carried her out of the cellar. The thick grass in the shade of a Cottonwood tree looked like the best place. He carried her to it and gently lowered her to the ground. Even her lips were pale. She'd lost a lot of blood. He left her for a few minutes to get his canteen, and when he returned she was conscious again. She suffered through another labor pain in silence. Finally, she rolled her head and looked him in the eye. "I'm not going to make it," she said matter-of-factly. "I've lost too much blood." "You'll be fine," he said as he knelt at her side. "You've got that baby to think about, so don't give up yet." She shook her head. "I'm not strong enough. I'll never be able to do it by myself." He patted her on the shoulder. "Don't you worry. I'll stay right here with you. You just tell me what to do." She closed her eyes and was silent for a long time. Finally, she opened her eyes and met his. "I don't want my baby to die. I can feel it move. I know it's alive now." She closed her eyes again. "I want you to cut it from my body." He stood abruptly and gasped. "Lady, I can't do that." She opened her eyes. "You have to." He shook his head violently. "No, I don't have to." She clutched at the ground and moaned. This time a tear slipped down her cheek. "Please," she whispered. He knelt beside her and took her hand. "You tell me what to do and I'll help you deliver this baby, but I'm not carving on you." She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off sharply. "You can either take the help I'm offering or I'll ride off. Which will it be?" He wouldn't ride off and leave her, but she didn't have any way of knowing that. There were two things he was certain about. One was that he didn't know how to deliver the baby and the other was that there was no guarantee that the baby would live if he cut it from her body. He'd tried that with a horse one time and it wasn't as easy as it sounded. The foal drowned in its mother's blood. Anyway, Mrs. Dobson must be stronger than the average woman or she wouldn't have considered such a drastic course of action. She turned away from him. "I don't want my baby to die," she repeated tersely. "I don't want either one of you to die," he said. "Now you just tell me what to do." She turned back to him and glanced at the canteen. She licked her lips. "I need a drink." He uncorked the canteen. "A person who's lost a lot of blood needs lots of water," he said. He didn't know much about medicine, but he'd seen plenty of wounded men in his life. Never a woman, though - especially not one like this. Why was she so willing to give her life for a baby she had never seen? Was the maternal instinct that strong already? He couldn't remember a time when his mother was interested enough to feed him, let alone give her life for him. His sister was no better. She let her kids run barefoot all over town begging for food while she used her last dime for a bottle of whiskey. He'd been the one who bought them food and clothes. The only thanks he'd got for it was a tongue lashing when he spanked one of them for stealing. She gripped his hand and stiffened, her eyes closing as she gasped for air. This time it lasted a little longer. A short cry escaped her lips. As the pain receded, she lay gasping for breath. He gave her another drink. "Come on," he said. "You can do it." She opened her eyes and favored him with a feeble smile. "I can do it," she conceded in an uncertain voice. It took her another three hours, but she finally did it. He wrapped the infant in the only clean thing he could find - a white linen shirt from his saddlebags. He felt awkward holding the tiny wailing body in his arms. "It's a boy," he said in a voice that was less than steady. "That's good," she gasped. "What did you say your name was?" "Madison," he said. "Kynan Madison." "Kynan," she repeated in a musing tone. "Kynan Madison Dobson. That would make a nice name, don't you think?" Madison nearly dropped the baby. "Why not Mort Jr.?" "No," she stated firmly. "He didn't want the baby." Madison shifted the infant and kneeled beside her. "Lots of men don't like the idea of being a father. I'm not too fond of the idea myself." Her smile was poignant. "I suppose so, but this is different. Mort couldn't forget that I married him to get away from my father." She took a ragged breath and a tear escaped her eye, cutting a clean path through the soot on her cheek. "I tried to be a good wife. I tried to love him." She sniffed and wiped her cheek on her dress sleeve. "I knew he wasn't going to come back." Her tormented gaze searched his face. "I knew and I didn't care. What kind of person does that make me?" She started to cry. He squeezed her shoulder, unsure what to say. It wasn't any of his business. Obviously, Dobson knew she was using him. Maybe he figured she'd warm to him eventually. She was wrong about one thing, though. Dobson would have come back. It was something she needed to know. He drew a deep breath. "He would have come back if he could." When she lifted a wet gaze to his, he continued. "He got himself shot in a card game. He asked me to bring the cattle money to you." She stared at him for a moment. "He's dead?" At his nod, she turned her face away. "He deserved better than me," she said in a flat tone. It was hard to tell about women. Maybe she was sorry he was gone, maybe not. "You said you were a good wife," he reminded her as he placed the infant in her arms. "I'm sure you'll make a good mother." He stood then and walked away. Two men needed to be buried. After that they had twenty miles of desert to cover before they reached civilization. How he'd get her there was another problem. She couldn't ride and she couldn't walk. Briefly, he entertained the idea of leaving her there while he went for help. The Indians weren't likely to come back, but there were coyotes, and she'd need water and food. He had the only canteen. No, he'd have to take her with him. She needed a doctor, and soon. Those thoughts occupied his mind as he conducted his grim chore - those and the wonder of a woman willing to give her life for her baby. What was so terrible about her father that she would do anything to leave? The thought caught him off guard. What had his father been like? He shook his head. It didn't excuse the things his mother had done. He finished burying the men and said a few words over them. Then he returned to the woman and her infant. They were both asleep. He hobbled the mustang near the tree and built a small smokeless fire. They'd best eat before it got dark. One thing they didn't need was a light to guide the Indians back. He boiled some jerky in water and made a broth for the woman. She looked feverish. He examined the wound. It didn't look infected yet. How long would it be before she could travel? A week? They couldn't wait that long. He could make a travois, but it would leave tracks a baby could follow. The only other way was to ride double on the little mustang. He kicked dirt over the fire and watched the sun sink into the horizon. He was sure in a fix. He glanced at the woman and child. Something inside wrung another unwelcome thought from the depths of his soul. He wasn't the one in a fix; she was. She was alone, wounded, and now she had an infant to tend. His troubles were minor. That night while she slept, he constructed a travois. If they left at dawn, they'd be across the flat open desert and into mesquite cover in a few hours. There was nothing left at the ranch to attract the Indians, so hopefully the tracks would go undiscovered for a long time. Maybe the woman would improve enough so that she could ride. At least that way they might have some hope of covering their trail. The mesquite brush blocked any hope for a breeze. The heat was stifling. He halted the mustang and dismounted, lifting the canteen from the saddle horn. He popped the cork and lifted the container to his lips. He paused with it there for a moment and then lowered it. He walked back to the woman and offered her a drink. She took a few swallows and returned the canteen. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for everything. If you hadn't come along when you did..." It was hard to tell whether she was too emotional to continue the sentence or didn't have the strength. It was just as well that they didn't talk, though. He never knew what to say to women. They'd best keep moving. The sky toward the southwest had a look he didn't like. A dust storm was brewing out there, and behind it was probably some rain - neither of which sounded all that attractive. He had no cover for the woman except his raincoat. The infant had been quiet, and that troubled him some too. He'd never seen a baby that didn't squall all the time. Not that he'd seen all that many babies - mostly his nieces and nephews. He gently pulled the shirt back to examine the infant. Two tiny fists immediately jerked up and the head twisted to the side to avoid the bright light. He quickly covered the baby. He answered the silent question in Mrs. Dobson's eyes. "He's been mighty quiet. I wondered if he was still alive. How about you? I haven't heard a sound from you in all this bouncing around. How is the shoulder?" "We're both fine," she said, raising up on one elbow to look at the trail behind them. "But we're leaving a lot of tracks." He nodded, eyeing the deep gouges in the red sand. "It can't be helped. You're in no condition to ride." "I'm sorry to be so much trouble," she said as she sank back. She was silent for a moment and finally turned to him. "If they find us, cut me loose and take Kynan out of here." He stared at her. "Why are you so willing to die? Is life all that bad?" She smiled sourly. "I don't want to die, but I don't want to be the cause of two other deaths, either. Without me, you could both escape - and that's more important than my safety." t was too logical - too selfless. He wasn't sure he liked his name being attached to that baby, either. It had the smell of a trap. If she was searching for a new home, she was poking around in the wrong direction. All he owned was a few clothes, his gear and a horse. He didn't want to be saddled down with a kid, either. "Lady, I'm not leaving you behind," he stated firmly. "Do you have any relatives close?" She sighed. "My father." "Well, that's better than nothing," he said brusquely. He wasn't falling for the sympathy scheme, either. "Yes," she said. "He isn't so bad when he's not drinking. He'll be happy to see Kynan and me. He didn't want me to leave in the first place." She was a strange one. If