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Here's How You Can Help Victims Of Montreal's Pit Bull Ban
Thousands of lives need saving.
By Christian Cotroneo
Reversed Rescue
Montreal just put hundreds of shelter dogs on notice: Get out of the city now or get put down.
The Canadian city's new law, which was passed on Tuesday, is a terrifying ultimatum for animals whose only crime is being born a pit bull - loosely defined as American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American pit bull terriers or any mix of these breeds.
Since the story broke, hundreds of individuals and rescue groups across Canada and the U.S. have been asking the same question:
It turns out there are a lot of ways to save these dogs. But not a lot of time. By October 3, just days from now, the legislation will prevent any pit bull from being adopted from the city's shelters.
Sign this. Just sign it.
Time and time again we've seen the power of petitions in action.
A dog who was seized by animal control in Ireland for looking like a bully breed was only returned to his family after more than 300,000 people signed a petition begging for his release. The pressure exerted on the Belfast city council was cited as a major factor in saving Hank the so-called pit bull's life.
Leonard Collins
Letter writing works too. Just ask Herbert Blake, the police chief in Hendersonville, North Carolina. One January day, he woke up to around 450 emails from people across the globe demanding he look into a situation involving a badly neglected dog.
Blake went directly from his computer to the dog owner's address. And not long after that, the long-suffering animal was rescued.
So far, nearly 150,000 people have signed a petition demanding the Montreal pit bull ban be repealed.
Add your name to it right now.
Also, here's a sample letter you can send to Montreal lawmakers demanding the law's repeal. Just copy and paste that letter to Montreal government officials. You can find a complete list of their email addresses here.
Buy these dogs more time
Since the ban was passed, the Montreal SPCA has asked the Quebec Superior Court to review the law in hopes of having it declared illegal.
Targeting a specific type of dog, the organization argues, is discriminatory.
The organization filed this week for an emergency injunction, essentially asking the court to suspend the ban until the full legal case is heard - which could be months from now.
"If our injunction is granted," Alanna Devine, advocacy director at the Montreal SPCA, tells The Dodo, "it would put the brakes on everything."
But, she admits, getting that injunction will be "a bit of an uphill battle."
The earliest the group could get a judge to hear the case for an injunction is Monday - the same day the ban takes effect. But if the judge sides with the SPCA, the new law will be suspended immediately.
In the meantime, the SPCA needs all the support it can get. If you think you can help transport or give homes to dogs outside of Quebec, get in touch with Tammie Benoit of the Montreal SPCA at tbenoit@spcamontreal.com.
To support the Montreal SPCA's fight against this unfair law make a donation here:
SPCA de Montréal on CrowdRise
Support rescues on the ground
The four volunteers who make up One Last Chance Animal Rescue Team (OLCART) saw the writing on the wall months ago. Since the specter of a ban reared its head in the city, the group has been organizing an exodus of pit bulls from Montreal to pit-bull-friendly parts of Canada - from Saskatchewan to the Maritimes.
One Last Chance Animal Rescue
Now, just days away from pit bulls being locked down in Montreal, the group is racing to get as many dogs out of the city as it can. So far, they have removed around 30 dogs from city shelters, all of them with high rates of euthanasia.
"Our mission right now is to get all of those dogs out, because they will not be allowed to be adopted," Carolynn Williams, of One Last Chance, tells The Dodo. "So, that is our main priority right now."
And people have responded in a big way to the group's efforts. Its GoFundMe page, set up to help fund the operation, has exploded in a single day.
"We set a limit of $5,000," Williams says. "We're up to almost $10,000 which is going to help so many dogs."
"The support has been absolutely unbelievable. We're actually blown away," she says. "We're getting messages from all over the world."
But the clock is ticking. Support the efforts of One Last Chance Animal Rescue here.
Get behind an airlift
Paul Steklenski of Flying Fur Animal Rescue flies hundreds of dogs every year from shelters to rescue groups. He's willing to make as many flights as it takes to get Montreal's refugees to safety.
"These dogs do not deserve to be failed by humans and by breed labeling," Steklenski tells The Dodo. "If we can help, we will."
Flying Fur Animal Rescue
But he can't do it alone. Steklenski needs rescue groups on both sides of the border to help coordinate the airlift.
"There are many, many rescues within 100 miles of me," he says. "If they can take dogs, I can work out the transportation part."
If you belong to a rescue group that can help, email Steklenski at info@flyingfur.org. And, if you just want to support the airlift, follow Flying Fur's Facebook page for details on how to help or make a direct donation here.
Save lives closer to home
Breed bans are not just Montreal's problem. In fact, breed-specific legislation (BSL) tears families apart in jurisdictions across North America and much of Europe. In fact, more than 700 U.S. cities have enacted breed-specific laws. And in the Canadian province of Ontario, a ban has been in place for the last 11 years - and widely considered a complete failure.
But as a result of these bans, pit bulls find themselves disproportionately represented at animal shelters.
Consider giving one of these dogs the life she deserves by visiting Adopt-a-Pet.com.
In the meantime, everyone needs to stand up to Montreal's draconian measure. Too many innocent lives hang in the balance.
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How Acts 29 Survived—and Thrived—After the Collapse of Mars Hill
December 5, 2017 | Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra
Acts 29: Churches Planting Churches
It didn’t take long for Ryan Kwon to realize why the Acts 29 event seemed weird.
“Everybody looked the same,” he remembers of a 2009 regional conference. “I don’t know if it was a lumberjack look or the Seattle grunge scene, but everybody had facial hair and wore plaids.”
Kwon was there to be assessed in order to join the network as a church planter in California. “I was drawn into Acts 29 through [former president] Mark Driscoll and his teaching and his personality,” he said. “I’d never met him, but I knew who he was and what he was about.”
But Kwon was 40, and didn’t have any facial hair.
“I knew that wasn’t going to be a great fit,” he says with a laugh. “Also, I don’t love wearing plaids.”
But it wasn’t the fashion that bothered him so much as the language. “So many were talking the same—a sophomoric, brash harshness.”
He made it through the assessment but was so turned off by the “spirit of immaturity” and so worried about the “cult of personality” around Driscoll that he turned down the opportunity.
Three years later, he had planted a thriving, multicultural, multigenerational church in the hard spiritual soil of the San Francisco Bay area. He got another call from Acts 29—this time asking him humbly to be a part of the network.
It was 2013, and Acts 29 had just moved underneath the leadership of pastor Matt Chandler.
“I started to see immediate change in the sense of how we were dealing with and talking to each other,” Kwon said. And “I felt there was a sweetness and a level of grace in how we talked about churches outside of the network.”
But that was only part of the change. Over the next four years, Acts 29 would shift from an American-based network to a “diverse global family of church-planting churches,” distribute power from a single board to 11 networks, add financial accountability, streamline systems, and make more room for ethnic minorities and women.
Acts 29 Global Gathering 2017
“It was time for us to leave puberty and grow up to the things the Lord has called us to,” Chandler said.
It feels like they’ve done that. This summer, nearly 1,000 people from 33 countries gathered at the inaugural Acts 29 global gathering, a biennial event meant to anchor the Acts 29 calendar. Attendees—white, black, and brown, men and women—celebrated Acts 29’s 645 churches in 11 networks and announced the launch of a new Middle East region. The network—with a clear, solid structure and with a spirit of grace and humility—felt healthy.
“Honestly, this is a new Acts 29 in a lot of ways,” Kwon said. “It’s a story worth knowing. Because it’s not Acts 29’s story; it’s God’s story.”
Acts 29 1.0
It was no accident that in the early days, Acts 29 (named after the desire to be part of the continuing story of the early church) planters channeled Driscoll’s boldness and blue jeans.
The megachurch pastor was the front man for the church-planting network founded by his mentor David Nicholas, taking over as president around 2005 and moving the headquarters from Nicholas’s church in Boca Raton, Florida, to Mars Hill Church in Seattle. There it was housed in Mars Hill’s offices and primarily funded by its income.
Driscoll’s direct style of communication, charismatic personality, and stunning success with his own church drew young planters who “were serious about the Bible but didn’t feel at home in the rigid Reformed world,” Chandler said.
Chandler was one of them. Well on his way to growing his own megachurch in a Dallas suburb, he was interested enough in Acts 29’s 98 percent church-viability rate to send his youth pastor to check it out. Soon after, Driscoll asked Chandler to come on board.
Matt Chandler
“It was an invitation to help build a world for those serious about theology but not crusty about it,” Chandler said. “That might sound harsh today, but 12 years ago I certainly couldn’t find that world. I was Reformed in soteriology, and I was complementarian, but I also believed in the gifts of the Spirit.”
Unable to fit cleanly into any camp, he found in Acts 29 a theological home, a passion for advancing the gospel through planting churches, and a brotherhood of “guys who were serious about big-God theology.”
That brotherhood was also really young—at 28 years old, Chandler was older than most. And it showed.
“It was like the wild, wild west,” he said. “When you’re young and your churches are primarily small, it is easy to misunderstand, to not be gracious, and to create straw men to attack and tear down.”
Some of that character was patterned after Driscoll’s confrontational style, which was also part of his magnetism. By 2012, Acts 29 had grown to more than 400 churches, with another 400 applying to join.
The trouble with the wild west is, it’s wild.
“There was a kind of looseness that led to some real frustrations that needed to be fixed,” Chandler said. The focus had begun to slip; the “young bucks were more apt to gather around and argue about definitive atonement than they were to plant churches.”
Finances were also loose. Mars Hill didn’t ask for money, instead saying that planters could give when they could. But church planters aren’t raking in cash; given the option, they’ll spend their funding elsewhere. That left Mars Hill footing the bill and feeling frustrated.
And authority ran a little like a rubber band, loosening and tightening in seemingly random ways. “There was a lot of mistrust, even when I became president,” Chandler said. “There was a massive amount of skepticism about what was going to be true.”
Driscoll saw the weaknesses, and knew he wasn’t the person to fix them, Chandler said. Driscoll was also starting to attract more controversy, drawing regular fire over his impulsive language and attitude toward women, and apologizing again and again.
So in the spring of 2012, Driscoll met with Chandler and Acts 29 vice president Darrin Patrick. Patrick had his hands full with health concerns and his growing church, but Chandler was splitting lead pastor responsibilities with a team of two other men, and could add the responsibility. So Driscoll handed the network over to Chandler.
“I was anxious about taking it because I thought it would lead to conflict between Mark and I,” Chandler said. “But Mark was adamant that he was for me, that he was supportive of me, and that he would come behind me. And to his credit, he did that every step of the way.”
Chandler applied immediate triage, laying out four clear hopes for the future—a renewed focus on churches planting churches, a reputation for holiness and humility, ethnic diversity, and bold evangelism.
Then he sat down with everyone who had been hurt: black, Asian, and Latino planters who felt pushed to the side; global partners who felt overlooked; and those—like Kwon—who had been too turned off to join in the first place.
“I was trying to wrap my mind around the people factor first,” Chandler said. “We could deal with the systems and finances once I got a good picture of what was going on in the hearts and minds of the people.”
Chandler “came in with humility and a sense of genuineness,” said Dwayne Bond, who joined Acts 29 in 2007. “He was willing to listen. He didn’t come to the table with all the answers. He came in broken-hearted yet hopeful, trying to figure out how God could continue to get glory from the purpose and vision of the network.”
Dwayne Bond
Right away, Acts 29 began to reflect that humility.
The retreats became more humble and gracious, Kwon said. “You sense that immediately in the environment. It’s not just about having answers, but about asking questions.”
Assessing potential planters, which “used to be done in a hard-core tone, to beat them up,” also changed, said Acts 29 planter Jeff Medders, who now helps lead assessment conferences.
Those interviews were a top priority “because [the process] had scarred some brothers,” Chandler said. “Unqualified men who lacked discernment and tact were being asked to assess. They would take their pet theology or ideology and really beat up a guy over a matter of secondary importance.”
Under the direction of Matthew Spriggs, assessments became “more robust”—a two-hour interaction now takes two full days, the process includes not just the planter but also his family, and assessors are trained. But they’re also gentler, Medders said. (“That was one of the best experiences I have ever had,” one planter, who did not pass, told Acts 29. “It was a great moment of reflection.”)
In addition, there began to be more room for those who weren’t white males.
“I wanted to create a home for young men of whatever ethnicity to be theologically educated and informed, trained in an environment that’s sensitive to their culture and understanding of background and context,” Chandler said. “I wanted to support them, empower them, and release them to plant gospel-centered, Jesus-loving, Bible-preaching churches.”
Eric Mason (right) sorts out Acts 29 board member Doug Logan’s bowtie at the global gathering.
The Acts 29 board of nine now includes two non-Americans; and of the Americans, three are minorities. Three years ago, the biannual network leaders’ meeting was almost entirely American. Last month’s meeting also included Canada, South Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Australia.
Gloria Furman speaks at the Acts 29 global gathering
The attitude toward women—which could dip into a harsh patriarchy—also eased. Acts 29 is still complementarian, but at the 2013 Acts 29 pastors retreat, for the first time a woman joined her husband on stage to lead the worship. Acts 29 began hiring women for key staff positions; Yvette Mason, Chandra Howard, Kimberley Merida, and Gloria Furman had main speaking slots at the global gathering this summer.
The network didn’t lose a single church over those changes, Chandler said. But they did lose some when he reminded them that their purpose was not just to be a church plant, but to plant churches that plant churches.
They lost a few more by requiring member churches to give 1 percent of their income to Acts 29, both to support operations and to also help fund new plants around the world.
But even though Chandler said they kept “bracing for the floor to drop out” from under them, Acts 29 never did see a big exodus.
Even when Driscoll resigned from ministry, and their primary source of funding—Mars Hill Church—disappeared.
Losing Mars Hill
“We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that it is nothing less than a miracle that Acts 29 did not go down with Mars Hill,” said Acts 29 CEO Steve Timmis.
Driscoll was not only instrumental in “but also the personality of Acts 29,” Kwon said. So when Driscoll’s controversies started piling up, the board “publicly and internally tried to support and give [Driscoll] the benefit of the doubt,” they stated in 2014.
We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that it is nothing less than a miracle that Acts 29 did not go down with Mars Hill.
But “based on the totality of the circumstances, we are now asking you to please step down from ministry for an extended time and seek help,” they wrote. “Consequently, we also feel that we have no alternative but to remove you and Mars Hill from membership in Acts 29.”
The Acts 29 brotherhood was hurt and confused, some by Driscoll’s actions, some by the board’s rejection of him. So leaders opened up town hall meetings, telling the people to ask anything they wanted.
“Everyone asked really honest questions, and what was more important, they heard really honest answers,” Kwon said, “answers of brokenness, of grief. Answers that were really saturated in grace and longing for our brother Mark. He was not our enemy; he was a fallen brother.”
That kindness and openness did a lot to earn leaders the trust of pastors, and to soften and humble the entire network, Kwon said.
Remarkably, not a single church left. In fact, in the tumultuous and traumatic 2014, Acts 29 welcomed 78 new members, 71 new candidates, and 145 new applications.
The fact that Acts 29 survived the implosion was “a miraculous thing,” Kwon said. “I can’t articulate it beyond the fact that I recognize it is by the grace of God—and the grace of God alone.”
After Driscoll stepped down from ministry, his 12,000-member church—and the majority of Acts 29’s funding—came to a crashing halt.
Two months after asking Driscoll and Mars Hill to leave, and two months before the megachurch officially dissolved, Acts 29 announced the mandatory 1 percent contribution to what became known as the Catalyst Fund, which would fund operations and new plants. Two months later, they held their first big fundraiser.
“The income necessary to fund these ambitions ($3 million in fiscal year 2015) is not guaranteed,” Acts 29’s 2014 annual report stated. “We need prayer and action to secure it.”
They got it. The fundraiser brought in more than $1 million, and the Catalyst Fund brought in the rest. By 2017, the Catalyst Fund was expected to supply all of Acts 29’s expected $2.2 million operational and ministry expenditures. (Projected costs overran that total by $575,000, but will be covered by reserves or donors, chief financial officer Steve Johnson wrote.)
The annual report and budget were part of the structures added in order to corral the network, including audited accounts, a human resources department, and finance staff.
But the biggest structural changes for Acts 29 came after a meeting in Newport Beach, California.
Diverse Global Family
A week before the June 2013 meeting, Chandler sent Timmis a new organizational chart for Acts 29.
Timmis didn’t like it.
“I was troubled because it seemed U.S.-centric,” said Timmis, who was at that time leading the Western European network. “I got up at 4 a.m. the next day and wrote a response. I said, ‘Matt, if you go down this route, then there’s no real place for us as a non-U.S. network.’”
Chandler didn’t respond, and Timmis resigned himself to how things were going to be. When Chandler presented the chart to a room of 50 Acts 29 leaders and asked for agreement, Timmis’s hand was the only one that didn’t go up. (“I was the only non-American there,” he said.)
“Come on, Steve, tell us why you aren’t happy with it,” Chandler said, with a little smile.
Steve Timmis and Matt Chandler
So the Englishman explained that an organizational chart that focused on the United States could never be anything besides an American network with, at best, global interests or partners. He said that it didn’t resonate with what he knew was the desire of the leadership. He pointed to a key verse, Habakkuk 2:14, which says that “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” “Any gospel ambition has to be global,” he said.
In five minutes, the direction of Acts 29 effectively changed.
“It changed to such an extent that it can only be attributed to the work of the Holy Spirit,” Timmis said. “In 37 years of ministry, I had never experienced anything like it.”
The question Chandler asked kick-started an hour-long discussion, which prompted a request for an alternative organizational chart. Three days later, a small team—including Timmis and board member Leonce Crump—offered a model that placed American leaders next to, not over, leaders that would emerge from around the world. The board approved it unanimously, committed to making it happen, and invited Timmis to join them.
The contextualization of local leaders also helped Acts 29 lose the American focus. Today, a quarter of Acts 29 churches are outside the United States.
The next year, Timmis was hired as Acts 29’s executive director, and the headquarters were moved from Dallas, Texas, to Sheffield, England.
One of the most important changes he proposed—and the board approved—was to slice up their power and responsibility, spreading it out among multiple geographic networks across the globe, including five in the United States.
So now, if a potential planter needs to be assessed, or if a hurt or angry pastor has a grievance or needs support, he can turn first to those in his area or network.
“That was one of the biggest shifts,” Kwon said. “Not only did that make Acts 29 leadership much more accessible, but they knew the churches and had better relationships with them.”
Another huge advantage: it “naturally creates opportunity for leadership and maturation,” Bond said. “If you have 11 network directors, then you have 11 people who could possibly lead this whole thing.”
The contextualization of local leaders also helped Acts 29 lose the American focus. Today, a quarter of Acts 29 churches are outside the United States “and growing at a healthy pace,” Timmis said.
“I don’t ever want to do that again,” Chandler says of leading Acts 29 through five fast years of major changes. “I can’t overstate the hard work and faithfulness of Steve Timmis. None of this happens without his savvy, his ability to absorb accusations that weren’t tied to him. We took a beating for more than two years for things we didn’t have any part of.”
The change is so stark that leadership talks in terms of “Acts 29 1.0” and “Acts 29 2.0,” Timmis said. “We are different from the early version, but we want to honor all that the Lord did through it, which was significant.”
Acts 29 has always been entrepreneurial, has always attracted men with a passion to see Jesus’s name made known, he said in a recent video. “We’ve really tried . . . to take that history, that heritage, and make it even more so.”
The efforts paid off in the global gathering this summer. “It was really the first tangible experience for people of what we mean by a diverse, global family,” he said. “The change from an annual pastors’ retreat to the global gathering was profoundly indicative of the change that has taken place. It’s difficult to overstate the significance.”
Global Gathering 2017
At the gathering, the network announced a new region—the Middle East—and a new focus on collaborating with other organizations to plant among the urban poor, in rural communities, and in Islamic contexts.
On the whole, the transition hasn’t been easy, and “those in the U.S. networks need to be applauded for their humility and patience as the feel of the family has really changed for them,” said Ross Lester, former Acts 29 network director for southern Africa. “The fruit is obvious, though. Acts 29 is now truly becoming a diverse and global family and it feels that way.”
The “chest thumping” and “fist bumping” are gone, replaced with “cross-cultural fondness, affection, and warm embrace,” he said. “I truly believe that the organization is healthier than it has ever been, and is well-positioned for ongoing advance across the globe.”
Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra is senior writer for The Gospel Coalition. She earned her master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.
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Acts 29 • Church Planting
3 Ways Church Planting Will Test Your Patience
July 16, 2019 | Jim Essian
What Can We Learn from the Fall of Mars Hill Church?
May 31, 2017 | Jared C. Wilson
Must Church Planters Be Entrepreneurs?
July 11, 2019 | Tony Merida • Brian Howard
Pastor, Your Relationships Are Not Secondary
June 20, 2019 | Tony Merida • Lucas Parks
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After hiring of Toni Kukoc, Scottie Pippen sits out last 1.8 seconds of Bulls staff meeting
Over the weekend, the Bulls announced the hiring of Toni Kukoc as a special advisor to team president Michael Reinsdorf. Kukoc, who was a key member of team’s last three championships in the 1990s, will have a wide range of responsibilities, from relating to international players to talking to business partners and fans.
Former teammate Scottie Pippen, who has been in a similar role with the team since 2012, was none too happy to hear of Kukoc’s hiring. As a form of protest, Pippen sat out the last 1.8 seconds of the team’s regular Monday morning staff meeting at the United Center.
“No way is this dude going to overshadow me again,” said Pippen. “If we’re going to close a deal with an international prospect, I’m taking the final shot, no questions asked.”
After storming out of the staff meeting, Pippen was spotted at a downtown Chicago eatery, where he left the waiter a 1.8 percent tip.
Aug 18, 2015 Jeremy Barewin
Jeremy Barewin
I'm just a funny guy who loves to hate on Chicago sports, despite my love of Chicago sports ... it's more fun that way!
3 years ago Breaking!, Bulls, Chicago, Illinois, Midwest, NBA
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Travelling Times
Time to travel and see more
Cheaper Holidays in Greece
Despite the regular protests in Athens, the millions of Britons who spend their holidays in Greece are set for safe, less expensive breaks — though flexibility should be built in to travel plans.
It may have again turned violent in the centre of the Greek capital, but most holidaymakers will have been totally oblivious to the protests. Summer bookings are well up on last year after a host of incentives to attract more visitors to Greece and its islands and to provide a much-needed boost to the beleaguered Greek economy.
It is certainly wise to be aware of possible strike plans and avoid the centre of Athens during protests, as they can turn violent. Strikes can also cause travel disruption if they affect public transport, flights or ferry services, as they often do, depending on who takes part in the work stoppages. The latest nationwide action left flights into and across Greece unaffected as air traffic controllers did not walk out, but it is wise to ask travel agents or hotel operators about possible strike plans.
The economic crisis and austerity measures have made life more difficult for most ordinary Greeks, who have seen their pay cut and taxes rise, but it has also resulted in better deals and some bargains for holidaymakers.
To boost the key tourism sector and attract more tourists, the Government has already reduced the VAT rate charged on holiday accommodation and axed all landing fees at airports in the islands, making it cheaper for scheduled and charter flight operators, who should pass on the savings to visitors.
Labels: greece
Places to go in New York State
By Elena Price
So you’ve seen the Big Apple, but we all know that New York is as much a State as a city. So, what great treasures does the state itself have that the city just can’t compare to?
New York Sate Museum
One of the best things to see in New York State is the State Museum. The Museum houses some very fine examples that portray the history of the area very well. Some of its most interesting exhibitions are ones on the World Trade centre and on the beginnings of New York. There is also a very interesting exhibition on the emigrants who arrived and how and where they settled as well as a very informative exhibition on the Jews and the Holocaust.
The museum also has a selection of other artefacts, including Cohoes Mastodon, a working carousel from Cuba and Niagara Falls daredevil barrels used to cross the great waterfall. Run by the states department of education, it’s certainly a great place to visit with children.
Flights to New York are increasingly popular for both business and leisure travellers from the Middle East attracted by the financial rewards and cosmopolitan lifestyle that this captivating city offers. Etihad operates non stop flights to New York from Abu Dhabi which also serves as scheduled direct flight to New York City NYC from Dubai
If you do visit New York State and end up in Albany a must see and a certainty to gather your awe is the New York State Capitol. The building took four decades to build and is one of the finest examples of 19th century architecture in all of the United States. Tours of the building are free and are definitely worth waiting for, if only to see the grandeur of the wood panelled rooms and the Million Dollar Staircase in the lobby.
Niagara Falls in upstate New York offers visitors the chance to see one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The city of Niagara Falls shares its name and the natural wonder with the Canadian city of the same name. The two huge waterfalls combine to make the most powerful waterfalls in North America. The drop of up to 53m and a width of 790m ; as you can imagine, offers a great view and is a must see if in New York State. At peak times the fall pushes 202,000 cubic feet of water per second over the edge.
People who love the great outdoors will be delighted to hear of Adirondack Park. The park which is a similar size in area to the state of Vermont is situated in the north east of the state and covers 6.1m acres.
It is home plenty of American animals, including the beaver, the moose, the lynx and osprey and there is a continuous effort being made to reintroduce animals and fauna lost during exploitation of natural recourses during the last few centuries. The area has 3,000 lakes and 30,000 miles of streams and is the largest trekking area in all of the United States. The park is a beautiful place and a great area to get some fresh air and see the beauty of the world.
A visit to the State of New York is a fantastic experience for its own reason and also as it takes the onus of the city and shows all the beauty and wonderment in the state itself.
Labels: new york
Rhine In Flames
For a firework display with a difference, the Rhine In Flames certainly leaves the others in the shade set against the beautiful setting of the UNESCO listed Middle Rhine Valley.
Not only will colourful fireworks fill the night sky, you’ll see illuminated ships, burning medieval castles and the route along The Rhine is lined with 2000 Bengal Town Fire Lights. Breath-taking acoustics and beautiful backdrops add to the atmosphere but be prepared for the thunderous roar of the firecrackers – they may make you jump!
An affordable way to see this spectacle is to book one of the series of coach holidays arranged by Door 2 Tour. Find out more details here http://www.door2tour.com/events/rhine-in-flames.aspx
Caoch tours to see the Rhine in Flames operate between May-September 201
Labels: coach holidays, rhine
New Devon Dub Fest Helping Cancer Kiddies
The phenomenon of 'VW festivals' has been well established in Britain for some time. These typically combine a car show of vintage and tricked out Volkswagen cars and vans with the more traditional festival fare of music, plastic cups of beer and food stalls.
Devon Dub Fest is the latest addition to the VW themed summer festival theme. Held at Crealy Adventure Park near Exeter, this one will have something of a difference in that all of the profits are being donated to cancer charity CLIC Sargent.
CLIC Sargent were formed in 2005 with the merging of two leading children's cancer charities. Their work is about helping children with cancer and their families. This is both for kids who are in hospital, but also out in the wider community.
The Devon Dub Fest is all set for 15th to 17th July, but the deadline to buy tickets is Monday 27th June. Weekend camping tickets are just £25, which includes a diverse range of entertainments. Zorbing and paintballing are available and there is a music program that includes festival Ska favourites Melosa and a silent disco.
Of course the real centre piece of the even is the 'Show and Shine' where owners of nice examples of VW cars and vans can exhibit their pride and joys for the whole world to see. You have to pre--register if you want to enter your 'dub. Details are up on their website.
Travel Time features articles and content submitted by guest authors who are happy to share both their adventures and travel disasters. Occasionally guest posts are submitted by staff from media organisations that will sometimes mention their work projects. These articles are not written to promote, but are designed to offer suggestions to help visitors make informed decisions.
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Jerome Middlebrook
Pastor Jerome Middlebrook of Orlando, Fla., formerly of New Jersey, died Friday, Aug. 24, 2012 at home. He was 67.
Born in Newark, N.J., Jerome was educated in the Newark Public School System.
He was employed as a carpenter with Carpenters Local 251 Edison, N.J.
He was the founding pastor of New Hope Pentecostal Church in Burlington.
Preceded in death by his parents, William and Ruby Hill, he is survived by his wife, Doreen Middlebrook, two daughters, Sherry Daye (Melvin) of Rahway and Jeri Middlebrook of Lawrence, three stepsons: D'Vaughn Potter of Delran, Robert Potter Jr. of Florida, and Brandon Potter of Florida, one brother, Andrew Hill of Detroit, two grandchildren, Tony Dickerson and Cerise Dickerson both of Rahway, N.J., and other relatives and friends.
Funeral Services will be Friday, Aug. 31, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Faith Deliverance Worship Center, 1304 Route 130 North, Burlington, N.J. Interment will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery Burlington, N.J.
Calling hours will be Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. the church. Campbell Funeral Home,
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Lawrence Wittner
The accession of Donald Trump to the US presidency brings us face-to-face with a question that many have tried to avoid since 1945: Should anyone have the right to plunge the world into a nuclear holocaust?
Trump, of course, is an unusually angry, vindictive, and mentally unstable American president. Therefore, given the fact that, acting totally on his own, he can launch a nuclear war, we have entered a very perilous time. The US government possesses approximately 6,800 nuclear weapons, many of them on hair-trigger alert. Moreover, the United States is but one of nine nations that, in total, possess nearly 15,000 nuclear weapons. This nuclear weapons cornucopia is more than enough to destroy virtually all life on earth. Furthermore, even a small-scale nuclear war would produce a human catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. Not surprisingly, then, Trump’s loose statements about building and using nuclear weapons have horrified observers.
In an apparent attempt to rein in America’s new, erratic White House occupant, Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) and Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) recently introduced federal legislation to require Congress to declare war before a US president could authorize nuclear weapons strikes. The only exception would be in response to a nuclear attack. Peace groups are rallying around this legislation and, in a major editorial, the New York Times endorsed it, noting that it “sends a clear message to Mr. Trump that he should not be the first since World War II to use nuclear weapons.”
But, even in the unlikely event that the Markey-Lieu legislation is passed by the Republican Congress, it does not address the broader problem: the ability of the officials of nuclear-armed nations to launch a catastrophic nuclear war. “Nuclear deterrence,” as national security experts have known for decades, might serve to inhibit the aggressive impulses of top government officials in some cases, but surely not in all of them.
Ultimately, then, the only long-term solution to the problem of national leaders launching a nuclear war is to get rid of the weapons.
This was the justification for the nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1968, which constituted a bargain between two groups of nations.
Although the NPT did discourage proliferation to most non-nuclear countries and did lead the major nuclear powers to destroy a substantial portion of their nuclear arsenals, the allure of nuclear weapons remained, at least for some power-hungry nations. Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea developed nuclear arsenals, while the United States, Russia, and other nuclear nations gradually backed away from disarmament.
Angered by the collapse of progress toward a nuclear weapons-free world, civil society organizations and non-nuclear nations joined together to press for the adoption of an international treaty banning nuclear weapons, much like the treaties already in place that ban chemical weapons, landmines, and cluster bombs. If such a nuclear ban treaty were adopted, they argued, it would not itself eliminate nuclear weapons, for the nuclear powers could refuse to sign or comply with it. But it would make possession of nuclear weapons illegal under international law and, therefore put pressure on nations to fall into line with the rest of the world community.
This campaign came to a head in October 2016, when the member states of the United Nations voted on a proposal to begin negotiations for a treaty to ban nuclear weapons.
Given the past performance of the nuclear powers and their eagerness to cling to their nuclear weapons, it seems unlikely that they will participate in the UN negotiations or, if a treaty is negotiated and signed, will be among the signatories. Even so, the people of their nations and of all nations would gain immensely from an international ban on nuclear weapons?a measure that, once in place, would begin the process of stripping national officials of their unwarranted authority and ability to launch a catastrophic nuclear war.
This article has been excerpted from: ‘Why Should Trump – or Anyone – Be Able to Launch a Nuclear War?’
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A 6-foot-4 guard from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Fultz chose the Huskies over offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Arizona and other elite programs. He prepped at East Coast powerhouse DeMatha Catholic High School, playing junior varsity as a 5-9 sophomore before moving to varsity as a junior and winning the league’s player of the year award. By his senior year of high school, he was a five-star recruit and perhaps the country’s most touted guard prospect.
His commitment to a struggling UW program surprised many, but the Huskies were one of the first power-conference schools to recognize his potential and offer him a scholarship. Fultz appreciated such loyalty, developed strong relationships with Romar and assistant coach Raphael Chillious — his primary recruiter — and says he never regretted his decision to play for the Huskies, even as they finished this season on a school-record 13-game losing streak.
“Of course, it hasn’t gone how I wanted it to go, but I’m happy,” Fultz said after Wednesday’s loss. “I’ve got brothers on this team. We stick together, even going through all that. I’ve built many, many relationships that are going to be with me forever.”
Fultz missed six of UW’s final eight games — and the last four in a row — because of a sore knee. In the 25 games he played, Fultz was mostly phenomenal, averaging 23.2 points, 5.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds, with 41.3 percent shooting from 3-point range.
He set UW’s freshman scoring record with 579 points, and his per-game scoring average ranks second in UW single-season history. He was voted first-team All-Pac-12, and is one of 15 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, given annually to the nation’s top player.
Fultz has a chance to be the highest-drafted player in school history, an honor currently held by Bob Houbregs, who was selected No. 3 overall in 1953. DraftExpress and NBADraft.net both project Fultz to be the No. 1 pick.
But that is a source of frustration for many fans who have grown weary of watching Huskies players get drafted in the first round despite a lack of success during their UW careers.
Fultz is expected to be UW’s sixth first-round pick in the last six years, joining Marquese Chriss (2016), Dejounte Murray (2016), C.J. Wilcox (2014), Terrence Ross (2012) and Tony Wroten (2012). The Huskies haven’t made a single NCAA Tournament in that time.
Fultz is the fifth player under Romar to leave for the draft after one season, and the fourth in the last six years. Each of the previous four — Chriss, Murray, Wroten and Spencer Hawes — were selected in the first round.
“The last three years of Markelle Fultz’s basketball career have been nothing short of amazing,” Romar said in a statement released by the school. “He has made one of the quickest improvements of any athlete I’ve seen in a long time. Markelle has decided to enter the NBA draft and we totally support his decision.
“We appreciate him giving his all, on and off the court, while he was part of our program, and I will enjoy watching him play for many years to come. Even though he was only here for a short time, I truly believe he will be a Husky for life, and that started before he even enrolled at UW, as he went and supported our women’s team last year in the postseason in Maryland. We wish him the best of luck and look forward to following what will likely be an exciting career.”
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Thomas aims at No. 1 career scorer | The Olympian
Preps Stats
Thomas aims at No. 1 career scorer
DON RUIZ; Staff writer
LOS ANGELES - Washington junior Isaiah Thomas' 17 point performance Friday at UCLA launched him past four former Huskies and into 16th place on the school's all-time scoring list.
One of the players he passed was Paul Fortier, now a UW assistant.
“I just congratulated him,” Fortier said. “I knew he was coming up there because I knew the other names that he was coming up to. I knew I was a name as well. I’m happy for Isaiah. As I told him after in the locker room, I’m happy that he passed me. He’s a great person.”
Fortier played from 1983-86. Three of his teams advanced to the NCAA tournament. In his senior season, he served as team captain and averaged 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds.
He said he was unaware of passing Fortier until the coach told him. And he made clear that he has a higher target in mind.
“He just said something in the locker room,” Thomas said. “ ‘I’m coming for that No. 1 spot.’ That’s what I told him.”
Washington’s career scoring leader is Chris Welp, who scored 2,073 points from 1984-87.
GETTING TECHNICAL
Justin Holiday is a senior and a UW co-captain. But he picked up an uncharacteristic technical foul midway through the first half Friday, immediately after nailing a 3-pointer from in front of the UCLA bench.
“I was talking, that’s all I can say,” Holiday said. “I will admit I was talking. I wanted to get the win. It was selfish on my part. But we still won, thank God.”
If the technical foul call was surprising, Holiday said coach Lorenzo Romar’s displeasure was not.
“I knew,” he said. “If you’d seen when they blew the whistle, if you could see me I was like, ‘Here comes Romar.’ I already knew.”
The game had special meaning to Holiday, who is a Los Angeles native. And like everyone else on the UW roster, he had never won at UCLA.
“I’m speechless right now,” he said. “I’m just glad we did it as a team. It’s the way we did it that I’m most happy about. We’re going in the right direction.”
Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808 don.ruiz@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/uwsports
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Centers >> California >> Ventura
Ventura Addiction Treatment Centers See Additional Ventura Listings
Featured Rehab Centers in Ventura
Addiction and the Quest for Recovery Solutions in Ventura, California
The name “Ventura” conjures up visions of outdoorsy types trekking the coast and mountains and riding the surf, reveling in the natural spectacles the local landscape so generously provides. And a haven for nature lovers it is: With the Pacific Ocean to the west and the hiking trails of Los Padres State Park to the east there’s plenty to occupy cyclists, hikers, surfers, fishers, sailors. The California city being home to the Patagonia Outdoor Clothing & Gear Company, explorers can also count on being well-outfitted.
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County and was first settled by Europeans after the Mission San Buenaventura was established nearby in 1782. The town had the name Buenaventura at the time of its incorporation in 1866. It now forms part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
The population of the city was last reported as 109,484, and denizens appear to be prosperous. Ventura county has median household and per capita incomes higher than the national average, the poverty level is nearly three percentage points below the national average, and the unemployment rate is unusually low.
http://elevation.maplogs.com/poi/co_rd_west_sacramento_ca_usa.63961.html
If you live in Ventura and have fallen victim to substance abuse don’t hesitate to seek treatment. There are enormous resources in at your disposal.
What about drugs in Ventura?
Ventura isn’t part of a HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) as are many other counties in California, but the jury is still out on how serious the substance abuse problem is there.
In 2016 the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that the number of opioid deaths had fallen by 23 percent and overdose deaths from all drugs had dropped by 12 percent. It seemed as if the trend was moving in the opposite direction from the rest of the country, in which the number of substance abuse overdose deaths just keeps rising.
Many credit the drug naloxone for the reversing statistics. This drug if administered in time, can stop an overdose from becoming deadly by blocking the brain receptors that up take opioids. The presence of naloxone kits in the hands of emergency responders, police, medical personnel, and friends and family of addicts has meant that many lives have been saved. But the problem of addiction itself, many report, is as serious as ever. The resources needed to address the problem are sometimes in short supply.
According to the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office last year in Ventura County there were 62 opioid deaths, 27 heroin deaths, and 29 deaths due to methamphetamine. This is lower than 2016 and lower than the national averages—but still too high.
Overdose deaths are still at epidemic levels, and the number of addicts is close to the national average—a problem for which the city and county don’t yet provide an adequate response.
Experts say that if every opioid addict in Ventura County decided to seek treatment at the same time, the county wouldn’t have resources adequate to treat them all. At the moment only about one in five addicts seek help for their addictions, but the ideal scenario would be to have enough treatment facilities so that all could be treated. The main reason for the shortfall is that not enough doctors have taken the specialized training required to prescribe buprenorphine, a medication that helps addicts endure withdrawal. And methadone can only be given by certified treatment programs.
Opioid Epidemic, Opioid Shortage
As often as we bemoan the prevalence of opioids and other drugs on the street, it takes drugs to effectively treat addictions, and Ventura County is just now struggling with shortages of the very medications like morphine, methadone and needed to help addicts detox and recover as well as the stronger opioid painkillers like oxycodone, codeine, and fentanyl, used to help patients manage pain after surgery and to manage pain from chronic illnesses.
The severity of the opioid epidemic in the United States compelled the federal government to impose regulatory limits on the manufacture and supply of opioid painkillers. The well-intentioned limits had two unfortunate effects:
Reducing the amount of injectable opioid painkillers on the market forced opioid addicts to find alternatives on the street—usually heroin, which was sometimes laced with fentanyl illegally imported.
The supply of pain relief medications grew inadequate to needs, and hospitals were forced to pay more for the drugs, buying them from more expensive distribution channels.
The government can’t be entirely to blame for the shortage, as manufacturing issues arrived at the same time to inadequate supplies.
What are opioids and how do they work?
Opioids, a pain relief class of drugs, reduce pain by binding to nerve cells. They’re called “opioids” because they’re derived from poppies, hence are related to opium, or are synthetic versions of chemicals found in poppies. According to Dr. Celia Woods, quality medical director for Ventura County Behavioral Health, patients prescribed these medications for even four or five days are at risk of becoming addicted to them. This presents a dilemma for doctors.
Fentanyl is a synthetic version of opioid, in itself 100 times stronger than morphine and available in forms so strong they can be used to tranquilize elephants. It’s sometimes mixed with heroin, with deadly results. Fentanyl can be manufactured illegally and sold on the street. The Ventura County Chief Medical Examiner reported that last year 22 of the 37 reported opioid deaths were caused by fentanyl.
Oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin, Tylox, Percocet, and Percodan, is the modification of a chemical found in opium.
Heroin, an illegal opioid, is a derivative of poppy seeds.
Hydrocodone, a modification of codeine, is found in Norco, Vicodin, and Lortab.
Law enforcement has taken a tougher, albeit controversial, approach to investigating overdose deaths, treating overdoses as homicides in an effort to trace the fatal drug back to the dealer. This change comes in response to the epic proportions of drug overdose and in an attempt to find some way to stem the flow of dangerous substances.
Critics say that this actually undermines life-saving practices like the Good Samaritan laws, which guarantee that those who report possible overdoses will not themselves be prosecuted if they’re found with drugs at the scene. This law ensures that those nearest the overdose victim will call it in as opposed to remaining silent for fear of criminal prosecution. They also claim that the person who sold the drugs can’t be held entirely to blame for the complex of circumstances leading to an overdose.
Commonly Abused Drugs in Hayward
Listed in order of prominence, based on documented arrests, confiscations and admissions:
Heroin & other opioids including prescription drugs
Other drugs
What’s the drug of choice in Ventura?
No accurate numbers are readily available, but based on the rise in the use of the drug Narcan to prevent overdoses, the favorite drug in Ventura would appear to be heroin, which has replaced the former favorite, methamphetamine.
Marijuana in Ventura
In 2016 recreational marijuana was decriminalized in California. This meant that buying, possessing, or using amounts less than 28.5 gram of regular marijuana became legal except when driving or in a prohibited place.
Medical marijuana had already been available for some time. Patients with a doctor’s recommendation can purchase marijuana from licensed dealers without having to pay sales tax.
Sales of recreational marijuana began this year. If you’re over 21 you can purchase limited amounts of marijuana at dispensaries with temporary state licenses. The dispensaries are only allowed to operate between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Municipalities have the right to make their own rules about the sales of recreational marijuana and even to reject the Proposition 64 completely (which Kern and Shasta counties have already done).
Dispensaries now selling medical marijuana can apply for licenses. Dispensaries that already hold medical licenses can also apply for temporary adult use licenses to sell recreational marijuana if they have the permission of their city. Dispensaries who hold both licenses have to label medical marijuana and recreational marijuana separately and keep separate sales records.
Before shipping marijuana to retailers the product must be tested for mold, bacteria, and pesticides. The stock is also tested for standardized THC and CBD content.
Penalties for Drug Possession and Sales in California
California has two general categories of drug possession:
1). Simple possession
2). Possession with the intent to sell (usually established by large quantities)
Dangerous drugs are distinguished from marijuana, which is not designated a “restricted dangerous drug.”
Until 2014 those sentenced for crimes related to their drug addictions could appeal to the court for sentencing in a drug court, allowing them to get help for the dependency that was fueling their criminal activity. The program was remarkable successful and reduced recidivism. But in 2014 California voters passed Proposition 47, which rendered many possession offenses punishable as misdemeanors only.
Inmates charged with possession (except for sex offenders) who’d been incarcerated before Proposition 47 were allowed to petition the court to change their sentences. This meant that many addicts were released without proper access to addiction treatment and that those who might have benefited from the drug court program were no longer urged to comply, choosing the easier route of fines and probation to actually doing the tough work of kicking the habit.
Has substance abuse become a wrecking ball in your life?
If so, you’re not the only one. Many have trod this road before you, and many have made it to the mountaintop to experience life, peace, and joy in ways they could never have done before addiction threatened to destroy them.
Recovery is a road less travelled, and a means of finding so much meaning in life that escaping reality is no longer a desirable option. We’re ready to help you get there! Many of us have gone the same way and know what you’re facing. But we’re also excited about helping you find the treasures we’ve found ourselves.
Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.
~ Anne Lamott
If you have a loved one whose life is in danger of imploding because of drug dependency, you might consider planning an intervention, especially if the person is in denial despite close brushes with death. On one hand we need to respect the independence of others, but on the other hand an addict has lost their independence already, having handed it over to a cruel and heartless tyrant.
What is Ventura doing to combat its drug problems?
Ventura has been remarkably creative and proactive in addressing the problem of addiction.
Vivitrol: removing cravings
In Ventura County some drug-dependent prison inmates now have access to Vivitrol (also known as naltrexone) in a pilot program. Vivitrol injection blocks the brain’s opioid receptors, preventing the activation of the pleasure response cycle that causes and maintains addiction.
Vivitrol is not addictive itself and has no street value because it doesn’t grant a high (rather it prevents one). It’s a costly drug ($1200 a month as compared to $250 for methadone and $700 for buprenorphine), but one injection lasts for a whole month. Treatment includes ongoing counseling to warn users of the danger of relapse resulting from Vivitrol’s lowering of tolerance for opioids.
Narcan: preventing death
The drug narcan (or naloxone) is now in common use and dosage kits are given to emergency responders, police, and medical personnel and are available without prescription to drug users as well as to their friends and family members who might one day be called on to administer the life-saving drug. It works quickly, bringing on withdrawal symptoms so quickly that paramedics sometimes have to defend themselves against physical attacks from revived patients and police have to prevent the patient from running off in search of more drugs.
Narcan has been accused of enabling further drug use by reducing the fear of death from overdose, but its advocates say that though the drug is no replacement for recovery treatment, it can keep addicts alive until they’re ready to get help.
Syringe exchange: one death is too many
In the fall of 2017 The Ventura County Public Health Department started up a syringe exchange program whose purpose was to reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis as well as to remove used syringes from the environment. They appointed the non-profit Ventura County Rainbow Alliance to operate the program from its office in the city of Ventura.
In order to legalize syringe exchange programs municipalities were called upon to declare public health emergencies in order to justify them. Although the number of deaths from HIV and hepatitis B and C are lower in Ventura County than in most others in the country, Ventura County decided that even one death from these illnesses, if preventable, was one too many. The program includes blood testing, counseling, free condoms, and information about available detox and 12-step programs.
Re-entry Court
The drug court tradition, the highly successful program (for those who complete it) originating in Miami in the nineties and quickly adopted in cities across the country, was forced to take a back seat after Proposition 47 had the unfortunate effect of keeping offenders from getting the recovery treatment they might not have sought on their own. As enrollment for the program dropped drug courts were eventually phased out.
Part of the breach has been filled by re-entry court, a probation program for repeat offenders with addictions who are trying to become responsible citizens. Being sentenced to re-entry court means submitting to blood tests for drug use and being regularly examined by probation officers, lawyers, and treatment providers.
Addiction Recovery Treatment Resources in Ventura
California provides both public and private treatment options, the public resources provided to all residents and the private provided for a fee or paid with insurance. Both public and private service providers must be licensed.
If you’re entering treatment for the first time, there are a number of stages that you can normally expect to go through.
During the assessment phase your degree of dependence is determined and a program begins to form with your needs in mind. You will be questioned by a medical professional, most like a doctor, who will gather your history of drug use. The doctor may also try to find out if you have underlying mental health issues, which in the context of drug addiction are called co-occurring disorders. The doctor may demand that you take a second, more detailed interview with another medical professional, but the initial interview is usually enough and normally takes less than half an hour.
“Intake” is the period in which you’re admitted to a treatment program. Payment arrangements will be made, you’ll be counseled as to what will be expected of you (compliance with the program) and what you can and cannot bring to the facility with you.
Most likely you’ll already have undergone detox, or detoxification, to rid your body of the harmful chemical on which is has become dependent, but if you haven’t gone through detox yet you’ll be required to go through it now, before entering a long-term recovery program. No recovery program can work for those who continue to use drugs, and because sometimes drugs make it into these facilities you’ll be tested regularly to assure that your body remains drug free. The period can take up to a month to complete and includes counseling, education, and peer support, as well as medications to ease you through withdrawal.
The term “inpatient treatment” refers to live-in treatment at an RTC, or residential treatment center. In such a place you’ll spend anywhere from three to nine months, or even a year or more, preparing to reenter the world with the least possible chance of relapse. The longer term programs have been shown to be more effective than the shorter terms ones at preventing relapse over a lifetime.
“Outpatient treatment” refers to treatments that occur on a visitation basis, i.e. you remain in your home but visit a center to receive counseling, education, blood tests, and medication to help you stay clean. Outpatient programs have been criticized for not being as effective as inpatient programs because the patient remains in the same environment in which they became addicted in the first place and so are likely to relapse if they remain there.
But in many cases outpatient treatment is the only option for still able to juggle the responsibilities of job and family. And with new medical therapies now available, outpatient treatments now promise a higher success rate. Outpatient treatment is also an essential service for those who wish to remain clean and sober and just need some help now and then to maintain sobriety.
Aftercare and sober living
“Aftercare” refers to the program’s follow-up once you leave the facility. Normally the recovery treatment program will have given you the intellectual and emotional training needed to help you avoid relapse and will also have aided you in creating your own life skills program and in making the changes in your life necessary to avoid relapse. Life changes might include moving to a new neighborhood, avoiding the company of certain people, or finding satisfying, meaningful work. The program will also help you find support in your community by setting you up with local 12-step groups and maybe even finding you a sponsor.
Addiction happens because of errors we make in the quest for happiness. But the human need for happiness can never be satisfied by enslaving ourselves to substances. The road to recovery demands change—changed attitudes, thoughts, practices, and beliefs. For those who have the courage to undertake it, recovery is truly a grand human adventure. Contact us and let us guide you to the things you need to make your recovery a lifelong success story.
Recovery is all about using our power to change our beliefs that are based on faulty data.
~Kevin McCormack
Positive thoughts and prayer have been the best means available, since the beginning of time, to transform darkness to light.
~Cate Stevens
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Marion Cotillard Net Worth
Film, Music Video, Voice
In a relationship (Guillaume Canet)
Breton, French
Actress, Singer, Songwriter, Environmentalist, Greenpeace Spokesperson
1 (Marcel)
About Marion Cotillard
It’s not necessary that the daughter or son of a talented person will go on to become successful too, but with Marion Cotillard, that’s exactly what has happened. Her father is a director, actor, and teacher. Marion started off by acting in his plays, but has grown in stature since then. Marion has already received a BAFTA, Golden Globe and an Academy Award, and plenty of other nominations. Her net worth is estimated to be $30 million.
Jean-Claude Cotillard, the mime artist, actor, director and teacher is her father. Her mom is Niseema Theillaud, a drama teacher and actress. Some of the movies where she has acted are My Sex Life, Taxi, Pretty Things, Love Me If You Dare, A Very Long Engagement, Love Is in the Air, A Good Year, La Vie en rose, Nine, Inception, Midnight in Paris, and Rust and Bone. She has been acting in both English and French movies. Cotillard has received critical acclaim for many of these performances. And of course, she has made considerable wealth from them.
The Time magazine has ranked her as the 5th best performer by a female for the year 2009 for her performance in Nine. The French government has given her the “Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” or the “Order of the Arts and Letters” for Marion’s contribution to French culture.
She isn’t married, but lives with the French director and actor Guillaume Canet. The two have a daughter. Marion Cotillard loves Radiohead, the musical group and also Hawksley Workman, the singer from Canada. She loves soccer and supports the English football club Leeds United.
Earnings & Financial Data ?
The below financial data is gathered and compiled by TheRichest analysts team to give you a better understanding of Marion Cotillard Net Worth by breaking down the most relevant financial events such as yearly salaries, contracts, earn outs, endorsements, stock ownership and much more.
Earnings 2012
Salary 2012
Salary from De rouille et d'os or Rust and Bone
Salary from The Dark Knight Rises
Salary from Contagion
Salary from Midnight in Paris
Salary from Les petits mouchoirs or Little White Lies
Salary from Inception
Salary from Le dernier vol or The Last Flight
Salary from Nine
Salary from La môme or La Vie en rose
Show all earnings
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Every Cast Member Of Supernatural's Net Worth
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Thermodynamics 2015 – 15-18 september 2015
Posters instructions
Christopher Wormald Prize
Michael P. Allen
Pablo Debenedetti
Guillaume Galliero
Massimo Noro
Alberto Striolo
Clare McCabe
Dr. Pablo Debenedetti
Professor, Princeton University
Pablo Debenedetti is the Class of 1950 Professor in Engineering and Applied Science, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Dean for Research at Princeton University.
He received his undergraduate education at the University of Buenos Aires, and his graduate education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he obtained MS (1981) and PhD (1985) degrees in Chemical Engineering. Since 1985 he has been a faculty member at Princeton University. Prior to becoming Dean for Research, he served as Chair of the Chemical Engineering department (1996-2004), and Vice Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science (2008-2013).
His research interests include:
The thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of liquids and glasses
Water and aqueous solutions
Protein thermodynamics
Metastability
The origin of biological homochirality.
Research in Debenedetti’s group has helped define the current state of basic knowledge on the properties of metastable liquids and glasses, and brought this vast field to the mainstream of chemical engineering thermodynamics.
He is the author of one book, Metastable Liquids, and more than 230 scientific articles.
Debenedetti’s professional honors include:
The National Science Foundation’s Presidential Young Investigator Award (1987)
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (1989)
A Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship (1991)
The Professional Progress (1997)
Walker (2008) and Institute Lecture (2013) Awards from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers
The John M. Prausnitz Award in Applied Chemical Thermodynamics (2001)
The Joel Henry Hildebrand Award in the Theoretical and Experimental Chemistry of Liquids from the American Chemical Society (2008).
He received the Distinguished Teacher Award from Princeton’s School of Engineering (2008), and the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching (2008), Princeton’s highest distinction for teaching. In 2008 Debenedetti was named one of 100 Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering (2000), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2008), and the National Academy of Sciences (2012), and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Abstract – Pablo Debenedetti
Following the tradition of the Thermodynamics Conference Series, a special issue of Molecular Physics with contributions from participants of work presented in Thermodynamics 2015 will be considered for publication, after review to the usual high standard. Manuscripts should be submitted directly to the journal (http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/tmph), selecting the Thermodynamics 2015 Special Issue publication option.
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© 2019 Thermodynamics 2015
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Star Business Journal
Supreme Court shakes foundations of copyright law
By Michael GeistSpecial to the Star
Copyright cases only reach the Supreme Court of Canada once every few years, ensuring that each case is carefully parsed and analyzed. Last week, the court issued rulings on five copyright cases in a single day, an unprecedented tally that will keep copyright experts busy for many months to come.
While the initial coverage unsurprisingly focused on the specific outcomes for the litigants, including wins for Apple (no fees for song previews on services such as iTunes), the entertainment software industry (no additional payment for music included in downloaded video games), and the education community (copying materials for instructional purposes may qualify as fair dealing), the bigger story are three broad principles that lie at the heart of the court’s decisions.
First, the cases provide an unequivocal affirmation that copyright exceptions such as fair dealing should be treated as users’ rights. The court first raised the notion of balancing creator rights and user rights in 2004. Publisher and creator groups had urged the court during the December 2011 hearings to backtrack on its user rights approach claiming it was merely a metaphor, yet the court used these cases to re-emphasize its importance. The user rights analysis affects virtually all copyright cases, forcing all courts to ensure that there is a fair balance between the interests of creators and users.
Second, the court endorsed a technology neutral approach to copyright law. For example, in striking down the demand for payment for music included in downloaded video games, it noted that there is “no practical difference between buying a durable copy of the work in a store, receiving a copy in the mail, or downloading an identical copy using the Internet.”
Instead, it likened the Internet to a “technological taxi” and warned that additional payments for a downloaded copy violated the principle of technological neutrality. It stated that “principle of technological neutrality requires that, absent evidence of Parliamentary intent to the contrary, we interpret the Copyright Act in a way that avoids imposing an additional layer of protections and fees based solely on the method of delivery of the work to the end user.”
The court has effectively embedded a technology-neutral principle into the law that will extend far beyond these particular cases, as future litigants will undoubtedly argue that existing exceptions can be applied to new uses of copyright works to ensure technological neutrality.
Third, the court continued its expansion of fair dealing by interpreting it in a broad and liberal manner. In the song previews case, where Apple argued that 30 second song previews could be treated as consumer research and thus qualify for fair dealing, the court agreed, concluding that “limiting research to creative purposes would also run counter to the ordinary meaning of “research”, which can include many activities that do not demand the establishment of new facts or conclusions. It can be piecemeal, informal, exploratory, or confirmatory. It can in fact be undertaken for no purpose except personal interest.”
Similarly in the education case, the court adopted an expansive view of private study (another fair dealing category) by ruling that it could include teacher instruction and that it “should not be understood as requiring users to view copyrighted works in splendid isolation.”
Both decisions point to a very broad approach to fair dealing that can be used by a wide range of businesses and education groups to make the case that innovative uses of copyright materials qualifies as fair dealing and therefore does not require prior permission or compensation. In the months ahead, online providers may offer samples using the same fair dealing analysis. The education community is likely to rethink its approach to copyright licensing and businesses may argue that their copying is done on behalf of their clients.
When combined with the government’s recently enacted Bill C-11 that adds new consumer exceptions and limits damages, Canadian copyright law has undergone an extensive overhaul over the past few weeks with implications that will take years to sort through.
Michael Geist holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law. He can be reached at or online at www.michaelgeist.ca.
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Learning the limits of 'freedom' in China
By Bill SchillerForeign Affairs Reporter
Tues., June 23, 2009timer3 min. read
BEIJING – When Liu Xia moved into her new flat here at the beginning of the year, Beijing's security police moved in too.
Not directly into her apartment, mind you – just out front.
"They built a guardhouse in the courtyard right in front of the building where I live," she says during an interview at a neighbourhood tea house. "Whenever I go out for a walk they greet me saying, `Heading out?'"
Then they fall in behind.
She was followed to the tea house for this interview.
Liu Xia is a short, slight, soft-spoken woman – a painter, poet and photographer. She doesn't seem like a candidate for close surveillance by the Chinese state.
But Liu Xia has another distinction: she is the wife of Liu Xiaobo, a 54-year-old literary critic and co-author of Charter '08, a document calling for democracy in China that has unnerved the ruling Communist party.
Despite a Chinese constitution that guarantees freedom of speech, assembly and even religious belief, all such freedoms have their limits in China and are monitored and controlled by the government.
For people like Liu Xiaobo who dare to challenge those limits – suggesting, for example, that democratic elections would be healthy for China – there are punishments. He has been held in an undisclosed location without charge, without trial and without access to a lawyer for more than six months.
"All of this makes it very difficult to accept the frequent claims by Chinese officials that cases like these are handled, `in accordance with the law,'" observes Joshua Rosensweig, of Dui Hua, a San Francisco-based, non-profit organization that monitors human rights in China.
That cases are handled "in accordance with the law" is a mantra used by government spokesmen whenever foreign journalists ask questions about politically sensitive cases.
On the world stage, China is making phenomenal strides in international diplomacy: closer links with Washington, improving ties with Russia – President Hu Jintao was warmly welcomed in Moscow last week – and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will visit to Ottawa today, where he'll meet, among others, representatives of Canadian business.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, the state is not afraid to flex its repressive muscles whenever it deems it necessary. But Liu Xiaobo's lawyer and international human rights groups continue to contend his detention is unlawful.
Since his arrest on the night of Dec. 8 – two days before International Human Rights Day – Liu Xiaobo has been held in a windowless room somewhere outside Beijing.
"He doesn't even know where he's being held," says Liu Xia, who has been allowed to meet him twice at a location other than his place of detention.
The first meeting was Jan. 1 when the couple was allowed to lunch at a suburban hotel, at a table carefully set with flowers, a bottle of red wine and two police officers.
The second meeting was March 30, also under police supervision.
"He was in a good frame of mind then," she says. "But he was thin and pale. He hasn't been allowed outside ... he hasn't exercised."
He has, however, been granted a TV to allow him to feed his passion for televised sports.
Police said Liu Xiaobo was being held under a form of house arrest known as "residential surveillance."
But Liu Xiaobo's lawyer Mo Shaoping says if that is the case, authorities are flouting Chinese law.
According to the law, residential surveillance allows the state to hold a person for six months at their place of residence, where the person can have constant contact with family, as well as access to a lawyer.
But Mo says authorities don't appear to have upheld any of those obligations. Mo notes Liu Xiaobo isn't being kept at his lawful residence; doesn't have constant contact with his family; and continues to be denied access to counsel.
"None of these points have been upheld," says Mo.
On June 8, when the six-month period ended, police informed Liu Xia her husband would continue to be held following orders from "higher authorities" who say the "investigation" has not yet been completed.
But his detention continues to capture international attention.
As a literary critic and head of China's Independent PEN organization, acclaimed authors, poets and playwrights like Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Seamus Heaney and Edward Albee, among others, have signed petitions calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
More recently The PEN American Center awarded Liu Xiaobo the prestigious 2009 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write award.
It was not without irony.
"I sent pens and papers to him," Liu Xia says. "But they were all returned to me."
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3 Stocks Pushing The Consumer Goods Sector Lower
TheStreet highlights 3 stocks pushing the Consumer Goods sector lower today.
TheStreet Wire
Nov 13, 2014 3:32 PM EST
Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link.
The Consumer Goods sector as a whole closed the day down 0.5% versus the S&P 500, which was unchanged. Laggards within the Consumer Goods sector included Virco Manufacturing ( VIRC), down 5.2%, DS Healthcare Group ( DSKX), down 7.0%, SkyPeople Fruit Juice ( SPU), down 1.9%, Standard Register ( SR), down 3.4% and American Lorain ( ALN), down 3.9%.
TheStreet Ratings Group would like to highlight 3 stocks that pushed the sector lower today:
SkyPeople Fruit Juice ( SPU) is one of the companies that pushed the Consumer Goods sector lower today. SkyPeople Fruit Juice was down $0.02 (1.9%) to $1.03 on light volume. Throughout the day, 2,776 shares of SkyPeople Fruit Juice exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 30,800 shares. The stock ranged in price between $1.02-$1.03 after having opened the day at $1.02 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $1.05.
SkyPeople Fruit Juice, Inc., through its subsidiaries, produces and sells fruit juice concentrates, fruit beverages, and other fruit-related products in the People's Republic of China and internationally. SkyPeople Fruit Juice has a market cap of $25.3 million and is part of the consumer non-durables industry. Shares are down 45.7% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.
STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more.
TheStreet Ratings rates SkyPeople Fruit Juice as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and attractive valuation levels. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including feeble growth in the company's earnings per share, deteriorating net income and disappointing return on equity.
Highlights from TheStreet Ratings analysis on SPU go as follows:
The revenue growth came in higher than the industry average of 0.5%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 15.7%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share.
The current debt-to-equity ratio, 0.44, is low and is below the industry average, implying that there has been successful management of debt levels. To add to this, SPU has a quick ratio of 1.81, which demonstrates the ability of the company to cover short-term liquidity needs.
43.28% is the gross profit margin for SKYPEOPLE FRUIT JUICE INC which we consider to be strong. It has increased significantly from the same period last year. Despite the strong results of the gross profit margin, SPU's net profit margin of 0.40% significantly trails the industry average.
Current return on equity is lower than its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a clear sign of weakness within the company. In comparison to the other companies in the Food Products industry and the overall market, SKYPEOPLE FRUIT JUICE INC's return on equity is significantly below that of the industry average and is below that of the S&P 500.
Net operating cash flow has significantly decreased to $7.49 million or 54.97% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing to the industry average, the firm's growth rate is much lower.
You can view the full analysis from the report here: SkyPeople Fruit Juice Ratings Report
At the close, DS Healthcare Group ( DSKX) was down $0.06 (7.0%) to $0.73 on light volume. Throughout the day, 1,391 shares of DS Healthcare Group exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 27,900 shares. The stock ranged in price between $0.66-$0.79 after having opened the day at $0.78 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $0.79.
DS Healthcare Group has a market cap of $12.9 million and is part of the consumer non-durables industry. Shares are down 67.3% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.
Virco Manufacturing ( VIRC) was another company that pushed the Consumer Goods sector lower today. Virco Manufacturing was down $0.13 (5.2%) to $2.38 on average volume. Throughout the day, 5,318 shares of Virco Manufacturing exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 6,000 shares. The stock ranged in price between $2.38-$2.52 after having opened the day at $2.52 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $2.51.
Virco Mfg. Corporation is engaged in the design, production, and distribution of furniture for the commercial and education markets in the United States. Virco Manufacturing has a market cap of $37.3 million and is part of the consumer non-durables industry. Shares are up 9.4% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are no analysts who rate Virco Manufacturing a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 1 rates it a hold.
TheStreet Ratings rates Virco Manufacturing as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its expanding profit margins, solid stock price performance and notable return on equity. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including unimpressive growth in net income, weak operating cash flow and generally higher debt management risk.
Highlights from TheStreet Ratings analysis on VIRC go as follows:
41.25% is the gross profit margin for VIRCO MFG. CORP which we consider to be strong. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Regardless of the strong results of the gross profit margin, the net profit margin of 9.78% trails the industry average.
Looking at where the stock is today compared to one year ago, we find that it is not only higher, but it has also clearly outperformed the rise in the S&P 500 over the same period, despite the company's weak earnings results. Despite the fact that it has already risen in the past year, there is currently no conclusive evidence that warrants the purchase or sale of this stock.
The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. The net income has decreased by 16.2% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, dropping from $6.21 million to $5.20 million.
Net operating cash flow has significantly decreased to -$11.93 million or 60.95% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing the cash generation rate to the industry average, the firm's growth is significantly lower.
You can view the full analysis from the report here: Virco Manufacturing Ratings Report
MarketsStocks
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Golf club denies Ineos access to search for shale gas
Emily Gosden, Energy Editor
Malton and Norton Golf Club feared there would be damage to its grounds
Ineos has suffered another setback in its search for shale gas after a golf club rebuffed its request to carry out seismic surveys on its land. Malton and Norton Golf Club in North Yorkshire was offered £1,000 for access to carry out the tests, which can include deploying small explosives, but this was rejected over fears of damage to the grounds.
Ineos said that it was “in the early stages of discussions with a number of landowners about the seismic survey process”. The company has the right, from government, to explore in a large area of the country but still needs access from landowners. It is taking legal action against the National Trust over its refusal to allow tests at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire.
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Creed Bratton
Full / Real Name: William Charles Schneider
Born: 08 February 1943 (76 years old)
Creed Bratton is an American actor and musician best known for his role as Dunder Mifflin's offbeat quality assurance representative, Creed Bratton, in the television mockumentary series The Office.
Bratton's talent for music and acting began at a young age. He began playing the guitar professionally as a teenager followed by a whirlwind travel experience throughout Europe in his twenties with the band The Young Californians.
During this time, he absorbed the unique and eclectic musical styles of the various cultures into his guitar playing.
As a member of the musical group The Grass Roots in the 1960s, Bratton appeared on numerous television shows, as well as in the Doris Day movie, With Six You Get Egg Roll. Bratton parted ways with the band in 1972, but continued his passion and released the solo albums Chasin' the Ball and The '80s in 2001 and Coarsegold in 2002.
Bratton appeared in a short film called Just One of the Gynos which was accepted in three film festivals. He has also worked in front of and behind the scenes as prop man, boom man and grip.
His film credits as an actor include The Wild Pair, Mask and Heart Like a Wheel. On television, he has appeared on hit shows such as The Bernie Mac Show and Eight is Enough.
Born in Los Angeles, he grew up in the small town of Coarsegold near Yosemite, California. He attended the College of the Sequoias and Sacramento State College as a drama major.
Bratton currently resides in Los Angeles.
Franklin & Bash - Season 4
Judge Patrick Semmer
The Bernie Mac Show - Season 5
Funeral Home Employee
The Forgotten - Season 1
The Office (US) - Season 1
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The Primetime Emmy Awards
Genres: Award Shows
Broadcast on: M-Net
TX Time
CBS 22 May 1966 22 May 1966 Sunday 1
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming.
First awarded in 1949, they were originally referred to as just the "Emmy Awards" until the first Daytime Emmy Award ceremonies were held in the 1970s, and the word "primetime" was added to disambiguate between the two.