he wasn't that bad, why did she leave? He checked the rawhide holding the travois together. "We'd better get moving. We're likely to run into more savages." She gripped the baby close and gazed up at him. "In a way, I can't blame them. We come in and stake a claim to their water holes and then put them on reservations to starve. No wonder they hate us." He stared at her again. Would this woman never cease to amaze him? "You're mighty forgiving, under the circumstances." She met his gaze steadily. "Hatred is a poison. The sooner you get it out of your system, the quicker you heal and the less permanent damage it does." He turned away and mounted without comment. It was a poison, all right, and it had a bitter taste. She was right about the Indians too, but that wasn't going to keep him from shooting them to save his own skin. The wind picked up gradually and finally gathered enough sand to decrease visibility. It gave them the cover they needed, but not without cost. The wind driven sand was like thousands of needles striking anything bare. He stopped the mustang and dismounted. Mrs. Dobson was on her side, shielding the baby with her body. It was a natural thing to do, except that all the weight rested on that wounded shoulder. He kneeled and touched her shoulder. He felt her shudder and instantly knew she was crying. He stood and peered into the brush around them. He had to find shelter - or create it. He found a large sturdy mesquite bush to use as a structure. Then he cut branches from other bushes, weaving them through the heavier bush. It wasn't much, but it cut the wind a little. He hooked his raincoat through the sleeves and formed a crude shelter. It would accommodate one person, but that was all. He held the baby while he helped her to the shelter. She could barely stand by herself, but he finally got her into the shelter. He handed the baby to her and went back to his horse. They would have to endure the storm together. He pulled his bandanna over his nose and mouth and jerked his hat down as far as possible. The wind and dust whirled around them, brutally seeking and finding the tiniest patch of tender skin. When the rain came, it turned the dusty air to mud and slammed it to the ground. Madison stood beside his horse, his clothes soaked to the skin with the cold rain. He could only hope the woman and baby were faring better. The rain left abruptly, leaving dripping brush and rivulets of muddy water behind. Madison waded to the shelter and pulled back the dripping raincoat. Wide eyes sought his. "Is it over?" He nodded. "I reckon. We'd better get moving again - if you're up to it." A moan escaped her lips as she tried to rise. He helped her to her feet and lifted the baby from her arms. How she accomplished it he couldn't guess, but the shirt and baby were dry. Her dress, however, had wicked up half the water in the desert. The worst of it was that her wound was bleeding again. If he didn't get her to a doctor soon she might die. He secured her and the baby under his raincoat on the travois and started out again. He found the road a few minutes later. The travois glided over the smooth mud like a sleigh on snow. He pushed the mustang faster. Night would come early under the cloudy skies, and wet clothes would make for a cold one. Behind him, the baby began to whimper. The woman was silent. He kicked the mustang. "Come on, boy. I know you're tired, but they need your help. It was dark when he arrived in town. He found the doctor's office and carried the woman and child inside. The doctor was a skinny old man with gray hair and a sour disposition. He instructed Madison to deposit Mrs. Dobson on a cot and then focused his attention on the baby. He poked and prodded on the boy until he began to cry. "Take it easy," Madison ordered gruffly. "He isn't a sack of grain." The doctor's eyes reflected humor. "I'm not hurting him. He's just angry. You must be the father." "No," Madison snapped, "I'm the namesake. His father is dead, which is what this woman is going to be if you don't hurry up and take care of her." The doctor eyed him coolly. "Well, since you're not the father, I suggest you go over to the hotel and clean yourself up. Let me take care of them." Madison paused beside Mrs. Dobson, gazing down at her pale features. "You take good care of her, doc." Her cold hand sought and found his. "I prayed for help, and God sent you. Thank you for helping us." He squeezed her hand and turned away without comment. Maybe God had sent him, but not for the sole purpose of saving the woman and child. He'd been nursing a grudge against women for too long. Somehow this one had managed to suck the poison from his wounded soul. He'd probably never be close to his mother, but he could forgive her now. He could let that bitter part of his past go. Tomorrow would be a new day - maybe even a new life. Please sign my guest book and/or rate this story in the guest poll. Thank you! Kynan Madison was content being a homeless wanderer until his friend died. Dobson's last request was for Madison to deliver some money to his wife Madison's experience with women has made him unsympathetic to their problems, but he is bound by a promise. He finds the ranch burned, the hands dead and the wife wounded - and in labor. Her bravery forces him to face some old wounds. Copyright 2015 Linda Louise Rigsbee All rights are reserved. This story may not be copied or reproduced, by any means, without written permission from the author.It is a violation of copyright to copy and paste this story to another web site, but you may link this page.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7045
__label__cc	0.700333	0.299667	According to Canadian Food and Drug Regulations, wine in Canada is an alcoholic drink that is produced by the complete or partial alcoholic fermentation of fresh grapes, grape must, products derived solely from fresh grapes, or any combination of them. There are many materials added during the course of the manufacture, such as yeast, concentrated grape juice, dextrose, fructose, glucose or glucose solids, invert sugar, sugar, or aqueous solutions. Calcium sulphate in such quantity that the content of soluble sulphates in the finished wine shall not exceed 0.2 per cent weight by volume calculated as potassium sulphate. Calcium carbonate in such quantity that the content of tartaric acid in the finished wine shall not be less than 0.15 per cent weight by volume. Also, sulphurous acid, including salts thereof, in such quantity that its content in the finished wine shall not exceed 70 parts per million in the free state, or 350 parts per million in the combined state, calculated as sulphur dioxide. Caramel, amylase and pectinase at a maximum level of use consistent with good manufacturing practice. Brandy, fruit spirit or alcohol derived from the alcoholic fermentation of a food source distilled to not less than 94 per cent alcohol by volume.[clarification needed] Prior to final filtration may be treated with a strongly acid cation exchange resin in the sodium ion form, or a weakly basic anion exchange resin in the hydroxyl ion form.[83] This loaded veggie bowl gets a touch of smoke from the chili-spiced sweet potatoes and roasted bell pepper and plenty of zing from fresh lime. Chili powder and lime also give toasted almonds an addictive crust; make extra and enjoy as a snack. Cotija cheese has a dry, crumbly texture—it won’t melt or disappear into the bowl. Use it to top tacos, stir into whole-grain salads, or top roasted broccoli. In addition, the healthy habits and kinds of foods recommended on the Mayo Clinic Diet — including lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, beans, fish and healthy fats — can further reduce your risk of certain health conditions. The Mayo Clinic Diet is meant to be positive, practical, sustainable and enjoyable, so you can enjoy a happier, healthier life over the long term. Many cultures hold some food preferences and some food taboos. Dietary choices can also define cultures and play a role in religion. For example, only kosher foods are permitted by Judaism, halal foods by Islam, and in Hinduism beef is restricted.[148] In addition, the dietary choices of different countries or regions have different characteristics. This is highly related to a culture's cuisine. Various food preservation and packaging techniques are used to extend a food's shelf life. Decreasing the amount of available water in a product, increasing its acidity, or irradiating[56] or otherwise sterilizing the food and then sealing it in an air-tight container are all ways of depriving bacteria of suitable conditions in which to thrive. All of these approaches can all extend a food's shelf life without unacceptably changing its taste or texture. The purpose of the Mayo Clinic Diet is to help you lose excess weight and to find a way of eating that you can sustain for a lifetime. It focuses on changing your daily routine by adding and breaking habits that can make a difference in your weight, such as eating more fruits and vegetables, not eating while you watch TV, and moving your body for 30 minutes a day. In recent years, space food has been used by various nations engaging on space programs as a way to share and show off their cultural identity and facilitate intercultural communication. Although astronauts consume a wide variety of foods and beverages in space, the initial idea from The Man in Space Committee of the Space Science Board in 1963 was to supply astronauts with a formula diet that would supply all the needed vitamins and nutrients.[58] Although red wine contains the chemical resveratrol and there is tentative evidence it may improve heart health, the evidence is unclear for those at high risk as of 2013.[131] Grape skins naturally produce resveratrol in response to fungal infection, including exposure to yeast during fermentation. White wine generally contains lower levels of the chemical as it has minimal contact with grape skins during this process.[132] ^ Griswold, Max G.; Fullman, Nancy; Hawley, Caitlin; Arian, Nicholas; Zimsen, Stephanie R M.; Tymeson, Hayley D.; Venkateswaran, Vidhya; Tapp, Austin Douglas; Forouzanfar, Mohammad H.; Salama, Joseph S.; Abate, Kalkidan Hassen; Abate, Degu; Abay, Solomon M.; Abbafati, Cristiana; Abdulkader, Rizwan Suliankatchi; Abebe, Zegeye; Aboyans, Victor; Abrar, Mohammed Mehdi; Acharya, Pawan; Adetokunboh, Olatunji O.; Adhikari, Tara Ballav; Adsuar, Jose C.; Afarideh, Mohsen; Agardh, Emilie Elisabet; Agarwal, Gina; Aghayan, Sargis Aghasi; Agrawal, Sutapa; Ahmed, Muktar Beshir; Akibu, Mohammed; et al. (August 2018). "Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016". Lancet. 392 (10152): 1015–1035. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31310-2. PMC 6148333. PMID 30146330. The ideal temperature for serving a particular wine is a matter of debate by wine enthusiasts and sommeliers, but some broad guidelines have emerged that will generally enhance the experience of tasting certain common wines. A white wine should foster a sense of coolness, achieved by serving at "cellar temperature" (13 °C (55 °F)). Light red wines drunk young should also be brought to the table at this temperature, where they will quickly rise a few degrees. Red wines are generally perceived best when served chambré ("at room temperature"). However, this does not mean the temperature of the dining room—often around 21 °C (70 °F)—but rather the coolest room in the house and, therefore, always slightly cooler than the dining room itself. Pinot noir should be brought to the table for serving at 16 °C (61 °F) and will reach its full bouquet at 18 °C (64 °F). Cabernet Sauvignon, zinfandel, and Rhone varieties should be served at 18 °C (64 °F) and allowed to warm on the table to 21 °C (70 °F) for best aroma.[97] Other drinks called "wine", such as barley wine and rice wine (e.g. sake), are made from starch-based materials and resemble beer more than traditional wine, while ginger wine is fortified with brandy. In these latter cases, the term "wine" refers to the similarity in alcohol content rather than to the production process.[67] The commercial use of the English word "wine" (and its equivalent in other languages) is protected by law in many jurisdictions.[68] Cooking Light is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. © CopyRight 2019 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Cooking Light may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policy \| Terms of Service \| Ad Choices \| Your California Privacy Rights \| EU Data Subject Requests Human diet was estimated to cause perhaps around 35% of cancers in a human epidemiological analysis by Richard Doll and Richard Peto in 1981.[143] These cancer may be caused by carcinogens that are present in food naturally or as contaminants. Food contaminated with fungal growth may contain mycotoxins such as aflatoxins which may be found in contaminated corn and peanuts. Other carcinogens identified in food include heterocyclic amines generated in meat when cooked at high temperature, polyaromatic hydrocarbons in charred meat and smoked fish, and nitrosamines generated from nitrites used as food preservatives in cured meat such as bacon.[144] ^ Jill Littrell (2014). Understanding and Treating Alcoholism Volume I: An Empirically Based Clinician's Handbook for the Treatment of Alcoholism:volume Ii: Biological, Psychological, and Social Aspects of Alcohol Consumption and Abuse. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. p. 55. ISBN 978-1-317-78314-5. The World Health Organization defines alcoholism as any drinking which results in problems Types of fat include vegetable oils, animal products such as butter and lard, as well as fats from grains, including maize and flax oils. Fats are used in a number of ways in cooking and baking. To prepare stir fries, grilled cheese or pancakes, the pan or griddle is often coated with fat or oil. Fats are also used as an ingredient in baked goods such as cookies, cakes and pies. Fats can reach temperatures higher than the boiling point of water, and are often used to conduct high heat to other ingredients, such as in frying, deep frying or sautéing. Fats are used to add flavor to food (e.g., butter or bacon fat), prevent food from sticking to pans and create a desirable texture. In the pre-modern era, the sale of surplus food took place once a week when farmers took their wares on market day into the local village marketplace. Here food was sold to grocers for sale in their local shops for purchase by local consumers.[87][108] With the onset of industrialization and the development of the food processing industry, a wider range of food could be sold and distributed in distant locations. Typically early grocery shops would be counter-based shops, in which purchasers told the shop-keeper what they wanted, so that the shop-keeper could get it for them.[87][116] Some foods not from animal or plant sources include various edible fungi, especially mushrooms. Fungi and ambient bacteria are used in the preparation of fermented and pickled foods like leavened bread, alcoholic drinks, cheese, pickles, kombucha, and yogurt. Another example is blue-green algae such as Spirulina.[6] Inorganic substances such as salt, baking soda and cream of tartar are used to preserve or chemically alter an ingredient.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7048
__label__cc	0.661721	0.338279	"Luxury" \| All Stories 6 Ways to Cruise Rivers and Waterways Close to Home This Year about North America, Anywhere It's no secret that river and small ship cruising is one of travel's biggest trends. What may still be an open secret is the boom in cruising on the inland waterways of North America, with new ships and new itineraries... Happy 4th of July and Canada Day! Celebrating Neighbors and Staycations If you've ever taken a cruise or traveled to Alaska, you may recognize this place. From sea level in Skagway, Alaska, the White Pass & Yukon railway climbs an incredible 3000 feet in just 20 miles, and all the way to... The World's First Underwater Ride Share: Now You Can Take a 'ScUber' in Australia's Great Barrier Reef about Queensland Forget about 'surge' pricing on an Uber ride – how about 'submarine' pricing? Hailing a 'ScUber' in Australia's Great Barrier Reef will get you a $3000 AUD charge to your Uber account – and it's worth every penny for the hour-long... Legendary Athens Riviera Reborn with the Launch of the First Four Seasons in Greece about Athens, Greece It's an exclusive stretch of the Greek coast just 20 minutes south of the capital. In the 60's, this exclusive spot on the Athens Riviera was the epi-center of chic, international jet set lifestyle. And now, the Astir Beach resort area... British Airways Celebrates 100 Years in the Skies - And You Might Not Believe How about Great Britain, United Kingdom Can you believe there's been a whole century of commercial airline flight? We all know about the Wright brothers' historic flight in 1903, and in a little more than a century since that shaky flight, look how far air travel has... A Uniworld River Cruise in the Bordeaux Wine Region about Bordeaux, France It's a wine-lover's dream river cruise! The world famous wine region of Bordeaux is home to some of the most famous wines and chateaux, grands crus, towns and legends. If you've ever heard mention of Medoc, Chateau Margaux, Saint-Emilion, Cadillac, or how... 50 Years Since John Lennon's Bed-in for Peace: Video Inside that Hotel Suite Today about Montreal, Quebec It was a week at the end of May 1969 that became an iconic, unforgettable moment of 60's counter-culture and protests against the Vietnam War. 2019 marks the anniversary of the legendary time when music uber-star and peace activist John Lennon... Wine, Fashion and Song: Theme Cruises That Will Make You Book a Cunard Luxury Cruise Now about Southampton, United Kingdom Famous for its 'Three Queens' fleet of iconic ships: the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth, Cunard's regal, British lifestyle at sea, with gala evenings, afternoon tea, kennels for pets to travel with you, and epic Transatlantic... Video: Eco-Friendly: Meet this Cruise Line Private Island's In-House Naturalist about Belize · 2 Comments This is a cruise line private island experience we haven't seen before. Our Caribbean cruise on Regent Seven Seas Cruises included a day at Harvest Caye, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable days of our... Have You Heard About OceaniaNEXT? Oceania Cruises is making a triple-play of transformations, breathtaking in scope, that have already begun. When complete over the next few years these three tremendous changes will elevate all of the things you love about Oceania, and give you even... 3 Things You Have To Do on a Seabourn Cruise to Scandinavia and Scotland about Denmark Cooler climes are some of today's hottest cruise destinations. Add the warmth of Seabourn's ultra-luxury service, boutique-hotel inspired ships, world-class dining and insightful, intriguing shore excursions like Ventures' active explorations, and you've got the perfect formula for discovering gateway northern destinations... See the World's Tallest Indoor Waterfall at this New Airport about Singapore, Singapore It's one of the world's top ten busiest airports, with a flight every 80 seconds. A hundred airlines transport over 60 million passengers yearly to and from Singapore's Changi airport. So millions of travelers are already familiar with the breathtaking Nature features...