The Emmy Awards are administered by three sister organisations; the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
The Awards recognise excellence within various areas of the television industry, and are a symbol of peer recognition from over 12,000 members of the Academy, where each member casts a ballot for the category of competition in their field of expertise.
The Awards are divided into three categories - The Primetime Awards, The Daytime Awards and the L.A. Area Awards.
Only the Primetime Awards are screened in South Africa, which celebrate excellence in national prime-time programming, awarding top honours during the creative arts awards and the prime-time telecast.
The first Emmy Awards were presented on January 25, 1949 at the Hollywood Athletic Club. The name "Emmy" was a feminisation of "immy", a nickname used for the image orthicon tubes that were commonplace in early television cameras.
The Emmy Awards trophies are currently made by a private company with a manufacturing site at the maximum security El Dorado Correctional Facility, in El Dorado, Kansas.
The statuette of a winged woman holding an atom has since become the symbol of the TV Academy's goal of supporting and uplifting the art and science of television.
The wings represent the muse of art, and the atom represents the electron of science. It was created by television engineer Louis McManus, using his wife as a model.
Season 18 Cast
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Forney Softball Team Selected as Section 6 Recipient of NFHS Spirit of Sport Award
Category: General Information
The Forney High School Softball Team has been selected as the Section 6 recipient of the “National High School Spirit of Sport Award” by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
The National High School Spirit of Sport Award was created by the NFHS to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics.
A few days before the Forney High School softball team was to play a three-game series against Mansfield Lake Ridge in the 2017 University Interscholastic League (UIL) Class 5A Region II semifinals, an unspeakable tragedy beset the team.
As teammates left a dinner party, 14-year-old freshman outfielder Emily Galiano was fatally injured when she was struck by a vehicle driven by one of her teammates.
Understandably, team members were devastated by the tragic loss of their teammate. The softball field became a sanctuary for the girls – a place where they could mourn and honor their fallen sister.
At the end of the season, the team decided to dedicate the entire 2018 season to Galiano, to make it to the state tournament, and to win the school’s first softball state championship in her honor. The team’s motto would be “Play for Em.”
Following an 8-6 start, Forney won its next 23 games and advanced to the UIL Softball State Tournament. During the playoffs, Forney defeated defending champion The Colony in the area round, won two close games by the score of 4-3, and experienced some miracle plays.
The Jackrabbits advanced to the state finals against Richmond Foster. In that title game, leftfielder Caroline Tedder made a game-saving catch against the outfield fence to give Forney the game and the state title. At home plate, Emily’s twin sister, Madison, was presented the championship trophy. Returning home to Forney, the entire team made one more stop to visit Emily. Madison placed the state gold medal on her sister’s tombstone as the promise to her sister was fulfilled.
The Forney softball team continues to play in Emily’s honor, holding fundraisers for the PlayforEm Foundation, a charitable foundation focused on helping make the world a better, happier place. In the foundation’s first year, $9,000 in scholarships were awarded to 12 graduating seniors from Forney High School.
The NFHS divides the nation into eight geographical sections. The states in Section 6 are Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Nominations for this award were generated through NFHS member state associations and reviewed by the NFHS Spirit of Sport Award Selection Committee composed of state association staff members.
While the national winner will be recognized June 29 at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, the section winners will be recognized within their respective states and will receive awards before the end of the current school year.
About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and fine arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and fine arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,000 high schools and 11 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.9 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; produces publications for high school coaches, officials and athletic directors; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, spirit coaches, speech and debate coaches and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.
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Items filtered by date: Saturday, 11 May 2019
6 May 2019 - World is ‘on notice’ as major UN report shows one million species face extinction
A hard-hitting report into the impact of humans on nature shows that nearly one million species risk becoming extinct within decades, while current efforts to conserve the earth’s resources will likely fail without radical action, UN biodiversity experts said on Monday.
Speaking in Paris at the launch of the Global Assessment study – the first such report since 2005 – UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said that its findings put the world “on notice”.
“Following the adoption of this historic report, no one will be able to claim that they did not know,” the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said. “We can no longer continue to destroy the diversity of life. This is our responsibility towards future generations.”
Highlighting the universal importance of biodiversity – the diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems – Ms. Azoulay said that protecting it “is as vital as fighting climate change”.
Presented to more than 130 government delegations for their approval at UNESCO headquarters, the report features the work of 400 experts from at least 50 countries, coordinated by the Bonn-based Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
In addition to providing exhaustive insights on the state of nature, ecosystems and how nature underpins all human activity, the study also discusses progress on key international goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The report also examines five main drivers of “unprecedented” biodiversity and ecosystem change over the past 50 years, identifying them as: changes in land and sea use; direct exploitation of organisms; climate change, pollution, and invasion of alien species.
One in four species at risk of extinction
On at-risk fauna and flora, the study asserts that human activities “threaten more species now than ever before” – a finding based on the fact that around 25 per cent of species in plant and animal groups are vulnerable.
This suggests that around one million species “already face extinction, many within decades, unless action is taken to reduce the intensity of drivers of biodiversity loss”.
Without such measures there will be a “further acceleration” in the global rate of species extinction, which is already “at least tens to hundreds of times higher, than it has averaged over the past 10 million years”, the report states.
It notes that despite many local efforts, including by indigenous peoples and local communities, by 2016, 559 of the 6,190 domesticated breeds of mammals used for food and agriculture were extinct – around nine per cent of the total - and at least 1,000 more are threatened.
Crop security threatened long-term
In addition, many crop wild relatives that are needed for long-term food security “lack effective protection”, the report insists, while the status of wild relatives of domesticated mammals and birds “is worsening”.
At the same time, reductions in the diversity of cultivated crops, crop wild relatives and domesticated breeds mean that farming will likely be less resilient against future climate change, pests and pathogens.
“While more food, energy and materials than ever before are now being supplied to people in most places, this is increasingly at the expense of nature’s ability to provide such contributions in the future,” the report states, before adding that “the biosphere, upon which humanity as a whole depends…is declining faster than at any time in human history”.
Marine pollution ‘has increased tenfold since 1980’
On the issue of pollution, although global trends are mixed, air, water and soil pollution have continued to increase in some areas, the report insists. “Marine plastic pollution in particular has increased tenfold since 1980, affecting at least 267 species”, it says, including 86 per cent of marine turtles, 44 per cent of seabirds and 43 per cent of marine mammals.
The 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services is also the first of its kind to examine and include indigenous and local knowledge, issues and priorities, IPBES said in a statement, noting that its mission is to strengthen policy-making for the sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.
“The loss of species, ecosystems and genetic diversity is already a global and generational threat to human well-being,” insisted Sir Robert Watson, IPBES Chair. “Protecting the invaluable contributions of nature to people will be the defining challenge of decades to come. Policies, efforts and actions - at every level - will only succeed, however, when based on the best knowledge and evidence.”
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Key takeaways from Ohio special election and primaries in four other states
Nowhere are the stakes higher than in Ohio, which is held a special election to fill a vacant House seat.
Key takeaways from Ohio special election and primaries in four other states Nowhere are the stakes higher than in Ohio, which is held a special election to fill a vacant House seat. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://usat.ly/2Kx0DfP
Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY Published 12:01 a.m. ET Aug. 8, 2018 | Updated 12:00 p.m. ET Aug. 8, 2018
President Donald Trump is traveling Saturday to Ohio to hold a rally for state Sen. Troy Balderson, who is running in Tuesday's special election for an open congressional seat against Democrat Danny O'Connor. (Aug. 4) AP
12th Congressional District Republican candidate Troy Balderson speaks during a rally with President Donald Trump, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Lewis Center, Ohio.(Photo: John Minchillo, AP)
WASHINGTON – Voters in five states went to the polls Tuesday, highlighted by a closely-contested congressional race in Ohio plus a bevy of other House, Senate and gubernatorial contests from Michigan to Missouri.
Here are our top takeaways from Tuesday's results:
House Republicans are in trouble
Ohio’s special election remained too close to call Tuesday night but this race should have been a cake-walk for the GOP. The fact that 31-year-old Democrat Danny O’Connor, a county recorder, made it so competitive is a bad sign for the GOP heading into November, especially since Republicans pulled out all the stops to boost their candidate, GOP state Sen. Troy Balderson.
The GOP spent more than $4 million on the special election, a district Republicans have controlled for more than three decades. They attacked O’Connor as a puppet for the ever-unpopular House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, even though he said he would not support her for speaker. And they dispatched President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence to campaign for Balderson.
All that for a virtual tie in the vote tally. Balderson held a narrow lead over O’Connor but the race remained too close to call officially.
President Trump holds Ohio rally
The crowd cheers as President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally at Olentangy Orange High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018. Carolyn Kaster, AP
12th Congressional District Republican candidate Troy Balderson speaks during a rally with President Donald Trump, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Lewis Center, Ohio. John Minchillo, AP
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, speaks during a rally with President Donald Trump, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Lewis Center, Ohio. John Minchillo, AP
The crowd cheers toward the media in the overflow room before President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally at Olentangy Orange High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018 Carolyn Kaster, AP
President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, left, during a rally, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Lewis Center, Ohio. John Minchillo, AP
Supporters cheer for President Donald Trump, right, during a rally, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Lewis Center, Ohio. John Minchillo, AP
12th Congressional District Republican candidate Troy Balderson, left, shakes hands with President Donald Trump during a rally, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Lewis Center, Ohio. Doral Chenoweth, AP
President Donald Trump waves to the crowd during a rally, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Lewis Center, Ohio. John Minchillo, AP
President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with 12th Congressional District Republican candidate Troy Balderson, left, during a rally, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Lewis Center, Ohio. John Minchillo, AP
President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Ohio, left, during a rally, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Lewis Center, Ohio. John Minchillo, AP
President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Olentangy Orange High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018. Carolyn Kaster, AP
No matter who wins, the close finish signals a possible “Blue Wave” election that could catapult Democrats to a House majority come November. There are 68 Republican-held districts where the GOP holds a weaker hand in terms of partisan makeup, according to the Cook Political Report.
"The GOP have to do something really significant in September if they want to keep the House in November," Frank Luntz, a longtime Republican pollster, tweeted Tuesday night.
I’m sure Republicans will celebrate tonight, but a 1-point victory in that district is nothing to commend. #OH12
The GOP have to do something really significant in September if they want to keep the House in November. https://t.co/lK93kxxE2c
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) August 8, 2018
Tuesday's special election is to fill a vacancy left by ex-Rep. Pat Tiberi, who retired earlier this year. Balderson and O'Connor will face off again in November, when they vie for a full two-year term in the House.
Mini-takeaway on Ohio: Democrats may be cursing the Green Party candidate Joe Manchik, who snagged more than 1,100 votes. Presumably, most of those came from left-leaning voters who would otherwise have supported O’Connor. It’s not clear if that would have made up the difference for the Democrat, but it has to be frustrating in such a close race.
More (and more) women are winning Democratic primaries
Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer greets volunteers at her field office on Livernois Avenue in Detroit on Aug. 8, 2018. (Photo: Cameron Pollack, Detroit Free Press)
Female candidates have been winning Democratic primaries up and down the ballot so far this election cycle. And Tuesday's results put an exclamation point on this trend, as women notched primary wins in Kansas and Michigan's gubernatorial races.
That makes 11 female gubernatorial nominees so far this election, according to the Center for American Women in Politics.
In Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, a former state Senate minority leader, defeated two Democratic rivals to claim her party's nomination. With Whitmer’s win, Michigan’s Democrats are poised to field an all-female ticket for statewide offices.
In addition to Whitmer and Debbie Stabenow, who is seeking a fourth Senate term, the Democrats also nominated women for state attorney general and secretary of state.
Whitmer will face GOP nominee Bill Schuette, currently the state's attorney general, in what's expected to be an especially competitive general election.
Democrats are hoping to recapture Michigan's governorship after eight years of GOP rule. Current Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, is term-limited.
In Kansas, Laura Kelly, a state senator, won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in a hotly contested primary. Democrats think they can make this ruby-red state competitive, in part because ex-Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, remains deeply unpopular after pushing through sweeping tax cuts that created severe financial trouble for the state.
The Republican gubernatorial primary remained too close to call Tuesday, with Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer was locked in a tight race with Secretary of State Kris Kobach in early results.
A rare win for labor unions in Republican-leaning Missouri
Missouri voters overwhelmingly rejected a right-to-work law Tuesday that would have banned unions from collecting mandatory dues. The battle, which attracted big money on both sides, provides a much-needed boost for organized labor after a series of legal and political losses.
The GOP-controlled state legislature passed the anti-union law in 2017, but labor organizations and Democrats blocked its enactment and collected enough signatures to force Tuesday's public vote.
Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a high-stakes case that could deprive unions of a key source of funds. USA TODAY
Tuesday's win for unions came after a major blow in June when the Supreme Court's conservative majority ruled 5-4 that unions cannot collect fees from non-members to help defray the costs of collective bargaining. The court ruled that those fees, permitted under a 1977 high court decision, violate the free speech rights of those who do not want to contribute.
Tuesday's vote in Missouri, which has grown increasingly Republican, could give labor groups fresh momentum heading into November's general election, where their political strength will be tested again.
Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2Kx0DfP
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Hanna bucks Republican majority in shutdown battle
Steve Hughes
As the federal government moved toward a possible shutdown, U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, R-Barneveld, and his colleagues spent Monday trying to find a way to keep the government funded. The disagreement is over the Affordable Health Care Act.
As the federal government moved toward a possible shutdown, U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, R-Barneveld, and his colleagues spent Monday trying to find a way to keep the government funded.
The disagreement is over the Affordable Health Care Act.
House Republicans attempted to attach amendments delaying the law one year and to repeal a medical device tax to a bill funding the federal government.
Hanna was one of two Republicans who voted against delaying Obamacare, but voted in favor of the medical device tax repeal. Both were rejected Monday by the Senate.
Hanna said Monday evening it looked like a shutdown was unavoidable.
“I think this is a terrible way to run the world’s largest economy,” he said.
Hanna said he wants a clean budget bill and to deal with the health care law separately, even though the majority of his party disagrees with him.
“I would take a clean (continuing resolution),” he said. “I have voted dozens of times to repeal, reform and defund Obamacare. There are glaring problems with the law and we see more daily.”
The shutdown will affect nearly every aspect of the federal government including:
* Benefit payments: Social Security, Medicare and unemployment benefits will continue but there could be delays in processing new disability applications.
* Mail: Mail will continue to be delivered because the U.S. Postal service does not use tax dollars for day-to-day operations.
* Military and national security: Paychecks could be delayed for soldiers and some civilian employees could be furloughed.
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Migrating souls: Monarch butterflies arrive in time for Day of the Dead
khernandez
A Monarch butterfly eating sweet nectar at the National Butterfly Park yesterday.
MISSION — The Aztecs called her Quetzalpapalotl, or sacred butterfly, and millions of them arrive every year just in time for Mexico’s oldest celebration, Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, which is observed today throughout Latin America.
Much like the Aztecs who awaited the arrival of the sacred butterfly, believed to embody the souls of those they’ve lost, families today build altars with photos, mementos and the deceased’s favorite foods, waiting to reunite on Nov. 1 and 2.
The monarch butterfly, known for its elegant black, orange and white spotted wings, is the only butterfly that can live up to nine months. During that time they make a transcontinental journey across Canada, the United States and Mexico, riding the winds some 300 to 400 feet high, flying over borders until they reach the pine and fir forests they’ve hibernated in for thousands of years.
The Rio Grande Valley and Tamaulipas are in the middle of the butterflies’ central U.S. highway, one of three migratory paths used by the Monarchs in the fall and again in the spring when they fly back north, according to Marianna Treviño Wright, executive director of the National Butterfly Center.
“ The fact that butterflies effectively die — they go into the chrysalis, which is like into the tomb or the grave and they have this metamorphosis and they emerge a completely new creature — it’s a metaphor for many spiritual belief systems,” Wright said Monday as she bid farewell to the last of this year’s Texas Butterfly Festival attendees.
For the rest of this story and many other EXTRAS, go to our premium site, www.MyValleyStar.com.
Subscribe to it for only $6.99 per month or purchase a print subscription and receive the online version free, which includes an electronic version of the full newspaper and extra photo galleries, links and other information you can’t find anywhere else.
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Music in their hearts
Valley musician to present conjunto music hall of fame induction award
Alana Hernandez
Courtesy photo Pedro C. Saldana will present a Conjunto Hall of Fame award tomorrow night.
INFOBOX: MEET THE MUSICIAN
WHO — Pedro C. Saldana
HOMETOWN — San Benito
CURRENT CITY — Brownsville
OCCUPATION — Singer, songwriter and recording artist
STAGE NAME — Rooster Savage
GENRES — Tejano, country, Tex-Mex, rhythm and blues, ranchero, mariachi and conjunto
EMAIL — roostersavage1@gmail.com
By ALANA HERNANDEZ
SAN BENITO — To Pedro C. Saldana, writing a song is similar to piecing together a puzzle.
He believes a song’s lyrics and music need to fit and make sense.
Saldana’s start with music was originally solely dedicated toward rock.
But it was one fateful performance with conjunto musician Martin Zapata that led them through a 32-year path of performing conjunto music together.
And this weekend, Saldana and Zapata will mark another musical milestone in their lives.
The San Benito native who now resides in Brownsville, will present an award to Zapata at the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s 18th annual Induction Awards that will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in San Benito.
Saldana said he feels proud Zapata chose him to present the Hall of Fame award.
“Martin is a master musician and a great teacher,” Saldana said. “He has a quality of showing you what he knows.”
Saldana’s path toward music
From rock, Tex-Mex, rhythm and blues to ranchero, mariachi, country and conjunto, Saldana has immersed his talent into a variety of music genres.
Saldana’s entrance into the world of music happened on a whim when he was a teenager.
“I had this friend who just moved into a new home that had an empty room with great acoustics,” he explained. “So, one day when the whole gang was there, they elected me to be the vocals of a rock band they were creating.”
Saldana admits, he didn’t even know if he could sing at the time.
But after encouragement from his friends, he decided to become the group’s missing link.
Years later, after the band went their separate ways, Saldana’s mom volunteered him to play a gig in San Benito with a local conjunto band, Los Brillantes de Martin Zapata.
“I told my mom I was going to take a rain check because I didn’t know what conjunto music was and didn’t even know how to play it,” he explained. “I played rock.”
But it was already too late in the day to find a replacement.
“I looked for the band and told them straight out that the whole thing was going to be a disaster if they wanted me to play the drums,” Saldana said. “So, they told me to follow the beat of the guitar and that’s how I was able to play that night.”
After that performance, Saldana became the new drummer for Los Brillantes de Martin Zapata and performed with them until 2000.
In between his time performing with Los Brillantes de Martin Zapata, Saldana wrote songs and recorded them with his band, Suspiro.
“Music makes me feel at ease,” Saldana said. “To me, it’s like trying to express the best of you to the people that appreciate your music.”
Saldana’s inspiration
As a cousin of Baldemar Garza Huerta, most famously known as Freddy Fender, Saldana said he grew up motivated by his music.
He remembers when Fender was recording his songs and told everyone his cousin was going to “make it one day.”
“He made his mark and did his best,” Saldana said. “He was the only inspiration in my life and there will never be another Freddy Fender again.”
MEET THE MUSICIAN
Alana Hernandez is a Reporter for the Valley Morning Star. She can be reached at ahernandez@valleystar.com or (956) 430-6239.
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Home » News » News » Nigeria’s budgets are heavily skewed – ICAN President
Nigeria’s budgets are heavily skewed – ICAN President
On August 27, 2018 5:11 amIn Business, Finance, Newsby Tony
The President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Alhaji Razak Jaiyeola, in this interview highlighted some of the issues that have bedevilled the Nigerian economy, especially the budgeting system. Excerpt:
By Providence Emmanuel
What is your view of the Nigerian economic situation?
Like we all know, corruption is the bane of the Nigerian economy. When this new government started, they were really out to fight corruption and for us in ICAN, we have always supported them because we believe in accuracy and integrity. For us in ICAN, we introduced a number of things to show that we are supportive. For instance, in 2015, we launched our whistle blowers fund of N50million to support our members who blow the whistle in respect of people who are involved in financial misdemeanour.
President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Alhaji Razak Jaiyeola
Last year, we launched what we call accountability index, a mechanism for the assessment of public finance management in the system, at the federal, state and local government levels and all agencies of government. It is done in such a way that we go to the field and collect data, we study and assess the performance of various tiers of government and at the end, we rank their performance but we would have assessed them based on five different pillars with indications and dimensions. With the ranking, there is competition and everybody would be striving to improve.
This translates into a more efficient system and the need for government to employ more qualified professionals to be able to work actively in the system. We also have ‘Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations’, NOCLAR, which is a mechanism introduced by International Federation of Accountants, IFAC, the organisation to which we belong and as the President of ICAN, I am a member on the board of that body. Above all we also have our disciplinary process such that if any of our member is reported, we set up an investigation panel and if he is found wanting, he would be arraigned before the disciplinary tribunal which has the status of the high court and if he is found guilty his license would be withdrawn.
Let us look at the population of this country. In 1960, the population of UK was 52 million, that of Nigeria was 46 million, by 2015, the population of UK was 60 million, that of Nigeria was 185 million. By 2070, the population of UK is expected to be 80 million and that of Nigeria is estimated to be 550 million. We have the issue of population explosion in our hands. GDP is declining, population is growing astronomically.
Technically, big population should not be a problem as we are witnessing in China because it is being properly managed. Same thing goes for India, they are able to manage their population and the available resources. We are suggesting that government should invest more on infrastructure. There is infrastructural deficit of about $3trillion at the moment.
Do you think diversification of the economy would help address population explosion?
There has always been diversification ding dong but sources of revenue is what we need to look at. If we analyze the GDP for last quarter, you would find out that information technology is about 30 percent, manufacturing 24 percent, mining and quarrying 23 percent, other services 10 percent, agriculture 6.6 percent, among others. So with all the noise about agriculture, it is contributing only 6.6 percent. It means that we have to re-channel our energy into productive sectors.
We appreciate the fact that government has introduced Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP. To ensure ICT is significantly improved upon, the Vice President visited the Yaba IT hub recently, he followed up with a visit to Silicon Valley including other places. Government is trying to put a number of things in place to ensure that we are able to harness our resources but the totality of it boils down to being able to have leaders that would be able to address things with interest of the masses in their heart.
From what you just said, do you think our budgeting system is right?
Yes, our budgeting system is good in principle. You have the various processes and starts with visioning of what is expected during the year. There is of course medium term framework in place but we do have problems. We have problems of over polluted budgets. We have budgets that are heavily skewed towards recurrent expenditure. A budget where you deploy 63 percent of your resources on debt serving. What do we have to show for those debts? In principle, there is nothing wrong to be in debt, if you have something to show for it.
For instance, if you are in debt, the revenue has been deployed in productive sector and that will eventually pay its way, but that is not what we have at the moment. We also have the issue of delays in passing of our budgets, between legislature and the executive, you see the various ding dong that would always happen, causing several months of delay. Delay here also means delay in the release of funds even after it has been passed, there is still the issue of release of funds. Is the money even there to be released? There are lots of issues, we also have weak financial reporting culture.
Recently, the Auditor General of the Federation said that several years of report are lying there in the national assembly, reports that have been written and submitted that contains sanctions against erring officers are lying there for about twelve years, they have not been touched. How do you improve on such a system? There are external factors also influencing the budget, issue of oil prices, stability or problems associated with oil producing areas.
All these things influence the budget. It is important that we try as much as possible to stem corruption, our attitude to work, ethics, bureaucracy, governance and the political system. All these issues must be addressed before we can find a clear way forward. Finally, there is an important pillar of our accountability index that deal seriously with budget issues. It breaks down the budget process into various indicators and dimensions. The World Bank recently granted $750 million facility to Nigeria to be able to improve on governance system and one of the areas that must be addressed is the issue of budget process and accountability within the system and states of the federation.
A body known as anti fraud organisation accused ICAN of producing accountants below country’s need, how true is this?
To start with, they got their fact wrong, ICAN produced about 45 thousand accountants in 53 years, but the issue here is, is it about quantity or quality. If you want two million accountants today, you just advertise in the newspapers that you want this number of accountants and people will apply and it would be given. But ICAN has a mandate via its legislative instrument, the act of parliament of 1965, to maintain the standard and quality of accountancy in this country and that is what we stand by. We are talking about quality. The whole world knows that you must sweat it out to be a professional accountant.
How do you compare ICAN with international accounting institutes?
England and Wales are our fore-fathers, they got their instrument in 1880. After a period of 138 years, they have produced only 147,000 accountants, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, ACCA, had its instrument in 1904, they have 200,000 accountants after 114 years. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, AICPA, got their instrument in 1887 they have 414,000 accountants, South Africa Institute, SAICA, got theirs in 1894 they have just 37,000 accountants, ICAN is even doing better than them.
Look at China with 1.3 billion people, they have produced only 250,000 chartered accountants. This particular association that advertise themselves as chartered, where is the charter, has it been granted? And they are collecting money from innocent members of the public, we do not compromise quality. We have our members holding forth in this country in respectable organisations.
How do you intend to move ICAN forward in one year tenure?
The Theme of this presidential year is “Securing Our Shared Future: A Collective Responsibility”. If it is a collective responsibility, then we must start with what our leadership in the past have done and build on it. Times and volumes of business are changing, we look forward to reviewing our syllabus. There are issues of disruption in our system, brought about by artificial intelligence. We would protect the ICAN act from all those trying to cannibalize the profession, it would not work, we would fight it, not allow it. We would commence the building of an academy for our institute.
Forceful removal of Saraki’ll be resisted —N-Delta agitators
N220bn SME Fund: CBN using stringent condition to mitigate risk – MfB boss
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Tag Archives: The VVitch
The VVitch is my new horror fave
January 26, 2017 horror movies, Kasey's Picks, movies, psychological, Robert Eggers, The VVitch, The WitchKasey K
A little late to the party, I know, but I finally got around to watching Robert Eggers’ directorial debut, The VVitch (which I’m just going to be calling The Witch from here on out)! And it is very very good, slow-build horror.
The Witch takes place in 1630s New England, where a family is being banished from their Puritan community for theological differences. William, Katherine, and their four children set out alone to try to eke out a living in the wilderness. Katherine has a fifth child, but the baby is stolen, and ultimately the family descends ever deeper into a spiral of fear and suspicion (of the woods surrounding them, and eventually of each other as well).
The movie explores many complicated themes, including the effects of long-term isolation on the human psyche, the power of faith, and ultimately with the kinds of fear and paranoia that can result when people seek desperately to explain the hardships life throws at them. It’s a story that could have played out the same way regardless of whether there really is a witch out there in the woods, and for me that’s where the real horror lies (though I also loved the unabashedly uncivilized and otherwordly glimpses we get into the witching world!)
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Campus Attractions at the University of South Florida
The Sarasota-Manatee campus is the newest “bull run” in the USF system. With its main building surrounding an expansive and attractively landscaped courtyard stocked with hammocks and seating areas, you might mistake the place for a resort.
- Eve Edelheit for VISIT FLORIDA
By Florence Snyder
The University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa was the first state university planned and opened in the 20th century, as well as the first to be located in a vibrant and rapidly expanding urban setting.
As west central Florida grew into a megalopolis stretching from Tampa Bay to southwest Florida, USF in Tampa expanded to become “the USF System” with independently accredited campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. Each offers leisure activities that appeal to students and faculty taking a break between classes, as well as to visitors from around the neighborhood and around the world.
The Sarasota-Manatee campus is an hour’s drive to the south of the main campus, and the St. Petersburg campus lies in between, so you’ll want to do some advance planning if you’re planning to take in all three. A good place to relax and get organized is the Marshall Student Center, located at the northern entrance to the Tampa campus.
Don’t let USF’s bellicose mascot fool you: the true nature of the Bulls is best reflected in USF’s description of the Marshall Center as a place "where lifelong associations and friendships are developed; memories are created; and lives are enriched. The Marshall Student Center aspires to be the first and fondest thought that students, staff and faculty have when they remember their time at USF.”
You’ll find Bulls of all ages refueling at the eight fast food venues in the Center, or enjoying a special celebration at On Top of the Palms, which offers “sophisticated dining” and a birds-eye view of USF’s MLK Plaza.
Traffic picks up at the Marshall Center on Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters, when vendors and bargain hunters meet at USF's outdoor “Bull Market.” The Center’s Ballroom and Oval Theater are home to guest lectures featuring nationally prominent speakers.
The Tampa campus’ Sun Dome is the home of USF’s men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams and a rowdy place to be when fans put on their school colors, green and gold, and come out to cheer the Bulls.
The Tampa campus’ Sun Dome is the home of USF’s men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams and a rowdy place to be when fans put on their school colors, green and gold, and come out to cheer the Bulls. The 10,000 seat venue is large enough to attract artists like nine-time Grammy Award-winner Mary J. Blige, and speakers like actor and activist George Takei, yet small enough that you don’t need screens to see them.
USF’s Music Building and Concert Hall is among the top acoustically perfect performance spaces in the nation and a magnet for internationally known artists who frequent USF to teach and perform. Theater and dance round out USF’s arts calendar.
Nature lovers will delight in the Tampa campus’ 16-acre USF Botanical Gardens. Come early in the day, because you won't want to rush as you explore the Gardens’ vast collection which includes fruit trees and palms from around the world, along with orchids, begonias, mallows, bromeliads, gingers, ferns, aroids, cycads, and carnivorous plants.
Keep an eye out for native insects, gopher tortoises, and more than 60 species of birds, all enjoying the herb and scent gardens, as well as the butterfly garden. Check the website often for special events offered throughout the year, as well as up-to-the minute information about current weather conditions in the Gardens.
USF’s Graphicstudio was founded in 1968 and has been on the forefront of contemporary art ever since. Internationally known artists come to Tampa to “pursue new directions to advance their practice” and to inspire students and faculty. You can see examples of their work at the USF Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), where exhibits focus on “current cultural trends” from Florida as well as from other continents.
CAM’s holdings include contemporary photography and African art, as well as graphics and sculpture by internationally acclaimed Graphicstudio artists in residence, such as Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg and James Rosenquist.
Enjoy the view from the bridge as you cross Tampa Bay to continue your adventure at the Bulls’ St. Petersburg home. From modest beginnings as an “overflow campus,” USF St. Petersburg has emerged as the “Jewel on Bayboro Harbor” and a major contributor to St. Petersburg’s downtown renaissance.
USF St. Petersburg offers daily 90-minute walking tours; on Fridays, the tour expands to two hours and features a short faculty lecture. Public lectures on a variety of topics are offered weekly in the University Student Center, a striking building which features a 65-foot-tall multicolored glass-enclosed circular staircase for the campus’ residential tower, and an 8,000-square-foot curtain of glass along 6th Avenue South. The Reef dining hall is open to the public and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.
But students and faculty are focused on the serious business of “personal growth and intellectual development.” See for yourself in the beautiful 200-seat Selby Auditorium, where the Knowledge-a-Bull Speaker Series hosts public intellectuals from every corner of academia to “engage the community in cutting-edge conversations with experts on subjects that mean something to our lives.”
When you go…
4202 E. Fowler Avenue
Tampa, Fla. 33620
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Palestinians Say Israeli Air Strikes Kill Four in Gaza Strip
Palestinian medical workers say Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip Tuesday killed two Hamas fighters and two Palestinian civilians.
The medical workers said two Hamas militants died in today's latest attack, while earlier strikes killed a Palestinian man and a 13-year-old boy.
The Israeli army confirms the air strikes, saying it was targeting militants.
Israel conducts almost daily raids in Gaza that it says are aimed at stopping militants from firing rockets into Israel. Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza, cutting off fuel and supplies to residents after Hamas militants took control of the region last June.
The United Nations relief agency for Palestinians, the UN Relief and Works Agency said today in its annual report that 80 percent of the population in Gaza lives on less than $2.50 a day.
U.N. officials say higher food prices and growing poverty in Gaza and other Palestinian territories are making it difficult for people to buy quality food and increasing cases of non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes.
Egypt has been trying to broker a truce between Israel and the Hamas leadership to end attacks and the blockade in Gaza.
Israeli and Hamas officials met separately with Egyptian leaders in Egypt Monday.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said a truce can not be reached until Hamas releases a captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. Hamas has said the cease-fire and the soldier's release should remain separate issues.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
Olmert Threatens Gaza Offensive as Truce Efforts Continue
Israel says time is running out for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. But as Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, cease-fire efforts are continuing. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Gaza is at a crossroads. Mr. Olmert told the Cabinet that the daily Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel from Gaza are intolerable. Hinting at a major military offensive against the Islamic…
Israeli Defense Chief Says Hamas Must Release Soldier Before Gaza Truce
Israel's defense minister has repeated a demand for the Palestinian militant group Hamas to release an Israeli soldier before reaching a truce in the Gaza Strip. Ehud Barak made the comment Monday in Egypt after meeting with President Hosni Mubarak. Israel has repeatedly called for the captured soldier, Gilad Shalit, to be freed as part of any deal with Hamas. The group has said a ceasefire and a release of the soldier should remain separate issues. Egypt…
UN Reports Rise in Non-Communicable Diseases Among Palestinian Refugees
The United Nations says non-communicable diseases are on the rise among Palestinian refugees in the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva that the U.N. Relief and Works Agency annual report provides data on the health of 4 million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza. UNRWA Director of Health Guido Sabatinelli tells VOA non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular…
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Microsoft shows how Edge is better than Chrome at saving you some battery life
Rich Edmonds
It's no secret that Google's Chrome browser sucks the life out of your battery at an alarming rate, but now Microsoft has done some testing to show how its own Edge browser is a better choice for portable device owners. The company took four identical laptops running Windows 10 to see which of the four most popular browsers would be most efficient when it comes to battery life.
Interestingly, Chrome was the first to kill the laptop in the video streaming test at 4 hours and 19 minutes. Firefox closely followed its rival at 5 hours and 9 minutes, while Opera (running on the same tech as Chrome) managed to hit 6 hours and 18 minutes. In Microsoft's tests, it was found that Edge was best of the bunch when it came to enjoying a video online, lasting for 7 hours and 22 minutes. That's worked out to be 70% longer than Chrome.
"We designed Microsoft Edge from the ground up to prioritize power efficiency and deliver more battery life, without any special battery saving mode or changes to the default settings. Our testing and data show that you can simply browse longer with Microsoft Edge than with Chrome, Firefox, or Opera on Windows 10 devices."
As well as performing tests in controlled environments, Microsoft has also released data collected from Windows 10 PCs worldwide. The company analyzed aggregated telemetry from millions of devices, showing the results to be in line and consistent with what Microsoft found in the lab.
The company has also published an entry on the Edge Development blog that goes into detail about how engineers and developers are building a more power efficient browser. It's well worth checking out. Unfortunately for Microsoft, while the company's latest browser is certainly an efficient speed king, it still lacks some features many would consider fundamental to their web browsing experience using competitor software.
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Made by History Perspective
Why Americans shouldn’t fear China’s growing economy
China played a key role in building America’s economic dominance.
Trucks at a container port in Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong Province. (Chinatopix via AP, File)
By Graeme Mack
Graeme Mack is a doctoral candidate in history at the University of California, San Diego.
No country is more central to American economic anxieties than China. The nation represents serious economic competition — its rise looms on the horizon, challenging the United States’ status as the world’s largest economy, portending and reinforcing fears of American decline.
Those worries over China’s power began in the 1990s. After a decade of fears about the rise of Japan and Germany proved unfounded, Americans saw a growing number of factories shutter at home as manufacturing jobs moved to Asia and Latin America. Meanwhile, Chinese imports saturated their everyday lives.
The painful process of deindustrialization at the end of the 20th century decimated the U.S. middle class and left widespread anxiety in its wake. Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan tapped into this sentiment, conveying nostalgia for an imagined period in American history: a time when the United States was the uncontested leader in global trade, before its economic predominance seemed under threat, before its jobs went overseas, before cheap commodities bombarded its markets.
To most Americans, the insatiable demand for Chinese products seems like a relatively recent phenomenon, a function of the post-1970s desire for cheap disposable consumer goods. Some leaders fear that American consumption habits will cause irreparable trade deficits. However, this view that American consumption of foreign goods has reached unprecedented levels stems from a myopic understanding of U.S. history, one where North Americans only began trading with Asia after pushing westward across the continent by the mid-19th century.
If we look at the long history of U.S.-China trade relations, we see that Asian trade has deeply affected North Americans’ lives since the 17th century. Colonists exhibited a voracious appetite for Chinese goods, especially tea, silk and porcelain. Indeed, European demand for alternative routes to Asia drove Christopher Columbus’s voyages to the New World. Spanish conquistadors subdued Mexico and Peru and enslaved indigenous people to mine silver, and Spanish navigators tracked the trade winds necessary to cross the Pacific to ship silver — all so they could buy sought-after Chinese goods.
Long before the United States became a nation, Asian producers and consumers economically integrated places like Boston, Philadelphia and New York into a larger world economy. Chinese commodities even struck at the core of colonial disputes during the American Revolution when Boston Tea Partiers dumped Asian tea into the harbor to protest British taxes.
Americans keenly responded to the demands of China’s markets and avoided the more abrasive tactics of their navy-backed British rivals. They traded with Native Americans for sea otter furs, Hawaiians for sandalwood, Mariana Islanders for sea slugs — whatever items China most coveted. Some American traders even donned Manchurian hairdos and silken robes. They courted Chinese merchants and went into business with them.
But China’s relations with the outside world changed rapidly over the 19th century, laying the groundwork for how many Americans view the issue today. In 1793, the Qing emperor refused foreign requests to lift restrictions limiting external trade, claiming his “Celestial Empire” had “no need to import the manufactures of outside barbarians.” After two defeats in the Opium Wars of the mid-19th century, the emperor capitulated and ceded to most foreign demands.
Europeans transformed their calls for free and open access to China’s markets into outright military aggression and colonization. China’s “century of humiliation” followed with internal rebellions and foreign interventions tearing its social fabric asunder. This turmoil contributed to the rise of the Communist Party in 1949 and its decision to close the Chinese economy. But in the 1970s and 1980s, when Deng Xiaoping’s Communist Party reformed the economy to expand China’s manufacturing base, Americans quickly began to devour the cheap exports that flooded world markets. This process accelerated over the next two and half decades.
In 2016, China’s economic rise became a topic of political debate, ending in the withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an association ironically developed to counter China’s economic power. Under the Trump administration, the United States has imposed tariffs on various Chinese exports, including steel and aluminum. Tensions continue to grow as each nation threatens to impose additional tariffs on the other.
In the late 18th century, Americans secured favorable trade terms with Chinese merchants by being savvier and more innovative than their British counterparts. Their autonomy from Old World empires allowed them to strike compromises, form partnerships and exhibit flexibility with Chinese merchants. American traders stunned their British rivals by transporting cargo faster and more efficiently than their national monopolies. Within two decades, the China trade helped Americans establish economic sovereignty as a new nation.
Future American political leaders should follow that example and position the United States within a global market centered on Asia. The history of U.S.-China relations reveals both the problems with protectionism and opportunities that accompany versatility. Indeed, trade with China could again be the key to a prosperous American future just as many Americans believed it to be over two centuries ago.
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Home » Podcast » Episode 19: DeMoya Watson Brown Talks About Her Career and Teaching at Camp Arena Stage
Episode 19: DeMoya Watson Brown Talks About Her Career and Teaching at Camp Arena Stage
Each spring, parents face a challenge – finding a summer camp for their children. Children between the ages of 8 and 15 who are interested in the arts, and live in the Washington, D.C. area are truly fortunate. Camp Arena Stage offers more than 75 exciting multi-arts activities, including improv, a cappella singing, filmmaking, rock band, musical theater, costume design, world dance, and much, much more. And there’s a bonus. Students in the camp have the opportunity not only to learn from some of the best artist-educators in the D.C. area, but also from professionals who perform regularly at Arena and other theatrical venues. DeMoya Watson Brown is one of the camp’s outstanding arts enhancers who will be at the camp this summer. She’s a former Rockette who is well know to D.C. audiences from her performances in Signature Theatre’s Crazy for You and Jelly’s Last Jam. In Ford Theatre’s production of The Wiz, she played the Tornado! DeMoya talks with Woman Around Town’s Editor Charlene Giannetti about her career and what she’s looking forward to teach the young people who sign up for Camp Arena Stage.
Get On ITunes
Camp Arena Stage
Charlene Giannetti
DeMoya Watson Brown
Jelly’s Last Jam
Signature Theatre
About Charlene Giannetti (306 Articles)
Charlene Giannetti, editor of Woman Around Town, is the recipient of seven awards from the New York Press Club for articles that have appeared on the website. A graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Charlene began her career working for a newspaper in Pennsylvania, then wrote for several publications in Washington covering environment and energy policy. In New York, she was an editor at Business Week magazine and her articles have appeared in many newspapers and magazines including the New York Times. She is the author of 13 non-fiction books, eight for parents of young adolescents written with Margaret Sagarese, including "The Roller-Coaster Years," "Cliques," and "Boy Crazy." She and Margaret have been keynote speakers at many events and have appeared on the Today Show, CBS Morning, FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and many others. Her new book, "The Plantations of Virginia," written with Jai Williams, was published by Globe Pequot Press in February, 2017. Her podcast, WAT-CAST, interviewing men and women making news, is available on Soundcloud and on iTunes. She is one of the producers for the film "1Life After You," focusing on the opioid crisis that will be filmed in 2019. Charlene divides her time between homes in Manhattan and Alexandria, Virginia.
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Exploring The Dark Net and Deep Web – What Are They, Really?
Though terms like the Dark Web and Deep Web are often used interchangeably, they aren’t the same place at all – read on to learn everything you need to know about both.
The term Deep Web is used to describe any content that is not indexed by Google. These are typically not the disgusting, creepy sites that might contain illegal images, drugs, and other nefarious information.
Instead, the Deep Web contains any gated content that requires user login credentials. Sites like this might include a company’s backend intranet site or a university site where only students can access the content. Organizations that host their own intranet cannot be crawled by Google Bots and therefore are considered part of the Deep Web. Even your Gmail account cannot be indexed by Google Bots and so it is considered Deep Web content.
The Dark Web is a subset of the Deep Web. This is like the Back Alley of Main Street USA, where all sorts of (often) illegal interactions take place. There, you’ll find a wide range of seedy content and illegal activities, along with products and services that most folks would prefer to avoid.
The Dark Web requires a special web browser and other tools that can protect your identity. The most common browsers used to access these areas are Tor (the Onion Browser), Freenet and I2P. Though many people are curious about the content on these sites, just a single visit to one of these sites may place you on an FBI watchlist, so proceed with caution.
How Big is the Internet?
Some experts say that only 4 percent of the whole Internet is readily available to users. The other 96 percent is hidden behind walls that require special tools to access. Much of this content is not illegal or unethical; it’s just content that the creators do not want to be made public for whatever reason.
On the other hand, there is a huge amount of content that is of questionable origin. For instance, one very well-known black market online site called Silk Road was highly popular on the Dark Web. At Silk Road, people all over the world could purchase illegal drugs, fake IDs, and other such items. Silk Road was finally shut down by the FBI in 2013, when the owner Ross W. Ulbricht was arrested. Other similar sites have tried to spring up, but the FBI keeps close tabs on this type of illegal drug trade on the Internet.
You should never visit a site like this without a VPN, which will mask your identity. Many other precautions are usually recommended, such as enabling “noscript” in the TOR browser and turning off your webcam. Even with all precautions in place, just one visit to a Dark Website can alert local police. Sites like this always deal in Bitcoins and rarely take credit cards. No one wants a $50,000 transaction to hire a hitman to show up on their credit card statement.
Many people, even savvy Internet users, are very uneducated when it comes to the Dark Web and that’s actually a good thing. It means they haven’t gone searching for content that is probably illegal or unethical. It’s also a topic that has been so taboo in the past that users simply couldn’t or wouldn’t go looking for answers. Though there are a great many Dark Web sites, how do you find them?
As mentioned above, you need a special browser, but often word of mouth is one way people find out about sites that might deal in unlawful activities. There are a number of forums and directories that also make mention of Tor activities, such as Reddit.
The Tor network hosts many clandestine or hidden services that you can’t find using a regular browser, including hacking software.
How to Access the Deep Web
Typically, those who want or need access to corporate content already know how to access it. Other examples include webinars or forums that require registration. This includes online classrooms and other teaching materials owned by schools and universities. Most company databases cannot be indexed by search engines. Academic journals and scientific papers are also excluded from the indexing process. Your banking information and most other personal financial information is not indexed by search engines and therefore considered deep web content. It is possible to exclude your website from search engines and sometimes people do this to protect their privacy.
How to Access the Dark Web
First of all, not all sites on the Dark Web are associated with illegal activities. The well-known site, WikiLeaks first began on the Dark Web as a secret place where whistleblowers could vent. In addition, the FBI has been cracking down on sites that deal in illegal drugs and dozens of these sites have recently been closed down.
Tor software encrypts web traffic in layers that allow it to bounce traffic around the world. With each pass, a layer of encryption is deleted before the data moves to the next network. Though it isn’t foolproof, it’s the best-known way to prevent anyone from spying on computers that enter the Dark Web.
Below are the step-by-step instructions for accessing the Dark Web. Remember to tread carefully. Enter at your own risk:
Step 1: Install the Tor browser on your computer. The download begins with the Tor bundle and you’ll need to install all of this onto your system.
Step 2: After the download is complete, install all files. Follow the screen prompts to correctly install everything.
Step 3: After installation, open the Tor browser.
Step 4: Install an Advanced VPN Service. There are numerous VPN services available today, such as ExpressVPN, PureVPN, and Hotspot Shield. These services charge a monthly fee ranging from just a few dollars per month to $30 per month. The rates are typically based on how many countries you can access, whether streaming services and games are included and other perks like that.
Step 5: Type something into your Tor browser that indicates your interests.
In spite of all precautions you may take, the Dark Web can be a dangerous place to hang out. For that reason, it’s a good idea to take certain precautions:
Cover your webcam.
Be sure to turn on the “NoScript” extension in the Tor browser and enable “Forbid Scripts globally”.
Never trust anyone you meet on the Dark Web.
Create a virtual identity.
Be aware that government law enforcement organizations may still be able to track your activities.
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‘CHOSEN’ OR ‘NOT CHOSEN‘? — That is the Question – oz
Updated New Study: Ashkenazi Jews descend from 350 people, study finds http://www.timesofisrael.com/ashkenazi-jews-descend-from-350-people-study-finds/
Thursday, January 17 2013 at 03:57
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/world/Gene-study-settles-debate-over-origin-of-European-Jews/-/1068/1667646/-/item/1/-/lovq07/-/index.html
READ THE STUDY:
https://zaidpub.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/khazars_the-missing-link1.pdf
Supporting Literature:
https://zaidpub.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/13th-tribe-arthur-koestler.pdf
https://zaidpub.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/medieval-source-book_khazars.pdf
https://zaidpub.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/the-iron-curtain-over-america-john-beaty-_hx-of-khazars.docx
Jews of European origin are a mix of ancestries, with many hailing from tribes in the Caucasus who converted to Judaism and created an empire that lasted half a millennium, according to a gene study published on Thursday.
The investigation, its author says, should settle a debate that has been roiling for more than two centuries.
Jews of European descent, often called Ashkenazis, account for some 90 percent of the more than 13 million Jews in the world today.
According to the so-called Rhineland Hypothesis, Ashkenazis descended from Jews who progressively fled Palestine after the Moslem conquest of 638 AD.
They settled in southern Europe and then, in the late Middle Ages, about 50,000 of them moved from the Rhineland in Germany into eastern Europe, according to the hypothesis.
But detractors say this idea is implausible.
Barring a miracle –which some supporters of the Rhineland Hypothesis have in fact suggested — the scenario would have been demographically impossible.
It would mean that the population of Eastern European Jews leapt from 50,000 in the 15th century to around eight million at the start of the 20th century.
That birth rate would have been 10 times greater than that of the local non-Jewish population. And it would have occurred despite economic hardship, disease, wars and pogroms that ravaged Jewish communities.
Seeking new light in the argument, a study published in the British journal Genome Biology and Evolution, compares the genomes of 1,287 unrelated individuals who hail from eight Jewish and 74 non-Jewish populations.
Geneticist Eran Elhaik of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, trawled through this small mountain of data in search of single changes in the DNA code that are linked to a group’s geographical origins.
Such telltales have been used in past research to delve into the origins of the Basque people and the pygmy people of central Africa.
Among European Jews, Elhaik found ancestral signatures that pointed clearly to the Caucasus and also, but to a smaller degree, the Middle East.
The results, said Elhaik, give sound backing for the rival theory — the “Khazarian Hypothesis.”
Under this concept, eastern European Jews descended from the Khazars, a hotchpotch of Turkic clans that settled the Caucasus in the early centuries AD and, influenced by Jews from Palestine, converted to Judaism in the 8th century.
The Judeo-Khazars built a flourishing empire, drawing in Jews from Mesopotamia and imperial Byzantium.
They became so successful that they sent offshoots into Hungary and Romania, planting the seeds of a great diaspora.
But Khazaria collapsed in the 13th century when it was attacked by the Mongols and became weakened by outbreaks of the Black Death.
The Judeo-Khazars fled westwards, settling in the rising Polish Kingdom and in Hungary, where their skills in finance, economics and politics were in demand, and eventually spread to central and western Europe, according to the “Khazarian Hypothesis.”
“We conclude that the genome of European Jews is a tapestry of ancient populations including Judaised Khazars, Greco-Roman Jews, Mesopotamian Jews and Judeans,” says Elhaik.
“Their population structure was formed in the Caucasus and the banks of the Volga, with roots stretching to Canaan and the banks of the Jordan.”
Many things are unknown about the Khazars, whose tribal confederation gathered Slavs, Scythians, Hunnic-Bulgars, Iranians, Alans and Turks.
But, argues Elhaik, the tale sketched in the genes is backed by archaeological findings, by Jewish literature that describes the Khazars’ conversion to Judaism, and by language, too.
“Yiddish, the language of Central and Eastern European Jews, began as a Slavic language” before being reclassified as High German, he notes.
Another pointer is that European Jews and their ancestral groups in the Caucasus and Middle East share a relatively high risk of diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
The investigation should help fine-tune a fast-expanding branch of genomics, which looks at single-change DNA mutations that are linked with inherited disease, adds Elhaik
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About ED OFFICES
Office Non-Public Education
ONPE General Issues Frequently Asked Questions Related to Nonpublic Schools
Select a link below to jump to the relevant page section.
Does the U.S. Department of Education offer scholarships or other forms of financial assistance to pay tuition for students to attend private elementary or secondary schools?
Does the U.S. Department of Education provide funds for building, starting, or operating private elementary and secondary schools?
Does the U.S. Department of Education provide services and benefits to private elementary and secondary school students and teachers and, if so, how do students and teachers get access to them?
Which programs provide services to private elementary and secondary school teachers and students under ESEA?
How are services provided to private elementary and secondary school students with disabilities under IDEA?
How do I access U.S. Department of Education programs that serve students and teachers in private elementary and secondary schools?
Are there any U.S. Department of Education grants that a private elementary and secondary school may apply for directly?
May a private elementary or secondary school become a provider of Supplemental Educational Services (SES), and be paid for providing SES?
Are private elementary and secondary schools whose students or teachers receive equitable services under ESEA or IDEA considered to be "recipients of federal financial assistance"?
Are private secondary schools subject to the military recruiter requirements?
May children who are schooled at home receive services from federal education programs under ESEA and IDEA?
I am interested in starting a private elementary or secondary school. Must I contact the U.S. Department of Education?
Does the U.S. Department of Education have a list of private elementary and secondary schools?
Does the U.S. Department of Education accredit private elementary or secondary schools? Does it recognize accrediting bodies for such accreditation?
1. Does the U.S. Department of Education offer scholarships or other forms of financial assistance to pay tuition for students to attend private elementary or secondary schools?
In general, the federal government does not provide scholarships or other forms of financial assistance that directly pay the tuition for a student to attend a private elementary or secondary school. However, the U.S. Department of Education has one program, the D.C. School Choice Incentive Program, that awards funds to a private entity to provide scholarships for private school tuition, fees and transportation expenses for students who meet certain eligibility criteria. Through this program, students from low-income families residing in the District of Columbia may receive such scholarships to attend private elementary or secondary schools in Washington, D.C. To learn more about the D.C. School Choice Incentive Program, visit the Department of Education's web site at: http://www.ed.gov/programs/dcchoice/index.html.
Usually, the best place to start looking for information about scholarships or other financial aid is the school or schools that your child attends or is considering attending. Ask school officials if they offer financial assistance and if they have recommendations for other potential sources of aid. You may also want to search the internet for organizations that provide information about financing private education.
2. Does the U.S. Department of Education provide funds for building, starting, or operating private elementary and secondary schools?
In general, the U.S. Department of Education does not have programs that provide funds for building, starting, or operating private elementary and secondary schools.
An exception to this was the School Renovation Program, which provided federal assistance to high-poverty public and private schools located within a local education agency (LEA) that received a school renovation grant. Eligible schools could receive certain types of renovations, primarily modifications that allowed the school to meet the standards applicable to schools under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and for asbestos abatement and removal. Funds for multi-year projects that were authorized under this program by the Department of Education Appropriations Act of 2001 expired on Sept. 30, 2007.
Although the U.S. Department of Education does not provide funds for building, starting, or operating private elementary and secondary schools, it does have programs that allow for private school students, teachers and, in some programs, parents to receive services (See questions 3, 4, and 5.), as well as for private schools to receive funds in return for providing certain secular services. (See questions 7 and 8.)
3. Does the U.S. Department of Education provide services and benefits to private elementary and secondary school students and teachers and, if so, how do students and teachers get access to them?
Certain federal education programs under the ESEA, (See question 4.) and IDEA (See question 5.) provide services and benefits to private school students, teachers and, in some programs, parents (as distinct from schools) and require that such services be provided equitably compared to services provided to students and teachers in public schools. LEAs, normally the local public school districts, are responsible for implementing these programs on behalf of private school students and teachers. Under these programs, control of funds remains with the LEA.
4. Which programs provide services to private elementary and secondary school teachers and students under ESEA?
Under ESEA, as amended by NCLB, there are 12 programs that require the equitable participation of private school students, teachers and, in some programs, parents. The programs are:
Title I - Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs [Part A]
Reading First [Part B, Subpart 1]
Even Start Family Literacy [Part B, Subpart 3]
Migrant Education [Part C]
Title II - Preparing, Training and Recruiting High-quality Teachers and Principals
Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund [Part A]
Mathematics and Science Partnerships [Part B]
Enhancing Education Through Technology [Part D]
Title III - Language Instruction for LEP and Immigrant Students
English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, & Academic Achievement [Part A]
Title IV - 21st Century Schools
Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities [Part A]
21st Century Community Learning Centers [Part B]
Title V - Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative Programs
Innovative Programs [Part A]
Gifted and Talented Students [Part D, Subpart 6]
For more information about these programs and to review a related informational publication, The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001: Benefits to Private School Students and Teachers, visit: http://www.ed.gov/nclb/choice/schools/privbenefits/index.html.
5. How are services provided to private elementary and secondary school students with disabilities under IDEA?
Under IDEA, LEAs must expend a proportionate share of federal IDEA funds to provide special education and related services to parentally placed private school children with disabilities in programs assisted by or carried out under Part B of IDEA. LEAs are required to consult in a timely and meaningful manner with private school representatives and representatives of parents of parentally placed private school children with disabilities during the design and development of special education and related services for these children. However, no parentally placed private school child with a disability has an individual right to receive some or all of the special education and related services that the child would receive if enrolled in a public school. Additional information on IDEA and services to parentally placed private school children with disabilities is located at: http://idea.ed.gov/explore/
view/p/%2Croot%2Cdynamic%2CTopicalArea%2C5%2C.
6. How do I access U.S. Department of Education programs that serve students and teachers in private elementary and secondary schools?
In most cases, the LEA directly contacts officials of private schools located within its boundaries to begin the consultation process with school officials on key issues that are relevant to the equitable participation of private school students, teachers and, in some cases, parents in federal education programs. If this does not occur, private school officials should contact the LEA in which their private school is located and ask to speak to the individual(s) responsible for administering federal education programs.
7. Are there any U.S. Department of Education grants that a private elementary and secondary school may apply for directly?
Yes. There are some grants for which private schools and faith-based and community organizations may apply. These grant programs are generally narrow in focus and address specific needs and concerns. To the extent that a private school meets the eligibility requirements for a program (generally as set forth in the statute or regulations), the school may apply directly for these grant funds. In this case, the private school receives funds in return for providing certain services. If a private school is awarded such a grant, it then becomes a recipient of federal financial assistance and is subject to the laws and regulations that apply to recipients, including federal civil rights laws. (See question 9.)
To find out more about these programs, visit the U.S. Department of Education's Grants webpage at: http://www2.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml. Additionally, for information about the eligibility of faith-based organizations to participate in U.S. Department of Education programs refer to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (34 CFR 75.52 and 76.52).
8. May a private elementary or secondary school become a provider of Supplemental Educational Services (SES), and be paid for providing SES?
Yes. Under Title I of the ESEA, private schools are eligible to become approved providers of SES and to receive payment for providing such services. Supplemental education services are tutoring and other academic enrichment provided outside of the regular school day to eligible public school students to help improve achievement in reading, language arts, and mathematics. Private schools are the providers only; their students are not eligible for the SES that they provide to public school students. Private schools interested in becoming SES providers should apply to their state education agency (SEA). For more information on becoming an SES provider visit the U.S. Department of Education's web site at: http://www.ed.gov/nclb/choice/help/ses/privschools.html.
9. Are private elementary and secondary schools whose students or teachers receive equitable services under ESEA or IDEA considered to be "recipients of federal financial assistance"?
No. Private schools whose students and teachers receive equitable services under ESEA or IDEA are not considered recipients of federal financial assistance. These programs are considered to be operated for the benefit of students and teachers in private schools, not for the benefit of the private schools themselves. As a result, certain requirements that apply to recipients (which may include certain civil rights requirements and the military recruiter requirements discussed in question 10) do not apply to private schools by virtue of their students or teachers receiving equitable services under ESEA or IDEA. However, if a private school otherwise receives federal financial assistance, including a grant or subgrant of federal funds to implement a federal education program, the school would be considered a recipient.
If a private school is a recipient of federal financial assistance, that school is subject to the federal civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age. If a private school is not a recipient, but the private school's students and teachers receive equitable services under ESEA or IDEA, the LEA involved remains responsible for ensuring that there is no discrimination with respect to the federal education program.
10. Are private secondary schools subject to the military recruiter requirements?
In general, the military recruiter requirements dictate that LEAs receiving assistance under the ESEA give military recruiters the same access to secondary school students as they provide to postsecondary institutions or to prospective employers. LEAs are also generally required to provide students' names, addresses, and telephone listings to military recruiters, when requested, unless a parent has opted out of providing such information.
Private secondary schools are subject to the military recruiter requirements only if they receive funds under the ESEA. Private schools that do not themselves receive any ESEA funds, but whose students or teachers receive services under ESEA programs, are not considered to be recipients of funds and are not subject to the military recruiter requirements. Private schools that enroll and serve publicly funded students are not subject to the requirements if they do not receive ESEA funds. Private schools that receive funds under ESEA but maintain a religious objection to service in the armed forces that is verifiable through the corporate or other organizational documents of that school are not required to comply with this requirement. For more information about the military recruiter requirements, visit: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/hottopics/ht-10-09-02a.html.
11. May children who are schooled at home receive services from federal education programs under ESEA and IDEA?
In general, the extent to which homeschooled children may participate in these programs depends on how a state recognizes a homeschool. If a state recognizes a homeschool as a private school, the homeschooled students would be eligible to receive benefits and services similar to those received by their private school counterparts.
12. I am interested in starting a private elementary or secondary school. Must I contact the U.S. Department of Education?
No. The U.S. Department of Education does not regulate or control this aspect of private schools. In other words, you do not need the permission or approval of the U.S. Department of Education to start a private school. Most of the laws and regulations you will need to follow are from state and local governments. Because states differ in how they regulate schools, you should inquire at your state Department of Education regarding laws, regulations, and policies that will affect opening and operating a private school. Information on state departments of education is located on the U.S. Department of Education's web site at: http://www.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html.
13. Does the U.S. Department of Education have a list of private elementary and secondary schools?
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences, has an online data bank that allows searches for private schools according to many criteria, including the type of school, location, and affiliations. Information posted on the Private School Search site was obtained from those private schools that responded to the Private School Universe Survey (PSS) conducted by NCES. To access the Private School Search site, visit: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch.
14. Does the U.S. Department of Education accredit private elementary or secondary schools? Does it recognize accrediting bodies for such accreditation?
No. The U.S. Department of Education does not have the authority to accredit private or public elementary or secondary schools, and the Department does not recognize accrediting bodies for the accreditation of private or public elementary and secondary schools. However, the U.S. Department of Education does recognize accrediting bodies for the accreditation of institutions of higher (postsecondary) education. If an accrediting body that is recognized by the Department for higher education also accredits elementary and secondary schools, the Department's recognition applies only to the agency's accreditation of postsecondary institutions.
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Context: Governing Council’s Crackdown on Al-Jazeera
“You know, I just came in from Baghdad, and there are now over 100 newspapers in the free press in Iraq in a free Iraq, where people are able to say whatever they wish. People are debating, people are discussing — something they have not done for decades.”
— Donald Rumsfeld, in response to protesters, Sept. 10.
Cunningham is national coordinator for Code Pink. She was among a group of protesters who interrupted Donald Rumsfeld at a Sept. 10 speech in Washington. She said today: “Rumsfeld made an attempt to divert attention from the substance of protests calling for his resignation with talk of the establishment of a free press in Iraq. Rumsfeld did not remind the audience of the countless instances of censorship exercised by the U.S. over mostly Arab journalists expressing anti-occupation views (‘Iraq to Bar Key Arabic News Channels,’ www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030923-111537-1915r, United Press International, 9/23/03); or that Maj. Gen David Petraeus, the Army 101st Airborne Division’s commanding officer, seized ‘editorial control’ of the only TV station in Mosul over its ‘predominantly non-factual/unbalanced news coverage’ (‘Iraqi Democracy Means a Free Press,’ www.commondreams.org/views03/0518-04.htm, Toronto Star, 5/18/03; ‘Iraqi Independent Newspaper Closed for “Inciting People to Murder,”‘ www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/2003/07/iraq-030722-voa10.htm, Voice of America, 7/22/03). I also can’t help but think of the Al-Jazeera cameraman killed in U.S. raids and the many other Arabic news stations that were hit by ‘coalition’ bombings (‘Al-Jazeera Cameraman Killed in U.S. Raid,’ http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,932169,00.html, Guardian, 4/8/03).”
DAVID ENDERS
Enders is editor of Baghdad Bulletin and has spent most of the last several months in Iraq. Enders said today: “The current president of the governing council, Ahmed Chalabi, has been very critical of Al-Jazeera [http://english.aljazeera.net]…. The network has taken serious steps in Baghdad, admitting and apologizing when its reporting has been sloppy, holding its journalism to high standards…. The general impression most people are given of the journalistic atmosphere in Iraq — where, it is often cited, more than 150 newspapers have been allowed to thrive since the deposing of Saddam Hussein’s government — belies instances like these, in which the U.S.-U.K. has used loosely interpreted edicts by Paul Bremer to shut down newspapers. To see the governing council act in the same manner is extremely disheartening.”
AS’AD ABUKHALIL
Author of the book Bin Laden, Islam and America’s New “War on Terrorism,” AbuKhalil is professor of political science at California State University at Stanislaus. He said today: “Clearly the governing council is a U.S. puppet. So the decision to punish Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiyyah (and the latter is notorious for going out of its way to accommodate U.S. perspectives) should be seen within two contexts: First, this is not the first act against the Iraqi press by the U.S. colonial administration. Offices of newspapers have in the last several months been searched and vandalized by U.S. troops, and computers have been confiscated. Journalists were also arrested on charges of inciting violence — a charge that was a favorite for Saddam’s government — and journalists were shot at during the invasion. There are still Iraqi journalists among the 10,000 prisoners in U.S. custody waiting to be charged. The second context is the U.S. war against Al-Jazeera, which had begun in earnest after Sept. 11. One can easily level accusations and criticisms of Al-Jazeera, including their attempt to appease the U.S. government on many occasions, but it certainly has provided a much more balanced picture of events in Iraq than the U.S. media.”
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Making Migration Law
The Foreigner, Sovereignty, and the Case of Australia
Author: Eve Lester, Institute for International Law and the Humanities, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne
Date Published: February 2018
Hardback, Paperback
The emergence of international human rights law and the end of the White Australia immigration policy were events of great historical moment. Yet, they were not harbingers of a new dawn in migration law. This book argues that this is because migration law in Australia is best understood as part of a longer jurisprudential tradition in which certain political-economic interests have shaped the relationship between the foreigner and the sovereign. Eve Lester explores how this relationship has been wrought by a political-economic desire to regulate race and labour; a desire that has produced the claim that there exists an absolute sovereign right to exclude or condition the entry and stay of foreigners. Lester calls this putative right a discourse of 'absolute sovereignty'. She argues that 'absolute sovereignty' talk continues to be a driver of migration lawmaking, shaping the foreigner-sovereign relation and making thinkable some of the world's harshest asylum policies.
Will appeal to both an Australian and international readership wishing to understand the backstory of how this claim has emerged and been authorised in Australia
Provides fresh insights into Australia's current policy of mandatory extraterritorial detention of asylum-seekers
Canvasses an area of public policy that has hitherto received very little scholarly attention
'This book exposes the moral and political bankruptcy that comes with 'absolute sovereignty' - a domestic law doctrine with its origins and currency in the politics of xenophobia and racial discrimination - particularly when courts fail to assert control and apply the principles of legality integral to their duty to do justice. Dr Lester's work is a major point of departure; as she clearly shows, now is the time to question such a serious challenge to democratic government and the rule of law.' Guy S. Goodwin-Gill, Emeritus Fellow, All Souls College, Oxford
'Eve Lester's personal energy and passion for this subject shines through this accessible and highly engaging book. It should be a foundational text for all students and scholars seeking to understand Australia's migration law system.' Kim Rubenstein, Australian National University, Canberra
'Eve Lester's in-depth analysis is most timely and valuable. At a time when migration and refugee policies are at the forefront of international attention and domestic debate, it is hoped the evidence base it provides will contribute to a serious reorientation from current exclusionist thinking towards policies of inclusion and diversity that guarantee freedoms from want and fear.' Volker Türk, UN Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees (Protection), UNHCR
'This is a book for law and policy makers as well as for judges, human rights lawyers and activists. It provides the backstory so necessary for a proper understanding of Australia's uniquely harsh response to unsolicited migration.' The Honorable Catherine Branson, QC, former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission and former judge of the Federal Court of Australia
'… a very readable and engaging text whose value extends far beyond the case of Australia … Making Migration Law should be read by scholars and practitioners who are researching foreigner-sovereign relations in such realms as history, anthropology, philosophy, sociology, and literary studies.' International Journal of Refugee Law
Prologue: living realities
Part I:
2. Early international law and the foreigner
3. A common law doctrine of sovereignty
4. A constitutionalisation of sovereignty
Part II: Introduction to Part II:
5. Mandatory detention
6. Planned destitution
Epilogue: a campaign to 'stop the boats'
Eve Lester, Institute for International Law and the Humanities, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne
Eve Lester is a public and international lawyer with a background in refugee, migration and human rights law, policy and practice spanning more than twenty-five years. An independent scholar and consultant, her work has taken her to Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Pacific in a range of capacities in the non-government sector, with the United Nations, and as an independent adviser to governments. She has taught at the Australian Catholic University, the Australian National University, Canberra, the International Institute for Humanitarian Law, Italy, New York University, and the University of New South Wales.