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7050
__label__cc	0.747813	0.252187	Articles‎ > ‎ posted Sep 7, 2013, 1:16 PM by Fccea Webmaster Years ago a graduate student at CSU began calling nearby Air Force bases looking for old missile silos to conduct some cosmic-ray experiments. While calling a base in Wyoming, he forgot to dial the area code and unknowingly got a wrong number. When the phone was answered, he asked to speak to the commander. There was a long pause before he heard the man on the other end holler, "Honey, it's for you!" To me that depicts all too well a modern society where all too often men are passing on any meaningful leadership at home. Real men bring home the bacon, but they can take a pass on most of the child-rearing activities. It's for sure that real men don't do the Bible. And real men don't need God. Is it any wonder, then, that our children think church is just for women and kids? Is it possible that this attitude has anything to do with the fact that something like 70% of young people leave church behind when they leave home? I find this interesting because it is so contrary to what the Bible teaches. It is informative that when God set out to remind us of our parental responsibilities, He addressed "Fathers" (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21). This did not leave mothers out. Reference to the wise instruction of both mothers and fathers is mentioned frequently in Proverbs. However, even there, fathers are mentioned almost 2 to 1 over mothers. I think God knew where the slippage would be. Without disparaging the contributions of mothers at home, our society needs men who are committed and who are not passing on their responsibilities as leaders at home. We need children seeing that the faith of their fathers is real. Imagine what it would mean for children to see both Mom and Dad praying with them, reading and discussing the Bible on a daily basis and living their faith rather than just talking about it. They might even conclude that faith is just as important as TV and video games! And worth hanging onto even after leaving home. The fact is that real men do "do" the Bible; do need God; and do leave a mark. Wouldnt it be great to see a new generation of men who refuse to pass the buck, but who are eager to assume their God-given responsibilities at home and in society at large? Anyone who follows baseball probably knows of the late Willie Stargell, a great hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates between 1962 and 1982. In 1979, with the Pirates down 3 games to 1 to the Orioles in the World Series, Stargell basically picked them up, put them on his back and drove them to wins in the next 3 games. Most people dont remember that he had been part of an earlier World Series. In 1971, the Pirates also played and beat the Orioles in 7 games. But that time it was the immortal Roberto Clemente who played the key role. Meantime, Stargell, although he had led the NL in home runs that year went hitless in the playoffs and then batted .208 in the Series, driving in one run. His sufferings at the plate were almost too painful to watch. Yet he issued not a word of complaint or frustration. Near the end of the Series, he was approached by writer Roger Angel and asked how an intense, proud competitor like him could endure such disappointment and humiliation with such composure. Willie pointed toward his four-year-old son who was playing at his father's feet in the dressing cubicle and said, "There's a time in life when a man has to decide if he's going to be a man." He's right -- time to decide. Dave McNeff is pastor of the First Congregational Church of Eaton and Ault	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7055
__label__cc	0.725962	0.274038	English Version Chinese Version David Diebold & Associates helps businesses and investors succeed in China. Our offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and the Hong Kong S.A.R. draw upon more than 20 years of experience in China to solve our clients' problems: • We help companies enter China. See Key Practice Areas • We help investors find investments in China. See Key Practice Areas • We help companies in China solve their problems. See Key Practice Areas We have a full-time staff of Western and Chinese professionals, all of whom are fluent in English, and an extensive base of experienced and reliable associates, outside consultants, and other contacts built up over 20 years. Our senior staff and associates include businessmen and former U.S. and Chinese government officials, with many years of practical experience in China. We have learned how it works on both sides. See Staff Given the pervasive role and influence of the Chinese government and government officials in every aspect of business and investment activity in China, business executives and investors must understand that role and the various ways they need to work with it. We are particularly skilled in this area which goes well beyond the usual scope of government relations in the United States or Europe. We see companies stumble here in China every week because they do not understand it or are not well prepared for it. We map out strategies linked to our clients' specific requirements and play an active role implementing them. We were particularly proud last year when the American Chamber of Commerce People's Republic of China retained us to act as their advisors in regard to their relationships with the PRC government, on behalf of the American business community in China. China is truly the world's most dynamic and fastest growing market, but it is such a difficult place for beginners. Although there are increasing similarities with Western markets, it is still a fundamentally different environment and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Those who rely on experienced advisors to help them do their homework thoroughly before they do business and invest there, and every day of the week after they do, are succeeding and will continue to succeed. We are committed to helping our clients get it right, at every step along the way. ABOUT US \| NEWS \| KEY PRACTICE AREAS \| STAFF \| ASSOCIATES \| CONTACT US \| EMAIL TO WEBMASTER © 2004-2006. David Diebold & Associates Limited. All Rights Reserved. Website by William Tsang	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7061
__label__wiki	0.676803	0.676803	DocumentaryTube Massacre at Virginia Tech This information documentary story behind Cho Seung Hui, a South Korean student at Virginia Tech University, who has committed mass murder of 32 people and wounded 25 others in the shooting has come to be known as the Virginia Tech slaughter Cho committed suicide after law enforcement officers breached the doors of the building where dead and wounded had most of its victims. Cho came to the U.S. at an early age with his family. He had a severe form of anxiety disorder called selective mutism in middle school and depression. Over the past two years at Virginia Tech Cho, several cases of aberrant behaviors, as well as plays and other written submissions contained references to violence, and has caused concern among teachers and peers. Broken Content Part Missing Media +2 Dirty Wars - Full Documentary on America's covert wars Jeremy Scahill is one of the best reporters in the United States. He is the founding editor of The Intercept, an online news publication, and author of some of the best US mi... Lifestyle +2 Mac Barnett: Why a good book is a secret door We live in an era where people read fewer and fewer books. Especially children. With all this technology and advancement we have, children’s books are becoming rarity. Chil... Economics +2 JANPATH: A Request to PM Modi - Documentary about Delhi Street Vendors Delhi in India is one of the most populated cities in the world. With population of close to 10 million, Delhi is definitely a huge city. As a big city, Delhi faces a number ... Health +2 America's Forgotten Pandemic: The Influenza of 1918 When a person sick by flu sneezes or coughs, more than half a million virus particles can spread to those that are close to the infected person. During the World War I, incre... 4,007 Videos / 9,739,993 Views SocialDisorderViolenceCrimeDisaster Top 7 Enlightening Latin phrases we use daily Latin is a dead language, nobody uses it in modern times. But there was a time when Latin was used to educate the masses Top 5 Most Intelligent Dogs “Do dogs really think”, “can dogs communicate with us”, “how can we understand our dogs”? The most popular American Presidential Dogs In the wake of Donald Trump becoming a President and waiting for his pet, we remember some of the dogs that lived in the... 5 Victorian Etiquette Rules that Changed Society we live in The Victorian era lasted from the 1830s to the 1900s and was named after queen Victoria’s reign	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7063
__label__cc	0.608913	0.391087	Home » Flag News » Flag of the Day » Flag Story: War Horse Foundation Flag Story: War Horse Foundation Charge of the Royal Scots Greys at the Battle of Waterloo. Today's flag story begins 5,000 years ago. Because it was around this time horses became an advantage on the battle field. Soon after that, the Ancient Near East developed their version of a modern day tank. This was the armored chariot lead by a team of horses. Modern warfare has relieved these horses of their duty in battle. Instead of armored chariots, we now have armored tanks. The important role these animals played in service to countries all over the world and throughout their 5,000 year involvement should be honored as we honor anyone who has endured war. This is where the War Horse Foundation comes in. I recently corresponded with Fritz Bronner, president of the War Horse Foundation. It was not long before I saw the importance of this organization to maintain the traditions and help promote the "equine spirit from the past". This foundation provides trained horses and experienced riders for educational presentations at schools, public events, parades, festivals and film and television. In addition, they offer clinics, demonstrations, lectures and training in various disciplines. Training riding style inlcude: Military Drill, English, Endurance (extreme riding!), Western, Side Saddle, Jumping, and Charro. They preserve and present in several different historical uniforms. War Horse Foundation: Trooping the Colours As you can see from the Waterloo depiction (above) and the dress (to the right), the War Horse foundation uses official colors, presentation, and carries the flag. This ceremony honors the success of those who fought at the battle of Waterloo in today's Belgium. Bronner says, "We are currently crafting the French eagle and colours that the Greys captured at Waterloo. This will be varied on the hallowed grounds at the Waterloo Commemorations in Belgium in 2015. Dignitaries, heads of state, members of Royal families and over 100,000 live spectators and a televised audience will be present at this ceremony." This is not the first time the War Horse foundation has played a role in worldwide parades and spectacles. Every time they are given a chance to present, it is exciting and inspiring. The 1815 Royal Scots Greys "We will be doing a fundraiser in a few months." Bronner says, "We have been invited to collaborate with the Scots Dragoon Guards at Edinburgh Castle to help represent the Royal Scots Greys in 2015 at many commemorations including Waterloo 2015, and in and around Great Britain and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo." As a non profit they have to come up with the funds to lease horses, transportation, care, feed, accommodations etc. The troop uses parade flag sets which are also used in field drills by current ROTC squads. A few months back, I had the privilege of speaking with one of the squad leaders regarding their flag uses in drills. In addition to carrying the equipment, some team members carry the flag on a guidon pole set. I like to think of those men and women as true FlagRunners. The flag plays an important role in the formation and discipline of both battalions. the War Horse Foundation's next event will be presenting at the HMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, Ca on Feb 15-16 at the Scottish Games. I'll be updating this article as we get more information. I've been promised some more pictures of the Greys carrying the Eagle! Stay tuned flag flyers! Labels: Flag News, Flag of the Day	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7067
__label__wiki	0.711703	0.711703	770 AM & 98.7 FM - New York, NY 1955-1977 Shep's radio career on WOR in New York began in 1955 and lasted until 1977. Although it lasted 22 years, it wasn't always a happy relationship. He continually butted heads with management over commercials, refused to play by the rules, and often complained about feeling like an outsider. For many years Shep was broadcast on both WOR-AM and WOR-FM. Due to new FCC regulations, the FM simulcast was discontinued after July 29, 1966 1943 WOR Mutual Radio Jingle View a graphical version of the WOR timeline Set browsers to "WIDE LOAD" Carteret NJ Transmitter Deep late night thinking from Jersey Show Preparation How was it all put together... Pre-Recording Not every show was live! Syndication of Shows Notes of Interest Limelight Shows "Live at the Village Limelight" Behind the Scenes Shep's Engineers and other people he spoke with in the control room Station ID's Shep had a unique way of doing a simple station ID The "I, Libertine" Hoax The book that wasn't . . . until! The Sweetheart Soap Story How to get fired doing a commercial WOR Schedule Weekday Shows Week of April 20, 1955 to May 13, 1955 Weekday Shows - WOR New York - Mon - Fri 11:15pm to 11:30pm Source: NY Times Radio Listing June 14, 1955 to March 9, 1956 (+?) Weekday Shows - WOR New York - Times varied starting as early as 3:00pm. Listing mostly show him in the 5:30 to 5:45pm time slot and ending in the 4:45 to 5:00pm time slot. This afternoon segment was referred to as "Drive East" in many of the listings. January 28, 1956 Billboard article January 16, 1956 to August 17, 1956 Weekday Shows - WOR New York - 12:30am to 5:30am Birth of the "Night People" On August 17th Shep was pulled off the air and did not return until his Sunday show on September 2, 1956.) February 13, 1961 to February 7, 1964 Weekday Shows - WOR New York - 11:15pm to 12:00mid (Mentioned in 2-21-62 and 4-26-63 Shows and 1963 article "King of the Night People") February 10, 1964 to May 4,1973 Weekday Shows - WOR New York - 10:15pm to 11:00pm Sometime during December 1970 and January 1971 there were 2 shows per night. One at 9:15 and the other at 10:15. It's probable that one was live and the other was a rerun of a previous broadcast. (On the 4-3-71 show he announces a time change to 10:15) May 7, 1973 to January 4, 1974 Weekday Shows - WOR 710 New York - 11:15pm to 12:00mid January 7, 1974 to April 1, 1977 Weekday Shows - WOR 710 New York - 9:15pm to 10:00pm (According to Herb Squire, the last radio shows, in 1977, were extended from 45 minutes to 50 minutes because WOR was cutting back the news from 15 minutes to 10 minutes, and needed to fill the 5 minutes remaining and later they cut the news back to 5 minutes). Saturday Shows February 26, 1955 to January 21, 1956 Saturday Afternoon - WOR New York - Times vary: 2-26-55 4:30 to 5:45 P.M. Premier 3-5-55 4:30 to 6:15 P.M. 3-12-55 4:30 to 6:15 P.M. 12-3-55 3:00 to 5:55 P.M. to August 11, 1956 Saturday Evening - 12:30 am to ?? July 27, 1957 to March 19, 1960 Saturday Morning - WOR New York - 10:15am to 12:00 noon According to a radio schedule for 9-2-1957 in the Gettysburg Times the show was called "Excelsior, with Jean Shepherd" March 26, 1960 to September 16, 1961 Saturday Afternoon - WOR New York - 12:15 to 2:00 to December 25, 1971 Saturday Evening - Post Limelight Studio Shows - 55 minutes (10:05-11:00? or 11:05 to Midnight? Limelight Shows Feb 15, 1964 to October 16, 1965 "Live from the Limelight" - WOR 710 New York - Saturday Nights 10:05 to Midnight October 23, 1965 to December 30, 1967 10:30 to Midnight (Limelight shows ended December 30, 1967 according to Herb Squire who was one of the engineers at the time) January 8, 1956 to September 11, 1960 Sunday Shows - WOR 710 New York - 9:05 to 1:00am (as of 3-26-60 9:05-1:00) September 18, 1960 to October 30, 1960 Sunday Afternoon Shows - WOR 710 New York - 12:15 to 4:00pm November 6, 1960 to February 5, 1961 Sunday Afternoon Shows - WOR 710 New York - 12:15 to 2:00pm The show was shortened to allow a Philadelphia Concert series to air. courtesy John Kiesewetter March 23, 1975 Ad 2-14-64 Limelight 2-11,12,13-1964 Timeline for: WOR Saturday - February 26, 1955 Start of Saturday Shows on WOR 710 New York - 4:30pm to 5:45pm Wednesday - April 20, 1955 Start of 11:15pm to 11:30pm weekday shows. Tuesday - June 14, 1955 First of the weekday afternoon 15 minute "Jean Shepherd Show". 5:30 to 5:45pm Friday - December 2, 1955 Last of the weekday afternoon 15 minute "Jean Shepherd Show". 4:45 to 5:00pm Saturday - January 7, 1956 First of Saturday Nite Shows on WOR 710 New York - 12:30am to ?? Monday - January 16, 1956 Start of Weekday Shows on WOR 710 New York - 12:30am to 5:30am Saturday - January 21, 1956 Last of Saturday Shows on WOR 710 New York - 3:30pm to 5:30pm Saturday - August 11, 1956 Last of Saturday Nite Shows on WOR 710 New York - 1:00 am Monday - August 13, 1956 Shep's scheduled last show - until... Sunday - September 9, 1956 First of Sunday Shows on WOR 710 New York - 9:05pm to 1:00am Saturday - July 27, 1957 First Saturday show in the 10:15am to Noon time slot Saturday - March 26, 1960 First Saturday show in new time slot of 12:15pm to 2:00 pm Sunday - September 11, 1960 Last of Sunday Shows on WOR 710 New York - 9:05pm to 1:00am First of Sunday Afternoon Shows on WOR 710 New York - 12:15pm to 4:00pm Sunday - October 30, 1960 Last of Sunday Afternoon Shows on WOR 710 New York - 12:15pm to 4:00pm Sunday - November 6, 1960 Sunday - February 5, 1961 Monday - February 13, 1961 First night back on weekdays - 11:15pm to 12:00mid Friday - February 7, 1964 Last show in 11:15 to Midnight timeslot First show in 10:15pm to 11:00pm timeslot Saturday - December 11, 1965 Last of the 2 hour Limelight Shows - (10:05 - Midnight) First of the 90 minute Limelight Shows - (10:30 - Midnight) Monday - August 1, 1966 FM broadcasts stop Last "Limelight Show" Friday - May 4, 1973 Last show in the 10:15 - 11:00 time slot Monday - May 7, 1973 First show in the 11:15 - 12:00 midnight time slot Friday - January 4, 1974 Last WOR weekday show in the 11:15 to midnight time slot Monday - January 7, 1974 First WOR weekday show in the 9:15 to 10:00pm time slot Friday - April 1, 1977 Last WOR Show	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7068
__label__wiki	0.887833	0.887833	Home All Articles 62 Pakistanis received $2.5 million UK Golden Visas – Suspended Today to... 62 Pakistanis received $2.5 million UK Golden Visas – Suspended Today to tackle money laundering By Dr Shahid Qureshi: – More than 62 Pakistanis have migrated to UK spending millions of pounds and is number 4 in top 10 leaving India behind at number 5. According to the Home Office figures more than 1,126 Chinese, 706 Russians, 150 United States, Pakistan 62, India 60, Kazakhstan 59, Egypt 58, Canada 54, Australia 52, and Iran 59. Transparency International reported that till 2015 “The group says £3.15 billion had entered Britain through the visa scheme since its launch. Over 62 Pakistani millionaires (Billionaires) have migrated to United Kingdom using the $2.5 million ‘Golden Visa’ or Tier1 scheme and raised suspicions of money laundering. Around 1,000 applications were made for such visas in 2017. Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said today: “I have been clear that we will not tolerate people who do not play by the rules and seek to abuse the system.” Britain will suspend its top tier investor visas, which require 2 million pounds ($2.55 million) in investment, as part of a drive to crack down on organised crime and money laundering. The influx of super-rich has brought tens of billions of pounds in investment and helped London preserve its position as one of the world’s top two global financial capitals, though the government has been concerned by the provenance of some of the wealth. “That is why I am bringing forward these new measures which will make sure that only genuine investors, who intend to support UK businesses, can benefit from our immigration system,” Nokes said. The tier 1 investor visas, which offered non-European Union residents over three years entry in return for 2 million pounds in investment in United Kingdom bonds, share capital or loan capital in UK companies, will be suspended from midnight on December 7. After the changes, applicants seeking to invest in the United Kingdom will have to provide comprehensive audits of all their financial and business interests, the interior ministry said. The audits will have to be carried out by UK registered auditing firms. Those seeking such visas will have to prove they have control of the investment needed. Such investors will not be able to simply buy government bonds. Britain’s National Crime Agency, which tackles serious and organised crime, said in September it was stepping up efforts to tackle dirty money funnelled into or through the United Kingdom by “corrupt elites”. It said it planned to extend the use of Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs), one means by which the assets of corrupt “politically exposed persons” or those with links to serious crime can be seized. In October 2018, it was revealed that the first target of a UWO was the wife of a jailed Azeri banker from whom the authorities seized property worth about 22 million pounds ($28 million).” According to Hindustan Times: “As many as 60 Indian millionaires have migrated to Britain since 2008 spending millions of pounds, putting India among the top 10 countries whose citizens have used a “golden visa” scheme and sparking suspicion of money laundering.” Anti-corruption campaign group Transparency International cautioned against the danger of foreign graft money entering Britain through the investors category of the Tier I visa, which targets “high networth individuals” who bring major investments in lieu of fast-track permanent residency in the UK. “Our overall assessment is that this visa scheme, as it currently operates, presents a major money laundering risk for the proceeds of corruption entering the UK,” it said in a report released this