Making People Illegal
What Globalization Means for Migration and Law
Supported Decision-Making
Theory, Research, and Practice to Enhance Self-Determination and Quality of Life
Migration and Integration
The Case for Liberalism with Borders
Global Health, Human Rights, and the Challenge of Neoliberal Policies
Humanity at Sea
Maritime Migration and the Foundations of International Law
International Refugee Law and Socio-Economic Rights
Refuge from Deprivation
International Journal of Law in Context
The International Journal of Law in Context provides a forum for interdisciplinary legal studies and offers intellectual…
Canadian Journal of Law & Society / Revue Canadienne Droit et Société
The Canadian Journal of Law & Society (CJLS) is a bilingual periodical publishing cutting edge research in the broad…
Law & Social Inquiry
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See our selected itineraries in Thailand
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand.
Area : 513 000 km2
Length : 1770 km
Width: 805 Km at the widest point
GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION
Thailand, covering an area of 514,000 square kilometres, lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, roughly equidistant between India and China. It shares borders with Myanmar to the west and north, Lao P.D.R. to the north and northeast, Cambodia to the east and Malaysia to the south.
Thailand is divided into four distinct areas: the mountainous North, the fertile Central Plains, the semi-arid plateau of the Northeast, and the peninsula south, distinguished by its many beautiful tropical beaches and offshore islands.
Thailand has a population of about 68 million. Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area has historically been a migratory crossroads, and thus strains of Mon, Khmer, Burmese, Lao, Malay, Indian and most strongly, Chinese stock produce a degree of ethnic diversity. However, integration is such that culturally and socially there is enormous unity.
Thai is the official language. There are also many speaking dialects of Chinese and increasingly English.
Thai currency is the Baht, divided into 100 Satang. At the time of writing exchange rate is exchange Rate is approximately 35 Baht for 1 US$ and 38 Baht for 1 Euro (January 2017). Thai notes are in denominations of B1000, 500, 100, 50, and 20. Coins are of B10, 5, 2, 1 and S50 and 25.
Cash and Travelers Cheques can be exchanged freely, with banks or money changers giving other rates than hotels. Major international credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops.
Banking hours are generally 9h30 to 15h30, Monday to Friday. Some Bangkok banks have shorter hours in an effort to lessen the rush-hour traffic problems.
Exchange booths are often open daily, early until late. As well as providing day-to-day banking services, the major banks can also organize international money transfers. Most banks, especially in cities, have an associated ATM.
Thailand lies within the humid tropics and remains hot throughout the year. Average temperatures are about 29oC, ranging in Bangkok from 35oC in April to 17oC in December. There are three seasons: the cool season (November to February), the hot season (April to May), and the rainy season (June to October), though downpours rarely last more than a couple of hours.
Most of Thailand - with the mountains in the North and the Khorat Plateau of the North-East notable exceptions - is very humid, with and overall average humidity of 66% to 82%, depending on the season and time of day. The hot part of the dry season reaches its hottest along the north-east plain, and temperatures easily soar to 39 C in the daytime, dropping only a few degrees at night. The temperature can drop to 13 C at night during the cool season in Chiang Mai. If you're visiting the North during the cooler months, long sleeved shirts and pullovers would be in order.
Thailand is one of the most strongly Buddhist countries in the world. The national religion is Theravada Buddhism, a branch of Hinayana Buddhism, practiced by more than 90 % of all Thais.
The remainder of the population adheres to lslam, Christianity, Hinduism and other faiths - all of which are allowed in full freedom of expression. Buddhism continues to cast strong influence on daily life. Senior monks are highly revered. Thus, in towns and villages, the temple (Wat) is the heart of social and religious life.
Meditation, one of the most popular aspects of Buddhism, is practiced regularly by numerous Thai as a means of promoting inner peace and happiness. Visitors, too, can learn the fundamentals of this practice at several centres in Bangkok and elsewhere in the country.
Thailand is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. It is the same time zone as Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
The electric current is 220 Volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. There are many plugs and sockets in use. Travelers with shavers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug-adapter kit. The better hotels will make available 110 Volt transformers.
It is advisable not to drink water from the tap unless it is boiled properly.
The telecommunications network includes satellite, terrestrial, mobile, Internet, radio and GSM (please check with your operator if the "roaming" coverage works). International calls can be made from the main post offices, private business centers and hotels. Public telephone booths are also available in the main post offices, hotels and restaurants.
HEALTH & MEDICAL FACILITIES
All Tourism destinations and provincial capitals have hospitals and clinics staffed by well-trained doctors and nurses. In case of emergencies, ambulances can be summoned from any private hospital.
There are two international airports in Thailand: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Phuket Airport. The country has more than 20 domestic airports, often with several flights a day: there are several airlines including Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways, with a very recent fleet.
The country also has a very good but slow train network including access to the northern region. Night trains are cheap and comfortable: the second class has 4 beds per cabin, the first class cabin with 2 beds (for a small fee).
In Thailand they drive on the left.
The International Driving Permit is required. However, car hire is strongly discouraged in both cities than in the countryside, because of little guidance.
It is possible to rent a motorbike in Chiang Mai, Phuket and Koh Samui. For safety reasons is highly discouraged.
Thai food is internationally famous. Whether chili-hot or comparatively bland, harmony is the guiding principle behind each dish. Thai cuisine is essentially a marriage of centuries-old Eastern and Western influences harmoniously combined into something uniquely Thai. The characteristics of Thai food depend on who cooks it, for whom it is cooked, for what occasion, and where it is cooked to suit all palates. Originally, Thai cooking reflected the characteristics of a waterborne lifestyle. Aquatic animals, plants and herbs were major ingredients. Large chunks of meat were eschewed. Subsequent influences introduced the use of sizeable chunks to Thai cooking.
With their Buddhist background, Thais shunned the use of large animals in big chunks. Big cuts of meat were shredded and laced with herbs and spices. Traditional Thai cooking methods were stewing and baking, or grilling. Chinese influences saw the introduction of flying, stir frying and deep-frying. Culinary influences from the 17th century onwards included Portuguese, Dutch, French and Japanese. Chillies were introduced to Thai cooking during the late 1600s by Portuguese missionaries who had acquired a taste for them while serving in South America.
Thai food is eaten with a fork and spoon. Even single dish meals such as fried rice with pork, or steamed rice topped with roasted duck, are served in bite-sized slices or chunks obviating the need for a knife. The spoon is used to convey food to the mouth.
Major hotels and restaurants add ten percent service charge to bills, otherwise tip around ten per cent. The tip for Hotel porters and bag boys is B20-40. Taxi drivers tipped to next 10 Baht above meter fare shown, if you have not already bargained the fare.
Porters, hairdressers and barbers also often expect tips. A service charge of ten per cent is common on up-market restaurant and hotel bills, even if they also charge government tax.
VISA AND PASSEPORT
A 30-day visa will be issued free upon arrival in the Thai territory. Rapidly changing information, it is your responsibility to check the input and output area depending on your nationality.
Before anything else, you must first ensure the validity of your passport for at least 6 months after your return date.
If you are travelling to Thailand, light and loose clothing, especially made of natural fibres, is appropriate. Nylon should be avoided. A jacket or sweaters are useful during Cool Season evenings or if visiting mountainous areas and remote national parks.
Jackets and ties are required in certain restaurants and night clubs.
PHOENIX VOYAGES WISHES YOU A PLEASANT TRIP
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Rainer GOPP
Progressive Citizen's Party
Landtag des Fürstentums Liechtenstein
Peter-Kaiser-Platz 3 LI - 9490 - Vaduz
rainer.gopp@landtag.li
http://www.landtag.li
from 25/01/2016 to 23/04/2017 (Representative-Liechtenstein)
from 22/04/2013 to 25/01/2016 (Substitute-Liechtenstein)
14/10/2016 | Doc. 14186 | Motion for a resolution Strengthening international regulations against trade in goods used for torture and the death penalty
14/10/2016 | Doc. 14187 | Motion for a resolution Allegations of torture and ill treatment in Turkey in the aftermath of the coup attempt
13/10/2016 | Doc. 14177 | Motion for a resolution Moratorium on arms sales in the Middle East
27/01/2017 | Resolution 2152 | “New generation” trade agreements and their implications for social rights, public health and sustainable development
27/01/2017 | Resolution 2151 | Human rights compatibility of investor-State arbitration in international investment protection agreements
26/01/2017 | Resolution 2149 | The progress of the Assembly’s monitoring procedure (September 2015-December 2016) and the periodic review of the honouring of obligations by Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France and Germany
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10 Super Cool Flicks That Will Inspire You To Trave
Irresistible urge to pack your bags
Ever watched a cool flick that you gave you a strong case of wanderlust? As far as I’m concerned, movies are truly one of the best instruments for inspiring an adventurous escape or a retreat to a far-off paradise. From breathtaking places to visit to thrilling and fun-filled expeditions, flicks can, in a variety of ways, spark your wanderlust and unleash in your inner wanderer. Even if you are not a travel addict, a good film about traveling will give you an irresistible urge to pack your bags and go for a vacation.
Looking for a superb travel film to inspire your next big adventure? Here are 10 movies that you should watch or stream on Netflix.
1. Wild
Wild is the beautiful and heartwarming story of a recovering drug addict, Cheryl Strayed, who went on an epic journey of self-discovery across America, after her mother’s passing. While she didn’t have any recent experience in backpacking and solo travel, Strayed was still able to survive and conquer the unforgiving 1,000-mile Pacific Crest Trail on her own and with flying colors. Filmed in Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park and other picturesque places, Wild also immortalized the splendor and appeal of America’s hiking trails.
2. Thelma and Louise
Is your life heading towards the mundane? Then, watch Thelma and Louise, to get some ideas on how to bring a sense of fun, excitement and adventure into your life. Thelma and Louise is an inspirational and feel-good narrative of two buddies who ditched their white-bread lives to go on a euphoric road trip in a classic 1966 Thunderbird. Besides its wanderlust-sparking spot, the film also flaunted a few beautiful scenes in California, Colorado and Utah.
3. Eat Pray Love
Eat Pray Love is definitely an incredible motion picture that every traveler or troubled soul should watch at least once in their life. Aptly labeled as one the greatest travel movies of all time, this wondrous book-turned-film has been for years luring billions of people to see our beautiful world with an open heart and mind. Furthermore, it is an inspiring flick that will encourage you to take a step outside your comfort zone. And by the way, did we mention that the film displays the grandeur of Italy, Bali and India?
4. Before sunrise
To experience magic, love and pure bliss, sometimes all you have to do is to spend a day with a complete stranger in a gorgeous foreign land like Vienna. Don’t believe us? Watch Ethan Hawke and Julie Delphy in Before Sunrise. And not only is the film intrinsically romantic, but it also highlights the irresistible charm of Austria’s capital and largest city.
5. Roman Holiday
Featuring the supremely elegant and beautiful Audrey Hepburn, Roman Holiday is a classic black-and-white film that spotlights Rome in the 1950s though the eyes of a spoiled and sheltered princess who was swept off her feet by an American reporter. Of course, the film showcased some of Rome’s most iconic landmarks.
6. Mamma Mia!
Planning on getting married this year? Mamma Mia, starring the ravishing Amanda Seyfried and the ageless Meryl Streep, has helped transform Greece’s scenic islands into a must-visit and sought-after destination among newlyweds and soon-to-be-married couples. Captivated by the awe-inspiring of the film, countless of moviegoers from all over the world have booked trips to these fabulous islands, to spend celebrate their honeymoon or celebrate their own Big Fat Greek Wedding.
7. The Bucket List
The Bucket List is a tearjerker and a dramatic screenplay that will give you a strong desire to travel as well as do everything that your heart desires, before you hit the bucket. More than just an emotional picture, the Bucket List is to me also a reminder that life is too short and people should enjoy it to the fullest.
8. Under the Tuscan Sun
Based on the memoir of Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun is the compelling story of a recently divorced American female who found her bliss and contentment by buying and restoring an old villa in Tuscany. Showcasing Tuscany’s splendid countryside scenery, Under the Tuscan Sun has inspired millions of moviegoers and travelers to seek out the movie’s filming locations, helping increase Tuscany’s burgeoning tourism and expat population.
9. Tracks
Want to travel solo, but scared to do so? Trust me, watching the Australian drama film Tracks will give you a little push and the courage to go on a solo adventure. An adaptation of Robyn Davidson’s award-winning memoir, Tracks chronicles the author’s remarkable and eye-opening journey across the slightly perilous and vast Australian desert.
10. Into the Wild
Into the Wild, even though it didn’t have a happy fairytale-like ending, is an uplifting and beautiful movie that has been anchored soundly in the hearts of millions of travel junkies and backpackers worldwide. A timeless award-winning classic, this film wonderfully epitomes the feeling of adventure, spontaneity and freedom that comes with backpacking and solo travel.
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Alex McIntyre accepts post in California
January 18, 2012 by ELGL
ELGL thanks Alex for his support and commitment to promote the local government profession. We’ll continue to carry on this message.
Lake Oswego City Manager Alex McIntyre announced Wednesday he is leaving his post to become city manager of Menlo Park, Calif., a city of about 32,000 south of San Francisco.
“The opportunity to get back to California is just too strong,” said McIntyre, 50, a native Californian who now lives in the Hillsdale area of Southwest Portland. “After four years in Lake Oswego, it sort of feels like I’ve done all I can. … I think it’s a good time to go.”
He added that Menlo Park is working on some “really exciting things,” including welcoming Facebook’s new headquarters.
When McIntyre took the city manager position in Lake Oswego in March 2008, the city faced its largest public infrastructure endeavor to date.
“When I arrived, the LOIS (Lake Oswego Interceptor Sewer) project was a $126 million dollar problem,” he said. “As I’m leaving Lake Oswego, the entire project is completed – on time and significantly under budget. It speaks well to what my team did in managing the project, communicating the project and delivering the project. That’s one thing I’m quite proud of.”
McIntyre is also credited with bringing more transparency and flexibility to the budget process after he shifted the city from biennial to annual budgets. “Financially, we’re stronger today than when I joined the city,” he said.
McIntyre pointed to the formation of the economic development office as another key accomplishment during his tenure, along with his move to break down components of the former community development division “to make it more efficient and make it perform better.”
“I think we’ve had good luck with that,” he said.
But some efforts didn’t have such clean results. Looking back, McIntyre acknowledged, “You always see things with a different eye.”
In the case of the controversial West End Building, purchased for $20 million in 2006, McIntyre said he’s happy to have worked with the council and city staff to better understand issues with the WEB: Its benefits and costs, what the community wants from it and what can be done. But he wishes more could have been done with the property than simply refinancing it.
“The council and community remain divided on what to do with the facility and what to do with the property,” he said.
That’s one area a new city manager could find a challenge.
“Lake Oswego is always going to be a great community, and it’s always going to draw strong talent to it,” McIntyre said. “But I think the council remains really divided on a lot of policy lines. A new manager coming in is really going to have to understand that those divisions are fairly fixed, and, until a new council comes together around certain issues, I think it’s going to remain a challenge for the new city manager.
“The division of the council may or may not reflect the division of the community; that’s the piece I’ve never been quite certain of.”
He said Menlo Park is similar in size and other characteristics to Lake Oswego.
“It’s known for its schools; it attracts a lot of high-income, successful people.”
The city, which lies in the suburbs between San Francisco and San Jose, with Palo Alto to the southeast and Redwood City to the north, is struggling to revitalize its downtown, McIntyre said. But while many members of the community are affluent or middle class, he said, “There is also a working-class end which provides unique challenges.”
Before coming to Lake Oswego, McIntyre was the chief assistant county administrator in the Bay Area’s Marin County for two and a half years. He worked as town manager in Tiburon from 2000 to 2006, and he held a variety of other public agency positions throughout California before that. McIntyre was born in San Francisco and grew up in Southern California.
Although he is pleased to be returning to his roots, McIntyre said he will miss Lake Oswego.
“A job like what I do for a living is so often about the people. It’s really about the people I work for and, in this case, the people I work with,” he said. “My biggest sadness is that I’m leaving behind a team of coworkers who are absolute professionals, who are really on their game and know their business, and who, despite all sorts of obstacles, do tremendous work.”
The city council will eventually appoint an interim city manager but has not yet identified a process or timeline to do so. McIntyre said city leaders would need to decide whether to search for a permanent replacement now or wait to hire someone after a new council is seated in January 2013. Technically, the city charter limits an interim city manager to a six-month appointment, Mayor Jack Hoffman said.
Hoffman said McIntyre has been an “exceptional” city manager.
“Alex is a star among city managers in the region, as far as I’m concerned,” Hoffman said. “He has the ability to see the big picture, he is creative, he has the ability to gather around him top-quality people.
“And he is confident enough in his own abilities to allow his people to work on behalf of the city and also interact with the city council. Unlike other city managers in the region, he did not require that all communication between the council and management staff go through him, but rather he had the confidence to allow or encourage management to deal directly with council members.”
Calling this a “sad day” in Lake Oswego, Hoffman added: “He will be sorely missed.”
News Article, Personnel Changes
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How 2 US-trained Israel advocates became prominent international spokesmen
Yishai Fleisher in Hebron with Israeli Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked. Credit: Courtesy of Yishai Fleisher.
By Judy Lash Balint/JNS.org
You could say that Yishai Fleisher was destined to be a Jewish activist. Born in Haifa on the day of the 1976 Entebbe hijacking to refusenik parents who struggled to escape from the Soviet Union, Yishai’s brit milah (circumcision ceremony) took place just as the hostages were being freed in Israel’s most daring rescue operation.
Today, the trilingual Fleisher serves as international spokesman for the Jewish community of Hebron, a demanding and sensitive job that puts him front and center representing a city that is a lightning rod for controversy.
Elie Pieprz, director of international affairs for the YESHA Council, is another U.S.-trained activist playing a leading role in one of Israel’s most controversial issues.
Pieprz, a native of Silver Spring, Md., is a member of the team responsible for presenting the face of Israel’s settlement movement to the world. Pieprz was part of the delegation of leaders from the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria who attended the recent inauguration of President Donald Trump. Makor Rishon, a leading Hebrew-language newspaper, just described Pieprz as "the Israeli who seems to have the best contacts with the new [U.S.] administration, apart from [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, of course."
Like Fleisher, Pieprz cut his teeth as an activist in the U.S. before making aliyah and bringing his experience to bear to work on one of the core issues of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Roots in education
Despite their different backgrounds, both men credit their education in the U.S. as a central part of the preparation for their current jobs. Fleisher, 40, grew up in New Jersey after his family left Israel, and attended The Frisch School, a coed yeshiva high school, before graduating from Yeshiva University (YU) and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
“I cut my activist teeth at YU,” says Fleisher, who in addition to his role as spokesman for Hebron is a writer and broadcaster with a large social media following. “I learned the power of the pen and how to write there,” he adds regarding his alma mater.
Elie Pierpz (center) with Vice President Mike Pence (left) in Israel. Credit: Courtesy of Elie Pierpz.
Pieprz, 44, attended the Yeshiva of Greater Washington and is also a YU graduate. Today, Pieprz spends most of his time exposing opinion makers from the U.S. and other English-speaking countries to the civilians and leaders of Jewish communities in the disputed territories. Many of them are elected officials he got to know while he traversed the U.S. political landscape, beginning in the 1990s.
Growing up in a Torah-observant home in Silver Spring, Pierpz was surrounded by family and community members who had government jobs. “I don't remember a time when I wasn’t interested in politics,” he says.
His first foray into Jewish activism came during his student years in New York. “I was inspired by people like Rabbi Avi Weiss, standing in front of the U.N. waving a huge Israeli flag demonstrating against the Oslo Accords,” he recalls.
Pieprz joined Weiss’s activist group—Amcha-The Coalition for Jewish Concerns—in protest of the activities of the Nation of Islam movement, and organized American Israel Public Affairs Committee activities at YU before joining The Israel Project (TIP), a high-profile independent Israel advocacy group, in its early days. TIP works extensively with elected officials, and Pieprz says he learned “the art and science of political campaigns” during those years. He got to know prominent pollster Stan Greenberg and political consultant Frank Luntz, and took his first post-college job with Luntz as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.
Fleisher left high school to join the Israel Defense Forces as a paratrooper. “Being a soldier is second nature to anyone with a Russian background,” he explains. “Defending your own people is a natural thing.”
For Fleisher, who is tasked with presenting the complexity of the situation in Hebron to the outside world, his varied background helps him relate. “I had an Arab nanny in Haifa and we lived next to Arabs when I was a young child. Today I live in a neighborhood next to Arabs; my parents were originally not religious and carried a Russian ideology, but I was educated in a Torah framework,” he says. “I learned the American Jewish mentality growing up in the U.S.” All that helps him figure out how to lay out the case for Hebron to different audiences, he says, emphasizing how the Palestinian-majority city is a place that “has been meaningful to the Jewish people forever.”
‘Time to agitate for aliyah’
Fleisher returned to the U.S. after his army service “hungry for knowledge” to back up his passion for the Jewish homeland. While he was earning his undergraduate degree in political science and law degree in New York, Fleisher was disturbed to discover that “New York Jews seemed unaware of the incredible effort to build the Jewish state, in my mind the most monumental and central project of the Jewish people in 2,000 years.”
“I was thinking about Israel all the time,” Fleisher exclaims. Joining with a few fellow students, “we decided it was time to agitate for aliyah.” They formed the Kumah (Arise) aliyah organization. Fleisher admits, “We didn't know the first thing about activism. But we organized conferences, built a website, wrote op-eds, led two Birthright trips to Israel and developed the ‘aliyah revolution’ idea.”
He met his wife Malkah, a fellow law student and active Zionist originally from North Texas, at Cardozo Law School.
“We learned the ways of activism during protests against Cardozo when they honored Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Bill Clinton,” Fleisher says.
The couple got married during the height of the second Palestinian intifada in 2002 in Hebron, marking their strong connection to the place where Fleisher says he put in place “the pillar of nationalist activism, in addition to aliyah activism.”
After graduation in 2003, the couple was invited to work at Israel National News Radio, with the stipulation that they live near the studios in the settlement of Beit El. During their eight years there, Fleisher says he felt he was “on the cutting edge of live audio technology and sending out a broadcast signal from Beit El, Israel to the world. My parents when they were in the Soviet Union, were highly influenced by secretly listening to short wave radio from Israel, and now we were able to do that kind of work.”
Fleisher still hosts his own online radio show and podcast, and was program director at the Voice of Israel Network before joining the Land of Israel Network. He is a frequent guest on international radio and TV networks that brought him to the attention of leaders in Hebron, who appointed him as their international spokesman in 2015.
Pieprz’s road to aliyah, meanwhile, took a few different twists and turns. After managing several political campaigns and advising many state legislators, in addition to stints at Microsoft and as marketing director for author and radio host Rabbi Daniel Lapin, Pieprz says he and his wife “had an epiphany.” In 2010, they arrived in Israel with their three young daughters, with no immediate job prospects.
With his extensive political and marketing experience, Pieprz was sought out by other young activists looking to promote Israel. In 2012, he founded iVote Israel, a non-partisan group that registered more than 80,000 U.S. citizens living in Israel ahead of that year’s presidential election. His efforts caught the attention of Dani Dayan, then the chair of the YESHA Council, who asked Pierpz to help set up the organization’s International Desk.
‘Public diplomacy’
For Fleisher, a central challenge he tries to convey to the many important visitors he guides around Hebron is “to normalize the city, as a national heritage site—like Big Ben, it should be preserved and cared for and developed as a tourist destination. Jews should be able to buy and sell homes here in a normal fashion, and expand to meet the natural population growth needs.”
Pieprz wants opinion makers and the media to understand the diversity of thought in Judea and Samaria, and “to shatter the image of what settlers are and lessen the hyperbole that’s so out of touch with the reality of what’s going on here.”
Today, Fleisher and Pieprz no longer describe themselves as “activists,” but prefer to say they’re involved in “public diplomacy.”
Posted on January 31, 2017 by Judy Lash Balint/JNS.org and filed under Features, Israel.
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Douglas Kellner
Douglas Kellner (1943 - ) is a Professor of Philosophy, notable for arguing the potential compatibility of the apparently irreconcilable Frankfurt and Birmingham Schools of cultural theory. As a participant in The Kitchen's 1980 panel series on “Television, Society, and Art,” Kellner discussed television as a mode of experiencing art and its potential as a catalyst for social change.
Television Society Art
Amy Taubin, Annette Michelson, Benjamin Buchloh, Bertell Ollman, David Antin, David Cooper, Donald Burgy, Douglas Kellner, Emile de Antonio, Fredric Jameson, Hans Haacke, Herb Dordick, Jack Willis, James MacBean, Jean-Luc Godard, Jean-Pierre Gorin, John Berger, John Hanhardt, Jon Alpert, Julia Kristeva, Julia Lesage, Julianne Burton, Keith Sonnier, Laura Mulvey, Lawrence Weiner, Martha Rosler, Michael Snow, Peter Wollen, Philip Glass, Richard Foreman, Richard Serra, Robert Ashley, Ron Clark, Rosalind Krauss, Susan Sontag, Sylvere Lotringer, Terry Eagleton, Trisha Brown, Umberto Eco, Vito Acconci, Yvonne Rainer, Lecture, 1980s
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Review - A Night in Casablanca
A Night in Casablanca – US, 1946
You pretty much know what you’re going to get with a Marx Brothers films. First, the plot will be secondary, existing almost solely as a vehicle for the famous brothers to have an excuse to unleash their wackiness upon the world. At some point, Chico will find a piano and marvel an audience with his patented vaudevillian playing; at another, Harpo will find a harp and fill the air will romantic interludes. And of course there will be Groucho, dropping one-liners so fast that even the most diligent of viewers will find it impossible to get all of them. In other words, a Marx Brothers film can be both exhausting and exhilarating, and their 1946 film A Night in Casablanca is no exception.
What little plot there is involves a hotel in Casablanca that has had a rash of deaths recently. The victims: all managers of the same hotel. As one would expect, this does not make the job very attractive, but maybe… just maybe… someone in a secluded area of Morocco would be naïve enough to take the job. One guess who that turns out to be. Harpo, here playing a character named Rusty, shows up as the abused and underappreciated servant of a wealthy hotel patron; Chico plays an old friend of his named Corbaccio, a man who is a bit of a jack of all trades. Joining them on their merry adventure is an AWOL soldier named Pierre (Charles Drake) who is out to clear his name, the love of his life, Annette (Lois Collier), a beautiful lounge singer named Bea (Lisette Verea), and a man named Pfferman (Sig Ruman), who wants the hotel job and may also be a Nazi on the run from the law.
Pierre is looking for a lost treasure that he suspects the killer of the hotel’s managers is after and which he says can clear his name; the killer is now after unsuspecting manager Kornblow, and Rusty and Corbaccio are trying to protect Kornblow, help Pierre, and… oh, you get the picture. It’s all rather inconsequential anyway, for the plot is quickly jettisoned in favor of the kind of zany moments that made Groucho, Harpo, and Chico such legendary figures. Among my favorites involve Rusty trying to tell Cobaccio about the plot against Kornblow, Kornblow’s flirtatious interactions with Bea, a dance scene that quickly becomes crowded with tables, and a fencing duel that has to be seen to be believed. Sure, some of them will be familiar to those who have seen the trio’s earlier films, yet I was surprised how much fun they remained.
In fact, A Night in Casablanca is a better film when it is not moving the plot forward, for when the film just puts the spotlight on the delightful wackiness of the Marx Brothers, it is a beauty to behold. This is not to say that the film is not also fun when it focuses on the plot, for like A Night at the Opera, it actually has a rather promising set-up. Verea’s temptress character is quite engaging, and a scene in which she and Kornblow repeatedly switch hotel rooms is quite delightful. Rather, it’s that when the film focuses on the plot, we’re given occasion to reflect on all of its plot holes and on just how many of its storylines are in fact red herrings. And then there’s the ending. After establishing such an appropriate pace, one that allows the famous trio the time to work their magic, the film ends with twenty minutes of rushed gags and moments of all too amazing coincidences that yield increasingly diminishing returns. It’s as if director Archie Mayo suddenly realized that he only had that much time to work with and then began rushing the action. It was a bit of a letdown, but not nearly enough of one to spoil the positive vibe the film had given me. Simply put, A Night in Casablanca is one very fun film. (on DVD)
Labels: Archie Mayo, Marx Brothers, reviews
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Karlie Kloss is one of today's most in-demand fashion models. Her birth name is Karlie Elizabeth Kloss, born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. At 23, Karlie has accomplished a lot as a fashion personality. She was a Victoria's Secret angel for over three years and was even named one of the top 30 models of the century.
Karlie's career began when she was invited to pose for the cover of Scene Magazine. Through the intervention of the Factor Women, which was then the Elite Chicago, her picture was sent to Elite NY. That was when Karlie Kloss became a known in New York fashion industry.
She started gaining followers when she modelled for Abercrombie Kids. She signed a contract with the NEXT Model Management and that brought her to the New York Fashion Week runways. The highlights of her career during that time were the times she worked for Marc Jacobs and Carolina Herrera. Karlie had the chance to flaunt her beauty and talent in some distinguished fashion shows in Milan and Paris. Later, she worked on advertisements of various famous brands including Jean Paul Gaultier, Donna Karan, Lacoste, Sportmax, Dolce & Gabbana, Gap, Hermes, Topshop, Uniqlo and many others.
Recently, Karlie Kloss has been a part of a Versace advertisement. It has been a controversial campaign because many find its theme offensive. She worked with Gigi Hadid on this fashion ad and both of them were criticized. The ad presented the two models as young mothers who, according to critics, might promote teenage pregnancy. Other than the teen mom issue, critics also pointed out the chain that was used to fasten the child in the stroller.
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Search for tag "Epistemology"
from the main catalogue
Articulating a Consultative Epistemology: Toward a Reconciliation of Truth and Relativism, by Todd Smith and Michael Karlberg, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 19 (2009). Epistemology has a perennial tension between two contrasting approaches to knowledge: the search for foundational truth vs. the relativity of truth. Consultation can help resolve paradoxical truth claims to develop an integrative approach to knowledge. [about]
Bahá'í Epistemology, by Peter Terry (2004). Statements of Abdu'l-Baha on the four modes of knowledge: sense perception, reason, tradition, and inspiration. All must defer to the divine standard. [about]
Epistemological Implications of the Gradated Claims to Divine Authority in the Bahá'í Writings: Reflections on Infallibility, by William S. Hatcher, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 17 (2007). There are different levels of infallibility, from the greater (the Manifestations who are "omniscient at will") to the lesser (like the Guardian, who has conferred freedom-from-error). [about]
Epistemological Views of ‘Abdu'l-Baha, by Mikhael Sergeev (2009). A comprehensive reconstruction of Abdu’l-Bahá's epistemological views that are scattered throughout many of his writings and utterances. [about]
“First we speak of logical proofs': Discourse of knowledge in the Bahá'í writings, by Frank Lewis, in Bahá'í Studies Review, 10 (2001). [about]
Knowledge of God, The: An Essay on Bahá'í Epistemology, by Jack McLean, in World Order (1978). Knowledge of the divine is the beginning of all things. This can come through the investigative faculty, the path of reason, or through intuition and mysticism, the path of the heart. [about]
Minimalism from a Bahá'í Perspective, by Mahyad Zaerpoor Rahnamaie, in Lights of Irfan, Volume 8 (2007). [about]
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Season Food
Organic, Natural, Healthy Products
Giving Tofu the New Look It Deserves – NYTimes.com
Giving Tofu the New Look It Deserves
Evan Sung for The New York Times
It’s not likely that tofu will become anyone’s favorite food; this we know. Those who grew up in households where it was well prepared may relish it, but for the rest of us it’s a bit of a requisite, something we think we “should” eat in place of chicken or eggs whenever we can stomach it.
However. With meat substitutes and even alternative animal protein like bugs surging in popularity — or at least media attention — it’s time to re-evaluate and finally embrace the original plant-based mock meat. (There are others, of course: seitan, or wheat gluten, which in the current anti-gluten climate is difficult to talk about, and tempeh, a fermented soy and grain product that I don’t cook with much. That could change.)
I like tofu. I cook it a couple of times a week, which is more often than I cook chicken. It’s as natural a product as mozzarella, arguably simpler (you don’t need a cow, for one thing) and similarly produced: In both cases, you take milk and you add something that will clump it up. Period. In one case the milk is dairy, and in the other it’s soy.
The differences between the two are obvious, and we could argue about whether good fresh mozzarella offers a better eating experience than good fresh tofu (neither has much flavor without some condiments), but what’s inarguable is that tofu is our most versatile form of nonanimal concentrated protein, as well as the least processed and the most traditional. Andrea Nguyen, in her valuable “Asian Tofu,”[1] says tofu has been made for about 2,000 years and has been popular since the 10th century.
Scrambled tofu with tomatoes.
There are, of course, hyperprocessed or preflavored forms of tofu, or both, that range from Tofu Pups to pressed tofu (usually flavored with five-spice powder or something like it, and incredibly easy to cook well), to fermented tofu, which is both ancient and delicious, if somewhat stinkily off-putting to some.
I’m not talking about any of that. And I’m not talking about making your own tofu, although that’s easy enough. I’m talking buying bricks of plain old tofu, the kind you cut into cubes or, if you’re fancy, diamonds; the kind that we dutifully stir-fried with broccoli and soy sauce back in the ’70s. I’m talking about using tofu in ways that really play up its strengths and make it if not the best choice for a dish then a substitute that doesn’t feel like a compromise but simply another way of doing things.
All of the recipes here make a point, none better than Tofu “Chorizo.” It starts with taking tofu and crumbling it finely, as if it were ground or coarsely chopped. You can do that in 20 seconds, with no utensil other than your hands. Then you then cook it until the water is driven out, as you would ground beef or chicken, to get a result that’s very similar to ground meat. What you wind up with are little crispy bits of fat and protein that have some chew and the flavor of whatever you cooked with them.
I don’t want this to be a competition — I eat meat — but put this stuff in tacos and no one will know the difference. You’ll have saved money and cooked a product with a lighter carbon footprint, no animal welfare issues and fewer health threats than any meat. That kind of proselytizing aside, try the dish and see whether you think it’s any good.
I love silken tofu in soups and soupy stir-fries because it puffs and firms up a bit, becoming quite juicy and, if the other ingredients are right, quite delicious. But silken tofu has other properties very akin to cream. The Chocolate Tofu Pudding[2] I ran in these pages five years ago is among the most popular and surprising recipes I’ve ever developed. A more recent development, Chocolate Avocado Mousse, is in my latest book, “The VB6 Cookbook[3]” and, I think, equally successful.
But the best use for silken tofu is what you might call vegannaise, an egg-free mayo that takes five minutes. (I know, the recipe says 10, but that doesn’t allow for multitasking.) It’s a recipe that never fails and can be varied, say, by adding basil, in all the ways you’d vary real mayonnaise. (Eggs are nicely mimicked, too, when you scramble firm tofu with vegetables or grains. I wouldn’t say no one could tell the difference, but I will say this kind of scramble is easy and satisfying.)
A good meat substitute should at least occasionally offer some real chew, and one of the common complaints about tofu is that to make it chewy you have to process it somehow. (Of course, chicken breasts aren’t very pleasant in their raw state either.) Hence, we have the pressed tofu mentioned above, the new preflavored and even precooked products like grilled tofu or the long explanations and techniques for pressing and weighting tofu.
None of that is necessary. If you bake tofu, you can dry it out and firm it up as much as you like. I’ve developed a tofu jerky recipe that’s nearly as tough as beef jerky. When it becomes firm, you can turn it into a fine escabeche or sauce it in 100 different ways. I offer Manchurian-style here, but you can do this with Provençal, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, Sichuan or many other seasonings; stir-fry it like chicken.
This is not a dish that’s trying to fool people — it’s tofu, all right — but it is intended to persuade them, and you, that in an era when many cooks are looking to cut back on meat, this is an ingredient worth taking seriously. Finally.
Recipes: Tofu Escabeche[4] | Scrambled Tofu With Tomatoes, Scallions and Soy Sauce[5] | Tofu Mayonnaise[6] | Tofu ‘Chorizo’[7]
More recipes are at NYT Cooking[8], which is under development as the recipe resource of The New York Times. If you don’t yet have access, sign up for the wait list, at cooking.nytimes.com[9].
This entry was posted in Food, Local, Natural and tagged Tofu by admin. Bookmark the permalink.
One thought on “Giving Tofu the New Look It Deserves – NYTimes.com”
P.J. Andros on July 8, 2014 at 11:03 am said:
Tofu’s more of an health issue than one of delectability. I think you explained where it could fit into a typical American diet, but there’s always a well-founded reluctance to understand tofu as comfort food. It isn’t. Not even in macrobiotic eating. I’ve never met many Japs who rave about the stuff. And given a choice to eat or not, have a strong tendency to demure.
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Faculty at The Evergreen State College
Programs Taught
Teaching/Lectures
Category Archives: Talks
Mexico at the Crossroads: Video of August 22nd talk for Economics for Everyone, Olympia, WA
September 24, 2018 Economics for Everyone, From the Web, Reflections on Current Events, Talksbohmerp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYMhwFCY8l4&t=192s
Mexico at the Crossroads: The 2018 Mexican Elections, based on Three Months travel in Mexico
August 25, 2018 Economics for Everyone, personal, Reflections on Current Events, Talks, Writingsbohmerp
Mexico at the Crossroads
Trump’s Tax Scam, the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act.
February 4, 2018 Economics for Everyone, Reflections on Current Events, Talks, Writingseconomic-policy, economics, inequality, strategybohmerp
Here is the edited and written-up version of the presentation I gave at Traditions Cafe at the Economics for Everyone Event in Olympia Washington on January 31st, 2018. It appears in the March 2018 issue of Works in Progress. Thanks to Keely Miller for her editing of my talk.Analysis of Trump’s 2017 Tax Bill and 2018 Budget Proposal
The Political Economy of Trumpism: The Growth of Racist Authoritarianism, Dangers and Possibilities (in English)
Talk given by me at Pontificial Catholic University of Sao Paulo (PUC-SP), Sao Paulo, Brazil, September 1, 2017
October 12, 2017 From the Web, Reflections on Current Events, Talks, Teaching/Lectureselectoral-politics, political economy, racism, Social Movements, Trump, U.S. Societybohmerp Leave a comment
Talk at Micropolis Social Center and ERT3 Radio in Thessaloniki Greece, The Political Economy of Trumpism: Danger and Possibility. January 20, 21, 2017.
February 23, 2017 Reflections on Current Events, TalksGreece, Social Movements, Trump, U.S. Politicsbohmerp
Format of talk 1) US Political Economy and why the Trump victory; 2) Trump agenda and what has happened; 3) Possibilities
Detailed Notes from my talk at Micropolis Social Center in Thessaloniki, Greece February, 20, 2017, The Political Economy of Trumpism revised
and my radio interview with ERT3 Radio, February 21, 2017
Interview of Peter Bohmer with Luvva J Profresha, October 27, 2016 on Repression in Mexico
October 28, 2016 Economics for Everyone, Reflections on Current Events, Talks, Uncategorizedbohmerp
Here is a six minute interview of me by Luvva J Profresha. In this video interview, I discuss the Caravan Against Repression in Mexico of activists involved in many movements against oppression and repression. This caravan is on a national tour and I spoke to Luvva J, immediately after the visit of these inspiring activists from Mexico to the Evergreen State College in Olympia on Thursday October 27, 2016
https://www.facebook.com/luvvajpimpizzi/videos/10153827010927665/
There is a Way Out of Here! Trump, Clinton, Stein and Beyond November 8, 2016
October 20, 2016 Reflections on Current Events, Talks, Uncategorized, Writingselectoral-politics, Occupy. Social Movements, Presidential Elections, Racial Justice, The Evergreen State College, U.S. Societybohmerp
My Talk at the Post-Debate, pre 2016 Presidential Election Forum at Evergreen State College
by Peter Bohmer, October 20, 2016
I have watched the three presidential debates this year. Trump’s contempt for women, his anti-choice, anti-Mexican and anti-Muslim immigrant stance, his stereotyping of Black and Latinos, his proposed tax cuts for the wealthy and the corporations was disgusting. His toxic machismo and not so coded racism and white nationalism were on full display. Clinton, although not as bad never mentioned poor people, and called for and bragged about continued U.S. militarism. To Trump’s racist claims about electoral rigging and fraud in Black communities, his mentioning of Philadelphia, St. Louis and Chicago; Hillary Clinton could have but didn’t respond with the past and present actual racist voter suppression, especially by Republicans but also many Democrats in limiting voting by people with felonies, requiring multiple ID’s, making registration and voting difficult, especially in low income communities. Also these three debates were limited by no questions about one of the central issues of the day, climate change, and the excluding of the Green Party Presidential candidate, Jill Stein and the Libertarian Party candidate, Gary Johnson. … (see link above)
College is a Right for All, Testimony to Olympia City Council, July 12 2016
July 14, 2016 Reflections on Current Events, TalksHigher-Ed, Olympia, Taxesbohmerp
Testimony by Peter Bohmer to Olympia City Council, July 12, 2016 in favor of Opportunity for Olympia Proposal!
Olympia has a chance to stand up and take a step towards the right to education for all, paid for by those who have benefited by the obscene growth of the inequality of income and wealth. Almost all of the gains in income since the supposed end of the great recession in 2009 have gone to the top 3%, approximately the percentage of households who would pay this tax.
In fall, 1987, I moved to Olympia to teach Economics and public administration at The Evergreen State College. Tuition and fees that year were $1272 for in-state students. For the coming year, 2016-2017, tuition and fees at Evergreen are $7500 a year, six times more than 1987. Tuition has risen many more times than wages. The minimum wage was $3.35/hr in 1987; in 2016 it is $9.47 an hour. The minimum wage has gone up by 180% since 1987while tuition has grown at almost three times the rate of the minimum wage. This increase in tuition is true for all of higher education. Students are being priced out of higher education. Passing this proposal will begin to reverse this growing lack of affordability.
The right to college is a necessity today, not a luxury. High school became a necessity for most jobs, 100 years ago, as college is today. Having more people being able to attend college is not only a question of fairness but will also increase their productivity and incomes which will decrease poverty and increase spending and employment here. Increasing access to higher education will also make for more informed citizens and a better Olympia. College education is a basic right today, as higher education became that in the past and was free.
The cost of this proposed tax to the top 3% of the income ladder is minimal Any household making up to $200,000 will not pay any additional taxes. For example, a household making $250,000 a year will pay a 1.5% income tax, only on their income above $200,000, or 1.5% of $50,000 = $750 a year. That is not much of a burden; much less than their gains in income over the last seven years.
I urge you to pass this modest proposal of a 1.5% tax on incomes over $200,000 to fund students going past high school. Rather than waiting for change at the federal or even state level, let us support this Opportunity for Olympia proposal, maybe with the small change of using federal income tax returns to measure income. We can and should take an important step here in Olympia for fairness and increased access to higher education. This will be leading by example, which is likely to spread to others places in Washington State and then nationally. We need this type of change at the national level but tactically, we are more likely to be successful by starting locally. Be courageous! It is urgent that you take a stand, a step towards education for all, paid for by a fairer tax system. Let us start with the Olympia City Council. Thank you!
Postscript-The Olympia City Council, taking the side of the wealthy, voted on July 12, 2016 against supporting this proposal or passing an alternative proposal that would have taxed higher income people to support students who want to go to college. Let us actively support this Opportunity for Olympia proposal and vote for it in the November 2016 election!
Oppose the Police Shooting of Bryson Chaplin and Andre Thompson in Olympia
May 26, 2016 Talksbohmerp
Challenges police version of May 21st police shooting and calls for connecting social movements in order to end racism and all forms of oppression.
View full talk:
Let’s Learn From the Past and Welcome Syrian Refugees!
December 2, 2015 personal, Reflections on Current Events, Talks, Writingsrefugees, Syriabohmerp
Talk at Forum at The Evergreen State College: After Paris: Responding to Islamophobia and the Refugee Crisis
by Peter Bohmer, December 2, 2015
Let Us Learn from Our Past and Welcome Syrians to the United States!
First, a little first about my parents and grandparents! My family is from central Europe; my parents were born and grew up in Vienna, Austria as assimilated Jews. In March 1938, the Austrian government welcomed the invasion of Nazi Germany although there was some popular resistance. Germany immediately annexed Austria. My dad who was 22 years old was arrested and imprisoned in late March 1938 for being active in the Jewish community. He was also beaten by the guards but was released in August 1938. My father and mother immediately fled Austria for France which let in many Jews in although they also limited entry; e.g., from Poland which had the largest Jewish population in Europe…
Let’s Learn From the Past and Welcome Syrian Refugees (.docx)
I teach political economy at the Evergreen State College and have been active in diverse social movements since the late 1960’s. I continue to believe in and work for an economic system based on human dignity for all, where poverty and exploitation are abolished, and where work is meaningful and fulfilling. I believe another system is possible that is sustainable and where cooperation, self-management and solidarity are fostered; where sexism and racism are overcome– a participatory socialist alternative to capitalism.
In fall, 2015 I taught,”Caliban and the Witch” with Elizabeth Williamson and Miranda Mellis. In spring 2016, I taught, Political Economy and Social Movements: Race, Class and Gender with Carlos Marentes.
In 2017-2018, I am teaching with Savvina Chowdhury and Maria Isabel-Morales, a full year program, Alternatives and Resistance to Global Capitalism: Mexico, U.S. and Beyond. We will spend spring quarter, 2018 in Oaxaca, and Chiapas, Mexico.
Economics for Everyone
Reflections on Current Events
Z Communications, ZNET
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Curator June 21, 2019 Parent in College Admissions Case Pleads Guilty2019-06-21T12:37:32-05:00 Boston Strong bostonstrong.com NEWS
DOJustice Massachusetts reports 6.21.2019 – Boston, MA: A California man pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston in connection with paying bribes to facilitate the admission of his children to the University of Southern California as purported athletic recruits.
Toby Macfarlane, 56, of Del Mar, Calif., a former senior executive at a title insurance company, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Nov. 13, 2019.
According to court documents, Macfarlane agreed to pay Rick Singer $450,000 to participate in the college recruitment scheme for his children. According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of 15 months in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $95,000, restitution and forfeiture.
Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.
The charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, and Kristen A. Kearney of Lelling’s Securities and Financial Fraud Unit are prosecuting the cases.
The details contained in the court documents are allegations and the remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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About ARCCA
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Sacramento County Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
As climate change continues to adversely impact natural resources and the human population, local governments will have to respond to the secondary consequences of climate change on their communities. The County of Sacramento has a history of taking these threats seriously and responding to environmental threats through local and regional sustainability initiatives. In 2011 the County adopted an initial “Phase 1” Climate Action Plan (CAP) that included both greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and adaptation strategies. The County is now updating its CAP to establish more specific policies and programs to mitigate GHG emissions and achieve its GHG reduction targets as well as provide more specific adaptation policies and programs. In order to assess the region’s vulnerabilities for the County’s CAP, Ascent Environmental prepared a county-wide Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment – a valuable resource for Sacramento County and other planning agencies in the region, and the focus of this CRC Member Spotlight.
The Sacramento County Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment is a separate technical portion of the CAP intended to provide an analysis of the primary and secondary threats associated with climate change most likely to impact Sacramento County. The findings of the Assessment are being used in the CAP to develop climate adaptation strategies that address these threats. In its analysis, the Vulnerability Assessment provides a comprehensive overview of the following primary climate threats as they are projected to impact the region:
Changes in timing, severity, and amounts of rainfall and snowfall
Increased stress to vegetation and terrestrial and aquatic habitats
Changes in the frequency and duration of heat waves and droughts
Increase in wildfire hazards
The Vulnerability Assessment also examines the potential for a wide variety of secondary consequences resulting from primary climate threats. Analysis of potential secondary consequences in the Assessment will provide the CAP with additional information useful to the development of adaptation strategies related to the physical, social, and economic characteristics within the County. Incorporation of these adaptation strategies will be important in the years to come as climate change poses an increasing threat. Over the long term, the primary climate change threats have the potential to contribute to the following secondary consequences:
Human health and safety risks
Economic disruptions
Diminished water supply
Shifts in ecosystem function and habitat qualities
Difficulties with provision of basic services
The assessment of primary and secondary threats in the region is geared toward the climate change adaptation planning process, including local hazard mitigation plans pursuant to requirements set by SB 379. The comprehensive Assessment examines the impacts of climate change and its subsequent threats on a variety of landscapes and populations across the County including the Delta, disadvantaged and vulnerable communities, and unincorporated portions of the City. The assessment and analysis of possible adaptation and mitigation strategies are generally consistent with guidance provided in the California Adaptation Planning Guide (APG), which provides climate change guidance to cities, counties, and local governments.
Progress & future
The Vulnerability Assessment was completed in January of 2017 and will serve as the basis for developing adaptation strategies and programs for the County’s CAP. Given the in-progress status of CAP, Sacramento County has not yet indicated how often the Vulnerability Assessment should be updated. The Vulnerability Assessment will also serve as a helpful resource for other agencies and organizations in the region who are considering climate change impacts and vulnerability in future planning efforts.
Ascent Environmental served as the primary author of the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, with input and direction from Sacramento County staff. The Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative also provided input.
Urban Heat Island Index for Sacramento County
The effects of seal-level rise in Sacramento County during a 100-year flood event.
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Sacramento County Climate Action Plan
Sacramento County – Climate Action Plan
About the Collaborative
The Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative (CRC) is a membership network encompassing the 6-county Sacramento Area. CRC is a coalition program of the Local Government Commission and a member of the Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation.
CRC Factsheet
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Tech Newcomers Face Big Challenges Disrupting Cable
The race to disrupt the market is heating up, but huge obstacles remain to infiltrate a $100 billion industry where both content creators and distributors are happily making money hand over fist.
By Victor Luckerson @VLuckAug. 05, 2013
Intel Confident of Obtaining Programs for Web TV Service Bloomberg
Google Said to Weigh Supplying TV Channels The New York Times
Tech companies like Google and Apple have built their fortunes by disrupting industries. There’s a seemingly endless list of music retailers, cell phone manufacturers, bookstores and people in a dozen other sectors that rue the day one of the world’s largest tech companies set out to enter their market. But there’s one media enterprise that has so far been immune to substantial shakeups: television.
Sure, Netflix and Amazon offer streaming services akin to premium channels like HBO, startup Aereo offers a limited version of live TV, and both Apple and Google produce a variety of devices that make it easy to stream Internet video on a television screen. But no tech company has made a substantial play to launch a comprehensive TV subscription service similar to what customers can currently get from Comcast or Dish Network. It’s not for lack of trying: Google is in talks with television networks to launch a national pay-TV service, according to The Wall Street Journal, and already offers a pay-TV subscription in Kansas City through its Google Fiber Internet service. Apple meanwhile has reportedly developed an ad-skipping technology that would pay cable networks when viewers skip commercials, presumably to entice network owners to allow their content to be streamed live via Apple TV. Even chip-maker Intel wants a piece of the TV pie, and has plans to launch a pay-TV service by the end of the year. The race to disrupt the market is heating up, but huge obstacles remain to infiltrate a $100 billion industry where both content creators and distributors are happily making money hand over fist.
Cable operators, historically some of the least liked companies in America, don’t want added competition from more popular newcomers, so they’re implementing various tactics to keep the tech titans out. They’ve sweetened their deals with television networks by paying higher carriage fees for the right to broadcast their content. “Operators are allowing carriage fees per [subscription] per month to be driven up at a somewhat faster pace than they would have put up with ten years ago,” says Erik Brannon, a senior analyst at IHS Screen Digest. “They’re making the barrier to entry higher for [Internet-based] services.” ESPN, for instance, has raised its carriage fee from $2.17 per subscriber to $5.54 in the last ten years, according to data provided by SNL Kagan.
(MORE: How Kids Will Help Decide the Future of Television)
Cable companies are also taking more direct measures to ensure their dominance. According to a June blog post by BTIG Research analyst Rich Greenfield, at least one traditional cable or satellite operator has included a clause in a recent contract explicitly preventing networks from working with “over the top” TV services, those that are streamed into homes via a broadband connection like Intel’s upcoming product. Some operators use financial incentives or penalties to keep the networks in line. Such practices are now under investigation by the Justice Department, according to The New York Times. “Cable operators are definitely counseling their pay-TV partners about where their money comes from,” Brannon says.
As for the networks, they’ve expressed little public enthusiasm for seeing an Apple or an Intel enter the market. Unlike the music business, which was in economic free fall when the iTunes Store launched in 2003, the cable business continues to hold onto most of its subscribers (though the number of cord cutters is growing). “As the world shifted to digital formats with regards to music…Apple gained a lot of control over the future of that industry in a very short amount of time,” says Bill Kreher, a senior technology analyst at Edward Jones. “The entertainment companies do not want to see that happen again. That’s the biggest impediment to an offering that’s probably ready.”
Tech companies are using a fairly straightforward solution to address these issues: money. Intel is willing to pay networks 75 percent more than traditional cable and satellite operators, according to Reuters. Apple wants to pay media companies when viewers skip commercials during their shows. Analysts say any newcomer in the field that is starting with zero subscribers would have to pay a premium to convince content providers to sign on. Intel spokesman Jon Carvill declined to comment on the company’s negotiations with networks.
(MORE: Google Takes Another Stab at TV With $35 Chromecast Device)
The biggest advantage Google, Apple or Intel might have coming to market is the ability to develop a user interface more appealing than the clunky channel surfing TV viewers have grown used to. Google’s pay-TV offering in Kansas City comes with both a traditional remote and a Nexus 7 tablet that viewers can use to quickly search through channels. Carvill says the user interface is one of the biggest advantages of Intel’s new offering. “We really believe that television as a whole has been one area–especially the user interface around it–that hasn’t really evolved all that much in the last decade or two,” he says. “The UI for us is definitely going to be a very important part of the value proposition.”
Some cable operators are trying to improve the user experience before new competitors enter the market. Most of the major operators now offer subscribers the ability to stream live content on computers and mobile devices. Cox Communications, which has 6 million customers around the country, launched a Netflix-like recommendation engine in its set-top boxes in December and is planning to roll out an iPad app that allows for easy channel navigation this summer. The company is also testing its own over-the-top pay-TV service, called FlareWatch, in Orange County, California right now. “The broad backdrop that we’re operating in is moving to a much higher level of personalization of the video experience for our customers,” says Steve Necessary, Cox’s vice president of video product development and management. “There clearly is both a consumer expectation piece of that and a competitiveness requirement associated with it as well.”
Even if Intel, Apple or Google does break into the market, it’s not clear their service would be fundamentally different from the way pay-TV works now. While calls for a la carte cable options have grown so loud that they’ve now reached the halls of Congress, Intel at least is sticking with bundled channel package. Carvill says the company plans to offer smaller, more genre-specific options than traditional cable, though.
(MORE: How Apple Will Disrupt the TV Market)
So far, the barriers of entry have effectively kept newcomers out of the pay-TV space. Sezmi was an ambitious attempt to deliver live television via the Internet, but a limited channel selection led that product to fold in 2011. However, that was developed by a start-up, not the world’s largest chipmaker or most valuable tech company. Giants like Google, Apple and Intel have the resources to compete in the pay-TV space. The question is whether the high cost of entry will be too much for them to justify. “They’re going to have to suffer, and it’s not in terms of one or two years,” says Brannon. “The question is, can they stand to lose long enough in order to make that a viable future for them.”
Victor Luckerson @VLuck
Victor Luckerson is a reporter-producer for Time.com covering business and money.
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REPUBLIC OF TURKEY TURKISH CONSULATE GENERAL IN CHICAGO
Article By Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister Of Foreign Affairs Of Turkey And Mr. Erkki Tuomioja, Minister Of Foreign Affairs Of Finland Published In Hürriyet Daily News
Turkuno Daimi Temsilciliği 01.03.2012
Mediation for peace: A means toward a better world
AHMET DAVUTOĞLU / ERKKI TUOMIOJA
A year and a half ago Turkey and Finland decided to launch a new initiative called “Mediation for Peace.”
Our aim was threefold: to raise awareness within the international community of the importance of mediation as a means of conflict prevention and resolution; to help build mediation capacity both within the United Nations and also in regional organizations, which are often most well-placed to assume such a mediating role in their own area of responsibility; and to enhance the level of coordination among different actors of mediation with a view to minimize unnecessary duplications and complications.
Because, after decades of using various forms of mediation, sometimes with great success and sometimes with less, mediation has to date remained a largely ad-hoc effort lacking clear guidance, a systematic framework and the necessary resources.
Yes, every conflict situation has its own peculiarities and one cannot speak of a one-size-fits-all approach to mediation. And yes, any mediation effort should be flexible enough to take into account the specific circumstances of each conflict. That said, in a world where we are faced with an increasing number of conflicts and a proliferation of actors trying to mediate them, we cannot overlook the need to agree on certain principles of conduct and coordination.
In our own mediation experiences, for instance, we found ourselves on many occasions in the midst of different actors trying to serve the same purpose, but without any coordination, thus often leading to duplication and at times to confliction. In this regard, it should also be noted that it is no longer only the states that mediate, but track-II actors such as nongovernmental organizations, civil society institutions and even business communities are also increasingly present in this field, which is a welcome development, but amplifies the need for better coordination.
This is why in September 2010 we came together with a select group of countries and regional organizations that are active and experienced in this field to form a group of Friends of Mediation that will work together toward these goals. We were quite pleased to see the level of enthusiasm on the part of our friends who have quickly embraced the idea and lent their unreserved support to its objectives. Thus, at the end of our first meeting, we agreed to move on first by adopting a resolution at the U.N. General Assembly and creating a somewhat legislative framework for our efforts.
We were also enthused when the consultations on the draft resolution drew more than 100 members of the United Nations and allowed for a lively and constructive debate on different aspects of mediation. The level of interest proved to us once again the timeliness and the necessity of the initiative. At the end of long hours of discussion, we cleared the minds of everyone that mediation is not meddling in others’ internal affairs, but assisting them to reconcile their differences through dialogue. That it is all about helping the parties to a conflict reach a common vision for their future and agree to work together to attain it. And that local ownership, inclusiveness, impartiality, accountability, legitimacy and reconciliation of peace and justice are the key words for any successful mediation. And that increasing the number of women as chief or lead mediators, in the spirit of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 (Women, peace and security), is a necessity that would help enhance the effectiveness of these efforts.
As a result, the resolution on “Strengthening the role of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes and conflict prevention and resolution” was adopted at the General Assembly last June by consensus. To the surprise of many, it was the first-ever resolution on mediation adopted in the United Nations. However, better late than never, as it finally laid the ground for a more systematic effort to be exerted in order to enhance the mediation capabilities of the international community. To this end, it made all the necessary calls for the allocation of more time and resources in this direction and asked the U.N. secretary-general to develop guidance for more effective mediation taking into account the lessons learned from past and ongoing mediation processes.
In the rather short period of time since its adoption, the resolution has already managed to generate significant interest in the issue. As clear evidence, the president of the U.N. General Assembly has designated “mediation” as the top priority for the ongoing 66th session of the assembly. The member-states and non-state actors have also embraced the idea and started doing more to build capacity and improve coordination.
This commitment came out strongly when we co-chaired the second ministerial meeting of the Friends of Mediation five months ago in New York. All 33 participants (25 states and 8 international organizations) expressed their full determination to take the initiative forward with practical steps and help the secretary-general in developing the guidance for effective mediation. To this end, they agreed to establish a network of focal points to improve coordination among them and organize several workshops and meetings to help the regional organizations build capacity and exchange experiences. They also declared enhanced engagement with track II actors as a priority.
At the meeting Turkey also made the offer to host a regional U.N. Center of Mediation in Istanbul and encouraged the others to consider taking similar steps in order to extend the reach of the U.N. and to reinforce its central role in conflict prevention and resolution. Such centers could be highly useful in providing U.N. training to future mediators and allowing for a focused discussion on mediation related issues.
In any case, after having drawn attention to mediation and put it under the spotlight, we now have to start implementing our pledges by taking concrete steps. After all, our world is still fraught with many actual and potential conflicts. Even in places where we had been able to contain hostilities, danger of relapse to conflict remains high. Therefore, it is imperative that we begin increasing our effectiveness in the area of mediation sooner rather than later.
To this end, an important conference is organized in Istanbul on Feb. 24 and 25, with the participation of a large number of representatives from the U.N., regional organizations, NGOs and academia. Along with the focal points of the members of the Friends of Mediation, whose number has now exceeded 35, we will also be joined by our colleague the Brazilian foreign minister and the president of the General Assembly.
Under the theme of “Enhancing Peace through Mediation: New Actors, Fresh Approaches, Bold Initiatives” the Istanbul Conference on Mediation will provide a platform where all involved in mediation could interact with each other and share their experiences and insights, thus enhancing their understanding on different perspectives of conflict resolution and peace building.
We are confident that the conference will bring out new ideas for effective mediation and help us in pursuing our goals with renewed commitment. After this conference we will continue organizing similar events to follow up on its conclusions and address different aspects of mediation.
Turkey and Finland are two experienced countries in mediating conflicts and reconciling differences. We have so far carried out active mediation efforts in the field ranging from the Middle East to the Balkans, the Horn of Africa and Afghanistan. We feel that now is the time to carry our national experiences and those of our partners to another level, where they can help the international community as a whole to establish a sound framework and a pool of relevant capabilities for effective mediation.
The Mediation for Peace initiative and the Istanbul Conference on Mediation offer an opportunity to re-energize our efforts in this direction. It made an encouraging start and has the right mix of states and regional organizations. Together, we believe we can make a difference by increasing peace through mediation.
Ahmet Davutoğlu and Erkki Tuomioja are the foreign ministers of Turkey and Finland, respectively
Umut Acar Consul General
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Olive Named Academic All-American
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State softball player Amber Olive was named to the Capitol One Academic All-America Second Team, College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Thursday, May 23.
Olive, a Simi Valley, Calif., native was recently named All-District by CoSIDA, making her eligible for the top honor. She graduated earlier this month with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and Communication Studies. The senior was named NM State Female Scholar Athlete of the Year and was honored with the NM State Psychology Department Head’s Award for Academic Excellence. In addition to being named a National Fastpitch Scholar Athlete, Olive along with fellow senior Teresa Conrad spearheaded Drive H.O.P.E (Helping Other People Eat) in conjunction with Casa de Peregrinos, where the NM State student-athletes collected over 2,500 pounds of food for Las Cruces and Dona Ana County. Olive was named first team All-WAC and was second in the conference with a .393 batting average and was tops in the WAC with 79 hits and 41 runs scored. She had 20 RBI on the season and 16 successful stolen bases. She finished her senior campaign with 24 multi-hit games and went on a 17-game hitting streak during the season.
Tennessee's Raven Chavanne was chosen as the winner of the Academic All-America of the Year award for the Division I softball team. Olive is one of two players from the Western Athletic Conference represented on the three teams. Erin Kipp of Louisiana Tech was also named to the second team.
Complete List of Academic All-Americans
From NMStateSports.com
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chair@cumberlandcountydems.com
Committee Resources
Presidents Club
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Register & Vote
Committee Areas
CUMBERLAND COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
BYLAWS
As amended, August 2011
This organization shall be known as the Cumberland County Democratic Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee.
ARTICLE II
The Committee shall be the authoritative body of the Democratic Party in Cumberland County. It shall have full power to act for the Cumberland County Democratic Party wherever not prohibited by law or by these rules. It may delegate such power to committees or representative Democratic voters of the county. The Committee is a not-for-profit, civic, and political organization.
Section 1. The County Committee shall have as its members two County Committee Persons elected from each precinct every four years beginning in 1990. One Committee Person shall be a male and one shall be a female, except as follows: in the event that a vacancy occurs for any reason in the office of Committee Person, the County Chair shall make a diligent effort to identify a suitable person to fill the vacancy who is of the opposite sex of the other Committee Person from that precinct. If the County Chair is unable to identify such a suitable person, he or he shall announce this fact to the Executive Committee, together with a full report as to the diligent effort that was made to achieve this objective. If the Executive Committee agrees that there is no suitable candidate of the opposite sex of the other Committee Person from that precinct, then the County Chair may fill the vacancy as provided by these bylaws without regard to gender.
Section 2. The County Committee Persons, the State Committee Persons elected or appointed from Cumberland County, and the four officers of the County Committee shall constitute the County Committee.
Section 3. No person shall be eligible to serve as a member or officer of the Committee who is found to be in violation of Rule 1, Section 2, of the Rules Of The Democratic Party Of The Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania. Complaints that a person is in violation are submitted to the Executive Committee for a hearing, at which the accused person is entitled to present a defense, followed by action by a majority vote of a quorum of the Executive Committee. If a violation is found, the accused person can appeal further as provided in Rule 1, Section 3, of the Rules Of The Democratic Party Of The Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania.
ARTICLE IV
The Officers of the Committee shall be chairperson, a vice chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer. They need not be County Committee members at the time of their nomination and election. Of the chair and vice chair, one shall be a male and the other a female.
Section 1 – Elections. Officers shall be elected at the County Committee reorganization meeting, and serve until the conclusion of the next following reorganization meeting. Except in the case of the chairperson, vacancies shall be filled by the executive Committee for the balance of the term within 45 days after the occurrence of the vacancy. The officers shall move up in rank until a successor is qualified. A vacancy in the office of chairperson shall be filled by the vice chair moving up in rank until the office is filled by the County Committee. The vacancy must be filled by the County Committee within 120 days of the occurrence of the vacancy. Should the vacancy occur within 120 days before a general election, the rule may be suspended by a majority vote of the committee provided it sets a date for the election of the chair no more than 30 days following the November election.
Section 2. Duties of Officers.
A. The chairperson is the official spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Cumberland County. Duties include appointment of committees, filling vacancies in the County Committee, presiding at meetings of the County Committee, and serving on the State Democratic Committee. The chairperson is an ex officio member of every subcommittee of the Committee and of all Democratic clubs established in the County.
The following guidelines shall exist for expenditure of Committee funds:
1.expenditures of $1.00 to $100 may be approved by the Chair alone, either before or after they are incurred;
2. expenditures of $101.00 to $1,000.00 must be approved, in advance, by the Officers;
3. expenditures of $1,001.00 to $5,000.00 must be approved, in advance, by the Executive Committee;
4. expenditures of more than $5,001 must be approved, in advance by the entire Committee;
5. all expenditures, either proposed or already incurred must be substantiated by an invoice, receipt or other writing. At least three written estimates shall be solicited for all expenditures above $1,000.00.
B. The vice chairperson shall carry out such duties as the chairperson shall designate. In the event of the chairperson’s absence, the vice chairperson shall conduct the duties of the office.
C. The secretary shall be responsible for distribution of the minutes of the previous meeting, and shall conduct the Committee’s business in the absence of the chairperson and vice chairperson. The secretary shall aid the chairperson in maintaining the official rolls of the County Committee.
D. The treasurer shall distribute a financial report at each meeting of the Executive Committee and shall be responsible for preparing and timely filing all campaign finance reports, as require by state law. The treasurer shall be bonded in the amount of $10,000.00 or such larger amount as the Executive Committee may determine. The treasurer shall receive all funds paid into the Committee and pay all accounts in timely fashion. The treasurer shall move up in order of rank if called upon to do so. All checks must be signed by at least two of the following three officers: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Treasurer.
E. All officers, before assuming office, shall sign an agreement that they will within two weeks after leaving office, turn over to their successors all books, papers, records, equipment, and monies received by them for their use while in office.
Section 3. An officer may be removed from office by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at any meeting of the Committee, provided that at least ten days’ written notice of the proposed removal has been given to all members of the Committee, or provided that such notice was given at the last preceding meeting of the Committee.
ARTICLE V
Section 1. The Committee shall meet on a weekday evening or a Saturday following the primary election at which County Committeepersons are elected, no later than the sixth Wednesday following the primary, at such time and place within the County as the Chairperson shall designate by at least ten day’s written notice to all of the members. This meeting shall be the designated reorganization meeting of the Committee.
Section 2. The Committee shall meet also at other times and at least once each year, at such time and place within the County as shall be designated by at least ten days’ written notice to all of the members. All County Committee meetings including but not limited to those for the purpose of endorsement may be called by the Chairperson, by a majority of the Executive Committee, or by twenty-five percent of the members of the Committee.
Section 3. All meeting of the Committee shall be open to all Democrats, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws. Any member of the Committee may appoint by proxy a Democratic elector resident in the same election district and not already a member of the Committee, any of the four officers of the Committee or the members of the Democratic State Committee elected or appointed from Cumberland County may appoint by proxy a Democratic elector resident in the County and not already a member of the Committee as a representative of such member. Any such proxy shall be in writing, dated, signed by the Committee member designating the proxy, and attested by the signature of a witness. No person shall cast more than one vote on any one question placed before the Committee.
Section 4. A majority of sitting Committee members shall constitute a quorum at endorsement and reorganization meetings. One-third shall constitute a quorum at all other meetings.
Section 5. The following shall be the order of business at all meetings of the Committee, to the extent applicable:
Roll Call of Members
Reading of Call to Meeting
Reading of Minutes of Previous Meeting
Treasurer’s Report
Election and Installation of Officers
Reports of Committees
Endorsements and Vacancies
Section 1. Endorsements in the name of the Committee, and the decision whether or not to endorse, shall be made only by the members of the Committee eligible to vote at the election for the office in question. Endorsements shall require a majority vote of all sitting Committee members eligible to vote for the office in question and shall be by secret ballot if there is more than one candidate for the office.
Section 2. Meetings to consider endorsements shall operate under the same provision as to call, location, notice, openness, and proxies as do other meetings of the Committee, except that the members of the Committee eligible to participate may, by majority vote of those present, decide to close the proceedings, or any portion thereof, to all except members of the Committee and members of the Executive Committee. A quorum for an endorsement meeting shall be a majority of those eligible to vote at the meeting.
Section 3. No office shall be considered for endorsement unless all of the duly filed or publicly announced candidates have been notified of the meeting in the same manner as members of the Committee. All such candidates shall have the right to offer brief remarks to the meeting.
Section 4. An endorsement shall mean that the Committee favors the nomination and election of a particular candidate but shall not be binding on any Democrat; notwithstanding the foregoing, however, none of the officers of the Committee shall by voice, vote, financial support or otherwise support any candidate for Representative in Congress, Representative in the General Assembly, Senator in the General Assembly or County or local public office who is running against a candidate endorsed by the Committee. No money may be expended or lent by the Committee or by the Executive Committee to influence the outcome of a primary election except a primary election for judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Ninth Judicial District, at which only one registered Democratic is seeking nomination, but the Committee or Executive Committee may authorize the formation of separate of campaign committees to raise and expend money on behalf of any endorsed candidate.
Section 5. Meetings to fill vacancies shall operate under the same provisions as to call, locations, notice, openness, secret ballot, and proxies as do other meetings of the Committee, except that in cases in which the legal deadline for filling a vacancy does not permit ten day’s notice to be given for the meeting, shorter notice will be sufficient. Those members of Committee present and eligible to vote at the meting shall constitute a quorum.
Section 6. All persons desiring to be considered as candidates to fill a vacancy shall have the right to offer brief remarks at the meeting.
Section 7. When any vacancy occurs in the Democratic nomination for any office affecting all or part of the County which is to be filled by State Committee or State Executive Committee, the Chairperson shall call a meeting to make a recommendation as to that office. The meeting shall follow the requirements of Article VI, above, with the following exception; when procedural deadlines make ten days’ notice impossible, shorter notice may be permitted; a majority of those votes cast at the meeting shall be sufficient to constitute a recommendation; one third of those eligible to vote shall constitute a quorum; and a quorum shall be deemed to continue once established.
Section 8. When any vacancy happens in public office affecting all or part of Cumberland County which is to be filled by appointment, the Chairperson shall call a meeting of the Committee to make a recommendation as to that office. That meeting shall follow the requirements of Article VI, Section 4 above.
ARTICLE VII
Section 1. The County shall be divided into at least ten areas by the Chairperson, who shall notify the Committeepersons in writing of this apportionment within one month following the reorganization meeting of the Committee. Each area shall consist of one or more contiguous boroughs or townships, or both, except that non-contiguous municipalities may be combined into one area provided that they share a common school district and that a majority of the members of the Committee in each of the contiguous portions of the area consent. A single borough or township may be divided into two or more area. In no case, however, shall an area contain fewer than five hundred registered Democrats.
Section 2. The Chairperson shall appoint a registered Democratic resident in each area to serve as Area Leader or co-Area Leader, with the total appointed not to exceed 20. Each Area Leader will have one vote on the Executive Committee. The term of office of each Area Leader shall begin upon the consent of a majority of the members of the Committee resident in the area to his selection. The term shall extend until the conclusion of the next following reorganization meeting of the Committee, unless sooner removed from office by the Chairperson, with the consent of a majority of the members of the Committee resident in the area. Vacancies in the office of Area Leader shall be filled by the Chairperson, with the consent of a majority of the members of the Committee resident in the area.
Section 3. The duties of the Area Leaders shall be to coordinate and promote Democratic voter registration and campaign activities in their areas. They shall keep the Democratic Club and Committeepersons in their areas informed of the actions of the Executive Committee and shall report monthly to the Executive Committee on the programs and projects being conducted in their areas.
ARTICLE VIII
The plenary power of the Committee shall be vested in an Executive Committee, except in those instances in which these bylaws specifically reserve the power to another body, and as long as the actions of the Executive Committee are not inconsistent with those of the Committee.
Section 1. The officers of the County Committee shall hold those same offices on the Executive Committee.
Section 2. Members of the Executive Committee shall be the members of the Democratic State Committee elected or appointed from Cumberland County, the Area Leaders, all elected Democratic officials resident in the County whose nominating petitions are filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and no more than ten other registered Democrats resident in the County and chosen by the Chairperson, with the consent of the Executive Committee, with regard to broadening the representative nature of the Executive Committee.
Section 3. No person shall be eligible to serve as a member of the Executive Committee who is found to be in violation of Rule 1, Section 2, of the Rules Of The Democratic Party Of The Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania. Complaints that a person is in violation are submitted to the Executive Committee for a hearing, at which the accused person is entitled to present a defense, followed by action by a majority vote of a quorum of the remaining Executive Committee members. If a violation is found, the accused person can appeal further as provided in Rule 1, Section 3, of the Rules Of The Democratic Party Of The Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania.
Section 4. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a month during at least nine months of each year, at the call of the Chairperson or of twenty-five percent of its members, at a regular time and place or, upon at least one week’s written notice to all members of the Executive Committee, at such time and place within the County as may be designated. All meetings of the Executive Committee shall be open to committee members. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of one-third of its members. Duties of the Executive Committee shall include the preparation and approval of an annual budget and program for the Democratic Party, which shall be made available to all members of the Committee.
Section 5. Members of the Executive Committee are expected to attend all Executive Committee meetings, unless prevented from doing so by illness, work or family obligation, or weather conditions, which shall be communicated to the Secretary in writing, including email notification. An Executive Committee member chosen by the Chairperson, other than an Area Leader or a State Committee member, may be removed by majority vote of the Executive Committee for missing three Executive Committee meetings in a 12-month period without communicating an excuse as provided above.
ARTICLE IX
The Chairperson shall appoint, with the consent of the Executive Committee, and shall be ex officio of, standing committees on campaign, finance and registration and such other standing and special committees as needed. Members of these committees need not be members of the Committee.
ARTICLE X
To comply with existing statutory requirements for property held by Unincorporated Associations, a Board of Trustees is hereby established. The Board of Trustees of the Committee shall consist of seven persons, including the four officers and the Members of State Committee elected in the primary. Committee property shall not be pledged or mortgaged except to obtain funds which to purchase the property or reduce or retire the mortgage.
Campaign Expenses
The Executive Committee may not expend money beyond its current liquid assets, borrow money, or assume debt in order to fund any campaign.
ARTICLE XII
For the purpose of these bylaws, any personal pronouns shall encompass both the masculine and the feminine. For the purpose of these bylaws, the term “Area Leader” will apply to Area Leaders and co-Area Leaders.
ARTICLE XIII
Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the Committee in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are non inconsistent with these bylaws.
These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the sitting Committee members at any meeting of the Committee, provided that at least one week’s written notice has been given to all of them that an amendment to these bylaws is to be considered and specifying by number and title the Article sought to be amended, or provided that such notice was given at last preceding meeting of the Committee.
Committee Member Resources
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Home>Lifestyle> Michelle Obama Covers Vogue In First Post-Election Issue
Michelle Obama Covers Vogue In First Post-Election Issue
By Zakk Feig
Michelle Obama is still America's favorite person.
In it's first post-election cover story, Vogue sat down with FLOTUS Michelle Obama, the woman that many are hoping will save America in 2020. See some of the quotes from her conversation with Vogue below.
On her work as FLOTUS:
"I could have spent eight years doing anything, and at some level, it would have been fine. I could have focused on flowers. I could have focused on decor. I could have focused on entertainment. Because any First Lady, rightfully, gets to define her role. There’s no legislative authority; you’re not elected. And that’s a wonderful gift of freedom."
On being doubted at Harvard:
"I’m just as smart as these people! What were they thinkin’? So there are a lot of people who will try to step on your confidence based on their assumptions about who they think you are. For all of you sitting here, with those doubts in your head—because those whispers of doubt, they stay with you for a very long time—ignore them. . . . I still carry that with me today, as First Lady of the United States, because there are people who don’t think I should be doing that either."
On leaving the White House:
"You know, there are little . . . moments. Even today I was looking out at this view here. Looking out on the South Lawn and the Washington Monument and it had just rained and the grass was really green and everything popped a little bit more. It’s soooo beautiful. And for that moment I thought, I’m going to miss waking up to this, having access to this anytime I want. But on the flip side . . . it’s time. I think our democracy has it exactly right: two terms, eight years. It’s enough. Because it’s important to have one foot in reality when you have access to this kind of power. The nature of living in the White House is isolating. And I think Barack and I—because we’re kind of stubborn—we’ve maintained some normalcy, mostly because of the age of our kids. I go out to dinner with my girlfriends; I go to Sasha’s games; Barack has coached a little basketball with Sasha’s team. But at the same time, when you can’t walk into CVS? ...When you’re not engaged in the day-to-day struggles that everybody feels, you slowly start losing touch. And I think it’s important for the people in the White House to have a finger on the pulse."
On missing the presidential debates:
"I can’t. That’s part of staying hopeful and positive—be able to go high. . . . Sometimes that means just not engaging. And that’s not just with these debates. If I didn’t have to be at my husband’s debates, I wouldn’t have watched those, either."
On the difficulties of fighting for girls to get an education:
"Sometimes the issue is resources: Parents can’t afford to pay for tuition, uniforms, or school supplies; or the nearest school is too far away and there’s no safe transportation; or there is a school nearby, but it doesn’t have adequate bathrooms for girls, so they have to stay home when they have their periods, and they wind up falling behind and dropping out. But often the problem is attitude. It’s about whether families and communities think girls are even worthy of an education in the first place. It’s about whether girls are valued only for their labor and reproductive capacities or for their minds as well. And it’s about whether women are viewed as second-class citizens or as full human beings entitled to the same rights and opportunities as men."
Check out the whole Vogue story here.
Lifestyle News michelle obama barack obama politics america election vogue
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LIFESTYLE Michelle Obama Covers Vogue In First Post-Election Issue
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the future of meat
WHAT IS CELL-BASED MEAT?
Cell-based meat, which is also referred to as "clean meat," is a groundbreaking technology that is poised to revolutionize the global food system.
Rather than obtaining meat from animals raised on environmentally destructive factory farms and slaughtered in filthy slaughterhouses, cell-based meat is produced by taking a small sample of animal cells and replicating them in a culture outside of the animal. The resulting product is 100 percent real meat, but without the antibiotics, E. coli, salmonella, or waste contamination – all of which come standard in conventional meat production.
Dr. Mark Post of Maastricht University proved meat could be created this way when he debuted the first cell-based meat hamburger in London in 2013–at a cost of roughly $330,000.
To put the developments of the past few years into perspective, the San Francisco startup Memphis Meats is now producing cell-based meat for $40 per gram, which is less than one - fiftieth of the cost from just a few years ago. And Dr. Post’s company, Mosa Meats, plans to sell its cell-based meat hamburgers for $10 a patty by 2020.
The end goal is to produce cell-based meat that is cheaper than even the least expensive conventionally produced chicken. Leading experts believe that is achievable within 10 years given adequate support for cell-based meat research and development.
Find out more about cell-based meat technology.
WHY CELL-BASED MEAT?
Animal agriculture is unsustainable, environmentally harmful, bad for human health, and bad for animals. Cell-based meat mitigates or solves these problems.
United Nations scientists state that raising animals for food is "one of the major causes of the world's most pressing environmental problems, including global warming, land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity." Cell-based meat will require much less land and will cause far less climate change than conventional meat.
Growing crops to feed them to farm animals is vastly inefficient, driving up the price of grains and legumes, and entrenching global poverty. To produce enough food for 9.7 billion people by 2050, we will need a more efficient system. Cell-based meat is predicted to be three times as efficient as chicken, which is the most efficient conventionally produced meat.
The current production of animal products subjects tens of billions of thinking, feeling animals to lives of extreme confinement, emotional trauma, painful mutilations, and inhumane slaughter. Cell-based meat does not require that animals suffer or die.
About 80 percent of antibiotics produced in the U.S. are given to farm animals. This steady stream of antibiotics contributes to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and superbugs that cannot be killed by standard antibiotics. Cell-based meat does not require the use of antibiotics.
Just as the inventions of the plane and car have made the idea of traveling by horse and buggy unthinkable, cell-based meat technology is poised to make the myriad problems of conventional animal agriculture a thing of the past.
The Good Food Institute has a team of scientists, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and lobbyists, all of whom are laser-focused on using markets and food technology to transform our food system away from factory farmed animal products and toward cell-based meat and plant-based alternatives. You can contact and read more about GFI's team of experts here.
To learn more about clean meat or find a way to get involved, check out the resources and opportunities listed at The Good Food Institute and sign up for e-news updates.
Essential Readings & Research
This page is brought to you by The Good Food Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes healthy, humane, and sustainable alternatives to the products of conventional animal agriculture.
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October 21, 2010 at 12:08 am by Lexi Pandell
CSI: Crime Scene Intoxication
Saturday, October 9, 11:59 p.m. — Three cops were departing from a fire scene on the 6700 block of Del Playa when an odd spectacle drew their attention.
A 19-year-old male had become ensnared in the yellow police tape encircling the emergency area. Trapped and confused, the SBCC student managed to envelop his entire body in the yellow web before staggering into the street with 50 feet of police tape trailing behind.
Although the tangled teen insisted that he leave on his own, deputies didn’t think it was likely that he would get too far on his own.
He was transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail where he was housed, pending sobriety and some serious detangling.
Feisty in Fur
Friday, October 15, 11:25 p.m. — Officers were dispatched to the 66-block of Sueno after receiving reports of a 19-year old female in a fur coat throwing bottles in the street.
Upon arriving, they noticed a large amount of broken glass in the road and soon spotted the fur-clad suspect. Cops sat the gaudy gal on the curb and, after she was unable to successfully complete the first half of the ABCs or even tell the deputies where she lived, called in a cop car to transport the bottle-tossing babe.
She seemed docile enough…until she was handcuffed and began to frantically kick, spin and pull until the deputies managed to pin her to the ground.
The custody van finally arrived and the feisty fashionista was led inside. Set on freedom, she began kicking the metal plate separating her from the cops until it bent.
And then the furry fiend successfully smashed out the passenger window with her foot.
Police rushed back to check on the thrasher but barely opened the door before the freedom fighter burst out. Impervious to the dose of pepper spay she received in her eyes, she bolted into a nearby yard. Cops finally caught up with the determined dasher, employed a rip hobble restraining device and threw her back in the van — where she continued to thrash about until she arrived at Cottage Hospital.
In the exam room, the forgetful female said that, while even her bloodied foot felt fine, her eyes were a bit sore — probably because of her mascara.
She was transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail where she was housed, pending sobriety and an improved sense of fashion.
“Come on, baby, light my fire…”
Saturday, October 9, 2:18 a.m. — An 18-year-old male trying again and again to light a chair on fire in the middle of the 66-block of Abrego caught the eye of Isla Vista’s finest.
When deputies contacted the persistent pyro, he pleaded that he was “just trying to see if the chair would light on fire.” Although the would-be torcher said that he wasn’t entirely sure why he was trying to set the furniture aflame, he noted that it would have been fun had it been successful.
He was transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail where he was housed, pending sobriety.
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PHOTOS: Surveillance footage from Folsom bank robbery shooting
Wednesday, August 15th, 2012, 3:31pm
Accused mail thief pleads guilty
Tuesday, July 24th, 2012, 6:16pm
SACRAMENTO, CA - A North Highlands man pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing mail in El Dorado County on two occasions, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California, reports.
Steven Joseph Rohner, 55, faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a $500,000 fine, plus restitution when he is sentenced Oct. 30, said U.S. Attorney's Office spokeswoman Lauren Horwood.
Court documents alleged Rohner stole more than $14,278 in the thefts. He was charged with breaking into a mail truck and taking bags of mail destined for El Dorado, Diamond Springs and Shingle Springs post offices on Dec. 3, 2011. Three months later, on March 26, Rohner was accused of burglarizing a U.S. Post Office in Rescue and stealing mail from mail bags.
PHOTOS: Cockfighting ring busted in El Dorado County
Friday, June 29th, 2012, 12:27pm
Former Placerville mayor pleads guilty to conspiracy, perjury
Submitted by Maneeza Iqbal on Friday, June 22nd, 3:30 pm
PLACERVILLE, CA - Former Placerville mayor pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and conflict of interest allegations Friday.
David Machado was arrested in August 2011 on allegations of perjury and suspicion in connection to property he bought in Placerville's redevelopment zone while in office.
Machado pled guilty to three charges:
Felony conspiracy to obstruct justice and the due administration of laws
Conspiracy to destroy or conceal evidence and delaying/obstructing a public officer
Public official using his official position to influence a government decision which the defendant knew he had a financial interest
Machado Allocution Statement:
Were you a victim of a timeshare scam?
Submitted by Maneeza Iqbal on Thursday, June 21st, 4:54 pm
PLACER COUNTY, CA -Detectives are looking for people who were scammed in a Craigslist real estate scheme.
William Frank Lordier, 54, of Meadow Vista, is accused of selling timeshares on Craigslist and using victims' bank account information to steal from the accounts, Placer County sheriff's spokesperson Dena Erwin said.
Detectives found multiple victims in Los Angeles, Neveada County, Oregon and Washington.
Erwin said Lordier was arrested earlier in the week.
Anyone who believes they were victimized in the scam is urged to call the Placer County Sheriff's Department at (530) 889-7844.
Ex-deputy makes plea deal in fraud, theft case
Tuesday, June 19th, 2012, 3:36pm
PLACERVILLE, CA - The former president of the El Dorado County Deputy Sheriff's Association has pleaded no contest to embezzlement, elder fraud, perjury and white collar crime charges.
Donald Atkinson will also be sentenced to five years in state prison and must pay $438,348 in restitution, according to the plea agreement reacher with the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office.
RELATED STORY: Retired El Dorado County sheriff's deputy arrested for embezzlement
Placerville principal's killer sentenced 50 to life
Friday, June 15th, 2012, 2:22pm
PLACERVILLE, CA - A Placerville school maintenance worker found guilty of fatally shooting his school's principal last year has been sentenced 50 years to life in prison.
In April, an El Dorado County Superior Court jury convicted John Luebbers of the first degree murder of Sam LaCara on Feb. 2, 2011. LaCara was principal of Louisiana Schnell Elementary School.
Luebbers shot LaCara in his school office after an employment-related dispute.
PREVIOUS STORY: Placerville principal fatally shot; custodian in custody
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eat your exam
Archive for the ‘Gaming’ Category
PlayStation 3: The Real Deal
Written by rob on May 8, 2006 – 10:31 pm -
The Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, California kicked off today. The show floor doesn’t actually open until Wednesday, so the only thing really shaking today was some announcements from a few developers…… and of course the official Sony Press Conference. The wait is over, and the exposé on the future of Playstation is, too. Oh, and the price is in green near the end of the article if that is all you care about.
There will undoubtedly be dozens on articles out tomorrow that will be infinitely more extensive than this, but I just wanted to give a brief look into exactly what was shown off, and cut right into the details that people actually care about. I got all the following info from watching the video feed on IGN Insider’s Livewire, so thanks to them for that. Made me feel like I was really there 😉
Anyway, the demo started off with a lot of boring charts and statistics on PS2 and PSP sales. I guess Sony is really happy about them, and I guess they have the right to be proud. 103 million PS2’s, and 17 million PSP’s as of March 31. They went on to say that there will be PS2 support for years to come, and then reiterated a bunch of PSP stuff we already knew (future firmware updates to add GPS, video camera, etc. updates), but also mentioned something called Memory Stick Boot, which I’m pretty sure is what they use later in the show to boot PS1 games from the memory card, though it may be something entirely different that they didn’t go into detail on. Also, PSP will get a Greatest Hits program, which was inevitable.
Now on to the PS3, what everyone actually wants to hear. It will support 1080p HDTV, despite what so many online articles were rumoring. It will also still support gigabit ethernet, bluetooth, as well as have SD and Memory Stick flash card functionality. Every PS3 will ship with a hard drive, the size of which depends on which model you get (see very bottom of this article for more on the two models). Blah, blah.
Then the tech demos started. There was a couple clips from Gran Turismo 4, except instead of being the PS2 version, it had updated graphics to support high-definition. I thought it looked pretty neat, but hardly anything special. However, then came the real wow!, for me at least. There is this card game that reminded me of Yu-Gi-Oh! that works along with the Eye Toy and actual real cards. In the demo, some cards were placed on a table, and then the digital representations of them appeared in the game, and monsters started to be summoned. It appears as if you move your cards in order to interact with the game. VERY COOL. Then there was just more games… all the same stuff we’ve already seen.
Then it got to the game we actually care about: Metal Gear Solid 4. The following is a quote from GameSpot’s summary of the teaser that is probably better than anything I can come up with:
“It’s in Japanese. Snake is sitting down, he’s still old. “War has changed,” he says. Talk about nanomachines, soldiers getting cut down in the streets by that crazy walking mech. Ther’es a ninja… is it the ninja? His mask looked different. Naomi Hunter. Col. Campbell says “you’re the world’s only hope!” Meryl says that we’re the new Foxhound. Otcan claims the Onus is ours! The ninja is Raiden! Liquid Ocelot! This is rad! Back to Snake, sitting down, smoking, holding a pistol. Oops, he just put it in his mouth! Is he taking the coward’s way out? “This is my final mission.” Gun shot, cut to black. Coming 2007.”
Definitely going to be interesting! I am hoping there will be a nicer view of this teaser tomorrow, as an isolated download that I can hopefully link to. I actually didn’t even get to see the whole thing… my stupid feed died out on me in the middle of it and I missed the second half 🙁 I’d love to see the whole thing in better quality soon.
Then they get on to the actual hardware stuff. Ken Kutaragi and Phil Harrison show up on stage to demonstrate the new controller which looks a lot like the current PS2 controller. The only difference is that the L2/R2 buttons are a little bigger and it has a button right in the middle… kind of like the middle button on the 360 controller. No, actually… exactly like the 360’s button. Anyone want to wager what that button’s going to do? Maybe bring out the dashboard interface from the side of the screen? And then Dylan Jobe, producer of Warhawk (jet plane fighter game) demonstrates the ability of the controller to track motion, which Sony calls “six degress of freedom”, whatever that is supposed to mean. In all reality, it is motion sensoring in the controller, just like Nintendo Wii’s controller. The only thing is that it only really senses tilts in directions, but not actual relative motion. That is, the game will know you went right, but not how far right you went, which is necessary to let you control a 3D sword or whatever. So, it still seems that the Wii will be the only system to get light saber games 🙁
Then Ken Kutaragi comes out for the big announcement, the one that everyone was waiting for. Pricing and release details, and here is the skinny. The PS3 will have two separate packages (sound familiar?), one with a 20GB hard drive and one with a 60GB drive. The 20GB one will be $499, while the 60GB one will be $599. And it looks like a November 17, 2006 release date for North America. Let’s just say I’m going to reserve mine this weekend.
EDIT (05-09-06): News has come in that the $499 and $599 versions are quite different. Aside from the aforementioned hard drive size differences, the $499 will not include Wi-Fi capabilities, the memory card (SD/Memory Stick) reader, or… and this is the big one… HDMI output.
The price is a little higher than I expected, but I am definitely still getting it the first day it comes out. I’m probably going to reserve it this weekend at Toys ‘R Us. I will never reserve at Gamestop considering what they did to all those people that reserved 360’s… and I don’t think anywhere else is even taking reservations yet.
On a very quick side note, Square Enix also had their conference today, and they announced a few notable things. There will be three new games coming out under the title of Final Fantasy XIII (yeah, I know… they’re getting carried away with this stuff). There will be a prequel RPG for cell phones. Then there will be the main FF13 RPG for PS3, in addition to an action game for PS3 called FF Versus 13. They also confirmed Final Fantasy III for Gameboy Advance, which was pretty much a known fact now anyway. Also there will be a game called Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for the PSP. It will be interesting to see how that news shakes out.
All in all, it was an interesting day with a lot of cool stuff. I look forward to seeing the whole MGS4 teaser video downloadable tomorrow, as well as the Nintendo Wii news!
Posted in Gaming | 1 Comment »
Sony Cancels PS3!
Written by rob on April 1, 2006 – 12:00 am -
In a surprising press release, Sony announced that the Playstation 3 has been cancelled. Allegedly, there was a lawsuit between some software developer and Sony. The developer claimed to have a huge part in the creation of the Blu-Ray disc format, but was not properly compensated. The judge ruled that Sony must never use the Blu-Ray format in any commercially-released products. What does this mean for PS3? The end, to put it briefly.
Ken Kutaragi and Phil Harrison commented to the press about the cancellation. It seems that the absense of a disc format will, obviously, cause the system to be further delayed. Unfortunately, Kutaragi stated that the redevelopment of a format could take over two years. This is an unacceptable amount of time for the PS3 to be pushed back, as it has already been delayed five months. Therefore, the system is going to be canceled. It seems that Kutaragi and company plan to develop a new disc format, in addition to an entirely different system, from scratch. I assume it will still use the Cell processing architecture, given the amount of time and money devoted to the R&D of it, though it will most likely be a tweaked version. It seems that the company has in mind to skip the upcoming next-generation completely, and instead focus on the current generation of PSP and PS2 gaming. They will also get a head start on developing the PS4.
Also notable is that fact that Kutaragi stated that a redesigned version of the PS2 will be released soon. No details were given. However, I suspect it will feature upgraded graphical capabilities to keep the PS2 semi-competitive with the XBOX 360 and Nintendo Revolution. Given the fact that the recently released Nintendo Revolution specs are barely equivalent to the original XBOX, an upgraded PS2 may very well be competitive in the next generation.
Kutaragi seems to be a mastermind, so I don’t doubt his decision to cancel PS3. However, I think I speak for every Sony fan in saying that I am immeasureably disappointed. But, you can’t change the truth. Without Blu-Ray, the PS3 would probably need to be redesigned largely. Kutaragi states in the press release that not only will a new format have to be created, but the drive that encompasses that format will then have to be integrated into the system and tested. All of this takes time, and as he stated, “In the competitive world of consoles, this time does not exist.”
Hopefully the new PS2 that will come out will feature enough horsepower to at least rival the Nintendo Revolution. I’m sure Bill Gates and his buddies at Microsoft are laughing right now. But let them. As the release said, the PS4 will strike back with a vengeance. Getting this huge headstart on it, and using the knowledge gaining from the development of the PS3, should lead to a HUGELY impressive PS4. I expect it to utterly destroy the XBOX 720 (or whatever they decide to name it) and Nintendo Counter-Revolution (or whatever they decide to name it) even moreso than the PS3 would have destroyed the Revolution and 360.
In conclusion, am I angry, frustrated, and disappointed? YES! But am I giving up all hope for Sony and withdrawling $400 from the bank to buy a 360? NO! The new PS2 should last me until the PS4, and meanwhile I will continue playing the PSP and PC games. Sony skipping a generation doesn’t mean we must all give up hope. They are a huge company that won’t topple from even a large blow like this. Their new CEO combined with the genius of Kutaragi should easily get them through the troubling times ahead.
On a side note, I decided to convert the theme of the site permanently to pink. This masculine color will help us remember PS3’s legacy and celebrate these fateful times.
Posted in Gaming | 6 Comments »
The Godfather: The Game Review
Written by rob on March 29, 2006 – 8:26 am -
The Godfather: The Game was released on March 21, 2006 by EA Games. It represents years of hard work by a talented team of developers, and boasts to be a nonlinear, wide-open game putting you in the shoes of a new member to the Corleone family.
The main story of the game runs a close parallel to the first movie. You begin with a tutorial mission, but you are quickly hurled into action as you are a bystander during Luca Brasi’s assassination. From there, you begin to understand the unrest of the city, as you are pitted against the earliest rival family. From this point, the missions come pretty much directly from the movie. The only thing is that your character, this “new guy” to the family, winds up doing a lot of the behind-the-scenes things. For example, when Don Vito Corleone is shot, you have to tail his ambulance as a fellow gangster shoots out of the window of your car to take enemy cars out of the way. After being ambushed on a bridge, you then have to interrogate a high ranking member of the Tattaglia family for information as to who may have shot the Don. From there, you assume driver control of the ambulance and then have to rush to the hospital. It is a great mix of all the things you will be doing in this game in an early mission, and really gets things rolling.
Unfortunately, that is one of the better missions in the game. Subsequent missions are fun, but the story-telling is very weak. For example, when you must plant the gun behind the toilet for Michael Corleone to use in hitting Sollozzo and McClusky, the game doesn’t even tell you why you are doing it. The opening cutscene for the mission features a memorable quote from the movie, but doesn’t actually give you any direction. You wind up simply following the blue dot on the mini-map, a’la of GTA. So, if you haven’t seen the first movie, this game is going to seem like a bunch of random quests that have almost no direction or connection. I’m surprised EA didn’t take a more cinematic approach to their games, and make the missions seem more like an interactive version of the movie rather than a game with some clips from the movie thrown in. There are also quite a few frustrating levels that will undoubtedly take a few tries to complete. Also make sure to save often between missions so that you don’t lose progress when you fall victim to some of the games few but major glitches (e.g. if you are very close to an exploding car, but you aren’t kill by the blast, your guy gets stuck on the ground and can’t get up. It requires a restart of the game, essentially sending you back to your last save.)
Veering away from the main story line is easy, however, and is why this game is even enjoyable at all. The largest “side quest” you will be doing is trying to gain control of New York City. The mini-map displays businesses as either dollar signs or little triangle-looking things that are color coded based on who controls them. Taking control of businesses is extremely fun. The first business you must take over is not controlled by anyone, so you don’t have to worry about rival gang fire. You press the Triangle button near the shop owner (indicated by the puppet-master icon above their head) to attempt to extort them. Some people simply go along with the Corleone’s, but some require some “convincing”. You can convice people in many ways. When they don’t want to do what you ask, a bar appears under their name, with a blue bar showing how intimidated they are of you and then a green line showing where they will join your side. However, on the far end of the bar is a red area. If you hit that, they will no longer value life enough and won’t give you anything. The key to making the most money from a deal is getting as close to the red as you can without actually hitting it. The convincing itself usually entails breaking things in the store with your fists or a bat, grabbing the owner by the shirt and knocking them against the wall, simply beating up the owner, or holding a gun to them. Sometimes just doing one of these things is enough, in the case of the first business you have to convert. From there, however, it gets more difficult. Some people need to be beat within an inch of their life to go your way. Once they are convinced, you press Triangle again and their business will begin paying protection to the Corleone’s. Every time a week passes in the game, a summary will be displayed of all the businesses, and you will take your cut of the profit the family receives (about 30%). Taking over all the businesses in a district gives the Corleones control of that territory. The ultimate goal is to take control of all five districts.
After the tutorial mission in the game, I feel victim to a rival family trap. These are two parallel roads that lead to an enemy warehouse, and both roads are barricaded off by enemy cars. Driving into it is essentially a trap, but I somehow managed to escape alive by running over most of the enemies. Little did I know, I built up the Vendetta meter – that is, the meter that controls your relationship with rival families. I got it up high enough to start a mob war… in the first hour of the game! The game instructed me that to end it I needed to either bribe an FBI agent or bomb one of the enemy family’s businesses. I chose the former, as I had no bombs. Finding the agent was difficult, as he was in the basement of a church, but paying him off was easy. I had won the war.
This brings me to a point in the game that I don’t really enjoy: the way it handles money. Money is such a minor aspect, believe it or not. Taking over businesses, to me, is more about the fun of “convincing” than getting the money. Bribing the FBI agent was about $30,000. I only had $18,000 at that early point in the game. However, it only deducted about $1,000 from my funds. The Corleone family itself paid for the rest. Most times you pay off warehouse owners or FBI agents doesn’t come from your funds. The only real thing you buy with your own money is guns and clothes. Safe houses are really expensive and you can’t afford them until later. However, I just don’t think the game puts much of an emphasis on money. If you don’t care about weapons or what your guy looks like, you don’t even need money. Paying off cops isn’t even necessary. I never had them come after me except in one mission. It is these inconsistencies that really take away from the realism of the game.
The above lack of encouragement for money and police bribes, coupled with the weak story telling of the game, take what could have been great and make it merely “good”. The Godfather is a fun game, without a doubt. The taking over of businesses is a very great experience, and there is a certain satisfaction you get from throwing an enemy gangster out a window on the second floor! The mob wars, however, seem too easy to win, and if you drive fast enough the family you are at war with can’t even harm you with their gun fire (just drive past their part of town as fast as possible). But the real blow to the game is the story… it just seems like a random collection of bits from the movie, and few missions give you satisfaction after completion. The game is fun, but doesn’t have that extra layer required to truly stick in your mind. I only rented it, and can say that I’m happy I didn’t buy it.
OVERALL: 7 / 10
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Official Playstation Details… Finally!
Written by rob on March 15, 2006 – 4:06 pm -
Today, Sony executive Ken Kutaragi provided a business brief in Tokyo. Coined as the “father” of Playstation, Kutaragi was rightfully given the job of officially crushing PS3 and PSP rumors. While the interview with CEO Howard Stringer early last week gave official details of a Playstation 3 delay, it was not formal or even expressly stated. Today is the day for that, and much other Playstation news.
First and foremost was the confirmation of delay. Mr. Kutaragi apologized for Sony’s delay, stating what rumors had already been saying: a Fall 06 release due to Blu-Ray complications. He stated that the complications will result in a better HDMI (high definition output) support on launch day. He also specified the release date: within the first 10 days of November 2006. But, here’s the kicker… this is the worldwide launch. That means that Japan, the US, and Europe will all enjoy the PS3 within days of each other, all in early November. This is very good news, indeed, since I suspected the US date would be as late as Q1 2007.
Secondly, and where Sony always comes through, is that of backwards compatibility. Microsoft’s XBOX 360 only supports a few of the original XBOX titles, with some notable hits missing from the list. Also, it uses emulation to achieve this, meaning a small hit in performance. While the 360’s extreme power compared to the original makes this performance hit unnoticeable in old games, it is there nonetheless. Anyway, the PS3, as suspected, will be 100% backwards compatible with PS2 and PS1 games. This is a very attractive option to new gamers, as they will have Playstation’s ridiculously huge archive of games, including new ones, for just one investment. Also notable is the fact that when old games are played, they will be at high definition. XBOX 360’s emulation works much in the same way, but just supports less games.
On the topic of price, no official one was released at this time. What was announced, however, is that of price drops in current gen technology. The PS2 will not have its price dropped, as Sony predicts 10 million more units to be sold this year. However, which will be good news to all, is that the PSP basic package will be reduced from $249.99, to a much more appealing $199.99. This will hopefully, Sony predicts, influence more people to its new and ever-growing system.
Furthermore in terms of the PSP, Sony announced a new “E-Distribution System”, where you can essentially download playable content on your PSP. The first games to be released under this service are going to be original PS1 games. The fact that I will be able to play Final Fantasy IX on a long car ride is just too attractive to pass up: I cannot wait. I’m just hoping that Final Fantasy is indeed among the games offered. Finally, it was announced that an upgrade to the PSP’s browser later this year will fully support Macromedia Flash 6.0. That means playing Internet-enabled Flash games on the PSP… including the ones on this site!
The PS3 will also launch with a new online system. It will feature “matchmaking, messaging, rankings, friends lists, voice/video chat, in-game shopping, and game downloads to the hard drive. Best of all, the service will be free (as of right now, it isn’t clear on whether there will also be a paid tier of service similar to Xbox Live Gold). The service will also allow for publishers to connect their own game servers.” This basically means that you will be able to do anything you can do on XBOX Live!, only for free. Sounds good to me.
Among the release were also a few subtle statements that should not be ignored. For example, Kutaragi mentioned that the PS3 will act as a wireless access point for the PSP. While that is all he said, it can be inferred that it will also be an access point for other wireless devices. There was also mention of a 60GB hard drive with Linux pre-installed. However, the various sources I am reading disagree on this point. 1UP.com’s article states that “PS3 will include a 60GB hard drive (which is upgradeable) with Linux preinstalled.” However, GamingHorizon says, “Additionally, Sony has announced that the company’s next-generation console will “require” the 60GB, upgradeable hard drive; the HD will also support Linux. However, Kutaragi hasn’t confirmed that the PS3 will ship with a hard drive pre-installed (in fact, previous comments indicate otherwise – so either the console will ship with an HD or will require an immediate extra purchase in order to be played).” Considering the press release was in Japanese, things have undoubtedly been lost in translation. I venture to think the PS3 will include the hard drive. Otherwise, why would Kutaragi tell developers to assume a gamer has the HDD, or that the HDD is required? Only time will be able to confirm this.
In conclusion, this business brief is an excellent answerer of the many questions arising about the PS3. Now we pretty much know everything except whether or not it will carry a HD, and the price. Details on this will most likely become available in May, with the E3 convention. Also in May, Sony will distribute the “final” development kits to game companies. This should at least answer whether or not a hard drive is included. Sony may have missed their Spring 2006 release, but it looks as though the Playstation 3 will deliver on all fronts.
EDIT (03-18-06): It now seems that the general consensus among news sites is that the PS3 will indeed ship with the 60GB drive. This is very good news for Playstation fans. But here is the cooler thing: it will come pre-installed with Linux. If Sony pulls this off right, it could be the first real exposure home users get to Linux. So, if they do it right it may be a huge step forward for open source eventually taking control of the desktop environment.
The DaVinci Cheat Code
Written by rob on March 9, 2006 – 4:46 pm -
I read this article last Friday and was extremely amused by it. I figured I would post a link here for everyone else’s entertainment. It is surprisingly pretty long, but every second of it is very funny. For example, the following is a quote that shows the ‘tongue-in-cheek’ mentality of the article:
“The Catholic Church!” he exclaimed. “There are truths that the church doesn’t want anyone to know. That’s why there was an Xbox 360 shortage.”
“You lost me.”
We ducked back into the garage. “The 360 supply shortages are caused by delays in the manufacture of RAM chips from a German corporation, appropriately named Infineon Technologies. Through holding companies, the Vatican owns 67% of Infineon stock. They’ll stop at nothing to keep that console off the market. But the cover-up’s been going on for centuries.”
Now you have an idea of how ridiculous the ‘story’ is. The whole article in its entirety is more funny than any one part, so I recommend you have a read. So, without further ado, I present Fargo’s The DaVinci Cheat Code.
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PS3 Delay Official
It is official: Sony has delayed the PS3. OK, actually this was official yesterday. I’m a bit behind. I got a little too into Guild Wars last night. Anyway, you already know how I feel about PS3, so I’ll be brief.
Variety Magazine interviewed the new CEO of Sony, Howard Stringer, who they call the “Traveling man”. He’s the first non-Japanese CEO of Sony since the company’s conception, and he is claiming that he will take the entire company to new heights. In fact, he’s British and has no formal CEO experience, but he’s level-headed and Sony thinks he is right for the job. He has much plans for the company in the coming years, which he discussed in the interview. And as you know, Sony cannot describe their roadmap for the future without mentioning Playstation and Blu-Ray.
The following is the snippet about PS3.
Sony’s new PlayStation 3 was widely expected to be introduced this spring, but will be delayed as the company fine-tunes the chips that are crucial to the success of the console’s Blu-ray function. The PlayStation 3 — which is being called “the poor man’s Blue-ray” — is vital to Sony’s plans because it plays Blu-ray discs as well as videogames.
Sony will roll out the PS3 by year end, in time for the holidays. If PS3 “delivers what everyone thinks it will, the game is up,” Stringer boasts.
Blu-ray is the system developed by Sony to view next-generation high-definition DVDs. Rival format HD DVD is championed by Toshiba. Microsoft recently joined the HD DVD camp, a move that came as its Xbox 360 videogame console is trying to grab market share from PlayStation, the industry leader.
The only scary thing I see here is that Stringer is only officially talking about the Japanese release. Sony claims to want to release the system in Europe, Japan, and America very close to each other, but I don’t know if I can believe that. If Japan’s release is Fall 06, an American release may very well be early 07. At least now we have an official report that Spring 06 is not happening, something that I sort of figured anyway.
Playstation 3 Outlook
Written by rob on February 23, 2006 – 5:04 pm -
There have been a bunch of articles this week describing Sony’s upcoming game console, the Playstation 3. Almost every single one of them has been negative: pushing back launch dates, officially cancelling previously-promised features, and also a hands-on take of the console that is, in the reviewer’s words, unremarkable. Playstation “poser fans” are quaking nervously, but the real fans remain hopeful, mostly considering the fact that beating the XBOX 360 isn’t going to be that difficult.
I discussed the alleged Fall (September 16, 2006 for US is the unofficial take at this point) release in a previous post, which is contrary to Sony’s promise of a Spring release. A Sony executive recently denied any postponement of release, but a Spring 06 release is honestly looking doubtful at this point, unless Sony is keeping some serious news confidential from everyone. I honestly don’t believe the release date matters. As long as it delivers better performance and graphics than the 360, no one will care when it comes out. Though I must admit that if the Merrill Lynch estimates of a Q1 2007 release are correct, Sony may be in for trouble.
More notably than the pushed-back release date, however, was the report Kikizo released regarding the PS3. They received hands-on experience with a device of comparable specs to the PS3 and tried out the early versions of many of the system’s upcoming games. Their conclusion is worrying at best, as they state: “Sony’s showings of PS3 to date have been seriously sexy. But the reality, while still impressive, is nowhere near the leap beyond Xbox 360 Sony wants you to believe, and it seems many projects are still at an early enough stage for things to start getting a little worrying.” So, they are basically saying that the PS3’s Cell doesn’t meet expectations: fans expected it to blow the 360’s measly dual-core processor out of the water. My take on this is simple: either the developers are not fully taking advantage of the multi-threaded nature of the Cell, or the early versions of the games played are buggy in terms of performance. I simply refuse to draw any real conclusions based on some review of beta hardware and software. In short, PS3 will be better than the 360; that is not really the question. Rather, it is more of a matter of how much better it will be. This article seems to think that it won’t be that much better graphically or speed-wise, but I tend to think first-party games especially, when they are finished, will use the Cell to its advantage and tear the 360 to shreds.
The Taipei Game Show I talked about in my previous post (where I incorrectly cited the date) has come and gone, and still no real PS3 footage. This is surprisingly to me, as I really expected to at least see some real-time content from a real Playstation 3, or at least something close to one. This leads me to believe that there are indeed hardware issues that will take time to resolve. However, one must consider if Sony is just playing a really smart game. While it would be ignorant to believe the PS3 will release in Spring 06 and knock the socks off everyone in all of its glory, it would also be ignorant to dismiss the theory that Sony may be purposely witholding information. Hype is generally bred by suspense, and Sony’s lack of official statements surrounding the PS3 may just be their way of letting the hype germinate. Many companies have been known to purposely withold their biggest surprises, mostly because the unanimous wows when the official info comes out are enough to get even the most uninterested person to contemplate putting the product on their Christmas list. If Sony is playing the public will be seen soon enough, and I think it would be a brilliant move on their part if my speculations are true.
Today, more news has surfaced, though it isn’t directly related to the Playstation 3. Official documents from Sony have been leaked regarding a possible God of War sequel. The insanely popular original God of War was one of the best action-adventure games I have ever played, due mostly to its cool use of Greek mythology. The ending of the original, which I will not spoil here, definitely left room for a sequel, and let’s just say it would be an awesome sequel. If you beat the game you will know what I mean. Anyway, the “official documents” that were leaked were summarized by 1UP. The jist of their article is “The sequel’s allegedly coming in early 2007…on PS2.” The early 2007 (February) part is nothing to be wowed about, but the fact that it will be released on Playstation 2 is troubling, and this is where this revelation ties back to PS3. Games don’t usually get released on an “old” system any later than six months after the release of a “new” one. So, games shouldn’t be coming out on PS2 six months after PS3 is released, especially not high-profile ones like God of War. This leads me to believe that the PS3 launch date will indeed be later than the Spring. Also, I would like to note that company “leaks” are often media ploys, and are purposefully done by the company. Perhaps this God of War 2 leak is yet another chapter of Sony’s Machiavellian plan to dominate the console market. Or maybe it is just a leak.
The conclusion of all my above babbling is one of mystery: when it all comes down to it, no one really knows anything real about the Playstation 3. Whether it will be leaps and bounds above the XBOX 360, or when it will be released, are all questions that will never be answered fully until Sony officially states it. When they actually will is up for debate, but I would become very worried if nothing official is released at this year’s E3. Only time will tell…
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Playstation HUB & Possible Fall Release?
Written by rob on February 15, 2006 – 11:05 pm -
Speculation has today risen about what industry analysts are calling Sony’s XBOX-Live killer. When it comes to the current generation XBOX and PS2, there is no contest as to which is better in terms of online play: XBOX Live is simply better. Sony, however, is going to address that with their next-generation PS3, or at least that is the current buzz.
It seems that the new service will be called Playstation HUB. The name seems a little strange to me, like something alien-related, but whatever. The ambiguity of the name also leads many analysts to believe both the PSP and PS3 will be using this same network. The ability to chat with a PS3 online buddy of yours at any wireless hotspot with your PSP would definitely be cool. But more than just friends lists and the such, the most important aspect of an online service, and why XBOX Live is so popular, is the interface. Every game should be seemlessly integrated in a way that the online works the same way in all of them. I have a feeling Sony will definitely join the bandwagon with that, as their different-online-world-for-every-game model just isn’t cutting it.
Also, it seems, Sony is going to take things a bit further. After all, the objective is to beat XBOX, not copy it. They are allegedly going to integrate their Sony Connect service with this online HUB. For those who are unaware, Connect is Sony’s entrance into the ever-popular legal music (and now video) downloading industry that pretty much came out of nowhere in the last two years (thanks to the iPod+iTunes boom). No details or official statements have been made yet, but I suspect you will be able to purchase content on their store and store it on the PS3’s hard drive or memory card. The PS3 would then be able to play that, and the PSP would most likely then be able to receive the same downloaded content streamed from the console. This is of course all of my speculation, but it would definitely be pretty cool, especially combined with Sony’s Location-Free technology that would let you access the content from ANYWHERE that has internet access.
Again, all of this is speculation and none of it is really official yet. Time will reveal all, and I’m sure the upcoming (February 26th) Taipei Game Show will harbor much new PS3 info.
The HUB service is to debut in September of 2006, analysts predict. This leads them to belive the PS3 will be released around the same time in North America. Sounds good to me, as that Spring 06 number isn’t really seeming accurate at this point. I can’t wait. When the official release date does come out, expect to see a countdown right here on this site.
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Countdown to the Godfather Game
EDIT (03-03-06): Countdown applet removed because it slowed down the page’s load time.
This game is going to be incredible. It is said to be the most expensive video game ever created. EA is truly going all out to provide a HUGE open ended world. Think GTA, except with the Godfather’s expert story telling. You get to play a member of the Corleone family! How much better can you possibly get? The game is supposedly going to allow the player to choose how they want to play: intimidate or negotiate. I think we all know what we’re going to do, and let’s just say it doesn’t start with an “n”. The above countdown displays, down to the second, how much time remains before gamers everywhere can beat up bakers who forgot to pay for “protection”.
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Louis Gauffier
Frederic Augustus of Saxony
1762-1801 French Louis Gauffier Gallery French painter. Following his move to Paris, where he became a pupil of Hugues Taraval and a student at the Academie Royale, in 1784 Gauffier shared the Prix de Rome with Jean-Germain Drouais and Antoine-Denis Chaudet (for sculpture), his own work being Christ and the Woman of Canaan (Paris, Ecole N. Sup. B.-A.). During his time in Rome (1785-9) Gauffier worked hard, but his health was poor and the results variable. On his return to Paris he was accepted (agree) by the Academie as a history painter. Soon after, he returned to Rome in order to escape the worsening situation in Revolutionary Paris, although he continued to send his Neo-classical works to the Salon. In March 1790 he married Pauline Chatillon (d July 1801), a portrait painter whom he and Drouais had taught.. Related Paintings of Louis Gauffier :. | The Department of St Ursula | Wedding Procession | frederiksborg castle,the departure of the royal falcon hunt | The woman indoor | Den forlorade sonens aterkomst |
BENSON, Ambrosius
Flemish Northern Renaissance Painter, ca.1495-1550 South Netherlandish painter of Italian birth. In 1518 he acquired Bruges citizenship, and in 1519 he was admitted to the guild of painters and saddlemakers there as an independent master, with the comment that he was 'from Lombardy'. He may have been from Ferrara, although he was originally called Ambrogio Benzone, taking his first name from the patron saint of Milan, the capital of Lombardy. He was probably attracted to Bruges by its commercial and artistic reputation. Initially he worked in the studio of Gerard David, by whom he was profoundly influenced, but after a few months the relationship went wrong and the younger painter brought a case against David. Benson's first marriage was to Anna Ghyselin, who bore him two sons, Willem Benson (1521/2-1574) and Jan Benson (before 1530-before 1581), both of whom became artists. From his second marriage, to Josyne Michiels, a daughter Anna was born, and he had two other daughters from various extra-marital relationships. Benson was an affluent and successful man: he owned several houses, for one of which he gave eight paintings in half payment (which gives some idea of the value of his works at the time). Benson twice received commissions from city magistrates to decorate their new county hall and was a member of the city council on three occasions; he also held important offices within the painters' guild, including dean (1537-8 and 1543-4) and governor (1540-41). His pupils included his two sons, and Joachim Spaers (1541) and Jacob Vinson (Fynson; 1549).
TESTA, Pietro
Italian Baroque Era Painter, 1611-1650
1657-1747 Italian Francesco Solimena Gallery Francesco Solimena was born in Canale di Serino, near Avellino. He received early training from his father, Angelo Solimena, with whom he executed a Paradise for the cathedral of Nocera (place where he spend a big part of his life) and a Vision of St. Cyril of Alexandria for the church of San Domenico at Solofra. He settled in Naples in 1674, there he worked in the studio of Francesco di Maria and later Giacomo del Po[1]. He apparently had taken the clerical orders, but was patronized early on, and encouraged to become an artist by Cardinal Vincenzo Orsini (later Pope Benedict XIII)[2]. By the 1680s, he had independent fresco commissions, and his active studio came to dominate Neapolitan painting from the 1690s through the first four decades of the 18th century. He modeled his art??for he was a highly conventional painter??after the Roman Baroque masters, Luca Giordano and Giovanni Lanfranco, and Mattia Preti, whose technique of warm brownish shadowing Solimena emulated. Solimena painted many frescoes in Naples, altarpieces, celebrations of weddings and courtly occasions, mythological subjects, characteristically chosen for their theatrical drama, and portraits. His settings are suggested with a few details??steps, archways, balustrades, columns??concentrating attention on figures and their draperies, caught in pools and shafts of light. Art historians take pleasure in identifying the models he imitated or adapted in his compositions. His numerous preparatory drawings often mix media, combining pen-and-ink, chalk and watercolor washes. Francesco Solimena 'A study for the fresco cycle in the Sacristy of San Paolo Maggiore in Naples', Whitfield Fine Art.A typical example of the elaborately constructed allegorical "machines" of his early mature style, fully employing his mastery of chiaroscuro, is the Allegory of Rule (1690) from the Stroganoff collection, which has come to the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. He apparently hoped to see his son Orazio follow a career in the law, for which he received a doctorate (de Domenici), but also became a painter. His large, efficiently structured atelier became a virtual academy, at the heart of cultural life in Naples. Among his many pupils were Francesco de Mura (1696-1784) , Giuseppe Bonito (1707-89), Pietro Capelli, Gaspare Traversi, and most notably Corrado Giaquinto and Sebastiano Conca. The Scottish portraitist Allan Ramsay spent three years in Solimena's studio. Solimena amassed a fortune, was made a baron and lived in sumptuous style founded on his success. Francesco Solimena died at Barra, near Naples, in 1747.
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Home » The US is provoking Russia to start WWIII
The US is provoking Russia to start WWIII
Washington made another attempt to escalate the conflict in Syria on Saturday. The consequences may be dramatic: the Syrian-Iraqi crisis is turning into the a new World War with a potential nuclear response from Russia or the US.
The US air force's attack the pro-government troops of Syria at Deir ez-Zor resulted in 63 soldiers dead, and about 100 wounded. It is important to note that when the US attack's ISIS, the number of dead and wounded people were only ever in the dozens.
After these attacks, the ISIS troops started an offensive operation that caused a fierce battle in the regions where humanitarian assistance had been brought.
Russia initiated the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. The representative of the Foreign Affair Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that “we have come to the terrible conclusion that the White House is defending the Islamic State.” After keeping silent for a long time, the Pentagon announced that it had been a mistake. The statement, published by the US military department, said the US military forces had coordinated their actions with Russia. It mentioned too that they often contact the Russian headquarter out of “professional courtesy,” even though the current US-Russian memorandum of understanding on air safety doesn’t demand it.
Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the US threatens the whole of the reached agreement.
Recently, US Secretary of State John Kerry phoned Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the situation in Syria. The Russian side focused on a number of armistice violations that had occurred.
The US Air Force strikes were preceded by the appearance of aircraft near Hmeymim (Syria) and close to the Iranian border, to the Hamadan base used by Russian Air Forces. Moreover, the US media reported that the region around the Syrian army on the eve was thoroughly investigated by US intelligence.
The conclusion is clear: the US knew who they would attack and when. The strike was on the eve of parliament elections in Russia when all attention was on domestic politics. Such an approach characterizes the US military-political machine. Although the Russian politicians responded immediately, Washington needed to know the military reaction of Moscow: Will the Russian forces attack the American bases in Syria or only use the diplomat rhetoric. And what will the current Russian allies (China and Iran) do? Russia's legally deployed its troops in Syria are a strategic partner of Assad’s government. The US occupied part of its territory in the north, in fact proving its aggressive intentions in the agreements with Russia.
In accordance with international law, the US committed a crime, but didn’t they do the similar things earlier?
Washington didn’t face any consequences after the Iraq occupation, arranged without any UN Security Council resolution. Thus, if the logic of the unipolar moment continues, nothing crucial will happen this time. However, now we have a new criteria: arising multipolarity.
The situation in Syria is directly linked with the US presidential election. As Trump is the most likely winner, the hawks and the globalists have few chances to continue their policy and to keep the unipolar world order (under the global leadership). Thus they try to initiate the new global war. There are two options: officially entering the war, thus they introduce a state of emergency and Barack Obama continues his presidency. Even if Trump wins, he will be placed in such a conditions that he will have to continue the military campaign.
Thus, we will face a fierce confrontation for the next two and a half weeks. A New World Order or the Third World War are two possible consequences.
Russia needs to stay alert – Washington is preparing for war
The Tragedy That Has Become Syria
Donald Trump or nuclear war?
Will Russia Surrender?
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The Violonist Anne Sophie Mutter, Always Different
Thursday, 10 September 2015 , ora 10.55
There are certain famous people about whom you might think you've learned everything by noticing them from afar, on the covers of their albums, in newspaper articles and foreign magazines. And yet, meeting them in real life can turn out to be overwhelming...
This afternoon at the Athenaeum was probably one of the most expected ones from this year's edition of the 'Enescu' Festival - the very famous Anne Sophie Mutter was finally coming to Bucharest. At 16.45, I was a little nervous as the hall was half empty, but by five o'clock, it was filled to the brim, as usual.
Anne Sophie Mutter really is a famous violinist about whom you might think you know everything. She has been living in the spotlight since she was thirteen, when she made her debut under the baton of one of the 20th century's most influential musicians, Herbert von Karajan.
At the age of 15, she was recording her first album with the same Herbert von Karajan.
She was not one of the child prodigies who got lost on their way; actually, her career turned out to be spectacular. At one point she made the announcement that she wanted to retire when she would turn forty five, but she eventually gave up that idea.
So there she was, on 9th September, 2015, stepping on stage at the Romanian Athenaeum, dressed up as a fashion icon, in a green dress that emphasized her hourglass figure. Who could tell that she is 52 years old ?
It was obvious that Anne Sophie Mutter would also include contemporary works in her programme, as she usually does. It's possible that her choice was strongly influenced by her former marriage with one of the most acclaimed contemporary composers (and conductors), André Previn. Although they were married from 2002 to 2006, their friendship is still strong. Nevertheless, there are numerous other composers who have dedicated their opuses to her.
This was the case of the two works that she performed during the first part of the concert at the Athenaeum. The first one was Grand Duo Concertant by Krzysztof Penderecki, an opus from 2010 dedicated to the performers, Anne Sophie Mutter and the double bassist Roman Patkolo themselves; the second one was a work that was performed in August, 2015 for the first time, Nonet by André Previn in three parts. However, the works that she chose didn't surprise us, but the performers did; Anne Sophie Mutter, exceptional as ever, was not surprising, but the young men and women who make up the Mutter's Virtuosi ensemble were. Of course Anne Sophie Mutter actually was surprising as well, not as a violonist, but as a Human Being who chose to share her experience with younger people who needed help to break through the increasingly complex and competitive world of the international music scene.
Mutter didn't even need to look at the ensemble, as each member knew exactly what to do. And because the activity of the Mutter Foundation, which supports the Mutter's Virtuosi ensemble, is so worthy of praise, I would like to mention just a few of the names of those who received scholarships over the years and are now known worldwide - the violonist Vilde Frang, the cellist Daniel Muller Schott, the violonist Arabella Steinbacher.
Everybody was eagerly waiting for the Bach and Vivaldi performances in the programme. Those were obviously two of the most famous baroque opuses: Bach's Double Violin Concerto and 'The Four Seasons' by Vivaldi.
Anne Sophie Mutter surprised us once again by chosing to perform the emblematic Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra in D Minor by Bach with three young violonists: Mihail Ovrutsky (during the first part), Ye-Eun Choi (during the second part) and Albrech Menzel (during the third part). Mutter was the only one to master the extremely fast tempos of the first and third part, and she also managed to perform the intricate details that are specific to those who specialised in early music.
Mutter reinvented herself, because her Bach performance on 9th September, 2015 was different than the one on her 2008 record.
Vivaldi and 'The Four Seasons' were next... in a performance that emphasized the ilustrative character of this work through the recreation of the actual images suggested by the score.
This performance had the same vertiginous tempos in the fast-paced parts, some moments of shimmering fortes, small correlation problems between the harpsichord player and the rest of the ensemble, but the overall feeling was that Mutter is ruling over her little universe.
Nowadays, baroque music can leave a lot of room to experiment: between an authentic performance and what is considered to be a normal one, the possibilities are infinite. It is important that the performer should be convincing, which both Anne Sophie Mutter and 'Mutter's Virtuosi ' achieved, judging by the audience's reaction and their applauds that brought them back on stage to perform the the highly expected encore. Once again, Vivaldi's Winter was followed by Bach's famous Aria from Suite No. 3. I felt that this last encore recreated Bach's portrait as I had pictured him to be - warm, philosophical, deep.
It was surprising that Mutter and her ensemble's Bach performance reminded me of a certain evening at the Berlin Philharrmonic when I listened to the same work by Nigel Kennedy and the members of the Berlin Philarmonic Orchestra. But Mutter is a violin player who made what I find to be the right choice, of constantly changing in a world that is also rapidly changing itself. Who could have foreseen the great success that Mutter had by performing a classical music concert at a nightclub in Berlin ? The recording of this concert is on her latest disc that appeared in August, 2015.
Who knew that one of her concerts from the 2015 tour with the Mutter's Virtuosi ensemble was held to raise funds for the restoration of the Palace of Versailles ?
Cristina Comandaşu
Translated by Ana Gheorghiceanu and Ioana Săbău
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Education minister urges efforts to fight poverty
Updated: Apr 25,2019 5:27 PM Xinhua
BEIJING — China’s education minister has called for all-out efforts to improve education to support the country’s fight against poverty, according to a report on the website of the Ministry of Education.
Minister Chen Baosheng made the remarks at a meeting on targeted poverty reduction programs in the education sector, held in Yunnan province on April 22.
Chen called on universities and institutions involved in the programs to focus on major problems, come up with targeted measures and work with a greater sense of responsibility.
Measures to ensure access to nine-year compulsory education and control dropout rate in poor areas should be based on full knowledge of the relevant situation and the number and conditions of school-age children in registered poor households, Chen said.
He also required to select competent officials and personnel to work for the programs.
Moreover, strengthened inspections are needed to make sure the results in the programs are solid and effective.
China promotes digital education in poor regions
China has 2.9m teachers in rural areas
Nation to intensify poverty alleviation
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Comparative Patent Remedies
A Blog Devoted to the Comparative Law and Economics of Patent Remedies
Referral to CJEU of Questions Relating to Recovery of Costs in IP Litigation
Yesterday IPKat reported on a referral of questions to the Court of Justice for the European Union from the Antwerp Court of Appeal regarding whether Belgian law, which according to the defendant in the case severely limits the recovery of costs, is consistent with article 14 of the Enforcement Directive. I may have more to say about this in another post, but for now will simply direct interested readers (who haven't already seen it) to the IPKat post, here.
Posted by Thomas Cotter at 7:21 AM No comments:
Labels: Attorneys' fees, European Union
Injunctions in India
1. SpicyIP has had some interesting posts recently on injunctions in India. In December, 2014, Thomas J. Vallianeth published two posts (here and here) on a contractual dispute between Micromax and OnePlus, in which Judge Nandrajog of the High Court of Delhi (link here) expressed a strong disinclination for "ad interim" injunctions--by which I take the judge to be referring to something similar to what in the U.S. would be referred to as a temporary restraining order, see paras. 16(ii), 31 (though in this particular case the defendant was present at the initial hearing):
An ad-interim injunction is normally issued when a very strong prima-facie case is made out by the plaintiff and the injury to the plaintiff is writ large if the defendant is not restrained from doing the activity which causes the injury to the plaintiff. In such a case the balance of convenience would obviously be in favour of the plaintiff. Since interim injunctions affect the right of a defendant, the principle of natural justice would warrant the defendant to be heard before an order adverse to the defendant’s right is passed. A delicate balance has to be struck between the right of the plaintiff and the right of the defendant at the stage of granting an ad-interim injunction. Only if a Court were to find that so grave and so irreparable is the injury that even a day’s delay cannot be brooked, and so strong is the prima facie case made out, only then would a Court be justified in granting an ad-interim injunction and thereafter proceeding to consider whether to confirm the same or not after hearing the defendant. It would be a situation akin to a post decisional hearing.
2. More recently, on January 9 Judge Manmohan Singh of the Delhi High Court entered a preliminary injunction in favor of Novartis and against Cipla with regard to the latter's plans to market the drug Indacaterol. Citing the U.S. decision in eBay and the Indian decision in Hoffman-La Roche, the court held that the public interest is a factor to be considered in deciding whether or not to grant an injunction. Nevertheless, on balance, the court denied the injunction, partly because the evidence thus far would not have enabled the court to calculate an appropriate royalty, and partly because (if it wishes to do so) the defendant has the option of trying to obtain a compulsory license under sections 83 and 84 of the Indian Patent Act from the appropriate tribunal. The text of the opinion is available here, and there are discussions of it by Madhulika Vishwanathan on SpicyIP and by Madhur Singh in Bloomberg BNA's World Intellectual Property Report (available here, behind a paywall).
Posted by Thomas Cotter at 12:15 PM No comments:
Labels: India, Injunctions, Interlocutory injunctions, Preliminary injunctions
Canadian Court Rejects the Principle that Non-Infringing Alternatives Limit the Recovery of Lost Profits
One of the recurring issues in patent enforcement is the following. Suppose that P makes and sells products embodying its patented invention X. D makes and sells products that infringe the patent. P sues D and requests a judgment for lost profits on the sales it lost to D. D responds with evidence that there is a nonpatented noninfringing alternative to X--call it Y--that D could have made and sold instead of X, and that consumers would have considered Y to be a perfect substitute for X. Is X entitled to lost profits nonetheless, on the theory that regardless of what would have happened in the "but for" world--the world in which D used the noninfringing alternative--in the real world X lost sales, and hence profits, as a result of having to compete with X's infringing products? Or should X recover no lost profits because in that but-for world it would have lost just as many sales and just as much profit as it did in the real world? (To think of it another way, if the economic value of a technology is its value in comparison with alternatives, and if Y is a perfect substitute for X, then X has no economic value over the nonpatented alternative, and P should recover nothing.) As I explain in my book, different patent systems answer these questions in different ways. The general rule in the U.S., dating all the way back to the nineteenth century, is that under the circumstances described above the patent owner should recover no lost profits (see pp. 111-12). On the other hand, a nineteenth century decision from the U.K., United Horse-Shoe & Nail Co. v. John Stewart & Co. (1888) L.R. 13 App. Case 401 (H.L.), takes precisely the opposite view, and courts within the U.K.--as well as some in Canada and Australia--have followed United Horse Shoe ever since (see pp. 187-91). Also lining up with the U.K. on this issue are, possibly, Germany and Japan (see pp. 263-64, 314), while the French cases appear more consistent with the U.S. rule (see p. 265). And of course there can be numerous variations of the above hypothetical: for example, maybe Y is an imperfect substitute that would have appealed to some but not all of D's clientele; maybe Y itself was a patented alternative, which complicates matters; maybe D would have sold just as many products using Y but would have done so at higher cost, in which case even under the U.S./French rule it seems that P should be entitled to a nonnegligible reasonable royalty; and so on. My own view, as expressed in my book, on this blog, and elsewhere, is that from an economic standpoint the rule followed in the U.S. and France is correct, and that United Horse-Shoe was wrongly decided.
Anyway, Professor Norman Siebrasse recently called my attention to a Canadian trial court decision, Eli Lilly & Co. v. Apotex Inc., 2014 FC 1254 (Jan. 23, 2015), that lines up with United Horse-Shoe on this issue. (It doesn't appear to be up yet on the Federal Court's website, but here is a link to my copy of the decision.) Professor Siebrasse will be posting a more detailed discussion of the case on his Sufficient Description Blog in the near future--a different write-up by Jennifer Wilkie and Adam Heckman has already appeared on the Gowlings firm's website here--and I needn't repeat here the arguments I've made in the past in support of my view. I would note two things, however. First, Apotex cited one of my blog posts in support of its position that the court should take noninfringing alternatives into account, and the court in turn cited that post in paragraphs 25 and 54-56. So while the court rejected my view, this marks (to my knowledge) the first time the blog has been cited in a judicial decision. (Not sure if I should be happy or sad, though!) Second, if I'm reading the opinion correctly, after rejecting the argument that noninfringing alternatives which the defendant didn't but could have used are relevant for purposes of calculating lost profits, the court goes on to award Lilly lost profits covering a subsequent period of time in which Apotex was using a purported noninfringing alternative, on the ground that but for the initial infringement Apotex wouldn't have been in the market at that point at all. This seems to me to be a sort of springboard damages theory, but (with respect) I'm inclined to think it only compounds the error of ignoring noninfringing alternatives to award lost profits during a period of time in which the defendant was in reality--not just hypothetically--using the noninfringing alternative.
I wonder if an appeal will be taken, and if so what the Court of Appeals' take on this issue will be?