week. Britain continues to be an attractive destination and a safe haven for global millionaires because of a stable and liquid economy, political stability and minimal government interference in private individual assets. The visa scheme has been mainly used by Chinese and Russian millionaires, but Home Office statistics reveal 60 Indians had been granted the visa till 2015. “There are strong prima facie grounds for concern that the … visa programme has been used as a tool to launder the proceeds of corruption, specifically large amount of wealth stolen from China and Russia,” the report says. The risk of money laundering remained in the absence of “effective, upfront and transparent checks on Tier 1 visa applicants by UK authorities”, says the report titled Gold Rush: Investment Visas and Corrupt Capital Flows into the UK. The minimum investment required under the category was £1 million until November 2014, but subsequently another million was added February 2015. In the current circumstances Pakistan need to document its economy as well as makes its case via UN SARs (Stolen Asset Recovery) Program as well as use existing legislations of the country. In financial fraud cases it is the responsibility of the individual and companies to prove their income is legitimate and that make case easier and faster. (Dr Shahid Qureshi is senior analyst with BBC and chief editor of The London Post. He writes on security, terrorism and foreign policy. He also appears as analyst on Al-Jazeera, Press TV, MBC, Kazak TV (Kazakhstan), LBC Radio London. He was also international election observer for Kazakhstan 2015 and 2016 and Pakistan 2002. He has written a famous book “War on Terror and Siege of Pakistan” published in 2009. He wrote his MA thesis on ‘Political Thought of Imam Khomeini’ and visited Tehran University. He is PhD in ‘Political Psychology’ also studied Law at a British University. He also speaks at Cambridge University and visiting professor in Hebe University in China) Views expressed are not of The EUT Previous articleUS has no issue with the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey: President Trump Next articleIrish Senate approves bill banning Israeli settlement goods	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7071
__label__wiki	0.736688	0.736688	South & Central America (2) Lands, Forests & Territories (6) Law & Policy (15) Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) (3) Land Rights (3) Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Foundation (AIPP) (2) Association OKANI (1) Centre d’Accompagnement des Autochtones Pygmées et Minoritaires Vulnérables (CAMV) (23) Centre pour l’Environnement et le Développement (CED) (2) Cercle pour la defense de l'environnement (CEDEN) (11) Chepkitale Indigenous Peoples' Development Project (CIPDP) (1) Inter Mountain Peoples Education and Culture in Thailand Association (IMPECT) (1) International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB) (2) International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) (4) Organisation of Kaliña and Lokono in Marowijne (KLIM) (1) Sawit Watch (2) South Central People's Development Organisation (SCPDA) (1) United Organisation for Batwa Development in Uganda (UOBDU) (3) Forest Peoples Programme E-Newsletter (2) Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (1) FPP Briefing Series on Rights, Forests and Climate (1) Urgent appeal to UNESCO and IUCN: human rights violations in Kahuzi-Biega National Park (DRC) An urgent letter has been sent from six concerned organisations to the World Heritage Centre in UNESCO and the World Heritage Programme in IUCN to highlight human rights abuses i Symptom of a deeper malaise? The killing of a Batwa youth by an eco-guard in DRC The August 26th killing of a Batwa youth by an eco-guard was tragic in itself, but also represents a far more widespread conservation-related tragedy. Alternative Report to the 11th 12th 13th Periodic Reports of the DRC In accordance with Article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, States Parties to the Charter are required to submit every two years, a report on the legislative or other measures taken, with a view to giving effect to the rights and freedoms recognised and guaranteed by the Charter. A young Batwa boy has been killed in a national park while trying to access traditional medicine A young Batwa boy has been shot dead after being found in a national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo with his father. Securing Tenure Rights for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in DRC: Prospects and Challenges of the Recently Signed Community Forestry Decree (CFD) There have been some significant gains in recent months in the journey towards securing community forest rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On 2nd August 2014, the long-awaited community forestry decree (CFD) was finally signed by the Congolese Prime Minister. This was seen as a notable improvement to the land tenure and forest governance regime in the DRC. Civil society organisations, and indigenous and local communities had been waiting for the decree with high hopes since the Forest Code was adopted in 2002, paving the way for a new forest governance framework.* FPP E-Newsletter July 2013 (PDF Version) Mutual recognition, mutual respect and mutual benefit are among the desirable attributes of all human relationships. Indigenous peoples and other forest peoples also expect these qualities in their relationships with others – be they governments, private corporations, NGOs or other indigenous peoples’ organisations and communities. This issue of Forest Peoples Programme’s E-Newsletter reports on the state of various relationships between forest peoples and different institutions – as these are forged, tested or broken –in the course of assertions for upholding basic human rights, social justice and solidarity. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women must pay special attention to the vulnerable situation of indigenous women in the DRC Fifteen organisations working with indigenous women, including Forest Peoples Programme, have joined forces to emphasise the injustice and multiple forms of discrimination suffered by indigenous women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (the Committee). States are required to submit reports to the Committee every four years, describing legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures they have adopted to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (the Convention). The DRC’s report will be examined by the Committee on 11 July 2013 in the presence of a delegation of Congolese government representatives. The proceedings can be watched live online at: http://www.treatybodywebcast.org/. ‘Free, Prior and Informed Consent’ Posters As part of its project on ‘REDD financing, Human Rights and Economic Development for Sustainable Poverty Reduction of Forest Communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’ Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) and partners in the DRC: Actions pour les Droits, l’Environnement et la Vie (ADEV), le Centre d’Accompagnement des Autochtones Pygmées et Minoritaires Vulnérables (CAMV), le Cercle pour la Défense de l’Environnement (CEDEN) and le Réseau pour la Conservation et la Réhabilitation des Écosystèmes Forestiers (Réseau CREF) have developed a set of posters on the right to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). By combining pictures and short pieces of text, the posters depict the stages of a process that respects the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities to free, prior and informed consent with regard to projects likely to affect their lands, territories and natural resources. Press Release: FPP and partners launch pioneering book on Indigenous Peoples and Free, Prior and Informed Consent in the Democratic Republic of Congo As part of its project: "REDD financing, Human Rights and Economic Development for Sustainable Poverty Reduction of forest communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)", Forest Peoples Programme (FPP), and its local partners in the DRC have published the first volume of a new book series titled Forêts Africaines. The Status of the REDD+ process in the Democratic Republic of Congo The considerable threats faced by the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to draw global attention because of the crucial role these large forests play in regulating the global climate. Estimates indicate that the forests of the Congo Basin as a whole capture and store about 10 to 30 billion tons of carbon, an increasingly significant ecosystem service in light of concerns about climate change. In recent years, projects aimed at the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) have been developed to provide financial incentives based on performance to the owners of large areas of forests in order to reduce the loss of forests and promote the improvement of carbon stocks through conservation and tree planting. Protection of the right to land, territory and natural resources in regional and international law in Africa: A Toolkit for NGOs in the Democratic Republic of Congo This toolkit provides information on the protection of the right to land, territories and natural resources in international and regional law in Africa. Its aim is to provide NGOs with concise and accessible information about the legal framework that exists for the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities in DRC with regard to their lands, territories and natural resources. It also provides useful information on the international and regional mechanisms which NGOs, and the indigenous peoples and local communities they work with, can use in order to claim their rights and advocate for the DRC government to respect its legal obligations at the international and regional level. Democratic Republic of Congo: Legal workshops in Bukavu, Boma, and Kinshasa, on the better protection of forest communities’ rights In July and August 2012, three civil society organisations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - Actions pour les Droits, l'Environnement et la Vie (ADEV), the Centre d’Accompagnement des Autochtones Pygmées et Minoritaires Vulnérables (CAMV), and Cercle pour la défense de l'environnement (CEDEN) - organised a series of legal workshops in collaboration with the Forest Peoples Programme and with financial assistance from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). The workshops