Labels: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Lost profits, United States
Chinese Court Awards $12 Million in Damages for Infringement of Two Utility Models
Recently I came across an article by Song Haining in 2014 issue 4 of China Patents & Trademarks titled A Story of Battling Giants: Comments on Goer Tek Acoustics v. Knowles Electronics. (The article does not appear to be freely available on the magazine's website yet, but interested readers may want to check back in a few weeks.) In any event, according to Mr. Song, the parties compete in the market for micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS), and both supply microphones to Apple and Samsung. (Knowles is a U.S. company with a Chinese subsidiary, Knowles (Suzhou); Goer Tek is a Chinese firm.) In 2013, Knowles commenced an ITC investigation and a patent infringement suit against Goer Tek in the U.S., both of which matters remain pending. Shortly thereafter, Goer Tek filed actions in China against Knowles (Suzhou), the Chinese subsidiary, for infringement of four utility models and one patent. Knowles filed an invalidation action against two of the utility models, but lost on one and withdrew its request regarding the other. The actions proceeded to trial on these two utility models and judgment was entered for Goer Tek in April 2014. (According to Mr. Song, the other three actions (involving two utility models and one patent) remain pending.) As far as remedies are concerned:
1. The court enjoined a retailer, Weifang Sanlian Home Electronic Appliances Co., Ltd., from selling Samsung cell phones (model GT-I9500) that contained the infringing product;
2. The court enjoined Knowles (Suzhou) from selling or making infringing microphones; and
3. The court ordered Knowles (Suzhou) to pay Goer Tek RMB 74.4 million, which comes to approximately U.S. $12 million. To my knowledge, this makes the judgment one of the largest ever in China, though not quite as large as the RMB 330 million awarded by the Wenzhou Intermediate People’s Court in the 2007 case of Chint Group Corp. v. Schneider Electric Low-Voltage (Tianjin) Co. (see my book p.355).
Analyzing the case, Mr. Song argues that the injunction is disproportionately harsh as to the retailer, given the relatively small value of the infringing component in comparison with the price of a cell phone, but states that under Chinese law an injunction remains the "default remedy for patent infringement." He also notes, however, that there are some Chinese precedents permitting courts to withhold injunctions in the public interest, including a case titled Zhuhai City Jingyi Glass Engineering Co. Ltd. v. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Co., Ltd., where a court denied an injunction against an airport due to its "special nature as a public transport facility." (See also the discussion in my book at pages 349-50 of China Environmental Project Co., Ltd. v. Fujikasui Engineering Co., Ltd., Huayang Electric Power Co., Ltd., another case in which a Chinese court denied an injunction on public interest grounds.) Moreover, Mr. Song cites "an internal draft document being circulated among Chinese IP professors as of June 2014" in which "the Supreme People's Court proposes that, in addition to 'public interest', 'serious imbalance of interests between parties' might also justify an exception to injunction." As I note in my book (pp. 350-51), Supreme People's Court Vice President Cao Jianming made a similar suggestion in a 2008 speech, so perhaps it would not be surprising if China formally adopted such a rule in the near future.
As for damages, the court awarded lost profits calculated by taking the number of infringing products (estimated from sales data disclosed by the defendant and from "import/export data from Chinese customs") and multiplying it by the "average profit rate in the industry." This sounds very similar to a procedure used in Japan under article 102(1) of the Japan Patent Act, which states in relevant part and subject to some qualifications that “the amount of damage sustained . . . may be presumed to be the amount of profit per unit of articles which would have been sold by the patentee . . . if there had been no such act of infringement, multiplied by the quantity . . . of articles assigned by the infringer . . . .” To my mind, however, the procedure seems problematic, since it may well be the case that the infringer would have been able to make some or all of its sales by using a noninfringing alternative--though if I understand Mr. Song correctly, in this case the defendant didn't provide any rebuttal evidence. In any event, lost profits are not awarded very frequently in China, as I discuss in my book at pp. 354-55; so-called statutory damages are much more common. So for that reason alone the Goer Tek case is significant, and I am thankful to Mr. Song for bringing it to my attention in his paper.
Labels: China, Injunctions, Lost profits
False Allegations of Patent Infringement in Japan
The September 2014 issue of AIPPI-Journal of Japanese Group of AIPPI has a short article by Yosuke Kurita of a case titled Iris Ohyama, Inc. v. Y, Tokyo District Court, Judgment of December 19, 2013, Case No. 2011 (Wa) No. 30214. According to the article, the defendant owns a patent on an "energy saving lamp with sensor." The defendant sought an injunction against the plaintiff's importation and sales of a product that the defendant alleged was infringing, and also sent letters to two other firms (retailers of plaintiff's product) making this same allegation against the plaintiff. The plaintiff filed suit for a declaratory judgment of noninfringement and for an injunction against the defendant's alleged unfair competition. The court concluded that the plaintiff's product did not infringe and awarded it the requested declaratory judgment. On the unfair competition claim, the relevant statute states (in this unofficial translation available from the OECD) in article 3(1) that "A person whose business interests have been infringed or are likely to be infringed by unfair competition may seek an injunction suspending or preventing the infringement against the person that infringed or is likely to infringe such business interests," and article 2(1)(xiv) defines "unfair competition" to include, among other things, "acts of making or circulating a false allegation that is injurious to the business reputation of another person in a competitive relationship." The court concluded that a "competitive relationship" between the plaintiff and defendant existed, on the ground that "existence of a likelihood of competition occurring in the market suffices from the perspective of the purpose . . . of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, that is, ensuring fair competition among business operators, even if there is no competition in the actual market. Sela has also made its way into Japan, and is in a competitive relationship with the plaintiff. In addition, the defendant is the representative of Sela and has the patent right. Therefore, it is recognized that there is a likelihood of competition occurring in the market in relation of the business of selling lamps with a sensor" (p.347).
The article doesn't indicate that the plaintiff sought any damages for the alleged unfair competition, perhaps because no damages would have been available under the damages provisions of the unfair competition law. The relevant portions of those provisions read as follows:
Article 4 (Damages)
A person who intentionally or negligently infringes on the business interests of another person by unfair competition shall be liable for damages resulting therefrom. However, this Article shall not apply to damages resulting from the use of a trade secret after the rights prescribed in Article 15 have extinguished pursuant to the said Article.
Article 5 (Presumption of amount of damages, etc.)
(1) Where a person whose business interests have been infringed by unfair competition listed in items 1 to 9 or item 15 of Article 2(1) . . . (hereinafter referred to as the "infringed person" in this paragraph) claims damages caused by such an infringement from a person who has intentionally or negligently infringed such business interests, and where the infringer has sold or otherwise transferred the articles constituting the act of infringement, the quantity of the articles sold or transferred (hereinafter referred to as the "transferred quantity" in this paragraph) multiplied by the amount of profit per unit of the articles that the infringed person could have sold in the absence of the infringement may be deemed as the amount of damages suffered by the infringed person, provided it does not exceed the amount attainable by the infringed person's capability to sell or conduct other acts concerning said articles. However, where there are any circumstances that would have prevented the infringed person from selling the quantity of articles equivalent to all or part of the transferred quantity, an amount corresponding to the quantity relevant to such circumstances shall be deducted.
(2) Where a person whose business interests have been infringed by unfair competition claims damages caused by a person who intentionally or negligently infringed such business interests and received profits through the act of infringement, the amount of such profits shall be presumed to be the amount of damages suffered by the person whose business interests were infringed. . . .
(4) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not preclude a claim for damages exceeding the amount prescribed in the paragraph. In such a case, if the person who infringed such business interests did not do so intentionally or through gross negligence, the court may take this into consideration in determining the amount of damages. . . .
Article 9 (Determination of reasonable damages)
In a lawsuit for the infringement of business interests by unfair competition, where damages were found and it is extremely difficult to prove the facts necessary for proving the amount of damages due to the nature of said facts, the court may determine a reasonable amount of damages based on the overall purport of the oral arguments and the results of the examination of evidence.
Presumably, then, if the defendant hasn't yet sold any products in competition with the plaintiff, which I take it to be the case here based on the court's discussion of "likelihood of competition," the only recourse would have been article 9; and perhaps there were no actual lost sales on which to base a damages award, which would have made an undertaking for damages futile. Interesting nonetheless to see what the statute says about damages for unfair competition, including unfair competition based on wrongful claims of patent infringement, and to compare the above provisions with the (somewhat similar) corresponding provisions on patent damages found in article 102 and 105-3 of the Japanese Patent Act (available in unofficial translation here).
For further discussion of patent damages and declaratory judgments in Japan, see my book pp. 307-331.
Labels: Declaratory judgments, Japan, Wrongful enforcement
Some New Papers on Wrongful Enforcement
I continue to collect materials on wrongful patent enforcement in preparation for what I hope eventually will turn into a book project. Here are some recent papers relevant to the subject:
1. Paul Gugliuzza has posted a paper on ssrn titled Patent Trolls and Preemption. Here is a link to the paper, and here is the abstract:
Patent law is usually thought to be the domain of the federal government, not state governments. Yet eighteen states have recently passed statutes outlawing false or bad faith assertions of patent infringement. The statutes are aimed at fighting so-called patent trolls, particularly those who send letters to thousands of users of allegedly infringing technology—as opposed to the manufacturers of that technology—demanding that each user purchase a license for a few thousand dollars or else face an infringement suit. The Federal Circuit, however, has held that state-law claims challenging acts of patent enforcement are preempted by the federal Patent Act unless the patent holder made infringement allegations with knowledge that the allegations were objectively baseless. No court has yet applied this rule to the new state statutes, but it will likely provide patent holders with nearly absolute immunity from liability under the new laws.
Although the Federal Circuit has called this immunity a matter of “preemption,” a close examination of the court’s decisions reveals that the rule is not grounded in the Supremacy Clause but in the First Amendment right to petition the government. Unlike the Supremacy Clause, the First Amendment limits the power of the federal government, not just state governments, so patent holders will also be able to invoke this immunity to thwart impending federal initiatives to fight patent trolls, such as unfair competition proceedings brought by the Federal Trade Commission and proposals in Congress to outlaw false and misleading statements made in patent demand letters.
This article argues that the broad immunity the Federal Circuit has conferred on patent holders is wrong as a matter of doctrine, misguided as a matter of policy, and inconsistent with a long history of courts enjoining unfair and deceptive acts of patent enforcement. Accordingly, the article suggests a reimagined immunity standard that would not shield extortionate schemes of patent enforcement but would still respect a patent holder’s right to make legitimate allegations of infringement.
2. David Lee Johnson has published a student note in volume 71 of the Washington & Lee Law Review review titled Facing Down the Trolls: States Stumble on the Bridge to Patent-Assertion Regulation. Here is a link to the published paper, and here is a portion of the introduction:
To determine the proper relationship between state and federal regulation of the patent system, it is first helpful to identify the patent uses that states are attempting to regulate. To that end, Part II introduces the players in the patent ecosystem. Part III describes the Vermont and Oregon bad-faith patent assertion laws and similar state bills. To assess whether state bad-faith patent-assertion legislation is preempted by federal patent law, Parts IV and V develop the general doctrine of federal preemption and its specific application to patent law. Part VI applies this preemption analysis to the Vermont law to reach the conclusion that much of the law is likely dead letter because it is preempted by federal patent law. Part VII argues that the inoperability of the law is normatively justified, especially in light of the potential value of preempted law, described in Part VIII.
3. Another recent paper (not specific to patent law) is Thomas J. Miceli & Michael P. Stone, "Piggyback" Lawsuits and Deterrence: Can Frivolous Litigation Improve Welfare?, 39 International Review of Law and Economics 49 (2014). Here is a link to the paper, and here is the abstract:
Previous literature on frivolous lawsuits has focused on litigation costs and the optimal settlement-trial decision of defendants, but has not examined how they affect deterrence. This paper considers whether there are circumstances under which frivolous suits might actually increase deterrence, and thereby possibly improve welfare. The reason this is possible is that in a costly legal system, injurers will generally be underdeterred because they will ignore the litigation costs of plaintiffs. The fact that some uninjured plaintiffs will succeed in obtaining settlements may therefore affect the care and activity choices of injurers in a socially valuable way.
The authors caution, however, that "[t]he fact that frivolous suits may, in some circumstances, improve welfare should not . . . be interpreted as a justification for curbing efforts to discourage meritless cases," and they suspect that, "as a matter of public policy," the negative consequences of frivolous litigation "would overwhelm any of the considerations raised in this paper."
Labels: Nonpracticing entities (NPEs), Patent trolls, United States, Wrongful enforcement
Hoppe-Jänisch on Important German Patent Cases Since 2013
Daniel Hoppe-Jänisch recently published an article titled Die Rechtsprechung der Instanzgericthe zum Patent- und Gebrauchsmusterrecht seit dem Jahr 2013 ("The Patent and Utility Model Case Law of the Lower Courts Since 2013") in the December 2014 issue of GRUR RR. Here is the abstract (my translation from the German):
The essay follows the report appearing in the October 2013 issue of GRUR-RR. Included are selected decisions published since the middle of 2013. In contrast to the last essay, a section is also dedicated to the Arbeitnehmererfinderrecht [the law of employee-inventor rights]. The publication practice of the courts is still greatly varied, with the Düsseldorf courts still being especially active. The accumulation of decisions of Düsseldorf origin is attributable to this publication practice.
On the issue of remedies in particular, Mr. Hoppe-Jänisch discusses some cases on injunctions, including one in which he reports that the Düsseldorf district court concluded that a risk of recurring infringement is not eliminated by virtue of the fact that a defendant is no longer in possession of the challenged article and has ceased distribution, unless it is evidently incapable of making and distributing the patented article; and another in which he reports that the Hamburg district court held that the exhibition of a not yet marketable medicine did not give rise to a danger of imminent infringement (Erstbegehungsgefahr) through the introduction of an identical, marketable end product. Mr. Hoppe-Jänisch also discusses some cases on damages, including one on infringer's profits in which he reports that the Düsseldorf district court held that a court should consider whether the infringer chose a protected configuration despite the existence of technical alternatives (whereby it might be inferred that the infringer attributed significance to the invention for its sales success). On the other hand, the court suggested that a lower price for the infringing article could reduce the portion of the profits attributable to the infringement, if it cannot be established that precisely the use of the invention opened up the possibility of such a favorable price reduction. (Who has the burden of proof on this issue, I wonder?) The court also noted that the significance of the patent to the defendant's profit recedes to the extent the product also makes use of other protected rights. These other rights are to be considered, however, only if they are valid and actually being used, and the infringer bears the burden of proof on these issues. (I imagine that could turn out to be a double-edged sword for the infringer, if any such argument could be used against it in a proceeding involving one of those other protected rights!) Mr. Hoppe-Jänisch also mentions the OLG Karlsruhe's decision in Foliendruckverfahren, a case I blogged about here this past April, in which the court held (among other things) that on the facts of the case it was appropriate to use the entire value of the end product as the royalty base, and that the defendant may be liable for an additional payment where a real-world licensee would have had to pay a default payment for failing to pay its license fee on time.
Other sections of the paper discuss stays and preliminary injunctions, which I may address in a future post.
Labels: Defendant's Profits, Germany, Injunctions, Reasonable royalties
Updated Version of Contreras and Gilbert Paper on FRAND and Other Royalties
Jorge Contreras and Richard Gilbert have posted on ssrn an updated version of their paper A Unified Framework for RAND and Other Reasonable Royalties, which is forthcoming in the Berkeley Technology Law Journal. I was favorably impressed by the initial version; the new version incorporates responses to feedback from several commentators, including me. Here is a link, and here is the abstract:
The framework for calculating “reasonable royalty” patent damages has evolved over the years to a point at which, today, it is viewed by many commentators as potentially misleading and untethered from its original purpose. We offer a proposal to modify the framework for determining reasonable patent royalties that is based on recent scholarly and judicial analyses of standards-essential patents that are subject to commitments to license on terms that are reasonable and non-discriminatory (RAND). Litigated cases have applied the traditional Georgia-Pacific factors to assess RAND royalty rates with modifications to account for the circumstances of the RAND commitment. We propose that the reasonable royalty analysis should be conducted in essentially the same manner for all patents, whether or not they are encumbered by RAND commitments. We find considerable support for our approach in the historical development of U.S. patent law prior to the advent of the Georgia-Pacific test. Our approach focuses on the technical and economic characteristics of allegedly infringed patents and their incremental value to the overall product offering.
Labels: FRAND (RAND) Royalties, United States
Some New Papers on Patent Remedies
1. Daryl Lim's paper Standard Essential Patents, Trolls, and the Smartphone Wars: Triangulating the End Game, is now available in 119 Penn State Law Review 1 (2014). (I mentioned an earlier version of the paper here in September.) The paper is not available on the journal's website yet, but it is on Westlaw, and what appears to be a near-final version is available on ssrn. Here is the abstract of the published version:
Few legal issues in recent years have captured the public's attention more powerfully than litigation over standard essential patents (“SEPs”). This Article explains how SEP litigation overlaps with two other major centers of patent litigation--litigation involving smartphones and patent assertion entities (“PAEs”). It observes that attempting to pre-empt patent hold-ups by imposing blanket ex ante disclosure obligations and royalty caps on standard setting organizations (“SSOs”) is misdirected and counterproductive. Instead, the solution lies in clear and balanced rules to determine “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory” (FRAND) royalties and injunctive relief. This solution will help parties make more realistic assessments of their options and help adjudicators resolve SEP disputes.
Correctly framed, implementers bear the burden of proving the breach of a FRAND commitment. FRAND royalties should, in the absence of comparable licenses, focus on apportioning the profits based on the relative importance of the patented technology in the covered product. Royalties should be measured at the time the standard is set but generally should not be discounted for the possibility of invalidity and non-infringement. Discriminatory licenses can be hard to detect, but targeted initiatives and improved transparency would make the task easier. Injunctions should be granted based the wording and intent of the relevant FRAND commitment, conduct of the parties, and proof that the technology drove the sales of the component or product on which the relief is sought. More broadly, courts must understand both the limits and opportunities of the antitrust and patent laws. While useful in arresting ex ante misconduct and attempts to elide FRAND commitments through patent assignments, antitrust is largely irrelevant in addressing patent hold-ups; patent law has a role in both improving patent quality and deterring vexatious litigation.
2. David O. Taylor's paper Using Reasonable Royalties to Value Patented Technology, is now available in 49 Georgia Law Review 79 (2014). Like Professor Lim's paper, this one is not up yet on the journal's website yet, but it is on Westlaw; and an earlier version, which I mentioned here in April, is still available on ssrn. Here is the abstract from the ssrn version:
In the last several years, commentators have expressed serious concerns with the state of the law governing awards of reasonable royalties as damages in patent infringement cases. Given these concerns, the proper assessment of royalties has been a recent, frequent topic for debate among economists and legal scholars. At the same time, all three branches of the federal government have studied ways to improve the law governing reasonable royalties. In this Article, I reframe the ongoing debate by identifying and exploring two basic paradigms for calculating reasonable royalties: valuing patent rights and valuing patented technology. The traditional paradigm, valuing patent rights, reflects a tort-law make-whole conception of compensatory damages. Notably, however, the alternative paradigm, valuing patented technology, in various respects explains the course of the common law governing the method for calculating reasonable royalties, comports with the public policies identified by courts as guiding the award of reasonable royalties, and, moreover, if fully adopted may have significant benefits. I therefore consider several reforms that would focus the law governing reasonable royalty determinations on the value of patented technology, and I highlight several open questions related to full adoption of this alternative paradigm.
3. In addition, I may as well note that I recently posted new versions of two of my own coauthored papers on ssrn: Anticompetitive Injunctions (coauthored with Erik Hovenkamp) and A New Framework for Determining Reasonable Royalties in Patent Litigation (coauthored with Norman Siebrasse). Get 'em while they're hot.
Labels: Damages Methodology, FRAND (RAND) Royalties, Reasonable royalties, United States
Divided Federal Circuit Affirms Finding of Willfulness in Long-Running Bard v. Gore Litigation
This morning the Federal Circuit published the latest installment in the ongoing saga of Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc. v. W.L. Gore & Associates, available here. The patent in suit, which "relates to prosthetic vascular grafts made of highly-expanded polytetrafluoroethylene ('ePTFE')," can be traced back to an application filed in 1974. Along the way the parties have disputed who was entitled to the patent and whether Gore's employee Cooper should have been named as a coinventor, among other issues. These issues ultimately were resolved in favor of Bard, and in 2003 Bard and inventor Goldfarb filed suit against Gore for infringement. A jury returned a verdict for Bard, which was affirmed on appeal. The jury also found that Gore willfully infringed, but in 2012 the Federal Circuit
vacated the parts of its opinion discussing willfulness and allowing enhanced damages and attorneys’ fees. Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc. v. W.L. Gore & Assocs., Inc., 682 F.3d 1003, 1005 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (“Bard II”). It held that as to the threshold determination of willfulness, “the objective determination of recklessness, even though predicated on underlying mixed questions of law and fact, is best decided by the judge as a question of law subject to de novo review (p.3).
On remand, the district court again found "'that Defendant, as a "reasonable litigant," could not have "realistically expected" its defenses to succeed'” and entered a finding of willfulness. A divided panel of the Federal Circuit has now affirmed.
Writing for the majority, Judge Prost notes that
under Bard II, we review de novo the district court’s determination whether Gore’s “position is susceptible to a reasonable conclusion of no infringement.” Uniloc USA, Inc. v. Microsoft Corp., 632 F.3d 1292, 1310 (Fed. Cir. 2011). Objective recklessness will not be found where the accused infringer has raised a “substantial question” as to the validity or noninfringement of the patent. Spine Solutions, Inc. v. Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA, Inc., 620 F.3d 1305, 1319 (Fed. Cir. 2010); DePuy Spine, Inc. v. Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Inc., 567 F.3d 1314, 1336 (Fed. Cir. 2009).
On remand, the district court evaluated several defenses raised by Gore and determined that none of them were objectively reasonable. On appeal, Gore appeals only its determination with respect to Gore’s inventorship defense. . . . Gore’s argument is based on the fact that its employee, Peter Cooper, supplied the particular ePTFE tubing that Goldfarb used in making his successful vascular graft (the “2-73 RF” graft). In Gore’s view, Cooper furnished to Goldfarb “the embodiment of the invention before Goldfarb conceived the invention using that embodiment.” Bard III, at 7 (pp. 10-11).
Applying de novo review, the majority first "reject[s] Gore’s argument that the mere fact a member of the previous panel dissented on this issue indicates that its position was reasonable," asserting that "[o]therwise, we would be imposing a rule that any single judge’s dissent on the merits could preclude the determination of willful infringement" (p.11). Judge Prost then reviews the record and concludes that "Gore’s position was not susceptible to a reasonable conclusion that the patent was invalid on inventorship grounds" (p.16). The willfulness determination therefore is affirmed. Moreover, since the district court in an earlier proceeding had awarded enhanced damages based on the jury's initial finding of willfulness and in Bard III found it "unnecessary . . . to reconsider its rulings on enhanced damages and attorney's fees," 2013 WL 5670909, at *12, I assume that the award (doubling the damages from $185,589,871.02 to $371,179,742.04) stands.
Concurring in the judgment, Judge Hughes reiterated a point made by Judge O'Malley in the recent Halo v. Pulse case, namely that "the full court should review our willfulness jurisprudence in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decisions in Highmark Inc. v. Allcare Health Management Sys., Inc., 134 S. Ct. 1744 (2014) and Octane Fitness, LLC v. ICON Health & Fitness, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 1749 (2014)." According to Judge Hughes, "[t]hose decisions call into question our two-part test for determining willfulness, In Re Seagate Tech., LLC, 497 F.3d 1360 (2007) (en banc), and our de novo standard for reviewing the district court’s willfulness determination, Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc. v. W.L. Gore & Assocs., Inc., 682 F.3d 1003, 1006–07 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (Bard II)." Judge Hughes believes that, as is now the case with attorneys' fee awards, the correct standard requires some deference to the district court:
This case demonstrates why de novo review of willfulness is problematic. The panel is divided over the strength of Gore’s joint inventorship defense. Each side advances a sound argument about whether the evidence in this case raises a “substantial question” of joint inventorship. And the district court, likewise, provided a thorough and well-reasoned opinion. If one of these several reasonable opinions must ultimately govern, it should be the opinion of the district judge, whose assessment of litigation positions is informed by trial experience and who has “lived with the case over a prolonged period of time.” Highmark, 134 S. Ct. at 1748.
A more deferential standard of review would be consistent with the standards for reviewing mixed questions of law and fact in other contexts. See, e.g., Highmark, 134 S. Ct. at 1748–49 (holding abuse of discretion is the proper standard for reviewing award of attorney fees in patent cases, “[a]lthough questions of law may in some cases be relevant . . . .”); Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S. 552, 558 (1988) (holding abuse of discretion is the proper standard for reviewing determinations of whether a litigant’s position is “substantially justified” for purposes of fee-shifting under the Equal Access to Justice Act, although the determination frequently turns on a purely legal issue). It would also be consistent with the standard for reviewing a finding of willful copyright infringement. See Dolman v. Agee, 157 F.3d 708, 715 (9th Cir. 1998) . . . .
Dissenting, Judge Newman writes that
Precedent establishes that the objective prong of willful infringement “tends not to be met where an accused infringer relies on a reasonable defense to a charge of infringement.” Spine Solutions, Inc. v. Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA, Inc., 620 F.3d 1305, 1319–20 (Fed. Cir. 2010). When there is a “substantial question of invalidity or unenforceability” of the patent, willful infringement cannot arise, as a matter of law. Seagate, 497 F.3d at 1371. The panel majority does not review the evidence and apply the law objectively; the court merely searches for and recites adverse evidence.
Judge Newman's lengthy review of the evidence leads her to conclude that Gore's position was reasonable and therefore that Gore did not willfully infringe.
Judge Newman also forcefully dissents from the imposition of enhanced damages:
Even when willful infringement is found, it does not follow that punitive damages must be imposed, or that the damages must be doubled. The public benefit of Gore’s product cannot be ignored. Punitive damages are intended to discourage bad behavior, not life-saving medical devices. . . .
Extensive precedent supports judicial refusal to enhance damages when the case is close and the equities counsel moderation, not punishment. The award of punitive damages depends on both the infringer’s degree of culpability, and the injury that the infringement imposed on the patentee. Bard was awarded full recovery for its loss of business to the Gore product. The district court stated that “the Court is satisfied that a fair and full amount of compensatory money damages, when combined with a progressive compulsory license, will adequately compensate Plaintiffs’ injuries, such that the harsh and extraordinary remedy of injunction–with its potentially devastating public health consequences—can be avoided.” Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc. v. W.L. Gore & Assocs., Inc., No. 03-CV-0597, 2009 WL 920300, at *5 (D. Ariz. Mar. 31, 2009).
The district court’s recognition of the public’s interest and medical benefits imparted by Gore’s product, and the court’s refusal to enjoin its provision, cannot be reconciled with the punitive doubling of damages. There was no showing, or even a charge, of intentional harm, as required for severe punishment as here meted out. See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 500 (1965).
Thus, regardless of whether willfulness was a supportable ruling, the doubling of the damages award is untenable.
Given the force of the concurring and dissenting opinions, I don't think we've heard the last of the Bard v. Gore story. On the law, I'm inclined to agree with Judge Hughes that after Highmark and Octane Fitness, the Federal Circuit's current standards for evaluating willfulness are not easily supportable. Perhaps Judge Newman is right, however, that even under those standards punitive damages should not be imposed here. More generally, and as I have discussed elsewhere, I don't think that economic logic supports the awarding of enhanced damages at all other than in a few narrowly circumscribed circumstances such as where the defendant has actively concealed its infringement--though whether the Federal Circuit or the Supreme Court is ever willing to go that far may be hoping for too much.
Labels: Enhanced Damages, United States, Wilful Infringement
Nestler and Hellebrandt Square Off on Rules of Thumb
The question of how best to value patent licenses, whether in negotiation, for tax purposes, or for purposes of calculating damages, is a tough one. In theory, it makes economic sense to assume that the parties to the license would have agreed to some sort of split of the profits to be earned from the use, but of course reality may be different. For administrability reasons, the parties themselves may prefer some sort of heuristic, based on comparable licenses or industry-wide standard rates; and in litigation comparables sometimes may be a reasonable indicator of the value of the "license" the infringer has taken. Moreover, if we are to base royalties on a percent of the profit (real or expected), what should we assume that percent to be--and how confident can we be that only the profit derived from the infringement, and not from other factors, will be used as the base? On the other hand, what if there are no (very similar) comparables to be had? Are industry-wide rights an accurate enough guide for all inventions (which seems quite doubtful to me), or only some (and if so, which ones)?
In the German press, Anke Nestler and Ortwin Hellebrand recently have expressed competing views on these issues. Regarding Dr. Nestler, in September, I posted this:
Anke Nestler has published an article titled Die Ableitung von angemessenen Lizenzsätzen aus öknomischer Perspektive ("The Derivation of Royalty Rates from an Economic Perspective") in the June 2014 issue of Mitteilungen der deutschen Patentanwälten (pp. 262-66). Here is the abstract:
In third-party licensing practice the licensing parties often orient themselves towards the licensee's expected future profits and split this between themselves within the framework of license negotiations. This policy is economically sensible. The derivation of reasonable royalty rates should be based on business analysis.
(According to footnote *, the article is a slightly modified version of an article originally published in Betriebs Berater 2013, 2027-29.) The author argues that a 25-33% division of expected profits from the use of a patent, converted into a running royalty based on a percentage of turnover, can be a useful guideline--not a hard and fast rule, as rejected in the Federal Circuit's 2011 Uniloc decision--taking into account all other relevant considerations such as the parties' preferences for risk-sharing, the expected contribution of other patents or trademarks to the product's profitability, and so on. The author cites a 1972 work by Knoppe, Die Besteuerung der Lizenz- und Know-how-Verträge, throughout as approving such an approach.
An English-language translation of Dr. Nestler's Betriebs-Berater article is available here.
In response, Mr. Hellebrand published Ableitung von angemessenen Lizenzsätzen aus öknomischer Perspektive? Eine Erwiderung ("Derivation of Royalty Rates from an Economic Perspective? A Response") in the November issue of Mitteilungen der deutschen Patentanwälten (pp. 494-97). Here is the abstract (as above, in my translation from the German):
Market-standard royalty rates delineate the freedom to set license fees within the competitive environment of a market for technical products in a manner that is more accurate and more reflective of market realities than does a profit split of the EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) of a single licensee, even when the latter is refined vis-a-vis the Knoppe [rule-of-thumb] formula by the licensing firm's analysis for the planned use.
As suggested by the abstract, Dr. Hellenbrand believes that market-standard rates are more likely to accurately reflect the value of the technology, and to be more administrable in practice.
Labels: Damages Methodology, Germany, Reasonable royalties
Preliminary Injunctions in China
Jiang Liwei, Judge of the Beijing Third Intermediate People's Court, has published an article titled (in the English-language translation by Yuan Renhui) Preliminary Injunction: The New Favorable of IP Litigation, in the July-August 2014 issue of China Intellectual Property Magazine. The article can be accessed online here. Judge Jiang discusses a recent conference sponsored by the Beijing Third Intermediate People's Court titled "Top Seminar on IP Preliminary Injunction," at which several Chinese judges and academics presented their views on a variety of topics, including (1) whether there is a difference in the legal standard for granting a preliminary injunction that is requested before the filing of an action for infringement, and an "interlocutory" injunction that (I take it) is requested after the filing of an action; (2) what sort of factors are relevant to evaluating whether the patent owner faces irreparable harm; (3) whether the patentee should have to prove, by a preponderance of evidence, a likelihood of success on the merits or only a "susbtantial dispute"; (4) whether "there should be a comprehensive consideration of likelihood of success, balance of interest, security and other factors," such that "one factor can make up the lack of the other factor"; and (5) what standards should govern claims for damages for wrongly issued preliminary injunctions, and whether such claims may be brought by third parties who are affected by the injunction as well as by the infringement defendant.
It's an interesting and informative paper on the differing views on these issues. I'm particularly interested in seeing how Chinese law develops on claims for damages for wrongly issued injunctions, a topic that I have discussed on this blog a few times before (see here and here). I also found interesting the suggestion that courts may grant preliminary injunctions "[w]here the patentee does not exploit the patent, but manufactures competing products" (p.25), a topic Erik Hovenkamp and I have discussed in a recent paper. I would note a couple of areas of disagreement, however, with some statements the article makes about European law. In particular, the discussion of whether China should permit the use of protective writs (as in Germany) (p.24) might seem to imply that patentees file these writs, when in fact it is prospective infringement defendants who do so (see my discussion here); and the discussion of likelihood of success arguably suggests that German courts do not consider this factor (p.26), when (according to my understanding) in practice they do consider whether the infringement is unambiguous and whether the patent's validity is adequately certain (see my book pp. 243-44 and my post here). Finally, I would note that, contrary to the statement at p.25, post-eBay some U.S. courts have held that even in trademark infringement actions the plaintiff is not entitled to a presumption of irreparable harm (though to be fair, I believe there was only one such case on point when the article was published). These quibbles aside, the paper is quite illuminating and well worth a read.
For further discussion on this blog of preliminary injunctions in China, see here, here, here, here, here, and here, as well as my book (pp. 351-52).
Labels: China, Germany, Interlocutory injunctions, Preliminary injunctions, Protective Letter, United States, Wrongful enforcement
Nous sommes Charlie
En ces temps tristes, je tiens à exprimer ma solidarité avec les peuples français en soutien de la liberté d’expression.
Sidak on the Entire Market Value Rule
J. Gregory Sidak has published a paper titled The Proper Royalty Base for Patent Damages, 10 Journal of Competition Law & Economics 989-1037 (2014). Here is a link to the paper, and here is the abstract:
How should a court determine the proper royalty base when calculating either reasonable-royalty damages for patent infringement or fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory (FRAND) royalties for infringement of, or licensing disputes over, standard-essential patents (SEPs)? This determination is particularly challenging in the context of a multi-component device, such as a smartphone. It is established patent jurisprudence that a reasonable royalty should reflect the terms of a hypothetical license resulting from a voluntary negotiation between a willing licensor and a willing licensee at the moment just before first infringement. In real-world patent negotiations, firms often calculate royalties with reference to the retail price of the downstream product. Therefore, using that downstream retail price as the royalty base is the most authentic assumption about the royalty base that a court could use for a hypothetical negotiation between a willing licensor and a willing licensee. Nonetheless, as a result of a recent series of confusing and contradictory opinions, the Federal Circuit in all but exceptional cases now decidedly favors using, for purposes of the hypothetical negotiation, a royalty base equivalent to the price of the infringing product’s “smallest salable patent-practicing component” instead of the “entire market value” of the product. In cases where the downstream product is the “smallest salable patent-practicing component” and unpatented features constitute a substantial proportion of the product, the Federal Circuit favors subtracting the value of these unpatented elements from the royalty base. This development in the law of the entire market value rule (EMVR) has perverse consequences that the Federal Circuit has yet to recognize. Using the price of the smallest salable patent-practicing component as the royalty base risks undercompensating the patent holder, because it ignores (1) the effects that the patented technology has on the value of the downstream product and (2) the value that synergies between complementary technologies create. A more complete economic approach would account for such complementarity effects by permitting the use of the retail price of the downstream product as the royalty base. The Federal Circuit’s choice of royalty base in its EMVR jurisprudence seems based on a theory that juries tend to overcompensate patent holders due to cognitive bias. However, the Federal Circuit fails to explain the logic and limits of its concern over cognitive bias. It therefore fails to justify its preference for the smallest salable patent-practicing component and risks undercompensating patent holders. Finally, I show that risk-averse firms should prefer structuring damages awards in a manner that reduces errors. This analysis of risk bearing indicates that, if a royalty with a low rate and high base is more accurate than one with a high rate and low base, courts should use the EMVR when awarding damages. The Federal Circuit’s jurisprudence on patent damages currently ignores this concern.
Posted by Thomas Cotter at 4:24 AM 1 comment:
Labels: FRAND (RAND) Royalties, Reasonable royalties, United States
Some Recent Papers on Recovery of Attorneys' Fees and Costs in Patent Litigation
1. Luke McDonagh and Christian Helmers have posted a paper on ssrn, originally published in Civil Justice Quarterly 32(3) (2013) pp. 369-84, titled Patent Litigation in England and Wales and the Issue-Based Approach to Costs. Here is a link to the paper, and here is the abstract:
In England and Wales legal procedures with regard to patents are said to be both lengthy and costly. Nonetheless, at present there is little factual empirical evidence on procedural and costs issues in the UK. This makes it difficult to comprehend the state of patent litigation within the wider framework of civil litigation. The provision of analysis of both the processes undertaken and the costs accrued at the PHC is therefore of crucial importance. With this in mind, this article first explains the procedures for taking a patent case at the PHC and outlines the types of cases which typically occur, such as actions for infringement and challenges to patent validity. Secondly, in order to substantiate our analysis we examine a sample of 18 cases filed during 2000-2008 with regard to costs. We examine the discretionary, issue-based approach, the guidance given at the PHC to costs assessment judgment. and the way the courts deal with interim costs issues. Our study confirms that the costs of patent litigation are high, with the average cost of a full trial at the PHC, encompassing the costs of both sides, falling between £1 million and £6 million. We further explore the reasons for the high costs, including the strong disclosure requirement and the need for scientific experiments and expert testimony. Finally, we note that the perception of costs risks has the potential to influence the types of claims brought to the PHC, the rate of settlement of cases and the volume of cases.
2. As noted recently on PatLit, Filip Fischmann, the Program Director of the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center (MIPLC) and Research Fellow of the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, has a paper coming out in the Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Policy titled Patent litigation and cost shifting in Europe: critical appraisal and proposal of alternative solutions. Here is the abstract:
This article analyses different costs rules and practices regarding patent litigation in Europe, explains the functions played by cost-shifting provisions and proposes the introduction of a modulated two-way fee-shifting system, in order to enhance patent litigation.
Mr. Fischmann's paper focuses on the standards for recovering attorneys' fees in patent litigation under the Enforcement Directive, under English and German law, and under the UPC Agreement. He proposes that the UPC Rules should "make use of costs scales, profiting from the German experience, and of an issue-based approach, benefiting from the English and Welsh practice"; and that "the UPC should reformulate the English and Welsh experience with certificates of contested validity and create a modulated two-way fee-shifting system," under which a patent owner who has successfully fended off an initial validity challenge would be able to recover a greater share of the costs it incurs in subsequent validity challenges. Very interesting paper.
3. Randy Lipsitz, Aaron Frankel, and Hanna Seifert published a short paper in the October 8, 2014 issue of Bloomberg BNA Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Daily (available here, behind a paywall), titled recent Supreme Court Decision Takes Us Back to the Future: Attorney Fee Award Rate Increases in Patent Cases. The authors samples 100 decisions from 2004 or earlier in which district courts considered whether to grant attorneys' fee awards under a discretionary totality-of-the-circumstances test; 100 cases from 2011-13, which applied the Brooks Furniture rule that the U.S. Supreme Court overruled in Octane Fitness; and all 40 post-Octane fee award cases published through September 18, 2014. They report that fee awards were granted in 42% of such cases prior to 2004, in only 32% from 2011-13, and in 45% since Octane Fitness. (Note, though, that the cases sampled are cases in which the court chose to publish a decision on whether to grant fees or not, which is surely a minority of cases. Prior to Octane Fitness, I roughly estimated that about 5-7% of cases resulted in an award of attorneys' fees, based on others' published statistics (see here). After Octane Fitness, the percentage may be higher, but the statute still only permits fees in "exceptional" cases.)
4. More recently, Amanda L. Major and Jonathan Uffelman published A Practitioner's Guide to Post-Octane Fitness Decisions: The New Landscape of Section 285 Attorney Fees in the December 10, 2014 issue of Bloomberg BNA Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Daily (available here, behind a paywall). The authors examined the now-60 post-Octane Fitness decisions and have analyzed the relevant factors, including such matters as the relevance of pre-suit investigation, legally and factually unsupported arguments, and attempts to extract nuisance-value settlements, that may support an award.
Labels: Attorneys' fees, European Union, Germany, U.K., Unified Patent Court, United States
A Critique of the Federal Circuit's Recent Decision in Aqua Shield v. Inter Pool Cover Team
Today's guest post by Professor Norman Siebrasse of the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Law critiques the Federal Circuit's recent decision in Aqua Shield v. Inter Pool Cover Team, which I blogged about here.
Professor Cotter and I have a recent paper posted on SSRN arguing that in assessing a reasonable royalty, the hypothetical negotiation should be assumed to take place ex ante, but with the full benefit of all ex post information. We call this the “contingent ex ante” approach to distinguish it from the “pure ex ante” approach, in which only ex ante information (with some exceptions) can be considered in the hypothetical negotiation. It was therefore disappointing to see the Federal Circuit embrace the pure ex ante approach in its recent decision in Aqua Shield v. Inter Pool Cover Team (available here, summary post here). Aqua Shield’s emphasis on the pure ex ante approach is puzzling as well as disappointing. On the facts, the only admissible evidence relevant to the royalty was ex post information, in particular, the infringer’s actual profits. Even under the pure ex ante approach, as was specifically affirmed in Aqua Shield, ex post information may be considered as evidence of what the parties would have believed ex ante. So, in this case, actual profits may be considered as evidence of expected profits. The two approaches only differ when there is conflicting evidence as to both expected and actual profits (or other relevant information). It is therefore unclear why the Federal Circuit emphasized the need to use the pure ex ante approach, given that it explicitly endorsed the use of ex post information. Moreover, even on the pure ex ante approach and even in light of the Federal Court’s decision, it is difficult to understand how the District Court erred.
Aqua Shield’s ‘160 patent relates to enclosures designed to cover pools or create sun rooms. The district court granted summary judgment against Inter Pool Cover Team (IPC) on infringement and validity. These judgments were not appealed (except regarding one of IPC’s models). The district court then conducted a two-day bench trial on remedies. In the original damages opinion, which I was unable to dig up, the district court held that Aqua Shield had failed to prove lost-profit damages. That was not appealed. The district court also refused a reasonable royalty, on the basis that there was not sufficient evidence to establish the reasonable royalty rate; while there was some evidence relevant to the Geogia-Pacific factors that indicated that the royalty should be adjusted upwards, there wasn’t sufficient evidence to determine the initial royalty rate that would then be adjusted. On a motion before the district court to alter the judgment, 2013 WL 6410975, the patentee argued that in determining a reasonable royalty the court should have considered (1) licensing negotiations that the parties conducted in 2009; (2) the inventor’s evidence; and (3) the infringer’s actual profits on infringing sales. The district court rejected the first two, on the basis that settlement negotiations conducted during litigation cannot be used to determine a reasonable royalty and the negotiations were not in any event confined to licensing of the invention at issue, and because the inventor’s evidence was not credible. These holdings were not challenged on appeal (Fed Cir slip op 10). The district court acknowledged that the infringer’s profit was admissible evidence which it wrongly failed to consider. Thus the only evidence on the reasonable royalty was the infringer’s actual profits. The district court went on to award reasonable royalty damages of 8% of the infringer’s net profits on infringing sales.
On appeal, the Federal Circuit emphasized what we have called the pure ex ante approach – “anticipated incremental profits under the hypothesized conditions are conceptually central to constraining the royalty negotiation” (slip op 10, emphasis added) – but it also acknowledged that “[e]vidence of the infringer’s actual profits generally is admissible as probative of his anticipated profits” (ibid). Thus the district court did not err in considering the evidence of actual profits.
The error, according to the Federal Circuit, lay in how that profit evidence was used:
[The district court] did err in treating the profits IPC actually earned during the period of infringement as a royalty cap. That treatment incorrectly replaces the hypothetical inquiry into what the parties would have anticipated, looking forward when negotiating, with a backward-looking inquiry into what turned out to have happened.
Under either the pure or contingent ex ante approach it is permissible to use the infringer’s anticipated incremental profits as a cap on the royalty, because the infringer’s maximum willingness to pay is set by the difference between the maximum profit available from the use of the invention and that available using the best non-infringing alternative: see eg Grain Processing 185 F.3d 1341, 1350-51 (Fed. Cir. 1999). It appears from the available opinions, namely those of the Federal Circuit and the district court’s opinion on reconsideration, there was no direct evidence at all of the anticipated profits; thus the actual profits were the only admissible evidence of the anticipated profits. It is true that the district court used the actual profits as a cap, but it did so expressly on the basis of the pure ex ante approach (slip op 4, 5):
Although a hypothetical license requires the royalty to be determined in light of anticipated profits when the infringement began, courts have held that evidence of subsequent actual profits is relevant to forming a judgment as to anticipated profits.
Considering [the benefits of the invention], while still allowing Defendants a profit on infringing sales, requires the Court to use its best ability to estimate what Defendants would have likely paid for the patented design.
The district court was evidently using the actual profits as evidence of the anticipated profits, and then using the anticipated profits as a cap on the royalty. This is entirely consistent with the pure ex ante approach.
Now, the infringer’s profits should not be used as a cap on the royalty when the infringer is a particularly inefficient producer. As the Federal Circuit explained:
An especially inefficient infringer—e.g., one operating with needlessly high costs, wasteful practices, or poor management—is not entitled to an especially low royalty rate simply because that is all it can afford to pay without forfeiting or unduly limiting its profit if it uses the patented technology rather than alternatives.
As noted, it is the infringer’s anticipated incremental profits – that is, the difference between its profits using the invention and using the best alternative – which sets the cap on the royalty. If the invention is better than the alternatives, the infringer’s incremental profits will be positive regardless of how inefficient the infringer might be, and a reasonable split of those incremental profits might well result in negative accounting profits. But on the facts, the Federal Circuit’s reference to an inefficient infringer is puzzling. There was no indication that the defendant in this case was particularly inefficient, and the district court explicitly considered the incremental value of the invention: “In a hypothetical negotiation, the Court finds Defendants would not have paid more [than 8% of net profits] for the license because they would have likely gone without the benefits of the '160 Patent and designed around it, as they have done now.” Again, it is difficult to see what is wrong with this analysis.
The Federal Circuit also held that “The district court’s analysis also incorrectly replaces the inquiry into the parties’ anticipation of what profits would be earned if a royalty (of amounts being negotiated) were to be paid with an inquiry into what profits were earned when IPC was charging prices without accounting for any royalty” (original emphasis), explaining that “[t]he infringer’s selling price can be raised if necessary to accommodate a higher royalty rate.” Certainly, if an infringer is cutting prices to the bone, in part by avoiding paying a royalty, then positive accounting profits might well turn negative once a reasonable royalty is factored in. It would be wrong to use the infringer’s accounting profits (as opposed to its incremental profits) as a cap in such circumstances. The Federal Circuit stated that “On the record before us, we conclude that the district court committed [this error]” (slip op 11). Again, this is a puzzling statement. It is true, as mentioned above, that the district court allowed the defendants a profit on infringing sales, and this was evidently accounting profits, but the actual royalty was only 8% of net profits. An 8% royalty isn't close enough to the entire profit for the question of whether the district court wrongly thought it was bound to stay under 100% to be at issue. This contrasts with, for example, Golight, Inc. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 355 F.3d 1327, 1338 (Fed.Cir.2004), in which the Federal Circuit rejected the infringer’s complaint that the reasonable royalty awarded by the district court was unreasonable as a matter of law because it would have resulted in the infringer selling the product below cost. More importantly, the district court never invoked the infringer’s profits as a cap. While it did refer to the need to allow the defendants a profit on infringing sales, which may indeed be an error in some circumstances, as we have seen the court expressly held that if the royalty had been any higher the defendants “would have likely gone without the benefits of the '160 Patent and designed around it, as they have done now.” In other words, the cap is not the infringer’s accounting profits, but rather the incremental profit due to the invention.
Since I am writing without the benefit of the complete record, it may be that there is something else in the record which supports the Federal Circuit’s critique, but as it stands, the Federal Circuit’s decision is more puzzling than enlightening. If there is any error in the district court’s decision, it lay in using accounting profits rather than incremental profits as a cap on the royalty. That would be an error on the contingent ex ante approach just as much as on the pure ex ante approach. Consequently, while Aqua Shield explicitly embraces the pure ex ante approach, it is not particularly strong authority for that approach, as the holding on that point is purely dicta. When the only evidence is ex post evidence, as in this case, the contingent and pure ex ante approaches will come to the same conclusion, whatever other errors the court below might (or might not) have made.
Labels: Damages, Damages Methodology, Reasonable royalties, United States
Thomas F. Cotter
Briggs and Morgan Professor of Law
Innovators Network Foundation Intellectual Property Fellow
University of Minnesota Law School
Minneapolis MN 55446
cotte034@umn.edu
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Thoughts on the "marital coercion" defence in modern Britain
We are probably by now all aware of the trial that ended last week with the jury discharged and which is due to be heard in front of a fresh jury this week. That of course is the trial of Vicky Pryce, ex wife of the disgraced former Liberal Democrat MP and Transport Energy Secretary Chris Huhne. Mr Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice by avoiding a prosecution for speeding a decade ago, having his erstwhile wife take 3 points on her license instead. Ms Pryce is contesting the same charge. This case has generated much controversy in the past week with claims that the jury system is fundamentally flawed.
This case should court controversy for a very different reason. The defence of "marital coercion" that is being relied upon is archaic in that it is only available to a "wife". The defence is provided by the Criminal Justice Act 1925 - section 47, wherein is stated:
"Any presumption of law that an offence committed by a wife in the presence of her husband is committed under the coercion of the husband is hereby abolished, but on a charge against a wife for any offence other than treason or murder it shall be a good defence to prove that the offence was committed in the presence of, and under the coercion of, the husband."
I am surely not alone in thinking that it is ridiculous in the present day when efforts are well under way to redefine marriage as being open to same sex couples, that there exists this distinction in law to afford a criminal defence to a "wife" that is not available to a "husband". The terms husband and wife have themselves become obsolete. Wikipedia reports that in 1977 the Law Commission recommended that this defence be abolished altogether as it is no longer appropriate. It is no longer appropriate because a husband no longer holds legal dominance over his wife. Although there is still quite some way to go before society treats women as truly equal to men, the law does grant equal rights to this demographic. And yet, the defence still stands.
Perhaps the next jury hearing the Pryce trial will take the audacious step of disregarding the defence of marital coercion and treating the defendant as a woman in her own right who is capable of making bad decisions and taking responsibility for the consequences.
Posted by Flay at 06:20
Bee 24 February 2013 at 06:53
I think that just because the defence is available only to women doesn't mean they shouldn't avail themselves of it. Agree it should also be available to men and partners of same sex couples.
There - I am not to be coerced into sharing your opinion :P
Flay 24 February 2013 at 07:34
You will note that marital coercion requires you to have been in my presence. Please come home so I can coerce you.
Thoughts on the "marital coercion" defence in mode...
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Schooltree — Heterotopia
(Bandcamp no#, 2017, 2CD)
by Jon Davis, Published 2017-03-27
There are some who would have you believe that rock music is just entertainment, and that any attempts to make it “art” are pretentious and worthy of scorn. I am not one of those — I see no reason why it’s even a question, as there’s no reason music can’t be both entertaining and artistic at the same time. After all, there’s a reason we call them “artists.” And the highest artistic expression of rock music as art may well be the concept album. If someone says that the heyday of the concept album came and went decades ago, they just haven’t been paying attention. Artists ranging from Dream Theater to Green Day to Kanye West have tossed their hats into the ring, and Boston’s Schooltree is an example of an independent artist having a go. The band was formed by singer / keyboard player Lainey Schooltree, and has been going for a few years now. For the third album under the Schooltree name (the second to feature a full band), they have produced a full-fledged double-CD rock opera built around the story of Suzi, an aimless underachiever who cares about nothing and no one, who journeys through spectral landscapes on a journey to find meaning in life. There are superficial similarities in the story with The Lamb Lies down on Broadway and Quadrophenia, and maybe even a touch of Ziggy Stardust, as regarded through a lens of the prototypical Hero’s Journey, though musically it’s all Schooltree. The leader’s keyboards and vocals are the dominant factor in a style that’s best characterized as Art Rock. Which in this case means that while the overall idea may be high-concept, the music is fairly down-to-earth, with individual songs that work perfectly well on their own and don’t venture much longer than five minutes each. I may be imagining things here, but one way I could characterize the music is Elton John at his most sophisticated (say Goodbye Yellow Brick Road) infused with a bit of Tori Amos (Boys for Pele) or Kate Bush (Never for Ever) and some semi-progressive rock like Saga in their early days. Piano is the dominant keyboard, with organ, electric piano, and synthesizers making appearances, and there’s no doubt that Lainey is a skilled player, and mercifully not prone to showing off. Given the rock opera format, you might expect multiple singers for the parts, but she handles all the parts herself, with treatments and effects used to differentiate the viewpoints. The backing band consists of guitars (Brendan Burns), bass (Derek van Wormer), drums (Tom Collins), additional keyboards (Peter Danilchuk), and acoustic guitar and more keys (Peter Moore). Aside from a couple of tasty guitar solos, the other players are more support than spotlight, and the arrangements themselves are the highlight. The compositions strike a perfect balance between maintaining thematic consistency and providing enough variety to hold the listener’s interest. Taken individually, all of the songs are interesting and enjoyable, and taken as a whole, Heterotopia is a considerable achievement, worthy of notice outside of the band’s hometown, and a notch or two above any number of overblown prog epics from recent years that I could name.
Filed under: New releases, 2017 releases
Related artist(s): Schooltree
http://schooltree.bandcamp.com/album/heterotopia
Angel'in Heavy Syrup - III – Angel’in Heavy Syrup are a four piece band from Japan. The group is composed of Mineko Itakura on bass and vocals, Mine Nakao on guitar and vocals, Fuseo Toda on guitar and chimes, and Tomoko... (1996) » Read more
The Pineapple Thief Is Really Trying
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Congratulations to our first centenarian past pupil
A RETIRED County Down GP, who attended Bangor Grammar School for seven years in the 1930s, celebrated his 100th birthday on Sunday 6 January.
Not only is Dr Jim Gibson, who resides in Newcastle (and is pictured here with his daughter Avril), the school’s oldest known living past pupil, it is also believed he is the first person associated with BGS, whether as a pupil or a teacher, to reach his century.
On hand to celebrate his birthday were sons John and Brian and daughter Avril, daughters-in-law Trish and Barbara, grandchildren Cathy, Joanne, Clare, David, James, Patrick and Katie, as well as a number of Dr Gibson’s great grandchildren.
Born in Newcastle on 6 January 1919, Jim Gibson was the son of a Moneyslane farmer who moved to Bangor in 1930 because at the time there was no grammar school in the immediate area (Down High School would open its doors in Downpatrick three years later). The Gibsons lived at ‘Sandown’ on the town’s Groomsport Road. He was predeceased by a brother and a sister, who both died when they were children.
Dr Gibson’s connection to Bangor and the school emerged in 2013 when Bangor-born journalist Terence Bowman -current chairman of the Grammarians – was giving a talk to the Donard (Newcastle) Probus Club about several of his recent publications about Bangor.
Afterwards Dr Gibson, by then in his early 90s, pointed out that he too had lived in Bangor in his younger days and – like Terence – had attended Bangor Grammar School for seven years. Arising from that relatively brief conversation, Dr Gibson, accompanied by his son Brian (a former Bangor RFC player), was delighted to visit the school’s new £20m-plus Gransha Road campus in December 2013.
The ‘newly discovered’ past pupil was accorded a warm welcome by soon-to-retire Headmaster Stephen Connolly. A former member of the school’s 1st XV rugby team, Dr Gibson took great pleasure in presenting his original Colours blazer from the 1936/37 academic year to Mr Connolly and School Archivist Barry Greenaway.
A contemporary photograph from 1933/34, produced by Mr Greenaway, showed that Jim had also played for the Medallion XV, and that he and Geoffrey Bowman – Terence’s uncle, an RAF pilot who was killed during the Second World War – were on that same team.
Dr Gibson was also reunited, for the first time in 76 years, with former classmate Godfrey Lindsay, who until then was understood to be the oldest former pupil of the school; in fact it emerged that Jim was his senior by some 18 months. Although they hadn’t seen each other since 1937, when they both left the school, they were soon chatting about life in the seaside town before the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939. They also shared poignant memories of other former pupils who died in the conflict.
After completing his education in Bangor the young Jim attended the College of Surgeons in Dublin, where he qualified as a doctor. Following short spells in Londonderry and Holywood, he returned to his native Newcastle – before the creation of the National Health Service – going on to become a popular family doctor in the town.
He retired in early 1984 at the age of 65, but maintained a busy out-of-doors life which included fishing and sailing, as well as a great love for clock restoration. He was one of a small local team who ensured the station building clock at Railway Street, Newcastle, always kept accurate time.
• Anyone with information about any other Bangor Grammar School centenarians (of the past or present) is invited to contact Terence Bowman by email – the address is grammarians@btconnect.com.
Terence Bowman2019-01-13T17:04:10+00:00January 13th, 2019|Categories: Alumni, History, Members, News, School|Tags: Alumni, Bangor, Past Pupils, rugby|0 Comments
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Spendthrift Farm to Sponsor The Iron Horse Challenge
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and Spendthrift Farm announced today that Spendthrift will sponsor The Iron Horse Challenge on April 26, 2018, which is known as National Help a Horse Day.
Spendthrift will offer 50 tickets for $25 each for fans to visit the farm on April 26 and meet three-time grade 1 winner Lord Nelson, who recovered from laminitis. Fans will also be able to see top stallions such as Into Mischief and Malibu Moon.
As part of this sponsorship, Spendthrift will offer a lead gift of $25,000 to Grayson, and individuals who buy a ticket to visit the farm or donate $25 or more to the foundation starting today through April 26 will be entered in a raffle to win one of five V.I.P. tours of Spendthrift over the summer. The V.I.P. tour includes a meeting with four-time champion mare Beholder.
"Everyone at Spendthrift was distraught when Lord Nelson developed laminitis from a leg infection," said Ned Toffey, general manager of Spendthrift. "However, his veterinarians were able to save his life using treatments based in part on the research funded by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, and he is now enjoying a successful first year at stud.
"We are so grateful for the contributions that Grayson-funded projects have made toward improving equine health, and we are proud to sponsor The Iron Horse Challenge and invite fans to visit us to support a great cause. As a farm that breeds and races, we recognize the significance and benefits of cutting-edge equine research in all aspects of the Thoroughbred industry."
"We are thrilled to partner with Spendthrift for The Iron Horse Challenge in celebration of National Help a Horse Day," said Dell Hancock, chairman of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. "We appreciate their initiative in supporting equine research and their generosity in opening their gates to benevolent fans."
The fan day will take place at Spendthrift's stallion complex in Lexington, Ky., at 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at grayson-jockeyclub.org/default.asp?section=2&area=EVENTS&menu=1
In addition to purchasing tickets to visit Spendthrift Farm, fans can also support Grayson by donating online at grayson-jockeyclub.org under Get Involved. All monetary contributions are tax-deductible.
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nation''s leading source of private funding for equine medical research that benefits all breeds of horses. Since 1983, the foundation has provided more than $24.8 million to fund 346 projects at 43 universities in North America and overseas. Additional information about the foundation is available at grayson-jockeyclub.org.
Contact: Jamie Haydon
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Ketu North
Member of Paliament: Avedzi, Klutse James
INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS POTENTIALS
Potentials are latent resources in the constituency, which are capable of promoting development in the constituency when tapped and used efficiently. The constituency´ resource potentials have been categorized into natural, human, institutional and infrastructure potentials.
For instance, within the natural resources, irrigation potentials can be derived from the vast arable land in the constituency and the availability of water resources. Besides, a vibrant local economy can be derived from a maximum use of road, electricity, telecommunication and water infrastructure in the constituency.
There are many shrines in the Ketu North constituency, some of which are noted for healing. Notable among them are the Nyigbla shrine of Afife. These shrines observe annual festivals of ritual ceremonies, which attract hundreds of people all over the country and beyond. There is also a sacred heart shrine at Tornu.
Apart from these shrines, there are exciting traditional festivals celebrated by a good number of communities in the constituency.
Apart from dance and music forms attached to shrine worship, there are many dance groups in every village and town of Ketu North. These groups perform at social functions like durbars, funerals, and festivals. The exceptional groups are the:
1. Agumadze Dance-Drama Group of Atiteti
2. Tagbolo Group of Dzodze
These groups demonstrate dance-dramas in a traditional costume, instruments and genre.
Funerals are important events in the constituency and are always associated with traveling by Ghanaians. Funeral mourners or sympathizers most often stay overnight for days and use hotels, restaurant facilities which generate income in the constituency.
Accommodation facilities form an important part of tourism. Accommodation facilities in Ghana include hotels, lodges, resorts, inns, motels, guesthouses and hostels. There are hotels that provide reliable restaurant and lodging facilities in the constituency. They include Mike G Hotel, Madison Square Garden and White Dove Hotel all at Dzodze. Investors could be encouraged to provide high quality hotel services in the constituency.
It is located between latitudes 6o 03”N and 6o 20”N and longitudes 0o 49’E and 1o 05’E. It shares boundaries with the Akatsi District to the North and the Republic of Togo to the East. To the South, it is bounded by Ketu South district. The constituency capital (Dzodze) is about 80km from Ho the regional capital. The constituency has a surface area of about 754 square kilometers.
Relief and Drainage
In terms of relief, Ketu North constituency is relatively low lying with altitudes around 66 metres. The plain nature of the terrain makes movement within the constituency easy. The Drainage of the constituency is towards the South and is dominated by several seasonal streams that flow in wide valleys between Ohawu and Ehie to end in the swamplands of Afife. The major rivers include Kplikpa and Tsiyi. There are about 6 large fresh water reservoirs (dams) -Ohawu, Kporkuve, Dzodze, Tadzewu, Dekpor-Adzotsi and Larve as well as a few small community dugouts in the constituency.
The constituency experiences the dry Equatorial type of climate. The average monthly temperatures vary between 24c and 30 c, which are generally high for plant growth throughout the year. The mean annual rainfall for the constituency is around 1,270mm. The rainfall is of double maxima type occurring from April to July and September to October. The dry season, which is mainly dominated by the dry harmattan winds, extends from December to February in the constituency. Generally rainfall in the constituency is considered low and erratic particularly during the minor season
The original vegetation of the constituency is Savannah woodland made up of short grassland with small clumps of bush and trees as well as Mangrove forests in the marshlands are found in the contsituency. However, the extensive farming activities in the constituency have, over the years, reduced the natural vegetation. Amid these are cultivated holdings of cassava, maize, coconut, oil palm, and black berry trees and the occasional baobab and fan palm. The decimation of the vegetation by population pressure may have adversely affected rainfall in the constituency.
The area of the constituency is underlain by 3 main geological formations. Viz the Dahomenyan formation to the North made up of soils such as Tropical Grey and Black Earths, the Regosolic Groundwater Laterites, the Recent Deposits of the littoral consisting of marine sands and the Tertiary formation comprising Savannah Ochrosols for its soil type. These soil types are suitable for the cultivation of different types of crops.
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Category Archives: States & Sustainability
Have You Tuned in to The Green New Deal? The “GND”? — You’d Better!
by Hank Boerner – Chair & Chief Strategist, G&A Institute
Here we are at the start of year 2019 and the nation’s 116th U.S. Congress. Radical and exciting ideas with something for everyone from Wall Street to Main Street to the Corporate Suite and Board Room are now on the table for discussion as this new Congress gets settled in. We are tuning in to this emerging movement…
Question for you: Have you tuned in to the “Green New Deal”? The “GND” is a concept advanced first by The Green Party in the 2016 election cycle; the concepts gained traction bit-by-bit over time and have been embraced by a fiery new member of the 116th Congress as a platform for re-doing our economic system, our political system, public policies of many kinds. As well re-structuring our nation’s monetary policy (with creative new stimuli suggested for financing important infrastructure in place to meet climate change challenges) …and more. Much more.
The new champion advancing the GND today is Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a first-term democratic socialist from New York City.
The proposals are dramatic, bold, sweeping — with something that some people can love and champion and other condemn and do battle against.
We should recall here for perspective that the original New Deal was ushered in by newly-elected President Franklin Delano Roosevelt upon taking office in March 1933…in the midst of the Great Depression.
Sweeping, radical ideas were then needed to literally save the U.S. economy and avoid slipping into some form of communism, fascism, or worse. The stakes were high.
At the time, the country’s economy – and people! – were being crushed by the negative forces of the Great Depression, which followed the disastrous crash of the stock market in October 1929.
Manufacturers’ lots were filled with unsold merchandise, or in many cases factories were being shuttered and workers laid off. There was a global trade war looming (with passage of the Smoot Hawley protective trade legislation). Fascism was on the rise in Europe. European countries were in an expensive arms race. Many countries were not able to pay their debts. U.S. banks were closing by the scores and then in the thousands in this country. There were few safety nets.
Said President FDR: “I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people. The country needs, and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.”
Scientists and experts tell us today that climate change challenges represent the kind of threat that the Great Depression did for our nation, and that time is running short for bold action.
“Try Something” – and so today in part inspired by the historic (and sweeping, long-lasting) New Deal accomplishments, key elements of our population – Millennials, civic leaders, business leaders, elected members of the House and Senate, NGOs – have been advancing some bold ideas for our consideration. Meet the concept of the “Green New Deal”.
Origins: As explained, elements of the Green New Deal originally were developed by The Green Party of the United States as its 2016 election platform — there were four pillars with pages-upon-pages of detail to explain each:
The Economic Bill of Rights
A Green Transition
Real Financial Reform
A Functioning Democracy
You can read the details of the Party’s GND here: https://gpus.org/organizing-tools/the-green-new-deal/
Will There Be Action in the 116th Congress?
Newly-installed member of the House of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has introduced an 11-page draft text resolution to form a new select committee in the House to rapidly develop a plan of action to finance and implement the GND.
Her draft bill calls for creation of a Green New Deal (“GND”) Select Committee to be composed of 15 House members appointed by the Speaker of the House with authority to develop a detailed national, industrial, economic mobilization plan, for the transition of the economy to GHG-neutral (drawing down GHGs from the atmosphere and oceans), and to promote economic and environmental justice and equality.
The committee would draw on the expertise of leaders in business, labor, state and local governments, tribal nations, academia, and broadly-represented civil society groups and communities.
The actions taken would be driven by the Federal government in collaboration and co-creation and partnerships with these and other stakeholders: business, labor, state and local governments, tribal nations, research institutions, and civil society groups and communities, the plan to be executed (for the U.S. to become GHG-neutral) in not longer than 10 years from the start.
The final Plan would be ready by January 1, 2020. Draft legislation to enact the Plan would be completed by March 1, 2020.
The Plan for a Green New Deal would have the objective(s) of reaching these “bold” and we can say, “radical” outcomes:
Dramatic expansion of existing renewable energy power sources and new production capacity to meet 100 percent of national power demand through renewable sources.
Build a national, energy-efficient, smart grid.
Upgrade every residential and industrial building for state-of-the-art energy efficiency, comfort and safety.
Eliminate GHGs from manufacturing, agriculture and other industries (including investment in local-scale ag in communities across the U.S.).
Eliminate GHG emissions from transportation and other infrastructure; upgrade water infrastructure to ensure universal access to clean water (UN Sustainable Development Goal #6).
Fund massive investments in the drawdown of Greenhouse Gasses.
Make “green” technology, industry, expertise, products, services, a major export of the United States, to become the undisputed international leader in helping other countries transition to completely GHG-neutral economies, to bring about a global Green New Deal.
The draft envisions the Plan to be an historic opportunity to virtually eliminate poverty in the U.S., to make prosperity, wealth and economic security available to everyone participating in the transformation. This could be done through job guarantees to assure living wages to every person.
Among the benefits seen:
Diversify local and regional economies.
Require strong enforcement of labor, workplace safety and wage standards, including the right to organize.
Ensure a “just transition” for all workers.
End harm faced by “front line” communities posed by climate change, pollution and environmental harm.
Protect and enforce sovereign rights and land rights of tribal nations (there are more than 300 in the U.S.A.).
Mitigate deeply-entrenched racial, regional and gender-biased inequities income and wealth.
Assure basic income programs and universal healthcare.
Involve labor unions in leadership roles for job training / re-training and worker deployment.
How to finance all of this? The draft text calls for financing by the Federal government, using a combination of the resources and abilities of the Federal Reserve System, a [possible] new public bank, or a system of regional and specialized public banks, public venture funds, and other vehicles or structures.
Interest and returns would then return to the U.S. Treasury to reduce the burden on taxpayers and allow for more investments.
Paying For the GND
In the bill’s draft, a Q&A section notes: Many will say, how can we pay for this?
To which the Representative and supporters say: Let’s look at some of the ways that we paid for the 2008 bank bailout, aid to the auto industry, extended quantitative easing programs, the same ways we paid for World War II and many other wars. New public banks can be created to ensure credit and combination of various taxation tools, including taxes on carbon and other emissions, and progressive wealth taxes) can be employed. (The immediate news media frenzy was not over the many elements of the proposed actions but on taxing the rich.)
You can read the entire draft text at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jxUzp9SZ6-VB-4wSm8sselVMsqWZrSrYpYC9slHKLzo/edit#
More than 40 members of the new Congress endorsed the move, including Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Corey Booker, Senator Elizabeth Warren — and a few dozen fellow House members with more sure to join the movement.
Emergent: A Movement?
This is now being described by supporters as a movement that aims to enact no less than dramatic, sweeping economic and climate change policies in the 116th Congress — and to in the process “change politics in America.”
The Controversial Conversation about GND
On the CBS “60 Minutes” program segment that will air this coming Sunday (January 6th), the congresswoman argues that the Green New Deal agenda can be financed by imposing a 70 percent income tax on the wealthiest Americans. That would be “a fair share” in taxes to fund an extensive clean energy infrastructure.
Representative Oscasio-Cortez has described herself as a democrat socialist – in the models set by President Abraham Lincoln (citing the Emancipation Proclamation in the midst of a great civil war) and President Franklin Roosevelt (whose New Deal programs re-shaped the American economy and political system).
She has focused on economic, social and racial justice as key issues to be addressed by the Federal government in her campaigning (she upset a long-standing Democrat House member (4th ranking Dem and Caucus Chair Joseph Crowley) in New York State in the November 2018 election. The Green New Deal would help in those efforts, while stimulating economic growth.
Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign platform included tuition-free education, universal health care and the Green New Deal developed by the Green Party as its platform.
During the 2018 campaign, she spent less than $200,000, compared to her opponent’s purse of more than $3 million.
Media Reactions
The right wing publication Washington Examiner warned that the Green New Deal would add trillions of dollars in debt and would represent “the most radical policy shift in modern U.S. history”. (We would ask: what about success of the New Deal of the 1930s – was it worth the money invested by government?)
Fox News tells viewers that the GND legislation “would eliminate much of the U.S. fossil fuel consumption, dramatically increase America’s already skyrocketing debt, and transform the U.S. into a European-style socialist nation.”
Unfortunately, mainstream media such as CNN and daily newspapers (like the New York News full page headline) have been focusing on the drama of the proposed “tax on the rich” aspects of the concept and not the meat of the sweeping proposals, which American voters and business leaders might see as immediate and long-term opportunities for creating new wealth and a greatly-enhanced economy with many beneficiaries.
Important addition to the above: On January 9, 2019, influential author and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman weighed in. He called to readers’ attention “A Green New Deal Revisited!” – his column today about the ideas he floated back in 2007 (that prescient commentary was about a Green New Deal), and expanded on in his best-seller, “Hot, Flat and Crowded”.
In that book (published in 2008 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux) has numerous comments on GHGs, energy, energy efficiency, environmental technology, environmentalism, green collar jobs, green hawks, the green revolution, and the Civil Rights movement and WW II analogies to the emerging green revolution.
Friedman today likes the urgency and energy [the representative] and groups like the Sunrise Movement are bringing to this task. He says: So for now I say: Let a hundred Green New Deal ideas bloom! Let’s see what sticks and what falls by the wayside.
He wrote today in the column: Who believes that America can remain a great country and not lead the next great global industry? Not me. A New Green New Deal, in other words, is a strategy for American national security, national resilience, national security and economic leadership in the 21st Century. Surely some conservatives can support that.
Money, Money, Money!
The projected additions to national debt are of course especially in focus for those in opposition to the plan.
In the discussions we should keep in mind that the “tax reform” package passed by the 115th Congress added almost $2 trillion in national debt, with benefits for a narrower band of constituents; the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected additional debt (from 2018 to 2028) with not too much criticism occurred short-term. (The commentary about the country’s staggering debt has been increasing lately.) The Republicans in Congress have talked about a second round of tax cuts (“tax reform 2.0”), which would add another $3 trillion to the Federal deficit (to be financed by still more debt).
The Social Media Universe Lights Up
In a Twitter post in December, as the social media universe lit up with mentions of the GND, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had tweeted: “…and we have #GreenNewDeal lift-off! Never underestimate the power of public imagination.”
While the first action taken by the new member of Congress called for establishing a committee, she writes on Twitter: “Our ultimate end goal is not a Select Committee. Our goal is to treat Climate Change like the serious, existential threat it is by drafting an ambitious solution on the sale necessary – a/k/a Green New Deal – to get it done.”
Note that the Congresswoman has about 2 million Twitter followers.
There’s a very well done commentary on the Green New Deal concepts for you on Vox: https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/12/21/18144138/green-new-deal-alexandria-ocasio-cortez
And the Sunrise Movement has information focused on the political side as the public policy debate continues in the new House: https://www.sunrisemovement.org/gnd/
Putting Things in Perspective
We do live in the age of greater prosperity, compared as to the time when President Franklin D. Roosevelt took the reins of the nation at a very dark moment in our history.
Climate change challenges pose threats to the future of this nation, many experts posit, including many elements of the United States government itself.
Then, in the 1930s, one-in-four-households was unemployed. States and many cities were running out of relief money. Farmers were being foreclosed because of crop failures, lack of foreign markets, the failure of the bigger banks they borrowed from, and poor land management (recall the “dust bowl” crisis in the west). In America, fear was rampant – with men and women wondering where was the next meal or dollar coming from.
The New Deal title was inspired in part by a book of the same name by prominent liberal author / economist Stuart Chase, published in August 1932 (the presidential election was that November). At the conclusion of his screed he observed (about the radical recommendations he put on the table for discussion): “We do not have to suppose; we know that these speculations will be met with a superior smile of incredulity. The funny thing about it is that the groups are actually beginning to form. As yet they are scattered and amorphous; here a body of engineers, there a body of economic planners. Watch them. They will bear watching. If an occasion arises, join them. They are part of what [author] H.G. Wells has called the Open Conspiracy.”
The groups he referred to some eight decades ago were the American voters, small business owners, Big Business leaders, investment bankers, trade associations, chambers of commerce, government leaders, labor unions, farmers, and academics.
These are the stakeholders clearly identified and explained in the 2019 House draft text that may or may not gain traction in the House of Representatives and for sure not in the U.S. Senate, even among rank & file Democrats who should be in favor of many of the elements of the proposal as stated so far.
Some of the 1930s ideas of Stuart Chase (far left wing and radical they were at the time!) very quickly ended up as necessary public policy adopted to bring the nation out of the scary depths of the Great Depression by a new head of state (FDR) and his assembled Brains Trust.
The Green New Deal is a blossoming idea – yes, radical, of course! – that will be both loved and hated, criticized and championed by various segments of society.
But there is something for everyone in the package and the Plan that could emerge if the Select Committee is formed and elements of the plan get implemented, as promised with the key elements of the American Society participating. The actions of the public and private sectors could be as breathtaking in the sweep of what is to be accomplished as were the achievements of the 1930s New Deal.
Those actions helped to create the most powerful economy and democratic political structure the world has ever experienced. The laws, regulations, rules, policies and actions shaped the modern U.S. and global economies that have delivered benefits to many of us.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) cautioned us just a few weeks back that we had about 10 years to reverse course and accelerate measures to address the challenges of climate change. The supporters of the GND movement cite this clear warning as part of the rationale for radical and dramatic thinking, commitment and action over the next decade.
The Fourth National Climate Assessment was released by the Federal government shortly after that, and echoed the rising threats to our economy, businesses, the public sector, and the American nation’s well-being due to the dramatically rising threats inherent in climate change.
For more details on this, see our comments in our November 30 To the Point management brief at: https://ga-institute.com/to-the-point/tune-in-to-this-important-report-the-fourth-official-climate-science-special-report-issued-by-the-u-s-governments-global-change-research-program/
Possible GND Impact on Politics
Some presidential hopefuls have recently been saying that climate change will be among the top — if not the top — issues in 2020 races.
Billionaire Congressman Tom Steyer (California) said that climate change could help Democrats sweep into office in 2020. He told USA Today in December: “When we talk about what’s at stake here, we’re talking about unimaginable suffering by the American people unless we solve the problem over the next 12 years. And I think we are very far from doing that. And it is unclear to me that we can summon that will without having substantial political victories across the board.”
Re-elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that climate change will become a front-and-center issue if the Democrats take back the house. She told The New York Times in October days before the elections that she would resurrect the defunct Select Committee on Climate Change if the party wins back the House. (The Republican leaders killed the committee in 2011 when they took mid-term power.)
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has taken Speaker Pelosi at her word and put the meat on the table with her draft bill. (During the orientation of the new members, Ocasio-Cortez led a protest outside the Speaker’s office to draw attention to climate change.)
Ocasio-Cortez in the youngest member of the House, from New York’s 14th District in New York City, upsetting a leading Democratic member in the primary. She is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and was an educator and community organizer in the [NYC] boro/county of The Bronx before running for office.
Background: She was a winner of an Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in high school; was graduated from Boston University (cum laude); served as an intern in the office of Senator Edward Kennedy; was an organizer in Senator Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign; was endorsed by Move On, Black Lives Matter, Democracy for America, and others. Including NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and NYC Mayor Bill deBlasio.
And so against this background — we’ll see where the GND movement goes from here!
Do tune in and learn more about the critical elements of the plan being championed now in the Halls of Congress as the tempo of the conversation increases. The “60 Minutes” program on the CBS network tomorrow night is sure to create a national buzz, pro and con, and ensure Representative Alexandria Oscasio-Cortez greater notoriety (and both support and condemnation) in the days ahead.
Created January 5, 2019 – updated January 9, 2019
Posted in Business & Society, Cities & Sustainability, Climate Change, Community Investing, Environmental Protection, Impact Investing, Public Sector Governance, States & Sustainability | Tagged "60 Minutes", "A Green New Deal Revisited!", "Hot, 116th Congress, Black Lives Matter, Boston University, CBS, climate change, CNN, Congressman Tom Steyer, Democracy for America, Democratic Socialist, Democratic Socialists of America, Economic Justice, Federal Reserve System, Flat and Crowded", Fox News, G&A Institute's To the Point!(tm), GHGs, GND, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Green Bonds, Green New Deal, Green New Deal Select Committee, Green Technology, Greenhouse Gasses, Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, Joseph Crowley, Mayor Bill deBlasio, Move On, National Climate Change Assessment, Renewable Energy, Representative Alexandria Oscasio-Cortez, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Edward Kennedy, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Smart Grid, Smoot Hawley, Social Justice, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Stuart Chase, Sunrise Movement, The Democratic Party, The Emancipation Proclamation, The Great Depression, The Green Party, The Green Revolution, The New Deal, The New York times, Thomas Friedman, USA Today, Washington Examiner | Leave a reply
Global Warming / Climate Change — What Are Current Weather Events and Dramatic Changes Telling Us?
Posted on August 20, 2018 by Hank Boerner
The National Geographic describes “Global Warming” as a set of changes to the Earth’s climate, or long-term weather patterns, varying from place-to-place. The dramatic changes in the rhythms of climate could affect the face of our planet – coasts, forests, farms, mountains…all hang in the balance.
So, also hanging in the balance: the fate of humanity!
Explains NatGeo: “Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, cloud forests are dying, and wildlife scrambles to keep pace. It’s becoming clear that humans have caused most of the past century’s warming by releasing heat-trapping gases as we power our modern lives. Greenhouse gases (GhGs) are at higher levels now than in the last 650,000 years.” *
“Climate Change” is the less politically-volatile term used by leaders in the public and private sectors (such as in the numerous shareholder-presented proxy resolutions that are on the ballots of public companies for owner voting and in the language of corporate sustainability reporting).
Carbon Dioxide emissions (CO2) released into the atmosphere have increased by a third since the start of the Industrial Revolution, and so addressing this challenge would logically be a prime responsibility of those who benefited most from the 200-year-plus revolution – pretty much all of us!
The political climate in most of the developed industrial world is mostly reflective of the will to do “something” – witness the almost 200 sovereign nations signing on to the Paris Agreement in 2015 (“COP 21”) to work together and separately to holding the temperature rise to well below 2-degrees Centigrade (3.5F), the pre-industrial levels — and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature rise to 1.5-degrees C above pre-industrial levels. (“As soon as possible.”)
The Agreement also calls for the increasing society’s ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience including low GHG emissions development. **
The outlier nation to the agreement, sad to say, is the world’s largest economy and significant GHG emitter, the United States of America, which has begun the withdrawal process from the Paris Agreement.
This week we present a selection of top stories about climate change – and global warming! – to illustrate the effects of a changed climate around the globe. And to send signals to the doubting policymakers in Washington DC that the threat is real!
The good news is that many corporate managements, powerful institutional investors, and public policy makers in a growing number of leaders in U.S. cities, states and regions are committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement and working to implement steps to hold the line – to build resilience – that will benefit all of society.
We really do have to hurry — take a look at what is happening around our planet:
This Week’s Top Stories:
Drought, Heat Wave, Wild Fires
— Is the Earth Burning Up?
Earth at risk of becoming ‘hothouse’ if tipping point reached, report warns
(Tuesday – August 07, 2018) Source: CNN – Scientists are warning that a domino effect will kick if global temperatures rise more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels, leading to “hothouse” conditions and higher sea levels, making some areas on Earth uninhabitable.
5-year drought raises questions over Israel’s water strategy
(Monday – August 06, 2018) Source: ABC News – For years, public service announcements warned Israelis to save water: Take shorter showers. Plant resilient gardens. Conserve. Then Israel invested heavily in desalination technology and professed to have solved the problem by…
Our climate plans are in pieces as killer summer shreds records
(Monday – August 06, 2018) Source: CNN – Deadly fires have scorched swaths of the Northern Hemisphere this summer, from California to Arctic Sweden and down to Greece on the sunny Mediterranean. Drought in Europe has turned verdant land barren, while people in Japan and…
Are devastating wildfires a new normal? “It’s actually worse than that,” climate scientist says
(Wednesday – August 08, 2018) Source: CBS News – California Gov. Jerry Brown has called the devastating wildfires tearing through Northern California “part of a trend — a new normal.” But one climate scientists says “it’s actually worse than that.”
Europe battles wildfires amid massive heat wave
(Wednesday – August 08, 2018) Source: ABC News – Record-breaking temperatures across Europe have forced people to sleep in a Finnish supermarket, uncovered a piece of World War II history in Ireland and are making it harder to battle the wildfires that have been raging in Spain…
Don’t despair – climate change catastrophe can still be averted
(Wednesday – August 08, 2018) Source: The Guardian – The future looks fiery and dangerous, according to new reports. But political will and grassroots engagement can change this…
Australia’s most populous state now entirely in drought
(Thursday – August 09, 2018) Source: CBS – CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s most populous state was declared entirely in drought on Wednesday and struggling farmers were given new authority to shoot kangaroos that compete with livestock for sparse pasture during the…
Nearly 140 people dead amid Japan heat wave
(Thursday – August 09, 2018) Source: WTNH – Japan is dealing with a heat wave that had killed 138 people. The heat wave started back in May and has been roasting the country ever since…
Europe bakes again in near-record temperatures
(Thursday – August 09, 2018) Source: Phys.org – Europe baked in near-record temperatures on Monday but hopes were for some respite after weeks of non-stop sunshine as people come to terms with what may prove to be the new normal in climate change Europe…
* Greenhouse Gases are defined as a gas trapping heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the “greenhouse effect” by absorbing radiation: carbon dioxide/CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, and flouorinated gases (such as chlorofluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride).
** The Paris Agreement is at: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/english_paris_agreement.pdf
Posted in Business & Society, Cities & Sustainability, Climate Change, Community Investing, Corporate Responsibility, Corporate Sustainability, Global Warming, Public Sector Governance, SDGs, States & Sustainability, Water | Tagged climate change, COP 21, Global Warming, National Geographic, Paris Accord, Paris Agreement, U.S.A. | Leave a reply
U.S. States and Cities — “Still In” to the Paris Agreement — and Great Progress is Being Made
Posted on June 4, 2018 by Hank Boerner
This is our second commentary this week on the occasion of the first anniversary of the decision by the Trump White House in June 2017 to begin the multi-year process of formal withdrawal of the United States of America from the Paris COP 21 climate agreement…
The action now is at the state and municipal levels in these United States of America.
Where for years the world could count on US leadership in critical multilateral initiatives – it was the USA that birthed the United Nations! – alas, there are 196 nations on one side of the climate change issue (signatories of the 2015 Paris Agreement) and one on the other side: the United States of America. At least at the sovereign level.
Important for us to keep in mind: Individual states within the Union are aligned with the rest of the world’s sovereign nations in acknowledging and pledging to address the challenges posed by climate change, short- and longer-term.
Here’s some good news: The United States Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of 17 governors committed to upholding the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change. These are among the most populous of the states and include states on both coasts and in the nation’s Heartland.
The Paris meetings were in 2015 and at that time, the USA was fully on board. That was in a universe now far far away, since the election of climate-denier-in-chief Donald Trump in 2016.
On to the COP 23 and the USA
In 2017, two years after the Paris meetings, the USA officially snubbed their sovereign colleagues at the annual climate talks. A number of U.S. public and private sector leaders did travel to Bonn, Germany, to participate in talks and represent the American point-of-view. This included Jerry Brown, Governor, California (the de facto leader now of the USA in climate change); former New York City Mayor (and Bloomberg LP principal) Michael Bloomberg; executives from Mars, Wal-mart and Citi Group.
While the U.S. government skipped having a pavilion at the annual United Nations-sponsored climate summit for 2017, the US presence was proclaimed loud and clear by the representatives of the U.S. Climate Action Center, representing the climate change priorities of US cities, states, tribes and businesses large and small who want action on climate change issues.
Declared California State Senator Ricardo Lara in Bonn: “Greetings from the official resistance to the Trump Administration. Let’s relish being rebels. Despite what happens in Washington DC we are still here.”
As the one year anniversary of President Trump’s announcement to leave the global Paris Agreement (June 1, 2018), state governors announced a new wave of initiatives to not only stay on board with the terms agreed to in Paris (by the Obama Administration) but to accelerate and scale up their climate actions.
Consider: The Alliance members say they are on track to have their state meet their share of the Paris Agreement emission targets by 2025.
Consider: The governors represent more than 40 percent of the U.S. population (160 million people); represent at least a US$9 trillion economic bloc (greater than the #3 global economy, Japan); and, as a group and individually are determined to meet their share of the 2015 Paris Agreement emissions targets.
Consider: Just one of the states – California – in June 2016, according to the International Monetary Fund, became the sixth largest economy in the world, ahead of the total economy of France (at #7) and India (#8).
Consider: The US GDP is estimated at $19.9 trillion (“real” GDP as measured by World Bank); the $9 trillion in GDP estimated for the participating states is a considerable portion of the national total.
The states involved are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
The initiatives announced on June 1, 2018 include:
Reducing Super Pollutants (including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), one of the Greenhouse Gases, and harnessing waste methane (another GhG).
Mobilizing Financing for Climate Projects (through collaboration on a Green Banking Initiative); NY Green Bank alone is raising $1 billion or more from the private sector to deploy nationally).
Modernizing the Electric Grid (through a Grid Modernization Initiative, that includes avoidance of building out the traditional electric transmission/distribution infrastructure through “non-wire” alternatives).
Developing More Renewable Energy (creating a Solar Soft Costs Initiative to reduce costs of solar projects and drive down soft costs; this should help to reduce the impact of solar tariffs established in January by the federal government).
Developing Appliance Efficiency Standards (a number of states are collaborating to advance energy efficiency standards for appliances and consumer products sold in their state as the federal government effort is stalled; this is designed to save consumers’ money and cut GhG emissions).
Building More Resilient Community Infrastructure and Protect Natural Resources (working in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the National Council on Science and the Environment, to change the way infrastructure is designed and procured, and help protect against the threats of floods, wildfires and drought).
Increase Carbon Storage (various states are pursuing opportunity to increase carbon storage in forests, farms and ecosystems through best practices in land conservation, management and restoration, in partnerships with The Nature Conservancy, American Forests, World Resources Institute, American Farmland Trust, the Trust For Public Land, Coalition on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation).
Deploying Clean Transportation (collaborating to accelerate deployment of zero-emissions vehicles; expanding/improving public transportation choices; other steps toward zero-emission vehicles miles traveled.
Think About The Societal Impacts
The powerful effects of all of this state-level collaboration, partnering, financial investment, changes in standards and best practice approaches, public sector purchasing practices, public sector investment (such as through state pension funds), approvals of renewable energy facilities (such as windmills and solar farms) in state and possibly with affecting neighboring states, purchase of fleet vehicles…more.
California vehicle buyers comprise at least 10% (and more) of total US car, SUV and light truck purchases. Think about the impact of vehicle emissions standards in that state and the manufacturers’ need to comply. They will not build “customized” systems in cars for just marketing in California – it’s better to comply by building in systems that meet the stricter standards on the West Coast.
US car sales in 2016 according to Statista were more than 1 million units in California (ranked #1); add in the other states you would have New York (just under 400,000 vehicles sold); Illinois (250,000); New Jersey (250,000) – reaching to about million more. How many more vehicles are sold in the other Coalition states? Millions more!
(Of course, we should acknowledge here that the states not participating yet have sizable markets — 600,000 vehicles sold in Florida and 570,000 in Texas.)
Project that kind of effect onto: local and state building codes, architectural designs, materials for home construction; planning the electric distribution system for a state or region (such as New England); appliance design and marketing in the Coalition states (same issues – do you design a refrigerator just for California and Illinois?).
There are quotes from each of the Coalition governors that might be of use to you. (Sample: Jerry Brown, California: “The Paris Agreement is a good deal for America. The President’s move to pull out was the wrong call. We are still in.”) You can see them in the news release at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a4cfbfe18b27d4da21c9361/t/5b114e35575d1ff3789a8f53/1527860790022/180601_PressRelease_Alliance+Anniversary+-+final.pdf
In covering the 2017 Bonn meetings, Slate published a report by The Guardian with permission of the Climate Desk. Said writers Oliver Milman and Jonathan Watts: “Deep schisms in the United States over climate change are on show at the U.N. climate talks in Bonn, where two sharply different visions of America’s role in addressing dangerous global warming have been put forward to the world.
“Donald Trump’s decision [to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement] has created a vacuum into which dozens of city, state and business leaders have leapt, with the aim of convincing other countries that the administration is out of kilter with the American people…”
At the US City Level
Jacob Corvidae, writing in Greenbiz, explains how with the White House intending to withdraw, cities are now in the driver’s seat leading the charge against climate change.
Cities have more than half of the world’s populations and have the political and economic power to drive change.
The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is the Coalition helping cities to make things happen. The C40 Climate Action Planning Framework is part of a larger effort to make meaningful progress toward carbon reduction goals and build capacity at the municipal level. Cities are expected to have a comprehensive climate action plan in place by 2020. This will include 2050 targets and required interim goals.
The cities have the Carbon-Free City Handbook to work with; this was released in Bonn in 2017 at COP 23. There are 22 specific actions that can (1) drive positive impacts and (2) create economic development. This September the Carbon-Free Regions Handbook will be available. There is information for you about all of this at: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/every-action-how-cities-are-using-new-tools-drive-climate-action
The clarion call, loud and clear: We Are Still In! Watch the states, cities and business community for leadership on meeting climate change issues in the new norms of 2018 and beyond.
Posted in Business & Society, Cities & Sustainability, Climate Change, Community Investing, Conservation, Corporate Citizenship, Corporate Governance, Corporate Responsibility, Corporate Sustainability, Environmental Protection, Global Warming, Impact Investing, Public Sector Governance, States & Sustainability | Tagged 2015 Park Agreement, American Farmland Trust, American Forests, Appliance Efficiency Standards, Automobile Standards, Bloomberg LP, California, California Governor Edmund (Jerry) G. Brown, California State Senator Ricardo Lara, Carbon-Free City Handbook, Carbon-Free Regions Handbook, Citi Group., Climate Accord, climate change, Climate Desk, Coalition on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, Colorado, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Connecticut, COP 21, COP 23, Delaware, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Electric Vehicles, Global Warming, Governor, Green Banking Initiative, Greenbiz, Grid Modernization Initiative, Hawaii, International Monetary Fund, Jacob Corvidae, Jerry Brown, Jonathan Watts, Mars, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Minnesota, Mobilizing Financing for Climate Projects, Modernizing the Electric Grid, National Council on Science and the Environment, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, NY Green Bank, Obama Administration, Oliver Milman, Oregon, Public Transportation, Renewable Energy (creating, Resilient Community Infrastructure, Rhode Island, Solar Soft Costs Initiative, Statista, The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, The C40 Climate Action Planning Framework, The Guardian, The Nature Conservancy, the Trust For Public Land, The United States Climate Alliance, Vermont, Virginia, Wal-Mart, Washington, We Are Still In, World Bank, World Resources Institute | Leave a reply
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Bonanno Soldier: Benjamin Ruggiero
Posted by Gangsters Inc. on November 26, 2010 at 4:23pm
Copyright © www.gangstersinc.nl
Benjamin 'Lefty Guns' Ruggiero was one of the true Cosa Nostra Mafioso, a guy who was old school and knew how Mafia politics worked. Lefty was a Bonanno soldier who was feared and respected by his fellow Mafioso and in the end Lefty showed them all, when he just wouldn't break Omerta. Most of you probably know Lefty from the movie "Donnie Brasco" in which Lefty was played by Al Pacino, it's a great movie but the truth gets tempered with for viewing pleasure. The following is the true story of Benjamin 'Lefty Guns' Ruggiero.
Lefty grew up just a few blocks from Little Italy and he never left. When he got older he moved into the apartment complex called knickerbocker village on monroe street a few blocks south of Little Italy. Lefty would soon be involved in criminal business and became connected to the Bonanno Crime Family. Lefty owned a social club at 43 Madison street where he would meet with other Mafioso and connected guys. One of those Mafioso who would drop by was Tony Mirra (picture on the right) a Bonanno Family soldier who would introduce Lefty to his friend Donnie Brasco. To Mirra and Lefty Donnie Brasco seemed an allright guy, something that would cuase them and their Family a lot of trouble later on.
Lefty had not served time in prison, he had been arrested many times for extortion and theft but had always beaten the rap. Lefty's only real problem was that he was a degenerate gambler. He even had to pay of his gambling debts before he could become a made man, it was delayed untill he had fully paid. But in the summer of 1977, when Lefty was in his early 50s, Lefty became a 'made' man in the Bonanno Crime Family. Lefty became a soldier under Capo Mike Sabella and would run the bookmaking operation for Bonanno Family Underboss Nicky Marangello. In his pre 'made' man years, Lefty Ruggiero had allready made a reputation for himself being a stone killer, clipping between 25 and 30 people. Lefty was the epitome of the wiseguy. He was at it 24 hours a day, scheming, on the street in wiseguy situations he was sharp and tough and that's what earned him a lot of respect from the other wiseguy's.
Lefty soon became close with Donnie Brasco, Lefty was old school and schooled Donnie Brasco in the ways of La Cosa Nostra. This created a problem between him and Tony Mirra, because technically Donnie belonged to Mirra. Donnie himself preferred being under Lefty and so the two themselves decided that they would say that Lefty was the first to 'claim' Donnie so that Mirra had no right to put Donnie under his wing. Offcourse Mirra wasn't having it and several sitdowns took place over the 'Donnie Brasco' situation. In the end Lefty won and Donnie Brasco was under him. Lefty liked Donnie a lot, seeing a good earner and potential 'made' guy. In the following years they would become very close and Donnie would pass up a certain percentage of money from all his schemes to Lefty.
After some good years the Bonanno Crime Family was on it's way to a new Family war. On July 1979 then Bonanno Family Boss Carmine Galante was whacked, this shook up the entire Family and changed things drasticly. When Galante got whacked, Rusty Rastelli was appointed new Boss, he would run the Family from prison. Lefty's Capo Mike Sabella was demoted to soldier and his crew was taken over by Capo Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano (picture on the right). Lefty was sent for by Sonny Black and got the choice if he wanted to be under Capo Sonny Black or Capo Joe Massino, Sonny Black said he would like to have Lefty under him and Lefty agreed and became a soldier in Sonny Black's crew. But all was not well. The hit on Galante had divided the Family in different factions, one faction supporting Rusty Rastelli as new boss the other opposing, a Family war was on it's way. Sonny Black's crew was supporting Rastelli along with Capo's: Joey Massino, Sally Farrugia and consigliere Steve Cannone. Opposing Rastelli as new boss were Capo's: Caesar Bonventre, Philip "Philip Lucky" Giaccone, Dominick "Big Trin" Trinchera and Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato. Lefty was getting ready for the orders and do what he was supposed to do as a soldier: kill.
Several times Lefty was ready to whack out a Capo from the other faction when he got orders to abort, they had a plan to whack out all the Capo's of the other faction in one clean hit. The three Capo's of the opposing faction were summoned to a peace meeting to patch up differences at a catering establishment. Inside the restaurant the three Capo's were whacked by Lefty, Jimmy Legs, Nicky Santora and Bobby Capazzio. No bodies were found. One of the Capo's of the other faction did not attend that 'meeting' because he was in jail, but Capo Caesar Bonventre had decided to come over to the Rastelli faction anyway. Later on one of the bodies was found by the police, it was a mistake by Joey Massino who was supposed to take care of making the body 'disappear', the bodies were supposed to be chopped up and thrown away. But eventough the body was found, there were no leads to whom might have killed him so the Rastelli faction did not worry.
All seemed well, finally, for Lefty and the Bonanno Family. The Family was at peace and business was back to normal. Untill one day when Lefty and Sonny Black were just hanging out in the social club and some F.B.I. agents came in. They brought pictures and a message: "Donnie Brasco (picture on the right) was an undercover F.B.I. agent". After a few moments the agents left leaving Lefty and Sonny Black stunned as they were trying to look for 'Candid Camera', at first they didn't believe it, they thought it was a trick to cause tension in a finally peacefull Family. But truth or not Sonny Black took measures and started making phonecalls. Every top Mafioso was briefed about the situation and at one point pictures of Brasco were sent to other Crime Family's so they could be on the look out. Being an old school Mafioso Lefty knew that this situation would end up getting him whacked, he had brought Donnie into the Family and he was close to him. Sonny Black also knew this would end in a negative way. And they were right.
Soon after Sonny Black was missing, the F.B.I. knew that dead wiseguy's weren't of much use during a trial and so on August 30 1981, they snatched Lefty from the street and arrested him while he was coming out of his appartment. There allready was a contract out on Lefty's life. Lefty was offered to enter the Witness Protection program if he would testifie, Lefty declined and was tried and later convicted to 20 years in prison. A big difference with the movie "Donnie Brasco" where we are left to assume that Lefty was 'sent for' and whacked, which in reality didn't happen. In 1992 after serving 13 years in prison because he would not break omerta, Lefty was freed and out on parole, living his life untill he died of cancer on Thanksgiving Day, 1995. On his deathbed, according to one old friend, Lefty threatened to spit in the faces of movie people who offered him $1 million to interview him for the Donnie Brasco promos. A very different attitude if you compare it to someone like Salvatore 'Sammy The Bull' Gravano who not only snitched and joined the Witness Protection program but also wrote a best selling book about his life, while he was setting up his multi million extacy drugring.
In his book about being undercover in the Mafia, Joseph D. Pistone a.k.a. Donnie Brasco quoted a conversation he and another undercover agent had with Lefty when they were undercover. In this conversation Lefty makes a great comment:
Undercover agent: "Lefty, I understand how we all like to make money. But what is the actual advantage of being a wiseguy?"
Lefty: "Are you kidding? What the....Donnie, don't you tell this guy nothing?
Tony, as a wiseguy you can lie, you can cheat, you can steal, you can kill people: LEGITIMATELY.
You can do any goddamn thing you want, and nobody can say anything about it. Who wouldn't want to be a wiseguy?".
And I think that's about it, Benjamin "Lefty Guns" Ruggiero was one of the few Mafioso whose life was in danger and on it's way to prison who abided by the rules which he lived by most of his life, not breaking omerta and taking it like a 'made' man, someone who didn't look for excuses or an easy ride, he was Cosa Nostra and he didn't stop because he could get whacked or sent to prison, he knew that that was what being a Mafioso was all about.
Comment by stephen on April 13, 2011 at 1:38pm
the men from sonnys crew were pure cosa nostra.nicky santora is still kicking as the underboss.
Comment by stephen on October 3, 2011 at 3:23am
hello leonard,i dont think it would ever have enterd leftys head to rat,he was prepaired to face wat was comming after it all came out..as you know,in lots of crews in any family,some are top earners while some scrape and scheme to make the buck,that was leftys crew(sonnys).take it easy my friend,hope to check in with you sometime.p.s. i thought pacinos take on lefty was terrible,he had him down as a dunsky,lefty was a clean smart dresser.
hey leonard,hows it going..after reading your blogs leaonard,its very clear you know wats wat in the mob.i am just a 42 year old fella from liverpool,england who has been reading and watching all things cosa nostra(mainly nyc) for a lot of years now.saying that i would never presume or push the fact that i would know wat you know..i am here to learn and listen my friend..i bet you have met your fair share of mob guys,it would be a good thing for me to be educated by some one of your standing and knowledge of the street..my mother went to work in nyc wen she was just 18,we have relations who moved to queens from liverpool in 1930 something..my mother arrived in nyc the day jfk was shot and went to work as a nannie for the actor george segal.that and some stories she told me about brookly and queens got me to like reading and getting into the mafia thing..well leonard hope i to talk again soon,yours sincerly, stephen hilton.
Comment by stephen on March 29, 2012 at 1:49pm
hello sindi,would love to help you if i can.
Comment by dale.l.porter on April 4, 2012 at 8:54pm
Reading you guys' comments was as enjoyable as reading the story on Lefty,sincerely.Thanks for the schooling,Leonard,hope I see more of your comments in other stories.
Comment by hairy james on April 9, 2012 at 2:08pm
Mr.Conforti,
I've been a full time professional musician in the South Florida area ( Miami, Ft. Laud. Boca Raton) for 30 years. I don't have to tell you how many wiseguys I've had the pleasure to work for, and get to know socially. I think its okay at this point to drop a few names as I know these fellows are long gone. But I've gotten to know guys like Etore "Terry" Zappi, Jimmy "Blue Eyes" Alo and a few others who would always wind up in sunny South Florida during the winter months.
I have a dear friend who is having a problem with a certain Soldier in the Lucchese family (who is still very much alive, so I can't mention his name) All I'd like to know is if this fellow is okay as he owes my friend a substantial amount of money. Hes not returning phone calls, so my thought is either he has simply decided not to pay my friend or maybe he is in the can at this point and can't return phone calls.
And yes, there really is a friend, its not me pretending to cover my tracks.
If this forum has a private messaging place perhaps I could speak more frankly there.
Any help or thoughts you may have would be greatly appreciated.
Hairy James
Comment by hairy james on April 16, 2012 at 3:41pm
Its Hairy............just a joke because of "HARRY James"
Comment by hairy james on April 21, 2012 at 5:24am
Hi Len (or do some call you Leo)
Anyway, yeah this guy is definitely made. Just Google Johnny "Sideburns" Cerella. Pages of stuff come up about the guy. I had dinner with him once with ny friend who loaned him the money and he is one bas as$ guy. I would NEVER want to mess with this guy. He is almost definitely a capo in Lucchese and at very least a high ranking soldier.
Its just that my friend and this guy were such dear friends. My friend has been through some tough times lately and could really use part of that dough back.
Take care my friend, and if you ever find yourself in south Florida (a lotta you guys do) I hope we can become friends.
Statte Buona.
Comment by james hicks on October 16, 2012 at 8:05pm
is conforti dead
Comment by DaLenosgirl on October 17, 2012 at 12:08pm
That's not right, don't say things like that about him, man. I'm sure he'll be back on here again.
You need to be a member of Gangsters Inc. - www.gangstersinc.org to add comments!
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Union-friendly home healthcare worker bill approved by state legislature regional thereflector.com u save gas station grants pass
05.10.2018 Electricity bill
#“This bill#gas station#Supreme Court#u save gas station grants pass
However, the bill, which originated in the Senate and is sponsored by four Democrats and one Republican, faced fierce criticism from both Senate and House Republicans, who argue that it is a veiled attempt to allow SEIU 775 to force workers to pay union fees.
Specifically, critics argue that by reclassifying home healthcare workers as private employees, SEIU 775 can legally demand that they pay union fees, despite a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court ruling—Harris v. Quinn—that public employees can opt-out of fees.
“In 2014 the U.S. Supreme Court in Harris versus Quinn said that Medicaid-paid providers do not have to pay union dues,” said Rep. Joe Schmick, R–Colfax, during the March 1 floor debate on the bill in the House. “This bill is a big step backwards,” he said, adding that it will make workers pay dues even if they don’t want to.
As evidence that the bill is specifically serving union interests, Republicans have pointed to SEIU 775’s campaign contributions to numerous state Democrats and a 2014 memo authored by staff at the state Office of Financial Management. The memo states that, in response to the 2014 court ruling, SEIU 775 President David Rolf asked Gov. Inslee forlegislation that would restructure the state’s contracts with home health care workers.
Rep. Paul Graves, R–Fall City, said in a phone interview that House Republicans declined to vote because they were cut off several times during floor debate for criticizing the bill’s potential benefit to SEIU 775 and the union’s financial campaign contributions to Democratic candidates.
During debate, several Republicans were gaveled down while asserting that SEIU 775 had influence over Democratic lawmakers. House Speaker Pro-Tem Rep. John Lovick, D–Mill Creek, cut their remarks short on the grounds that they were impugning the motives of their colleagues—a violation of official legislative dacorum.
“This bill is about patients. It’s about safety and it’s about taking care of our caregivers,” said Nicole Macri, D–Seattle. “Instead of handling the administration, the payroll functions, we outsource that to a private company and allow caregivers to do the real work that they need to do.”
On March 5, Gov. Inslee and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson authored an editorial in The Tacoma News Tribune arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court should rule in favor of unions in another court case concerning obligatory union fees, Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. In that case, plaintiff Mark Janus, a state childcare support specialist in Illinois, sued on the grounds that obligatory union fees violate his free speech rights.
In their editorial, Inslee and Ferguson argued that the collective bargaining power of public unions will be weakened if the court sides with Janus. “If Janus succeeds, it will be a win for powerful special interests and another setback for the struggling American middle class,” they wrote. “Unions will still be obligated to represent all employees in the work unit, but those people will no longer be obligated to pay their fair share for these benefits, which threatens the financial viability of unions.”
In a March 5 statement, Sen. Michael Baumgartner, R–Spokane, an outspoken critic of SB 6199 who voted against it in the Senate, called on Gov. Inslee to veto it. He called the bill the most “secretive” and “corrupt” piece of legislation that he’s seen in his eight years in the Legislature.
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Loan Programme
23-Robinson
Description: this violin was made by contemporary British maker Mark Robinson, whose label it bears dated 2016. The instrument is based on a Guarneri del Gesù violin known as the D’Egville.
Measurements: 35.3cm in length of body, with widths of 16.4cm and 20.4cm.
Violin maker: Robinson, Mark. Beginning his career at the Newark School of Violin Making, first as a student and then as a teacher, Mark joined J & A Beare in April 1992. Alongside violin making and restoring, he has taught regularly at institutions such as the West Dean College and has written for the Strad Magazine. [John Dilworth]
I’m very grateful to the Harrison Frank Foundation for the loan of a beautiful Mark Robinson violin. I’ve had the good luck to work together with the maker to find what the violin has to offer. It’s a pleasure getting to know a new instrument, and a great gift (and relief!) to have a quality instrument to work with in the financially tough times beginning a career after studying.
Eleanor Corr, January 2018
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FACES: Dan Gregory — Award-Winning Indie Actor Up Against Hollywood Legend at the Brightside Film Festival; March 2-3
Posted on February 28, 2019 in Faces
Introduced to the craft by pure chance, Dan Gregory is an actor who has been paying his dues on the independent film scene, and reaping the benefits.
No stranger to the podium, Gregory is nominated for a best actor award at this weekend’s Brightside Film Festival in Jersey City—going head-to-head with a number of fine actors, including legendary Oscar nominee Chazz Palminteri.
No matter how it plays out for Gregory this weekend, he’s an actor that folks should probably get to know better—if only to say “we knew him when…”
hMAG had a chance to catch up with Dan Gregory, as he prepares for this weekend’s big event.
hMAG: Describe the films and performances for which you have been nominated.
Dan Gregory: At the Brightside Film Festival 2019, I’m acting in two films. In The Hunted, I play a shady dude named Alan who faces his sins when he gets captured by the anti hero. It’s a supernatural horror directed by Giancarlo Orenella. The film is has several nominations including Best Horror short.
In the drama Tell Me Something Good, I play an insane character named Chester who takes three hostages at gunpoint in search of finding inspiration to live. I wrote it as well. The film is Directed by Sean Feuer. I was nominated for Best Actor in a Drama—in the same category with some very talented gentlemen, including Oscar-nominated Chazz Palminteri.
h: How did you get into acting? Can you tell us about your career to date?
DG: I was fascinated with acting since I saw films like Carlito’s Way and American History X as a teenager but I didn’t persue it. I got into acting at the age of 23, my senior year at Kean University, when a student director named Blake Zawadzki told me I should play a bad guy in his film. I jumped on board and had fun. After that, I was determined to learn the craft properly, so I took classes at NYFA and Stella Adler Acting Studio.
Soon after I linked up with the talented brothers Sam & Isaac Platizky (actors/writers/producers) from Bayonne and started acting in indie films with the company called Narrow Bridge Films. Since 2010 I’ve done feature films with them—like the romantic comedy Cabin Of Errors and the WWII-era comedy Yellow Scare. Cabin was picked up for major distribution deal with Summer Hill Films. It was released on DVD last January and is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video now. I play a quirky character named George who is torn between his feelings for his girlfriend and his best friend.
Yellow Scare recently won Best Comedy at the 2018 Golden Door International Film Festival (it’s still in the film festival circuit). I was honored to win Best Supporting Actor in a feature film for my dual roles as Tony and Shamus (father & son). Tony is a perverted Greaser from the 1950’s and Shamus is an obnoxious Irish Pilot who has a major drinking problem.
Some other career highlights include starring in a commercial as bionic cowboy for the EL Rey Network, getting nominated at the 2017 Brightside Festival for Best Actor in a Horror short for In The Blood, directed by the multi -talented Joey Mosca.
Also, I played a character named Chuck from AA in the upcoming short Speculo. It’s written by Jersey City producer P.J. Leonard, and it was exciting to be directed by Emmy Winner Obba Babatunde in that film. He was a fountain of knowledge. Also, I have my own holiday in Bayonne as a member of Narrow Bridge Films. September 23 is now our official holiday as deemed by Mayor Jimmy Davis—That was an awesome surprise.
h: What’s your favorite kind of role?
DG: I love character parts. Comedy or drama, I like to stretch myself and play a bold role. I have no problem playing a lead if any talented filmmaker out there needs me to ;). I like building a character. My goal is to give a standout performance in every part I get cast in, big or small.
h: How would you describe the state of the independent film scene in our area?
DG: The indie film scene in our area is alive and well. Bayonne, Hoboken, Jersey City, they have a ton talented people who work on both sides of the camera. Social media is a great tool to reach out to local filmmakers and get involved. I keep my Instagram profile up to date with film projects, (follow me at @danielmichaelgregory). It never hurts to send someone in the indie film business your resume.
Of course NYC is the place to get involved with creative projects. I am lucky enough to be part of a film/TV/ theatre group called Brazen Giant Ensemble. It’s a group of talented artists who meet a few times a month to work on original material. It was founded by the brilliant actors Bill Sorvino and Christian Keiber. We have a residency at The Players Theatre in the Village.
h: How do you feel your chances are this weekend?
DG: I know I’m the underdog. I work a security job at the BBOED (best security team in the world) to make ends meet. But I believe my time is coming—this a step in the right direction. It’s impossible to persue an acting career without being optimistic, so I think I have a chance of winning on Sunday.
Win, lose, or tie, this nomination can elevate my career. I’m thankful to my family and friends for the encouragement. I give my lovely girlfriend Jayleen Perez all the credit in the world. She deserves an award for dealing with me everyday.
h: Where can we see you next?
DG: I’m currently cast in a Mafia project alongside some gifted female artists. It’s called Housewife, written by Trish Mata and directed by Colleen Davie Janes. It also stars Jack Mulcahy (Brothers McMullen) as the District Attorney. I play a hitman who is obsessed with cartoons. Best job in the world! Once completed, it will be marketed as a short film or TV pilot.
Tags: Film, Film Festival
FACES: Fashion Designer Stephanie Manganelli — Stowaway Collection
2017 HOBOKEN MAYORAL CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE — Anthony L. Romano
MGSP Sees “Signs” of Success With New Release
Former Maxwell’s Sound Man Gregg Sgar Advances to the Final Round of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest—VOTE NOW
ASK YOUR BARTENDER: Madison Bar & Grill’s Allison Friedman
WORLD CHAMPION VIEW: Eli Manning Sells Hoboken Apartment
FRONT & CENTER: Max Feinstein LIVE at Finnegan’s — FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
THE KENNEDYS @ GUITAR BAR JR.: Nationally Renowned Folk/Pop Duo to Play Intimate Hoboken Show—SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23
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Welcome to Franka's Lodge
Situated in the Village of Graskop and on the Panorama route you will find our self-catering resort. The village of Graskop is perfectly placed to explore the "Panorama route" and the Blyde river canyon. The resort is a stone throw away from the canyon and views such as Gods Window, the Pot holes, Lisbon and Berlin falls to mention a few. click here for a map
The resort consists of four fully equipped cottages each with kitchen, two bedrooms, lounge, TV, undercover parking and built in braai. The units are serviced daily and for your convenience there is a laundry in town....ACCOMMODATION
There is an abundance of activities ranging from Bungee swings, Quad trails, hiking, river rafting, archery, The big swing, bridge swings, game drives and the Kruger National Park.....................................................WHAT TO DO
The first records of Graskop history start in 1843, with the arrival of the Voortrekkers in the area. In 1838 Louis Trichard - in search of a port not under British rule - had reached Delagoa Bay via a particularly arduous route through the Olifants River Valley. This journey was completed at a tremendous cost in lives lost to fever, probably malaria. In 1843 Andries Potgieter - who had just founded Potchefstroom and on the advice of Trichard - took a more southerly route, which turned out to be virtually impossible - let alone arduous!! After negotiating what is known as CASPERS NEK Pass (named after Paul Kruger's father who pioneered this oldest existing road in the region still in use), the party reached the edge of the Drakensberg Escarpment down which there was no possible descent at that point, or - by line of sight - 50km in any direction. Leaving the women and children and a few men out spanned on the banks of the river just below the top of the escarpment - with strict instructions that the waiting group return to Potchefstroom if the scouting group had not returned by a date two months into the future - the men went in search of a way down to the Lowveld 1000m below. Access to the Lowveld was discovered to be via an animal track on a land under the control of a local chief named Koveni - hence the Afrikaans translation Kowyn - and onto Delagoa Bay where, for various reasons, the men were delayed.
The waiting party, after staying a fortnight longer than instructed, left the river on who's banks they have been anxiously waiting, named it "Treurrivier" (River of Sorrow). A few days later the returning men caught up with their womenfolk on the banks of another river, which was promptly named the "Blyderivier" (river of Joy). In the year 1850 the farm GRASKOP - so named because of the vast tracts of grassveld and singular lack of trees in the area - was owned by one Abel Erasmus who in later years was to become "native commissioner and magistrate" for the entire Lowveld and escarpment region. The local, indigenous people gave this redoubtable hunter the name "Dubula Duzi", in recognition of the fact that he waited till the very last moment before firing on his quarry........................................................................HISTORY
Contact us at 079 881 0379 Phone / Fax +27 13 767 1136 or send an enquiry
Panorama Internet design AtomMap | RssMap | RssLatest | PodCasts | GoogleMap | Urllist
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An Interview with Dimitris Lyacos
John Taylor interviewing Dimitris Lyacos
John Taylor: Your name appears on various lists of postmodern literature, among others, in the new edition of Fran Mason’s Historical Dictionary of Postmodernist Literature and Theater. In fact, you are the only Greek author included in a volume spanning more than half a century of postmodernism. In the “Lyacos” entry of the dictionary, your work is classified as late modernist/postmodernist and you are also mentioned in the preface as a postmodernist author that has “consolidated his reputation in the new millennium.” How would you comment on that?
Dimitris Lyacos: This is a very difficult question and perhaps only a fraction of an answer is possible here. You are right, most accounts of the trilogy mention postmodernism, a mutual familiarity has developed between this term and my work, to the point that I am also starting to see it that way. But, I think, this is only natural: consider calling someone by any name, even one not his own; sooner or later he will go along with it. The world and ourselves mutually mirror each other. In that respect, I don’t mind being called a postmodern author, although I never used the term either as explanatory framework or modus operandi.
On the other hand, categorizations make understanding more economical, and there is no harm in accepting them, while it is also true that every work has a complexity of its own. In the current context, postmodernism is, perhaps, a safe bet as far as my work is concerned, especially since it does not seem to relate to any realist trend. What’s more, despite the fact that postmodernist literature’s heyday were the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, the term is being standardly used for works produced in our times. We are still in a postmodern context: postmodern literature has been canonized, Nobel Prizes have been awarded; overall, it still enjoys a “reputation of actuality” which encourages production of new works. I realize, of course, that other trends, or their coinage, like post-postmodernism, cyberpunk, avant-pop, and more, have developed in the meantime, but even those make sense in the context of postmodernism.
Now, given the complexity and individuality of a work, we could go a little further and ask to what extent postmodernist characteristics are present in it, and, additionally, whether its author shares, in whole or in part, a certain “postmodern philosophy” that would link her to a “postmodern project.” In my case, many people agree that a standard set of postmodern traits is there (i.e. metafiction, pastiche, fragmentation, playfulness, irony, fabulation, etc.) so, perhaps I am allowed to take one of those as an example and comment on how my work fits to it. Pastiche comes readily to mind, perhaps because it happens to be the “classic” postmodern trait according to Fredric Jameson, and, hereupon, I would be reluctant to say that it is involved in what I do, especially if we think of pastiche as a form of imitation, be it benign or tongue-in-cheek.
There are no borrowed styles in the trilogy unless you refer to the presence of excerpts from other works, or, to elements of intertextuality. There I would agree, although “quotations” are supposed to become part of a unified reading experience and function independently from the sources out of which they were elicited. Mine, like any other text, is a combination of sources, and I don’t suppose we need to go back to the Bible Documentary Hypothesis or the Homeric Question to settle this. The issue here is how unique, as a whole, is the textual landscape of a literature piece? It may contain all kinds of disparate elements and still be identifiable only with itself. In that sense, the “originality of the modern” is not inconsistent with the idea of all texts partaking in a textual community.
In fact, each and every one is appreciated exactly because of its participation in that community, and, on the other hand, there is a continuous, actual “fugue movement” over the underlying, relative stability of tradition. Texts are there to always interact and feed off each other. During a discussion I had yesterday evening with my friend Luis Miguel Isava, an expert on Lezama Lima and author of a brilliant book on Wittgenstein, Kraus, and Valéry, he mentioned a splinter group of modernist Brazilian poets of the 1920s, formed around Oswald de Andrade who had come up with the concept of “Antropofagia,” a kind of cultural cannibalism that aimed to connect local and avant-garde cultures with the scope of conflating disparate influences and creating something unique. Equally, texts cannibalize on each other and it is exactly this that helps them procreate. Perhaps “keimenofagia” might be a term for it.
JT: And at the same time, in a postmodernist context, texts seem to be conscious of themselves, what we call metafiction. This is a strategy you employ as well.
DL: I agree that texts are conscious of themselves insofar as they are conscious of their own materiality and their function-as-texts but you may want to call this “a reader’s awareness,” most of the time it works as a periodic reminder of textuality, a kind of textual alarm clock. This, however, does not need to be a metafictional strategy. It is a kind of “professional honesty” to present a text for what it is, as a text, or a book, the same way any other professional presents what he has to offer for what it is, a car as a car and a pair of trousers as a pair of trousers. The same happened in the case of the trilogy. I wanted to present a text, a sequence of diary entries in the course of somebody’s voyage, which you may say is (meta)fictional enough, but it is only so because it is presented as a literary publication, thus entering a setting of fictional texts. Under a different rubric, the book could have been approached differently.
If the reader knew, or could envisage, that there was some strict text/facts correspondence, then the text could be read under an entirely different mindset. Of course, we can always imagine worlds that correspond to texts, and vice versa, so it is trivial to say that we can imagine worlds that would instantiate the texts we have produced. What may not be trivial in the case of the trilogy—and I would like to use Z213: EXIT as an example—is that the book really starts with a piece transposed from a factual context, it is the transcription of a recording—recounted experiences of an actual person’s life. Needless to say, that text belongs neither to me nor to fiction at large. I only made some minor adjustments to it after transcribing what I had recorded, more or less; what you read is what was confided to me. It is a simple case of somebody sharing some of his experiences with you and then you sit down and make a text out of them, a text that can be faithful to the original at varying degrees.
This brings us back to a point already made: all texts are part of each other, smaller entities make up bigger ones, or, break down into simpler constituents in different contexts, and that is why we have an understanding of language the way we do. We would understand nothing otherwise. By the same token, the totality of our texts are “mutually metafictional.” They always reflect themselves and each other, they are parts, or aggregates, of other textual fields, and you have to cross those fields in order to get to where you want to go. That is why it comes as no surprise that metafiction is not exclusively postmodernist. It is with us since Homer, in fact, I think that his invocations of the Muse, his and lead to such phone calls like the one Paul Auster receives in the first chapter of City of Glass, or the other that Kurt Vonnegut makes in the opening page of Slaughterhouse-Five.
Now, in Z213: EXIT, I started off in a manner contrary to the above cases, by effacing the traces of authorial presence. An alien text ushers you in and triggers a sequence of entries that grow and become, piece after piece, the diary of the narrator’s journey. My receding in the background lets the protagonist recover the world for himself as well as come to terms with both his factual and textual experiences. It is no coincidence that early in the book he stumbles upon a bible-like booklet in the pocket of a jacket, while he is still in the train station, before starting his journey, and that this “bible” is a cohabitation of blank parts, actual biblical pieces and texts written by somebody else, a previous owner of the book. He makes use of this booklet, he makes it his own, as is natural to appropriate things that other people have used before us if we need to. In like manner, texts are appropriated by other texts in various forms: intertextuality, textual self-consciousness, cut up or collage, allusion or quotation, or however else you might want to call it. A constant linguistic recycling is set in motion from the time a culture spells its first utterances out in the world.
JT: You speak several languages and have lived in several countries. But are there (still?) “Greek” elements in your writing that can be isolated and defined?
DL: Sometimes I think about those “ethnic diacritics” myself. I must admit that the meaning of words like “Greek” and “Greekness” puzzles me. People speak often about the non-local perspective of my work while, at the same time, an ancient Greek element is mentioned as well. I remember, for instance, a rather recent review picking up on “the Greek Chorus in With the People from the Bridge, the Odysseus-like journey in Z213: EXIT, the brutal abstractions of Greek sculpture in The First Death.” I agree that ancient Greek elements can be located in the trilogy. I am a native Greek speaker, and I always had a great interest in the ancient Greek culture and language. In The First Death, especially, I put to work a kind of diachronic idiom, I used, freely, the whole spectrum of the Greek vocabulary, ancient and modern—I did not do it, however, because I wanted to strengthen the “Greekness” of my texts. The purpose was more to compose a piece that would keep a clear distance from its subject matter and, at the same time, take advantage of the polysemy that ancient Greek vocables have to offer. It turns out, of course, that the English translation is friendlier to the reader; some Greeks are daunted by unknown Greek words encountered for the first time. Of course, that “Greek effect” of linguistic eclecticism was impossible to reproduce in English, so my translator, Shorsha Sullivan, added notes to the end of the book.
I could go on about more ancient Greek elements, but that would be missing the point. However, if your question is about some essential, all-encompassing kind of Greekness, the presence of some “Greek difference,” then I cannot answer that, I am afraid; I have no way to compress the entire Greek-related material and distill some “Greek” essence out of it. I would therefore feel much more comfortable if I were allowed to go back to the “springboard” of your question and try to move ahead from there: yes, I have lived in several countries, I have spent most of my adult life outside Greece. Does that make me more or less Greek than someone that has lived all his life in the country? I suppose the iconic fisherman on a Greek island appears more “Greek” than I do. Perhaps there is a kind of Greek aura there that could be unambiguously felt, some kind of special perception to tag as “Greek.” Is this a clichéd kind of Greekness? Of course, there is nothing clichéd about any individual fisherman, or anybody else who seems not to care too much about globalized culture and prefers to mind his own business. Obviously, his “Greek” perspective is different than that of, say, a visitor, a traveller, or anyone else who goes on a “Greek” quest. Here, it is the outsider’s view that does the labelling, the mapping of essences, with the scope of returning to them. We may be hardwired with a craving to return to an essence, to go back home, and sometimes we give this home a national name.
A scene in Paolo Sorrentino’s film Youth struck me some time ago, where a supposedly naïve Hollywood actor cites Novalis: “I always go back home, go back to my father’s house.” This is what he longs for, and most of us crave that return to a place of origin. Sometimes we find what we think is still an authentic, secluded place during a holiday somewhere, the full experience of a simulated Heimkunft (homecoming), to recall Hölderlin’s poem. There is a deeply rooted nostalgia, which brings us back somewhere, and this return to a local core could be named and interpreted in various ways. But should the name of a nation-state be given to it?
Heidegger speaks about Germanness in his analysis of Hölderlin’s poem. Should the equivalent be called “Greekness” in my case? Has Greekness some kind of experiential or conceptual core which relates to my work somehow? Is there a necessary set of attributes that make up Greek identity? Is it projected in the past or will it materialize in the future when Greece will have completed its historical course? When we are making categorizations of this kind, aren’t we running the risk of sublimating a construct whose scope and function belongs to the political, and of endowing it with metaphysical connotations? Yes, you may retort, but, still, how about language, how about history? How about the fact that your work relates to Greek Tragedy? To that I would have to say: How about Catherine’s monologue in Suddenly, Last Summer? Isn’t it close enough to the Messenger’s gruesome closing monologue in Euripides’ Hippolytus? Is this, then, a Greek element in Tennessee Williams’ writing? In that sense, we are all Greek, so that doesn’t set me, or my work, apart. Having said that, however, I must say I am proud of a “Greek element” reappearing in my work after having been shut out of literature by its Balkan neighbors for a very long time: the Greek vampire.
JT: How do you mean?
DL: I refer to With the People from the Bridge, one of the principal themes there being the return of the dead and their communion with the living. The book is structured as a performance piece, and the story develops through the interchanging soliloquies of the characters, among them NCTV, a “revenant” whose voice is heard from a TV set. I prefer using the term revenant here, instead of vampire, a word conditioned by all kinds of unliterary literature, commercial films and television series alike, and in which everybody is trying to exploit a myth while ignorant of its origins and significance. I have said somewhere else that Hollywood sucked the blood of vampires dry. The term revenant, moreover, does not carry with it any evil connotations, and is a more general term standing in a relation of genus species to the term vampire.
The farther back in the past one goes, the richer the tradition; in fact, before the end of the 19th century, which saw the publication of Dracula, an incredibly rich folklore existed, part of which was Slavonic—Stoker’s principal source material. The Greek tradition, however, was richer than its Slavonic equivalent. So-called “vampire epidemics” were ubiquitous, only to wane around the end of the 19th century, and the nowadays famous tourist spots, Mykonos and Santorini, were classic theaters of vampire operations. Famously, Tournefort, a French botanist traveling in Greece in 1700, becomes witness, in Mykonos, to a “a tragic scene” as he describes it, of a body being exhumed in the midst of great distress by the local populace who were convinced they were dealing with a vrykolakas (the common Greek name for a vampire), and rushing to take the proper measures (burning of the body) in order to protect themselves. Santorini is another place infested by vampires and there are many stories related to the island as well as to other Greek locations. The situation was probably not that desperate though, since the Greek revenant, like I said, differs significantly from its Slavonic counterpart: it neither roams exclusively by night, nor is it prone to blood drinking, and it is by no means necessarily evil: we hear of a Santorini shoemaker who had returned from the dead in order to continue his work and help his family with the everyday chores.
The profusion of interesting stories aside, what I think is important is the connection of the revenant with a certain Orthodox Church practice that kept the myth alive: excommunication. With it came the belief of the laity, also fanned by the Church, that the body of an excommunicated person would not decompose after death. This is a grim prospect for a human being, in Christian as well as in ancient Greece: the revenant becomes a tragic, wretched, and homeless creature in search of a resting place.
At the same time, but from a different perspective, communion with the dead is necessary for the living, in the sense that their “existence” should be in harmony with them. They may be far out, but they are there. So, they come back and pledge for proper burial, as did Patroclus and Elpenor, and they can also return to demand revenge for their untimely death. Ancient Greek festivals and mysteries have a special place for them, and they come back to reclaim their place in this world for at least a day in the year, notably, during the Anthesteria festival, the dead come back to join the living and the table is set for them. In the same vein, the Eleusinian Mysteries exercised an overarching influence, holding an important position among the precursors of the Christian metaphysics of resurrection. Happy and blessed was he who participated in the Mysteries, for he was offered the ultimate comfort: death was an unsurpassable limit no more. The living had hope again, as did Demetra, periodically reunited with her beloved daughter.
Needless to say, the Greeks were not the only ones to have developed such beliefs. I would only briefly like to mention Samhain, a progenitor of Halloween. This is another important tradition of revenants, and I became very interested in it when I was working on With the People from the Bridge.
JT: This in-depth handling of the myth strikes me, however, when I think that your version of the “vampire” in With the People from the Spring speaks out of a TV set.
DL: Certainly, this was not to reduce the importance of the NCTV character’s soliloquies and not exactly to make an ironic comment on the exploitation of the myth by popular media. One could see it that way of course, and a reader at one time came up to me and said that NCTV sounds like the name of a TV channel, quite appropriate in the circumstances of a character’s voice coming out of a television receiver. The idea of that name had occurred to me, however, for an entirely different reason: it had simply resulted from omitting the vowels of “Nyctivoe,” the character that had NCTV’s place in the previous version of the book. Additionally, the idea of having a character speak from a TV set was a solution to a practical issue. As NCTV speaks from a car, it would have been impossible to hear what she has to say, so a device like a TV set, reproducing image and sound outside, was an obvious thing to do. It also, comfortably, suggested that the revenant-like character stands on a different plane, so, it would only be fair to bring her narrative forward in an oblique, mediated way.
One might also see here a playful allusion to EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon); personally, however, I like to see this more as a modern-day ekkyklema, the machine rolled out on stage to the audience of Greek Tragedy, in order to reveal, mostly, dead bodies. This is an interesting breach of theatrical space, as the audience is given the opportunity to perceive events taking place outside the established frame. The space of the action is broadened and attention is drawn to the liminal character of theatrical vs. real, the inside becoming now correlative with the extraneous “outside.” As a result, the “space beyond” is transformed into a second-order theatrical space, or, you might simply say that real and fictional space become coextensive.
On a final note, I am also happy with the fact that the use of the TV set creates an effect of distancing/alienating the revenant figure; it is like looking through the wrong end of a pair of binoculars. This brings us back to the long list of folk legends, literature, and religious myths nowadays “alienated” through media use handing them over to us in some kind of obverse way, “burying” deeper and deeper their content and significance. In like manner, in With the People from the Bridge, the white noise in the background gets stronger and stronger and the performers’ soliloquies become more and more difficult to hear.
JT: Last question: How does it feel to have completed the trilogy after working on it for such a long time? And how about plans for future projects?
DL: It certainly gives me a feeling of satisfaction and a sense of stability and cohesion. For many years I have been thinking about this work as a trilogy, and this is what I ended up with. More recently, however, it has started to appear to me under a different light, like a tetralogy with a missing first part.
Dimitris Lyacos is the author of the Poena Damni trilogy (Z213: EXIT, With The People From The Bridge, The First Death). So far translated into six major languages, Poena Damni developed as a work in progress over the course of thirty years with subsequent editions and excerpts appearing in journals around the world, as well as in dialogue with a diverse range of sister projects it inspired. Renowned for its genre-defying form and the avant-garde combination of themes from literary tradition with elements from ritual, religion, philosophy, and anthropology, the trilogy re-examines grand narratives in the context of some of the enduring motifs of the Western Canon, while, at the same time, being one of the most widely acclaimed postmodern works published in the new millennium.
John Taylor (b. 1952) has mostly translated French and Francophone poets into English (most recently, Pierre Chappuis and Pierre Voélin), but he has also translated from other languages. From Modern Greek, he has translated books by Elias Papadimitrakopoulos and Elia Petropoulos as well as a selection of Rebetic Songs, and his translation of the work of the Italian poet Lorenzo Calogero, An Orchid Shining in the Hand, won the Raiziss-de Palchi Translation Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets in 2013. His most recent collection of poetry is The Dark Brightness (Xenos Books, 2017). Born in the Des Moines, he has long lived in France.
30.1 - Winter/Spring 2018
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Press Release: New Online Platform Launches to Open Conversation
(June, 2012)– Today, blogger and researcher Dr. Tina Opie launched Hair as Identity, a new website that will serve as a hub of untapped conversations, stories and research on the social implications and reactions to natural hair. The site will explore topics from eliminating coloring to dealing with balding to sporting curly hair.
inPress
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Boston, MA (June, 2012)– Today, blogger and researcher Dr. Tina Opie launched Hair as Identity, a new website that will serve as a hub of untapped conversations, stories and research on the social implications and reactions to natural hair. The site will explore topics from eliminating coloring to dealing with balding to sporting curly hair.The new website is designed to promote and initiate discussion around the relationships between hair and self-esteem and perceptions about professionalism.
Through videos, blogs, photos and personal stories, the website will provide an ongoing series of key topics that will echo the sentiments of people striving to manage their professional image.Funded by Babson College, Hair as Identity is designed to complement and prompt dialogue around the research of Dr. Tina Opie, a Boston-based Babson College professor. Her research explores how issues of race, power and status influence public perception about hair, particularly as it relates to what is accepted in the workplace. For the past twelve years, Dr. Opie has consulted, researched and written about creating workplaces that leverage individual differences and motivate members of workgroups to engage. This consulting and research is the basis for many of the discussion topics shared on Hair as Identity.
“I look forward to creating a community where there’s open dialogue between men and women from diverse backgrounds about how natural hair is perceived,” said Dr. Opie. “It is our hope that this site will be the starting point to redefining the perceptions and challenge the stereotypes around natural hair.”
As the hair and beauty industry gears up to celebrate this year’s National Natural Hair Day on May 19, Hair as Identity prepares to be a key voice in the natural hair community that will reflect the sentiments of not only African-American women, but also of men and women from other ethnicities. Discussions on the site will include considerations about wearing natural hair, the challenges of hair in the workplace and struggles with self-confidence as it relates to hair.
Media inquiries and guest bloggers are welcome. Dr. Tina Opie, editorial director of Hair as Identity, is also available to answer questions about the background of her research or featured discussion topics.
Hair as Identity is an online platform headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Its mission is to promote and initiate discussion between men and women from diverse backgrounds around the relationships between hair and self-esteem and perceptions about professionalism. For more information about Hair as Identity, please visit www.hairasidentity.com.
Hair and Self Acceptance
Hair Images: Cultural and Workplace Influences
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Surviving the first days of school – a guide for parents
Shelby Horton
Little hands drawing between school supplies and apples
Back to School is an exciting time for students as they begin the next phase of their lives, but it can be a difficult time for parents. Many parents struggle with the challenges school life will bring their children, from preschool to college it’s never easy. There will never be the perfect first day but there are some ways parents can be prepared for their child’s “First Day of School.”
Many parents fear that moment where their four-year-old child clings to their leg as they lead them to the unfamiliar world known as school. There will be struggling, begging, and plenty of tears – it can be a heartbreaking moment for parents.
“The best thing for a parent to do is walk them to class, give them goodbye hugs and kisses and trust us to take care of the rest,” said a Kindergarten teacher, who would like to remain anonymous. “It’s hard, they’re your babies, but if you’re distressed at leaving them with their new teachers they’ll be just as upset. By the end of the day, we can assure you, we will love them as much as you do.”