sought to reinforce the legal capacity of these organisations and to promote a better understanding of indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights to land and natural resources and of the mechanisms to advocate for and defend the rights of communities in the REDD+ process in the DRC. FPP E-Newsletter October 2012 (PDF Version) Democratic Republic of Congo - Consultation with indigenous peoples and others affected by REDD initiatives in the DRC: An example of best practice? The Democratic Republic of Congo has recently submitted its Readiness Preparation Proposal for REDD (R-PP) to the World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. Considering that a successful outcome relies on ensuring effective participation by forest communities, indigenous peoples and civil society across the vast extent of the DRC's rainforest, this briefing asks: has the DRC followed best practice in this respect, as a UN agency is now claiming? FPP: Rights, forests and climate briefing series FPP: Rights, forests and climate briefing series - Democratic Republic of Congo: Consultation with indigenous peoples and others affected by REDD initiatives in the DRC - an example of best practice? The Democratic Republic of Congo has recently submitted its Readiness Preparation Proposal for REDD (R-PP) to the World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF). Considering that a successful outcome relies on ensuring effective participation by forest communities, indigenous peoples and civil society across the vast extent of the DRC's rainforest, this briefing asks: has the DRC followed best practice in this respect, as a UN agency is now claiming? Read the Briefing by Forest Peoples Programme (FPP), Centre d'accompagnement des Autochtones Pygmées et Minoritaires Vulnérables (CAMV) and Cercle pour la Défense de l'Environnement (CEDEN). Special Rapporteur at the African Commission takes up challenge of indigenous women, Abuja, Nigeria Commissioner Soyata Maiga, Special Rapporteur on Women's Rights in Africa, heard directly from indigenous women about the difficulties that they and their communities face, at a special event held at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. 'First Person' Commentaries by indigenous people and civil society representatives at the African Commission, Abuja, Nigeria Nadine Mballa, CED, Cameroon Why have you decided to attend the African Commission? I came here because FPP gave me the opportunity. I am working on the indigenous issue and the African Commission allows NGO representatives to speak on human rights issues. I am here to try to bring awareness of violations of indigenous peoples' rights in my country. Déclaration du Centre d'Accompagnement des Autochtones Pygmées et Minoritaires Vulnérables (CAMV) concernant les droits des filles autochtones en RDC à la 44ème session de la CADHP - 10 au 24 novembre 2008, Abuja (Avec autorisation de la Commission d'intervenir sous l'ombrelle de Forest Peoples Programme - ONG partenaire avec le statut d'observateur) Madame la Présidente, Honorables Commissaires, mesdames et messieurs. African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, Abuja, Nigeria - 44th Ordinary Session Forest peoples and indigenous women speak out at the 44th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights - Nigeria Des peuples des forêts et des femmes autochtones prennent la parole à la 44ème Session ordinaire de la Commission africaine des droits de l'homme et des peuples - Nigéria	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7078
__label__cc	0.602996	0.397004	Linderhof Palace, and its surrounding park, is one of the most artistic and stylistically complex ensembles of the 19th century. The ‘Royal Villa’ is the only palace King Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845–1886) was able to complete (1878). It is influenced by French architecture and modelled on the small summer palaces, usually set in parkland, that were built in France in the 18th century and were also often to be found in Germany in the parks of larger palaces. Behind the Baroque façade is a Rococo world with motifs from the age of Louis XV of France. Ludwig’s creation in the Second Rococo or Neo-Rococo style, however, shows a strong South German influence: Ludwig took over a great deal from the Rococo legacy of his own ancestors with which he was familiar from his childhood, such as the Amalienburg in Nymphenburg and the Ornate Rooms of the Munich Residence. The rich and abundant ornamentation, with its many sculptural elements, is thus not merely an attempt at imitation. In Linderhof Palace, Ludwig II created rooms of such sumptuousness that they far surpass everything that inspired them, as well as showing workmanship of an incomparable artistic quality. Park and park buildings The Linderhof Palace park is among the most outstanding of its era. It combines elements of the French Baroque garden and the English landscape garden. The terraces on the central and horizontal axes of the palace, with their water basins and geometric flower beds; the long cascade, with its elaborate fountains and the two focal points; the pavilion; and the Venus Temple are Baroque motifs. The natural, irregular design of the surrounding park with the exotic buildings is based on English models. The Moroccan House and Moorish Kiosk are examples of the Oriental trend that was also cultivated by Ludwig II. The three ‘stage sets’ in the park (Hunding’s Hut, the Hermitage of Gurnemanz and the Venus Grotto) stem from Ludwig’s enthusiasm for the operas of Richard Wagner. The mountain backdrop is incorporated into this brilliant synthesis of the arts by means of visual axes and kilometres of paths which lead far up into the mountain forest. Gallery of 3 Photos Flight time from London: 1=2 hours Innsbruck Airport: 71km from the city centre; transfer time about 1 hour April – 15 October: 9am – 6pm 16 October – March: 10am – 4pm Closed on 1 January, Shrove Tuesday, 24, 25 and 31 December Daily from 9am to 6pm from mid-April to mid-October · Fountain every half hour Ticket Reservation On purchase of the entrance ticket, visitors are automatically assigned a fixed time for entering the palace and participating in the guided tour. Reservations, for which there is a charge, can be made beforehand in written form. Tours in German and English take place on a continuous basis (duration around 25 minutes, maximum 40 persons). Special tours on request. Garmisch-Partenkirchen Lake & Mountain Holidays Neuschwanstein Castle - Füssen Read More View All Blogs	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7080
__label__cc	0.724496	0.275504	Kōichi Satō – Posters November 3, 2015 roxana waxGraphic Designgraphic design, japanese, koichi sato, poster The boundary between the past and the future, or the divide between traditional and revolutionary can be found in many forms of Koichi Sato’s work. Influenced by his scientific understanding, which he acquired in the 1950s, and his interest in the haiku poetry of music and theater, this master has conquered a dichotomy within himself by expressing it on paper. Sato’s work often combines a tight line with gradation, or images of space, with the scribblings of man. He is a logician with a poet’s desire to reach within. He is also a technical genius with a legendary interest and understanding of the methods of his trade. Graphic Designer Sato Koichi was born in Takasaki city, Japan, in 1944, one year before the end of the Second Great War. Sato Koichi enjoyed his career as a free-lancer designer from 1971 after a period he worked for Shiseido Co., Ltd (Masanori U., 2008).He made his graduation from the Department of Industrial Arts, which can be considered as a Design Department, and the Tokyo National of Fine Arts and Music. Graphis was honored to have Sato included in 12 Japanese Masters, a book that serves as a tribute to the designers who, in the 1960s and ’70s, brought Japan to the attention of the international design world. It includes insightful profiles and stunning visual portfolios by designers Shigeo Fukuda,Tadanori Yokoo, Eiko Ishioka, Toshiyuki Kita, Yusaku Kamekura, Kiyoshi Awazu, Kazumasa Nagai, Issey Miyake, and Ikko Tanaka.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7083
__label__wiki	0.624344	0.624344	Can we focus on Y2K please? I come here looking for info on preparations, opinions on specific issues re: Y2K, etc. While there is certainly much else in the universe to read/write about, I understand that the purpose of this forum is rather singular. Clinton, Furbies, assorted rumors, etc. are a waste of time and do not belong on this forum. Flame away. -- Steve Hartsman (hartsman@ticon.net), December 19, 1998 Amen, Steve!! This forum has gone to seed the last few weeks. It was exceptional compared to the others; now I just hit on the ones whose opinions or topics are worth reading. -- Sylvia (in Miss'ippi) (bluebirdms@aol.com), December 19, 1998. Steve and Sylvia, I agree that things have gotten a little off topic with the impeachment and Iraq thing going on; however, scroll down to the archives and you will find the following in the archives: Alternative energy 54 threads Food 168 threads Health/Medicine 55 threads Survivalist issues 117 threads If you need something that isn't here just ask a question and somebody will answer it. MoVe Immediate -- MVI (vtoc@aol.com), December 19, 1998. Shouldn't software companies provide free Y2K-fix upgrades? Seems only right, practical, and expected that they should. After all, if they sold Y2K-defective software, it is their mistake and responsibility to fix. They should be bending over backwards to rush free fixes to customers, with profuse apologies, and maybe two years of free phone technical support lumped in for goodwill and good measure. The lawyers are already vulturing on this issue. Some excerpts: http://www.t echweb.com/wire/story/TWB19981217S0010 Technology NewsSettlement In Y2K Class-Action Suit (12/17/98, 4:11 p.m. ET), By Mo Krochmal, TechWeb Medical Manager, a Tampa, Fla.