There is no perfect way to deal with this but there are ways to make the transition a little easier. Start by talking to your child about school and introducing them to activities that will become part of their routine soon. Such as sitting quietly while listening to a story, practicing how to use scissors, and sharing toys with other children. These will become essential in their school routine and helping them cope with the change.
But no matter how prepared they are for the classroom, many will inevitable cry when faced with being dropped off at school for the first time. Pre-school and Kindergarten teachers have seen it for years and reassure parents that the kids will adjust to their new exciting life at school.
Elementary and middle school will flash by before you know it, leaving you with the daunting first day of high school. High school is anything but the way they portray it in the movies but it is an exciting and confusing time for a teenager. In the awkward stages of being a teenager going through puberty, there is also social media and technology to document it all. It was stressful for parents when they were teenagers, and its stressful for their kids.
“Be an encouragement and a support to your child, but even then, kids sometimes don’t listen, so form strong alliances with their teachers, counselors, and administrators,” said Lucy Leyva, a Colton High School teacher. “Try to be a coach..tough, supportive, and consistently pushing them to achieve their dreams.”
Creating an environment that helps students focus is essential to success according to Peter Goldkorn, Colton High School teacher. Goldkorn recommends making a quiet place for them to do homework or just read to help them focus.
Soon that little kid is all grown up and going to college headed down that path to adulthood. This can be nerve wracking for parents as their babies begin to leave the nest. However, students will begin to realize how much they need their parents’ help but will struggle to ask for it. Many college students feel immense pressure to succeed and not be a failure to their parents. College students often forget to take care of themselves the way their parents did while focusing on school.
“Don’t let your kids forget about self-care, that’s really important because it’s easy to overwork yourself and become burnt out when focusing on your dreams, “said Emmelyn Hernandez, a college graduate. “Remind your kids that physical and mental health is so important, also to get plenty of sleep.”
Hernandez goes on to explain how college kids feel so much pressure to become a success and a functioning adult. But being in college doesn’t make them an adult and they will come to realize that, so as parents be there for when they stumble.
Raising children is no easy task and they will not always ask for help because they want to prove they can do it on their own. However, being supportive and with your arms out in case of a stumble can guarantee some school days.
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Colton Courier - El Chicano - Rialto Record
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News Releases >
National Oilwell Varco Announces Second Quarter 2014 Earnings
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July 29, 2014 at 7:00 AM EDT
2014 07 29 NOV Announces Second Quarter 2014 Earnings.pdf 672.2 KB
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 29, 2014-- National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE: NOV) today reported that for its second quarter ended June 30, 2014, it earned net income of $619 million, or $1.44 per fully diluted share, compared to first quarter ended March 31, 2014 net income of $589 million, or $1.37 per fully diluted share.
The second quarter 2014 fully diluted earnings per share includes: $0.02 per share for income from discontinued operations, ($0.05) per share for nonrecurring items and ($0.14) per share for the amortization of intangible assets. The first quarter of 2014 fully diluted earnings per share includes: $0.09 per share for income from discontinued operations, ($0.01) per share for nonrecurring items and ($0.14) per share for the amortization of intangible assets. Excluding these items, operating (non-GAAP) earnings per fully diluted share for the second quarter of 2014 were $1.61 per share, compared to $1.43 per share in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of 13 percent.
As previously announced, on May 30, 2014, the Company completed the spin-off to its stockholders of its distribution business as an independent public company, NOW Inc. These results are presented as discontinued operations. This also marks the first quarter in which the Company has issued financial results based on its four new reporting segments.
Revenues for the second quarter of 2014 were $5.26 billion, an increase of seven percent from the first quarter of 2014 and an increase of 12 percent from the second quarter of 2013. Operating profit for the quarter, excluding non-recurring items, was $945 million, or 18.0 percent of sales. EBITDA for the quarter, excluding non-recurring items, was $1.14 billion, or 21.7 percent of sales, up 12 percent from the prior quarter.
Ending backlog for the second quarter of 2014 was $15.39 billion for the Company’s Rig Systems segment and $2.14 billion for the Company’s Completion & Production Solutions segment.
Clay Williams, Chairman, President and CEO of National Oilwell Varco, stated, “The second quarter of 2014 was a historic quarter for NOV. In addition to posting strong operating results, and securing $3.4 billion in new capital equipment orders, we are very pleased to have created additional shareholder value by both successfully completing the spin-off of our distribution business, and increasing our regular dividend by over 75 percent. As we move through the second half of 2014, we look forward to continued demand for our drilling, completion and production equipment, and continued strong results from our four new segments.”
Second quarter revenues for the Rig Systems segment were $2.37 billion, an increase of five percent from the first quarter of 2014 and an increase of 14.0 percent from the second quarter of 2013. Operating profit for this segment was $501 million, or 21.1 percent of sales. EBITDA for this segment was $523 million, or 22.0 percent of sales. Revenue out of backlog for the segment was at $2.07 billion.
Backlog for capital equipment orders for the Company’s Rig Systems segment at June 30, 2014 was $15.39 billion, up one percent from the first quarter of 2014, and up 20.0 percent from the end of the second quarter of 2013. New orders during the quarter were $2.28 billion, reflecting continued strong demand for oilfield equipment.
Rig Aftermarket
Second quarter revenues for the Rig Aftermarket segment were $785 million, an increase of five percent from the first quarter of 2014 and an increase of 17.0 percent from the second quarter of 2013. Operating profit for this segment was $217 million, or 27.6 percent of sales. EBITDA for this segment was $224 million, or 28.5 percent of sales.
Revenues for the second quarter of the Wellbore Technologies segment were $1.45 billion, an increase of 13.0 percent from the first quarter of 2014 and an increase of 18.0 percent from the second quarter of 2013. Operating profit for this segment was $269 million, or 18.6 percent of sales. EBITDA for this segment was $377 million, or 26.1 percent of sales.
The Completion & Production Solutions segment generated revenues of $1.13 billion, an increase of 12.0 percent from the first quarter of 2014 and an increase of seven percent from the second quarter of 2013. Operating profit for this segment was $158 million, or 14.0 percent of sales. EBITDA for this segment was $211 million, or 18.7 percent of sales.
Backlog for capital equipment orders for the Company’s Completion & Production Solutions segment at June 30, 2014 was $2.14 billion, up 32.0 percent from the first quarter of 2014, and up 44.0 percent from the end of the second quarter of 2013. New orders during the quarter were $1.12 billion.
The Company has scheduled a conference call for July 29, 2014, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss second quarter results. The call will be broadcast through the Investor Relations link on National Oilwell Varco’s web site at www.nov.com, and a replay will be available on the site for thirty days following the conference. Participants may also join the conference call by dialing 1-800-447-0521 within North America or 1-847-413-3238 outside of North Americafive to ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time and asking for the “National Oilwell Varco Earnings Conference Call.”
National Oilwell Varco is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of equipment and components used in oil and gas drilling and production operations, and the provision of oilfield services to the upstream oil and gas industry.
Statements made in this press release that are forward-looking in nature are intended to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and may involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to documents filed by National Oilwell Varco with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K, which identify significant risk factors which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, INC.
(In millions, except share data)
June 30, December 31,
Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,885 $ 3,436
Receivables, net 4,427 4,896
Inventories, net 5,198 5,603
Costs in excess of billings 1,567 1,539
Deferred income taxes 331 373
Prepaid and other current assets 595 576
Total current assets 16,003 16,423
Property, plant and equipment, net 3,440 3,408
Intangibles, net 4,808 5,055
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates 351 390
Other assets 113 115
$ 33,827 $ 34,812
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accrued liabilities 2,857 2,763
Billings in excess of costs 2,176 1,771
Current portion of long-term debt and short-term borrowings - 1
Accrued income taxes 260 556
Long-term debt 3,148 3,149
Deferred income taxes 2,002 2,292
Other liabilities 344 363
Total liabilities 12,409 12,482
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock – par value $.01; 1 billion shares authorized; 429,458,043 and 428,433,703
shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 4 4
Additional paid-in capital 8,999 8,907
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 48 (4 )
Retained earnings 12,281 13,323
Total Company stockholders’ equity 21,332 22,230
Noncontrolling interests 86 100
Total stockholders’ equity 21,418 22,330
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(In millions, except per share data)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, March 31, June 30,
Rig Systems $ 2,372 $ 2,081 $ 2,256 $ 4,628 $ 3,992
Rig Aftermarket 785 670 750 1,535 1,221
Wellbore Technologies 1,446 1,222 1,278 2,724 2,445
Completion & Production Solutions 1,127 1,057 1,002 2,129 2,059
Eliminations (475 ) (350 ) (397 ) (872 ) (661 )
Total revenue 5,255 4,680 4,889 10,144 9,056
Gross profit 1,456 1,227 1,290 2,746 2,416
Gross profit % 27.7 % 26.2 % 26.4 % 27.1 % 26.7 %
Selling, general, and administrative 511 457 473 984 889
Nonrecurring items 32 57 18 50 130
Operating profit 913 713 799 1,712 1,397
Interest and financial costs (27 ) (30 ) (26 ) (53 ) (58 )
Interest income 5 3 4 9 6
Equity income in unconsolidated affiliates 23 15 10 33 34
Other income (expense), net (21 ) 11 - (21 ) (3 )
Income before income taxes 893 712 787
Provision for income taxes 284 218 239 523 423
Income from continuing operations 609 494 548 1,157 953
Income from discontinued operations 11 37 41 52 78
Net income 620 531 589 1,209 1,031
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 1 - - 1 (2 )
Net income attributable to Company $ 619 $ 531 $ 589 $ 1,208 $ 1,033
Per share data:
Income from continuing operations $ 1.42 $ 1.16 $ 1.28 $ 2.70 $ 2.24
Income from discontinued operations $ 0.03 $ 0.09 $ 0.10 $ 0.12 $ 0.18
Net income attributable to Company $ 1.45 $ 1.25 $ 1.38 $ 2.82 $ 2.42
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic 428 426 428 428 426
Diluted 430 428 429 430 428
OPERATING PROFIT – AS ADJUSTED SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE (Unaudited)
Operating profit:
Rig Systems $ 501 $ 393 $ 451 $ 952 $ 765
Rig Aftermarket 217 189 191 408 331
Wellbore Technologies 269 195 224 493 403
Completion & Production Solutions 158 163 143 301 335
Total operating profit (before nonrecurring items) $ 945 $ 770 $ 817 $ 1,762 $ 1,527
Operating profit %:
Rig Systems 21.1 % 18.9 % 20.0 % 20.6 % 19.2 %
Rig Aftermarket 27.6 % 28.2 % 25.5 % 26.6 % 27.1 %
Wellbore Technologies 18.6 % 16.0 % 17.5 % 18.1 % 16.5 %
Completion & Production Solutions 14.0 % 15.4 % 14.3 % 14.1 % 16.3 %
Total operating profit % (before nonrecurring items) 18.0 % 16.5 % 16.7 % 17.4 % 16.9 %
AS ADJUSTED BEFORE DEPRECIATION & AMORTIZATION SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE (Unaudited)
June 30, March 31,
Operating profit excluding nonrecurring items (Note 1):
Total operating profit excluding nonrecurring items $ 945 $ 770 $ 817 $ 1,762 $ 1,527
Depreciation & amortization:
Rig Systems $ 22 $ 22 $ 22 $ 44 $ 38
Rig Aftermarket 7 6 6 13 12
Completion & Production Solutions 53 57 55 108 104
Eliminations - - - - -
Total depreciation & amortization $ 190 $ 186 $ 191 $ 381 $ 356
Segment EBITDA excluding nonrecurring items
(Note 1):
Total segment EBITDA excluding nonrecurring items $ 1,135 $ 956 $ 1,008 $ 2,143 $ 1,883
Segment EBITDA % excluding nonrecurring items
Total segment EBITDA % excluding nonrecurring items 21.6 % 20.4 % 20.6 % 21.1 % 20.8 %
Nonrecurring items (32 ) (57 ) (18 ) (50 ) (130 )
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling
interest (1 ) - - (1 ) 2
EBITDA (Note 1) $ 1,109 $ 928 $ 1,004 $ 2,113 $ 1,792
Reconciliation of EBITDA (Note 1):
GAAP net income attributable to Company $ 619 $ 531 $ 589 $ 1,208 $ 1,033
Income from discontinued operations (11 ) (37 ) (41 ) (52 ) (78 )
Interest expense 27 30 26 53 58
Depreciation and amortization 190 186 191 381 356
EBITDA 1,109 928 1,004 2,113 1,792
EBITDA excluding nonrecurring items (Note 1) $ 1,141 $ 985 $ 1,022 $ 2,163 $ 1,922
OPERATING (NON-GAAP) DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE RECONCILIATION (Unaudited)
Income from discontinued operations (0.02 ) (0.09 ) (0.09 ) (0.12 ) (0.18 )
Income from continuing operations 1.42 1.15 1.28 2.69 2.23
Nonrecurring items 0.05 0.09 0.01 0.07 0.21
Amortization of intangible assets 0.14 0.15 0.14 0.29 0.27
Operating (non-GAAP) earnings $ 1.61 $ 1.39 $ 1.43 $ 3.05 $ 2.71
Note 1: In an effort to provide investors with additional information regarding our results as determined by GAAP, we disclose various non-GAAP financial measures in our quarterly earnings press releases and other public disclosures. The primary non-GAAP financial measures we focus on are: (i) revenue excluding nonrecurring items, (ii) operating profit excluding nonrecurring items, (iii) operating profit percentage excluding nonrecurring items, (iv) segment EBITDA excluding nonrecurring items, (v) segment EBITDA percentage excluding nonrecurring items (vi) EBITDA and (vii) operating (non-GAAP) earnings per fully diluted share. Each of these financial measures excludes the impact of certain nonrecurring items, depreciation, and/or amortization of intangible assets and therefore has not been calculated in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP financial measures to its most comparable GAAP financial measure is included here within.
We use these non-GAAP financial measures internally to evaluate and manage the Company’s operations because we believe it provides useful supplemental information regarding the Company’s on-going economic performance. We have chosen to provide this information to investors to enable them to perform more meaningful comparisons of operating results and as a means to emphasize the results of on-going operations.
Source: National Oilwell Varco, Inc.
Jeremy Thigpen, (713) 346-7301
Jeremy.Thigpen@nov.com
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Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission
States Challenge Attempted Federal Power Grab in Hydraulic Fracturing Issue
IOGCC NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Erica Carr 405-525-3556 x106, erica.carr@iogcc.state.ok.us
Oklahoma City, OK June 10, 2009 -- The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) reaffirmed its strong stance today that the states remain the best positioned to regulate the use of hydraulic fracturing for the production of oil and natural gas.
The response comes on the heels of a bill introduced in the House and the Senate yesterday calling for the repeal of the exemption of hydraulic fracturing from the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), which would ultimately give the federal government jurisdiction over the regulation of the technology.
"The states do a superb job of protecting human health and the environment through sound regulation," said Carl Michael Smith, IOGCC executive director. "An unnecessary shift to federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing could greatly inhibit the production of much-needed oil and natural gas resources at a time when our nation's energy security is critical."
Hydraulic fracturing is a common half century old technology that plays a major role in the development of virtually all unconventional oil and natural gas resources. Recently some have made claims that the process can contaminate underground drinking water sources.
Historically the states have been the primary regulators of hydraulic fracturing. IOGCC member states each have comprehensive laws and regulations to provide for safe operations and to protect drinking water sources, and have trained personnel to effectively regulate oil and natural gas exploration and production.
Multiple studies have been conducted on this issue, including an extensive study by the U.S. EPA in 2004 and a survey of IOGCC member state regulators. To date there are no verified cases of contamination of underground drinking water as a result of the process.
"As the head regulator of oil and natural gas development in the state of North Dakota and an officer of the IOGCC representing all oil and natural gas producing state regulators, I can assure you that we have no higher priority than the protection of our states' water resources," said Lynn Helms, director of North Dakota's Department of Mineral Resources in a House Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee hearing last week. "It is my firmly held view and that of the IOGCC that the subject of hydraulic fracturing is adequately regulated by the states and needs no further study."
The IOGCC passed a resolution urging Congress to refrain from taking action on this issue in December of last year maintaining that SDWA was never intended to grant the federal government authority to regulate oil and gas drilling and production operations, such as "hydraulic fracturing," under the Underground Injection Control program. Since that time several states have followed suit and filed their own resolutions, including Alabama, Louisiana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
"Regulation of hydraulic fracturing as underground injection under the SDWA would impose significant administrative costs on the state, substantially increase the cost of drilling oil and natural gas wells with no resulting environmental benefits, and increase energy costs to the consumer," the resolution stated.
To view IOGCC's full resolution, visit http://www.iogcc.state.ok.us/hydraulic-fracturing.
The IOGCC, representing the governors of 30 member and eight associate states, promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of the nation's oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety, and the environment. Established by the charter member states' governors in 1935, it is the oldest, largest, and most effective interstate compact in the nation.
Posted on Wed, June 10, 2009 by IOGCC filed under
Congressional Issues
States' Rights
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Arsal: Lebanon’s Gateway to the Syrian Conflict
by Geoffrey Daniels
Following the victory of the Syrian regime and their Hezbollah counterparts at al-Qusayr in early June 2013, Sunni extremist groups began conducting escalatory reprisal attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon. In the months since, the predominantly Sunni Lebanese border town of Arsal, located directly across the border from the Qalamoun area where most of the surviving rebel fighters from al-Qusayr fled, has functioned as the primary staging area and support zone for these attacks into Lebanon. As a result, nearby Hezbollah strongholds in the Bekaa Valley are on high alert for potential car bombs and cross-border rocket attacks originating from elements in Arsal, forcing Hezbollah on the defensive in Lebanon. The Lebanese Army, meanwhile, has taken concrete measures to mitigate the threat posed by Syria to Lebanon via Arsal.
Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict nearly three years ago, Lebanon’s Arsal, a lone enclave in the eastern Bekaa Valley for Sunnis sympathetic to the Syrian uprising, has served as a crucial logistical support network in the struggle against the Assad regime. Located in the northeastern corner of Lebanon on the border with Syria, the town lies nearly equidistant from Hezbollah’s Bekaa Valley strongholds of Baalbek and Hermel. In spite of its isolated position, the geostrategic relevance of Arsal lies in its close proximity across the border from the contested Qalamoun mountain range. Qalamoun is an opposition stronghold in western Syria between Homs and Damascus that is currently the site of an intense battle for control of key supply lines along the M5 highway.
Lebanese authorities have long neglected Arsal and the notoriously porous nature of the border region has made it a hub for smuggling people, weapons, and drugs across the border into Syria. The smuggling routes through the connecting mountains flow freely in both directions, as weapons and fighters flow from Arsal into Qalamoun while car bombs and refugees flow in the opposite direction. Since the start of the Syrian conflict, Arsal’s pre-war population of 40,000 has more than doubled as 60,000 Syrian refugees have fled to the town due to the nearby fighting, according to municipality figures.
In the past year, Arsal has become the primary staging area and support zone for Sunni extremist groups projecting violence into Lebanon. Left in its current state, Arsal threatens the interests of Hezbollah, the Assad regime, and the Lebanese government. The primary, short-term interests of these three parties align, as Hezbollah and the Lebanese government are keen on shutting down the flow of weapons and explosives through the border, while the Syrian regime looks to control the strategic central supply routes that dissect the country. Therefore, each group has a vested stake in disrupting the networks that run through Arsal.
The Aftermath of al-Qusayr
In the beginning of June, the Syrian regime achieved a decisive military victory following a 17-day siege of and clearing operation in al-Qusayr. Al-Qusayr is an important town in Homs province located adjacent to the Lebanese border, not far from the route that connects Damascus to Homs, which in turn links the Syrian capital to the Alawite heartlands along the coast. Many of the surviving rebel fighters from the assault fled south to the nearby Qalamoun region. This important regime victory six months ago was made possible by the large-scale involvement of Hezbollah fighters, whose overt presence in Syria prompted a series of reprisal attacks in Lebanon during the summer months that were likely linked to the logistical support hub of Arsal.
In July and August, for example, Hezbollah’s Beirut stronghold of Dahiyeh came under attack on two separate occasions. The first, a car bombing in the Bir al-Abed area, injured at least 53. Caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn tied the attack to Arsal residents. The second incident, another car bombing, occurred in the Ruweiss district of Beirut, not far from Bir al-Abed, killing at least 25 while injuring over 200. Lebanese authorities linked this attack to many of the same suspects based in Arsal. Similarly, Ghosn attributed a spate of roadside bombings in June and July that targeted Hezbollah convoys en route to Damascus to elements in Arsal.
Escalatory Trends
As the summer months concluded, there was an escalation in two distinct trends of confrontation in Arsal, and neither shows signs of abating. First, the Syrian regime carried out a series of high-profile attacks against opposition targets inside Lebanese territory. On August 3rd, a Syrian regime airstrike killed nine, and injured nine more, including women and children, in Khirbet Daoud, just east of Arsal. Two months later, on October 7th, Syrian warplanes targeted an ambulance in the Wadi Hamid area of Arsal that was presumably transporting a wounded rebel fighter seeking refuge in Lebanon. Just a few days later, Omar al-Atrash, an Arsal resident and the suspected head of Jabhat al-Nusra’s Lebanese faction, was alleged to have been killed in a Syrian airstrike along with several others in Nehmat, near Arsal on October 11th. Al-Atrash was reportedly responsible for the August 15th Dahiyeh bombing.
On November 15th, the Syrian regime, along with its Hezbollah counterparts, launched an operation aimed at retaking the Qalamoun area. As the tempo of the Syrian regime offensive on the rebels in Qalamoun continues to increase, so do the cross-border incidents. In mid-November, two Syrian gunships carried out a series of raids targeting the outskirts of Arsal in Wadi Atta and Hay al-Shamis striking several houses purported to be inhabited by opposition militants. In the following week, three more attacks targeted Arsal in a span of just ten days.
In a rare responsive measure, the Lebanese Army fired anti-aircraft missiles at Syrian planes flying over Arsal on December 30th, reportedly responding to orders from the Lebanese Army Command to “fire on any warplane that violates Lebanese airspace.” These orders signify a departure from previous incidents, in which President Michel Suleiman condemned the violations but refrained from overt action to halt them. The reasoning behind the change in policy is unclear, but the timing of a change in the strategic perspective of the Lebanese government regarding Syrian airspace violations suggests that the Lebanese Armed Forces felt the need to display a more muscular response to a serious threat in the Bekaa Valley.
The other noticeably intensifying trend occurring in Arsal is the number of confrontations between the Lebanese Army and Syrian rebels smuggling arms and explosives. On September 29th, the Army confiscated a truck from Arsal heading to Syria that contained two hundred 80mm mortar shells and an estimated 7,000 rounds of ammunition, which Lebanese officials ultimately determined was expired.
Two weeks later, on October 14th, Lebanese Armed Forces defused a car bomb rigged with 50-kilograms of explosives in Beirut’s al-Maamoura district of the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs. Thirteen individuals, the majority of whom were from Arsal, were indicted for the plot and allegedly confessed to being a part of Jabhat al-Nusra (JN). The following week, a leaked security memo from the Beirut Airport alleged that JN rigged four vehicles with explosives and sent them through Arsal with forged documents, prepared for operations against Hezbollah strongholds.
In perhaps the most high-profile attempt to smuggle explosives into Lebanon to date, on November 22nd, Lebanese Independence Day, security forces dismantled a car near Hezbollah’s Bekaa Valley stronghold Baalbek carrying 400-kilograms of explosives. For comparison’s sake, the explosives were nearly eight times heavier than the ones used in the Iranian Embassy suicide blasts in Beirut on November 19th that killed over 20 and injured more than 150. Authorities were alerted to the vehicle after reports of a shootout, and found the car with its front windows smashed and tires burst. Reports indicate that Hezbollah had monitored the car upon its entry into Arsal before confronting it and apprehending the passengers when it reached an isolated stretch of road just north of Baalbek, allegedly aware of its presence through the use of Iranian-made UAVs. If true, this would illustrate the substantial length to which Hezbollah is prepared to go to mitigate the threat posed by Sunni extremists in Arsal.
Most recently, on December 17th, Hezbollah fighters intercepted an explosives-laden vehicle heading for one of its military bases outside of Labweh, a town just 10 kilometers from Arsal. The targeted base in the town of Sbouba is reportedly a station used by the organization for rotating its fighters in Syria. It is clear that Hezbollah military assets in the Bekaa Valley are on high alert, and in this vein, the organization has increased security measures in Hermel to protect its interests against further attacks.
Notably, the U.S. and the U.K. have recognized the hazards posed by the porous, mountainous border with Syria, providing four-wheel drive vehicles with off-road capabilities and border-observation equipment and technology to the LAF. Similarly, the Lebanese Army itself has begun to take concrete measures to prevent the smuggling of weapons and explosives across the border. Army bulldozers constructed a 2.5-meter high, 25-kilometer long roadblock that stretches from Arsal to Ras Baalbek amidst reports of additional rockets and car bombs heading for Lebanese territory.
Only a handful of Syrian rebel groups have used vehicle-borne IEDs, operate out of the Qalamoun region, and have the strategic resources and training to employ these devices. The recent announcement, therefore, from JN leader Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani about the formal presence of his organization in Lebanon, in conjunction with a Hezbollah ambush that killed 32 JN fighters near the outskirts of Nahle, just 30-kilometers away from Arsal, suggests that JN is the primary Syrian rebel group staging attacks from Arsal and its outskirts. Similarly, in mid-December, the organization jointly claimed rocket attacks on Hermel with the previously unknown Marwan Hadid Brigades.
In retaliation for the increasingly public involvement of Hezbollah in the fighting in Syria, specifically right across the border in Qalamoun, it would not be out of the question to expect more frequent car bombings and cross-border rocket attacks against the organization’s interests in Lebanon, mirroring the trend witnessed after al-Qusayr. The southern suburbs of Beirut, Baalbek and Hermel in the Bekaa Valley, and towns in southern Lebanon like Nabi Sheet and Bint Jbeil are particularly vulnerable targets.
With refugees fleeing Syria to enter Lebanon’s Arsal at an unprecedented rate due to the intensity of fighting in nearby Qalamoun, the aforementioned trends, confrontations between the Lebanese Army and Syrian fighters smuggling weapons and explosives, in addition to airstrikes against Syrian opposition fighters in Lebanon and potential responses from the LAF, will continue, and likely occur at an accelerated pace. Over 200,000 people live in the Qalamoun area, and as fighting spreads to the towns of Nabak and Yabrud, further displacement is expected.
A potentially dangerous impact of Arsal’s refugee influx is implicit in Oxfam’s November 2013 report, Survey on the Livelihoods of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon. A prominent majority of the Syrian refugee population in Lebanon is under 30, living in squalid conditions while struggling to survive amidst harsh economic circumstances. Similar to the case of Lebanon’s Palestinian refugee camps, Arsal could become a major recruiting ground for Sunni extremists, if it has not already.
Hezbollah’s involvement in the Syrian conflict remains undeterred in spite of incurring increasing casualties, including high-profile battlefield commanders. The uptick in attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon facilitated via Sunni extremists in Arsal is undoubtedly directly linked to the overt, and increased, presence of Hezbollah fighters across the border. But, in the face of a greater perceived threat from Arsal, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah highlights the necessity for increased Hezbollah presence in Syria to mitigate the danger posed to Lebanon.
With the Syrian war showing no signs of slowing and Hezbollah showing no sign of withdrawal, Arsal remains the primary staging and support zone through which JN and its allies will conduct attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Should the Assad regime and Hezbollah’s operation in Qalamoun be successful, Arsal will effectively be cut off from its support line, leaving the some 60,000 Syrian refugees in the town surrounded by Hezbollah and regime soldiers. Whether the offensive is successful or not, given the demographic composition of Arsal, the town will continue to threaten the interests of the Syrian regime, Hezbollah, and the Lebanese government.
Labels: al-Qusayr, Arsal, Bekaa Valley, Geoffrey Daniels, Hezbollah, Jabhat al-Nusra (JN), Lebanon, Qalamoun, Syria, VBIED
Hezbollah And The Fight For Control in Qalamoun
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Digital library of construction informatics
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A den Otter, H Jan Pels, I Iliescu
BIM VERSUS PLM: RISKS AND BENEFITS
Abstract: Applying Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a hot issue. The Building industry feels the urge to use it, but at the same time companies see huge risks, since the ownership and control of information becomes unclear when all building information is put together in one model. Also the cost and the benefits do not always land at the same place. To that account three Dutch firms operating in multi- disciplinary building & construction projects asked the authors to execute a research and design project how to solve this problem. As a result a framework for assessing risks was developed for setting up a successful BIM process. It seems the manufacturing industry is much ahead of the Building industry in using these concepts and technology, be it under the name of Product Lifecycle Management. However, comparing the approaches in the Building industry and manufacturing industry shows that, while construction is primarily interested in the risks, manufacturing is primarilyu focussed on the benefits. The paper tries to explain this difference and concludes with some suggestions to reduce risk and enhance the benefits of BIM for construction companies.
Keywords: Data collection, Product Lifecycle management, Building Information Modeling and Data storage.
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A Grilo,A Zutshi, R Jardim-Goncalves
BUSINESS INTEROPERABILITY IN THE CONTEXT OF BIM-BASED PROJECTS
Abstract: This paper proposes a model that closely captures the factors that are responsible for Business Interoperability in the context of collaborative business processes for the deployment of Building Information Modeling. The Business Interoperability Quotient Measurement Model (BIQMM), uses an interdisciplinary approach to capture the key elements responsible for collaboration performance and BIM platform configuration. Through the quantification of the relevance of each element to the particular collaboration scenario, and with the combination of the BIQMM with a multi-criteria decision making tool, the Analytical Network Process (ANP) approach, this model enables a quantitative analysis of Business Interoperability for BIM-based projects, so that an overall interoperability score can be calculated for enhanced performance measurements. An application scenario is presented and the application of the BIQMM and ANP, provides a comprehensive framework for interoperability measurement. The paper concludes by recognizing that relationships between business interoperability and true AEC performance improvements and subsequent economic benefits derived from BIM-based approaches needs to be further developed.
Keywords: Business Interoperability, BIM; Collaborative Working Environments
A Kiviniemi, M Fischer & V Bazjanac
Multi-model Environment: Links between Objects in Different Building Models
Abstract: The current IFC specifications include relations between objects and enable representation of complex structures in a building product model. However, several research projects have addressed the problem of one integrated model by pointing out the different content and structure of different design domains. The existing software products cannot support all features of the IFC specifications, and because of the structure of AEC industry there are no potential customers for applications which would cover all different information needs. We believe that there will be several instantiated models representing a building project, and these models share some parts of the information which must be linked between the models. However, IFC specifications do not enable links between objects in separate instantiated models. This paper will (1) discuss the reasons for the separation of instantiated models, (2) present the necessary extensions of the IFC specifications, (3) include examples of the links between the requirements model and architectural design model, and (4) discuss some possibilities how to implement this link in a model server environment.
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Permission to reproduce these papers has been graciously provided by the Technische Universität Dresden.
A. Al-Bazi, N. Dawood & Z. Khan
Development of Hybrid Simulation and Genetic Algorithms System for Solving Complex Crew Allocation Problems
Abstract: This paper presents an innovative approach to solving complex crew allocation problems in any labour-intensive industry. This has been achieved by combining simulation with Genetic Algorithm (GA). The integrated system determines the least costly and most productive crews to be allocated on any produc-tion processes. Discrete Event Simulation methodology is used to simulate a manufacturing system. A special PROCESS module is developed to overcome limitation of the used simulation software that appears when us-ing normal PROCESS module. A concept of multi-layer chromosome is proposed to store different data sets in multi-layers structure. GA operators were developed to suit such chromosome structure. As a case study, a sleeper precast manufacturing system is chosen to prove the concept of the proposed allocation system. The results showed that adopting Manipulating a number of multi-skilled workers to be allocated among different production processes had a substantial impact on reducing total allocation cost, process-waiting time, and op-timising resource utilisation. 3D visualisation is presented.
Aish R
Extensible enterprise computing for construction as a necessary pre-cursor for collaborative engineering
Abstract: "Our focus is to consider the construction industry as essentially an information processing system. In its ideal form, practitioners (each with an individual internal representation of design intent) interact with other practitioners by first interacting with an information processing system that manages various shared external representation of design intent. The underlying assumption (from an information technologist's perspective) is that design data is held in a sufficiently complete representation, and that changes to this representation are transactions that move the representation from one consistent state to another. We might call this 'enterprise computing' for construction. This ideal of 'enterprise computing' for construction can be compared to the realities of current practice. - Due to its fragmentation, the construction industry generally perceives its use of information technology in terms of multiple discrete 'individual' systems (with the resulting proliferation of discrete documents) rather than as an enterprise systems. - The drawing tradition, which represents building in 2D, with different representations of the same design split across multiple independently editable documents inhibits consistent management of design and the use of analytical tools. While these may be familiar arguments, there are new object oriented and data management tools emerging from key software developer, such as Bentley Systems, that are designed to address the specific needs of a 'construction enterprise', namely geometric generality, multiple application semantics, multi-user access, and transaction management. These systems also address the scalability and reliability issues required for deployment in practice. Again, arguments for (and advantages of) systems of this type have been discussed in the research literature for more than two decades. The difference is that these systems are ready for deployment. But with this prospect for a broader application of 'Enterprise Computing' for Construction, there are associated other significant issues which may concern both the 'strategic' and the 'creative' practitioners, namely: - Semantic completeness: building a sufficiently complete multi-disciplinary representation of design intent - Data integrity: where any intelligent components are used, these should not become 'orphaned', for example, by object ""instance"" data being detached from the definitions of the corresponding class - Data longevity: the integrity of design and other data should be maintained for the life-time of the building, across new hardware platforms and operating systems. Upgrades to the application and any intelligent components should not disrupt or invalidate existing data - Parallelisation of design: individual designers or engineers should be able to work in parallel, and then be able to synchronize their changes to design data with co-workers - Expressibility: architectural design and construction engineering are open-ended domains. Additional intelligent components should be capable of being added on a ""per project"" basis. Within this context, this paper will explore the essential 'tension' that exists within the Architecture and Construction sectors. On the one hand, there is a perceived need by construction managers for computing tools based on clearly defined and agreed schema to control the construction process (thereby giving economic advantage, comparability, etc.). On the other hand, creative designers who are under other competitive pressures, are expecting a different set of computing tools to allow the exploration of new building configurations and construction geometry. While in the former case a standardisation of schema (as the foundation of a traditional ""Enterprise Computing"" system) would appear to be in order, in the later case the essential 'open-ended-ness' of the creative process demands ""extensibility"" as a pre-requisite of any computing system. These differing requirements (and indeed, attitudes) within the user community, presents software developers with interesting challenges. What technologies (for example, object and/or relational) and what 'domain abstractions' are appropriate foundations for solutions for these differing requirements. Or indeed, what technologies and 'domain abstractions' can be used as the basis for broader set of applications whose design is intended to unify across this apparent ""management-creative"" divide…hence the theme of this paper: ""'Extensible Enterprise Computing' for Construction"". Fundamentally, this is not exclusively an issue of technology. We need to address both the technical and cultural issues if we are to realise our collective ambition of providing effective tools with which to support collaboration between the diverse range of interests that occur within the Architecture and Construction sectors."
Cluster: papers of the same cluster (result of machine made clusters)
Class: class.communication (0.034023) class.software development (0.019513) class.represent (0.017320)
Sound: read aloud.
Permission to reproduce these documents have been graciously provided by Icelandic Building Research Institute. The assistance of the editor, Mr. Gudni Gudnason, is gratefully appreciated
Akinsola A, Dawood N, Hobbs B
Construction planning process improvement using information technology
Abstract: "Construction is a multi-organisation and interactive process. Successful completion of a project therefore depends on the accuracy, effectiveness and timing of communication and exchange of information and data between the supply chain. Unfortunately, the inefficiency of the existing method of communication has become a barrier to several innovative construction processes developed for the industry over the past four decades. Thus, research efforts and direction have since changed. Several studies now focusing on integration of the construction process with communication and standardisation of data exchange, taking advantage of evolving computer technologies. The capability of these technologies, object-oriented technology and the Internet has made a significant impact on other economic sector such as finance, manufacturing, insurance, etc., with significant improvement in performance and productivity. Thus the technology is available but the challenge is utilising the technology to develop method of improving the construction process. To ensure efficient utilisation of IT as enabling tools, formalisation and understanding of the construction processes are required. This will enable the identification of the problems and opportunities of the strategy, and its implementation and performance in practice. The paper presents a detailed model of pre-construction and construction planning processes, based on an on-going research project, that form the basis of the developed planning system. The detailed process mapping methodology using CASE tools and the associated integration of IT tools, as an enabler to aid and improve the planning process, are described. The system provides an interface for integration of CAD data, using IFC objects, within the system. The application of the system offers a promise of significant improvement in both pre-construction and construction processes."
Class: class.economic (0.028439) class.environment (0.027790) class.impact (0.027062)
Amirante I
Information technology teaching at the University: an experience at the Faculty of Architecture in Naples
Abstract: The experiences illustrated here refer to didactic activity carried out at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Naples; in particular these concentrate on the technological aspects of the teaching of architecture. We can consider the evolution of the architect from individual operator to manager of the multi-disciplinary aspects of the building process (building process manager) as a reality in today's Italy. The Support Systems of Information Technology (ITSS), can be of great importance €or this professional figure, and for this reason it is important to include him/her in the teaching process. I personally have involved fourth and fifth year and last-year undergraduate students in the following subjects at the experimental stage: degradation diagnosis supported by m Expert System in courses of the Technology of Building Rehabilitation; co-ordinated System of tests in degradation of existing buildings; the use of three-dimensional programmes to survey and visualize rhe territory; rapid analysis of degradation in the maintenance of urban facades. * In these and other similar works I'TSS has played a significant part for a global synthesis in students' methodological approaches, being an inttoduc tion to new Information Technology potentialities.
Class: class.education (0.036539) class.analysis (0.018067) class.synthesis (0.015849)
Permission to reproduce these papers has been graciously provided by the National University of Singapore. The assistance of the editors, particularly Prof. Martin Betts, is gratefully appreciated.
Amor R W, Hosiung J G
Multi-disciplinary views for intqrated and concurrent design
Abstract: The definition and implementation of user views is likely to be a major factor in the success of the ISO-STEP standard for computer-based representation of building components and their inter-connection. The development of a method for describing user views to a particular model is also likely to increase the usage of existing design tools. Currently, the arcane languages and the detailed knowledge required of the physics and terminology of the specific domains of many of these tools limit their use by designers. This paper addresses these issues by describing a system that can present information from a base computer model of a building to a given user. The language and level of detail of the system are directed at the needs and understanding of the user. This system allows multiple concurrent views to the base model, each view tailored to a particular discipline (eg, architect, structural engineer, services engineer, etc) and further tailored to meet the specific needs of the particular user in terms of understanding of the various disciplines and the level of information required. Used with a system that integrates various design tools through a computer based building model, this system will offer users information from a range of design tools at a level that they can comprehend.
Keywords: multi discipline views; product modelling; user interaction
Amr Kandil, and Khaled El-Rayes
Multi-Deme Parallel Computing Model For Optimizing Large-Scale Construction Projects
Andrej Tibaut, Branko Kau?i?, Peter Podbreznik, Marjan Lep, Dušan Zalar
Towards intelligent information system for public interurban road passenger transport management
Abstract: Public road transport forms a complex and dynamical domain that encompasses fields of traffic, business and politics. Management of the system poses a challenge for governmental entities which are responsible for coordi-nation, control and data gathering from private transport companies. A need for IT support is obvious. The paper systematically describes a distributed enterprise information system named AVRIS developed for the Direc-torate of the Republic of Slovenia for Roads. AVRIS adds new value to the management and coordination of the domain for public interurban bus transport. First a theoretical work flow model, consisting of processes, phases and states is defined. Built upon the model a multi-tiered IS architecture is developed which incorporates a number of advanced IT concepts, like application server, shared communication space, MVC, etc. The concepts are implemented using latest open source Java technologies. First real experiences with AVRIS are evaluated and presented in the paper.
Keywords: traffic engineering, public passenger transport management, traffic informatics, decision support, shared space, work flow, open source, Java
For more results click below:
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Onward and Upward in Downtown Jackson
Downtown Jackson has the potential to be even better than it was 50 years ago. Photo by Amber Helsel.
By Amber Helsel Wednesday, June 12, 2019 9:45 a.m. CDT
Amber Helsel
I was walking around downtown Jackson one day recently, completely assuming that I would just walk to the Art Garden at the Mississippi Museum of Art like normal, and the garden would be quiet as usual. I could go and take some photos on my lunch break and then go back to the office and eat.
But that day in May, the Art Garden wasn't quiet. It was the day of the food truck festival on May 16, and apparently the organizers had decided to let some of the trucks start serving around lunch time. The trucks hummed loudly, the sound of their generators creating a cacophony that cut through the summer heat, and the smells combined to create a great and weird harmony. A few downtown workers milled about as they made decisions on what they wanted: fried rice, barbecue, ice cream, quesadillas?
It's the kind of thing most people would expect to see in a city the size of Jackson, but with the current state here, especially downtown, it's a rare treat to see a bunch of food trucks lined up, serving eats in the middle of a weekday. Granted, with Food Truck Fridays and Downtown Foodie Friday Festivals being in the mix, it's not as rare as it used to be, but still.
I'll be transparent about something: When I first started working at the Jackson Free Press and our office was still in Fondren, I was scared to go south on State Street toward downtown. Yes, State Street. In my mind, I thought something bad would happen if I went too far that way. I wanted to go to Keifer's in Belhaven one day, and I think I got about as far as the University of Mississippi Medical Center before I thought twice and turned around.
But then we moved the office downtown, and it's like a whole new world opened up. There we were in this neighborhood with great architecture, and lots of green space and places to go. But, something (or rather a lot of things) has been missing in my explorations.
To me, you can always tell a lot about a city based on its downtown. Hattiesburg's is fairly small (though it's decent for a city its size), but it has a lot of character and really cool businesses. Oxford has the Square, which, to me, is at its best during the summer when there are fewer college students. Ocean Springs' downtown is has businesses of all types (candy, clothing, art galleries, etc.) lining a few streets, and it's fairly close to the beach, so that's a bonus. Don't get me started on tiny little downtown Brandon.
Now let's look at cities in other states. Memphis' downtown is one of my favorite places to be these days. There's so much to do, and the public transit (at least for that area) seems to work. Plus, there's a real trolley on Main Street now.
Detroit's downtown is full of these endlessly tall skyscrapers and lots of food and businesses and shops and people doing different things. Both cities' downtowns are buzzing with activity, even on a weekday.
So if downtown says a lot about a city, what does ours say about us? Fifty years ago, downtown Jackson probably rivaled the likes of Memphis and Detroit. You can look at photos and see how bustling it was. Now, though? It's not that. While the City and some Jacksonians are working to create change in the neighborhood, it's still a ghost town. When I'm out and about, I may see about 10 people outside. Ten, total. Sometimes more, especially around lunch, but it's still a low number. In Memphis, you could see upwards of 25 to 50 people on one street on a weekday. It's never quiet there. And it's definitely never quiet in a place like Detroit. And there are things to do. Granted, there is more than people think in downtown Jackson (after all, our office building has three museums within walking distance), but a handful of attractions and businesses do not a good downtown make.
To have a strong city, we have to have a strong downtown, and right now, we just don't. But that's not the end of the story.
You can always tell who sees the glass half empty because those are the people who see urban blight in a poor city like Jackson and say, "It's too far gone."
Then there are people who see a place of possibilities, like Downtown Foodie Friday Festival founders Alivia Ashburn-Townsend and Sherry Wallace, who saw an empty park and street and said, "How can we make this better?"
"When you go to capital cities in other states, the downtown area is being used significantly to bring in revenue for the city as far as attractions and festivals and businesses and just in general," Ashburn-Townsend, who also owns Ariella's NY Delicatessen at Cultivation Food Hall, told me in May. "Ours is a ghost town. How do we change that? It's going to start with one event and one person at a time."
And there are people like Sam Tilahun, who saw a need for more types of cuisine in downtown Jackson and decided to open Shiro Cafe & Restaurant right here at Capital Towers. In the absence of Jubilee! Jam, Ardenland and Cathead Distillery joined forces a few years ago to give Jackson a music festival of its own: Cathead Jam, which was May 31-June 1 this year.
So what do we want downtown to say about us? Frankly, I want it to say that we're a city that's moving forward—not moving backward and definitely not stagnating, which is almost worse than moving backward. At least backward is a direction. Stagnation just is. The current state of downtown does show upward movement. It's just happening at a slower pace than we want it to. I want to see the day when Jackson is better than it is now, and maybe even better than it was 50 years ago.
I think that day will come. We just have to keep pushing forward. Let's bring in more business, transportation and people.
And get out and support what's here.
Managing Editor Amber Helsel is a storyteller who moonlights as an artist. She loves food, cats, anime and art supplies. Email story ideas to amber@jackson-freepress.com.
More stories by this author
Dan Magee: ‘Keep on Ducking’ at Museum After Hours
Celebrating Coffee Concentrate and Business Expansion
Pamela Junior Named Director of Two Mississippi Museums
Patriotic Pastries and Other Treats
A Surge in New Businesses in Jackson
Like independent media outlets around the world, the Jackson Free Press works hard to produce important content on a limited budget. We'd love your help! Become a JFP VIP member today and/or donate to our journalism fund. Thanks for considering a JFP VIP membership or one-time support.
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Lee Ufan declares all 13 works authentic
Verdict contradicts yearlong analysis by forensic investigators
Artist Lee Ufan holds a press conference at the Westin Chosun Hotel in central Seoul on Thursday, claiming all 13 suspected forgeries of his works confiscated by police to be authentic after two rounds of examination. [NEWSIS]
In a surprising turn of events, renowned modern artist Lee Ufan declared all 13 suspected forgeries of his works to be authentic, contrary to the conclusion of a yearlong investigation by police experts.
Furthermore, during a press conference held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in central Seoul on Thursday, the 80-year-old artist said that police officials tried to appeal to him to concede that at least a few of the pieces were forgeries.
“On June 27, police asked me to acknowledge that the four pieces that Mr. Hyeon admitted to having forged were indeed fakes in an attempt to reach a compromise,” Lee said to reporters, “but I refused.”
A 66-year-old art dealer surnamed Hyeon is suspected to be chiefly responsible for circulating copies of Lee’s works. Hyeon testified during the first hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday, confessing to having forged and distributed Lee Ufan’s pieces, saying he would “accept the punishment.”
One of Lee Ufan’s paintings [JOONGANG ILBO]
Lee’s verdict that the 13 pieces confiscated by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency are real comes after two examinations over Monday and Wednesday and contradicts the conclusion drawn by police that the paintings are forgeries after appraisals were made by the National Forensic Service and civilian art experts.
On Wednesday, Lee appeared before Seoul police for the second time this week, carrying two catalogues of his art and a magnifying glass. About four hours later, he emerged from the station declaring that the works were without a doubt authentic.
“I concluded that there is not anything strange with a single piece,” said Lee. “The use of breath, rhythm and color were all my techniques.”
He then asserted, “An artist can recognize his own piece at a glance.”
Police in turn said they will respect Lee’s opinion but that they will continue their investigation. But with Lee’s declaration that police tried to persuade him to say some of the confiscated pieces are indeed fake, further controversy may now begin to simmer over which side is telling the truth.
Seoul police began a full investigation into the suspected distribution of fake Lee Ufan paintings last summer after being tipped off that forgeries of the artist’s works had been circulated at galleries in 2012 and 2013.
Police were also after Hyeon, who ran a gallery and was suspected of ordering the forgeries and selling copies of pieces from Lee’s popular and pricey “From Point” and “From Line” series. Hyeon initially fled to Japan and was arrested in April with the cooperation of Japanese police. He was repatriated to Korea in May.
On June 2, police determined that the 13 confiscated works, including “From Point No. 780217,” were forgeries after examination by the National Forensic Service and civilian experts.
Lee had initially expressed anger at being caught up in the middle of the controversy and because police conducted their investigation without consulting him.
On Sunday, Lee returned to Seoul from Paris, and on Monday appeared at the police station to examine the confiscated artworks to determine if they are indeed forgeries, before asking for two extra days to draw a final verdict.
Though forgery suspicions began to surface in 2012, Lee, who has a history of disagreeing with experts about the authenticity of alleged forgeries of his work, adamantly denied them at first.
Lee was at the forefront of the minimalist Dansaekhwa movement, as well as Japan’s Mono-ha movement, which focused on using raw, unaltered materials.
He has continued to garner international attention and has held exhibitions at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 2011 and at the Palace of Versailles in 2014.
Lee departed for Shanghai on Thursday and is scheduled to return to Korea on Saturday.
BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]
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Seoul chosen for Olympic bid
Mayor Park is pushing to include Pyongyang in Korean proposal
The South Korean Sport & Olympic Committee said Monday that it will launch a bid for the 2032 Summer Olympics, which may be the first inter-Korean Olympics, with Seoul as the host.
The committee held a vote Monday on whether to select Seoul or Busan as the host city for its bid for the Summer Games.
“The members of the committee voted for Seoul as the host city,” the Seoul Metropolitan Government said in its statement Monday.
The mayors of Busan and Seoul presented their cases to the committee at the National Training Center in Jincheon, North Chungcheong, Monday.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon has been voicing his interest in a joint bid for the 2032 Summer Olympics with Pyongyang ever since he returned from his trip to the North Korean capital in September last year.
Park was part of the special entourage that joined South Korean President Moon Jae-in for his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that month.
Moon and Kim, at their third summit, signed a joint statement that included an agreement to launch a joint bid to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games.
In November last year, Park said it was actually his idea to put a joint Olympics on the agenda for the third summit last September.
Park told media outlets since his trip that Seoul is ready to host its second Olympics after the 1988 Games, especially following the renovation of sporting facilities throughout the city for the 100th National Sports Festival in October this year.
“Mayor Park, in his presentation, stressed Seoul’s 625 years of history as the capital city of Korea, as well as its financial capacity, ready infrastructure and competence as a global city,” the Seoul Metropolitan Government said in its statement.
“Members of the committee examined major sporting facilities in Seoul, including the Jamsil Sports Complex, and questioned the mayor about his plans to have Seoul host the Games.”
Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don proposed launching a joint bid with Seoul.
“If North Korea decides on an additional city to Pyongyang to enter the bid together, it would be a complete inter-Korean peace Olympics to take place throughout the peninsula,” Oh said in his proposal to the committee.
“Only five countries throughout the world have hosted the Olympics twice in the same city. If Seoul enters the bid with Busan, then it will be able to lower the risk of not getting selected.”
Emphasizing that Busan hosted the 2002 Asian Games, Oh urged the committee to consider Busan as a host city, which he said “would ensure that opportunities for development are not centralized to Seoul alone in Korea.”
After the committee’s decision, Park said he will try his best to win the bid.
“I am happy that Seoul was selected, but I know that we still have to compete against Mumbai, Singapore, Shanghai, Melbourne and others,” he told the committee. “This is only the beginning of the process and Seoul will try its best.”
Park added, “The world is welcoming the prospects of an inter-Korean 2032 Olympics. Seoul will do all it can to prepare for the next 13 years to host the Games with the North, which, hopefully, will provide more opportunities for social, cultural and economic cooperation between the two Koreas.”
BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]
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Working at Legal Aid
Applying for Legal Aid
Lawyers At Court
Legal Aid Helpline
Older Persons ACT Legal Service (OPALS)
Youth Law Centre
Community Liaison Unit
Family Law Pathways Network
Legal words
The practice of dowry and the incidence of dowry abuse in Australia Report
The practice of dowry and incidence of dowry abuse in Australia was referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee in June 2018 for inquiry and report by 6 Dec 2019.
Dowry_abuse_report_Parliament.pdf624.33 KB
National framework to improve accessibility to Australian courts for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and migrant and refugee women
"Australia is one of the most ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse countries in the world. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is nearing 700,000, or 3 per cent of the total population, and 11 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples speak an Australian Indigenous language at home.The 2011 Census recorded that over a quarter of Australia’s population was born overseas and another one fifth had at least one overseas-born parent.More than 300 languages are spoken in Australian households.Almost half (49 per cent) of longer-standing migrants and 67 per cent of recent arrivals speak a language other than English at home. This diversity is expected to increase."
- Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity
JCCD_National_Framework.pdf1.07 MB
40 Years of the Legal Aid Commission (ACT)
Across 2017-18, the Legal Aid Commission (ACT) is celebrating 40 years of service to Canberra and the surrounding region. Over these decades the Commission has provided legal assistance to thousands of people in need of representation at courts and tribunals, and legal advice and education to countless others. Throughout this time, the goal of providing quality legal services to the community has always remained at the heart of the Commission’s services.
To find out more about the last 40 years of Legal Aid ACT, click to download the file below.
History_of_Legal_Aid_ACT_40_years.pdf437.98 KB
Older Persons ACT Legal Service
The Older Persons ACT Legal Service is a new specialist service within Legal Aid ACT which aims to provide legal assistance to older people in the Canberra region.
For more information, visit the Older Persons ACT Legal Service page.
OPALS_Poster_2018.pdf119.17 KB
Wage Theft In Silence - Why Migrant Workers Do Not Recover Their Unpaid Wages In Australia
"This report draws on responses from 4,322 migrant workers who participated in the National Temporary Migrant Work Survey, including over 2,250 participants who expressly acknowledged that they had been underpaid while working on a temporary visa in Australia."
Wage+theft+in+Silence+Report.pdf1.47 MB
Family Law Pathways Network Newsletter August 2018
FLPN Newsletter August 2018
Sweeping changes to family court system
From the start of 2019, the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court will be combined in an attempt to speed up the process of settling family disputes by providing one court, one set of rules and procedures. It is hoped that the some 22,000 cases filed across the two courts will be able to reach trial sooner than the current 1.5 year period. It is expected an additional 8000 cases will be resolved each year due to the crossover in jurisdiction and procedures.
There has been scepticism from the legal community, predominantly due to the lack of consultation, and the proposed divisions within the new ‘super court’.
https://www.afr.com/business/legal/no-love-left-for-the-family-court-20180531-h10slo
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-30/sweeping-changes-to-family-court-as-broader-review-continues/9813434
Senate inquiry into dowry abuse in Australia to probe ‘devastating’ impacts on women
The Senate Standing Committees on Legal and Constitutional Affairs is assessing the adequacy of Australia’s family law and migration law systems in addressing dowry abuse, after media investigations uncovered a spate of horrific deaths resulting from the cultural practice. It will also consider the potential links of dowry abuse with family violence, forced marriage, modern slavery, as well as mental health outcomes for women.
The Committee is currently accepting public submissions, and will consult members from affected communities, advocates and peak body organisations. A final report is due back on 6 December 2018.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-27/senate-inquiry-into-dowry-abuse-australia/9914684
Domestic Violence offenders no longer allowed to question abuse victims in Family Court
Legislation has been introduced by the Federal Government to eliminate the ability of self-represented litigants to cross-examine their victims during family law matters, in an attempt to curb community concern and avoid further trauma of victims. The changes mean that where there are clear allegations and/or convictions of violence, the perpetrator is unable to cross-examine the victim of the violence. Courts also now have the discretion to stop direct cross-examination where domestic violence is alleged, and are required to put in place extra protection for alleged victims if questioning is permitted.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-28/domestic-violence-offenders-can-no-longer-cross-examine-victims/9915058
“Senior Sitter” ad sparks call for better vetting of aged care workers to reduce elder abuse
In response to a newsletter advertisement offering to mind seniors in clients’ homes on a freelance basis for payment, a Gold Coast solicitor is calling for Australia to introduce a coordinated system for screening people who work in the aged care sector, similar to Working with Children Checks. The solicitor has raised concerns as to the safety of the elderly who could be placed into the care of unvetted individuals, and a vetting process would help guard against elder abuse.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-25/elder-abuse-blue-card-solution-for-aged-care-workers/10029304
CFCA Paper: Diagnosis in child mental health
This paper encourages practitioners in the child and family welfare sector to examine their own understanding of diagnostic systems, and to critically reflect on the role diagnosis plays in their work. The diagnostic systems employed in Australia are still being debated, and emerging evidence suggests that certain mental health conditions may be overdiagnosed in children. The Paper finds that current diagnostic systems are not scientific certainties, rather are cultural tools to understand different varieties of psychological distress and impairment.
Full publication: https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/diagnosis-child-mental-health/introduction
CFCA Resource Sheet: The intersection between the child protection and youth justice systems.
This resource summarises data collected linking the child protection system and youth justice supervision in Australia. It finds that young people in the child protection system are much more likely to be under youth justice supervision than the general population. The reasons for this are multiple and complex, and involve a range of risk factors including a history of maltreatment, social disadvantage, out-of-home care experiences, trauma and developmental delays.
While only a minority of young people involved in the child protection system were also under youth justice supervision in 2014–16, those who were represent a comparatively high proportion of the total number under youth justice supervision
Full publication: https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/intersection-between-child-protection-and-youth-justice-systems
2018 National Family Law Conference
Registrations are now open for the annual National Family Law Conference, this year held in Brisbane. Speakers including current and past Justices, psychiatrists, psychologists and other experts will speak on a range of issues including Arbitration, Psychopathy, self-represented litigants, property disputes, and therapy for family violence perpetrators.
Date: 2-5 October 2018
Location: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Registration and more information: https://www.familylawsection.org.au/events/event/2018-national-law-conference-52
The Stanley Cohen Distinguished Research Award is sponsored by the Oregon Family Institute. The award was created to recognize outstanding research and/or research achievements in the field of family and divorce. The award is named for the late Dr. Stanley Cohen, founding member of AFCC who served as executive director and co-editor of the Review.
Children and young people in separated families: Family law system experiences and needs
Final Report 2018
Rachel Carson, Edward Dunstan, Jessie Dunstan and Dinika Roopani
Research Report— June 2018
This report sets out findings from the Children and Young People in Separated Families: Family Law System Experiences and Needs project, a qualitative study commissioned and funded by the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department (AGD). This study aimed to investigate the experiences and needs of young people whose parents had separated and had accessed the family law system.
https://aifs.gov.au/publications/children-and-young-people-separated-families-family-law-system-experiences
Direct cross‑examination in family law matters
Incidence and context of direct cross‑examination involving self-represented litigants
Rachel Carson, Lixia Qu, John De Maio and Dinika Roopani
This report sets out findings from the Direct Cross-examination in Family Law Matters project, which was commissioned and funded by the Australian Government, Attorney-General's Department. The project explores quantitative and qualitative data relevant to direct cross-examination involving self-represented litigants in family law matters, derived from court files and audio and transcripts of proceedings, collected from the Family Court of Australia (FCoA) and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (FCCoA), together with an analysis of relevant unreported judgments of the Family Court of Western Australia (FCoWA).
https://aifs.gov.au/publications/direct-cross-examination-family-law-matters?utm_source=AIFS+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=8ab6ba59a6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_07_18_11_48&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3ad49f5cbc-8ab6ba59a6-211224197
A comprehensive application to solve shared parenting challenges once and for all.
Understand your parenting schedule at a glance.
Manage shared parenting expenses and payments.
Share and store vital family details.
Document and organize your communication within one secure app.
Simplify requests for parenting time exchanges, reimbursements, and more.
https://www.ourfamilywizard.com/
The World Health Organisation refers to elder abuse as 'a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person'.
In 2016, Legal Aid ACT made a submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission on the topic of Elder Abuse. This submission paper was titled 'Protecting the Rights of Older Australians From Abuse'.
This year Legal Aid ACT received funding to launch a specialist legal service for older persons. If you are an older person seeking legal advice, please contact our Older Persons ACT Legal Service (OPALS).
Legal Aid ACT has also developed a number of factsheets on the issue of elder abuse. These can be downloaded from the Information and Education page.
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DUI and Licensing 2018 schedule
Free legal information. Driving under the influence & licensing matters.
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Court organizes tribute to eminent judge on 100th anniversary of his birth
Among the family, friends and colleagues in attendance for a Jan. 10 tribute marking the 100th anniversary of Hon. Lawrence Gubow’s birthday were (l-r) Judge David Gubow, Estelle Gubow, Janey Gubow, Mona Gubow, and Judge Paul Borman.
Photo by John Meiu
Lawrence Gubow was one of the most admired and influential judges to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
He was born on Jan. 10, 1919, in Detroit, the eldest child of Russian immigrants.
The court held a ceremony January 10 to pay tribute to the judge on the 100th anniversary of his birth. U.S. District Judge Paul Borman presided over the event, which included remarks from Chief Judge Denise Page Hood and testimonials by former law clerks, U.S. Attorneys and the Gubow family.
Bloomfield Hills attorney George Googasian, a past president of the State Bar of Michigan, was among those who offered remarks at the ceremony at the federal courthouse.
“In my mind, it’s really remarkable that 41 years after a man’s death, we all felt moved to honor him, which is testimony to the significant impression he left on everyone in his life,” said Googasian during a phone interview Friday. “Larry Gubow was a man who lived his beliefs and was a standard-bearer for honesty and integrity in the legal profession.”
Googasian first crossed paths with Gubow when the late jurist was the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan in the early 1960s.
“I had interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago during law school (at Northwestern University) and upon graduation I applied for a job with the office in Detroit,” Googasian related. “Larry interviewed me and told me in very specific terms what it meant to be an Assistant U.S. Attorney. He said I would be ‘representing the United States of America’ and, as such, he would expect ‘nothing short of my best’ in terms of preparation, honesty, and fairness. Those words have stood with me throughout my career.
“I will always remember the first time I stood in front of a jury as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and said the words, ‘I’m George Googasian and I represent the United States of America.’ The thought of it still gives me chills. I will always be grateful to Larry for giving me that chance and for serving as such an important role model.”
Gubow graduated from Northern High School in 1936, obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1940 and enrolled at U-M Law School.
But his law studies were cut short by the outbreak of World War II.
He was drafted into the Army as a private and eventually promoted to the rank of captain of an infantry company on the front lines in Europe. In January 1945, while leading the company, Gubow was severely wounded by shrapnel from an enemy mortar round, which blew off the back of his heel. He was captured by the Germans, liberated, and spent three years being treated for his wounds in Germany and at the Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek.
At the Army hospital, he met another wounded soldier, Philip A. Hart, an eventual two-term Michigan Lieutenant Governor and Democratic U.S. Senator, who championed Gubow’s legal career.
After finishing his U-M law degree in 1950, Gubow spent the next three years in private practice in Detroit and became active in Democratic Party politics and civic groups.
He chaired the 17th District Young Democratic Club, served on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit, was president of the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit and served as trustee of Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
Gubow also was committed to veteran’s groups, especially the Jewish War Veterans of the United States. He was a member of its national executive committee, commander of its Michigan chapter, and recipient of its highest honor – the Gold Medal of Merit. He also was honored as Michigan Veteran of the Year.
In 1953, Gov. G. Mennen Williams appointed Gubow to the Michigan Corporation and Securities Commission. He served as commissioner from 1956-61 and received national attention by successfully challenging the discriminatory point system that prevented blacks and Jews from moving to Grosse Pointe.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Gubow U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, where he successfully advocated reforms in federal bail bond procedures. He also brought prosecutions of several major criminal cases.
In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Gubow to be a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Gubow remained committed to his beliefs even as a federal judge. In 1969, he made headlines by picketing the French Consulate in Detroit to protest the embargo of French arms to Israel. At the time, he was president of the Jewish Community Council.
Gubow suffered from the combat wound and diabetes throughout his judicial career and was blind during his final years on the bench.
Yet, he rarely, if ever, complained.
He died on March 26, 1978. He was only 59.
“He was a great judge: a servant of man, a servant of his beloved country, and a servant of his God,” U.S. 6th Circuit Appeals Judge Damon Keith wrote in a tribute after his death.
Gubow is survived by his widow, Estelle Schmalberg Gubow, and three children: David Gubow, Judge of 45th District Court in Oak Park; Mona Gubow, retired Director of International Trade for the Michigan Department of Commerce; and Janey Gubow, Director of the Lift Up Aspen Food Pantry in Aspen, Colo.; and two granddaughters, Jacqueline and Rachel Gubow.
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“Book Review: Advanced Introduction to the Austrian School of Economics”
Download Paper: “Book Review: Advanced Introduction to the Austrian School of Economics”
January 1, 2015 , By Shawn Ritenour Filed Under: Libertarian Papers, Volume 6 (2014)
“A Free-Rider Perspective on Property Rights”
Abstract: In his article “Nozick’s Argument for the Legitimacy of the Welfare State,” Michael Davis seeks to establish a line of reasoning justifying an extensive state based largely on what he interprets to be Robert Nozick’s theory of entitlement. According to Davis, this argument can easily be constructed and merely depends on “seeing most so-called free-rider problems from a new angle, that of property.” If his view were defensible it would have implications far beyond questions regarding Nozick’s minimal state or even governmental authority and private enterprise. However, even if measured against Davis’ own criterion of adequacy, his argument fails. It fails because it violates the principle of liberty and builds on a misguided interpretation of compensation. This result is important not only in the context of the debate about right-libertarian restrictions on state functions, but also the free-riding debate more generally.
Download Paper: “A Free-Rider Perspective on Property Rights”
December 23, 2014 , By Joachim Wündisch Filed Under: Libertarian Papers, Volume 6 (2014)
“Morals and Markets: A Response”
Abstract: In their 2013 Science article, “Morals and Markets,” Armin Falk and Nora Szech presented experimental evidence that markets erode moral values. The present paper addresses problems in their experiment design, treatments, and operational definitions. Laboratory settings are ideal for uncovering certain causal connections, but fall short when market participation is a treatment and moral erosion is a measured outcome. Markets are difficult, if not impossible, to simulate and moral erosion is difficult, if not impossible, to define and measure for the purposes of an experiment. Falk and Szech’s experiment may also suffer from more mundane issues like priming effects, experimenter effects, and changing more than one variable per treatment group.
Download Paper: “Morals and Markets: A Response”
October 16, 2014 , By Jonathan Newman Filed Under: Libertarian Papers, Volume 6 (2014)
“The Creative Destruction of Labor Policy”
While the consumer benefits from the new products and improved production processes due to creative destruction, the major downside to creative destruction is technological unemployment. However, policies adopted by government and by workers can increase the upside and reduce the downside. Governments can enable entrepreneurial innovation by allowing the labor market to be flexible. A government safety net is also considered. However, workers can become more resilient in attitude and frugal in spending in order to cope with technological unemployment, and can invest in more diversified and enduring human capital. The family can also provide a private safety net. The process of creative destruction is not a zero-sum game.
Download Paper: “The Creative Destruction of Labor Policy.”
August 4, 2014 , By Arthur M. Diamond Jr. Filed Under: Libertarian Papers, Volume 6 (2014)
“Trading on Ignorance: Amending Insufficiencies in Nozick’s Entitlement Theory”
Abstract: Focusing on a particular facet of entitlement theory, I criticize the view that Nozick’s version of the theory provides an adequate description of procedural justice. I agree with Nozick that justice is procedural; however, I believe his entitlement theory as it currently stands is incomplete. I show that Nozick is committed to believing that the implied content of his entitlement theory is unjust, and therefore that a certain set of market transactions ought to be judged as legally wrong according to Nozick’s own political foundations. Furthermore, I demonstrate that the Non-Aggression Principle is inconsistent with what a procedurally just entitlement theory would require, and therefore diminishes the degree to which a full-fledged account of distributive justice can properly be called libertarian. Finally, I offer a principle intended as a starting point for a discussion of what constitutes just transfer, and briefly speculate as to the legal results of implementing such a principle.
Download Paper: “Trading on Ignorance: Amending Insufficiencies in Nozick’s Entitlement Theory.”
July 23, 2014 , By Matt Jeffers Filed Under: Libertarian Papers, Volume 6 (2014)
“Book Review: Exploring Capitalist Fiction: Business through Literature and Film“
Download Paper: “Book Review: <em>Exploring Capitalist Fiction: Business through Literature and Film</em>”
July 15, 2014 , By Stephen Cox Filed Under: Libertarian Papers, Volume 6 (2014)
“Book Review: Literature and Liberty: Essays in Libertarian Literary Criticism“
Download Paper: “Book Review: <em>Literature and Liberty: Essays in Libertarian Literary Criticism</em>”
June 23, 2014 , By Jo Ann Cavallo Filed Under: Libertarian Papers, Volume 6 (2014)
“Some Observations on the Nature of Public Enterprise”
Abstract: Raymond V. McNally was an economist at the Henry George School of Social Science in New York City. This article was written shortly after the entry of the United States into World War II, and presumably remained unpublished because of the unsettled times. It recently came to light among the papers of Spencer Heath, to be domiciled at the Universidad Francisco Marroquín. In the paper, McNally describes the important social role—both present and potential—of property in land, thus offering a broader understanding of the basic Georgian concept of rent as the natural fund for public services. To clarify the nature of public enterprise, McNally first examines private enterprise in terms of the production and distribution of services, viewed in light of the role played by owners. He then shows that the two kinds of enterprise, private and public, are alike with respect to distribution but differ with respect to production, due to incomplete development of the ownership role in the latter. He suggests that this anomaly will be resolved as owners in public enterprise develop a scientific understanding of their role and bring it into alignment with that of owners in private enterprise. Hence, the author anticipates that the evolution of normal economic, as opposed to political, provision of public services will lead to the abandonment of taxation and its ills.
Download Paper: “Some Observations on the Nature of Public Enterprise”
May 23, 2014 , By Raymond V. McNally Filed Under: Libertarian Papers, Volume 6 (2014)
“Prolegomena to an Epistemic Case for Classical Liberalism”
Abstract: The strength of many arguments for Classical Liberalism is often challenged on the grounds that these arguments appeal to controversial metaphysical structures or moral principles. To avoid these challenges, I appeal to a set of epistemic considerations to show that, in order to structure a society that affords optimal opportunity for citizens to obtain their interests, we have a rational obligation to protect individuals’ freedom to pursue those interests. In this paper, I defend the second premise of a larger argument for Classical Liberalism and, ultimately, for negative natural rights. I conclude that each individual has a prima facie reason to regard every other individual as having an epistemic advantage with respect to evidence regarding their interests and how to obtain them.
Download Paper: “Prolegomena to an Epistemic Case for Classical Liberalism”
February 14, 2014 , By Jamie Carlin Watson Filed Under: Libertarian Papers, Volume 6 (2014)
“Right-to-Carry and Campus Crime: Evidence from the Not-so-Wild-West”
Abstract: Some state legislatures have considered legislation that would modify laws governing the right to carry a firearm in specific areas including college campuses. Currently firearms are banned on nearly all college campuses throughout the United States. Proponents of the bans on firearms argue that allowing firearms on campuses would likely result in dramatic increases in gun violence. In this paper we investigate the relationship between right-to-carry policies and crime rates on campus using reported crime data from colleges located in five western U.S. states, two of which allow firearms on campuses, for the years 2001-2009. No evidence is found supporting the argument that the right to carry a firearm is associated with an increase in the reported crime rate in any examined category.
Download Paper: “Right-to-Carry and Campus Crime: Evidence from the Not-so-Wild-West”
January 17, 2014 , By Jill K. Hayter, Gary L Shelley, Taylor P. Stevenson Filed Under: Libertarian Papers, Volume 6 (2014)
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Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Satellite image of the southern tip of Heard Island. Cape Arkona is seen on the left side of the image, with Lied Glacier just above and Gotley Glacier just below. Big Ben Volcano and Mawson Peak are seen at the lower right side of the image.
Major islands
368 km2 (142 sq mi)
Highest elevation
2,745 m (9,006 ft)
Mawson Peak
Commonwealth of Australia
(ISO 3166 code HM)
0 (1 January 2011)
Natural: viii, ix
The Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands[1][2] (abbreviated as HIMI[3]) is an Australian external territory comprising a volcanic group of barren Antarctic islands, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica. The group's overall size is 372 square kilometres (144 sq mi) in area and it has 101.9 km (63 mi) of coastline. Discovered in the mid-19th century, the islands have been an Australian territory since 1947 and contain the country's only two active volcanoes. The summit of one, Mawson Peak, is higher than any mountain on the Australian mainland. The islands lie on the Kerguelen Plateau in the Indian Ocean.
The islands are among the most remote places on Earth: They are located approximately 4,099 km (2,547 mi) southwest of Perth,[4] 3,845 km (2,389 mi) southwest of Cape Leeuwin, Australia, 4,200 km (2,600 mi) southeast of South Africa, 3,830 km (2,380 mi) southeast of Madagascar, 1,630 km (1,010 mi) north of Antarctica, and 450 km (280 mi) southeast of the Kerguelen Islands.[5] The islands are currently uninhabited.
Map of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Heard Island, by far the largest of the group, is a 368-square-kilometre (142 sq mi) bleak and mountainous island located at 53°06′S 73°31′E / 53.100°S 73.517°E / -53.100; 73.517. Its mountains are covered by 41 glaciers[6] (the island is 80% covered with ice[1]) and dominated by Mawson Peak, a 2,745-metre-high (9,006 ft) complex volcano which forms part of the Big Ben massif. A July 2000 satellite image from the University of Hawaii's Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Thermal Alert Team showed an active 2-kilometre-long (1.2 mi) and 50- to 90-metre-wide (164–295 ft) lava flow trending south-west from the summit of Big Ben.[7]
The McDonald Islands are located 44 kilometres (27 mi) to the west of Heard Island at 53°02′20″S 72°36′04″E / 53.03889°S 72.60111°E / -53.03889; 72.60111. The islands are small and rocky. In 1980 they consisted of McDonald Island (186 metres (610 ft) high), Flat Island (55 metres (180 ft) high) and Meyer Rock (170 metres (560 ft) high). They totalled approximately 2.5 square kilometres (1.0 sq mi) in area, where McDonald Island was 1.13 square kilometres (0.4 sq mi). There is a small group of islets and rocks about 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of Heard Island, consisting of Shag Islet, Sail Rock, Morgan Island and Black Rock. They total about 1.1 square kilometres (0.4 sq mi) in area.
Mawson Peak and McDonald Island are the only two active volcanoes in Australian territory. Mawson Peak is also one of the highest Australian mountains (higher than Mount Kosciuszko); surpassed only by Mount McClintock range in the Antarctic territory.[8] Mawson Peak has erupted several times in the last decade; the most recent eruption was filmed on 2 February 2016.[9] The volcano on McDonald Island, after being dormant for 75,000 years, became active in 1992 and has erupted several times since, the most recent in 2005.[10]
Heard Island and the McDonald Islands have no ports or harbours; ships must anchor offshore. The coastline is 101.9 kilometres (63.3 mi), and a 12-nautical-mile (22 km; 14 mi) territorial sea and 200-nautical-mile (370 km; 230 mi) exclusive fishing zone are claimed.[1]
Vortex shedding as winds pass Heard Island resulted in this Kármán vortex street in the clouds
The islands have an Antarctic climate, tempered by their maritime setting. The weather is marked by low seasonal and daily temperature ranges, persistent and generally low cloud cover, frequent precipitation and strong winds. Snowfall occurs throughout the year. Monthly average temperatures at Atlas Cove (at the northwestern end of Heard Island) range from 0.0 to 4.2 °C (32.0 to 39.6 °F), with an average daily range of 3.7 to 5.2 °C (38.7 to 41.4 °F) in summer and −0.8 to 0.3 °C (30.6 to 32.5 °F) in winter. The winds are predominantly westerly and persistently strong. At Atlas Cove, monthly average wind speeds range between around 26 to 33.5 km/h (16.2 to 20.8 mph). Gusts in excess of 180 km/h (110 mph) have been recorded. Annual precipitation at sea level on Heard Island is in the order of 1,300 to 1,900 mm (51.2 to 74.8 in); rain or snow falls on about 3 out of 4 days.[11]
Meteorological records at Heard Island are incomplete.
The islands are part of the Southern Indian Ocean Islands tundra ecoregion that includes several subantarctic islands. In this cold climate plant life is mainly limited to grasses, lichens, and mosses.[12] Low plant diversity reflects the islands’ isolation, small size, severe climate, the short, cool growing season and, for Heard Island, substantial permanent ice cover. The main environmental determinants of vegetation on subantarctic islands are wind exposure, water availability, parent soil composition, salt spray exposure, nutrient availability, disturbance by trampling (from seabirds and seals) and, possibly, altitude. At Heard Island, exposure to salt spray and the presence of breeding and moulting seabirds and seals are particularly strong influences on vegetation composition and structure in coastal areas.
Evidence from microfossil records indicates that ferns and woody plants were present on Heard Island during the Tertiary (a period with a cool and moist climate). Neither group of plants is present today, although potential Tertiary survivors include the vascular plant Pringlea antiscorbutica and six moss species. Volcanic activity has altered the distribution and abundance of the vegetation. The vascular flora covers a range of environments and, although only six species are currently widespread, glacial retreat and the consequent connection of previously separate ice-free areas is providing opportunities for further distribution of vegetation into adjacent areas.
Low-growing herbaceous flowering plants and bryophytes are the major vegetation components. The vascular flora comprises the smallest number of species of any major subantarctic island group, reflecting its isolation, small ice-free area and severe climate. Twelve vascular species are known from Heard Island, of which five have also been recorded on McDonald Island. None of the vascular species is endemic, although Pringlea antiscorbutica, Colobanthus kerguelensis, and Poa kerguelensis occur only on subantarctic islands in the southern Indian Ocean.
The plants are typically subantarctic, but with a higher abundance of the cushion-forming Azorella selago than other subantarctic islands. Heard Island is the largest subantarctic island with no confirmed human-introduced plants. Areas available for plant colonisation on Heard Island are generally the result of retreating glaciers or new ice-free land created by lava flows. Today, substantial vegetation covers over 20 km2 of Heard Island, and is best developed on coastal areas at elevations below 250 m.
Mosses and liverworts
Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) contribute substantially to the overall biodiversity of Heard Island, with 43 mosses and 19 liverworts being recorded, often occupying habitats unsuitable for vascular plants, such as cliff faces. Bryophytes are present in most of the major vegetation communities including several soil and moss-inhabiting species. A 1980 survey of McDonald Island found lower diversity than that on Heard Island; four mosses and a number of algal species are recorded from there.
At least 100 species of terrestrial algae are known from Heard Island, commonly in permanently moist and ephemeral habitats. Forests of the giant Antarctic kelp Durvillaea antarctica occur at a number of sites around Heard Island and at least 17 other species of seaweed are known, with more to be added following the identification of recent collections. Low seaweed diversity is due to the island's isolation from other land masses, unsuitable beach habitat, constant abrasion by waves, tides and small stones, and the extension of glaciers into the sea in many areas.
Vegetation communities
Heard Island has a range of terrestrial environments in which vegetation occurs. Seven general vegetation communities are currently recognised, although vegetation composition is considered more of a continuum than discrete units:
Subantarctic vegetation is minimal and includes small types of shrubbery. Including mosses and liverworts.
Open cushionfield vegetation is the most widespread and abundant vegetation type on Heard Island. It is characterised by Azorella selago cushions interspersed with bryophytes, small vascular species and bare ground with 20–75% cover, and found mainly at altitudes between 30–70m asl.
Fellfield describes vegetation with abundant bare ground and less than 50% plant cover. Fellfield may occur as a result of harsh climatic and/or edaphic factors, or recent deglaciation which has exposed bare ground.
Mossy fellfield is a community with high species richness and consists of bryophytes and small Azorella selago cushions. It is found at altitudes between 30–150 m in areas with intermediate exposure.
Wet mixed herbfield occurs on moist substrate, mostly on moraines and moist lee slopes (often in association with burrowing petrels colonies) at low altitude (< 40 m) where the water table is at or close to the surface. Species richness is highest here of all the communities, with dominant species being Poa cookii, Azorella selago, Pringlea antiscorbutica, Acaena magellanica, and Deschampsia antarctica.
Coastal biotic vegetation is dominated by Poa cookii and Azorella selago, occurring mainly on coastal sites of moderate exposure and in areas subject to significant influence from seals and seabirds.
Saltspray vegetation is dominated by the salt-tolerant moss Muelleriella crassifolia and limited in extent, being found at low elevations on lavas in exposed coastal sites.
Closed cushionfield is found on moraines and sand at altitudes mostly below 60 m, and is dominated almost entirely by Azorella selago cushions that often grow together to form continuous carpets which can be subject to burrowing by seabirds.
One of the most rapidly changing physical settings in the subantarctic has been produced on Heard Island by a combination of rapid glacial recession and climate warming. The consequent increase in habitat available for plant colonisation, plus the coalescing of previously discrete ice-free areas, has led to marked changes in the vegetation of Heard Island in the last 20 years or so. Other species and vegetation communities found on subantarctic islands north of the Antarctic Convergence now absent from the Heard Island flora may colonise the island if climate change produces more favourable conditions.
Some plant species are spreading and modifying the structure and composition of communities, some of which are also increasing in distribution. It is likely that further changes will occur, and possibly at an accelerated rate. Changes in population numbers of seal and seabird species are also expected to affect the vegetation by changing nutrient availability and disturbance through trampling.
One plant species on Heard Island, Poa annua, a cosmopolitan grass native to Europe, was possibly introduced by humans, though is more likely to have arrived naturally, probably by skuas from the Kerguelen Islands where it is widespread. It was initially recorded in 1987 in two deglaciated areas of Heard Island not previously exposed to human visitors, while being absent from known sites of past human habitation. Since 1987 Poa annua populations have increased in density and abundance within the original areas and have expanded beyond them. Expeditioner boot traffic during the Australian Antarctic program expedition in 1987 may be at least partly responsible for the spread, but it is probably mainly due to dispersal by wind and the movement of seabirds and seals around the island.
The potential for introducing plant species (including invasive species not previously found on subantarctic islands) by both natural and human-induced means is high. This is due to the combination of low species diversity and climatic amelioration. During the 2003/04 summer a new plant species, Cotula plumosa, was recorded. Only one small specimen was found growing on a coastal river terrace that had experienced substantial development and expansion of vegetation over the past decade. The species has a circumantarctic distribution and occurs on many subantarctic islands.
71 species of lichens have been recorded from Heard Island and they are common on exposed rock, dominating the vegetation in some areas.[13] As with plants, a 1980 survey of McDonald Island found lower diversity there, with just eight lichen species and a number of non-lichenized fungi recorded.
The main indigenous animals are insects along with large populations of ocean-going seabirds, seals and penguins.[14]
Processing elephant seals on Heard Island – a 19th-century scene
Sealing at Heard Island lasted from 1855 to 1910, during which time 67 sealing vessels are recorded visiting, nine of which were wrecked off the coast.[15] Relics that survive from that time include trypots, casks, hut ruins, graves and inscriptions. This caused the seal populations there to either become locally extinct or reduced to levels too low to exploit economically. Modern sealers visited from Cape Town in the 1920s.[16] Since then the populations have generally increased and are protected. Seals breeding on Heard include the southern elephant seal, the Antarctic fur seal and the subantarctic fur seal. Leopard seals visit regularly in winter to haul-out though they do not breed on the islands. Crabeater, Ross and Weddell seals are occasional visitors.[17]
Heard Island and the McDonald Islands are free from introduced predators and provide crucial breeding habitat in the middle of the vast Southern Ocean for a range of birds. The surrounding waters are important feeding areas for birds and some scavenging species also derive sustenance from their cohabitants on the islands. The islands have been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area because they support very large numbers of nesting seabirds.[18]
Nineteen species of birds have been recorded as breeding on Heard Island[19] and the McDonald Islands, although recent volcanic activity at the McDonald Islands in the last decade is likely to have reduced vegetated and un-vegetated nesting areas.[20]
Penguins are by far the most abundant birds on the islands, with four breeding species present, comprising king, gentoo, macaroni and eastern rockhopper penguins. The penguins mostly colonise the coastal tussock and grasslands of Heard Island, and have previously been recorded as occupying the flats and gullies on McDonald Island.
Other seabirds recorded as breeding at Heard Island include three species of albatross (wandering, black-browed and light-mantled albatrosses, southern giant petrels, Cape petrels, four species of burrowing petrels Antarctic and Fulmar prions, common and South Georgian diving-petrels), Wilson's storm-petrels, kelp gulls, subantarctic skuas, Antarctic terns and the Heard shag.[21] Although not a true seabird, the Heard Island subspecies of the black-faced sheathbill also breeds on the island. Both the shag and the sheathbill are endemic to Heard Island.
A further 28 seabird species are recorded as either non-breeding visitors or have been noted during 'at-sea surveys' of the islands. All recorded breeding species, other than the Heard Island sheathbill, are listed marine species under the Australian Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act (1999, four are listed as threatened species and five are listed migratory species. Under the EPBC Act a recovery plan has been made for albatrosses and giant petrels, which calls for ongoing population monitoring of the species found at HIMI, and at the time of preparing this plan a draft recovery plan has also been made for the Heard Island cormorant (or shag) and Antarctic tern.
The recorded populations of some seabird species found in the Reserve have shown marked change. The king penguin population is the best studied seabird species on Heard Island and has shown a dramatic increase since first recorded in 1947/48, with the population doubling every five years or so for more than 50 years.
A paper reviewing population data for the black-browed albatross between 1947 and 2000/01 suggested that the breeding population had increased to approximately three times that present in the late 1940s,[22] although a Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources CCAMLR) Working Group was cautious about the interpretation of the increasing trend given the disparate nature of the data,[23] as discussed in the paper. The discovery of a large, previously unknown, colony of Heard shags in 2000/01 at Cape Pillar raised the known breeding population from 200 pairs to over 1000 pairs.[20] The breeding population of southern giant petrels decreased by more than 50% between the early 1950s and the late 1980s.
Terrestrial, freshwater and coastal invertebrates
Heard Island supports a relatively low number of terrestrial invertebrate species compared to other Southern Ocean islands, in parallel with the low species richness in the flora–that is, the island's isolation and limited ice-free area. Endemism is also generally low and the invertebrate fauna is exceptionally pristine with few, if any, (successful) human-induced introductions of alien species. Two species, including the thrip Apterothrips apteris and the mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae are thought to be recent, possibly natural, introductions. An exotic species of earthworm Dendrodrilus rubidus was also collected in 1929 from a dump near Atlas Cove, and has recently been collected from a variety of habitats including wallows, streams and lakes on Heard Island.
The arthropods of Heard Island are comparatively well known with 54 species of mite and tick, one spider and eight springtails recorded. A study over summer at Atlas Cove in 1987/88 showed overall densities of up to 60 000 individual springtails per square metre in soil under stands of Pringlea antiscorbutica. Despite a few recent surveys, the non-arthropod invertebrate fauna of Heard Island remain poorly known.
Beetles and flies dominate Heard Island's known insect fauna, which comprises up to 21 species of ectoparasite (associated with birds and seals) and up to 13 free-living species. Approximately half of the free-living insects are habitat-specific, while the remainder are generalists found in a variety of habitats, being associated with either supralittoral or intertidal zones, Poa cookii and Pringlea antiscorbutica stands, bryophytes, lichen-covered rocks, exposed rock faces or the underside of rocks. There is a pronounced seasonality to the insect fauna, with densities in winter months dropping to a small percentage (between 0.75%) of the summer maximum. Distinct differences in relative abundances of species between habitats has also been shown, including a negative relationship between altitude and body size for Heard Island weevils.
The fauna of the freshwater pools, lakes, streams and mires found in the coastal areas of Heard Island are broadly similar to those on other subantarctic islands of the southern Indian Ocean. Many species reported from Heard Island are found elsewhere. Some sampling of freshwater fauna has been undertaken during recent expeditions and records to date indicate that the freshwater fauna includes a species of Protista, a gastrotrich, two species of tardigrade, at least four species of nematode, 26 species of rotifer, six species of annelid and 14 species of arthropod.
As with the other shore biota, the marine macro-invertebrate fauna of Heard Island is similar in composition and local distribution to other subantarctic islands, although relatively little is known about the Heard Island communities compared with the well-studied fauna of some other islands in the subantarctic region, such as Macquarie and Kerguelen.
Despite Heard Island's isolation, species richness is considered to be moderate, rather than depauperate, although the number of endemic species reported is low. The large macro-alga Durvillaea antarctica supports a diverse array of invertebrate taxa and may play an important role in transporting some of this fauna to Heard Island.
The rocky shores of Heard Island exhibit a clear demarcation between fauna of the lower kelp holdfast zone and the upper shore zone community, probably due to effects of desiccation, predation and freezing in the higher areas. The limpet Nacella kerguelensis is abundant in the lower part of the shore, being found on rock surfaces and on kelp holdfasts. Other common but less abundant species in this habitat include the chiton Hemiarthrum setulosum and the starfish Anasterias mawsoni. The amphipod Hyale sp. and the isopod Cassidinopsis sp. are closely associated with the kelp. Above the kelp holdfast zone, the littornid Laevilitorina (Corneolitorina) heardensis and the bivalve mollusc Kidderia bicolor are found in well-sheltered situations, and another bivalve Gaimardia trapesina trapesina has been recorded from immediately above the holdfast zone. Oligochaetes are also abundant in areas supporting porous and spongy layers of algal mat.
Heard Island has a number of small wetland sites scattered around its coastal perimeter, including areas of wetland vegetation, lagoons or lagoon complexes, rocky shores and sandy shores, including the Elephant Spit. Many of these wetland areas are separated by active glaciers. There are also several short glacier-fed streams and glacial pools. Some wetland areas have been recorded on McDonald Island but, due to substantial volcanic activity since the last landing was made in 1980, their present extent is unknown.
The HIMI wetland is listed on the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia and, in a recent analysis of Commonwealth-managed wetlands, was ranked highest for nomination under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) as an internationally important wetland.
Six wetland types have been identified from HIMI covering approximately 1860 ha: coastal ‘pool complex’ (237 ha); inland ‘pool complex’ (105 ha); vegetated seeps mostly on recent glaciated areas (18 ha); glacial lagoons (1103 ha); non-glacial lagoons (97ha); Elephant Spit (300 ha) plus some coastal areas. On Heard Island, the majority of these types suites are found below 150 m asl. The wetland vegetation occurs in the ‘wet mixed herbfield’ and ‘coastal biotic vegetation’ communities described above.
The wetlands provide important breeding and feeding habitat for a number of Antarctic and subantarctic wetland animals. These include the southern elephant seal and macaroni, gentoo, king and southern rockhopper penguins, considered to be wetland species under the Ramsar Convention. Non-wetland vegetated parts of the islands also support penguin and other seabird colonies.
Heard Island 1887 by Henry Wood Elliott[24]
Neither island-cluster had recorded visitors until the mid-1850s. Peter Kemp, a British sailor, may have become the first person to see the island. On 27 November 1833, he spotted it from the brig Magnet during a voyage from the Kerguelen Islands to the Antarctic and was believed to have entered the island on his 1833 chart.
An American sailor, Captain John Heard, on the ship Oriental, sighted Heard Island on 25 November 1853, en route from Boston to Melbourne. He reported the discovery one month later and had the island named after him. Captain William McDonald aboard the Samarang discovered the nearby McDonald Islands six weeks later, on 4 January 1854.
No landing took place on the islands until March 1855, when sealers from the Corinthian, led by Captain Erasmus Darwin Rogers, went ashore at a place called Oil Barrel Point. In the sailing period from 1855 to 1880 a number of American sealers spent a year or more on the island, living in appalling conditions in dark smelly huts, also at Oil Barrel Point. At its peak the community consisted of 200 people. By 1880 sealers had wiped out most of the seal population and then left the island. In all the islands furnished more than 100,000 barrels of elephant-seal oil during this period.
A number of wrecks have occurred in the vicinity of the islands. There is also a discarded building left from John Heard's sealing station which is situated near Atlas Cove.
The first recorded landing on McDonald Island was made by Australian scientists Grahame Budd and Hugh Thelander on 12 February 1971, using a helicopter.[25][26]
The islands have been a territory of Australia since 1947, when they were transferred from the UK[1] The archipelago became a World Heritage Site in 1997.
Several amateur radio operators have visited Heard, often associated with scientific expeditions. The first activity there was in 1947 by Alan Campbell-Drury. Amateur radio DXpeditions to the island took place in 1983 (two) and January 1997. Another expedition began operation on 23 March 2016 organised by Cordell Expeditions.[27]
In 1991, the islands were the location for the Heard Island feasibility test, an experiment in very long distance transmission of low frequency sound through the ocean.[28] The US Navy vessels MV Cory Chouest and Amy Chouest were used to transmit signals which could be detected as far away as both ocean coasts of the US and Canada.[29] The Cory Chouest was chosen because of its central moon pool and because it was already equipped with an array of low frequency transmitters. A phase-modulated 57Hz signal was used. The experiment was successful and demonstrated that such sound waves could travel as far as the antipodes. Planned transmissions had been for ten days, although owing to the bad weather conditions and the high failure rate of the transmitter elements, used at a frequency below their design frequency, the transmissions were terminated on the sixth day, when only two of the original ten transducers were still working.
Administration and economy
Heard Island, 1929.
The United Kingdom formally established its claim to Heard Island in 1910, marked by the raising of the Union Flag and the erection of a beacon by Captain Evensen, master of the Mangoro. Effective government, administration and control of Heard Island and the McDonald Islands was transferred to the Australian government on 26 December 1947 at the commencement of the first Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) to Heard Island, with a formal declaration that took place at Atlas Cove. The transfer was confirmed by an exchange of letters between the two governments on 19 December 1950.
The islands are a territory (Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands) of Australia administered from Hobart by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Australian Department of the Environment and Energy. The administration of the territory is established in the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953, which places it under the laws of the Australian Capital Territory and the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory.[30] The islands are contained within a 65,000-square-kilometre (25,000 sq mi) marine reserve and are primarily visited for research, meaning that there is no permanent human habitation.[1]
From 1947 until 1955 there were camps of visiting scientists on Heard Island (at Atlas Cove in the northwest, which was in 1969 again occupied by American scientists and expanded in 1971 by French scientists) and in 1971 on McDonald Island (at Williams Bay). Later expeditions used a temporary base at Spit Bay in the east, such as in 1988, 1992–93 and 2004–05.
The islands' only natural resource is fish; the Australian government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters.[1] Despite the lack of population, the islands have been assigned the country code HM in ISO 3166-1 (ISO 3166-2:HM) and therefore the Internet top-level domain .hm. The timezone of the islands is UTC+5.[31]
Birds of Heard and McDonald Islands
List of islands of Australia
List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands
1 2 3 4 5 6 "Heard Island and McDonald Islands". CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
↑ UNESCO. "Heard and McDonald Islands". Retrieved 31 January 2015.
↑ Commonwealth of Australia. "About Heard Island – Human Activities". Archived from the original on 18 October 2006. Retrieved 21 October 2006.
↑ "Cocky Flies, Geoscience Australia". web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
↑ "Distance Between Cities Places On Map Distance Calculator". distancefromto.net. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
↑ Ken Green and Eric Woehler (2006). Heard Island: Southern Ocean Sentinel. Surrey Beatty & Sons. pp. 28–51.
↑ Heard Island Geology Archived 12 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
↑ "Highest Mountains". Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
↑ Rare glimpse of erupting Australian sub-Antarctic volcano. BBC News, 2 February 2016
↑ Volcanic activity at McDonald Island -- Heard Island. Australian Department of the Environment, Australian Antarctic Division, updated 1 March 2005
↑ HIMI official website.
↑ Plants. Australian Department of the Environment, Australian Antarctic Division. Updated 28 February 2005.
↑ Part 3: A Description of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve. Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan. retrieved 5 February 2016.
↑ "Southern Indian Ocean Islands tundra". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
↑ R.K.Headland (Ed.) Historical Antarctic Sealing Industry, Scott Polar Research Institute (University of Cambridge), 2018, p.167. ISBN 978-0-901021-26-7
↑ Headland, p.167
↑ "Seals". Heard Island and McDonald Islands: Seals. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Australia. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
↑ BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Heard and McDonald Islands. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 2011-12-23.
↑ Woehler, E.J. & Croxall, J.P. 1991. ‘Status and conservation of the seabirds of Heard Island and the McDonald Islands’, in Seabird – status and conservation: a supplement, ICBP Technical Publication 11. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge. pp 263–277.
1 2 Woehler, E.J. (2006). ‘Status and trends of the seabirds of Heard Island, 2000’, in Heard Island: Southern Ocean Sentinel. ed. Green, K. & Woehler, E. Surrey Beattie.
↑ Woehler, E.J. (2006) ‘Status and trends of the seabirds of Heard Island, 2000’, in Heard Island: Southern Ocean Sentinel. ed. Green, K. & Woehler, E.(Surrey Beattie.
↑ Woehler, E. J.; Auman, H. J.; Riddle, M. J. (2002). "Long-term population increase of black-browed albatrosses Thalassarche melanophrys at Heard Island, 1947/1948–2000/2001". Polar Biology. 25 (12): 921–927. doi:10.1007/s00300-002-0436-1 (inactive 2017-03-16).
↑ SC–CAMLR 2002. Report of the Working Group on Fish Stock Assessment. Report of the Twenty-First Meeting of the Scientific Committee for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, Hobart, Australia.
↑ Goode, George Brown (1887) Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States, (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1887).
↑ Cerchi, Dan (1 August 2009). "SIOE 2002: Heard I. & The McDonald Is". www.cerchi.net. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012.
↑ "Gazetteer - AADC Name Details - Australian Antarctic Data Centre". Australian Antarctic Data Centre. Archived from the original on 2011-04-06. Retrieved 29 March 2016 – via Internet Archive.
↑ "Heard Island VK0EK DXpedition Team Has Arrived, Operation Hours Away". American Radio Relay League. 22 March 2016.
↑ "The Heard Island Feasibility Test". University of Washington. 2007.
↑ "Heard Island Feasibility Test - reception map". University of Washington. 2007.
↑ "Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953". Federal Register of Legislation. Australian Government. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
↑ "Heard Island and McDonald Islands :: Time Zones". timegenie.com. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
Commonwealth of Australia (2014). Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan 2014–2024, Department of the Environment, Canberra. ISBN 978-1876934-255. Available at http://heardisland.antarctica.gov.au/
Australian Government. (2005) Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan. Australian Antarctic Division: Kingston (Tas). ISBN 1-876934-08-5.
Green, Ken and Woehler Eric (eds). (2006) Heard Island: Southern Ocean Sentinel. Chipping Norton: Surrey Beatty and Sons. ISBN 9780949324986.
Scholes, Arthur. (1949) Fourteen men; story of the Australian Antarctic Expedition to Heard Island. Melbourne: F.W. Cheshire.
Smith, Jeremy. (1986) Specks in the Southern Ocean. Armidale: University of New England Press. ISBN 0-85834-615-X.
LeMasurier, W. E. and Thomson, J. W. (eds.). (1990) Volcanoes of the Antarctic Plate and Southern Oceans. American Geophysical Union. ISBN 0-87590-172-7.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
Look up heard island and mcdonald islands in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
Heard Island and McDonald Islands official website
Map of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, including all major topographical features
World heritage listing for Heard Island and McDonald Islands
"Heard Island and McDonald Islands". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
Heard Island and McDonald Islands at Curlie (based on DMOZ)
Wikimedia Atlas of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Image gallery of Heard Island and McDonald Island with high quality limited copyright images.
MODIS satellite image, taken 30 September 2004 and showing a von Kármán vortex street in the clouds, caused by Mawson Peak's effect on the wind
UNESCO World Heritage site entry
Fan's page at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 March 2006) with further historical and geographic information and a map
Heard Island: The Cordell Expedition 2016
Coordinates: 53°06′00″S 73°31′00″E / 53.10000°S 73.51667°E / -53.10000; 73.51667
States and territories of Australia
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Former territories
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North Australia (1927–1931)
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History of Australia
Geography of Australia
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Australian Convict Sites1
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Willandra Lakes Region
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
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Wet Tropics of Queensland
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Royal Exhibition Building
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1 Shared with other states/territories
Peri-Antarctic countries and overseas territories
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"Peri-Antarctic" (meaning "close to the Antarctic") does not include territorial claims in Antarctica itself.
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Posts with the Tag: Tamar
NewLSFB345: The New Lifespring Family Audio Bible -2 Samuel 13 and 14
31st August 2015 0 Comments
What God had said would happen to David’s household has begun. “Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you.”
Don’t let the end of the last chapter we read fool you. Just because Absalom has been pardoned by David, with David sealing the pardon with a kiss, does not mean all is well in the household or in the kingdom.
But let’s step back for just a minute.
After the mess with Bathsheba, what with the illicit sex with a married woman, the murder of Uriah and the death of their child, I think that David carried a great deal of guilt around with him. And this, I believe, robbed him of the moral authority he needed as a father and as a king.
This led to his being a lenient father, and we see the results of that with both Amnon and Absalom.
It’s more than likely that Amnon didn’t begin his wicked thoughts with lusting after his sister. One doesn’t normally jump from being a person of integrity to the depths Amnon is at. Generally, it’s a process…not unlike David’s descent from a glance from his palace’s roof to murder. That was a progression, as I believe Amnon’s course was, too.
I believe David overlooked the signs of trouble for a long time. That Amnon thought that he could get away with the rape of his sister says to me that he had probably gotten away with a lot as he was growing up.
And then there’s Absalom. He was indeed right to be angry at what Amnon had done. But instead of taking the cause to David for justice to be done, he decided to wait for his chance to get revenge. Perhaps Absalom had seen Amnon get away with so much in the past that he thought David would not take the appropriate action.
But there’s more than that. Amnon was first in line for the throne. By killing him, Absalom would become first in line. So he waits for his chance, and two years after the rape, he makes his move.
After the murder, Absalom goes into hiding for three years. David has come to grips with the loss of Amnon, and he longs to see Absalom.
Now wait a minute. David knows that Absalom had Amnon murdered, but he wants to be reconciled to him?
In the interest of time, I’m not going to say much about Joab’s involvement here, except that as the general of David’s army, he is also a politician, looking out for his own welfare as he sees where the kingdom is going. He wants to have a place of influence as things unfold.
Cutting to the chase, Absalom finagles himself back into the good graces of David because he knows that in order to eventually take the throne, his best chance is to do so from inside his father’s house.
The story is far from over.
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Profiles of the Canadian Royal Family: Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn
Prince Edward is an oft over-looked royal partially because, although his daughter Victoria became Queen, he was never king. However, his importance to Canada can not be overstated. In fact columnist Michael Taube has dubbed him the "Father of the Canadian Crown".
Originally posted to Gibralter, he was soon re-assigned to Lower Canada at his request. Apparently he couldn't take the hot Mediterranean climate (a man after my own heart). He ended up staying in Canada for nine years from 1791 to 1800. He would be the first royal to spend more than a brief period in what was to become Canada. As a result he has left a lasting legacy on Canada.
During a stay in Charlesbourg in 1792 he performed his most famous act. A riot had broken out between the French and the English at a polling station which he went to break up. This is not all that unusual as he was a military man and furthermore as a strict disciplinarian he abhorred disorder. What he choose to say to the rioters as order was being restored is the important part. Before the rioters he spoke these words:
"Part then in peace. Let me hear no more of the odious distinction of English and French. You are all His Britannic Majesty's beloved Canadian subjects."
It is often taken for granted today that 'Canadian' is a civic, not ethnic, term that includes everyone in Canada rather than a single group. In 1792 that was not the case. Canadian (or Canadien) meant the French of Lower Canada exclusively. Prince Edward's remark is the first recorded use of Canadian in a civic sense. This makes him in a way the father of Canada as we know it.
This contribution to the formation of the idea of Canada would be followed by another. In 1814 Prince Edward was forwarded a letter from Jonathan Sewell, a friend whom he had met while in Canada. The letter was a plan for a federal union of the British North American
colonies. Prince Edward supported the idea and offered comments and critiques that would later be cited during the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences (1864).
In terms of physical contributions he was responsible for several important building projects in Halifax after he moved there in 1794. Much like his future descendent Prince Charles he had an interest in architecture. In this case, Halifax's lack of notable structures. Halifax's Citadel Clock Tower and St.George’s Round Church were two notable structures he helped construct.
It should not be surprising that he has many places in Canada named after him including, of course, Prince Edward Island. As well you have Kent County in New Brunswick and numerous Kent Streets and parks.
Father of the Canadian Crown is a fitting sobriquet.
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Iron Maiden- Give Me Ed Till I'm Dead Tour/ Printed Front And Back / T-shirt
SKU:IRONB15
-- Please Select --M
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, east London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The band's discography has grown to thirty-eight albums, including sixteen studio albums, eleven live albums, four EPs, and seven compilations.Pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Iron Maiden achieved initial success during the early 1980s. After several line-up changes, the band went on to release a series of UK and US platinum and gold albums, including 1982's The Number of the Beast, 1983's Piece of Mind, 1984's Powerslave, 1985's live release Live After Death, 1986's Somewhere in Time and 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Since the return of lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith in 1999, the band have undergone a resurgence in popularity, with their 2010 studio offering, The Final Frontier, peaking at No. 1 in 28 different countries and receiving widespread critical acclaim. Their sixteenth studio album, The Book of Souls, was released on 4 September 2015.Despite little radio or television support Iron Maiden are considered one of the most successful heavy metal bands in history, with The Observer reporting in 2015 that the band have sold over 90 million albums worldwide.
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Once again I was up before my 6 am alarm waiting for it to go off. Once it went off I turned it off. About 10 minutes later I heard the seagulls making loud noises while they were flying around the parking lot. I eventually got out of bed at 06:36 am. I wasn’t in a big hurry.
There was a coffee machine in the room so I made a small pot, but it looked awfully weak. Luckily, I still had some coffee in my thermos so I poured a cup from it.
Listening to the news this morning they were saying there were some large storms to the west last night. There was a chance of more severe storms in the area today and to the north of here.
I took a shower before checking out. There was a different lady behind the counter. She asked how my night was. I told her about the fireworks and that they kept me up awhile. She told me she asked the night person if anything happened over night and she wasn’t told about any fireworks. I told her they were coming from this area of the building.
There’s another Tim Horton’s up the road from the motel where we stopped last year prior to heading to Armstrong. I decided to stop and have my thermos filled with coffee. Next, I wanted to stop at a gas station before leaving Thunder Bay. I wanted to fill up my tank so I didn’t need to buy any gas in Armstrong. It’s about 150 miles between Thunder Bay and Armstrong without any gas stations or anything else as far as that goes. So that’s a 300 mile round trip.
The temperature was 67 degrees with a fog over the city. It appeared there had been a lot of rain last night with all the water standing on the road.
Well, I’m on the long stretch of road to Armstrong. I began driving the road to Armstrong, Hwy. 527, at 08:30 am. As I continued up the road the temperature slowly rose to 70 degrees. It looked like the sky was going to clear, then about 60 miles south of Armstrong the sky became foggy and gray. The temperature dropped to 59 degrees.
Finally, I pulled into the parking lot at Mattice Lake Outfitter’s at 11:20 am. It was 149 miles from the gas station where I stopped in the northern part of Thunder Bay to Mattice Lake.
There were some other vehicles in the parking lot where I parked. I saw Dave standing on the dock with some other people who were casting a line in the water. As soon as I got down there a young boy caught a walleye.
Dave and I exchanged our hellos before heading up to the office to see Yolanda. The weather wasn’t cooperating. The guys with the kid on the dock were supposed to fly to Whitewater Lake today, but with the strong NE wind there were 4 foot rollers coming over the dock at the outpost. No one was flying.
Yolanda told us everything was backed up. She suggested we go to lunch and come back later.
Dave and I went to E & J’s Cafe in Armstrong. There were a lot of people inside. Dave commented that this was the most people he has ever seen in the cafe. It must be because everyone else is grounded.
I only had a hamburger and fries.
We drove back to Mattice Lake Outfitter’s and spoke to Yolanda. She gave us our game plan, since they couldn’t fly any of their guest to any of their outpost.
Since the cabin that we were going to stay in tonight was still being used by the group that was down on the dock earlier and their other cabin was rented to a group of five that Mattice Lake Outfitter’s was going to set us up at Wildwater’s B & B.
We stayed at Wildwater’s last year and Dave spent last night there. Yolanda told us we couldn’t check in at Wildwater’s until 5 pm, so we could use their larger cabin to sort our gear until then.
Yolanda also told us that she was moving to Thunder Bay. She was leaving in a half hour. We both didn’t believe her when she said it, but she said she was leaving the business and she’s going to do some social work in Thunder Bay. She said her husband already had a job as a firefighter. This was unsuspected for us. I shook her hand and wished her good luck. Many of you know Yolanda and know how much of an integral part of the family business she was.
Dave and I headed to the cabin to sort our gear. My pack was pretty much ready to go, but I took some stuff out because it was way too heavy at 67 pounds.
There was a lady who was cleaning the cabin when we got there. She mentioned that she wasn’t aware that Yolanda was leaving until today, either.
Dave and I sorted through our 21 days worth of food. The original plan was to take one food pack and to put the remainder of the food in each of our personal packs. After throwing another 15 pounds in my pack I knew I didn’t want to take a chance in carrying it. That’s the reason I brought along my Granite Gear Quetico pack. Now with the extra bag I took some additional items such the stove, fuel and some smaller items from my other pack and placed them in this pack. My personal pack was now down to 57 pounds while the other ones were around 55 pounds.
We are using a 60 liter blue barrel as one of our food packs. I’ve never travel with a barrel before.
It was now a quarter to five and we were done sorting our gear. We walked back up to the office and spoke with Don Elliott. He showed us the weather radar on his computer. It showed a large storm over us and it extended all the way to Iowa.
Earlier he told us to check in around noon tomorrow, but now he changed it to 9 am. Henry, one of Don’s pilots, said last Saturday’s groups were finally flown in to their outpost destinations on Monday.
We drove over to Wildwater’s B & B and spoke to Bert and Brenda. We checked in and got our room.
Before heading to E & J’s for dinner we went over some other trip reports that covered some of our route.
E & J’s had a few people inside when we arrived, but it quickly filled up. We had the Roast Pork special with mash potatoes, gravy and vegetables. I also had the soup and the dessert.
While back at Wildwater’s a group of four came inside. They were planning to paddle the Kopka River. With all the flights backed up they decided to get a shuttle from Bert and put in at a different spot. Dave planted the seed of paddling the Winisk River. He said we could access it from the Pickle Lake Road.
Dave was looking at some of the canoeing books on a cart in the main room while I finish up writing for the night. Time 09:31 pm.
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If you had the chance of being brought up as a kid in the Eternal City of Rome, that would seem like a good option - to most people. This documentary explores the contrast between life in Rome and a radical alternative - in reality it only explores the alternative! Jorge of Mayan decent and Italian Roberta were together for three and a half years and while it lasted it was unbelievable. The relationship even spawned Natan - a likeable and innocent boy who has spent most of his life with his mother in Rome. Thankfully the couple parted amicably and arrangements are made for Natan to spend some time with his father - who lives on the jungle coast of Mexico where he, like his father, is a fisherman.
At first the transition from Roman apartment to shack on stilts in the sea and the all-pervasiveness of water overwhelm Natan. But as he accompanies his father and grandfather on fishing trips, his confidence begins to grow and he develops physically into a boy who knows how to play, wrestle and generally be a boy. Jorge is both a good father and a good teacher. Life in the shack is pretty spartan and the diet is okay - as long as you like fish. Interest is provided by the wildlife - Frigate Birds, crocodiles, seagulls, a cattle ibis named Blanquita and of course many many fish.
As the film progresses we are invited to slow down and synchronise our being with the rhythm and pace of life as a fisherman on Mexico's huge Caribbean reef off the Yucatan Peninsula. The relentless pounding over the waves in the boat. The tranquil and vibrant beauty of the reef and it's fish which is shattered when end up on the spear-tips of Jorge and his father. The birds and crocodile feeding on the waste when the fish are gutted on the shack verandah. The Cattle Ibis who helpfully allows herself to be adopted so that she can clean up the cockroaches. A wonderful observation of a complex and sustainable ecosystem.
In some ways this film echoes The Wind Will Carry Us and if you like action chases, the only kind in this film are as the fish try to evade capture. At the end of the day, Natan gains an education no school in Italy could provide. He also learns the importance of the tradition his father maintains. But as with all good things, Natan must return to the Eternal City. Perhaps eternity isn't always everything it's cracked up to be?
The best way to describe this experience is to quote part of review by someone on the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB) - a review by someone who has not quite mastered the technique of reflection: "I saw this movie with a friend who is a native Mexican. We both were bored stiff! We both kept waiting from something to happen, but nothing did.". If only she had eyes to see!
I caught this as a one-off showing in my local Art-House cinema in Southampton today. Try and check it out if you can - you will be rewarded.
I'll give it 7/10.
Africa United
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‘Play It Loud’ exhibit revitalizes rock ‘n’ roll relevance
Posted on May 2, 2019 in Arts
The above photo captures the guitar of legendary singer-songwriter Jerry Garcia of the rock band The Grateful Dead. The instrument is on display at the Met exhibit “Play it Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll,” which will run through Oct. 1. Courtesy of Dean Kopitsky
There’s a multi-million-dollar work on display at the Met this spring. It isn’t paint on canvas, and it’s not a bronze sculpture. It is, “Contoured alder body, two-piece maple neck; 25 1/2 in. scale; Olympic white finish; bolt-on neck with black dot inlays.” It’s Jimi Hendrix’s guitar. The one he played at Woodstock. Maybe the most famous guitar in the world.
The exhibition “Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll” runs from now until October, and displays one of the most remarkable collections of guitars, drum kits, synthesizers and basses ever assembled.
The current narrative surrounding rock is that is it is dying. Its most recognized voice, the guitar, is going with it too—or people keep trying to kill it, anyway. Rock is long past its heyday when it and pop music were one and the same. In 2017, Eric Clapton, one of the most influential guitarists ever, said, “Maybe the guitar is over” (Billboard, “Eric Clapton on Declining Guitar Sales: ‘Maybe The Guitar Is Over,” 09.11.2017). Earlier this month, Rolling Stone ran an article titled, “Is the Guitar Solo Finished?” It cited a perfunctory but welcomed John Mayer solo on the Khalid track “Outta My Head” as the last of what was once a staple of every pop song.
Is this how guitar dies? In a modern pop song, overshadowed by synth and played by John Mayer, a guy with his own laundry detergent? (People Magazine, Laundry Aficionado John Mayer Put His Name on an ‘Out West’-Scented Detergent, 10.06.2016)
Not at all. The guitar is still an integral part music in all genres, even if we don’t realize it. Rap artists utilize live sound, and indie music is still lauded on the crunchier of college campuses. Frank Ocean’s magnum opus “Blonde” is built on guitar. The sweeping, weeping sound of the album is punctuated by the melody and rhythm of a guitar. The album isn’t the same without that sacred instrument that is supposedly dying.
Of course, this may all be eager and selective listening. As the Rolling Stone article points out, the fact that guitars are now displayed behind glass in a museum means its most important work is behind it, meant to be glorified but not revamped.
Hopefully this is not the case. Guitars are beautiful works of art, but they are also tools. The exhibit showcases rare instruments, but any enthusiast would want to take one from the wall and play it loud themselves. Guitars of the ’50s and ’60s, of the ilk played by their heroes, are cherished for the unique sound, technical achievement and simplistic purity.
Courtesy of Dean Kopitsky
The exhibit signals how much the public still covets these instruments, and perhaps the Met is playing on their cultural relevance.
The packed exhibit halls and giddy atmosphere within them seemed to prove just that. It was an indescribable experience seeing the Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster that played the legendary “Star Spangled Banner” at Woodstock ’69. Led Zeppelin was famous for their audacious onstage theatrics, and the Met secured a Jimmy Page telecaster that he played with a bow at their live shows. The drum set that Ringo Starr played on the Ed Sullivan show is displayed along George Harrison and John Lennon’s Rickenbackers.
Rock ‘n’ roll would never have come into existence without two men whose guitars are also displayed. One is the red ’57 Telecaster that Muddy Waters nicknamed “Hoss.” He played it from 1957 until the ’80s, and can be seen in most recordings of him from that era The blues-inspired Rolling Stones took their name from his song, “Rollin’ stone.”
The other is Chuck Berry’s Gibson ES. Nothing stands out more in the history of rock ‘n’ roll than the twang of that Gibson. If you’ve seen “Back to the Future” or heard “Johnny B. Goode” (very few people can say neither), you know that sound. As John Lennon once said, “If you tried to give rock ‘n’ roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’” (CNN, “Musicians remember Chuck Berry’s genius,” 03.18.2017).
When I was little, I wanted nothing more than to play guitar. I sheepishly outlined the swooping curves of a Fender Stratocaster to demonstrate the one I dreamed of playing. And though I was still on the younger side of those gawking at vintage guitars at the exhibit, streaming services open endless opportunities for any generation to admire the studio and live performances of rock history.
If the folk guitarists of the Delta had never been discovered, the blues might have ceased to exist with their passing. If a select few of those giants never moved out of Mississippi and plugged electric pickups into their guitars, then a bunch of post-war English teens scrounging for anything that wasn’t post-war England would not have sought out their records and created rock ‘n’ roll.
The story of guitar, and the story of rock, is remarkable and stubborn. Who is to say it ends now? Here’s to hoping that a new generation is inspired by the alder and ash body statues showcased by the Met. That they do more than admire their “spaghetti” Fender logo and “lipstick” pickups and yearn to “play it loud” themselves.
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GOLF CHANNEL TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES & NOTES (APRIL 25-29): ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS, LPGA MEDIHEAL CHAMPIONSHIP, UNITED LEASING & FINANCE CHAMPIONSHIP, CHINA OPEN
Eighty Two-Person Teams Set to Compete at Zurich Classic of New Orleans
LPGA Returns to San Francisco for the LPGA Mediheal Championship
Web.com Tour in Indiana for United Leasing & Finance Championship
European Tour in Beijing for the China Open
ORLANDO, Fla. (April 25, 2018) – The PGA TOUR returns to New Orleans this week for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the 70th edition of this event and the second year as a team format. 80 two-man teams will compete in a 72-hole stroke play event using a better-ball format the first and third rounds and alternate shot the second and final rounds. The LPGA Tour returns to San Francisco and Lake Merced Golf Club this week for the LPGA Mediheal Championship, airing in primetime on Golf Channel Thursday-Sunday. The Web.com Tour is in Indiana this week for the United Leasing & Finance Championship and the European Tour is in Beijing for the China Open.
Venue: TPC Louisiana, Avondale, La.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Thursday 2:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 2:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1-2:45 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1-2:45 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Replay)
Golf Central Pre and Post Round Coverage on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 2-2:30 p.m. / 9-9:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 2-2:30 p.m. / 9-9:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday Noon-1 p.m. / 2:45-3 p.m. / 9-10 p.m. (Live)
Sunday Noon-1 p.m. / 2:45-3 p.m. / 9-10 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Blixt/Smith defend: Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith defeated the team of Scott Brown and Kevin Kisner with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole after both teams finished at 27-under par.
Second Year as Team Event: 80 two-man teams will compete in a 72-hole stroke play event using a better-ball format the first and third rounds and alternate shot for the second and final rounds.
Notable Teams: Jonas Blixt/Cameron Smith; Jason Day/Ryan Ruffels; David Duval/Jim Furyk; Sergio Garcia/Rafa Cabrera Bello; Brooks Koepka/Marc Turnesa; Matt Kuchar/Bubba Watson; Jon Rahm/Wesley Bryan; Patrick Reed/Patrick Cantlay; Jordan Spieth/Ryan Palmer; Justin Thomas/Bud Cauley
Golf Channel Broadcast Team
Play by Play: Terry Gannon
Analyst: Frank Nobilo
Tower: Curt Byrum / Mark Immelman
On-Course: Billy Ray Brown
Interviews: Heather Cox
Venue: Lake Merced Golf Club, San Francisco, Calif.
Thursday 6:30-9 p.m. (Live)
Friday 6:30-9 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 6-9 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 6-9 p.m. (Live) / 2:30-5 a.m. (Monday replay)
Inaugural event: This is the inaugural edition of the event, marking the LPGA Tour’s return to the San Francisco.
Headlining the field: Paula Creamer, Laura Davies, Shanshan Feng, Brooke Henderson, Juli Inkster, Ariya Jutanugarn, Moriya Jutanugarn, Danielle Kang, Cristie Kerr, Lydia Ko, Jessica Korda, Stacy Lewis, Pernilla Lindberg, Inbee Park, So Yeon Ryu, Lexi Thompson and Michelle Wie.
Play by Play: Grant Boone
Analyst: Karen Stupples
Tower: Tom Abbott
On Course: Jerry Foltz / Kay Cockerill
Venues: Victoria National Golf Club – Newburgh, Ind.
Thursday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Live)
Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Live) / 5-7 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 5-7 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Lee defends: D.H. Lee defeated Jason Gore by one shot at 6-under par to earn his first Web.com Tour win in 2017.
Headlining the Field: Eric Axley, Cameron Champ, Wyndham Clark, Robert Gamez, Max Homa, Scott Langley, Curtis Luck, Lee McCoy, Maverick McNealy, Shaun Michelle, Henrik Norlander, Robby Shelton
Play by Play: Steve Burkowski
Analyst: Craig Perks
Tower: Phil Blackmar
On-Course: Gary Christian
Venue: Topwin Golf & Country Club, Beijing, China
Wednesday 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Live) / 2:30-5:30 a.m. (Thursday, Live)
Friday 12:30-2:30 a.m. (Tape Delay) / 2:30-5:30 a.m. (Live)
Saturday 12:30-5 a.m. (Live)
Sunday 12:30-5 a.m. a.m. (Live)
Levy defends: Alexander Levy defeated Dylan Frittelli with a birdie on the first playoff hole to earn his fourth career European Tour win at 17-under par.
Headlining the field: Paul Dunne, Alexander Levy, Shubhankar Sharma and Julian Suri.
Studio Host: Mike Ritz
Play by Play: Dominik Holyer
Analyst: Dom Boulet / Warren Humphreys
On-Course: Julian Tutt
-NBC Sports Group-
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Northeastern PA Women of the ELCA
As a community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world.
Synodical women’s organizations (SWOs) like ours establish a partnership with units in their geographic areas and with the churchwide women’s organization. SWOs exist to support women in congregations. Each SWO has a board whose members are elected at an annual or biennial convention by delegates from units. Each SWO establishes clusters or conferences of units within its geographic area.
Through various program areas, Women of the ELCA’s community of women provide services in their churches, communities, and even the world. We engage in ministry; we take action through advocacy; we promote healing and wholeness; and we support one another in our callings. We offer anti-racism training; address domestic violence, commercial sexual exploitation, and human trafficking; and support families with special needs. We assist participants in their desire to discern God’s call in their lives and to discover their spiritual gifts through workshops, retreats, resources, scholarships, and global education. We offer grants to not-for-profit organizations, both domestic and international, that support healing and wholeness for women of all ages through the affirmation and advancement of women’s emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
at Trinity, Lehighton
"I Love to Tell the Story
PV for Phebe Project
The Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America have partnered with the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL) to propose the construction of a photovoltaic solar array to serve the energy needs of Phebe Hospital. The PV for Phebe project aims to realize cash payoff of the installation costs within five years, with further savings expected up to and through the system’s 30-year lifespan. By investing funds in a photovoltaic microgrid, Phebe Hospital and its staff will not only be empowered to achieve self-reliance through solar power, but serve as a powerful model for rebuilding critical infrastructure in a resilient manner.
Phebe Project, Winter 2018 Update
Resolution adopted by Synod Assembly 2015
View a video on YouTube.
Read an article from the University of Minnesota Duluth
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The Transport Institute|
In 1966, a Centre for Transportation Studies was established at the University of Manitoba to coordinate interdisciplinary research in transport. In 1984, this Centre became the Transport Institute (TI).
The TI is a Canadian leader in research on many complex transportation issues. The TI is active in addressing the problems of individual transport modes and the concerns of shippers. Motor carrier studies have included an assessment of competition between Canadian and US carriers in transborder trucking. The TI has generated inter- and intra-provincial trucking and many award-winning studies on issues such as cabotage and vehicle weights and dimensions regulations.
Railway transport studies have included an overall documentation of the industry, an examination of railway short line operations, analysis of railway taxation, and comparison of Canada/US competition in long haul railway operations to the Pacific Coast.
The major focus in air transport continues to be the economic impact of airports on the communities they serve. In addition, research continues to examine the possibilities for expanding the regions air cargo operations and specific initiatives like Winnport.
Marine transport has been addressed less regularly, but recent requests have included studies on the competitiveness of the Port of Vancouver and the Great Lakes shipping route. Increasingly, inter-modalism and container traffic have been an important focus of ongoing investigations.
For more than three decades, the transport of agricultural products has been a specialty. Research on grain transport includes projects on the competition of US routes to transport Canadian grain, the effects of branchline abandonment on road cost, the fallout from the collapse of government subsidies, and the rise of agricultural trucking.
In respect of other agricultural commodities, the TI has conducted extensive studies on refrigerated transport and examined transport problems and opportunities for products ranging from potatoes, to pulse/specialty crops and compacted hay.
Each fall, the TI holds its Annual 'Fields on Wheels' Agri-business Logistics Conference. Senior industry, government, and academic representatives are invited to address the pressing concerns specific to this industry.
TI members have served on numerous Task Forces, like the recently completed Mid-Continent International Trade Corridor Task Force, and carried out major studies for the province of Manitoba providing forecasting and analysis of trade and transportation trends and employment opportunities. As a result of this work, the Institute has developed general expertise in urban transport and regional development, particularly with reference to Western Canada.
Drawing on expertise in the faculty of Engineering, the TI conducts research relating to technical aspects of transport. This has included metallurgical examination of rail deterioration, analysis of the quality of concrete used in manufacturing concrete rail ties, research on highway pavement, and similarly on the design and development of highway traffic monitoring systems.
TI activities cover not only transport but the wider logistics process including materials handling, warehousing, inventory control, order processing, and customer service. The current logistics revolution is having a profound impact on marketing and manufacturing. The TI is increasingly involved in this area though professional associations, teaching, and involvement in the logistics process of individual enterprises.
Education in Transportation
The TI has embarked on a process to support the development of transportation professionalism in the business community. Since 1997 the TI has offered a Certificate in Logistics program (C.log) that is coordinated with the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT). This program is part of a long-term goal of developing the TI as a Centre of Excellence.
The TI carries out its research through partnerships and contract work with external organizations and with other researchers in the university community. It works with federal departments such as Transport Canada Western Economic Diversification Canada, Human Resources Development Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and with several provincial departments of transport. It also collaborates with non-goverment organizations, including the Manitoba Trucking Association, Canada's major railways, Winnipeg Airports Authority, Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation and Pulse Canada.
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A rendezvous for highly talented young vocalists from all
over the world . 28 Sept. - 15 Oct. 2019 . Sigriswil . Berner Oberland,
Switzerland Honorary Presidium: Federal Councillor Alain Berset
What we aim at
Lecturers / Team
Culture Prize
MAGDALENA WEINGUT, assistant director, after studying theater studies in Munich and numerous internships (including at the Bavarian State Opera), she worked first at the Theater Regensburg and the Staatstheater Wiesbaden as assistant director in the field of music theater. For 3 years she lives in Paris, works as a freelance assistant director and director and supervises numerous scenic new productions (eg at the Staatstheater Wiesbaden, the Hans-Otto-Theater Potsdam, the Staatstheater Darmstadt, the Royal Opéra de Wallonie Liège and the Paris Opéra de Bastille). Since summer 2016 she works as assistant director at the Bayreuth Festival, where she oversees the Parsifal production. As a director she recently attracted attention with the acclaimed production of Kurt Weill's The Seven Deadly Sins.
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Originally posted in September 2010 at SFF Masterworks.
Even after four centuries, the Elizabethan Age still carries magical memories for Anglo-Americans. It was the age of Spenser (The Faerie Queene), Shakespeare (among others, A Midsummer Night's Dream), and Sidney (Astrophel and Stella). In fact, it was Spenser's The Faerie Queene that gave Elizabeth I her nickname of Gloriana and it is Spenser's mixture of fairy tales, intrigue, and the golden age of the English Renaissance that has strongly influenced Michael Moorcock's 1978 novel, Gloriana; or the Unfulfill'd Queen.
Originally published in 1978 and revised in 2004, Gloriana perhaps may best be considered as a novel that was written to be a sort of dialogue with Spenser's epic poem. Both Spenser and Moorcock present idealized forms of Queen Elizabeth I, but whereas Spenser's work primarily reads as a paean to the peace and prosperity of 1590s England, Moorcock's work is much more complex, both with its titular character and with its depiction of life in an alt-world Earth.
Gloriana opens with the Queen Gloriana ruling the vast empire of Albion, which stretches across most of Eurasia and is now expanding into the newly-discovered lands of Virginia, named after her. Despite having had several lovers and illegitimate children, she is, like the real Queen Elizabeth I, unmarried and it is this and the matter of controlling her vast empire around which the action of the novel revolves. The ruler of Arabia wants Gloriana to become his, so he in turn can plunge that pacific realm into a cleansing bout of war and destruction. A courtier of his solicits the aid of Captain Arturus Quire to help him subvert Gloriana to this end. Quire in turn is locked in a political battle with the old councilor Montfallcon, who had earlier served Gloriana's father Hern and who seeks to preserve her from becoming the despotic ruler Hern had become by the end of his reign.
Although at first glance the central plot seems to be that of political machinations, Gloriana is much more than the summation of its plot. Moorcock here perhaps has written his best prose, with Quire in particular standing out. Some readers familiar with Mervyn Peake's villainous Steerpike (Moorcock did dedicate this novel to the late Peake and his wife Maeve, both of whom Moorcock had befriended in his youth) will see traces of that ambitious character and his thirst for power and prestige in how Quire comports himself around Gloriana's other courtiers, especially Montfallcon. But there is another trait in common with Peake's Gormenghast novels, that of utilizing atmospheric effects to intensify what is occurring in several important scenes. Passages such as the one below, taken from Quire's first meeting with the Arabian courtier, are representative of how Moorcock imbues his scenes with vivid descriptions:
Quire nods. He clears his throat. Along the gallery now comes a scrawny, snag-tooth villain wearing leggings of rabbit fur, a torn quilted doublet, a horsehide cap pulled down about his ears. He wears a sword from the guard of which some of the rust has been inexpertly scratched. His gait is unsteady not so much form drink as, it would seem, from some natural indisposition. His skin is blue, showing that he has just come in from the night, but his eyes burn. "Captain Quire?" It is as if he has been summoned, as if he anticipates some epiurean wickedness. (p. 18)
It is this combination of memorable description with intriguing characters such as the aforementioned Quire and Montfallcon, among others, that make Gloriana a gripping novel. However, there is much more to this novel than just memorable characters and detailed, interesting descriptions. It is Gloriana herself and her um, "interesting" situation that makes this novel worthy of debate thirty-two years after its initial publication. Moorcock is not content to have Gloriana reign contentedly over her vast, peaceful realm. Rather, he introduces questions of sexual politics to this story that are controversial for many. Gloriana has a sexual dysfunction; she cannot orgasm, no matter how hard she tries with both clandestine lovers and with inanimate objects. This sexual dysfunction plays a major role in the book, as it is the flaw through which Quire manages to arrange his machinations and against which Montfallcon rails, increasingly strident, throughout the novel. The original ending (printed as an "alternate" Ch. 34 in my 2004 edition) is very disturbing for some, who saw it as a glorification of a heinous act, while Moorcock insists that it is more symbolic of a larger issue of sexualization of Self and of Gloriana's politics around which the novel revolves. It certainly is a provocative scene, one that forces the reader to reconsider what she may have thought the novel to be about, but it certainly does not make it easy for the reviewer to discuss without straying from the realm of reviewing and into the world of literary critique. Speaking solely for myself, the revised scene works better, as it clarifies Moorcock's intents without lessening the shocking realization contained within that concluding chapter.
Gloriana is much more than a simple fairy-tale rendition of an idealized Queen Elizabeth I and her court and world. It is a well-written, engaging tale that will remind some readers of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast. Quire, Montfallcon, and Gloriana's characters are vivid, well-drawn, and they serve to drive the novel forward at a quick yet not too rapid pace. Gloriana is much more than what it appears on the surface, as Moorcock's exploration of sexual politics and how intimately connected a ruler's personality can be with his/her realm make this a novel that will linger in the reader's thoughts long after the book is closed. It is not without its controversies, as certain events could easily be read as a glorification of certain atrocities; ironic, considering the efforts Moorcock has done to combat those interpretations of the novel. It certainly is one of Moorcock's best-written efforts and its depth is much greater than the norm for novels of this sort. Gloriana is a "masterwork" in its prose, characterization, and thematic content and it will continue to be a moving work decades from now.
Posted by Lsrry at 11:02 AM
Labels: Fantasy Masterworks, Michael Moorcock
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THIS WEEKEND! Northeast Ohio Sportsman Show expected to be bigger than ever
MOUNT HOPE — The 10th annual 2018 Northeast Ohio Sportsman Show, held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 18-20, 2018, at the Mount Hope Event Center, offers sportsmen everything from camo to ammo, as event owner Jody Witzky likes to say.
“We invite you to be part of one of the fastest growing sportsman shows in the Midwest,” Witzky said of the 2018 Northeast Ohio Sportsman Show (NEOSS). “Everything is getting bigger and better. It’s all under one roof. They added another 20,000 square (feet) to the building, so the hunting and fishing seminars will be under the same roof.”
NEOSS was started by Wayne Miller of Kidron Sports in January 2009. One year later, JW Promotions assumed ownership of the event, which offers everything of interest to today’s hunter, angler, trapper, archer, boater and hiker.
“We’ve got it all from Camo to Ammo, Kayaks to Canoes, Guns to Gear, Bows to Bough, Tackle to Traps and Duck Calls to Deer Blinds,” Witzky said.
The show features more than 160 vendors, as well as outfitters from the United States, Canada and Africa at the Mount Hope Event Center, located at 8076 state Route 241. Fin Feather Fur is joining the show for the first time this year and Lifetime Predators Hunting out of Canada is another new vendor.
“If you’re looking to book the hunt of a lifetime, or a fishing trip you’ll never forget, or simply to get away to go horseback riding or something like that, there’s just something for everyone,” Witzky said. “It’s exciting how this little show that Kidron Sports started 10 years ago has grown to be where it’s at.”
Miller said he is not surprised by the success of the sportsman show, because it offers so much to the sportsmen of the area and beyond.
“I think it’s done a lot for the sporting community, all the guys into hunting and fishing,” Miller said. “It’s a big draw for those people. They get a lot of vendors in there anymore, and I think it’s growing every year. When I started this, I was hoping for something like this, but I’ve been amazed how it has turned out.”
NEOSS has been offering informational seminars for all sportsmen, featuring well-known speakers, on hunting, fishing and land management, as well as trapping, to name a few.
Angling experts, including Ohio fishing guide Doug Stewart, bass pro Jim Vitaro and host of the popular Buckeye Sportsman Radio Network Dan Armitage, as well as Ohio hunting personality Bill Epeards, will be back again this year.
“It’s an amazing show right now,” Witzky said. “The move to the new location is the best thing we’ve done. We’re bringing FOX-TV out of Cleveland in to help promote the event. Everyone from Port Clinton to Ashtabula, and Mansfield to Dover-New Philadelphia, and everyone in between will hear about this show on TV.
“We look for it to grow even more because of that extra media exposure,” he added.
As part of the addition, Mount Hope Event Center opened a new kitchen this year, so people won’t have to go outside for food. It features an indoor kitchen and eating area.
“Last year there was no place for the people to eat, so they would have to stand outside and eat,” Witzky said. “There’s no tunnel connecting buildings. Everything’s under one roof. We really want to thank Thurman Mullet for adding on.”
“The Sportsman Show is a mammoth event for our area and on our event schedule at the Mount Hope Event Center,” Paul Money of Mount Hope Auction said. “It’s always a big splash that draws in great vendors and several visitors looking for new and exciting trends in the hunting, fishing and outfitter universe. Here at the Event Center, we are blessed to be a part of the show.”
Witzky said more than 12,000 visitors stopped at the 2017 NEOSS, and he expects this year’s show to be even bigger and better. Admission is $10, with kids 12 and under admitted free. A three-day pass is $15. Parking is free. Show hours are Thursday 2-9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Originally posted on January 6, 2018 By Kevin Lynch, Staff Writer at Columbus Alive
Photo courtesy the-daily-record.com
Anderson Rd - 68 acres - Licking County Ohio Land For Sale
Ohio County: Licking
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