-based software vendor, Wednesday settled a year 2000 class-action Federal lawsuit involving users of its Medical Manager software. The settlement is only the second in over 20 class action lawsuits that have been filed over year 2000-compliance issues. In this case involving Medical Manager, users of the medical-management application, typically physicians, said the software was sold with an implied warranty against such problems as Y2K compliance, and that the company failed to fix the problem at no charge. A portion of the suit was based on software that was written in 1990 and in 1993. The company's Y2K-compliant software was released in 1997. Many of the more than 20 current class-action suits involve Y2K complaints against software companies, including several against large vendors such as Intuit and Symantec. Most allege that non-Y2K compliance is a breach of warranty and demand free fixes for software and damages. A plaintiff's lawyer in this suit said he expects this may cause software vendors to change the way they do business. "You will see more and more software companies not attempting to profit from Y2K by using it as a marketing tool to sell upgrades," said Jonathan Shub, an attorney with the firm Sheller, Ludwig & Badey, who represented complainants. In the settlement, which is subject to approval by the Federal court for the district of New Jersey, the company will provide free patches or upgrades to users of the product who participated in the class-action suit. The terms include $2 million in cash, before payment of legal fees. .... Kang said that Y2K compliance is not a software-industry ploy to drive upgrades. "That's giving the industry too much credit for intelligence," he said. "[Y2K] crept up on everybody. This is not about trying to perpetuate yourself." ...lawsuits of this type are only the beginning. "The lawsuits you are seeing now are those that make sense before the year 2000," he said. "They are minor cases, debatable. When things break on Jan. 1, 2000, you will see a completely different scenario. It's going to be great, the legal equivalent of a train wreck. These are just warm-up acts." http://webserv.v nunet.com/www_user/plsql/pkg_vnu_template.comp_news?p_to_date=23-DEC-9 8&p_cat_id=59&p_story_id=72003 Andersen Sues Over Bug Claim Consultant launches legal action against one of its customers who wanted free upgrade. Andersen Consulting has started a legal action against a customer to head off a year 2000 bug claim... The consultant launched action in America against retailer J Baker, which asked for a free millennium upgrade to a merchandising system supplied by Andersen. Andersen claimed that the retailer knew the systems relied on the two-digit date system. It believed legal action would clear its name and halt further requests for free upgrades by setting a legal precedent. The case awaits a final ruling by US judges. Lawyers expect many similar cases in 1999 and 2000. Andersen's decision came after software suppliers launched a US campaign to exempt themselves from responsibility should systems not work or cause harm as a result of the date change. Pierre Andre Dubois, a solicitor at Norton Rose and year 2000 expert, said Andersen's court action was a warning shot to other customers pursuing legal claims. However, he said users could seek protection from suppliers by using their existing contract with a supplier and prosecuting for breach of contract should systems fail. Rex Perry, partner with law firm Eversheds, predicted more cases during the next two years because users are currently preoccupied with finding fixes. 'We will see people scrapping to get systems free or cheaper, and litigation to cover the cost of the fix,' said Perry. 'If you installed something designed to last 15 years, you may have a breach of contract. But if you bought a desktop suite, these things are only expected to have a shelf life of just a few years,' he added. MILLENNIUM THE COURT CASE - Breach of contract can occur if its proven that: - Users took reasonable steps to ensure an absence of year 2000 problems - The system wasn't fit for the particular purpose defined in the contract - The system was not of a satisfactory quality - The system failed to perform in accordance with defined levels of functionality - for example, if it had a specified period of down time, but because of millennium bug failure the down time exceeded this. xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxx -- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), December 19, 1998. One stop shopping for prepardness information..... http://www.greatdreams.com/survival.htm -- S.Rathers (srathers@hotmail.com), December 19, 1998. Steve, although I certainly agree that this forum often seems to get "bent" towards things other than Y2K, sometimes issues that people explore are indirectly related. For instance, if we end up having Clinton's "trial" go its full course in the Senate, then that will certainly captivate the media, with the result that Y2K news is going to get short changed. Which in itself offers much to discuss, since on the one hand we have people who want everyone to become fully aware, yet on the other hand we have people who are hoping that John Q. Public won't quite get it yet, so as to allow those who are preparing on the personal level to gain a few weeks before the panic hits. Etc., etc. -- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), December 20, 1998.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7085
__label__cc	0.734174	0.265826	We are indeed blessed by the generosity of all who have contributed to “Our Family, Our Faith, Our Future!” Our beautiful worship space has been enhanced with cosmetic changes, such as new carpet, paint, and flooring. But the space also has benefited from improvements to lighting, heating and air, sound, and functionality (with improved storage for choir and music supplies). The new handicap-accessible entrance has also provided easier access to the church for all our parishioners and visitors. The renovation has brought improvements to: Creedon Hall, “Creedon Hall Bustling with Activities” the Kitchen, “We’re Cookin’ Again!” Classrooms, “Classrooms and Parlor Lounge in Full Use” Prayer Room, “Prayer Room Opens” In addition, parishioners have expressed gratitude for the renovated restrooms near the Classroom Hallway, that are larger, and more energy efficient. The Commons area, as well as the new Information Counter, have also been well used, and benefitted from both cosmetic changes (paint and carpet), but also additional safety and efficiency improvements to heating, lighting, and sprinklers. In May, 2013, we’ll embark on the final part of Phase I of the renovation project. This final piece includes a minor expansion of the building to allow for installation of: Needed storage Pump room to operate the sprinkler system Modified sacristy Site work for water and electric lines Thank you for your patience, prayers, and generosity as we continue to “build community in the light of Christ!” Features, Renovation Updates	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7086
__label__cc	0.742033	0.257967	Hallgeir Øgaard Westli New website – new photos It’s been a very, very long time since my last update of this website. Since the last update, I’ve become the organist of a second church, Fjærland church, and most important – I’ve become a proud father of a beautiful girl, who is now 15 months old. When I was about to update this website, I sort off did a whole new website. You will not be able to comment any more, and I’m in the process of moving all my audio files to my SoundCloud account. They, and new ones, will still be playable directly from this website, though. The biggest change for me is – brand new photos. My sister, who is a professional photographer, were given the task, and delivered some photos I’m really proud of! Please visit her website – she is a great photographer! Recording from concert in Bergen cathedral Friday october 3rd, I had a concert in Bergen cathedral, to celebrate my 30th birthday. The audience mostly consisted of my friends and family. On the concert, this programme was performed: Johann Sebastian Bach – Toccata & Fugue, d minor Arvo Pärt – Trivium Louis James-Alfred Lefébure-Wély – Sortie, Eb major Maurice Duruflé – Méditation Franz Liszt – Prelude & Fugue, B-A-C-H In addition, I had an encore, which was my homage to my parents who October 5th celebrated their 40th anniversary as a married couple. For this, I played the recessional from their wedding: Johann Sebastian Bach – Prelude, Eb major The recording from this concert is available through my SoundCloud profile: https://soundcloud.com/hallgeir-gaard/sets/concert-bergen-cathedral New video on YouTube It’s been a while since I uploaded this video to my YouTube-account, but now it’s also available through my website. This is a recording of Alexandre Guilmant’s Finale from his 5th Sonata, recorded in Bergen Cathedral, September 2013. I hope you will enjoy it. You’ll find the video on the top of my “Videos”-page. New videos uploaded Last week, I played a concert in Bergen Cathedral. Videos from this concert is uploaded on YouTube. You can watch them directly from the “Video”-page. Concert in Odense cathedral, Denmark It’s an honor and a great pleasure for me to announce that this summer, I will give my first solo-concert abroad. I have been invited to Odense, Denmark to play a concert featuring both of the organs in Odense Cathedral. The concert will be in two parts; in the first part, I will be playing on the choir organ, and in the second part, I will be playing on the great organ. The choir-organ was built by the Danish organbuilder Carsten Lund in 1998. It has 20 stops and is tempered after Schnitger in 1724, so it is a perfect organ for Bach, Buxtehude and other composers from the baroque-era and earlier eras. The main-organ has it’s history from about 1752, when a Danish organbuilder named Amdie Worm, built an organ with 42 stops, a significant large organ at that time (for instance, the great organ in Marienkirche, Lübeck, had at that time an organ of about 50 stops. Now, the great organ of Marienkirche has 101 stops). In 1862 another Danish organbuilder, Marcussen & Søn, built a new organ with 40 stops behind Worm’s beautiful organ-casing. In 1934, Marcussen & Søn, expanded the organ so it had 53 stops. In 1965 they did another expansion, so today the organ has 57 stops. The organ has also been equipped with 2.000 setzer-combinations, which makes it very easy to make very big changes in the sound of the organ. The program for this concert is: 1st part (on the choir-organ): Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750): Piece d’Orgue, BWV 572 Dietrich Buxtehude (1637 – 1707): Vater Unser in Himmelreich, BuxWV 219 2nd part (on the main-organ): Félix-Alexandre Guilmant (1837 – 1911): Sonata no. 5 pour Orgue, op. 80	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line7089

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